Disclaimer: Since this is a new fic I am rewording the disclaimer but it's still here 'cause unfortunately I still don't own any of the below ideas that can be found in the 'real' Valdemar *sigh*.
A/N this would be the much anticipated (I even have reviews requesting it!) sequel to Asia's Choice. I hope y'all like it. I don't think it will be necessary to read my Asia fic first, but it certainly couldn't hurt. Oh yeah…. I forgot this in my last a/n I got a car last weekend!!! It's sweet! I love it, it's a white SUV and it drives like a dream, it's fully loaded with leather seats… sigh, it's totally awesome… anyway back to the story…
I sat on the bank of the river that flows through companion's field watching my younger brother and sister wading. They were twins and they couldn't have looked less like me. Red-headed freckle-faced terrors they were. I sighed. It was my job to watch them for the day. Our mother, Herald Elsa had been assigned as the tutor for a new trainee with foretelling and father was out on a circuit.
"Watch this Cye!" Melly cried out shrilly. I looked dutifully at the wet muddy child as she carefully balanced on dead piece of tree that hung out over the water. She marched along it until her twin lobbed a mud-ball at her. Melly stumbled and then tumbled into the water with an indignant yelp. She came up sputtering and splashing at Jed.
"Guys, leave each other alone, how many times do I have to tell you?" I asked exasperated. The twins were all well and good but I would rather play with the unpaired companions. That was my favorite pastime.
"Spoil-sport," Jed accused me sticking out his tongue impudently. Melly nodded her agreement, "Why don't you swim with us anymore?"
"Because wading about and throwing mud is not my idea of fun, and if I were the one who had to scrub you two clean tonight I wouldn't let you do it either!"
"Suit yourself then Cye," Jed said with a shrug before he and Melly returned to their mud war.
I had to suffer through two more candle marks of splashing and sparring between my younger siblings before mother came to collect them.
"Thanks for watching them Cye," mother said with a weary smile, "I appreciate it, Liana is so frightened of her gift …"
"I understand Ma; may I go play with Savannah?"
"Yes, but you need to be back in time to wash up for supper."
"Yes Ma," I replied quickly. Before she could add anything else I ran off into the field. Asia's second foal was my favorite of the unbonded companions. Savannah was only two years younger than me and I had been in the companions stable at her birth. Due to that I had always felt that she was special, that and the fact that she was the only one of Asia's foals alive. The ghostly memory of two sticky still white bodies made me shiver. Asia had been crushed by the still-born twins, especially after her first colt had died just days after being born.
I shook my head to clear out such thoughts. It hardly mattered. Asia and Ralph's only foal was the most perfect of those in the field. I was sure of it. Savannah had always been special. I knew she would choose a very important herald someday, that she would do great things. I also knew that I wasn't likely to be that herald.
Having been raised among heralds I had never truly been in awe of them. As a child I had assumed I would be chosen, but my parents had made it quite clear that companions did not choose based on family ties. I knew that with all the people in the world the chances that I would become a herald were not that great. I didn't mind. I had a better plan.
I wanted to be a bard. Bard's learned the same lessons as heralds, but they brought smiles and laughter. As a bard I could go where I pleased and do what I wanted. A bard would have just the freedom I would need to follow Savannah and her chosen, and chronicle the great deeds she was sure to do.
I realized I was nearly to the grove when I came out of my revelry. I continued right up to the edge to wait for Savannah and the three other young companions that always seemed to accompany her.
I didn't have long to wait. She tromped up with her entourage, looking every bit the regal queen. I wasted no time in feeding her and her friends the apples, carrots and sugar that I always carried for them.
I spent nearly a quarter of a candle mark lavishing attention on the four companions. Gradually they left until only Savannah was left with me. She nudged my shoulder with her nose and then started walking. I grinned widely; today we would be walking in the grove then. I always enjoyed walking through the grove with her at my shoulder. It made me feel as though I were her herald for the afternoon.
I followed at her flank as we walked across the sun dappled grove. Looking around I could easily see why Garth grove-born was so impressive. Anything that was born among these towering trees would have to be amazing. I drank in the scents and sounds of the small woods. I tried to memorize every sensory detail, a bard; I had to remember so I could be a bard. The thought pulled me out of my happy fantasies and back to the real world where I realized I was perilously close to being late for supper. As if she had caught my panicked thought Savannah nudged me back toward the collegium with her nose.
With a final look around I set off at a fast sprint for the fence. Savannah kept pace with me easily. As I had done since we were old enough to run together I reached out toward her. Savannah snaked her neck out under my reaching arms and I wrapped my hands through her mane. With a fluid motion I hopped up onto her back and together we took off for home at her ground-eating canter.
We pulled up short by the fence. Mother was standing by it waiting impatiently.
"Cye!" she hissed, "You get off of that companion this instant! You are not her herald, in fact you aren't a herald period, and you have no business riding her! What possesses you child?"
About a thousand smart remarks came to mind as I hopped lightly off of Savannah's back and stroked her nose before feeding her a final lump of sugar.
"Cye," Mother said, slightly calmer, "You can't just ride a companion …"
"But Ma…!"
"No buts Cymon, I don't care how much you think she doesn't mind. You simply cannot ride another person's companion, what'll happen when she chooses? You shouldn't get attached to her."
"Why not Mother? She's my friend!"
"Why don't you make friends with other kids then?"
"Who? The herald trainees? So I can remember every time I'm with them that they have something I may never get, something I want more than anything? Or the blues? The half that isn't self-absorbed is obsessed with inventions. The healer trainees are too busy healing and the bards tend to stick to their own."
"There are children in the city …"
"Most of them are working by my age, or apprenticed. Ma, when are you going to let me make something of myself? I could have enrolled at bardic two years ago!" I accused.
"Cymon, you are only thirteen, why do you need to grow up so fast? You will have years to be a bard, or a healer, or craftsman or whatever else you want to do!" gradually our voices had escalated and by that point our confrontation was loud enough for anyone nearby to overhear.
"Queen's Own herald Talia was chosen at thirteen," I said jutting out my chin stubbornly, "and she was going to be married if she didn't come here!"
"She was holderkin, they lead a hard life, much harder than the worst days you've yet experience Cymon," but she sighed and added reluctantly, "when your father returns he intends find an apprenticeship for or enroll you in Bardic or Healers collegium, whichever you choose."
"Truly?" I asked.
"Yes, Cye, truly."
I leapt the fence with a joyful cry and hugged mother around the neck, "Oh, thanks Ma, I knew you and Pa would understand! I just knew it, oh; won't I just look fine in red Ma?"
"Green would bring out your eyes more," Mother teased mildly, "but yes I believe red would definitely work for you."
"Oh, this is jolly well grand! I have to go tell Melly and Jed.
"Jedric and Melly are in at supper, which is where we should be, and we haven't finished discussing your lateness Cye, you are most definitely not getting off that easily!"
I nodded and followed Mother to the herald's collegium for supper. Foregoing a full bath I splashed water on my face. There was an open seat beside Jedric, which I promptly took.
"Guess what Jed!" I exclaimed.
"What?" Jedric asked between shoveling in bites of meat.
"Mother says I can be a bard!"
Jedric smiled and nodded, "that's great Cye," he replied around a particularly large bite of food.
"Wouldn't you rather be a herald?" Melly said leaning in front of Jedric to address me.
"Well, yes, but…"
"… You have to be chosen, yes I know. But still, wouldn't it be something?"
"Oh sure it would Melly," Jed replied. My siblings took off on that strain for the remainder of the meal. I hurried to finish my meal. Once I was done I hurried back out to the companion's field.
I went straight to the stable. Savannah might be out in the field, but I knew her mother wouldn't be. Asia was always willing to give up any information I asked for in exchange for a good rub and some sugar.
"Asia?" I called as I approached her favorite corner stall.
:Cye, you came to visit me? How sweet!: she hinted at a treat. Laughing I reached into my pocket and pulled out a sugar cube, :I always knew I loved you!: my mother's companion sighed munching happily.
"Where's Savannah?" I asked scratching Asia's neck idly.
:Out facing the math monsters,: Asia replied smugly, :she's quite brave you know…:
"Silly, Asia, there are no monsters in the palace, especially not in companion's field. Anyway, I just wanted to tell her that I'm going to bardic collegium! Isn't that great? I can't wait. So just tell her that for me okay Asia?" I blurted excitedly.
:So your mother finally told you? Good, she's been absolutely incorrigible about keeping it a secret!:
"I'm just glad they're letting me go."
:Of course Cye. I'll tell Savannah for you. Get to bed though. Your father should be home soon and then he'll get you enrolled.:
"All right. Tell Savannah I'll visit her tomorrow. Goodnight Asia."
:Good night Cye.:
I left after giving Asia one final pat. My parents' companions had always been family to me. Asia and Ralph had been there when I was born, when I learned to walk, when I was first talking. More than once they had helped to translate my unintelligible baby talk. Savannah and I had grown up together. She was practically like a sister to me. I sped up anticipating a warm bath before bed.
I got my bath and was lying in my bed, staring at the ceiling when my mother came to say goodnight.
Mother smiled wryly at me, "Sometimes when you do that I would almost think you were talking to a companion."
I grinned at her, "Who said I wasn't?"
"Asia, I've asked her before."
"Oh, well, maybe some day I will."
"Now Cye …" Mother started to warm me.
"I know mother, just because my parents have companions doesn't mean I will, but a guy can hope can't he?"
"Of course. It would be so wonderful if you were chosen. Just don't count on it dear."
"I know Mom, I really want to be a bard. I want to write and sing about heroes, not be one!"
That elicited a smile, "Alright, well Ralph told Asia that they'll be home within the next few days. As soon as…"
"I know, I went out to visit Asia earlier," I interrupted.
"Ah, so you were out bribing companions, they're probably the best source a bard could ask for. What fine contacts you have!" she teased gently.
"I will be a top-notch bard Ma, I promise you that."
"I have no doubt about it Cye, just don't … well, be careful."
"I won't do anything stupid. Bards aren't nearly the targets that heralds are."
"True, but you also don't have companions to guard your back."
"It'll be a long while before I travel anywhere ma."
"I know, get some sleep Cye."
"I will, Good night Mother."
"Good night Cymon," she replied smiling as she carefully shut the door behind herself.
I spent a few moments more staring at the ceiling. The patterned stucco had a hypnotizing effect on me and I had spent countless hours resolving them into different pictures. They were like my own personal constellations. Comforted by the familiar shapes I was asleep before I knew it.
A/N there now. Isn't Cymon a cool name? In case you're wondering it's just a misspelling of Simon, but I like the nickname Cye, so I respelled it! Right, well if you like it (on if you don't) please feel free (or even obliged) to review and let me know it! I've got to go mow my lawn now so this a/n will be abnormally short (for me) right then.