I don't own Valdemar or anything. Please review.
After supper, in order to organize her feelings and sort out all the new names and information, Karolyn decided to walk out toward the stables. She found a path and decided to follow it, hoping she wouldn't get lost in the dark. She felt drawn and wondered why, but followed the feeling, which led her off on a branch of the path into some trees. She wasn't scared, exactly, though she thought that maybe she should be. She looked around and saw standing nearby, a horse. For a moment, it seemed to be a young golden mare, but the eyes of the horse caught her attention because they flickered suddenly from brown to an intense blue. She felt as if she were drowning as she gazed into those eyes and had a sense of completion, which was startling because she hadn't realized anything was missing, but at the same time she was happier than she had ever been.
:I Choose you,: a voice said in Karolyn's head. :I am Emily.: With the voice came a flood of love and knowledge, explaining what a Companion was, the fact that she was now a Herald-trainee, and the vision of white horses, only they weren't horses but something far more.
Karolyn did not want the moment to end but it suddenly did and she dropped out of her trance. She stood silent in shock for a brief moment before running and hugging Emily. The two of them walked side by side for a few minutes along the path until they reached a handy bench Karolyn could step onto in order to mount the Companion. Finally, Karolyn asked, in her mind since she didn't want to break the serenity, :So what now? Where are we going?:
Emily answered, :We are going to another grove. This field is much bigger than it looks to non-Heralds or Herald-trainees. This grove I'm taking you to is the one meant specifically for times like this because it has a sort of man made cave in it. We can spend the night there getting to know each other. Well, I already know somewhat about you from when I first touched your mind, but…anyway, your teachers will understand because all of them are Heralds. You won't have any non-Herald teacher for the first few years. All of us Companions are white but we are disguised as regular horses so as not to arouse suspicion. And anytime someone thinks to buy one of us, they suddenly think we are not worth the money. Here we are. I expect you are curious about all of this. I'll try to help you understand to a certain degree but I can't tell you everything.:
Karolyn dismounted and found that they were at a strange looking building. It was halfway open to the night air and half-enclosed. That way in the summertime it would be comfortable with a mosquito net pulled down and in winter there were pullout doors to cover the entrance.
It was a warm night so she left them open and just pulled down the netting, which she attached to the hooks she found. Emily told her where she could find a special lantern, which had to be lit but was enclosed in some strange glass or clear metal unlike any she'd ever see which was unbreakable so they couldn't set the place on fire. There was also a bedroll in one corner, a sort of combination of sleeping bag and air mattress and it came with a pump. Before she unrolled it though, she spread out a thick layer of straw for Emily and covered it with a blanket. Emily thanked her but said she would rather have the blanket spread over her in case the night got chilly.
As Emily lay down and got settled, Karolyn made her own preparations, getting the bedding as close as possible to her Companion. She lay down and put an arm over Emily's neck. :Okay,: she said, :what shall we discuss first?:
:I guess I will start at the beginning,: Emily said, :and I don't mean the creation story either. Okay, three thousand years or so ago a man named Baron Valdemar escaped an evil king and brought those of his barony who decided to come with him. He established himself in a land far away from that other kingdom. He was mage and a very religious man. He feared that his new kingdom would eventually turn as corrupt as the land he had left so he prayed an followed and ancient magical rite which he had discovered in a very old scroll in his family's library back when he was a child. So that evening he collapsed and when he woke up, he saw three white horses with blue eyes and silver hooves. He looked into the eyes of the first one and was Chosen. His herald came along a few minutes later, followed shortly after that by the Heir, both drawn by a powerful urge, similar to the one that brought you to me, Karolyn. Anyhow, he decided that all people so Chosen would be called Heralds, and the Companions would keep them from straying into evil. So kings and queens and Heralds have come and gone these millennia and eventually the government changed. The people did not want to believe in magic anymore because of the evil things that they had seen done with it. Therefore the Herald-Mages cast a spell which makes it so that every ruler this country has is a Herald still, though the citizens don't know it. All they know is that every king and queen has loved horses. Companions and Heralds and all the rest from those days are thought to be myths but really we are just living in disguise. There is another spell, set up by Herald-Mage Vanyel, which connects all Heralds to each other. It also had another effect he didn't notice. Before, Companions always went out to get their Chosen, with a few exceptions. Now, however, those of the mindset and heart are drawn to this school without knowing why and are then chosen.:
Karolyn was fascinated by all of this and sat up on her elbow but kept an arm around Emily. :What do you mean by mindset?: She asked.
:Well, first of all,: Emily answered, :is the fact that you are able to talk mind to mind with me so soon. Usually it is several years before that happens. Also, when I looked into your mind as you looked into my eyes I found your memory of this afternoon when you first saw us. You saw through the glamour, the illusion set to make us look normal horse colors. I am not entirely sure which Gifts you have yet but your teachers can help you with that. You are tired and have had a lot of information thrust upon you. Why don't you get some rest. You may sleep as long as you like because I've already told your teachers where you are. Don't worry, I'll be here when you wake up and no matter where you go, we will always be together, mind and heart.:
Karolyn wanted to ask more questions, about Gifts and magic, but she was too tired and fell asleep with a smile on her face, snuggled against Emily's stomach.