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

A/N I got the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy for my birthday, thus I spent the past two days reading the first half of it and now have a much firmer grasp on heralds and their general roles.  Anyhow I'm thinking it will be easier to write this here ficcy armed with my new knowledge, and of course summer break.  Oh and I noticed that in chapter eleven I said that Asia arrived in town three days earlier, but it was supposed to be three weeks, that chapter has been thusly fixed, but I figured that info might be useful in parts of this chap.

            By the next afternoon I had met our reinforcements.  As Ralph had suspected Tally was not with them.  The grove born was however, and with him the queen's own herald.  Three other companions of approximately Ralph's age were with him as was a smallish contingent of guards.

            I left the heralds and guards to our chosen's for greeting, but felt obliged to welcome the other companions along with Ralph.

            :Hello,: Ralph hailed the four snowy companions standing near their respective chosens on the town green.  I decided that merely following him displayed hospitality enough :Why don't you join us and we can relate what we know to you and leave the human folk to their discussions?: Ralph suggested to them four.  After a brief moment, in which I assumed they conferred with their chosen, they broke away from the gathered humans and joined us.

            We all retreated to the barn where Ralph immediately launched into a detailed explanation of all that had passed.  We were then briefed on the happenings back in Haven.  Apparently there had been a little too much of the death bell tolling.  Some deaths were to be expected but the number was too great for comfort.

            :Are there enough newly chosen to make up for it?: I asked forgetting who I was talking to, until the words were spoken and then it was too late to call them back.  I waited anxiously for an answer.  I didn't have long to wait though.

            :No more than usual, that's the other odd thing,: One of the newcomers, a unkempt looking mare, Dania, replied.

            :What can we do?: I asked, having already started the conversation I was no longer too worked up about it.  If it got too intimidating I could always plead a headache and explain my need to leave with my recent injury.

            :Not much as it stands, our weapons master does his best, but he is no Alberich.: the grove born responded.

            :Alberich, I remember him, he was arms master when Trevi was my companion.:

            :Do you often speak so freely Asia?: the stallion rebuked me dryly.

            :Sorry, just reminiscing.  So how are you saying our heralds aren't adequately prepared to ride circuit?:

            :I am saying that perhaps we should look into further arms lessons for the trainees, it couldn't possibly hurt.:

            :I beg to differ, arms practice can hurt a rather lot.:

            I sensed a grin, :Are you the same mare who once nearly leapt the stable to escape talking to me?: he chuckled and I couldn't help joining him despite our dark topic.

            It was then that the other two new companions, one a mare one a stallion, spoke.

            :It was our year-mate, and her chosen who died last,: the mare, Clytemnestra, said.

            :The herald died; his companion, Cassandra, didn't, and yet she hasn't returned to us.  We have no word of where she might be.  That's the most unsettling part,: the stallion, Eras expanded.

            :Again I ask, is there anything we can do?:

            :Not at the present time, no,: Dania said reluctantly.  That left us with an awkward silence.

            :It's probably just a coincidence,: Garth, grove-born, after laughing with him I found it ridiculous to fear his name, tried to calm our fears.

            :Why would she isolate herself by choice?:  Eras pointed out.

            :One would assume she would like the comfort of other companions,: Dania agreed.

            :That or follow her chosen,: Ralph said with a sigh, :But I know Cass' she wouldn't do that to herself, she just wasn't the sort for it.:

            :So that leaves one option,: Garth remarked squarely.

            :That she isn't away by choice!: I announced with a margin of excitement at understanding.  It helped that I had barely even met the mare in question and her chosen.

            :Who would try to hold a companion against her … oh … : sudden comprehension dawned among the other five companions.

            Ralph was the one who finally voiced the dreaded thought they all shared, :The clan killed Cassandra's chosen and took her captive … but that doesn't make sense, wouldn't holding her chosen make her stay with them more effectively than anything else?:

            :Yes, so what if they didn't kill him?: I asked.  Garth shook his head.

            :Much as we would all love that the death bell is never wrong, and it most definitely rang for Milton.:

            :It rang for all of them,: Eras added.

            :How many of the dead Heralds have their companions unaccounted for?: I asked curiously.

            :Eight maybe? The other three were found.  There were no remains whatever on those ones, just some sending of great fear, then they dropped away completely and the bell tolled.:

            :Are you sure?: I asked feeling stupid, of course they were sure, the death bell was not something any companion would imagine, or misunderstand.  Nor were the emotions and images that went with it.  Yet something about the whole thing seemed off.  Then I had it.

            Jared and Georgette could have pulled off something like that.  False images were the girl's gift, she simply projected what she wanted her victims to see or feel.  It would have taken little for her to emulate that bell.  Magical and old it might be, but foolproof it was not.  No one would bother to question its accuracy, not after so many centuries of it ringing clearly.  The distance and detail needed in such a work would have taxed the girl greatly, but so long as she lived to cast it again there was no doubt in my mind that she would be forced to.

            Strong gifts had no right belonging to such an organization, yet there it was.  As I explained my theory to my compatriots I fleshed out the idea until we had a feasible idea as to what had happened.

            We eventually decided that if, and it was a big if, I was correct the Clan had left ambushes for the eight heralds who had vanished.  Jared or others with a gift similar to his shielded both herald and companion.  Georgette would then send everyone at the collegium the image of the bell and the death.  The vision would encompass the everyone and convince them of the death, thus leaving the clan with a companion, leverage to use against the creature and no one to rescue it.  Not that bad a plan actually, and if we could think of it then it wasn't entirely unlikely that the clan could too.

            The timeline even worked out correctly, the first mysterious death had occurred just after my escape.  It even helped to explain why the clan would so willingly overtax Georgette and Jared.  The extra work was likely a penance for allowing my escape.  I couldn't help but feel sorry for the younglings.  They were all wrapped up in this whole thing, yet they seemed to have very little choice in it.  I sighed, there was no time to sympathize with the enemy though.  We had to relay our information to the people.  Especially if we wanted to act before the clan got into their minds that they could  try something.

            Then again from what Maggie had said they might already be on the move.  Suddenly I regretted letting her go.  If I had thought to stop her we might have gotten more information out of her.  Eight heralds dead, or captured.  I left informing the chosens to the others, they would surely tell Elsa anyhow.

            I was right, of course, but when they mentioned to her what we had discussed she mind-called me :Why didn't you tell me hmm?  Ralph and Garth told their chosen … the others did their best to convey the meaning of it to theirs … you and I talk perfectly well and you didn't bother to tell me?:

            :Sorry chosen ,I was just thinking is all.:

            :It's alright Asia, I don't mean to be rude, but sometimes you can be frustrating.:

            :And you can't? I asked archly.  Then ruined the effect of my best sarcastic voice with a giggle, :Well you know now right?  So how about helping the others plan our course of action.  You know them the best, and don't forget your visions.  If you have had any that haven't happened yet tell them.:

            :Of course, I'll come out to visit you tonight, I doubt we will be able to escape without the mayor's banquet for anything short of the end of the world for the amount he has put into it, but we will leave first thing in the morning I think.:

            :Okay, see you tonight Elsa.:

            After that we companions relaxed grazing on the green or relaxing in the barn as was best pleased us.

A/N that isn't too much of a cliffhanger I trust.  But now we are going to be getting into some real action, I think.  Right, well new chapter for y'all hope you liked it. and thanks in advance for any and all reviews, good and bad.