Authors note: This is not read through, so if there are more grammatical or spelling errors then normal, please forgive me! But if there are so many you can't make heads-nor-tails of this chapter, please drop complaints upon my head until I decide to re-write the thing!
Neo didn't know where he was. He was alone, that was for sure. And he wasn't dead. There were a lot of poems, songs, and stories about death, but in all of them it is a very peaceful end. A painless space of time between one life and the next, where nothing mattered because nothing existed.
This was certainly not painless. A deep, agonizing burning in every point of his body told him that was too much to hope for. And he was still plagued by his unforgettable and unforgivable actions in Hardorn.
No, he was not dead. But where was he?
A dark, cold place, somewhere he had never been before. Even his dreams were more animate then this. At least in his dreams he wasn't alone. He was confronting his father, or searching for his sister, or walking with a formless being in a field of flowers.
The last one was his favorite. The sky was a deep spring blue, and the creature walking with him filled his heart with wordless joy, though he had no idea why. They never talked, but the silence was anything but uncomfortable. And the dream always ended too early for Neo.
But this was the opposite of his dream. There was no joy in this empty space, no blue sky or field of flowers. And no shapeless being, who seemed to be a part of him and not at the same time.
There was only shadow, and silence, and the lonely chill that followed these things.
Neo . . .
He nearly jumped in surprise when the soundless voice ripped through the black landscape.
"Wh- who's there?" he yelled into the encroaching darkness.
Neo . . . can you hear me?
The chill that had been deafening in the silence wrapped icy tendrils around his heart, until he couldn't breathe, couldn't speak, couldn't move.
Neo . . . it's me . . .
He could not give voice to any thoughts, but he could think them.
Who are you?! He Shouted as loud as he could, and it echoed around him strangely.
It's me, Neo . . . it's Vannasa . . .
He stumbled over his next thought, shock adding its own restraint to his mind.
Vannasa? The thought was barely a whisper, but it still echoed through the shadows.
Neo, the voice whispered back, Neo, I found you!
That excitement, that lovely tinkling voice . . . it was his sister!
Vannasa! Gods . . . where are you? Why can't I see you? He searched the dark with probing eyes, desperately struggling against whatever held him from moving.
Neo . . . brother . . . the excitement drained out of her Voice so fast it frightened him. It used to take so much to stop her joy . . . I'm sorry . . . I had to do it . . . so many would have died if I hadn't . . .
Neo paused in his struggles, now scanning his surroundings in confusion, Do what, 'Nasa? He asked.
I'm so sorry, Neo . . . she was close to tears, if not already crying, you'll be so mad at me . . . but I had to do it!
Neo shook his head, brows furrowed in worry, Vannasa, I won't be mad at you. I couldn't! Tell me, 'Nasa; tell me what you're so scared of.
He could hear her sobs now, and they tore at his heart more then anything else could.
Vannasa, he begged, please tell me! I'll stop it, whatever it is that's scaring you! I . . . I've a Gift now, sister; I can use it to help us!
The sobs only increased, and Neo was close to adding his own cries to the distressing sound. But this time, Vannasa answered him.
Th-that's just it . . . I had to awaken it . . . I had to open your mind . . . I'm so sorry, Neo, but I had to do it! There was no other way . . .
Neo did not understand. Vannasa . . . his sister would be about fourteen now, and living a very pampered lifestyle in Hardorn, with his mother and whoever she had run away with . . . what was his sister doing in his dream? And what was she rambling on about?
Disbelief filled him. It was only a dream. A disgustingly desperate attempt of his subconscious to offer some sort of comfort for his guilt and rapidly growing self-hate.
He snarled mentally at himself. He was a murderer! He should be put to death, and be happy to get that mercy! He shouldn't be trying to consol himself with visits from long lost relatives.
Neo . . . he would have turned away from the voice, but it sounded so much like her that it hurt . . . he couldn't turn away, not from her, not ever . . . but he would not listen to his mind's rendition of his loving sister.
Quiet! He yelled, and there was sudden silence following his outburst, Be silent! You are not my sister! I will not accept this comfort! I will not lower myself to this!
A surprise not his own went through him, and then a deep sadness.
Neo, I am your sister. You could not imagine me . . . Neo, I need your help.
He would have yelled at her again, but that last statement made him pause.
Help? Help with what? He asked, a little warily. What was his mind trying to pull now?
I am a prisoner, Neo! The shout was brimming with fear and anger, and Neo knew that he could not have imagined that, no matter how desperate he was.
A prisoner? He repeated, dumbfounded.
In Hardorn . . . the man mother ran away with . . . he tricked her . . . gods, Neo, he killed her! He killed her right in front of me!
Neo went silent in shock. But only for a moment.
K-killed . . . her? Yes, he had animosity towards the woman for taking away his sister. And yes, he wouldn't have overly cared if her life wasn't as pampered as it had been in Haven . . . but dead? Killed?
I couldn't do anything, Neo! Vannasa continued, He . . . he said he'd do the same to me if I didn't do what he said . . . gods, I was so scared!
Neo could hardly blame her for that. Her fear at the memory of the incident was strong enough to make him shake.
Vannasa . . . he wanted to give her some sort of comfort, but what could he say? What could he do that would take this fear from her?
He . . . he wants something of the Heralds, Neo. Neo blinked in surprise. The Heralds? What did they have that someone would want? He . . . he called it the "Web of Light" or something like that . . . I . . . I wasn't really listening to him.
Neo did not know what she was talking about, but believed her all the same.
I'm in Haven right now, 'Nassa. He said soothingly, With the Heralds. Nothing can get to them. They've Gifts like mine. I don't think the Mage can get this "Web of Power".
He isn't attacking the capital! He's attacking the Border!
The Border? He hadn't heard of any attacks on the Border . . .
With sickness Neo! He's attacking Valdemaran's with sickness!
Neo felt his stomach drop to his feet. The mind sickness?
He wants to draw out the Heralds, she continued, he wants to bring them to the Border, or into Hardorn.
How? It was all Neo could manage to "say". He couldn't think clearly with all of this new and frightening information running about his head.
Me. Vannasa said softly after a long moment of hesitation, He's doing it through me.
What? Through you? He asked, baffled.
We've the same Gift, Neo. And the same level of power, because both of ours were forced open.
Again, Neo was left without words. His Gift was forced open? By who? And why?
By me. Vannasa said unexpectedly, Because there was no other way.
Neo stared into the darkness disbelievingly.
You . . . you forced this Gift open? He asked weakly, But why Vannasa?! Why would you do something like that?!
He was unaccountably angry. For some reason, he felt betrayal well up inside him. Why would his sister, of all people, wish to turn his life completely upside down?
I wouldn't have done it if there had been any other way, Neo! She whimpered sorrowfully, But I cannot escape him, and someone needs to protect Valdemar . . . someone needs to defeat him.
The anger drained out of him. Replaced by confusion.
Defeat him? Wh-what do you mean?
Someone needs to stop him, Neo. I cannot. His hold on me is unshakable. But you . . . you are equal in my strength, and you are not under his control.
He shook his head in incredulity, but she continued before he could say anything.
Please, Neo. Please help me. Please help everyone! You must come to Hardorn . . . to the capital . . . you must defeat him, before he spreads his sickness all over Valdemar!
And with that final plea, the darkness that had been stifling his mind retreated. He was alone again, but not in that empty world any more.
"Vannasa!" he called out, but his sister was gone. He was back inside his own body, shivering and sweating uncontrollably.
Just as suddenly as he had returned, pain overwhelmed him. A headache that reached to every pore in his body washed over him mercilessly, and he moaned in agony.
Someone apparently heard him, because his head was being tilted forward by a cool hand, and a cold, foul tasting liquid was poured down his throat. After a few more unbearable minutes, the potion took effect, and he slipped into blissful unconsciousness.
***
Jhaspar stood still before the King, trying very hard not to give away any of what he was thinking. The King gave him a piercing look from his seat, which said very clearly that he wasn't hiding things very well.
"I will not let this sickness continue." The King went on, after making eye contact with his Own, "The virus must be dealt with."
"I know, Aboras." Jhaspar said, a little exasperatedly, "But sending Heralds to the Border . . ."
"I consider it serious enough for that action." Aboras said, rubbing the scar that ran down the side of his face thoughtfully. Jhaspar winced a little at the movement. The sword that had bestowed that wound had been defeated long ago . . . before Jhaspar had even come to the Collegium . . . but he couldn't help but feel guilty about not being by his King's side on that day. Every time Aboras touched that scar, Jhaspar was compelled to make up for his absence . . . which made him more agreeable to his King's proposals, when he should be more skeptic.
But surely sending a group of Heralds with mind oriented Gifts to the Border to investigate the spreading sickness was too much too early.
:Is it?: Carogan said suddenly, :Or are you afraid this is becoming more serious then you first hoped?:
Jhaspar knew when Caro had a point, and this was one of those times. He did not refute his Companion . . . but he didn't have to agree with him either. He stayed silent in his mind, but admitted defeat aloud.
"Which Heralds do you have in mind for the journey?" Jhaspar asked, trying to keep bitterness out of his voice.
Aboras hid his smile behind his hand. Obviously, he and Jhaspar's Companion had ganged up on the poor boy again.
"Herald Tru, Herald Rhes, and Herald Veera." he said, thinking of his chosen journeymen as he listed them.
Herald Tru was a Mage, though not a very powerful one. He had equally powerful Mindspeech, and a pretty hand with weapons. He was one of the Heralds that was useful in every occasion, and very effective as well.
Herald Rhes has a rather powerful Gift of Mindspeech. He would be able to communicate with Heralds in the Collegium, particularly his twin brother, Herald Jaist.
And Herald Veera was also a Healer. She was dragged out of Healer's Collegium by her Companion, and sent straight back into studying at the Herald's Collegium. Needless to say, she was very annoyed, but her talents would be useful on this mission.
Jhaspar was nodding in agreement to his choices.
"They've worked together before. All good choices, Aboras. But I still do not think this situation calls for Heraldic action. Perhaps if the Heralds you mentioned escorted MindHealers, or just plain Healers to the Border-"
"I am not a fool, Jhaspar." Aboras said, his voice a little clipped, "Healers have proved next to useless against this sickness. What could they do at the Border? If a Mage is causing all of this, Heralds are the only ones that can deal with it. And if a Mage is not the source of it, Heralds will find out what is."
There was another corner Jhaspar was fenced into. All the Heralds Aboras had chosen did have the spy-like ability to observe and deduce from next to no information. If there was a Mage behind the sickness, they would not be hidden for long. Not with those Heralds on his trail.
And even as he was thinking of this, an idea formed.
Neoka was the only one they had found with power enough to cure the virus victims, even those exposed to it for weeks on end. The Heralds might be able to find the Mage, but what if they couldn't do anything about it? What if their Gifts were too weak? What if the Mage was as strong as the sickness?
It was a frightening thought, but Jhaspar had a solution. Neoka, once trained up a bit, would be their answer. Once the Blue fully developed his Shields, and knew how to handle his Gift, he would be a force none could stand against.
There was a slight chance that Neoka wouldn't be strong enough to defeat the Mage, but Jhaspar couldn't afford to think of that. He must either put all his hope into the Heralds taking care of the sickness, or Neoka taking care of it.
The only barrier that stopped Jhaspar from immediately seeking Neoka out and throwing him into Gift studies, was Menith.
The obdurate Herald was deeply taken with the boy, even if he himself didn't know it. He wouldn't be agreeable if his prodigy was flung at the Border towards a slightly possible sacrifice, even if it was for the good of Valdemar.
"Aboras," he began, staring up at the ceiling thoughtfully, "would you object to my adding another to the Border-bound Heralds?" he glanced down long enough to see the surprise on Aboras' face.
"Who do you have in mind?"
Jhaspar kept his eager smile from touching his lips.
"Herald Menith."
***
When Neo woke again, his headache was mostly subdued. It still throbbed in the back of his mind, but he could move, albeit slowly and gingerly, and turned to look out the single window of his room.
A full moon hung heavily in the star-filled night sky, lighting Companion's Field as easily as the sun. He tentatively reached up to rub his eyes and sigh, before his "meeting" with his sister came back to him.
Vannasa . . . the hand that held his eyes was suddenly holding tears as well. What he wouldn't give to speak with his sister again, to share his life with her, and hers with him.
But even if he did know how to use his Mind's power to contact her, he knew he didn't have the strength to keep it.
Damn this Gift! He snarled silently, Just when it proves useful I can't use it!
'I'm a prisoner, Neo!' his breath hitched at the remembered call for aid, and he trembled slightly.
In Hardorn . . . she's in Hardorn . . . gods, if only I could . . . if only he could what? If only he could run as fast as Companions could? If only he could use his Gift to defeat this murderous kidnapper that held his precious sister?
The later was still being affected by his own murder. How could he help his sister if he himself wasn't any better then her captor? What if he lost control when-if-he found her, and harmed some one else? What if she was the one he hurt?
Even as he thought of all the reasons he shouldn't go, he knew it would have no effect upon him. He couldn't leave his sister in Hardorn. He wouldn't!
So perhaps the later wasn't the problem. But the first certainly was! Even if he could get out of Haven-which, he thought, is a problem unto itself-how would he make it to the Border, or even into Hardorn?!
Only if he had the fastest hooves in Companion's Field would he outrun pursuers. Only if he had a Companion would he get by any questions.
As he stared at the silver-lit Field below his window, one of the Companions sauntered into his view. And, to his surprise, it was Amaro. The lean, arrow-like Companion that the Heralds had paired him up with.
Half wild thoughts shot through his mind.
If only he could get Amaro to bear him! If only he could get the Companion to help him!
And, to Neo's never-ending thankfulness, his usual sharp mind began to work in high gear.
He wasn't completely doused in drugs. He could use his Gift to project his feelings to another being. His desperation to help his sister was strong enough to send a man like his father into hysterics. Surely he would be able to find the strength to project that long enough to make a lasting impression! The only thing was . . . would his Gift work on a Companion?
Only one way to find out . . .
He slipped out of the sheets with renewed energy. Amaro certainly looked like his legs would flit across land as fast as wings could, and Neo-who was, after all, Valdemaran-knew no beast could match a Companion's speed.
But if no other Companion could match Amaro in speed . . .
He would have nothing to worry about except what he would do once he found his sister. And that he would think about only when he actually found her . . .
It was the perfect solution, and he damn well would take it.
He made it to the door without stumbling, and thought he heard the sound of voices outside. Stopping to listen, he pressed his ear against the cold wood of his door.
"-easy enough being stationed in Haven. Not much you Heralds don't take care of. And I'm too old to be sent out to some village." The voice certainly sounded old, and tired at that.
"Wish I could say the same." Came the gruff retort, in the unmistakable voice of Menith. Neo hesitated. They would put a damper on his plan . . .
Sighing and closing his eyes, Neo silently apologized to both his mentor and whoever else was out there. He reached out with his mind, and-as gently as he possibly could-overpowered them. He Felt their surprise, followed immediately by the silence of the unconscious, and heard two thumps from outside his room.
He carefully opened the door, and scanned the hallway for any one else, but only the two inanimate bodies slumped on the floor near his door were there. He quickly scanned them for any injuries, but they were both fine. Propping them up upon a nearby bench took a little strength and time, but it wouldn't do for some Healer to walk by them while they were on the ground and find out what happened before Neo could get out of Haven.
Neo paused to catch his breath before hurrying down the corridor as fast as his legs would carry him.
He reached Companion's Field in shorter time then he had hoped, and hastily slipped through the fence. Amaro hadn't moved from the spot Neo had seen him in his window, and Neo approached cautiously.
Surely this Companion would remember him. They were reputed to be as smart as humans . . . and he was going on that for his Gift working as well . . .
"Amaro?" he called in a voice barely above a whisper. The lean Companion's head shot up in surprise, and beautiful sapphire eyes widened when they saw Neo, "Do you remember me? I'm the boy you're . . . uh . . . play-bonding with." That was what Jhaspar had called it, right? He sighed in relief when Amaro nodded after a tense moment of silence.
The Companion came closer at a slow rate, almost as if his legs were made of led.
"Amaro . . ." taking a deep breath, Neo steeled himself for what he was about to do, "I need you help." The eyes portrayed confusion now.
Without waiting for an answer-indeed, he'd have been surprised if Amaro had given one-Neo let the feeble barrier on his emotions break, and directed every desperate thought of his sister towards the being in front of him.
Amaro reared back in surprise, his eyes wide enough to show the whites surrounding his cerulean pupils. Neo feared he had over done it for a moment, before Amaro came back to the ground, and swayed slightly upon his hooves, his head nearly touching the ground and his eyes closed.
"Do . . . do you see now, Amaro? I have to get to her! And you . . . you're the only one that can help me . . ." he pleaded after another moment of silence
:I see . . .: Neo nearly jumped when Amaro answered him. His voice was sad, but soothing at the same time. Even if Neo knew it was wrong for Amaro to be talking to him when he wasn't a Herald, somehow . . . somehow it felt so right.
But he couldn't think of things like that now.
"You will help me?" he asked, near begging.
:I will bear you, Neoka, because your cause is just, and your heart is pure. I will take you to Hardorn. When do you wish to leave?:
"As soon as possible. Tonight, actually. All I need is a set of Whites, so we won't be stopped in Valdemar or Hardorn. I can get any necessary foodstuffs from one of those saddle packs Heralds have." Amaro lifted his head to look at Neo.
:I will go to the stables and get one of the stable hands to saddle me. Meet me back here as soon as you are ready . . .: Neo, who could barely believe his luck, nodded and strode as fast as his legs allowed him towards Herald's Collegium.
Amaro watched him go, before turning and heading towards the stables. He hoped he knew what he was doing . . .
It is a journey worth bearing someone not my own, he thought as a stable boy caught sight of him waiting at the opening of the stalls, grinned, and rushed to gather his gear, and perhaps this is why I have been forced to wait. Perhaps after all this is through, I will Find my Chosen . . . perhaps this is my Search.
***
Neo ignored the protesting of his muscles as he rushed towards the Herald's rooms. The promise of finding his sister was enough to make him overlook any and all pain.
Reaching the first in a long row of rooms, Neo stopped, and gently reached out to find a dreaming mind inside.
He carefully opened the door and stepped inside, finding a lone Herald snoring away in his bed. He didn't look much older then himself, and Neo quickly checked his wardrobe to see that they were tolerably well matched in size and girth.
Hastily adorning the uniform hurt a lot more then he had first suspected. He kept from crying out only by biting his tongue.
By the time he was fully clothed and bundling up his Healing outfit, he was tasting blood.
Silently creeping past the still sleeping Herald, Neo rushed back down to Companion's Field.
Amaro was awaiting him.
:There is water and preserves in my saddle pack. And Way Stations have enough to keep you going when we stop.:
"Stop?" Neo frowned, but Amaro continued before he could protest.
:Even I cannot make the Border without resting. I will not need to often, but the need is there.: Neo couldn't argue with that, so he resigned himself with a slight nod.
"Are you ready to go?" he asked. Amaro snorted and turned himself so his left side faced Neo.
:Are you?:
As Neo mounted, neither noticed another Companion watching from a line of trees.
***
Menith came to groggily. His head felt as if someone had just rapped it against a good stone wall for about a candlemark, and he gingerly felt for any lumps on the back of it. Finding none, he sighed and tried to remember what had happened.
He had been talking with Neoka's Guard. An elderly chap, with an easy smile and a friendly face.
He lay still unconscious a few feet away on the bench Menith also sat on.
Everything had been fine, until Menith felt the unmistakable presence of Neoka inside his head. He had barely enough time to be surprised, before the boy did something, and he'd been knocked out cold.
But the tough old nut beside him was still out. Why was he awake?
:Forgive me, Chosen.: Hyatee said unexpectedly, :It was my doing.:
:What . . . happened?: he glanced at the closed door of Neoka's room a little bitterly. Why had the boy knocked his guards out?
:For a reason none suspected.: Hyatee answered his thought. Menith blinked, and Hyatee sent him an image that nearly knocked him out again.
It was Neoka.
And he was astride the Companion Jhaspar had introduced him to earlier.
Dressed in Whites.
And heading out the Gates into Haven.
:What in all the gods does he think he's doing?!: Menith growled at Hyatee as he got to his feet and rushed down the hallway.
:I do not know. I did not see them until they were preparing to leave.: when Menith made it to Companion's Field, Hyatee was waiting for them.
:They should be nearing the Gates by now. They were not running while they left, but I got the impression that they would be running soon.: Menith nodded and swung onto his Companion's bare back.
Hyatee jumped into a momentum that nearly jarred Menith out of his seat, but years of the exact same thing kept him on. He wrapped a fist around Hyatee's mane and held on as hard as he could.
They saw their quarry in no time.
Hyatee was right. They weren't running. But they weren't walking either.
Amaro's pace was just above a trot, but it was a faster trot then Hyatee could reach. Fortunately Hyatee was not trotting, and Amaro was not galloping, and Menith was upon them before they had reached the Gates.
"And just where do you think you are going, boy?" he demanded, as Hyatee pulled ahead and rounded upon them, blocking Amaro's way. The other Companion snorted and tossed his head in surprise, and Neoka clutched at the reins, looking at Menith with something close to horror.
"I'll tell you where you're going," Menith continued, before the Blue could answer, "straight back to the House of Healing, that's where." Hyatee advanced almost menacingly upon Amaro, but the other Companion stood his ground.
"Get out of our way, Herald." Neoka said suddenly, narrowing his eyes at Menith.
Menith glared back.
"I'll do no such thing. Just what foolishness are you up to, Neoka?! What do you think you're doing, riding away in the middle of the night, dressed in Whites no less!" he demanded. Neoka bit his lip, but his eyes looked anything but cowed.
"To Hardorn." He said. Menith blinked.
"H . . . Hardorn?" Neoka nodded briskly.
"I've an obligation, Herald. And you will not keep me from it!" the threat hung between them, and Menith knew with bitter certainty that Neo could and would use the same knock-out trick he had used before, if Menith did not comply.
"What must you do, Neoka? Why must you go to Hardorn?" he asked, deciding to ignore the threat for now.
Neoka looked a bit surprised.
"I . . . my sister . . ." he trailed off, eyes misting over. Menith's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"You've a sister? Why is she the reason you have to go to Hardorn?"
"She . . . she's being held prisoner . . . by the Mage who's causing the sickness." Menith stared at the boy in surprise.
"What? What else do you know, Neoka?" he ordered. The Blue shook his head.
"That's all I need to know." He replied. Menith mentally chewed on this new information. It didn't tell him much, but he could make assumptions . . .
"I'll tell the King of this, Neoka. He will send Heralds over to deal with it-" it wasn't exactly true. He had no idea whether the King would act upon this or not, but he had to give Neoka another option.
But the boy shook his head.
"I . . . I don't want you as a part of this, Herald . . ." Neo was silently thinking of what else Vannasa had told him . . . the part about the Mage wanting something from the Heralds . . . he might not like them, but he knew they were vital to the Kingdom. He couldn't drag them into things if it could be handled on his own.
"Damn it, Neoka!" Menith burst, "You can't just go riding of to Hardorn! What are you going to do once you get there?!"
Neoka shook his head after a moment's hesitation.
"I'll think about that later . . ."
"You'll think about it now! A Mage is not something lightly fought, boy! How can you rescue your sister if you're killed?" Neoka once again shook his head.
"The . . . the Gift . . ."
"Is useless if you can't control it." Menith countered. The Blue lowered his gaze, "Come back to the Collegium, Neoka," Menith continued, a little more gently, "we'll work things out there."
Neoka remained silent.
"My sister needs me." He said suddenly, looking back up with determined fire in his eyes, "I will not abandon her."
"It's not abandoning-" Menith began, but a sudden violent lash of power against his Shields stopped him.
"Out of the way, Herald!" he cried once more. Menith shook his head to clear it from the hit, and firmly told Hyatee to keep from moving.
"You can't go alone-"
Another lash of power, this time digging into his Shields until he thought he would break.
"Don't do this, Menith. Don't force me to . . . to . . ." the power retreated, and Menith shook a little atop Hyatee. Neoka shook his head once more.
"I'll go with you." Menith finally managed, to the shock of the Blue.
"You . . . you'll what?" Neoka asked. Menith connected eyes with him.
"I'm going with you."
Authors note: Hup! 9 and ΒΌ pages! See what I meant about more interesting? And guess what! Only a few more chapters until this journey ends! A relief for many, I'm sure *applause and overjoyed cheers* and please don't forget to review!!!
Etcetera-cat: *buys a flag from you* I'm in that corner as well *glares at all other corners* and it's really lucky to have the author on your side! ^_^
Silver Dragonfly: Not that this has anything to do with anything else, but dragonflies are some of my very favorite bugs. And I agree very much with you. Friends do have their fair share of work, but Neoka doesn't have that many right now . . . *pats Neo's head* and I'm not a very good one at that *insane laughter*
Ola: Ah, Greg. Sniffing around is what he does best, I'm afraid, though getting in trouble seems to be another talent of his. And Neo getting Chosen? *points to corner with author and etcetera-cat in it, waving "Choose the boy before we beat you, Amaro!" flags* we've got a special spot for people like us! *drags ola in*
Trina Ti: Thank you very much! And really, the only reason why the mind was destroyed was because the enemy power formed around Neo's attacks, which damaged the playing field, which was the farmer's mind itself. Hope that makes sense! And I hope this was fast enough. Fastest I've written so much, anyway.
ElvenRanger: I agree, but it leads to better things, I assure you. Glad you liked the chapter, anyway *smiles* and when was the one time when your spider-sense went wrong?
Matt: Grays and Blues are occupied with each other right now and Neo's on his way out of the country. But Amaro will have his hooves full protecting him from other things soon enough, I assure you *wink wink, nudge nudge*
Magdellin: Thank you very much for the comment and critique. I'm well aware of my next to nil spelling ability, which leaches into my grammar "skill" anytime it pleases, but I'm glad you weren't badly hindered by it while reading, and I'm even more happy you're reading it at all!
Fiery frost: *scratches head* well, interesting is a pretty neutral word. I hope you like the story at least. Sorry if you don't.
Herald Mistylenna: Glad I cleared that up! Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Badgerwolf: Hup, sorry about that! Review responses at the end now. Thank you very, very much for liking the story, and rooting for Neo. *points to rapidly filling corner of "Amaro Choosing Neo" flag-wavers* wana join?
LeopardDance: "erase" is a good word. It might not be as exact in this instance as "demolished" is, but it's still a good word. And the Hawkbrothers . . . they're not in this story because I don't know what I would do with them if they were! They're such a complex civilization, and they've got their hands full with cleansing the Pelagir Hills, that they wouldn't have much to offer in a plot like "Blue to White" has.
Banadar: I hope you didn't read your eyes raw, because here's another update! Almost as long as the last one too! Hope you're not disappointed in chapters to come, or this one!