Title: Murderer's Touch

Author: I_nv_u50

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer/Claimer: same old, same old…

Warning: Slash!! Whee!!

Author's Notes: Whee!! I did an English project on Lan!! And Kalira, but that goes without saying, obviously. Can't have Lan without Kalira XD Anyway, sorry it's been so late, this chapter. I'm going to use the clichéd but nevertheless true excuse of schoolwork. I'll really try and have the next chapter up soon, maybe by Wednesday. Which reminds me, I have to hand in some more stuff O.o; ack. Stooped school… it picks now of all times to be stressful… and I was having such an easy semester too… (easy… mwahaha!! English, social, art and journalism… XD) Other than that, since everyone seems to want to know more about Brynn and his gift, his gift is * drumroll * mindspeech. And probably some very unpredictable farsight as well, but I'll need to see how that works into the plot. But just plain mindspeech is all right. Look at myst, hm? XD

frizzy  ~  Glad you thought so XD Thanks for reviewing, please d it again!! ^^

etcetera-cat  ~  mwahahaha!! Jesalis comes into her debut in the next part of the trilogy… not that I'm giving away any spoilers or anything O.o; of course I wouldn't do that . psh. Brynn's an idiot over all. But that's okay. Cause at least he makes it up, ne? XD thanks for reviewing, please do it again!! ^^

darkdancer  ~  sadly, kylan's part doesn't get any happier for a while… mwahaha!! O.o;; guess you'll see what I mean.. thanks for telling me :D now I can make a whole new story when this one's over XD and I'll actually plan it out before I do it this time . thanks for reviewing, please do it again!! :D

The Golden Dragon  ~  Phew. Was feeling absurdly guilty for that XD Maybe you should try it a bit at a time. Say you're studying extra hard, and so if you get better a few points at a time… mwahahaha!! It's the master plot!! O.o;; Kylan says thanks for the plushie. He's refusing to let brynn touch it. Which would be cute if it weren't so weird. He's always happy to go back to the real brynn when that stooped herald bribes him though… kylan's always one for kissing O.o; they're starting to bug me about so few touchy feely moments in the story… (runs away) heh wouldn't it be great if he was? I wonder if vampires exist in valdemar… I think it's a valid question… don't worry!! All will be explained by the end of the third part!! Which should be around the end of summer, which means I can continue with my other stories… I am reminded of a stupid hp fic that doesn't want to be written anymore. Aw, damnit. Lol suitable punishment indeed :D 'cept now he's gotten a good talking to by the most unlikely of people, which makes my plotline even more fantastical – dunno if that's good or bad though. Ah well. All's well that ends well!! Thanks for reviewing, hope you do it again!! ^^

Maischeph-Vanscrilla-Black  ~  Cool penname :D never seen one like that before O.o; Heh ^^ thanks though ^^ glad you like it, please review again!! ^^

ola  ~  hope you haven't withdrawn completely yet O.o; and yes!! There is going to be a sequel!! Two of them!! yay!!! And yes, 'them' comes into it next chapter... very vaguely though. You only get to meet them, you don't actually learn anything yet. Mwahaha!! Author's trick, right there!! Sorry I haven't updated T.T no time here either. I'm beginning to dislike school a lot. Hmph. You'd think they'd respect the fact that I have better things to do than muck around with homework… heh… jesalis is cool too… she's very sarcastic and stuff XD you get more of that in the sequel though, so I'm not gonna say more ^~  hope this chapter makes up for the wait! And I'll try and have the next chapter out by Wednesday night…. Thanks for reviewing!! ^^

bez  ~  Thanks for the review :D Brynn's gift is mindspeech, and maybe a small amount of farsight, but I'll have to see how that affects the plot first… I guess they could have truthspelled him O.o; but kylan hasn't technically lied about anything yet… he's far too good at dodging questions to lie. Not sure if that's a good talent to have though… please review again!! ^^

Keruri  ~  Thank you!! Yea, you learn more about akseli in the sequels… and I'm glad someone caught onto the name there :D mmm… you're probably right… I'm planning to rewrite it once I've got all the details down, so it'll be a lot better second time round I think… heralds are still humans though, and companions still do make mistakes… and devoni doesn't really like kylan anyway… heh… I don't think so. I could make one up and see that it fits into the plot, but I wasn't planning on having a special reason. Just sounded like fun to write :D thanks for the critism, I'll definitely take it into account in the rewrites and the sequel.. hope you try those too ^^ Thanks for the review!! ^^

SkyeLight2X1  ~  Heyla ^^ I'm glad you're liking them all :D The characters from 'Split in Two' are from The Last Herald Mage, by Mercedes Lackey (obviously O.o;;;) If you read those, you'll find I won't need to write a sequel, because the sequel comes in the form of the third book of that trilogy :D It's only meant to be a transition piece… or something… Thanks for reading all the others as well, not many people do XD Other chapters should be out soon… thanks for reviewing!! ^^

That said… uh… well, that's about it… 'cept I have some pictures of kylan and brynn, and I'm gonna scan them in soon… might have them linked to in chapter 19 or something… we'll see. Need to find a scanner O.o;

Other than that, cheers!! Read, enjoy, and please review!! ^^

Suddenly, Brynn woke up. He spent a few pointless minutes blinking blearily around his darkened room, groggily trying to figure out what had woken him up.

He had been having a troubling dream about Akseli, and was quite glad to have been woken up, but he wanted to know why. It usually took Devoni's prompting to wake him up quickly, and Devoni was fast asleep, as a quick mind touch told Brynn.

Then, as another thrill of panic shot through him, he realized what it was. Glancing quickly at the flat looking blankets on the makeshift bed by the fire only confirmed his guess. Kylan was gone.

Brynn's first reaction was anger. How dared the blonde leave, in the middle of the night, when he was supposed to stay inside. The defiance was almost overwhelmingly frustrating, and Brynn unconsciously clutched his bed sheets in fists so tight that his knuckles turned white.

Another jolt of terror ripped through him, and that made Brynn impossibly worried. What had happened now?

:Devoni: he asked frantically, waking the Companion up without the slightest bit of remorse. :Have any of the other Companions seen Kylan maybe?:

Devoni grunted mentally, and dropped out of Brynn's mind, presumably asking around.

Brynn struggled to his feet, fighting another wave of terror. "Kylan you idiot," he snapped to the empty air angrily. "Where are you?"

The first thing he had to do was clear though. First, he'd have to find his bondmate. Only after that was achieved could he kill him.

His mind otherwise occupied, Brynn pulled on his Whites in a hurry, barely noticing when he forgot to tie up his tunic properly. He didn't care. He had to save Kylan.

A few moments later, he ran out of his rooms, sprinting for the gate. Devoni interrupted him on his way there.

:Jesalis says not to worry.: Devoni told him, his mind voice annoyed and deceptively calm. :Apparently he has no intention of staying away for too long.:

:But then why is he so scared? I know he is, Devoni.: Brynn fretted silently.

There was a short pause. Brynn threw up his hands in frustration. "All right, fine! I'll go see Solas and Astral and see what they think. He wouldn't be feeling this scared for no reason!"

With that course of action in his mind, Brynn changed his direction to the King's quarters, which were deep inside the Palace.

He got in relatively easy, his Whites making the drowsy but awake guard let him in as soon as Astral was ready to see him.

The King's Own stared at him. "I hear he's escaped."

Brynn blinked, slightly surprised by the resigned expression in the other man's eyes. "You… don't have a problem with that?" he said cautiously.

Astral scowled. "Of course I do! The boy's a murderer! But I also realize we've been doing everything wrong so far. So when he gets back we find out who he was. We find out why he did what he did. And we get him into the classes so you can at least have some help when you go on your Circuit rides, not just a helpless burden."

Brynn gave a small, mirthless smile. "I agree with that. But could we hurry up and find him? He's very scared."

Astral lifted his eyebrow a fraction. "Scared? Him? What of?"

Brynn shrugged, glancing nervously towards the door he had come through, shifting his weight. "Dunno. But can we go?"

Astral eyed him, then sighed. "Let me go ask Solas. I'm not sure what he'll want to do with the kid once we've found him."

Brynn scowled and then nodded, beyond caring now. Kylan was almost frantic by now, and since Brynn had never quite felt the depth of this hysteria from his bondmate before, he wanted to know what it was. He needed to know.

:Maybe that's what Kylan was talking about.: Devoni murmured into his mind, his own thoughts apparently distracted. :Remember? When he kept threatening us, but not with himself? In your first meeting with Solas and Astral.:

:You think that's what it is?: Brynn asked back, his thoughts whirling, speedily trying to find a solution. :If so, I guess we should have found out more.:

:Our priorities were clouded by what he is, not who he is.:

Brynn frowned. :You don't think he's really evil, do you?:

There was a sort pause. Voices approached from the outside, but Brynn was tuned inwards, listening for Devoni's honest opinion.

:I don't think so, Chosen.: Devoni replied slowly. :He's a little obsessed with the sight of blood, and he hasn't been Chosen, but I don't think he's truly evil.:

Brynn hummed thoughtfully, considering. :He really is an idiot though.:

Devoni surprised him with his reply. :Aren't we all, Chosen, some of the time?:

Solas and Astral swept into the room before Brynn could think up the right answer for the question.

He knew it was the truth… But it was still somewhat hard to accept.

"How did he manage to escape, Brynn?" Solas asked, his face thunderous.

Brynn squashed down the urge to cringe. "We had a fight. I went to bed, and thought he had as well."

Astral watched him quietly. Solas wasn't nearly so silent.

"Fell asleep? With that murderer in your room? After you'd had a fight? Brynn!"

Brynn scowled at the floor, avoiding the impulse to glance back at the door behind him. He needed to go. "I let my emotions overrule common sense, and I apologise. I would like to go find him now."

Solas hummed and stared at him searchingly. "Astral says we have quite a few things to ask him. It was stupid of me not to have thought about it before, but I suppose you both needed the time to get somewhat used to the bond. Have you both accepted it now?"

Brynn shrugged helplessly, unsure of what his answer was.

"Why don't you want to love him, Brynn?" Astral asked, a queer smile on his face.

Brynn blinked at the King's Own, honestly surprised at the question. What was going on? "Because… because he's a murderer! And he tried to cut the bond, and he killed one of my best friends and he ran away without telling me and – "

Solas' expression darkened again. "Brynn. I am your King. You obey me, you listen to me, you respect me… I hope. I know the last thing you want to hear from me is romantic advice, but – "

"Maybe you should put the past behind you," Astral put in quietly, making the other two Heralds in the room stare at him, astounded. He stared straight back. "What? Akseli's dead. It's over. Shaelin's gone too. We mourn those lost in battle as well, but we don't linger over their deaths when there's work to be done. You know that. We mourn, and then we get back to work. We don't forget them. We just don't linger."

Brynn gaped at the King's Own. "But… this is different!"

"I know that," Astral returned calmly. "I know that. But Kylan's more important to you than a dead Herald's memory. He should be. You can't focus on the dead forever, it's the living that counts. Think about what Akseli would say to you if he were alive still."

Brynn felt a faintly mocking grin cross his face. "He's taunt me about him."

Solas nodded. "Yes. But what else?"

Brynn opened his mouth to answer, and whimpered instead, doubling over and clutching his stomach.

The other two Heralds stared at him, wide eyed. "Brynn? What's wrong?"

"It's Kylan…" Brynn managed to gasp through the sudden pain. "He's… hurt. Lords above, it hurts. I need to go. We have to find him."

Solas and Astral immediately looked more serious. They nodded. "Go tack up Devoni and meet the Guard at the front gates. We'll alert them."

Brynn nodded, stood up straight dizzily, and stumbled out the door, breaking into a sprint the minute he had enough space to run.

:Devoni!: he called urgently.

:Ready, Chosen.: came Devoni's grim reply. :Stable boys are sleeping, so you'll have to tack me up.:

:Ok.: Brynn ran faster, gasping for breath by the time he was outside the Palace. :Devoni,: he started, then hesitated.

:Yes?:

:Do you think what they said is right?:

Brynn concentrated on the feel of grass flattening beneath his boots and of the way stars flickered cheerfully on the horizon while Devoni thought about it. Anything was better than thinking about his life bound at the moment… especially what those unknown people were doing to him.

:I do, I suppose, believe that some of what they say is right.: Devoni responded after a while. :There is no point in living in the past, especially if he'd make fun of you for doing it.:

"True," Brynn gasped out loud as he scrabbled to make the turn into the Companion's stable, where he put his hands on his knees in an effort to start breathing again. He could feel Devoni watching him in amusement, and lifted his head slightly to glare at the innocent looking Companion. "Shut up."

:I didn't say anything.: Devoni nickered with laughter.

"No, but you were thinking it," Brynn accused, straightening up slightly and pointing at the Companion. Devoni playfully laid his ears back.

"None of that now," Brynn panted, and he lugged down one of the saddles on the side of Devoni's stall. "Come on, we need to hurry."

:We could go bareback if you want.:

Brynn glanced at the white horse, considering the idea for all of a few moments. "No, that's all right. We need to give Kylan a ride back afterwards when we find him."

:I think he'd manage quite well bareback.: Devoni looked back as Brynn started buckling up the girth.

"That may be so," Brynn replied, his head low. "But he isn't your Chosen. It's not going to feel as comfortable for him."

:True.: Devoni sighed gustily. :Do think about what they said though, won't you Brynn? You have to live with him forever. It would be easier for both of you if you loved him and vice versa.:

Brynn finished with the saddle and grabbed Devoni's bitless bridle without looking. "It would be easier…" he murmured, and slipped the bridle over Devoni's cooperating head. After he had strapped up the straps, he turned and jogged out, letting Devoni follow him, hooves chiming against the stone floor of the stable aisle.

Once outside, he swung easily up into the saddle and absently picked up the reins. Devoni started for the gate without any visual encouragement, and Brynn was too busy contemplating things to pay too much attention to what his Companion was doing. He trusted him, so why not let Devoni choose the quickest way to get there.

"Devoni," Brynn started hesitantly, as they trotted towards the main gate. "Are… Will they be happy in the Havens?"

Devoni cocked an ear back at him, then turned and stared at the Herald with a dark blue eye. :It's one of the best places you can be, Chosen.: the Companion said seriously, with all the authority of one who had seen the Havens himself.

Brynn smiled at the impossible thought. "Were you ever there?" he asked, half teasing.

Devoni whickered laughter again. He didn't reply.

Brynn didn't have time to contemplate what the silence signified, because there was a crowd of blue uniformed Guards waiting by the gate.

"Milord Herald," one of them said, once Brynn was within hearing distance, "what are we looking for?"

Brynn looked helplessly at him. "He's blonde, with blue eyes, 17 years old –"

"We know that, Milord Herald," the guard interrupted. "We just need to know where to start looking. Do you have any ideas?"

Brynn glanced around. He didn't really have a clue.

A flicker of triumph flashed through him and reminded him different.

"Try the area around Exile's Gate," Brynn heard himself say. "Then go into Exile's Gate itself. Listen for anything suspicious."

The guards exchanged dubious looks. Brynn resisted the urge to grind his teeth. "All right, for anything more suspicious than usual!" he amended.

The guards exchanged wry, sever grins, and started to file out the gate.

:Where are we going, Chosen?:

:Same place.: Brynn replied, waiting for the guards to all get through the single gate so he could pass as well. :Except…:

:Except what?: Devoni's voice said he could already guess, but was just confirming.

Brynn grinned mirthlessly. :Except we'll be going to Exile's Gate first.: