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

A/N alrighty, another chapter, this ought to be up soon, except that I have writers block, and unless I am horribly pestered by either myself or my reviewers I guess I'll wait until I think of something... okay, so I thought of something, but I took a while to write it because school started Monday, and I got my driver's license (which is totally cool).

Anyway here's the new chapter.

            Our second watch was worse than the first.  Elsa and Bart had exhausted material for conversation and were enjoying each other's company, and Ralph was still guarding Miss Elmira.  So I once again established a perimeter.

            I plodded the edge of the camp in utter boredom.  Dark trees seemed to throw dancing shadows at me, but I braved them stoically.  Until a birdcall startled me nearly out of my skin.  So I was absolutely terrified, big deal.   At least I stuck to my watch; I could have just buried my head in Elsa's bedroll until morning.

            After my scare the watch passed quietly for a time.  I continued to maintain my vigilant surveillance, though, and I was rewarded.  Perhaps three quarters through the watch I caught a movement to the east of our encampment.  I decided to investigate.

            Picking up and interested trot I went over to the slightly darker blurb near the tree line.  As I approached I heard the shadow rustling.  It shrank away from me, and I stopped and extended my neck out toward it in an attempt to better see it.

            A trembling boy peered back at me fearfully.  He was fear-stricken.  I contemplated what to do with him briefly.  My need to deal with the issue was resolved when I noticed a light figure melting out of the shadows to stand at the boy's side.  

            :Martin  is my chosen,: the new companion warned me. 

            :I had no intention of harming him,: I assured the younger companion, Eldritch, I remembered him as barely more than a colt gamboling about in the mud.

            :Good, and thank you.  I found him this evening after the clan master was captured, she had him on her monstrosity of a horse with her.  When Garth started to catch up she ditched him, poor lad…:  the mind voice was laced with the thick concern that was a trademark of a companion with his newly chosen.  The comment was accompanied by an image of a boy tumbling forcibly from the big horses's back and rolling a few paces, frankly it looked painful.

            "Is she safe Eldritch?" a scared boyish voice queried.

            :Yes, this is Asia, she helped me reach you today.:

            The little boy turned to face me gravely, "thank you for helping me to meet Eldritch, I am in your debt."

            :It was my pleasure Martin,: I replied sincerely, :I take it you couldn't reach Martin and had to be content to follow the clan until you could finally see them and make a move?:  I added only to Eldritch.

            :Yes, like you as I've heard it told.:

            :Too true.  I have a feeling my chosen may be able to help yours transition to life as a herald.:

            :Yes, the clan had him starry-eyed with visions of grandeur until he actually joined and then it was a matter of staying alive and well…:

            :I know.: I said heavily, memories, both my own and Elsa's flashing to the surface of my mind. I sighed and then announced to Martin and  his companion, :Come and join us at our fire, you may as well travel back to Haven with us, we can stop by Martin's home for him to bid his family farewell.:

            :Thank you,: Eldritch replied, his chosen echoed the sentiment and I led the pair back to our campfire. 

            Elsa caught sight of Martin first.

            "What's he doing here?" she demanded of me.

            :He's been chosen.  He's the mayor's boy that ran away.:

            :Him?  Chosen?:

            :Yes, his companion is right beside me,: I pointed out joining Martin in the warm glow of the firelight.

            "Humph!  Well, come and sit with us boy, I suppose you have questions about what's going on?" Elsa edged away from Bart and then forestalled Martin's inevitable stream of questions, "Well I certainly won't be answering them!" she paused a moment before softening the remark in a confidential tone, "it's against the rules and all."

            "Oh," Martin replied mildly, he took a seat across from the two heralds.

            "What's your name?" Bart asked idly poking at the fire with a green stick.

            "Martin," he said staring into the fire.

            "What about him?" Bart asked jerking his thumb toward the boy's companion.

            "Eldritch," Martin replied evenly.  He glanced up at Bart and grinned, "He found me, after I fell."

            "Glad to hear it," Bart said grinning back at the boy.  With a measuring glance Bart offered Martin his hand, "My name's Bartholomew, Mew for short," Martin shook Bart's hand gingerly before the herald introduced Elsa, "and this is my internee, Elsa."

            "What?" Martin asked quizzically.

            "It's like an apprentice," Bart hastened to explain, "you'll understand someday, but for now we really shouldn't talk about it."

            "Would you like some supper kid?" Elsa asked proffering a hunk of bread and a slice of cheese.  Martin took it with a grateful smile.

            "Thank you," he said before gobbling the meal down.

            Seeing that my chosen had Martin well in hand I left the gathering at the fire to check up on Ralph.  Somehow the friendly banter around the fire had made me feel out of place, but I knew Ralph would welcome me.

            As I wandered over to him I told Ralph about Martin and he responded with a mild interest.

            :I'm glad for the boy,: Ralph said closing that topic, :What about you?:

            :Me?  I'm fine!:

            :You don't sound it Asia, what's up?:

            :Nothing,:  I assured him forlornly.

            :Nothing?  Surely it's something.:

            :Elsa and Bart …:

            :We've had this discussion before.: Ralph reminded me.

            :I know that!  But they were talking earlier…What if it's a life-bond Ralph?:

            :What if it is?:

            :They need to acknowledge it!  Besides neither of them seems to care!:
            :Don't be silly Asia, is that what you're so uptight about?:

            :No,:  I admitted reluctantly, :Did we do the right thing?  With all of it: the traitors, routing the clan, keeping the clan leader alive … all of it…:

            :We did the best we could with what we had.  Our job is to protect Valdemar, we did that.  The clan will never again threaten our citizens, or our heralds.  Those that died today knew what they were doing when they chose to do it.  And as for Elmira, she will face justice in Haven, the queen's justice will not be gentle.:

            :I should hope not.:

            :Perhaps that argonel was a mercy for the others,: Ralph added softly.

            :Yes, are you sure that things are okay between El and Bart?:

            :They aren't children, they will take care of themselves, but yes I do believe it is a life-bond, they've been close since the first.  It's got the earmarks of one anyhow.:

            :Good!  I know they'll be happy together.  There's nothing like a year of traveling together to bring people together,:  I added the last ironically.  As I had expected Ralph had allayed all of my worries and I was quite content to wait out the rest of our watch standing companionably with Ralph.

A/N I know this chapter is wicked short, but now I have a lot more time so there should be more regular posting.  School started again, so I need my sleep now, I am think of changing my pen name because I don't like having numbers, if I do it'll be (please don't borrow this name) Tyra N. T. Livingston (I think it's rather funny).  Anyway, please r&r, G'night and God bless.