Authors note: Hey all! Glad you stopped by for a peak. Be prepared for the longest read I've turned out yet. But I think I did an okay job with it, considering I'm actually sticking to my plot this time! Anyway, a very cool friend has a site up: http://deranged_anime_fan.tripod.com and she's posted this fic! Yay! Go check it out! Er, but be prepared for some adult rated fics there as well, easily missed, but just as easily found. Wonderful site! Thanx, Goddess of Insanity (AKA Nell) And read on!
Jhaspar, Kings Own Herald of almost ten years, was mystified beyond belief. He walked down the empty corridor in the Palace with no direction in mind. He always thought better when he was moving, and he needed to think now, more then ever.
A new sickness was beginning to sweep his beloved Valdemar. One that no one knew anything about. Even using his own Mind Healing powers he gathered no more information then the Healers. He had visited and Tranced and Searched the sick farmer until he had almost collapsed in exhaustion, and still he knew nothing relevant about the virus that blocked the man from being Healed.
Jhaspar despised not being in control, he hated it when things couldn't be affected by his efforts, and this seemed like one of those times.
:Not true little brother.: Jhaspar stopped his so far unproductive walking and stood still to listen to his Companion, Carogan, :Things are only out of your control if you do nothing about them.:
:But how can I do anything about this damn sickness when I cant get over the blocks?: he asked, frustrated.
:True, you can not get over the blocks. But someone already has.: Jhaspar froze.
:What?!:
:The boy that is currently another national security problem, housed in the same room as the virus patient, has cured him.: Carogan clarified patiently.
:The-the boy? The one with the Mind Gift?: it was not possible . . . a mere boy, with a strong enough Gift to get over the blocks that had kept Jhaspar out so effectively?
:It is possible Chosen. We should take this time to question the farmer, in case he knows something we do not about his illness.:
Jhaspar struggled out of his shock and agreed, turning around and heading down the hall towards the Healers Collegium.
***
The farmer was wide awake when Jhaspar reached his room, and surrounded by Healers. The boy that had supposedly Healed the man was sleeping very deeply only a few beds away, apparently unperturbed by the ruckus going on so near to him.
Jhaspar swept himself next to the farmer elegantly, effectively sending almost all of the Healers out the door in the same move. Only the most stubborn of the lot remained in the room, watching him with wary eyes as they checked on other patients.
"Good evening," Jhaspar said, smiling to relax the nervous patient, "I am Herald Jhaspar. How are you feeling?" the farmer was clearly perplexed by Jhaspar's visit and tone, but his Border upbringing quickly took care of the shock.
"Well 'nough, I suppose." He said, averting his eyes. Jhaspar's smile warmed even more, and he continued to engage the man in polite conversation until he made eye contact again.
"Well, Hann," he had learned the man's name during their talk, "I wanted to ask just one more thing of you."
"Aye?" Hann asked, the instinctive wariness in his blood perking up its ears at Jhaspar's off-hand tone.
"Yes, I wanted to know if you remember anything while you were sick, or when you became sick." Jhaspar's smile was gone, but he kept his face relaxed and calm, knowing that any other emotion would bring out Hann's Border instincts even more.
"I'll tell ya what I told them Healers. Don't 'member anythin' 'cept pain. As for comin' down with it . . ." he scratched at his tangled beard for a moment, looking thoughtful, "can't 'member much of that either . . ."
Jhaspar sighed. So much for that source of information . . .
"'Cept . . ." Hann continued, raising Jhaspar's hopes, "'cept that, there I was, out bringen in th' crops . . . an' all of a sudden like, this voice pops in me skull. Aint me own, tis' someone else! Mean sound'en voice too. Starts to mumble, really soft, then it gets louder, and then . . . then there's jus' pain."
Jhaspar reached out a hand automatically to comfort the Borderer, but hesitated. People like this farmer were brought up differently then he had been. They didn't need nor want comfort, and were damn well proud of it. The very fragile starting of a friendship could easily be broken by breaking some unwritten rule and actually insulting Hann when he was trying to console him.
Jhaspar's hand dropped and he silently waited until Hann appeared to be calm again. The Borderer seemed to have not noticed Jhaspar's hand moving, so Jhaspar momentarily forgot about it, beginning to engage Hann with more conversation.
The sun was well on its way to setting when Jhaspar left the room, reassuring the Healers that Hann's mind was sustaining no damage on his way out. He sent a furtive glance to the slumbering Blue that had allegedly saved Hann, but allowed himself no more then that.
Walking down the hall, speaking with Carogan silently, he almost ran straight into Herald Menith, obviously on his way to see Neoka.
They exchanged a slight nod and cool smiles, but both Heralds felt something rather odd with the other.
:You are not mistaken in your suspicions, little brother.: Carogan said suddenly in Jhaspar's mind, :Menith has threatened to go against the Heralds if they choose to destroy the young Blue.:
It was a good thing Menith had already passed, because Jhaspar's face would have clearly given away what he felt about Carogan's statement.
:Against the Heralds?! What does his Companion have to say about all this?: he asked, more for a loss of words then out of curiosity.
:Hyatee is a law unto himself. He has his reasons for siding with his Chosen, which I will not get myself or you into.: Jhaspar leaned against the wall weakly.
:Why . . . why would he side with the Blue? We don't even know that much about him! And what we do know points to nothing good . . . these aren't the makings of a MindHealer.: if Jhaspar could have been anymore puzzled that day, then he might well have exploded.
:No, from what we know he will not make an honorable MindHealer.: Carogan agreed, :But, like you said, we do not know that much about him.:
:He isn't Chosen.: Jhaspar pointed out, running down the list of faults he had received from Kara and the Trainees mentally. He Felt Carogan snort in his head.
:That means nothing except that he isn't Chosen. Jhaspar, you of all people should know that not having a Companion doesn't mean one cannot be good, it merely means one cannot be a Herald.: Jhaspar sighed.
:Yes, yes Caro, you're right . . . but still . . . from what I have heard of him . . .: he began.
:From what you have heard he is nothing more or less then a Blue. Do not judge what you do not know.: Jhaspar almost flinched at the coldness in Carogan's Voice. He had never been harsh before . . . was there something Jhaspar was missing, something that Carogan was trying to tell him?
:I . . .: he couldn't think of anything to say, and neither, it seemed, could Carogan.
***
Menith stopped dead in his tracks once he was around the corner and out of sight of Herald Jhapsar.
:Hyatee.: he called after Jhaspar's clicking boots faded away.
:Here.: Hyatee responded.
:What is Jhaspar hiding?: he leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms.
:More then I would like to know.: Hyatee responded, evading the question. Menith wouldn't let it go.
:Is it something about Neoka?: had the Heralds decided to actually get rid of him, before Menith had a chance to do anything about it? Hyatee sighed in his mind.
:You are acting like a Companion with her colt, Chosen.: he almost growled aloud at the peaceful image Hyatee sent him, :No, it is not something that immediately involves Neoka.: he added after a tense moment.
:What do you mean 'immediately'? It either involves him or it doesn't.: another sigh in his mind.
:It is something Neoka did, rather then Neoka himself, Jhaspar has discovered . . . and he is not hiding it.: Menith closed his eyes and made a mental note to make Hyatee run the obstacle course once he was done with Neoka . . . at least until one hoof falls off, :Now, now, I was just about to tell you what it was!:
:Well? What is it?: Menith asked, still nettled about the Companion and colt picture Hyatee had sent him.
:The virus patient has been cured, and it appears to be little Neoka that has done the curing.: Hyatee said simply, unperturbed by Menith's impatience.
:He . . . cured the farmer?: for a moment he couldn't have moved from his spot on the wall if he wanted to, but he quickly got the strength and began to move rapidly towards Neoka's room, :How? When?:
:Last night, and no one seems to know just how.:
Menith was suddenly standing outside Neoka's room, secretly amazed that he had been able to walk that fast. He didn't dwell upon it as he entered the room.
There, sitting up on his bed, completely conscious and pain free, talking with five or six Healers, was none other then the farmer.
:Gods . . .: was all Menith could manage, letting Hyatee see what he was seeing. It was a drastic change from the ball of silent screaming the man had been a day before. He dragged his eyes away from him, and settled them on the slumbering form of the boy.
:Should I wake him?: he asked Hyatee as he made his way over to the side of Neoka's bed.
:Things need to be answered, Chosen. He can rest later.: Menith nodded and gently shook Neoka's shoulder.
***
Neo snapped out of the deepest sleep he had ever been in the moment someone touched him. He would have just as quickly sat up, but the energy it required wasn't there. Instead he rolled over and blinked blurry eyes at his new visitor.
"Gods boy, you do look like you just MindHealed." Neo's eyes focused at the sound of Herald Menith's voice.
"Oh . . . I forgot about the lesson today . . ." he began working on getting an apology to his mouth, but Menith stopped him with a slight wave of his hand, brushing the matter aside.
"Nothing to worry about," he said, "we have to talk about something else anyway." Neo nodded and struggled to sit up. In the end Menith had to assist him.
Neo waited for Menith to start the conversation.
"You remember that 'screaming' patient? The one we Shielded you from yesterday?" Menith began. Neo nodded warily. Why was Menith talking about it? Had he . . . when he tried to Heal the man did something go wrong?
"Is he . . ." he trailed off, thinking that it would most definitely come out differently then how he meant it.
"He's Healed, boy!" Menith said, smiling. Neo left out a shaky sigh of relief, but kept silent.
Menith waited for a moment, but when he was certain that Neo would not pick up in the talk, he continued.
"Neoka . . . do you know how he was Healed?" he asked. Neo glanced at him, and then slowly nodded his head.
"I . . . I woke up . . . and the Shields weren't working . . . I could hear him, in my head . . ." for some reason Neo didn't know how to continue. Thankfully, Menith spoke up before either could become uncomfortable in the silence.
"And you Healed him . . . it's as simple as that." He murmured to himself. Neo nodded.
"So . . . I didn't do anything wrong?" he asked hesitatingly. Menith looked surprised.
"Wrong? No! No, anything but, Neoka." He smiled and Neo relaxed, "Well, I have to talk with some people about all this . . . and you aren't in any shape for Gift lessons. I'll come back later, and I want you to sleep until then." He ordered, preparing to leave. Neo took a deep breath. Now that he was awake, questions about what he had done flashed through his mind.
How did I do it? Will I be able to do it again? Will it always take so much energy? Can I block this too? And then, before he could stop it: Do I want to?
His eyes widened at the thought. Why wouldn't he want to block it?! This power was too much for him, he didn't even know what it could do . . . and probably didn't want to do half of it! Wouldn't it be easier just to block it and be done with it?
But Menith had said that was impossible . . .
Neo clutched his hair weakly in frustration. What was he supposed to do? What could he do?
"Eh, boy." He dropped his hands and glanced where the voice was coming from. He blinked.
The farmer that he had Healed the night before was studying him a few beds away.
"My name is Neoka, sir." He said after a moment. The farmer snorted.
"You the one who Healed me, aint ya?" he asked, or rather, demanded. Neo nodded, "Well . . . thank'e." Neo blinked once more.
He . . . he just thanked me . . . and without warning Neo felt a kinship with the farmer. Something like the unspoken bond of protector and protectorate.
Neo averted his eyes. Protector? Is that what he was?
It was too much to take in, so Neo leaned back against his pillows and sighed. He closed his eyes and thought about nothing except sleep.
***
Menith hesitated for a moment outside Herald Kara's room. The last he had spoken to her had been very unpleasant. Secretly he knew that Kara would act like nothing of the sort had happened between them, but Menith couldn't act like her. He would be uncomfortable throughout the whole thing, and she would know it.
But, if he wanted answers about Neoka and what he could do . . . and also what the rest of the Heralds thought he could do, then he would just have to be uncomfortable.
A small snicker in the back of his mind, accompanied with an image of a Companion standing protectively over her colt, made Menith growl.
:You're not helping.: he said, feeling his bicep twitch under the strain of not quiet opening the door to Kara's room.
:I didn't mean to help anyway, Heart-brother.: Hyatee responded, his chuckles increasing. Menith ignored him, and opened the door.
"Kara?" he asked, when he did not see her behind her desk.
"Menith, please come in." Kara greeted from the shaded corner where her small couch sat. He entered the room, trying to adjust his eyes. A small silence ensued.
"I take it you wish to discuss something about Neoka Marron?" Kara asked, once Menith could make out her lithe figure perched on her couch.
"Of course." He stated roughly, "He Cured the Holderkin last night." He saw Kara nod.
"He did indeed." She said simply. Menith felt his jaw tense, and forcibly relaxed it.
"So is he still considered a threat to you?" he growled. Kara shifted in her seat.
"Yes, I'm afraid so, Menith. Even though it was a Healing, the power it took to get over the blocks set up around Bryan's mind must still be taken into account."
"Even when it is used for good?!" Menith could barely keep his voice below a shout. Why were the Heralds becoming so dense?
:Chosen, you are his mentor. You have seen his mind when he Dream Walked. You know him better then the other Heralds, and you are using the information, just as they are using theirs. You must understand why they think the way they do, just as you must not agree with them.: Hyatee sent in a very warm, calming tone. Menith sighed.
"My question still stands, Kara." He said in a much lower tone.
"We have no guarantee that it will always be used for good-" she began.
"When do you ever have such a guarantee? Even for Heralds, there is no such promise." Menith was not going to be pushed into a corner where Kara would start to make sense. He wouldn't let her find a way to convince him that Neoka had a questionable will.
"Neoka is different-" she started again.
"Only because you choose to think of him that way! Damnit-" he cut himself off, closing his eyes and taking a couple breaths, "I didn't come to argue about him, Kara. I came to talk with you about what he has done. I need answers."
***
Neo rolled onto his back, the white tiled wall getting increasingly boring by the second. He shifted, trying to get comfortable and fall asleep, but it was no use.
There was something tickling the back of his mind, something he couldn't quiet locate or decipher. Sighing, he closed his eyes and relaxed until he was Aware of everything in the room.
Soft snoring and muffled dreams came from the Borderer a few beds away, but Neo ignored him. No, there was nothing left in the Borderer that he could do anything about, so he went past him.
A bitterness so foul he could almost smell it sent Neo reeling back into his own head. He clutched his mouth and nose, which seemed to burn with the sour after-taste of the thing he had discovered. The pain melted away after a few moments, leaving Neo very confused.
What . . . what was that? He thought, running a hand through his hair. Now that he was paying attention to it, the bitter "taste" in the back of his mind seemed to have gotten larger.
Neo felt his muscles twitch in bemusement. There was no way he could sleep at all with that thing insisting on bothering him so. He swung his legs out of bed and got unsteadily to his feet.
A few silent moments and his legs finally stopped complaining, then he began to walk towards the door. The bitterness wasn't far, he didn't pass more then a few rooms once he left his own before the acrimony filled the air around him, so tangible he almost felt it pressing in upon him.
He stopped right outside the door that the bitterness centered around, and slowly opened it. Looking cautiously inside revealed little more then one occupied cot in the middle of the small room, and no Healers surrounding it.
Glad to not have to make up excuses about why he was out of bed, he stepped in.
Soft, uneven breathing met his ears. He came closer to the person lying on the cot, all his senses perked in awareness, even the one that had been giving him so much trouble as of late. In fact, that one was probably the most alert of all.
The bitterness that had kept him from rest throbbed almost visibly inside this child, or very small adult. They were so entangled in the sheets, curled up in the smallest ball a human being could manage, that Neo could not see whether it was female, male, child, or otherwise.
Only one thing was for certain. This individual had the same sickness the Borderer had the night before. It fouled the very air around the small, slightly quivering thing, making Neo hesitate in his approach.
But . . . something about the black-bitterness was different this time. It was affecting more then the mind. Even with only the moon and a very low burning candle for light Neo could see the being's skin was pale as ice.
He reached out a hand to gently pull the sheets away until he could see the person's face.
He gasped sharply. Drenched in sweat and contorted with pain was none other then the face Neo could hardly forget. The face of his little sister.
Impossible . . . he thought weakly; desperately searching for differences in the small girl's features, no it's not her, look! Her nose . . . it's longer . . . and her mouth is smaller . . .
Reassured that this young child was not his sister he began to see a lot more characteristics that his sister did not have.
Light, curled brown hair made itself known once Neo finished pulling the sheet away. Very unlike his own sister's straight, dark auburn locks. And the girl's cheeks were lower down, giving her face a heart like look.
But, even so, the resemblance was enough to make Neo's head reel with memories, and he sought out the Healer's stool only a few feet away from the cot.
She . . . she looks so much like Vannasa . . . oh gods . . .
Memories flooded through his mind.
It was early morning. The sun shone through the lace curtains in Neo's room, making him groan and roll away from the light.
"Silly! Get up! Its morning!" the cheery voice floated through the air like rain. Neo groaned again.
"Proper ladies are not brought up to be awake in the morning." He accused, burying his head in his pillow. A bell-like laugh followed his statement.
"I guess I'm not a proper lady then-" she began, but a severe voice from somewhere near Neo's door cut her off.
"Vannasa Marron! Tell me I did not just hear you confess to your brother that you are not a lady!" it was their mother. Both children glanced up in surprise.
Normally their mother would never have concerned herself with her children. That's what she considered a servant's job. In all six years of Neo's life she had never once reprimanded him or his sister for anything they had done or gotten into.
"M-mother!" Neo sat up, eyes wide in astonishment. His usually sharp mind gave him no ways out of this situation.
"Of course not, mother. I was just-" Vannasa began, only to be cut off again.
"Spare me your excuses," something was wrong. Their usually aloof, unattached mother was angry about something other then Vannasa's avowal, "I want you dressed and ready to leave, Vannasa. Now!"
Vannasa jumped at the sharp order, looking nervously towards Neo.
"Where are you taking her?" Neo demanded. He was protective of his little sister. He didn't like seeing her frightened and he had never formed any real attachment to this woman who was so angry. He didn't feel guilty at being brash with her, even though she was his mother.
"That is not any of your business, Neoka! Come, Vannasa!" she ordered again. Vannasa hesitated once more. Neo struggled out of bed when their mother approached threateningly.
"Where are you taking her?!" he demanded again. Their mother halted a few feet away, surprised at the hostility in her son's eyes. She quickly recovered though, and the ice in her eyes returned.
"Away from here. Don't worry, little Lord," she continued scathingly, "you get to remain here with your father." And, before Neo could react, their mother grabbed Vannasa's wrist and dragged her out of his room.
"Neo!" Vannasa cried out. She was only four, but she knew that something was wrong. She didn't understand why her mother was acting the way she was, but she knew that it wasn't going to be good when she found out. So, she logically turned to the one person that had always been there for her, Neo.
Neo followed them immediately, grabbing a dark blue robe hastily and running after them. This was something between his mother and father, he knew without knowing how he knew, they had never been more then civil to each other, but they had never dragged Neo or Vannasa into their arguments before.
This time was serious.
Neo flew through his home at speeds he had never reached in all the games he and his sister had played. But somehow his mother reached the front door before he did.
His father was arguing heatedly with her.
"Who is he, Chrystina?!" he was demanding of his mother. Vannasa's wrist was still in their mother's tight grasp, though she was desperately pulling at it. Servants cleverly stayed out of sight, though Neo knew they were hovering as close as they possibly could.
"He is a better man then you!" his mother exploded, pulling Vannasa closer to her roughly, "He loves me! And I love him!" Neo did not care who his mother loved, or who loved her. He cared only about his sister; it was the only thing that mattered at that moment.
"Foolish woman!" his father roared, making Vannasa squeak in fear, "Where do you think you're taking my daughter?" his mother did not cower at his father's tone, but instead steeled herself.
"What makes you think she is yours?" she yelled right back at him, and then pointed to Neo, "He is yours! And be happy with that! I will bare you no more children! I am going to Hardorn, and Vannasa will come with me, because she does not belong here, with you! She is not your child!" Neo's heart jumped to his throat as his sister was dragged towards the door.
"No!" he yelled, scrambling desperately towards her. He was caught and held by his father's strong hands.
"Whore!" his father accused, keeping a tight hold on Neo, even when his useless struggles doubled in effort, "Get out of my sight!"
His mother almost vanished out the door the moment his father had said those words, leaving Neo hanging disbelievingly against his fathers hold.
"V-Vannasa . . ." his voice was weak with sorrow and disbelief. His father released him, and he stumbled a few steps forward, then dropped to his knees, staring at the open door.
"Get up boy," his fathers cold words hit him like ice water, "that is no way for a Noble to act."
Neo's quivering of despair gave way to shakes of rage.
"You- you're the reason Vannasa is gone!" he accused, clenching his fists, "You bastard! Bring her back!" he whirled around and advanced towards his father.
A very solid slap to his cheek left him stunned and on the floor once more.
"Never speak that way to me again . . ." his father looked as though he could have spit in disgust. Instead, he turned around and called for one of the servants, "See that Neoka is packed in the morning." He ordered harshly. The man did not linger.
"Are you sending me away too?" Neo asked bitterly, rubbing his cheek sorely.
"You are going to the Palace, to learn how a true Noble acts." His father informed him, "And once you learn that, I expect you to return. Not before, boy."
And then Neo was alone, in every aspect of the word. He went to the Palace and became a Blue, and he had not returned home, even when he had finished his required studies and completely understood how a Noble was supposed to act.
And for almost ten years there hadn't been a day that Neo hadn't thought of Vannasa, in Hardorn, wondering if she still remembered her older brother.
Neo returned to the small room and the sickened girl slowly, and, to his surprise, he felt tears form in his eyes.
He hadn't cried since the day Vannasa had left him, and as the feeling returned to him, he couldn't stop it.
He wept bitterly as he watched the girl that looked so much like his sister cringe in pain, and when she actually groaned aloud, he broke out of his stupor, and pushed as hard as he could at the solid, foreign malevolence embedded in the child's head.
It gave way under Neo's desperation, crumbled to dust under the power he unleashed upon it.
Neo wanted more. He wanted to destroy, he wanted to rage until there was no pain in the girl's or anyone's head, he wanted to obliterate the bitter sickness until no one even remembered there had been such a thing. And then he wanted to annihilate whatever the sickness had come from, even if it came from the strickens' own hearts, as some sicknesses do.
He didn't know how long he stayed beside the girl, weeping and Healing and raging about the unfairness of it all. He only knew that when he had no power left, the girl was Healed fully, and the candle had burnt itself out, and there were a group of Healers watching him. And then he knew no more, collapsing beside the girl as if he had no muscles to speak of.
***
Healer Y'von watched in fascinated horror as the young Trainee she had been assigned to cleared the patient's mind in one powerful wave that seemed to never end.
She had been called to the patient's room when another Healer had come across Neoka Healing. He had been amazed by the boy's power, and had stood dumbfounded for more then a candlemark, just staring and gaping, until he gathered his senses and ran to find her and others.
Suddenly, the wave broke, leaving all with a sense of exhaustion. Neoka turned his head with what seemed like a huge effort, and blinked at the group that had gathered.
Before dropping out of the stool, completely unconscious.
Y'von was the first to recover, and rushed to his side, pulling him up into her arms and leaving the room and the patient to the other Healers.
She reached Neoka's room in a matter of moments, carefully situation Neoka into his bed.
She couldn't supply him with energy, but she could ease the suffering he would be in once he woke up with a Reaction Headache. She wasted no time in doing so, muting the pain he was already feeling so he would sleep longer.
When she had finished the sun was just rising, and the patients in the same room were beginning to wake up. Neo would not wake up for a few hours, and Y'von needed to talk with the Heralds about their charge.
One thing she had known about Heralds ever since she had begun to Heal was that their Companions were a huge help when they were Healing. Well, normally.
What had Neoka's Companions been thinking, letting that boy get up and Heal until he passed out?
Perhaps Menith or maybe Kara knew where she could find Neoka's Companion. Y'von wanted to straighten things out for him or her; she wanted to make sure this would never happen again.
***
"He did what?!" it was the first time Y'von had ever seen Kara loose the calmness she always radiated. It was almost scary.
"He Healed the young girl brought in this morning." She repeated patiently. Kara's eyes were wide with some emotion, whether it was disbelief or surprise, Y'von would never know. Kara remained silent, obviously unable to think of anything to say. Y'von picked up where she had left off.
"I wanted to talk to his Companion about him." She said casually. Kara looked up sharply at her.
"Why would you want to do that?" Y'von crossed her arms stubbornly in her seat across Kara's desk.
"He was supposed to be resting. He has to regain his strength, not overexert himself every chance he gets. I want to make sure his Companion can keep him in bed next time he gets the urge to wander about." It seemed a simple enough request-or rather, demand- to her, but Kara didn't think so.
"I'm afraid that's impossible." She said smoothly, and left it at that. Y'von would not let it go so easily.
"Why?" she was fierce when it came to her patients, she had no time to spend chasing them down when they decided to do some Healing.
It took only a moment before Kara answered, but it was an awkward silence none-the-less.
"They are newly bonded. His Companion did not know Neoka was Healing. I'm sure if he had known, he would have put a stop to it." Kara explained. Y'von was not satisfied.
"Perhaps if Neoka and his Companion spent some more time together, then? That can be arranged, but I want to supervise him when he's outside, and I still want to make sure his Companion knows I will not tolerate him spending all of his energy like this." She got up, happy with the rules she had set.
"Healer Y'von," Kara said sternly when Y'von made to leave, "I-"
"Is there a problem with what I have just proposed? Surely, neither Neoka nor his Companion has more pressing matters at hand?" she raised a delicate eyebrow when Kara seemed at a loss for words, "I'll bring him to Companion's Field when he wakes and has enough strength." She said, leaving the room.
Kara cursed softly, then sighed. Jhaspar had to know of this new development. Closing her eyes, she sought him out.
:Jhaspar, I hope you're not too busy.: she greeted him with a mental smile.
:Nothing I cant take care of later, if this has anything to do with Neoka.: he replied, knowing instantly who was contacting him.
:I'm afraid it does have to do with him. He has Healed again.: shock met her words, but she continued before the questions could start, :And his Healer is none too pleased about him spending so much energy. She's gotten it into her head that his Companion was to blame, letting him leave his bed, and she wants to have them bond until she needn't worry about him loosing sleep.: she sighed aloud.
:This is . . . very interesting.: Jhaspar replied, then seemed to think about what he had just Heard silently. Kara waited.
:Carogan says he can take care of getting a Companion to play the part, but they wont be able to keep Neoka in his bed. I'll talk to Menith about strengthening his Shields, so he won't be able to sense new patients, thereby not waking up the next morning and giving everyone a Reaction Headache. I was going to talk with Menith anyway.: Kara nodded thoughtfully, then severed the connection, leaving Jhaspar to his duty.
She had things to think upon, before everything got out of control. She chewed on her bottom lip gently; I just hope everything is still under control . . .
***
Jhaspar was completely still beside the King in one of the many Council meetings of late. The King didn't need his help with this meeting, so he allowed his mind to wander, and immediately came to the information Kara had just sent him.
This damn sickness . . . if I could just find out where and how . . . he brooded silently.
:I've been talking with Hyatee, Chosen, and he has some interesting information on those subjects.: Carogan broke in unexpectedly. Jhaspar kept his sigh of relief inside his mouth . . . but just barely.
:Thank the gods! Do you agree with it?: he settled back into his chair, relaxing for the first time that day.
:You are jumping ahead of yourself. I will tell you what the information is, and then, perhaps, if I agree with it or not.: Carogan scolded softly. Jhaspar frowned.
:Suit yourself.: he said shortly, eagerly awaiting an explanation.
:I will. Hyatee's Chosen, Menith, had a talk with Neoka's Healer, Y'von, about the sickness not too long ago. It seemed she had a theory. A very interesting one.: he paused, probably to bait Jhaspar into letting out a sound of frustration. Jhaspar did not loose his patience, and Carogan continued, :She thinks the sickness is Mage made, and also that the Mage responsible is on Hardorn's side of the border, as that is closest to where the stricken are originating.:
:A Mage made sickness? That affects the mind?: Jhaspar was almost in a state of shock, not so much about the Mage, but about the power it took to infect someone's mind the way he-or she-had.
:It is not as outlandish as it may seem. After all, we have a child who could probably inflict the same amount of damage. Perhaps more.: Jhaspar released a breath he had not known he was holding very slowly.
:I . . . I could try Searching over the Border . . . but if I cant even go over the Shields this Mage as erected around his victims, I doubt I could get past their own.: his mind scrambled for an answer, but Carogan provided him with one instantly.
:You are not paying attention, Chosen. I said, 'we have a child who could probably inflict the same amount of damage'. We can use his strength to overcome any obstacles in our path. He has gotten over the barriers you could not. We can use him to see what is causing all of this . . . and perhaps do something about it.: Jhaspar blinked.
:And . . . this does not feel to you like . . . like we are using the boy unfairly?: because for some reason, that was what Jhaspar felt.
:You and Menith will have to supervise him, of course. Take him as far as you can, and be prepared to pull him back as well. Ask him if he would help, Jhaspar. You might be surprised at the answer.: Carogan continued, ignoring Jhaspar's question. Jhaspar sighed, but nodded.
:Alright. Now, about all this Companion business . . .: he began.
:Don't worry about that, Heart-brother. Leave the Companions to the Companions.: Carogan replied, and then seemed to send his concentration elsewhere.
Jhaspar let him go, returning to the Council Meeting.
I should speak with Neoka first . . . get his consent, and then try to recruit Menith to the idea . . . I wonder which will be harder . . .
***
Neo woke groggily, things hazing into view very slowly.
"Why did you Heal that girl?" it was the very first thing that met his ears, and it was as faze sounding as everything else.
"What?" he asked, desperately trying to regain his usual sharpness.
"Just this morning, you Healed a girl, a few rooms away. Why?" it wasn't a voice he remembered. It was female, and didn't seem friendly at all.
"She was hurt." He said, dragging himself up and focusing his eyes on the woman asking him the questions. He didn't recognize her, but from her Whites, knew her to be a Herald. She had very graceful red hair, and equally graceful features. Her voice, however unfriendly, was still pleasant to listen to. Unfortunately, he was a Blue, and trusting Heralds did not come easy. He did not expand on his explanation.
"Is that your only reason?" she sounded suspicious. Neo narrowed his eyes. So Healing someone was against their better nature, was it?
"Why are you so interested, Herald?" he asked, keeping his voice carefully neutral.
"Because if you go around doing this all the time, your Reaction Headaches are only going to get worse. And if you don't want to end up Healing the whole Collegium as a result, I suggest you cease at once and leave the Healing to the Healers." She scorned.
Neo kept silent. It wasn't in his nature to just go explain everything to everyone. Let them think what they want, and meanwhile, he could go around doing what he was just told not to, for his own reasons.
She took his silence as an agreement, and stood.
"Herald Menith is waiting for you. I briefed him on the situation earlier, and he will explain everything to you." She left without another word. Neo blinked.
Situation? How is Healing someone considered a situation, the way she says it? Like it's a bad thing? Why does no one think I'm actually Healing?
Thousands of questions, and only one answer came to mind.
Because you are a Blue.
***
Menith tried to keep from glaring at Kara as she left Neoka's room. He knew full well what she had been saying to the poor boy, but he couldn't do a thing about it.
She outranked him, and if he "got out of hand", she wouldn't hesitate to use that to her advantage.
She glanced at him once, but turned on her heel and walked down the hall before either had a chance to say anything. Menith relaxed his tensed jaw, and entered the room.
Neo sat straight up against his pillows, staring at the ceiling as if it were the most interesting thing at the moment.
Menith sat beside him silently, not knowing how he was going to start a conversation with Neoka. Fortunately, Neoka started one without his help.
"Did I do something wrong, Herald Menith?" he asked coolly, still staring at the ceiling. Menith sighed.
"No." he replied with a small shake of his head.
"Then why does everyone act as if I did?" it was too calm a tone for the question, making Menith wary.
"Things are getting complicated. They aren't angry at you Healing, quiet the opposite . . . they're only like this because . . . because you can Heal." He explained. Neoka lowered his gaze until it was level with the Herald's.
"Because I can? What's so special about that?" there, finally his calm façade had a crack in it. Neoka was afraid, at best, angry at worst. Menith tried to keep his own frustration out of his voice, to calm either feeling.
"Because no one else can-"
"Which is precisely the reason I'm here." Came a voice next to the door. Both Herald and Blue turned to stare at the newcomer.
"Neoka, this is King's Own Herald Jhaspar," Menith introduced with what could have been a growl, had it been any lower, "Herald Jhaspar, this is Neoka Marron."
***
Carogan stopped listening to Jhaspar's thoughts the minute his hooves reached Companions Field. He needed to concentrate on his part of the problem, getting an un-partnered Companion to act the part of a partnered Companion.
His sapphire gaze swept the Field, falling on a grazing Companion near the fence. He trotted over with a wordless greeting.
The Companion lifted his head in surprise at his new guest, and Carogan knew who it was immediately.
Amaro, the fastest Companion the Field had turned out yet. And un-partnered as well.
Perfect.
Carogan stopped just in front of Amaro, who drew himself up.
:To what do I owe this pleasure, Grove-born?: he greeted respectively. Carogan shook his head.
:None of this 'Grove-born', if you please, Amaro. I'm just Carogan.: he responded. Amaro nodded his head.
:Is there something you need from me? Or is this just pleasure conversation?: he wasn't adverse to either, but was curious as to why the Grove-born would want to talk with him.
:In fact, there is a favor I need, from an un-partnered Companion.: Amaro shifted, relaxing his back hoof in a normal pose.
:A favor?: this had to be a first. Carogan nodded.
:Yes. I need you to act the part of a partnered Companion to a Healing boy.: Amaro blinked in surprise.
:Act the part of a-: he snorted in amusement, :You jest, surely.:
:I'm afraid not. There's a very powerful child in the Healers Collegium at this moment, and we are trying to pass him off as a Trainee, so that the questions about his power are minimal, and we can concentrate on other things.: Amaro blinked once more.
:What do you need a Companion for?: he asked.
:The boy's been getting up at night to Heal virus patients coming in from the Border. His Healer is quiet flustered about this, and wants the boy to bond more with his Companion, so that she wont have to worry about him loosing whatever strength he has managed to recover.: Carogan explained briefly. Amaro's luxurious tale twitched nervously.
:What would all this entitle? What would I have to do?: he asked, trying to keep from moving.
:Just be with the boy until the Healer deems everything to her satisfaction.: Carogan replied, nipping at an itch on his back leg ungracefully. Amaro would have been amused at the legendary Grove-born in this pose, had the situation not been as puzzling.
:And what if I must leave to Choose while all this is happening?: he pointed out. Carogan raised his head.
:I'm sure whomever you Choose would understand if you had to pose for a while. After all, you do it so well.: Carogan teased lightly. Amaro would have blushed, had he been capable of it. He was indeed the fastest Companion in the Field, and knew it too. He also thought he was the better looking as well, but usually kept this to himself.
:So, all I have to do is play-bond with the child, until the Healer is satisfied?: he asked, neatly ignoring Carogan's comment.
:That's it. Will you do it?: he asked. Amaro snorted and lowered his head to lightly nibble on a tuft of grass.
:Why not? I've got nothing better to do. No Companion will race with me, and I've already explored the Field twice over. This might be fun.: for all the carelessness in his tone, Amaro was very excited. Acting like he had a Chosen was close enough to having one, wasn't it?
Carogan said his thanks kindly, and whirled away to destinations unknown. Amaro watched him go for a silent moment, then returned to his grazing.
I wonder what this boy will be like . . .
Authors note: fourteen pages worth . . . geez I hope I didn't screw anything up! Anyway, now that Amaro's agreed to the terms, everything's set, right? Wrong! Mua ha! I still have to get Neo to agree, and I still have him scheduled to Scry over the Border. Wonder what he'll find over there . . . leave a review with your guess! This'll be fun!