5
New Life Bonds
Ria rode up to the gates, she couldn't help smiling. She could see Kae grinning ear to ear next to her.
"Are we going to tell every body?" she whispered to her.
"Why not?" Kae asked.
"Maybe we shouldn't bring it up right away with anyone but the Circle."
"Good idea." Ria agreed.
"Why?" Kae asked.
"This place is not like home but still people would talk and maybe not listen to what we have to say. Vanyel got some of that treatment, but he was the most powerful mage in the Circle and nobody knew about Keren and Ylsa but the Circle till Ylsa died and Sherrill joined and still not many people are aware."
"Ok, I give in to logic." Kae acquiesced
That night they all gathered in Kae's room, Ria, Stella, Jeran, Chessy, Madric, Lillin and a few of Lillin's friends.
"You know if this group continues for grow well just need to go to the library or somewhere else because we'll outgrow the room." Lil commented.
"Very true." Stella smiled. Ria had a sense that Stella was coming to like the young trainee. Ria smiled herself at that, Lil was a good addition to the group, and she liked Lil's friends. They were all relatively quite, but with good taste in reading and music.
"Ok, so who wants what instrument?" Chessy called, her eyes twinkling through her blond hair. "We ought to celebrate the safe return of our friends who manage to live through everything, even rock slides!" Stella waved Chessy off on the last bit but dutifully picked up an instrument. Ria pulled out her flute and Kae her harp. Stella gave Lillin her hammer dulcimer. Chessy tuned her fiddle, Jeran his drums and Lillin's friends offered just to sing along. They started with some easy pieces then progressed on through the night peaking with an Aria sung by Ria, Kae, Lillin, and Stella. After that they sang more sleepy songs and then Jeran decided to sing all the bawdy sailor songs he knew and it was him and Chessy and Madric and Lillin's friend Camden singing at the top of their lungs, while everyone else tried to keep from dieing of laughter.
"Goodbye!" Ria sang out one last time as Chessy and Jeran retreated down the hall, leaning on each other. She turned to the room, filled only now by Stella, Ria and Kae. "Well that was quite a party."
"And 'quite a party' means quite a clean up." Stella bemoaned.
"It's not that bad. said Kae from over where she was by the fire place."
"Oh right. Yeah well, only food crumbs and spilled cider! Not to mention that someone accidentally spilt the ashes by the fire, yes and that your rug might be permanently stained, no not bad." Ria informed her.
"Hey, hey, it was lots of fun and that counterweights the work, plus you have me to help you."
"Then why don't you do that?" Stella commented from where she was washing dishes."
Soon they did have Kae's living room back to normal. Ria surveyed their work. You couldn't tell anything had happened. The room was back to pristine then way it had been. It was a magnificent party she had to agree. Singing had always been one of her favorite things to do. Combine that with the joy of seeing people you missed and great food.well she had had a good time.
Kae threw herself down on the fluffy blanket-nest configuration by the fire.
"That was fun." She said, echoing Ria's thoughts.
"Yeah well, it's around two candlemarks from dawn." Stella informed them.
"So?" Ria asked taking up a position next to Kae.
"We aught to sleep." Stella explained.
"Good, that's what I intend to do." Ria closed her eyes. Stella shook her head and got a blanket then joined them.
"We aught to brush our teeth." Kae pointed out a few moments later.
"Do you want to move?" Ria said warningly.
"No."
"Good because if you do then I might have to do something you wouldn't like and that would make neither of us happy."
"You two," Stella put in. "Shut up."
"Right."
"See you in the morning."
"Good night."
"Shut up."
"Love you."
"Love you."
"Love you."
Stella pounded on Ria's door. Ria turned over the light from the sun came in fully, it was mid-afternoon.
"Come in." Stella opened the door, Kae right beside her.
"What's with you?" Kae asked. Then she smiled and a look of knowing dawned on her. "You were used as example helper pells weren't you."
"Ah-uh."
"Now you know how I felt!" Kae said. "I'm sorry. Well guess what."
"What?" Ria asked levering herself up. It hadn't been that bad, but her muscles were just not working right now. Kae looked at Stella.
"Well, I was asked to come train in the mages collegium!" Stella exclaimed.
"That's great!" Ria said, reaching up to embrace Stella. "What does this mean for us?" she asked, pulling herself up into a stand and off her bed.
"Not much, we can still be in the same building if we want." Kae paused, thinking, and then started laughing as she continued. "In fact, they.want to know.if we.really need three rooms. They.appear to want them.back." She said between laughing spurts. Ria joined in laughter with Stella and Kae.
"I'll get my stuff ready to move." She promised after she had gained control again.
It was probably a good thing that Ria was packed because she found a note a few days later that informed her that she would be taking a trainee on her first rounds. Kae of course was coming too. They rarely split up lifebondeds on circle, but Stella had to stay back and work on her mage studies. Ria was disappointed but she didn't let it get to much to her, she would only be gone a short amount of time. She looked to see who she and Kae would be directing. It was Lillin.
They were off within the week. Kera was saddled and ready, Sidra and Lillin's Companion, Zarya, likewise. Stella came to see them off. Giving Ria and Kae a kiss goodbye and waving till Ria could no longer see her behind the curve of the city's winding roads, but she was sure that Stella was still waving.
They went NW along the Terilee River, stopping in small towns to help the villagers and settle feuds and other problems. There wasn't that much trouble. But as they got farther out it did get slightly worse. But it was nothing to complain about.
"The cow was eating my, grass!"
"It was on the side of the road, which is not your grass!" The two screamed at each other.
"Look how about you both share that grass patch from now on. I did the measurements and it is a patch of road grass. Anyone can have a cow eat from it." Lillin said softly and quietly, her voice carrying a whisper through the din. Both men stopped and looked at her. They had obviously not heard what she had said. Lillin repeated herself. The man with the cow smirked. Lillin was handling this well Ria though, even if she wanted to wipe the smirk off the man with the cows face. But this was the law and there was nothing she could come up with to go against him. The person who thought they had own the patch of grass glowered at them all. I sometimes really get annoyed, first chickens, and now cows! What is the world coming to? Ria thought. But then she corrected herself. No, I love being a Herald and I wouldn't trade the stars for it.
"But." Lillin continued. The men stopped glowering and looked at her to see what she would say. Kae and Ria watched as well. They had agreed not to step in unless Lillin got herself in serious trouble or asked for help. "You should have had your cow inside the field. It shouldn't have been wandering. So I would like you to pay a small fine, which is due when livestock is let to roam wild where it might cause havoc. You will pay this fine to the next Herald set going back to Haven. They will be notified." Lillin explained. "I don't want either of you to have to come to me again," Lillin turned to the accuser, "the grass is not you grass, nor is it anybodies. If you think you own a piece of land and someone is using it in a way you don't like, double check if it's your land." She turned to the man with the cow, "And remember that animals out of their designated areas can cause problems and need to be watched, or there will be a fine. Thank you and I hope that this settles it."
They retired to the inn. "That was very well done." Kaelin congratulated.
"Very well indeed. You first case handled solely by yourself. You should be very proud!" Ria added.
Lillin smiled and blushed with happiness, "You think so?"
"I know so."
"Let's eat and celebrate." Kae offered.
They worked their way along. Not slowly, but not at breakneck speed either. They had been on Cirlce for almost a month when they entered a village to be bombarded by crying women and yelling men.
"QUIET!" Ria finally yelled. A hush settled. "You there." Ria took charge. "What's going on?"
"The mine. The North main shaft is down. There was.an explosion. They say it's going to collapse any minute!" Ria nodded grimly and took in all the information she needed.
"Alright. Kae and I will go and bring back the children and see if we can save any of the men as well."
"I'm coming too!" Lil protested. Ria looked at her, the fire in her eyes.
"You can't make me stand aside and wait."
"Alright then."
They rode up to the entry way into the mine. Kae took one look down into the dark pit and then had to turn away.
"I think I'm gonna' be sick." She moaned. "I really want to go down there and help, but I can't. you know how claustrophobic I am. My gift sometimes still acts up when I'm under stress like that. I'd freeze up. I'm really sorry but I can't go down there."
"Alright. you know what stay up here. We'll need someone at this end anyhow. I was going to offer, or have Lillin."
"No way. I'm getting those kids out."
"Right then. Kae?"
"I'll be fine, quit dithering and do it. If you get killed I will never, ever forgive you!"
Ria could feel Lillin clinging to her and the rope as they were lowered down into the dark. The cage that was usually was lowered through the pulley-system was broken, chain reaction to the explosion. Hopefully there was no carbon-monoxide gases lose or there would be more trouble. Ria closed her eyes, spiders lived underground. She felt her arm prickling. No! Stop that you'll only put yourself more at risk of freezing up if you do that! She gritted her teeth.
They hit bottom. Ria took a deep breath, this was the hard part, if there was anything flammable it would be the end, but neither of them had magery as one of their gifts and they needed light. Ria struck the match, nothing happened. She lit the lanterns, nothing happened.
"Well, we're fine. Here's a lantern." Ria said with a sigh of relief. "Come on let's find them."
They called and lit a large lantern by the exit. If anyone could move they could make it to the light and be hoisted out. Ria went down one passage, calling, and Lillin another. When ever she heard a noise Ria stopped and looked for the person. She had to reel in her stomach as it tried to empty itself at the sight of a man whose arm would surely have to be amputated. She helped them and if they could walk told them where to go till they could see the light and make it by themselves. If they couldn't walk she carried them. Lillin did the same. She saw Lillin on one of her many trips back. The young girl was crying her eyes out as she held a limp child in her arms.
"They never had a chance some of them."
"I know. Life isn't fair, keep going. We are endangering ourselves and all of them by waiting."
"I know, but they deserve a proper burial."
"That's true, but work fast." Ria told her as Lillin handed the body to one of the men going up.
Ria was on one of her last trips. She was sure she had gotten everyone, when she heard a faint cry. She raised her lantern and called again. This was a relatively new mine, it was not that deep or that wide. She had run the full extend twice now in the last two or three candlemarks, there had been signs from the outside that it was about to collapse and Kae was worrying her heart out now Ria was sure, but she had to make one last swing.
"Hello?" she called. The response came back. Ria followed the call to the source, finding a small hand grasping out at nothing from under a pile of stones. Ria was aghast but began clearing the rubble. It was easier then when she had had to extract Kae from the earth. Soon she had gotten down to the child, the little frightened boy.
"I can't feel my legs, nothing below my waist!" he exclaimed tears falling down his dirty face.
"You can't walk." Ria surmised. "I will help you." she picked up the child. That was when she began to hear the rumbling.
Ria ran for the exit, carrying the child trying not to be hit by pieces of falling rock. She reached the exit just as Lillin emerged from the other passage, herding a few young ones and a man.
"I think it's about to cave in!" she called needlessly. There were cries to 'hurry' from above. Ria put the man on the small wooden disk attached to the rope. She loaded him up with Lillin's children. The rope reeled upward. Ria prayed they would go faster.
The disk came back down again.
"Ria, you go, I'll come up last. You can carry more children then I can." Lil stated. Ria tried to object but she was already being weighed down with the last of the littles. She had the boy she carried, and a girl on one hip and another boy clinging to her leg.
Ria's head came up above ground. She blinked in the daylight. She set her children down and they were escorted to a tent where a Healer had been flagged down. She handed the Boy to one of the Healer's helpers. Then she found herself enveloped in a hug from Kae. She felt Kae's tear of relief mingling with her own.
"Thank the Star-eyed you back up here." Kaelin said. Ria couldn't say anything. She hugged Kae harder, then pulled back to kiss her not caring who saw what.
Ria turned then as Kae released her and they both went to stand by the pit while the rope was lowered back in.
Lillin stepped on, "I'm coming up!" she called. But as if that call had awakened the spirit that had brought the mine shaft down in the first place, there was another rumble and the mine began to cave in, as if that spirit was not willing to let everyone escape. The men on the rope hauled harder, but the ground gave way from either side of the pit and from below. Ria and Kae were pitched forward.
Ria stood up carefully, Kae next to her. She looked at what had once been the pit, on which they both now stood. All around people who had gotten out or had come to help stood silent. Ria and Kae moved off what had once been a big hole. The mine shaft and most of the mine, pitfalls and tunnels looked to have caved in. and Lillin was not there on top of the earth. Kae looked at Ria, Ria looked at Kae. But for some reason Ria was sure that Lillin was alive, she had been close to the surface when it had caved in so she could not be too far under the rubble. Kae had survived the avalanche. It was possible that Lil had survived too. Ria stretched out a little lick of Mindspeech, like she had with Kae.
:Lillin. Little Lil? Where are you?: almost immediately there came a reply.
:Where do you think I am? Thousands of feet underground that's where!: she was definitely handling this better then Kae did.
"She's there." Ria said. Kae let out a sigh of relief.
"Now I know what you and Stella felt like."
"Yup. Let's dig her out."
It took all day and most of the night to dig Lillin out, even though they had more hands then just their own. By the time they got to her Lillin was not doing much better then Kae had. Lil was trebling and white. She was muttering to herself. 'I am home, I am home, I am home.' Ria reached out her hand tentatively. But the Healer held her back.
"Let us get her to the tent. We will get her a separate place; you can wait with her there. We will need to look over her. But she will be lower on our list I'm sorry to say. She is important, but there are others in worse shape. The Healer escorted them to a tent.
"Stay with here." The Healers said to them all. Kae pulled up a chair, Ria stood.
Ria eventually sat. She fell asleep, leaning on Kaelin. Kaelin herself eased of her chair and wriggled around Ria till they were woven together in a warm little ball on the floor.
Ria was wakened to a knock on the tent flap. She started, waking Kae. They both wriggled apart.
"Come in." Ria called, glancing at Lillin who was sound asleep. The tent flap rose and there to Ria's surprise was Stella. She entered the tent. Without speaking she gathered Kae and Ria into her arms and began to cry. Ria was baffled but let her hold them both.
"One of the Foreseers had a dream-vision. She was very insistent that I follow you to. she said she saw many possible outcomes in her dream but all of them ended with me here. She said that one of you might be in danger. Then a few days ago I heard in a village that there was a collapse in a mine near by and a Herald had been buried. I was so worried. But you are both safe. I was sure that." Stella was crying again, Ria was crying to. they stood their in a tight circle, crying on each other out of happiness and love.
They separated finally.
"So, what happened? The foreseer was sure that someone would be hurt, if not killed." Stella asked. Kae pointed to the bed. Stella drew in a breath. Ria reached out a hand, laying it softly on Lillin's arm. Suddenly, as if with that touch she was awakened from some sleep, Ria felt something. Ria lowered her shields just a tad. Just a tad to much; she was nearly rocked to her knees by such strong emotion her vision was clouded, relief, immense wondering relief, and something else. Something that echoed a vague feeling in Ria herself. Her vision clouded and she grabbed, coming up with Kae and Stella's hands. In the moment they joined hands they could Sense what Ria Felt from Lil.
Stella blinked, Lil blinked. Kae looked to Ria and Ria gazed back. She was sure of the feeling that she had now. It had been fully woken by Lillin's call. Ria saw Kae nod, she was feeling the same way. They both looked at Stella and Lil.
"What can this mean?" Kae asked.
"I'm.I'm not sure." Stella admitted. They all looked at Lillin. Lillin looked back, her eyes wide, pleading. "Ria?" Stella asked. Ria was the Empath she could tell one way or another whether what they thought and Felt was right. She closed her eyes, she looked down deep where her bonds to Kae and Stella were. The original two were strong and glowing, in no danger, there was a third line their, a pale thread of gold, like a tentative ray of sunshine wondering if it was in the right place. It was a more fragile bond then Ria's had been with Kae or Stella at first. They were all lifebonded. She opened her eyes and to prove that what she felt was true she Sent a pulse around, her surprised skeptical happiness, her pure love at the fact as well.
Stella and Kae smiled, Lillin looked confused. She had felt the pulse, she had not understood. Stella chose to enlighten her.
"You're in love with us aren't you, you like us and that's very confusing since there are three of us." Lil nodded.
"And the fact is, though we may have only felt it on a lower level, we love you too." Kae added
"And we love each other so much, and interwove our thoughts, minds, and hearts, so completely with each other; we created a bond, though not intentionally." Ria explained.
"So now you're lifebonded with us." Stella finished.
"I.I do.I do love you." Lillin offered.
Stella laughed though not unkindly. "Now I know why the foreseer said that one of my beloved would be hurt. It was you."
"Why do we always have to have our loved ones get buried?" Kae asked plaintively. "First I got covered in an avalanche and now you get buried in a mine shaft, this can't be a good sign." Ria laughed.
"Let us count our blessings that we're all safe and sound. My question is, has there ever been a lifebonding of four before? There was Keren, Ylsa, and Sherrill. But Sherrill only came out and lifebonded after Ylsa died, all other lifebonds I can think of happened to pairs." Ria mused.
"Good point; well we're the first then." Stella decided. Lillin nodded and reached out for all of them. They enveloped her in a hug, trying not to overturn the bed.
They finished out the rest of the Circle with Stella coming with them. It was a very interesting arrangement, a lifebonding of four. But it was nice. Ria had thought that she was as happy as it was possible to be when it was just her Kae and Stella, but it seemed the universe intended to prove her wrong. Well she could be satisfied with that. she was now sure though that she was the happiest person on earth. She contacted Cian about it. She could feel him laugh, he promised not to tell her mother. :Only you dear sister, only you. I knew something like this would happen. I love you. Getting a job in the Guard. I think a might be getting married soon. I do like her. You know I'll talk to you later; this puts more stress on my mind then yours. Better go. Love you. Tell your partners I can't wait to meet them, they sound like wonderful people.:
They were coming back to the gates again. Ria could see. them in the distance, the city of Haven sparkling as the setting suns red-gold light bounced off the many windows and roofs. She turned to her beloveds, smiling. Lillin's smile out shown the sun as Stella commented.
"Their going to be really happy down there, three free rooms. The only question is, can they find a room for all of us if they put us all together."
"I'm not sure, but we'll find out." Said Kae
"I can't wait." Lillin beamed again.
New Life Bonds
Ria rode up to the gates, she couldn't help smiling. She could see Kae grinning ear to ear next to her.
"Are we going to tell every body?" she whispered to her.
"Why not?" Kae asked.
"Maybe we shouldn't bring it up right away with anyone but the Circle."
"Good idea." Ria agreed.
"Why?" Kae asked.
"This place is not like home but still people would talk and maybe not listen to what we have to say. Vanyel got some of that treatment, but he was the most powerful mage in the Circle and nobody knew about Keren and Ylsa but the Circle till Ylsa died and Sherrill joined and still not many people are aware."
"Ok, I give in to logic." Kae acquiesced
That night they all gathered in Kae's room, Ria, Stella, Jeran, Chessy, Madric, Lillin and a few of Lillin's friends.
"You know if this group continues for grow well just need to go to the library or somewhere else because we'll outgrow the room." Lil commented.
"Very true." Stella smiled. Ria had a sense that Stella was coming to like the young trainee. Ria smiled herself at that, Lil was a good addition to the group, and she liked Lil's friends. They were all relatively quite, but with good taste in reading and music.
"Ok, so who wants what instrument?" Chessy called, her eyes twinkling through her blond hair. "We ought to celebrate the safe return of our friends who manage to live through everything, even rock slides!" Stella waved Chessy off on the last bit but dutifully picked up an instrument. Ria pulled out her flute and Kae her harp. Stella gave Lillin her hammer dulcimer. Chessy tuned her fiddle, Jeran his drums and Lillin's friends offered just to sing along. They started with some easy pieces then progressed on through the night peaking with an Aria sung by Ria, Kae, Lillin, and Stella. After that they sang more sleepy songs and then Jeran decided to sing all the bawdy sailor songs he knew and it was him and Chessy and Madric and Lillin's friend Camden singing at the top of their lungs, while everyone else tried to keep from dieing of laughter.
"Goodbye!" Ria sang out one last time as Chessy and Jeran retreated down the hall, leaning on each other. She turned to the room, filled only now by Stella, Ria and Kae. "Well that was quite a party."
"And 'quite a party' means quite a clean up." Stella bemoaned.
"It's not that bad. said Kae from over where she was by the fire place."
"Oh right. Yeah well, only food crumbs and spilled cider! Not to mention that someone accidentally spilt the ashes by the fire, yes and that your rug might be permanently stained, no not bad." Ria informed her.
"Hey, hey, it was lots of fun and that counterweights the work, plus you have me to help you."
"Then why don't you do that?" Stella commented from where she was washing dishes."
Soon they did have Kae's living room back to normal. Ria surveyed their work. You couldn't tell anything had happened. The room was back to pristine then way it had been. It was a magnificent party she had to agree. Singing had always been one of her favorite things to do. Combine that with the joy of seeing people you missed and great food.well she had had a good time.
Kae threw herself down on the fluffy blanket-nest configuration by the fire.
"That was fun." She said, echoing Ria's thoughts.
"Yeah well, it's around two candlemarks from dawn." Stella informed them.
"So?" Ria asked taking up a position next to Kae.
"We aught to sleep." Stella explained.
"Good, that's what I intend to do." Ria closed her eyes. Stella shook her head and got a blanket then joined them.
"We aught to brush our teeth." Kae pointed out a few moments later.
"Do you want to move?" Ria said warningly.
"No."
"Good because if you do then I might have to do something you wouldn't like and that would make neither of us happy."
"You two," Stella put in. "Shut up."
"Right."
"See you in the morning."
"Good night."
"Shut up."
"Love you."
"Love you."
"Love you."
Stella pounded on Ria's door. Ria turned over the light from the sun came in fully, it was mid-afternoon.
"Come in." Stella opened the door, Kae right beside her.
"What's with you?" Kae asked. Then she smiled and a look of knowing dawned on her. "You were used as example helper pells weren't you."
"Ah-uh."
"Now you know how I felt!" Kae said. "I'm sorry. Well guess what."
"What?" Ria asked levering herself up. It hadn't been that bad, but her muscles were just not working right now. Kae looked at Stella.
"Well, I was asked to come train in the mages collegium!" Stella exclaimed.
"That's great!" Ria said, reaching up to embrace Stella. "What does this mean for us?" she asked, pulling herself up into a stand and off her bed.
"Not much, we can still be in the same building if we want." Kae paused, thinking, and then started laughing as she continued. "In fact, they.want to know.if we.really need three rooms. They.appear to want them.back." She said between laughing spurts. Ria joined in laughter with Stella and Kae.
"I'll get my stuff ready to move." She promised after she had gained control again.
It was probably a good thing that Ria was packed because she found a note a few days later that informed her that she would be taking a trainee on her first rounds. Kae of course was coming too. They rarely split up lifebondeds on circle, but Stella had to stay back and work on her mage studies. Ria was disappointed but she didn't let it get to much to her, she would only be gone a short amount of time. She looked to see who she and Kae would be directing. It was Lillin.
They were off within the week. Kera was saddled and ready, Sidra and Lillin's Companion, Zarya, likewise. Stella came to see them off. Giving Ria and Kae a kiss goodbye and waving till Ria could no longer see her behind the curve of the city's winding roads, but she was sure that Stella was still waving.
They went NW along the Terilee River, stopping in small towns to help the villagers and settle feuds and other problems. There wasn't that much trouble. But as they got farther out it did get slightly worse. But it was nothing to complain about.
"The cow was eating my, grass!"
"It was on the side of the road, which is not your grass!" The two screamed at each other.
"Look how about you both share that grass patch from now on. I did the measurements and it is a patch of road grass. Anyone can have a cow eat from it." Lillin said softly and quietly, her voice carrying a whisper through the din. Both men stopped and looked at her. They had obviously not heard what she had said. Lillin repeated herself. The man with the cow smirked. Lillin was handling this well Ria though, even if she wanted to wipe the smirk off the man with the cows face. But this was the law and there was nothing she could come up with to go against him. The person who thought they had own the patch of grass glowered at them all. I sometimes really get annoyed, first chickens, and now cows! What is the world coming to? Ria thought. But then she corrected herself. No, I love being a Herald and I wouldn't trade the stars for it.
"But." Lillin continued. The men stopped glowering and looked at her to see what she would say. Kae and Ria watched as well. They had agreed not to step in unless Lillin got herself in serious trouble or asked for help. "You should have had your cow inside the field. It shouldn't have been wandering. So I would like you to pay a small fine, which is due when livestock is let to roam wild where it might cause havoc. You will pay this fine to the next Herald set going back to Haven. They will be notified." Lillin explained. "I don't want either of you to have to come to me again," Lillin turned to the accuser, "the grass is not you grass, nor is it anybodies. If you think you own a piece of land and someone is using it in a way you don't like, double check if it's your land." She turned to the man with the cow, "And remember that animals out of their designated areas can cause problems and need to be watched, or there will be a fine. Thank you and I hope that this settles it."
They retired to the inn. "That was very well done." Kaelin congratulated.
"Very well indeed. You first case handled solely by yourself. You should be very proud!" Ria added.
Lillin smiled and blushed with happiness, "You think so?"
"I know so."
"Let's eat and celebrate." Kae offered.
They worked their way along. Not slowly, but not at breakneck speed either. They had been on Cirlce for almost a month when they entered a village to be bombarded by crying women and yelling men.
"QUIET!" Ria finally yelled. A hush settled. "You there." Ria took charge. "What's going on?"
"The mine. The North main shaft is down. There was.an explosion. They say it's going to collapse any minute!" Ria nodded grimly and took in all the information she needed.
"Alright. Kae and I will go and bring back the children and see if we can save any of the men as well."
"I'm coming too!" Lil protested. Ria looked at her, the fire in her eyes.
"You can't make me stand aside and wait."
"Alright then."
They rode up to the entry way into the mine. Kae took one look down into the dark pit and then had to turn away.
"I think I'm gonna' be sick." She moaned. "I really want to go down there and help, but I can't. you know how claustrophobic I am. My gift sometimes still acts up when I'm under stress like that. I'd freeze up. I'm really sorry but I can't go down there."
"Alright. you know what stay up here. We'll need someone at this end anyhow. I was going to offer, or have Lillin."
"No way. I'm getting those kids out."
"Right then. Kae?"
"I'll be fine, quit dithering and do it. If you get killed I will never, ever forgive you!"
Ria could feel Lillin clinging to her and the rope as they were lowered down into the dark. The cage that was usually was lowered through the pulley-system was broken, chain reaction to the explosion. Hopefully there was no carbon-monoxide gases lose or there would be more trouble. Ria closed her eyes, spiders lived underground. She felt her arm prickling. No! Stop that you'll only put yourself more at risk of freezing up if you do that! She gritted her teeth.
They hit bottom. Ria took a deep breath, this was the hard part, if there was anything flammable it would be the end, but neither of them had magery as one of their gifts and they needed light. Ria struck the match, nothing happened. She lit the lanterns, nothing happened.
"Well, we're fine. Here's a lantern." Ria said with a sigh of relief. "Come on let's find them."
They called and lit a large lantern by the exit. If anyone could move they could make it to the light and be hoisted out. Ria went down one passage, calling, and Lillin another. When ever she heard a noise Ria stopped and looked for the person. She had to reel in her stomach as it tried to empty itself at the sight of a man whose arm would surely have to be amputated. She helped them and if they could walk told them where to go till they could see the light and make it by themselves. If they couldn't walk she carried them. Lillin did the same. She saw Lillin on one of her many trips back. The young girl was crying her eyes out as she held a limp child in her arms.
"They never had a chance some of them."
"I know. Life isn't fair, keep going. We are endangering ourselves and all of them by waiting."
"I know, but they deserve a proper burial."
"That's true, but work fast." Ria told her as Lillin handed the body to one of the men going up.
Ria was on one of her last trips. She was sure she had gotten everyone, when she heard a faint cry. She raised her lantern and called again. This was a relatively new mine, it was not that deep or that wide. She had run the full extend twice now in the last two or three candlemarks, there had been signs from the outside that it was about to collapse and Kae was worrying her heart out now Ria was sure, but she had to make one last swing.
"Hello?" she called. The response came back. Ria followed the call to the source, finding a small hand grasping out at nothing from under a pile of stones. Ria was aghast but began clearing the rubble. It was easier then when she had had to extract Kae from the earth. Soon she had gotten down to the child, the little frightened boy.
"I can't feel my legs, nothing below my waist!" he exclaimed tears falling down his dirty face.
"You can't walk." Ria surmised. "I will help you." she picked up the child. That was when she began to hear the rumbling.
Ria ran for the exit, carrying the child trying not to be hit by pieces of falling rock. She reached the exit just as Lillin emerged from the other passage, herding a few young ones and a man.
"I think it's about to cave in!" she called needlessly. There were cries to 'hurry' from above. Ria put the man on the small wooden disk attached to the rope. She loaded him up with Lillin's children. The rope reeled upward. Ria prayed they would go faster.
The disk came back down again.
"Ria, you go, I'll come up last. You can carry more children then I can." Lil stated. Ria tried to object but she was already being weighed down with the last of the littles. She had the boy she carried, and a girl on one hip and another boy clinging to her leg.
Ria's head came up above ground. She blinked in the daylight. She set her children down and they were escorted to a tent where a Healer had been flagged down. She handed the Boy to one of the Healer's helpers. Then she found herself enveloped in a hug from Kae. She felt Kae's tear of relief mingling with her own.
"Thank the Star-eyed you back up here." Kaelin said. Ria couldn't say anything. She hugged Kae harder, then pulled back to kiss her not caring who saw what.
Ria turned then as Kae released her and they both went to stand by the pit while the rope was lowered back in.
Lillin stepped on, "I'm coming up!" she called. But as if that call had awakened the spirit that had brought the mine shaft down in the first place, there was another rumble and the mine began to cave in, as if that spirit was not willing to let everyone escape. The men on the rope hauled harder, but the ground gave way from either side of the pit and from below. Ria and Kae were pitched forward.
Ria stood up carefully, Kae next to her. She looked at what had once been the pit, on which they both now stood. All around people who had gotten out or had come to help stood silent. Ria and Kae moved off what had once been a big hole. The mine shaft and most of the mine, pitfalls and tunnels looked to have caved in. and Lillin was not there on top of the earth. Kae looked at Ria, Ria looked at Kae. But for some reason Ria was sure that Lillin was alive, she had been close to the surface when it had caved in so she could not be too far under the rubble. Kae had survived the avalanche. It was possible that Lil had survived too. Ria stretched out a little lick of Mindspeech, like she had with Kae.
:Lillin. Little Lil? Where are you?: almost immediately there came a reply.
:Where do you think I am? Thousands of feet underground that's where!: she was definitely handling this better then Kae did.
"She's there." Ria said. Kae let out a sigh of relief.
"Now I know what you and Stella felt like."
"Yup. Let's dig her out."
It took all day and most of the night to dig Lillin out, even though they had more hands then just their own. By the time they got to her Lillin was not doing much better then Kae had. Lil was trebling and white. She was muttering to herself. 'I am home, I am home, I am home.' Ria reached out her hand tentatively. But the Healer held her back.
"Let us get her to the tent. We will get her a separate place; you can wait with her there. We will need to look over her. But she will be lower on our list I'm sorry to say. She is important, but there are others in worse shape. The Healer escorted them to a tent.
"Stay with here." The Healers said to them all. Kae pulled up a chair, Ria stood.
Ria eventually sat. She fell asleep, leaning on Kaelin. Kaelin herself eased of her chair and wriggled around Ria till they were woven together in a warm little ball on the floor.
Ria was wakened to a knock on the tent flap. She started, waking Kae. They both wriggled apart.
"Come in." Ria called, glancing at Lillin who was sound asleep. The tent flap rose and there to Ria's surprise was Stella. She entered the tent. Without speaking she gathered Kae and Ria into her arms and began to cry. Ria was baffled but let her hold them both.
"One of the Foreseers had a dream-vision. She was very insistent that I follow you to. she said she saw many possible outcomes in her dream but all of them ended with me here. She said that one of you might be in danger. Then a few days ago I heard in a village that there was a collapse in a mine near by and a Herald had been buried. I was so worried. But you are both safe. I was sure that." Stella was crying again, Ria was crying to. they stood their in a tight circle, crying on each other out of happiness and love.
They separated finally.
"So, what happened? The foreseer was sure that someone would be hurt, if not killed." Stella asked. Kae pointed to the bed. Stella drew in a breath. Ria reached out a hand, laying it softly on Lillin's arm. Suddenly, as if with that touch she was awakened from some sleep, Ria felt something. Ria lowered her shields just a tad. Just a tad to much; she was nearly rocked to her knees by such strong emotion her vision was clouded, relief, immense wondering relief, and something else. Something that echoed a vague feeling in Ria herself. Her vision clouded and she grabbed, coming up with Kae and Stella's hands. In the moment they joined hands they could Sense what Ria Felt from Lil.
Stella blinked, Lil blinked. Kae looked to Ria and Ria gazed back. She was sure of the feeling that she had now. It had been fully woken by Lillin's call. Ria saw Kae nod, she was feeling the same way. They both looked at Stella and Lil.
"What can this mean?" Kae asked.
"I'm.I'm not sure." Stella admitted. They all looked at Lillin. Lillin looked back, her eyes wide, pleading. "Ria?" Stella asked. Ria was the Empath she could tell one way or another whether what they thought and Felt was right. She closed her eyes, she looked down deep where her bonds to Kae and Stella were. The original two were strong and glowing, in no danger, there was a third line their, a pale thread of gold, like a tentative ray of sunshine wondering if it was in the right place. It was a more fragile bond then Ria's had been with Kae or Stella at first. They were all lifebonded. She opened her eyes and to prove that what she felt was true she Sent a pulse around, her surprised skeptical happiness, her pure love at the fact as well.
Stella and Kae smiled, Lillin looked confused. She had felt the pulse, she had not understood. Stella chose to enlighten her.
"You're in love with us aren't you, you like us and that's very confusing since there are three of us." Lil nodded.
"And the fact is, though we may have only felt it on a lower level, we love you too." Kae added
"And we love each other so much, and interwove our thoughts, minds, and hearts, so completely with each other; we created a bond, though not intentionally." Ria explained.
"So now you're lifebonded with us." Stella finished.
"I.I do.I do love you." Lillin offered.
Stella laughed though not unkindly. "Now I know why the foreseer said that one of my beloved would be hurt. It was you."
"Why do we always have to have our loved ones get buried?" Kae asked plaintively. "First I got covered in an avalanche and now you get buried in a mine shaft, this can't be a good sign." Ria laughed.
"Let us count our blessings that we're all safe and sound. My question is, has there ever been a lifebonding of four before? There was Keren, Ylsa, and Sherrill. But Sherrill only came out and lifebonded after Ylsa died, all other lifebonds I can think of happened to pairs." Ria mused.
"Good point; well we're the first then." Stella decided. Lillin nodded and reached out for all of them. They enveloped her in a hug, trying not to overturn the bed.
They finished out the rest of the Circle with Stella coming with them. It was a very interesting arrangement, a lifebonding of four. But it was nice. Ria had thought that she was as happy as it was possible to be when it was just her Kae and Stella, but it seemed the universe intended to prove her wrong. Well she could be satisfied with that. she was now sure though that she was the happiest person on earth. She contacted Cian about it. She could feel him laugh, he promised not to tell her mother. :Only you dear sister, only you. I knew something like this would happen. I love you. Getting a job in the Guard. I think a might be getting married soon. I do like her. You know I'll talk to you later; this puts more stress on my mind then yours. Better go. Love you. Tell your partners I can't wait to meet them, they sound like wonderful people.:
They were coming back to the gates again. Ria could see. them in the distance, the city of Haven sparkling as the setting suns red-gold light bounced off the many windows and roofs. She turned to her beloveds, smiling. Lillin's smile out shown the sun as Stella commented.
"Their going to be really happy down there, three free rooms. The only question is, can they find a room for all of us if they put us all together."
"I'm not sure, but we'll find out." Said Kae
"I can't wait." Lillin beamed again.