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 I changed my mind, this is still Azori for a few reasons 1) I like Azori better right now. 2) Cymon's next bit spans a few days and I want to cover Azori's first day of classes. 3) Azori has a cooler name and she is insane! I would also like to take this opportunity to personally disclaim all ideologies included in the Valdemar series: 1)I disagree with the homosexual lifestyle (because it is harmful to those involved and yes I do know some such individuals). 2) I have studied hedonism (Bacchantic and Epicurean, purely academically) and found that it too results only in harm (it is totally destructive and although we all display hedonistic characteristics from time to time the practice of pure hedonism is wretched). 3) I know that the quote "there is no one true way" is absolute poppycock! I firmly believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven… I mean there's no one true way to hell (everyway but trusting in Jesus leads there)… but most people don't really want to go there…4) I also disagree with Polytheism as it leads people away from the truth that God loves them and is willing to forgive their sins. 5) Magic, it doesn't exist (I know, duh, no brainer it's fantasy you dumb author… but still, just saying…) Right then now that I'm done with the philosophical discourse I can write you all another chapter! (I hope you're still reading ;-) ) But first I have to add 2 comments that I didn't know about when I wrote the rest of this note yesterday: 1) I had this chapter ¾ done last night when my computer killed it (closed it without saving) 2) thanx to Light-fingers cutthroat for the review I like Azori better too (sometimes) but I like Cye's complaining.
I woke up early the next morning. Even so by the time I arrived at the dining area for breakfast the twins were waiting to accost me. I smiled at them and we ate our breakfast together. As usually happened when they were eating, the twins poured all their energy into their food, thus allowing me to eat in peace.
As soon as the meal was complete though we headed for a classroom. The twins led the way cheerily and I trudged along after them wondering what new horrors these lessons would bring.
The classroom looked innocent enough. Three other kids were sitting at desks near the front of the room. The twins joined them. I scanned the room for any other inhabitants, marked the location of all possible exits or weapons, and then took a corner seat where I could observe all the coming and goings as well as the other students.
The room was filled with the happy buzz of the other group's chatter. I waited nervously for our instructor to arrive. When she did I was unpleasantly surprised. She wore a flowing white set of clothing.
In the mages court there were only two kinds of people who wore white, those with no power, or those with an abundance of power. She definitely belonged to the latter group. Within that group whites were reserved for three eventualities; great anger, conquest of some sort or extreme boredom. None of the three boded well for any underlings they were around when they wore such outfits.
I shrank in my chair, trying to avoid her notice. My fear seemed to draw her attention to me. She locked in on me and asked, "You're Azori right?"
I nodded and sat up in my seat, there was no point in hiding now that she had noticed me.
"My son has told me much about you," she replied with a warm smile.
"Your son?" I asked not sure who she was or what she was talking about.
"Cymon," she said quickly and then turned to the class at large, "I am Herald Elsa, and I'm going to be your orientation teacher. As you should know you are here to learn what it is to be a herald. You will learn all you need to know to fulfill that office in the next few years, now let's begin by seeing how much you already know…"
The class volunteered information, asked and answered questions and discussed points. I sat in my chair listening numbly and formulating responses in my mind, I didn't contribute to the conversation though, and there was no need to draw the herald's further attention to myself.
After the class ended I leapt to my feet in the hopes of slipping out among the other pupils. Being alone with someone in white was never safe. I was pulled up short by the herald's voice though.
"Azori, a word please."
I stood stock still facing the door as my classmates filed out. The twins shot me reassuring glances. I was not reassured in the least.
"Are you feeling all right dear?" Herald Elsa asked coming over to stand a bare foot away from me before speaking, she was leaning on a desk with her arms crossed and her face creased in concern … or something else.
I half-turned to face her, acutely aware of her proximity. I nodded once, terrified.
"What's wrong then? You didn't participate in the discussion at all."
I didn't respond; I was too afraid to.
"Azori?"
"Yes Herald?" I asked staring pointedly at my feet and suppressing the urge to cry or try to run. I felt something brushing at the edges of the shields Savannah had erected for me. Now the herald would be really mad. I contemplated seizing control of the shields so I could lower them for her, but then decided defiantly, to let Savannah continue to hold them. It wasn't as if I wasn't exuding anxiety and fear even through the minimal shielding.
"What are you afraid of?" Elsa asked as the gentle mental touch withdrew.
I couldn't answer her. Somehow 'you' just didn't seem like an appropriate response.
:Chosen,: the single word rebuke was filled with an emotion that took me a minute to identify as affection.
:What?: I asked snappishly, transferring my fear of the herald to the companion. I then remembered that despite her equine form she still outranked me hugely and I sent wordless apology to her.
:Herald Elsa will not hurt you, you have nothing to fear.:
:I can't believe that,: I replied to the companion.
Herald Elsa seemed to know that I was conversing with my companion because she waited until our exchange was complete before continuing.
"You have nothing to fear here…" she looked at me; I was by then trembling like a leaf and biting my lip to keep back fearful tears. We locked eyes for a moment, exchanging look for look until I averted mine violently staring at the floor. Understanding seemed to don on the herald, she seemed speechless for a moment and then she addressed me again, breathily, as if she didn't quite believe what she was saying.
"You're afraid of me?" It wasn't quite the question it came out as, more a startled discovery really.
I unhappily acknowledged the accuracy of her guess with a scared nod.
:Azi, Elsa would never hurt you!: Savannah continued her defense doggedly.
"Oh, you poor child," she gushed, for a moment I got the impression that she wanted to comfort me, hug me or something like that … I wouldn't have fought her about it, but I was glad when she stayed where she was, "I would never hurt you!" she echoed the companions words.
"Why are you wearing whites though?" I asked, resolved in my own mind that it was for the last of the three possibilities.
"Whites?" she blinked in surprise at my question and then launched into an explanation of herald's whites, "They are the uniform of all full heralds, they mark us out and set us apart …" she continued until I had a full knowledge of the Heraldic use of white clothing, "Why in the world would you be scared by white clothing?"
I explained the significance of the color to her and she gave me a long measuring look, "I don't know any reason to do that except to keep his underlings away from the aid a herald could bring, if you were that afraid of me, and you could probably hold your own against me quite well even untrained as you are, I would imagine it was a way to maintain control."
I nodded vigorous agreement, and the herald continued, "Here that sort of meaning is conveyed by flowers … and there aren't words for danger or hatred. You need not concern yourself with that though."
Despite her assuring words I didn't quite believe her yet.
:Chosen … we companions chose the heralds, do you think we would choose someone who would hurt you? Or any other child?:
I thought about it for a moment before replying, :No.:
:Then trust her!: Savannah urged me.
"You aren't mad at me are you?" I asked hesitantly.
"Only at the very idea that you think I would hurt a child for kicks and giggles…" the herald announced standing up straight, "You have no need to fear here, the heralds are your family, we will not hurt you and we will protect you from anyone who tries to!"
I just nodded, slightly disoriented by the assertion.
"Now, I won't keep you any longer, you will be late for your next class."
I left. To my shock the twins were waiting for me, "You're going to be late to your next class!" I exclaimed not certain how I felt about their waiting. They shrugged.
"We wanted to make sure you got to your next class okay," Jed remarked.
"Yeah, you haven't been here long and sometimes it can be hard to get around a new place…" Melly added.
"Besides, it's the first day of classes for us, no one expects us to be on time," Jed put in happily. If they weren't upset about being late then I decided I wouldn't be either.
The rest of my classes passed much easier with the knowledge that the white attire of my heraldic teachers had no deeper meaning. This knowledge was especially helpful around the red-clad bardic instructor who taught mathematics. Red would have meant he was out for blood… not comforting as I tried to figure out the math problems.
They went well, that is, until I saw the last class on my schedule. Mage-craft. I knew all I cared to about magic. My mage had trained me enough that I had master status, he had told me that I was very close to adept status, but that he would not allow me to surpass him and thus my magical training had not continued in that direction. I learned from the twins that magic was generally the last thing a herald learned, but that since my magic had already been awakened I needed to begin the training right away.
I reported to the class nervously. Maybe these heralds really did care for me, but I only knew one way of teaching magic. I did not relish the thought of undergoing such training again. The fact that the other students were all at least five years my elder, if not more, only served to increase my discomfort.
The heralds who taught the class divided us up into groups by our abilities. Those with different types of mind magic went with teachers and other students who had similar gifts. I was paired with another girl, who looked to be at least seventeen, if not older, and a dour looking man was our teacher.
"Alright, Hannah, please continue with the exercise I taught you yesterday while I test Azori."
I wondered idly what 'exercises' the other girl would be doing, but I was far more concerned with being tested.
"Ground and center," the herald barked. I nearly jumped at the order.
I didn't know what he meant, but I was far too afraid to say so. He stared at me for a minute and I dropped my eyes to the ground. After a moment I started to fidget and reached tentatively for the nearest leyline, wondering if that was what he meant. He sent a swat of power at me. I dodged my strand of power away from him and linked it with the leyline.
"What are you doing?" my teacher hissed, "You have to ground and center before you do that!"
I allowed the power of the line to flow through me for a moment before letting go of it and responding, "I don't know what you mean," I said meekly, and then tried to justify my actions, "I put an outlet for the power, and I have a firm grasp of it…" I had tapped into the line exactly as I had been taught. As I had hundreds of times before.
"You must ground and center before you try to do anything!" the herald rebuked me firmly.
"I don't know what you mean Herald," I replied again, afraid that he might get really angry; an angry mage-teacher was to be avoided at all costs.
"Watch," he commanded. I watched as he set up to reach for the power exactly as I had been taught.
"Oh," I said startled at how difficult he made the simple action seem. I quickly set up to reach for the leyline again and then waited for him to do whatever tests he had in mind. He nodded approvingly.
"Much better," a grin appeared on his face. I felt him prodding at me, trying to knock me off base. Suddenly a force slammed into my grounded and centered self, I let it hit me and absorbed the power into my hold. My teacher's face registered approval, and surprise.
"You've been trained." He stated bluntly.
"Yes, my master said I was at the level of a Master when he stopped teaching me," I said, hoping that he wouldn't take that as bragging. I was not proud of my training.
The Herald swallowed and got a far away look in his eyes, mind speech, I knew.
:He's consulting with his companion,: Savannah offered the information, :he's quite pleased with your training. You have the potential for adept status. I think you will find that training here is different from what you are used to…:
:I hate magic,: I replied acerbically, :without exception! I do not need more 'lessons' in it!:
"You might try broadcasting more specifically," my instructor said mildly.
"What?" I asked.
"I overheard what you just said to your companion, you might try focusing more on letting only her hear you…"
"Oh," I said realizing that I had been broadcasting widely.
He sighed, "The only reason to give you these lessons right now was the danger you posed untrained. Since you are trained more than enough to allow for safety and you are so opposed to magic it is up to you if you would like to continue learning. You could be an adept…"
"I decline further lessons," I said quickly, leaping at the chance for freedom from mage-craft.
"Alright," he nodded, "You may go then. Hannah, we are going to work on …"
I left as he returned his attention to the other student. I wandered around the palace/collegium complex aimlessly and found myself outside of the field where the companions were kept.
I leaned on the fence and watched them. There were other people within sight, mostly in gray or white uniforms. Although I saw a pair of rust red clad bardic students regaling a cluster of companions with harp music.
I squinted at that group and identified one of the listeners as Savannah.
:Sav?:
:Azi.: Savannah acknowledged.
:What's going on?:
:A harp lesson, the music is rather pretty,: as I watch though, Savannah lipped at the younger Harper's hair affectionately and peeled away for the crowd to come over to me.
:I am free from magic lessons!: I crowed triumphantly to her.
:I am aware of that; are you sure it wouldn't be good to be an adept?:
:Please don't ask me to do that Savannah.:
The mare sent disembodied compassion and I knew that she wouldn't press the matter.
:That boy is the Cymon you have heard so much about,: Savannah said idly.
She was close enough that it was more comfortable to speak vocally to her.
"So?" I asked with less care than I actually felt.
:You aren't curious to meet him?:
"Not really," I said, although I really was.
:He was very concerned for you.: Savannah said.
"Good for him, I have work I should probably be doing…"
:Spending time with me is a necessary part of your day. It builds our bond, which is a big part of being a herald.: Savannah explained.
"Really?" I asked.
:Really, besides, I can help you with your work, come sit on this side of the fence, and for the low, low fee of a good neck scratching I will aid you in you scholarly endeavors.: Savannah said imperiously.
I smiled at her and climbed over the fence.
A/N there now back to Cymon … as always I would like to beg for reviews at this time … I enjoy all reviews, and welcome even flames (wince) if they are merited and truly meant.