There will actually be some action in this chapter finally. Thank you for waiting so long.

Karolyn sent a mental probe toward Rowan. :Excuse me.:

Rowan jumped in surprise and then asked, :Who is it?:

:Kary.: She sent a mental picture of herself.

:Oh. It just startled me because I hadn't realized you knew how to send to someone whose mind you had never touched before and at such distance. Had you any training before?: Rowan's mental voice was tinged with surprise.

Karolyn mentally laughed. :I had never even heard of mindspeech before Emily told me when I was Chosen. Sharon gave me one lesson last night at shielding but that is all.:

:Well, all right then. What did you want to ask me about?: Rowan got back to the subject at hand.

:The new kids—Greg and Anna—need someone to help them get settled in and we have riding lessons in a minute or two. Could you handle it please? We are supposed to have charge of them as their mentors but we don't have time.:

Rowan agreed and said she would me the new Chosen at the door that exited near the Companions' Field. Emily conveyed the message to Idry and Florian, who set off at once with their Chosen carrying the food baskets. Meanwhile, Karolyn and Michael on their Companions had to hurry to the obstacle course. They had proven they could ride but they now had to prove how well they could ride when their Companions were jumping and dodging as they would in extreme circumstances. They started on the first obstacle course, the easiest of them. It was a challenge because a Herald had to compensate for the Companion when he or she is covering difficult terrain. They went through the first course twice that day so they could get the hang of shifting their weight infinitesimally to help the Companion as much a possible no to get off balance. After each of the first years who had already known how to ride had gone through the course, Sharon released the students to take a short easy ride wherever they chose as long as they were back on time to remove the Companions' tack and groom them.

Kary and Mike decided to reverse the order of things so they would know they had time. Then they rode bareback to the Grove again to continue the history lesson. There was a surprise waiting for them there in the form of a strange Companion. Emily and Stephen were just as surprised to see him as the two humans were.

He introduced himself as Andrew and said that he was the Companion of Queen's Own Herald, Monica. He then added, :The queen was naturally informed of the strange new talents you both exhibit. Well, actually we have known of earthsense but no one has had it in many centuries so it is of endless fascination to us. Monica and I were sent here to see if you could help with something. You see that the temple is in ruins. There is some mystery surrounding it. Back when we last had someone with earthsense, the country was in so much turmoil that no one even thought to have it investigated. Perhaps with your help we can discover what it all means.:

The teenagers listened in fascination but then remembered that it was almost class time. Before they could say anything, Monica came out of the ruins and said, "We have already cleared everything with your teachers. Jacy will be able to tell you whatever you were supposed to have learned in class today. She has been learning them from a young age." That little tidbit got their attention.

"How do you know so much about Jacy?" They asked in unison.

Monica laughed and said, "You two sound as if you are practically mindlinked." Then she stared in astonishment as she realized that they were and to what depth. She blinked and shook herself out of her shock. "This goes no further, mind. Jacy is Gina's younger daughter—Queen Gina I should say."

Now it was their turn to stare in shock for a moment. Then Kary said, "We'll do it." They followed Monica into the collapsed building, opening a link to Emily and Stephen so that the Companions could see through their eyes and not have to risk stumbling on the broken floor. Mike reacted first, turning deathly white as sensations spanning millennia flooded him. Kary and Monica steadied him, while mentally helping him adjust to the memories the land had here.

Then Kary walked over to a crater in the floor and climbed down, carefully not touching anything with her bare skin until she reached the center, which contained a sort of odd pearl. She sat down and braced herself before reaching out to pick it up. Even so she nearly fainted and did momentarily gray out. Emily anchored her and pulled her back out within seconds. Kary had dropped the pearl but she picked it up again. This time she managed to pull herself together and interpret what she was receiving. It seemed that a tornado had touched down in the Companions' Field over two thousand years earlier. A mage had sent it and it had picked up a Herald who was riding his Companion without touching the Companion (A/N I mean the tornado didn't touch the Companion. Sorry if that sentence is vague). The Herald was then dropped onto the temple by the tornado, which wrecked the building but couldn't harm the Bell tower. The Herald had been killed and the faux-pearl was all that remained of him. His Companion was so angry that he had been unable to protect his Chosen that he left Haven and vowed never to return until he had avenged the death and made atonement. He had been reborn many, many times always remembering the sacred vow. He had long since killed the evil mage but since then he had made his atonement by killing any bloodpath mage that he could find. The spirit of the dead Herald had been able to keep track of his Companion all the time and knew that the man had completed his atonement. For both of them to be freed from the enchantment that kept them, the Companion/man would have to find the remains of his Chosen and destroy them. No one else could do this. Guy, the spirit, finished the tragic tale by telling Kary, :Robie is on his way to Haven but he is angry. He can't free me unless he loses that anger. He is also afraid. His children have been Chosen and he fears for them and their Companions. You have to take me to him before he confronts them or both of us will be doomed.:

Kary sat in shock for several more minutes as the revelations were unfolded but since she was mindlinked to Mike, he was able to tell Monica all of this before she died of curiosity. Finally Kary asked, :Which children are you talking about?: She had a feeling she knew what he was going to say, though.

:Their names are Greg and Anna.: He said. Kary had expected this response and her next question was about how much time she had to get him to Robie before the man met his children. :I'd say about five minutes or less so you'd better hurry.:

At that, she jumped to her feet and climbed out of the crater without taking any precautions. "Let's go!" She yelled out loud. She vaulted effortlessly onto Emily's back and set off at top speed for the place the spirit of the pearl directed her to. Somewhere at the back of her mind she felt amusement at taking orders from a stone but she had no time to contemplate to notion for she suddenly caught sight of Robie. He was approaching the school and she was barely on time to intercept him. Unfortunately, she had no idea what to do next. The pearl wasn't sure what she should do either so she decided she would have to wing it.

Coming up to him at a more sedate speed, she asked in her most innocent voice if she could help him. He focused on her abruptly as he tried to catch his breath from the fast pace he had maintained.

"I'm going to see what the heck my children are doing here, young lady. I can't afford to send them here."

Kary smiled sweetly and said, "Don't worry about the price. They are here on scholarship. You're Greg and Anna's dad aren't you. I can see the family resemblance."

He blurted out, "That wasn't the price I meant, I was talking about…Oh, you wouldn't understand."

"Are you sure? I was Chosen by Emily just a couple of days ago but I know I would go crazy if she died. I would do anything for her."

Robie looked confused. "You don't look like a Herald-trainee. You have on grey but where is your Companion?"

Emily whickered in her sort of laughter and Kary did her best to keep a straight face. She explained to him about the illusion the Companions wore and the reason for it. Robie visibly calmed down as she spoke and she spontaneously decided to keep talking his hopes of ridding him of his anger altogether. She told him all about her first few days at the school and the fact that her friend had lifebonded to Greg. At that last, he jumped. "Lifebonded? But he's only fourteen. He can't be doing all that…"

Kary hastened to reassure him. "Don't worry. They've only met once, just last night. How did you know so quickly that they had been Chosen?"

"I have my sources." He said. "Besides, if they just met last night, how do you know they are lifebonded?"

Kary glanced over at Mike who was a little ways behind her with Monica. She beckoned for him to come join her. "I know because I am lifebonded myself without any of 'that' coming into it. And I know Greg is sensible though I barely know him. But even if he weren't, I do know Jacy and let's just say there's no chance of 'that' until they are married."

Robie burst out laughing all of a sudden. "You know, I like your attitude. How do you like being a trainee so far? You've told me some of your activities but have you enjoyed it? Do you think my kids will like it? I…" He broke off.

They were both silent and Kary took the moment to ask Guy if Robie was ready yet. Guy answered, :You decide. I know what I said earlier about meeting his kids but I think he should have a chance. I can wait a bit longer and he should at least get to tell them goodbye. I never got to tell my children goodbye.:

Kary broke the silence. "Robie," she said, and he jumped.

"How did you know my name?"

"Look," she said, "I have something sort of difficult to tell you. I found the remains of your Herald, Guy. He told me to take him to you because that way you will both be able to go to the Havens finally. You must break this pearl yourself. He says to advise you though, that you should tell your kids you are going to die, and take care of your will." She held out the pearl to Robie. He stared at her for a long moment before accepting the pearl. Immediately upon touching it, he calmed down for real.

He looked dazed to Kary, but he said in an almost normal voice, "Well, you seem to know what's going on here. Would you happen to know where Greg and Anna are? I hate to leave them orphans but since they've been Chosen, I don't really need to worry about their lacking family. I had almost forgotten that in my irrational fear that they might lose their Companions. But soon I will go to my rest."

Kary turned to Mike and raised and eyebrow. He responded by moving up alongside her as they rode to the entrance of the school. When Robie dismounted, he looked for a place to tie his ordinary horse. Instead, Mike took the reins from him and said, "Don't worry, sir, Stephen will take him to the stable for you." He looped the gelding's reins onto the halter of his Companion, who led the horse away. Robie thanked him and then allowed the two young people to lead him into the building. Monica followed behind them, still silent.

Kary cast about her with her mind until she touched Rowan's. :Are Greg and Anna with you?: She asked, after identifying herself. :Their father is here. It's a long story but he is about to die and has come to say farewell to his children. I'll explain later.:

Rowan was shocked but told the girl where to find the new Chosen brother and sister. :This had better be good.: She added.

:Oh, it is. Herald Monica was with us too.: Rowan was struck speechless by this last so Kary set off to Herald Eldan's office, where the two were being grilled on their schooling and background.

Rowan barely managed to tell him he had a surprise coming before there was a knock at the door. He called for whoever it was to come in. He recognized the first two who came in but the man behind his was unfamiliar, though his new charges obviously recognized him. The fourth person was a total surprise. He knew Monica of course but he had not been expecting her, especially since the Queen's Own rarely parted from the queen except in the most dire of circumstances. He rose to his feet in respect, though she immediately waved him back down. Greg and Anna, though, did not pay the slightest heed to the woman. They were busy talking to their father, at first fearful and then full of sadness. They were talking too low for him to hear but he saw tears fill their eyes. Finally the stranger hugged them both and turned to the other boy and girl who had been standing by silently watching the proceeding.

Robie asked them, "Would you like to come witness for me. I don't really want my kids to watch but since they insist I hope you will go with us so you can comfort them." They nodded in agreement and he turned to Eldan and Monica. "I would be much obliged if you would come too. You might be better able to comfort the children, though I'm not so sure about that." Eldan still looked completely bewildered but he nodded after Monica did.

The group headed outside to the Grove. When they reached the place where the whole mess had started, Robie hugged his children one more time and then thanked Kary. He also asked that they find a good home for his horse. He had already registered a will so that was not necessary. Then he held out his hand with the faux-pearl lying on his palm. He stared at it piercingly and used his long abandoned gift of Fetching, which he had had when he was originally a Herald but which he had mostly abandoned when he began his quest for the evil mage.

The pearl burst open and at the same time, Robie seemed to dissolve. However, they could still see his spirit, which looked like him but was transparent. In front of him appeared the spirit of another man, who mouthed his thanks to Kary. Then a third Herald spirit appeared, but this one had a sense of majesty and was overwhelmingly beautiful, though impossible to distinguish the gender. (A/N Vanyel saw Death as a man but Jaysen called the spirit Lady Death) The spirit Death smiled at them all and then reached out his hands to the two before him. They joined hands with each other and then took the hands of Death. The circle brightened until all the witnesses had to turn away and then all three spirits vanished.

Anna and Greg were both crying openly but for joy as well as sorrow because of the love and peace they had just seen. They would miss him but were glad he had been so happy when he died. The other four were also overcome with emotion at the strange scene. None of them could express what they felt, though they all stood in silent sharing with their Companions. Mike and Kary of course were also sharing with each other and each other's Companion, though this time they shielded.

They finally broke out of their trance as all the Companions presently in the Field came to the grove. They realized too that the Death Bell was tolling. All the Heralds now knew something about the death of Robie, though it wasn't as clear as usual. The Companions all stared as one at the ruins of the chapel. The humans turned to look in that direction as well and saw that the area was glowing. Slowly the chapel began to rebuild itself so that there was no crater and the chapel stood just as it had in the time of Herald Vanyel. Finally, the light died and the Companions turned away. All of them left the Grove except for those whose Chosen were standing there.

The humans mounted up and headed back to the Collegium. They had many things to do, such as tell Rowan and Eldan the story of Robie and to learn as much as they could. After all, they had Gifts to be trained for the good of all Velgarth. Thus four years passed as they made friends and stuffed their brains with more knowledge than they could hold. It was discovered that both Karolyn and Michael had eidetic memories, which was a blessing and a curse. There was much more in store for them, however, for in other universes, there were amazing things happening that were to have a great impact on this magical world.

I am planning a sequel if anyone is interested and have in fact worked on one but it needs a great deal of fixing because when I wrote this story, the prohibition not to write Anne McCaffrey characters was not up. So I will need to revise half the plot. Please be patient and I hope you enjoyed the story.