Twin Destinies

Disclaimer: I own all of the non Mercedes Lackey created characters. The 'Arrows' people do not belong to me, they belong to Lackey.

Chapter 1

" Raina, hit me harder!" Lauren urged, stabbing at the air around his student as the small girl moved lithely out of the way and let her own practice blade waver.
She just stood there, head tipped to the side as if listening to something. Her bright green sparkled as they did when she knew something the others did not. " Someone is on the road." She took a large step backwards. " Two someones."
Lauren put down his sword and also listened. There was a sound that was familiar to him, but he wasn't sure. Bending and picking up the scattered gear they had flung about the ring in their lazy practice, his stomach squeezed in fear. He knew the sounds of the hoofbeats, clear and pure as silver bells, even on the packed dirt road.
Companions.
" Run and tell Mama we've got visitors." Lauren said, standing and walked to the gear shed, putting everything in its rightful place more meticulous than he usually did.
Raina ran willingly. Out in the backfields of Valdemar they didn't get many visitors, only their clients returning the goods. It was their business and they were good at it, and they had few disturbances. Life was good sometimes.

" Mama! Mama!" Raina jumped up and down, tugging at the sleeve of her mother's red tunic.
Usually the young girl of nine summers was solemn and serious, but the anticipation of visitors excited her greatly. Marie Ravensmorn was tired, and even though she loved all her children, she did not want to deal with them right at that moment.
" We have visitors!" Raina squealed joyously and Marie looked sharply down at her daughter.
" It is only one of them men, Raina, calm down." She frowned. Looking at Raina's tangled blond hair with disdain.
" She is right Mother." Lauren said from the doorway, as tired and dusty as Raina, but without the obvious pleasure of new people coming. " Not just visitors, but Companions in full gear and no riders in sight."
Marie did not have to use her assassin honed instincts to know what that meant. It was not an unfamiliar occurance anymore, not since Kora had left proudly on her own white symbol of Valdemar.
" There will be a Choosing!" Boomed Callion, Raina's and Lauren's father, as blond as any of them; but out of all of his children, only Raina shared his green eyes.
" Who would have thought?" Callion threw Raina up into the air as they both laughed the same loud laugh, only one was deep and rough and the other was high and bell-tone clear.
Lauren looked away jealously. It had been near thirteen years since his father had laughed with him like that. He missed it.

: Alver!: The stallion heard the frantic voice in his head. :Stop!:
He started to slow down, not wanting to stop instantly and let himself pant and wheeze for a few minutes, then realized he was exhausted. He was glad his Shora had made him finally see his own needs for once in his hurry.
: Thanks, sister-mine. I should have been paying attention.:
The smaller Companion moved up to his side, nudging his head down and lightly lipping at his ear. : It's always me that has to watch out for you, isn't it?: She scolded lightly, but he felt the smile in her words.
: Always and forever.: He said, putting his head under Shora's chin for a moment, a thing he used to do when he was a foal and unusually nervous.
: What if she doesn't like me? We've never been out this far before, her people might not want their child to be a Herald.: Alver started to rant, but caught himself and his mind colored with a mental blush.
: You know, in the beginning, I came to help you and make sure that nothing happened to you. But now,: She lifted her head and stood tall, regal and shining in the last sunlight. : Now I think there is someone who needs me, someone who needs me to choose them.:
Alver snorted. : As long as there are no long side trips.: He teased playfully.
Shora bit his rump, causing him to squeal and mock charge her. : We were lost! It was your fault anyway, wanting some honey root and eating things until you found it. Remember the horrible stomach pains you had afterwards?:
Alver merely laughed in her mind and they started off again.