Disclaimer: *gasp* I am actually changing it! Right I still haven't worked out a way to legally steal ideas or imaginary places so Valdemar is still safely in the hands of Mercedes Lackey… But my characters are mine … all mine!
A/N Okay, I have today (Saturday) off, and the only thing I really ought to do is go to church this evening so I am going to write another chapter. The "I" in this chapter is Azori for the simple reason that I want it to be! Thanks so much to Stee for the reviews. I appreciate the input, and you're right that just giving Cye a companion would be far too random… besides I have plans for him as a bard! I hope the world cup proved to be interesting… as to Savannah's bond that will become clear as the story progresses (I hope) right so the new chapter…
I woke up to a dark room, it was late. I tried to remember how I had gotten where I was. The last thing I could recall I had been in my master's tent and someone, a lady in a sky blue uniform had come in with a drawn sword. No one drew a sword around the mage. He had ordered me to eliminate the threat, I had hesitated and then … pain, searing pain, followed by blank blackness.
Now I stayed perfectly still listening for the dripping water that would tell me what time it was. There wasn't any. I realized that for the first time for as long as I could remember I was on a soft bed. I felt an incredible urge to just snuggle back into the bed. Instead I looked around the room. It was sparse, and there was a candle flickering on the table, an evenly marked candle.
Valdemar? Was it even possible? My master would never bring me to Valdemar, not and leave me unguarded. So that meant he had been very mad about what I had done. He had definitely done some long-term damage to my mage abilities. I wasn't objected to that, I hated the magic anyway. If I didn't have the ability to use it I would likely be dead though. The master would never kill a valuable slave, I was worth money alive, and dead I was good for nothing. He didn't like waste.
To be in Valdemar I must have been sold. A new master could be dangerous. I knew from the slaves that the mage bought that not all masters cared so much for the monetary worth of their slaves. Even expensive slaves were mistreated sometimes. I had been forced to heal many such slaves for the mage.
It would be necessary to find out what kind of person this new master was. If it was the sort that would kill a slave on a whim, or in a rage, it would be better to attract that wrath as soon as possible. I didn't like the idea of dying, but it was better than endlessly working for someone who would be only too glad to hurt me.
I heard footsteps in the hall. The door started to slide open. Despite the fact that the hinges were well oiled, they didn't approach the silence level of the mage's; he enjoyed sneaking up on people so I had learned to listen for the tiniest movement at any door.
Without really thinking about it, I rolled off the far side of the bed to wait for whoever was coming in. A surprise attack would definitely attract a killing wrath if this person were inclined to such things. There were plenty of potential weapons within easy reach.
The door was all the way open, allowing a patch of soft golden light to enter the room. I blinked and tried to let my eyes adjust to the new light. The figure came into the room and went to the far wall where it lit a lamp. In the bright illumination a young man in a light green outfit was revealed. He looked wearily at the bed. When I wasn't there his eyes widened in surprise. His eyes searched frantically for me.
"You're awake!" he said triumphantly.
"Yes, I said maintaining a fighter's crouch with the bed between us.
"Savannah will be thrilled!" he said speculatively. He came toward me, and I back away circling out around the bed so it wouldn't impede my movement.
"Who?"
"Savannah, your companion."
"Companion?" I searched through my mind trying to figure out what a companion was. Suddenly one of the dreams that had broken through my unconsciousness came to mind. A boy with a white horse, offering the horse to me, and the horse talking to me. Companions were for the heralds of Valdemar, and as far as she knew heralds didn't buy slaves, "How did I get here?" I asked straightening up and crossing my arms defiantly. If I had a companion then this man must be beneath me somehow.
"Savannah brought you from a Skybolt garrison. The Bolts rescued you from a slaver."
"He's dead?" I asked at once fearful and hopeful, satisfied and angered. The mage had been my only family, he had taught me. I didn't want him to be dead. At the same time he had been the one who killed my real family, and he had hurt me.
"Yes, the Skybolts killed him."
"Skybolts?"
"An elite branch of the Valdemar military, they keep garrisons around the country."
"Do they wear sky blue uniforms?" I asked urgently.
"Well, yes," the man responded.
I nodded and tried to accept that my master was dead, "Who are you?"
"Healer Trainee Benson," he said with no small measure of arrogance.
"Well, then, where's my companion?"
:Chosen?: A rich mind voice spoke into my head frantically.
:You're Savannah?: I asked tentatively.
:Yes.:
"Out with the other companions," the healer said, unaware of the silent exchange.
"I want to see her!" I demanded. If he were an underling then I mustn't show him any deference.
He shrugged, "Well, the last bit of you to heal was the mental blocks, if you feel up to it I see no reason you shouldn't go to her."
"Good, guide me will you?"
He wordlessly offered me his arm and I took it.
:You're coming to visit me?: Savannah asked excitedly, :I'll meet you on the way!: I got the impression that she was moving rather quickly. A tiny flux in the magic of the area pointed to magic as an aid to her propulsion. Interesting.
I followed the healer imperiously. Savannah was waiting for us at the entry to the large building they had been keeping me in.
"I can make my own way back," I said by way of dismissal to the healer trainee.
:Oh, chosen,: Savannah sighed and rubbed her face against my stomach. I grinned at the decidedly horse-like action. This was no ordinary horse though, that was quite clear to my magical sight, even if it wasn't to my physical sight.
"What is happening?" I asked, not trusting my conflicting emotions with mind speech. I decided that this creature ranked above me. I could show weakness to someone above me.
:You don't know what being chosen means, do you?:
:No, the master never liked Valdemar except for raiding …:
:Poor child.:
I didn't really need to ask what she meant be that. I instinctively knew that she somehow knew everything that I had done for the mage. Or that had been done to me, depending on the point of view.
Savannah explained heralds to me. She told me about everything that had happened since the Skybolt came to the mage's tent. Throughout she offered unending comfort. She was the tangible reality of everything the dreams about her had implied. I felt safe with her. For the first time since the mage took me for training I cried, into the soft white coat. Savannah comforted me. Dawn was breaking by the time I was calm enough to pull away from the companion's comforting presence.
:I will call for a herald to show you to your room dear, you need to get ready for classes, if you're up to them today.:
:I've taken harder classes than you described under worse circumstances.:
:I know you have chosen,: Savannah said gently. I realized that my last comment had been rather pert and winced. One didn't speak to one's betters in that tone.
:Sorry,: I said quickly, :I didn't mean that the way it sounded.:
:I know Azori, don't worry about it.:
I hugged the companion's neck and we waited together for the promised guide.
As it turned out two kids in gray matching uniforms arrived. They were chatting happily as they approached.
"Hey Sav," the boy said.
"Your chosen is better!" the girl shrieked gleefully.
I was shocked by their casual treatment of the companion.
"Who are you two?" I asked defensively.
"Melly and Jed, we're trainee heralds too! Our mother teaches orientation," the boy, Jed, replied.
"Your mother?" I asked cautiously.
"We're twins, both our parents are heralds. Our brother tried to help you. He and Savannah are very good friends," Melly said happily.
"Yeah," Jed said as he stroked Savannah's nose.
My hackles were up. I didn't know where I stood with these two. Wondering if they were above or below me, there was no such thing as a true equal; the mage had taught me that. I was about to say something when Melly interrupted.
"Savannah asked us to show you around right?"
"Yeah," I agreed reluctantly. These two must be above me; their parents were heralds, which must put them above me. I followed the two around the grounds and the tour ended in a smallish room that they told me was mine. I didn't have to share it, and I could go to it any time I wanted to be alone.
"How about putting on your grays and coming to breakfast," Melly suggested amiably.
"Grays?" I asked
"These," Jed said holding up a folded uniform that appeared to be identical to his own.
I nodded and took the uniform. I started to change into it and the other two withdrew from my room in a hurry, Jed looking rather embarrassed. I grinned at that; embarrassing him was quite easy, and entertaining.
The twins turned out to be good friends. I spent most of the day with them, and I heard all about their big brother, Cymon. He had apparently tried to help me and then run away. To hear the twins tell it the boy was practically perfect, a regular saint! I wondered what motivation they had for bragging the boy up so obviously, but I decided to be wary of someone who was so purportedly infallible.
"Can I see him?" I asked toward the end of the day, tired of all the second hand information.
"Well, I think he's with his harp tutor right now," Jed replied.
"But he's back?"
"Yeah, he came home late last night. Cye stayed with these street kids…" this led Jed and Melly into another of their stories. They took turns recounting this latest adventure of their brother.
I endured the tale with half and ear to it. I was anxious about the lessons that they said would be starting on the following day. I wasn't sure about learning. Through past experience I had found that those who sought to teach cared little for their pupils…
"Is your mother kind?" I asked absently when the twins finished their story.
"She can be," Melly said honestly, "She's got a bit of a temper sometimes, and she doesn't have much patience…"
I didn't like the sound of that, but it was far better than hearing about how amazingly perfect she was too. That would have made me seriously doubt the twins' ability to judge things objectively.
"And she'll be teaching us tomorrow?"
"Yeah, oh she's nice enough when she's with the new trainees; she's had lots of experience helping all sorts of kids settle in here," Melly said, trying to allay any fears I might have.
"And Asia mothers all the younglings as if they were her own kids!" Jed added.
"Your mother's companion right?"
"Yup, she'd do anything for a bit of sugar and affection!" Melly replied.
"She is Savannah's mother right?" I asked processing what little I knew of heralds and their partners, the companions.
"Yeah," Jed said, "I think Cye wanted her to choose him…" he added hesitantly.
Melly nodded solemnly, "He wanted that more than he's ever wanted anything."
"Oh," I said not sure what to do about this new information. If this Cymon was as virtuous and wonderful as his siblings made out, which I tended to doubt, he would rank above me. I didn't want to make someone who outranked me mad…
"He's alright with it now. He always knew that it wasn't likely that she would choose him. I think he likes you anyway," Jed rushed to explain.
"As a friend and all," Melly hurriedly amended her brother's statement.
I smiled at their stumbling attempts at explaining their brother's feelings.
"I could care less about what he thinks of me," I said, only partially lying.
"Oh, well I bet you two would get on famously!" Jed added stoically.
"I'm sure," I replied blandly.
"Well, it would be best to get some rest, classes start bright and squirrelly!" Melly said with all her youthful vigor.
"Yeah," I said grimly at the fresh memory of my past lessons nearly making me wince.
"Good night Azori," the twins chorused as they left me at my door.
"G'night," I slurred tiredly after them. I went into my dark empty room. I was enamored of the idea of having a room all to myself; that was something that I had never had, even as the baby of my farm family. I stretched and examined the entire room. My mind instantly found all possible hiding spots, possible weapons and escape routes. I set them firmly in my mind.
:You're safe here chosen.: Savannah rebuked me mentally.
:I seriously doubt that,: I replied brusquely, :I've believed that before to my detriment and I will not believe it again!:
I got the very strong impression of a mental sigh, :As you wish chosen. Herald Elsa would be appalled that you think she's going to hurt you though.:
:That too I will believe when I see it! I've yet to be taught a lesson that didn't hurt!:
Savannah sent a mental snort, :Your experience base is rather limited.:
:I don't want to talk about it thank you!: I said. If I had dared I would have put up shields to keep her from further comments or prying.
:You can shield against me if you want to chosen, I don't outrank you!:
:You are more powerful than me, older, and there is a power about you…: I protested. Shielding against someone stronger than you was a good way to get into trouble. I didn't fancy being mentally slammed and pummeled into submission yet again, no matter what the horse told me!
:Then I will shield you!: Savannah said with mild exasperation. I felt her shields wrapping around me and I felt a mixture of relief and anxiety. Relief that my mind was occupied only by my own thoughts, which it hadn't been since the mage had finished teaching me shielding. I was also anxious since the few times I had been forced to use shields it had been to keep me from broadcasting terror… I forced the memories out of my mind and decided to take advantage of my newfound privacy by dropping into a deep sleep.
A/N I hope you all liked Azori there, I think she's funny! And paranoid, but still funny. It recently occurred to me that I like Valdemar books in part because I like horses so much, so I was just wondering if any of y'all ride? If so I would be interested in knowing what breed of horse you like best (even if you don't ride do you like horses and what's your favorite Breed) As for me I love the showy breeds, like Arabs, Saddlebreds, Hackney road ponies, and my all time favorite; Morgans!!!! Righto then the next chap will likely be Cye's POV. Tell me what you think of Azori's POV!