Disclaimer: The only characters I own are, again, as follows: Rianne, Kellen/his Companion, Healer Berwick, Herald Mira/Sephira, Queen Tamara/Galatea. Minor characters: Herald Remar, Queen's Own Brea. I think that's it. Thanks to Mercedes Lackey for creating Valdemar, Heralds, and Companions.

Notes: Sorry if anyone tried to read Chapter Four and all the dialogue was missing. Apparently the symbol I used in the place of quotation marks made the words vanish. Well, I guess I've learned my lesson.

Chapter Six-Rebellion

Rianne was in the Mess Hall again following her conversation with Healer Berwick. She plunked herself down on the seat next to Kellen. He shoveled food into his mouth and gave her a brief nod of recognition. Rianne sensed that he wasn't in the mood for talking, and she respected that. She would just have to wait to tell him about Berwick and Mira.

She sopped soup up with her portion of freshly baked bread, savoring the taste as it rolled across her tongue. Glancing at her friend, she noticed that he had stopped eating and was sitting with a gloomy look on his face. Rianne slugged his shoulder and he looked over at her.

"Come on Kellen, that face is bound to attract storm clouds. Lighten up! We're all sad. We just don't all mope around like you do. If you aren't careful, someone will nickname you 'Herald Sourpuss'. Perhaps even me."

Kellen's face took on a look of injured pride. Then he realized that Rianne was only trying to cheer him up, and he gave her a grin of thanks. From then on, they conversed about trivial matters. Rianne sensed that Kellen was already feeling better.

They were in the middle of a heated discussion about whether or not Herald Dugal's hair was false, when Kellen leaped up from the table.

"What's going on?" he said rather loudly, and then blushed when Rianne looked at him.

"My Companion," he said, by way of explanation. Rianne noticed that the other Herald Trainees in the Hall were looking just as confused as Kellen.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO KARSE?" Kellen bellowed. Rianne looked up, startled.

All over Valdemar, Heralds dropped what they were doing and communed with their Companions. Herald Lelana, a Border Scout, stopped watching at her lookout and became engaged in a frustrating conversation with her Holwyn. Herald Trainee Tamwyn, who had just dozed off during his lessons awoke with a start, to the clamoring of his Sirena and the confused mumblings of his classmates. Herald Bellina, who had been unconscious for nearly three days as a result of a skirmish with bandits, was jolted from her deep sleep by her Companion Arlean's Mind shouts of protest.

Chaos reigned, and the Heralds tried to make sense of it all. Queen's Own Brea called another meeting, this time in the great Council Room, for Heralds and Trainees alike were invited. Many entered the room clutching their heads, unsuccessfully trying to close their minds against their protesting Companions.

"Heralds and Herald Trainees!" Brea said loudly. "We have a most interesting situation on our hands-will you SHUT UP Delwyr-regarding our Companions. Apparently this. . .rebellion has been occasioned by our recent decision regarding Companion Sephira. I will not fill you in on the details, as I'm sure all of the Companions have informed their Chosen by now. Delwyr!!! HUSH! Delwyr has told me, numerous times, that they are prepared to leave their Heralds and go into Karse on their own. I have called this meeting to decide what to do."

Herald Dugal, the wise old Herald with false hair, spoke up. "Our Companions would be foolish to venture into Karse without human assistance. . .even if they do possess powers that we are not aware of. . .as I suspect they might. But nor do I think it is within our power to stop them, if they are determined to do this. So why do we not aid them?"

Brea sighed. Tamara looked as if she was about to speak up to agree with Dugal, but her Queen's Own glared at her, daring her to speak. The Queen declined.

"Reluctant as I may be, I am forced to agree with you, Dugal. Shall we take a vote?" The collection of Heralds nodded unanimously.

"All for rescuing Sephira raise their hands," Brea said. The entire assemblage of Heralds and Trainees raised their hands into the air.

"Well then. I suppose that's that. We will need to appoint a committee for her rescue. Tamara. . .since you were advocating this in the first place, will you?" The Queen nodded.

Slowly, the Voices of the Companions subsided, and they Spoke to each other, congratulating themselves on their victory.

Back in the Mess Hall, Kellen sat down with a look of pride on his face. Rianne looked at him inquisitively, and he answered her look.

"The Companions rebelled against the Heralds. . .to make them go save Mira's Companion."

"Sephira is still alive?" Rianne asked. She was surprised. She had previously thought that Companions died along with their Heralds, aside from the Grove Born.

"Yes," Kellen said. "It normally doesn't happen that way. But she's alive, and trapped in Karse. Tikara says that the Queen wanted to help her but the Heralds' refused. So they protested against their Chosen. And now Sephira will be saved!"

Rianne and Kellen smiled happily, and the rest of the day, they were both in a nearly perfect state of happiness.