Authors note: Don't own Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar. Do own story. That covers most of it, I think?
By the time Menith had convinced Neo that he could not travel to Hardorn without a fresh change of Whites, his own Companion saddled, and his own preserves packed and ready, the sky was already recovering from its sleep. A blue so soft it could barely be discernable from gray filled Neo's eyes as he watched the sky brighten, awaiting Menith in Companion's Field.
He had been forced to return to the Collegium and wait for Menith as the Herald went to prepare himself, and even though the wait couldn't have been as long as Neo felt it was, he was still squirming in impatience.
:We could leave right now. Hyatee would not be able to catch up to me. We have raced before. I know how fast I would need to go to keep distance between us.: Neo blinked in surprise and looked to his right, where Amaro stood, watching the sky lighten as well.
He had thought the Companion would speak as little as possible to him. After all, he wasn't his Chosen.
He sighed, though why he did so didn't have a thing to do with that last thought . . . or so he vehemently told himself; and turned back to sky-gazing, tucking his knees up against his chest where he sat.
"I think Menith is already ahead of us in that." He glanced at Menith's Companion, who stood near the Collegium, watching both of them with wary sapphire eyes, "We would not get far without running into Hyatee, and I doubt you could overcome him in a fight," he glanced once more at Hyatee, who was much more muscular then the arrow-like Amaro, "besides, it can't hurt to have a Herald on such a mission as this."
:Very well.: Amaro nodded with a soft bob of his head. Neo dared one quick look at the Companion, a very odd thought racing through him.
"You . . . you would bear me all the way into Hardorn? Alone?" of course, with all the guilt and desperation he had Projected to Amaro, the Companion had little other choice. But he needed to know if Amaro really did think his cause was worthy of bearing one not a Herald.
Not that he was thinking of letting the Companion alter his decision. Neo needed the fastest way of getting to Hardorn, and now that he had it, he wasn't about to let it go.
:I already agreed to that, did I not?: Amaro said, a little evasively, though his tone was gentle. Neo hesitated, then nodded.
"Yes . . . you did." Why should he care, anyway? Why should he care if Amaro wanted to help him or not?
Has to do something with this Gift . . . making me think things I shouldn't . . .
It was a weak excuse, and something in him violently rejected any such notion, but he didn't argue with himself. He didn't dare delve into such odd thoughts. Not when he had so much on his mind already.
Amaro's head lifted to look at Menith's Companion, ears peaked and swiveled forward.
:Your mentor comes now.: and sure enough, Menith exited the Collegium, mounted his Companion, and came over to them.
"Ready?" he asked, checking his saddle quickly. Neo nodded and went to Amaro's side.
A strange feeling swept through him, and he hesitated before putting his foot in the stirrup. Why was he getting tingles in the pit of his stomach at the thought of riding Amaro?
This is no time to be thinking of Companions, he told himself fiercely, think of Vannasa, think of where you're going . . . and keep your damn mind off your mount!
***
Amaro was about to ask Neoka what he was hesitating for, when a soft and sudden throbbing in the back of his mind made him forget all about the Blue.
That wonderful heartbeat, the Call that he had feared gone forever, had returned! He barely kept himself from dancing in joy.
Neoka apparently got over whatever had been stopping him from mounting, and swung onto the saddle. Amaro settled on tossing his head once to celebrate, before leading the way out of Companion's Field.
***
The silver tinkling of Companion's hooves upon the cobbled road leading out of Haven was enough to sooth Neo into a very thoughtful state, and think he did.
The very first and foremost thing on his mind was Vannasa, which was of no surprise to him. His frantic need to be at her side, to take away her fear, was as all-consuming as it had been the moment he had awoken from their conversation, but now that he was on his way to her, there was a strange quietness in him.
He was not disillusioned at what was awaiting him in Hardorn. In Valdemar, everyone knew what a Mage could do. There was an endless supply of horror-tales told to children about the power Mages wielded, and if the mind-sickness was Mage-born, as Jhaspar thought it was, then Neo could only hope he had enough strength to hold his ground against the Mage.
Briefly, his mind wandered through the information Vannasa had given him.
The "Web of Light" . . . he mused silently, I . . . I think I remember it from a ballad once sung . . .
But in Court, Neo was so bored that he paid little attention to Bards, and even less to the lyrics of their songs, and in Court was the only possible place Neo could have heard a song about Heralds. He didn't make it a habit to search out Bards or minstrels for entertainment, he had only entered taverns when necessity called for it, and had never stayed long enough in one to listen to ballads.
But still . . . the lingering feeling of memory attached to the words "Web of Light" refused to leave him . . .
Perhaps Menith knows something of it . . . he is, after all, a Herald . . .
***
Menith took a deeply refreshing breath of the frigid morning air. He was growing older, and knew that Hyatee was as well. The King wouldn't be able to get too many more Circuit Rides out of either of them.
He was always looking forward to retirement, while he was out of Haven; but when he was sitting around, recuperating from Circuit Riding, he thought it to be boring as hell. He didn't know how Kara got through her days at the Collegium.
Not that she couldn't ride Circuits; it was just that she had a rather eventful job at the Collegium. She was in charge of the Trainees, and with such a job came the requirement to stay with the Trainees.
But Menith couldn't live more than a few months with those manic children, before he was begging to be let out of the capitol once more.
Hyatee stayed uncharacteristically silent beneath him, trotting briskly to keep up with Amaro's rather slow pace.
Menith found himself admiring the other Companion's swiftness, even with the relaxed strides his long legs were taking.
Even though Hyatee was faster and more relaxed in his gait than any usual horse, this Amaro made him seem like a bumbling colt . . .
:Keep on comparing us, Chosen, and see where it gets you!: Hyatee growled at him, making him chuckle.
:A little jealous, are we?: Menith asked, grinning at Hyatee's ears.
:You thought it yourself, not too long ago,: Hyatee reminded him, swiveling an ear back towards him, :We're both getting old. Can't keep up with these young pups anymore.:
Menith overlooked the fact that Hyatee couldn't have kept up with Amaro even if he was still a "young pup," the Companion could only take so much teasing before he would make Menith's ride very uncomfortable.
He shifted in his saddle, sending a glance to the Blue. Neoka might not be aware of it, but lines of pain began to creep along the boy's face. The sedatives Healer Y'von had given him would be wearing off right when their journey began.
Menith knew in his bones that Neoka would not agree to return to the Collegium to get some drugs for his headache, no matter how unbearable it got.
If only he had a few more lessons in him . . . his Reaction Headache wouldn't be so bad . . .
:So, put a few more lessons in him, Chosen.: Hyatee suggested. Menith blinked. Why shouldn't he give Neoka more Gift schooling? It would pass the time in the saddle a lot faster than silence would. Menith and the Companions would have to be hounded by echoes of Neoka's pain. And Neoka himself would have a lot less trouble.
And he would stand a better chance against whatever was awaiting them in Hardorn . . .
"Neoka," he began, startling the boy, "your Gift lessons are still ongoing. You can exercise your mind in the saddle as well as you could in bed. Especially atop a Companion. Amaro won't let you fall when you're concentrating."
Neoka stared at him for a moment, before nodding briskly. He didn't say anything, but seemed to turn inwards for a moment. Menith let him think.
***
No rest for the weary . . . Neo kept the sigh trying to escape his throat purely mental. He had been forming the question about the Web of Light in his head when Menith had sprung the news about his Gift lessons.
Not that he was angry about it. In fact, he was hoping Menith would give him some tips about how to use his Gift on an offensive basis. But the headache threatening to pound into him after a few exercises was enough to make him wince.
Best not think about it, he told himself, just ask the Herald what you were going to ask him. Worry about the Gift later.
He cleared his throat, drawing Menith's attention to him.
"I . . . um . . ." he stumbled in his words, "I was wondering . . ."
Amaro's ears flickered backwards, and a light blush spread across Neo's cheeks. Since when had he begun having trouble talking with people? Sure he wasn't exactly social, but he'd never been bad at finding out what he wanted.
"Herald," he began firmly, "what is the Web of Light?"
There. Harder to get out than he had thought, but he'd said it. He glanced at Menith, who looked completely shocked.
"Web of Light?" he repeated.
Damn, Neo's heart dropped to his borrowed white boots, he doesn't know . . .
"It's the connection between all Heralds," Menith continued. Neo turned his head to gaze at Menith in confusion.
"Connection? What type of connection?" Menith seemed to struggle for the right words for a moment.
"Well . . . when another Herald dies . . . every other Herald knows. That's part of the Web." Neo blinked.
How could the Mage holding Vannasa use something like that?
Unless . . .
"Does it . . . is it like a link between all Heralds? Like a channel?" he asked.
Menith blinked.
"I suppose you could call it that . . . yes, a link. Every Herald is part of the Web. It's a very strong defense against most everything."
Neo felt his heart lighten at Menith's words. A strong defense against everything . . . "everything" included Mages.
So he had no need to worry about bringing down the very heart of Valdemar, right? He had no reason to give a second thought to the possible destruction of the protectors of the kingdom, right?
Right.
:Why all these questions?: Amaro asked unexpectedly. Neo kept himself from jumping out of the saddle . . . but just barely.
"No reason . . ." he replied. Menith turned to stare at him.
"Who are you talking to?" Neo looked away uncomfortably.
"Amaro," He said, a hint of defensiveness in his tone.
Menith was about to say something, but all that escaped his mouth was a short "Am-" before he cut himself off.
Neo glanced back to see him frowning at his Companion's head, and the Companion-Hyatee, he remembered-turning his head to fix Menith with one sapphire eye.
They were 'talking,' and suddenly, unexplainably, Neo felt a surge of jealousy rush through him.
He fixed his dark gaze on the road ahead of them.
It just wasn't fair. Heralds led a tough life, every sensible Valdemaran knew that, and Neo had always thought that the reward for such a life, was the Herald's steed.
The fastest beast in the entire land, and most probably, the entire world, would be more than enough recompense for a life of fighting. But Companions went an extra mile. They offered . . . companionship. They talked with their Heralds, were as smart as their Heralds.
It was what he wanted, Neo realized with a strong flash of despair and disgust, he wanted that connection . . . ever since he had been left to fend for himself, torn from his sister's side, he'd been missing that bond.
"Are you up for a lesson, Neoka?" Menith asked, making Neo start in surprise. Menith glanced discreetly at him, "Hyatee says that you could do with a lesson right about now."
Neo hesitated, then shrugged. As long as Menith didn't ask him to go over the Border, into Hardorn again, he wasn't averse to learning.
"Right," Menith said, catching the shrug and interpreting it as an affirmative answer, "now, I want you to trance again. You remember how you did it the first time? The time we asked you to Scry?"
Neo nodded, feeling his throat close. Was Menith going to ask him to Scry again?
The very threatening promise of pain made him pause, and look at Menith suspiciously.
"What kind of lesson are you planning, Herald?" he asked. Menith smiled lightly.
"One which will answer your question about the Web of Light a little more clearly than I did," the Herald answered evasively. Neo blinked, before sighing, and slipping into a trance state.
It wasn't hard. He remembered how he had done it the first time, and merely repeated his actions.
:Good,: Menith Mind spoke him, and Neo got the feeling that he was trancing as well, :Now, I want you to look at me.:
Neo knew what he meant by a strange feeling that accompanied Menith's words. It was like a wordless list of directions on just how "looking" with the mind was done, was being passed between them.
Neo did not dwell on that though, and followed the directions.
Immediately, he was staring at something like a very complicated maze of channels. He was floating above it, staring down at the crisscrossing labyrinth that seemed to scream "Menith."
Neo couldn't have described it, but he knew that he was currently looking at Menith's mind.
The maze was chaos and logic in one, with some lines running straight and unbarred clear towards the center, some blocked by strange, glowing debris, and some seeming to come from out of nowhere, or at least, certainly from outside Menith's mind.
:Now, Neoka, I want you to find the white channels,: Menith instructed him. Neo instantly knew what he was supposed to be looking for. While some lines were dark and shrouded, others were as bright as the sun.
There were only two large ones that Neoka could see, one running straight through the other lines, and stopping at the center of the maze. The other ran right through the center . . . and kept going.
:That one is the Web,: Menith informed him, :It connects me to every other Herald, which is why it doesn't stop at my center. The other one is Hyatee.:
Neo shook his head mentally in disbelief.
:How . . . can I see this?: never had he heard of anything like what he was doing. Even in History class, when the instructor went into Gifts long-since dead Heralds had, he had never mentioned just what the Gifts looked like.
Because, besides the two blazing white channels, there were others that stayed only in Menith's mind. And Neo knew what these were.
These were Gifts. These were powers that Menith could wield.
Some where wider and brighter than others, but there were countless amounts of them. Most of them were blocked, and didn't shine at all . . . but there were a few . . . a few that shone with power.
:I don't know how you can do anything. In fact, I'm a bit surprised you're seeing my mind at all. It takes people with Mind Gifts a while to hone their senses into a Sight like yours. It only shows you how powerful you are . . . and could be.:
Neo wondered if his mind was anything like he was seeing now, all dark and glowing lines, with a few outside channels as well.
He shook off the feeling, and turned back to the lesson.
He examined the Web of Light channel as thoroughly as he could.
It didn't seem to have any weaknesses. The flow of light was thick and even, and Neo couldn't think of how a Mage could use it against the Heralds . . .
Frowning, he went over his memories of the past minds he had entered.
The sickness he had eradicated from them –save the farmer- had spread out amongst the mind. It had clouded everything, and Neo could not remember seeing channels like the ones before him now.
Was that what the sickness did? Smother the channels until the body was completely useless?
And if so, how could the Web of Light defend against something like that?
A cold shiver raced through him, and he stared at Menith's mind-link with Hyatee. Surely with such a connection, if Menith were to contract the sickness, it would leech onto Hyatee in no time at all . . .
He switched his gaze over to the Web.
And that, too, would pass the sickness on to others . . . it is too large and unblocked to do anything except just that . . .
With a sudden lurch of panic, Neo realized he had just answered his unvoiced question of how the Mage could use the Web against the Heralds.
He's . . . he's going to contaminate them . . . he's going to give the sickness to just one, and then wait while it spreads to all the other Heralds . . . gods!
His head felt like he had just smashed it against a wall when he reeled back into it, and his breaths came in small, sporadic pants.
The Mage's plan was as ingenious as it was atrocious. Neo might not like the Heralds and their shared foolish intrepidness, but he understood why they had to be so. He also understood that what the Mage was planning could not be accomplished.
"Menith," he choked out, but the Herald cut him off.
"Not another word, boy. I should never have let you exercise that damnable Gift away from the Healers when you get so bloody sick after doing so," Menith was obviously furious with himself, and Neo felt Amaro pick up the speed beneath him.
:We're stopping at the nearest Way Station,: the Companion informed him, :Please try to stay conscious until then.:
Neo could not form an answer as his hands clutched the pummel of the saddle and the reigns. He had long since clamped his eyes shut, but he could feel Menith barely a hands-breadth apart from him.
He had only a moment to wonder on what a normal horse would have done, running that close to another, with no direction from it's rider, before he was kept very busy fighting against the enclosing darkness.
***
Menith cursed his luck for what must have been the thousandth time. They had reached the Way Station about a candlemark ago, and Menith had-somehow-gotten Shields around the boy, who was currently unconscious on the one bed in the Station.
He sighed and ran a tired hand over his face.
:Alright Hyatee,: he connected with his Companion wearily, :what's the plan?:
:I have not been trying to make one,: his Companion responded, :but we could talk about that once you get the time to unsaddle us.:
Menith swore once more, exiting the Station immediately, and frowning at the awaiting Companions. They hadn't moved from the spot where they'd pulled up in front of the Way Station, and sweat gleamed on Hyatee's hide.
Amaro, he was surprised to note, looked completely fine. As if he hadn't even walked the distance to the Station.
Just how fast can this Companion go?
He shook his head and put his mind on other things.
:So,: he began, unsaddling Hyatee first, :you've no idea what we're going to do once inside Hardorn?:
:None whatsoever.: Hyatee responded cheerfully. Menith sent him a dry glance.
"Well, that's reassuring." He said aloud, more to fill the silence of the slowly approaching morning than for anything else.
Birds would begin their chatter in about a candlemark, but Menith hoped he would be asleep by then.
He rubbed Hyatee down briskly, before turning to Amaro.
"I'd like to know how you do that," he said to the Companion, and elaborated when Amaro sent him a curious glance, "How you didn't even sweat from such a run."
Amaro snorted and tossed his head in a distinctly arrogant fashion.
:He says it would take more than that to make him sweat.: Hyatee said, clear amusement of the younger Companion's pride in his "voice."
:Did he now?: Menith grinned, sharing his Companion's amusement.
Amaro sent them both superior looks, and seemed as if he were about to say something to Hyatee, when his sapphire gaze locked on the Station.
Menith followed Amaro's gaze, and gasped sharply.
Neoka leaned heavily against the doorframe, exhaustion written all over him, but his sharp eyes shouting determination.
"We're not far enough away from Haven . . ." he said, with a little difficulty.
Menith was at first shocked, then furious at the Blue.
"The Companions rid themselves to the bone to get this far, boy, so it's far enough! Now get back inside!"
Neo shook his head, stumbling out of the Station.
"No . . . they're going to send Heralds after us . . ." he said.
Menith stared at him blankly for a brief moment. Did Neoka have the Gift of Foresight as well?
"How do you know?" he demanded. Neoka glanced at Amaro.
"I stole one of their mounts. How could they not come?" each passing second was costing the Blue dearly, and it showed on his face.
Beside Menith, Amaro stepped forward, and snorted into the boy's stolen Whites.
:I came of my own free will.: the Companion said. Menith was too absorbed with Neoka to note that he heard Amaro.
Neoka shook his head once more, "You didn't-" he began weakly.
:I did.: Amaro insisted, :If your cause had not been for your sisters sake, then no amount of Projection would have made me bear you.:
A fleeting look of relief and gratitude swept across Neoka's face, but the sharp eyes kept their stubborn darkness.
"They will still come . . ." he said, turning his gaze to Menith, who narrowed his own amber eyes.
"Didn't you hear me? Amaro might not show it, but that was a long ride we just had! Even if the Heralds come after us within the hour, they wont make it this far."
Another fleeting emotion crossed Neoka's face, this time, one of hope, before it was buried under a mask.
"Still-"
"Oh, you'd better not be thinking of robbing me of sleep, boy!" Menith growled, marching towards the Blue and shoving him inside the Way Station, "The Companions aren't going one inch farther until they and I have had our rest. So that leaves you with little option."
Neoka looked as if he was about to argue, but stopped himself. He sighed, and walked to the bed, a resigned but indomitable look on his face.
"Alright," he relented, turning towards the fire.
"Good. Now, get some sleep," Menith grumbled, going back outside to finish with Amaro's tack.
Neoka watched him go, before sliding onto the bed, and closing his eyes in reluctant sleep.
***
Companions Field was a sight to behold in the early morning light. The magic of the land was unmistakable as mist swirled between trees, layering the ground in a damp, milky shroud.
The sunrise was well underway, tinting the fog with ginger radiance. One Companion stood in the middle of the colored vapor, her ancient sapphire eyes whirling with wisdom and beauty.
Her silver hide had not lost its shine in her old age, and the muscles beneath her coat were still lean and spoke of days long since past, when she was the fastest one in the Field.
She had passed that trait on to her son, Amaro, along with the rather large amount of pride that came with it.
She watched the sun ascend from its slumber, as she did every day, and felt the rays of its light pierce the surrounding fog, and heat her slim body.
Normally, she was not alone in the tradition. Her son was usually by her side, watching calmly and quietly, his own eyes churning with excitement for the coming day.
But Amaro had not come today. She would be lying to herself if she said she wasn't worried, but she was hoping that he had finally left the Field in Search of his Chosen.
Inwardly, she knew that was not the reason he was with her. They had a close bond, and had always been close. She knew he would not have left the Field on Search without telling her.
From her left, a body immerged out of the mist. It was too large to be her son, and the "taste" of the Companion's mind was not familiar . . . nor was it normal.
It was the unmistakable "taste" of the Grove Born, a being she had never spoken to before.
Respectfully, she lowered her head when he came up beside her.
:Enjoying the sunrise, Emery?: he greeted her pleasantly.
:Indeed, Grove Born. It is . . . a sort of ritual, I suppose.: she answered. He nodded knowingly.
:But you are not normally alone. Where is Amaro?: she shifted uncomfortably.
:He did not join me today.: she said simply.
:Hmm . . . he does not strike me as the type to miss a ritual.: he commented. She shook her head slowly.
:No . . . no he's never missed one before . . . I am sure it is all for good reason, though.: he nodded again.
:So, you are not concerned?: Emery barely kept herself from snorting.
:I am nothing but concerned,: she admitted, feeling his amusement, :I will just have to wait and see where he has gone off to.:
He watched the rest of the sunrise with her, silently, until the mist had cleared from the Field, and other Companions were rousing themselves out of their slumber.
:Do not worry about your son, Emery.: he said, by way of goodbye, :I've no doubt he can outrun anything the gods place in his path.:
She grinned mentally, and agreed, before he disappeared into a line of trees to her right.
She knew what Carogan had said was true, but her unease had not faded. Abruptly, she felt her Herald send a distinctly curious thought through their bond.
:Yes, Chosen?: Emery asked, turning her attention to her Heart-sister.
:You are worried about something.: she answered immediately. Emery grinned again. Kara could be so perceptive sometimes. It was one of the reasons she was head of the Trainees.
:Amaro seems to be missing.: she informed her. She felt Kara's surprise, and knew that if her Herald was in front of her, there wouldn't have been a single change in her expression. Another thing Kara could do well was keep her face under control.
:Missing? He's not in the Field?: Emery confirmed her Chosen's question with a soft, wordless affirmative. Kara took only a moment more to think upon that, before concern welled up inside her, :Don't worry, Heart-sister,: she cooed comfortingly, :Amaro will be fine.:
But both of them were worried now, and they could no more hide that from each other than they could anything else.
***
Healer Y'von walked down the corridor with green eyes sparking in fury. She eyed the door no more than a few steps away, and angrily shoved it open. Sitting calmly upon on of her couches, Herald Kara was slowly sipping a cup of chava.
She glanced at Y'von with the patience of the gods, which only threw the Healer deeper into her anger.
"Where is he?" she demanded in a half-shout, pulling up short in front of the Herald.
Kara watched her silently, then put her steaming drink on the table beside her.
"Where is who?" she finally asked.
"Trainee Neoka, that's who! He's gone! Where did you take him?! I didn't give anyone leave to remove him from my care. He isn't fully Healed!" Y'von's eyes flashed dangerously, but Kara continued to gaze at her as if they were in the middle of a nice, boring conversation on the weather.
"Thank you for reporting this, Healer. You can be sure that we will look into it," Y'von was clearly dismissed, but that had never stopped the Healer from voicing her thoughts before, and it certainly didn't now.
"See that you do," she all but growled at Kara, "and see that he is returned to me before the day is through."
And she was out the door before Kara could answer. She stood in the corridor for a brief moment, breathing hard, and all her thoughts focused on her missing patient.
Things like this just don't happen! He shouldn't have enough strength to open one eye, much less walk out of the Healers Collegium!
***
Jhaspar stood outside Menith's rooms, staring at the door and thinking about how he could possibly stop the other Herald from impaling him on a sword the moment he told him where he was to be sent.
Best get it over with quickly . . .
He sighed deeply, closing his eyes for a moment, before knocking on the door and opening it, not waiting for an invitation.
"Herald Menith, you are to . . ." he trailed off in mid-sentence, gazing around Menith's room.
No Herald was glaring back at him.
The room was empty.
Damn it! He cursed silently, I don't have time to chase him around the Collegium!
:And even if you did have time,: came Carogan's voice unexpectedly, :I would not advise it.:
:He's to be sent to the Border. If I don't tell him, who will?: he asked, exiting the empty room and closing the door behind him.
:I am not insinuating that someone else tell him. I only mean that chasing him around the Collegium would not be a good plan.: Carogan retorted. Jhaspar caught the taste of double-meaning in his Companion's Mindvoice as he walked down the hall.
:Why not?: he asked.
:Because it seems Menith is not in the Collegium.: Carogan answered. Jhaspar nearly tripped over his own feet.
:Well, where is he?!:
:I do not know. I only know that this morning, I came across Amaro's mother, who was distressed because her son was missing. I searched the Field for him, but only to find another Companion gone. Hyatee. And if Hyatee is gone-:
:Then so is Menith . . .: Jhaspar finished for him despairingly, :Where . . . why did they go? And why is Amaro missing as well?:
Before Carogan could answer, Jhaspar was bombarded with another Mindvoice, one almost trembling with anxiety.
:Jhaspar!: it was Kara, and she was close to a panic, :He's gone!:
:What? Kara, calm down. Who's gone?: he gave up trying to walk, and leaned against the wall. It was a good thing he did, because Kara's next words would definitely have made him fall.
:Neoka! The Blue with the Mind Gift!:
Authors note: Ho hum! And the plot . . . remains without thickening! Hmm . . . raise your review hands if you like Collegium scenes more than Menith and Neoka scenes! *nervous laugh when everyone ignores her* oh, I'm getting that a lot recently . . .
Anywho, the next chapter will have a little action in the mix . . . er, well, it might, if you consider Amaro running really fast an action scene. *makes shooing motions* go, go and review!
Patricia – "Awesomeness"? Yay! Thank you very much!
Emerald Flame – Very good ideas, and I might well use them! Thank you!
Lottie – You check for updates every time you log on?! Geez! You know, I could e-mail you when future chaps come in. Save you some time and disappointment ^_^.
Dream Keeper – You are in the right for three guesses! I'm just not gona tell ya which ^_- . . . Awe, I hope I'm not becoming predictable . . .
Europa - *grins* yeah, interesting possibility, that. Oh, I'm leading you on. Please don't beat me when it all becomes clear!
No name – I'm glad you like it! Here you are, 'nother chap!
Magdellin – Away from the net? *gasps at very notion* anywho, thanx you for reviewing!
Q Jackson - *hugs* thank you for being truthful!
Lady Silver Dragon – You really are a good reviewer! Right in both character accounts, and welcome to the small but growing "Amaro and Neo are idiots and they belong together" club!
Ola – Greg will have a few paragraphs to himself in upcoming chapters. It's up to him to calm the Trainees down, after all . . . ^_^ Amaro is totally centered on finding his Herald, the silly boy. He figures he might as well have an adventure while he waits!
Moonlightrider – This is after any books in ML's series so far. A couple monarchs after Selenay. And you most certainly can join us! *hands over a flag*
Trina Ti – Thank you, and you're welcome! I think Amaro and Neo would make a great pairing as well. *pales* every minute?! I'm having trouble updating every month!!!
Badgerwolf – Thank you very much! And . . . *grins* I'm keeping Amaro's Choosing up in the air because I've got a really great twist coming up for him and his Herald . . . *hugs twist* something I'm rather proud of. ^_^
Sheshira – Oh flattery will get you everywhere! *blushes* thank you very much for the rather successful ego boost . . . *downplaying incident* I annoyed my teachers with my strutting . . . and when they finally asked me what I could possibly be so proud of, I showed them a printed copy of your review. Er . . . they started laughing, but only because their idiots! *grumbles* Anywho, thanks a million again!
Konitsu – Ah, not too fond of cliff hangers? *thinks* did I leave one last chapter? *shrugs* unless you meant "deeply evil" as in "grammatically and letter-wise challenged" then I completely agree. And thank you!
Herald Mistylenna – I'm glad you're enjoying it! At least your fingers don't suffer . . . *looks down at fallen hands* and thanks for reviewing!
Silver Dragonfly – Yep, they're a bit dense when it comes to the opposite species.
ElvenRanger – Only a few more chapters to go! If Neoka is to be Chosen – note I say if – then it wont be as long a wait as people seem to think. Aw, one of those incidents, huh? Well, all I do in one of those problems is up-play it as much as possible. People are less inclined to believe it was an accident on your part and probably wont laugh at it as much. Or they'll think you're crazy. Can go either way. ^_^
Goddess of insanity and pauru – Ah, a review from you is like a . . . hallmark card! *nervous laugh at use of rather sleazy line from Grease* so please don't limit yourself!
Etcetera-cat – Hope this was out fast enough, and that you still like the story! Personally, I think I'm getting worse as I go along. *helps hand out flags* Amaro's being a bit dense, isn't he? *hits Companion over the head* though . . . I might be a little unfair . . . as I'm really keeping him from doing anything in the Choosing department . . . *goes down under Companion hooves and cloud of dust* er . . . hope you enjoyed the chapter!!!