Disclaimer: All Valdemar related items in the below story are the possessions of Mercedes Lackey, not me.

A/N My computer came back, and it didn't even have it's memory wiped like last time J! But all my stuff is currently on my step-dad's computer so now I have to take the time to transfer it all, but I can do that after this chapter, which I am writing in lieu of studying for my Chem exam tomorrow.  Thanks to all reviewers (I think I have been remiss in pouring praise on you all so many, many, many, thanks!  Oh and Magdellin (I think that's it) I will try to remember the periods with the companions, it just seems so wrong to put a period right before a colon (and yet I'm fine with exclamation points and question marks...) Oh well here's the next chapter for all y'all.

            I stayed around the manor for a while before boring of the ashy remains.  At that point I made my way back to the green.  Johanna was just saying her goodbyes to Ralph, but most of the other kids had found other things to occupy them.  Only a handful of hopeful looking youngsters remained to crowd around as the Calebson girl left.  Ralph's legs disappeared from view as the swarming kids clamored to be the next for a ride.

            :Still giving pony rides Ralph?: I asked skeptically.

            :No … well I guess I don't have much choice at this point.: He revised his answer as a boy climbed onto his back.

            :Well, sure you do, just make it abundantly clear that you are most definitely not a pasture pony!  A few good hops ought to send the brat sprawling.:

            :What if he got hurt?:

            :He shouldn't be climbing up on strange horses, not to mention companions: I said with a mental shrug, :Besides it won't hurt him much.:

            :Not funny Asia, I'll just give this one a ride and then leave …:

            :Ha!  If he gets a ride they will all want one, you are going to be here for a very long time.:

            :Not if I have some help,: Ralph commented dryly.

            I didn't respond, just trotted straight at the gaggle of younglings, ears pinned back menacingly.  As expected they scattered.  It was then a simple matter of staring down the boy on Ralph's back before I had my friend to myself.

            :Better?: I asked brightly.

            :That wasn't the kind of help I meant.: Ralph complained.

            :I hadn't known what a softie you are.:

            :They're nice kids, I didn't mind giving them rides, it isn't often a kid can say he rode an actual companion!:

            :There is a reason for that you know Ralph.:

            :I liked Johanna, she reminds me of …:

            :Of who?:

            :Of a former life, nothing of importance, forget I mentioned it.  So I assume you wanted to talk to me since you drove off all of my fans?:

            :Did any of the kids mention the mayor's middle son?:

            :No, why?:

            :I think he might be with the clan is all.:

            :Oh, well, what do you want to do today, the others should be here within a few days, but until then we might as well be useful.:

            :I agree entirely, what do you say to a quick sweep of the town's perimeter, the clan might be in the area if Harold really did start the fire.:

            :I haven't got anything better to do,: Ralph responded with a mental shrug.

            I lead the way past the charred remains of the storehouse on the way out of town.  Ralph and I ignored the ashes pointedly and were soon a goodly distance from the town.  From there it was easy to forget about the troubles that seemed to plague us.   As we walked I found myself just enjoying the peaceful countryside and companionship.

            Thus I was thoroughly enjoying myself when Ralph stopped.

            :Asia, there's someone there …:

            :Where?: I asked not quite stopping.  I glanced around and saw the small figure shivering in front of us.  Magritte had appeared out of nowhere.

            "Companion?" the girl questioned.

            :Magritte?  Elmira's daughter? What are you doing here?:

            :You know her?: Ralph asked skeptically.

            :Yes now shush,: I sent briskly to Ralph, :Speak up girl.: I barked at Magritte.

            "I came to find you.  Miss Elmira was furious when she found out about your escape.  I came to warn them."

            :Warn who about what?:

            :The new recruits,: Magritte said switching to a quavering mind-voice, :I had to warn them about the clan … they can never get out, most  of them don't know that.:

            :I thought you had kitchen duty, what are you doing wandering around the countryside?:

            :Selwyn took over for me while I'm gone.  I have to go back soon.  I arrived too late for warnings, but I wanted to slip a message to Elsa if possible.:

            :What kind of message?: I asked suspiciously.

            :About the mayor's son.  The boy is extremely powerful, and he is also very much under Miss Elmira's control, be on your guard, and tell her that her cousins are pulling for her as much as possible.:

            :You should probably leave now,: I said icily, but secretly I found the girl's message intriguing, as I watched her flee I couldn't help but hope she wasn't caught upon her return to the clan camp, wherever that might be, :let's get back Ralph, I don't think we will find anything else here.:

            :Sure and on the way back you can tell me about her,: He sent an image of himself gesturing off after Magritte.  I obliged as we trod back to our comfortable stalls to await our chosens.

We waited for less than a candle mark.  Elsa and Bart arrived together, chattering about the plans the mayor was already in the middle of drawing for his new home.  Ralph and I waited patiently for them to stop nattering and pay attention to us, and we eventually rewarded with two obedient humans with brushes.

            :Grooming?: I asked hopefully.  Elsa grinned and nodded.  If there was one thing I liked better than sugar it had to be being brushed.  How I loved the lovely feeling of dirt leaving my coat, and ever since my little illness I had a slight paranoia about looking more gray than white.

            Yes, I liked brushes, like being an understatement.  The soft swish of the brushes on our coats and an occasional creak were the only sounds in the cozy sunlit old barn.  For long moments neither Ralph, nor I brought up our encounter.

            The silence was too good to last though, I sighed and launched into an explanation :Chosen?:

            :Yes?: Elsa asked softly, as if she were half asleep.

            :Ralph and I went for a walk earlier and we met someone, she wanted me to deliver this message, the mayor's  boy is extremely powerful, and he is also very much under Miss Elmira's control, she said for you to be on your guard, and to tell you that your cousins are pulling for you as much as possible, whatever that is supposed to mean!:

            :It seems quite obvious that it means the boy has a powerful gift.:

            :I meant the part about your cousins.:

            :Who did you speak with?:

            :Magritte.:

            :Maggie?  Well it's about time she got a nerve, so she snuck away to warn you?:

            :You, but essentially yes.  Who are your cousins?:

            :My year mates.: Elsa explained mindlessly.

            :Oh, how many are there?:

            :Selwyn, Maggie, Rena, Georgette, Ishmael, and a few others I don't know that well.:

            :Oh, what about Jared?:

            :He's a year below me actually, the only reason they use him is because of the destructive power of his particular gifts.: Elsa explained.  I thought about it for a moment and then nodded, it made sense.  The rest of our grooming proceeded in silence, at least between Elsa and me; I only assumed that Ralph had already told Bart of our walk.

            "We are meeting with the mayor after dinner tonight," Bart said aloud for the convenience of us all hearing him.

            "He seemed not to care that his son wasn't accounted for, either he knew where the boy was or he truly didn't care for the lad," Elsa added.

            "Poor boy, the clan sure picks its trainees well though, doesn't it?  I mean if his dad doesn't care about him and they even pretend to he'll be loyal, and if his father sent him to them for training then he will be loyal to please his father."

            "Too true," Elsa agreed.

            :So what do we intend to do about it?: I asked the group at large, not bothering to exclude Bart from my sending.

            "What can we do?  We don't even know the kid's name …" Bart responded dully.

            :I know it, Johanna told me earlier, she was saying how he did magic tricks for her and the other kids their age.  He was her friend I guess.  His name was, um … Oliver.:

            :Softy,: I teased, but only sent it to Ralph.  He sent back an image of himself looking high-minded and haughty, I sent the same image back including large mud splatters.  He gave me a look and then ignored me pointedly.

            "Oliver then, what is his powerful gift … and exactly what kind of tricks would he be demonstrating with it?" Elsa asked scrutinizing the few facts we had.

            "I don't know," Bart responded.

            :Me neither,: Ralph and I chorused.

            The mystery was left to wait though because it was just then that a rather loud booming noise seemed to shake the barn to its rafters.

A/N hehehe, cliffhanger, my last exam is tomorrow, so then I have all summer to do random things and write fics, sounds good.  My birthday is tomorrow too… reviews make good good good gifts (hint hint, not so subtle hint) love y'all (in a strictly friendly sense) bye bye for now and thanks for the reviews J.