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 then next chap! (This is Cye by the way)
I received openly curious looks in all of my classes the day after my morning encounter with authority. Tatty had graciously shortened my lessons in order to allow me time for my seriously backed up schoolwork. I also had the entirety of each class period to work on it in order to catch up with my classmates.
As it turned out Tatiana had been very upset about my new harp. She definitely approved of its quality and craftsmanship, what she disliked was my less then honest acquisition of it. After I had argued with her for candle-marks over it she had reluctantly agreed that it was as good a harp as I was likely to ever own. I had taken this as a compliment.
Despite all the time I had to work on it, my extra work took me most of the week to do especially since I not only had to make up the things I had missed, but also catch up as my year mates continued to move on. By the end of the week though, everything was back to normal. Tatty and I met for a candle-mark each afternoon, my work load, as far as school went, was once again easily manageable.
Thus on the next break day I was sitting in the companion stable with a tenuous mind connection to Asia. Mother had gone into the city to find Ashton and the others. I would have gone with them, except for the fact that I was still on restriction to the palace grounds. Asia had kindly volunteered to relay a play by play to me though so I was waiting to hear what happened.
Mother had just gone into the room, and terrified the inhabitants. Seph was sure that I had squealed on them, and the herald had come to drag them all off to jail.
"They didn't do anything!" he was protesting vehemently to Mother's flat stare.
"When did I say any of you did?" Mother said in her best heraldic voice. Hearing through Asia, who was hearing the confrontation second hand was like using a looking glass to stare out of a window, and a poorly made window at that!
"Weren't there four of you, I only count three?"
"Ashton's getting lunch," Ginger piped up before the two boys could silence her.
"Ginger!" Seph growled.
"What's going on?" Ashton asked from the doorway, "I saw a companion outside…" her eyes found my mother and she did a double take, "Herald, I …"
"I don't want to hear confessions and the like, contrary to what this boy seems to believe I came here because it came to my attention that you could use some help. Is that true?"
"Help? Cymon squealed to you didn't he? I knew we couldn't trust him…" Seph said hostilely.
"Cymon told me that you and the other boy had some designs. I would like to look at them. If they are good than I would like to endorse your schooling at the collegium. Cymon also expressed your reluctance to leave Ashton and Ginger; I would be willing to put them up also within palace/collegium grounds. If that is satisfactory?"
"You want to look at our designs?" Griff asked excitedly.
"That was my intention," Mother said amiably.
"Don't show her anything, she doesn't have anything on us!" Seph crowed defensively.
"Look here young man," Mother said sternly, "If you continue insisting that you have nothing to hide I might let you prove it!"
"How?" Ginger asked with innocent curiosity, she tried to approach Mother but Seph held her back.
"Truth Spell," Mother replied simply.
"You can do that?" Ginger asked incredulously.
"Yes, Heralds do that kind of thing," Seph told her, "And they have little to do with the likes of us unless we're causing them some sort of trouble … don't trust her Ginger!"
Ashton recovered from the shock of seeing a herald in her home in time to glare at Seph, "Of course we should trust her Sephora! Don't you know anything? Heralds are around for the good of the people. Honestly, you'd think you were the thief here! You guys should go with her, you'll do great things at the collegium, and Ginger will be safe with a Herald as her guardian. Go ahead and make something of yourselves."
Mother arched an eyebrow at that, "Whoever said you weren't included in the offer?"
"Look, it's not like I'm too proud to accept charity or anything…" Ashton hedged.
"Then why?"
Ashton thought about whether to answer the question for a long moment, "I cannot take you up on your offer because I don't deserve it. I have broken laws and I don't think that those who enforce the laws, like you heralds, should be rewarding crimes."
Mother smiled then, "That my dear, is the beauty of grace; you don't have to deserve it, just accept it. There will be rules mind you, I want no more of this errant behavior, but if you chose to come with me you will be subject to all the rules and benefits that any of my other children are."
I could tell from the tone that the rest was just details, Mother was truly going to help my friends, and they were going to take her up on it. That was what counted.
Asia broke communication with me and I slumped in my seat, exhausted from the effort this endeavor had cost me. I sat with my eyes closed, trembling with fatigue, for a moment. That was when I noticed that the next stall was occupied. I recognized the warm glow of a familiar mind-voice in conversation just beyond the level I was tuned into. Unthinkingly I strained to hear what was going on.
:Tell me who it is!: A clipped voice I had never heard before demanded.
:No one! Your master died, no one bought you!: Savannah's voice was tinged with an air of long-suffering that led me to believe that she had already answered this question before.
:That isn't good enough. I'm not dumb Sav, who is it?:
:This is Valdemar Azi, slavery is outlawed; you know that! Hence that mage didn't want to let you come here …:
:I really wish I could believe you…: the stranger, she must have been Azori, Savannah's chosen, asserted bitterly. I had to fight down jealousy and anger at the disrespect being shown to Savannah. Much as I hated it she wasn't my companion.
It still wasn't an easy fight, I had to thrust the conversation out of my mind and leave the barn before I was overcome by my intense desire to cause harm. So I left and wandered around. My friends were in town for the day, shopping and making merry, I of course, was still on restriction. Served me right too, but it left very little to get my mind off my troubles. Add to that the fact that my harp was in for repairs, I had snapped a string and lost a tuning key, and top it off with no schoolwork left undone, and I had a very long time in which to be alone with my anger.
If I had learned one thing about being as upset as I was it was that letting such a feeling fester did little good to any parties involved. At first I wasn't sure where I was going, but as the stable for the horses drew closer I realized that I had the perfect pursuit for the energy that was going into sustaining my outrage.
As I entered the stable the grooms continued about their business, they were used to my presence. I hadn't been half raised by companions without learning something of horses and riding. And when it became apparent that I might not be chosen I had devoted most of my time to riding. I had done everything from breaking young horses to saddle to teaching old ones new tricks.
When I arrived at the stall of my favorite horse, a smallish all purpose mare, she stuck her head over the half door in greeting, awaiting a treat as greedily as any companion ever could. I grinned and obliged her. As she munched contentedly I rubbed her face. She lipped at my hands looking for more treats. Laughing, I told her there weren't anymore and then I got a lead rope and attached it to her halter. I didn't feel like bothering with a saddle and bridle right then. Cookie was well enough broke, and I a good enough rider not to need them anyway.
It was easy to loose myself in admiring the mare's glossy red-brown coat. She was blood bay, complete with black up her legs, ears, muzzle, mane and tail. A real beauty, with deep brown eyes, no whites, whites around the eyes would have attested to a crazy streak, something this mare did not posses. But that didn't mean she was easy to ride. Cookie was the picture of perfection for her breed. When she felt good she would flag her tail, crank her neck back and Trot with a capital t. My luck was in, she felt good.
I looped the lead rope around so it was connected to both sides of the halter and jumped lightly onto the mare's back. Not for the first time I was thankful for her small size. As soon as I asked for it Cookie picked up a fast trot and we were off. After the initial run we mostly went quite slowly and I was able to cool my heels about Azori. Finally I came to the conclusion that I would be best served to stay away from her at all costs. Losing my temper at her would only hurt Savannah. Besides I would have plenty of time to mortally offend the girl when I was chasing after her trying to chronicle her escapades with Savannah. That settled I relaxed into the steady beat of the mare's hooves and the wind in my face.
After my ride with Cookie I was more than ready for dinner and bed. Unfortunately I was just leaving the stables when Mother came in with Ashton and the others.
"Cye!" a shrill voice caused me to jerk around in search of the source. Ginger was sitting with Mother. I grinned weakly. Ashton, Griff and Sephora were all close behind the companion.
"Hey," I called waving. I was quite surprised to see them back so quickly, but then I had been with Cookie for most of the afternoon. I waited and they were soon walking with me.
Before the others could greet me or do more than glare, Mother issued orders, "Cymon, show these guys to my rooms while I tend to Asia, won't you? I plan to enroll Sephora and Griff tomorrow morning, Ashton and Ginger will be staying in the twin's old rooms."
"I'll show them around Mother," I replied quickly.
" Mother? You're his Mother?" Seph growled.
"Yes," Mother said evenly as she handed Ginger down to Ashton and started toward the companion's stable.
"I'll show you Mum and Dad's rooms first …" I said, not expecting that they would pay much attention.
"I can't believe your mother is a herald and you didn't tell us!" Seph exclaimed.
"My father is one too, as are my younger brother and sister, if you must know, and they all love it."
"Heralds mean trouble," Seph continued.
"Not if you obey the laws. That shouldn't be a big problem. Mother agreed to take you in, she and the collegium will provide for your needs. You needn't worry about a thing but your studies."
"Really?" Griff asked incredulously.
"Really, I'll take you to the dining hall for dinner after I show you all to the rooms you'll be staying in."
"Sounds fine to me," Ashton said with a shrug as she picked up her little sister to carry her. With Ashton supporting me Sephora had no grounds for dissent, so he just shook his head and grumbled to himself.
I ate with the four street kids and then left them with Mother and the excuse that I needed to see if my harp was fixed. I did go by the repair room on my way out, but no one was present so I decided to let the instrument wait.
My real goal was the companion's stable. Savannah had sounded stressed out when I overheard her earlier, I figured that she could use a sympathetic ear.
:Sav?: I said tentatively as I approached the stable.
:Cymon!: was the immediate gleeful response.
:I overheard you talking to your chosen earlier…: I admitted leadingly, :If you need someone to talk to about it I wouldn't mind.:
:You shouldn't have listened to that,: Savannah rebuked me firmly.
:I know, I wasn't trying to, but I did hear it. I know about what was done to her, so I'm just about the best person for you to talk to about it.:
:This is between me and Azi, Cye, do not try to get in the middle of that. I love you like a brother. I wish you had been chosen, but do not try to interfere with Azi and I.:
:I am not trying to interfere,: I paused outside the entrance, suddenly feeling, for the first time, that I did not belong in that stable.
:You can come in Cye,: Savannah saw my hesitance and took pity, :It's not that I don't trust you, I just don't think Azori would appreciate us discussing her problems.:
"Savannah, I don't want to get between you two. I am not trying to get in where I don't belong," I said, somehow uncomfortable with mind speaking a companion when I was not a herald.
:I know that Cye; I don't mean to snap. She's having a rough time adjusting to things here.:
"Of course, she went from a rigidly structured life with no freedom and no safety to a place with so little structure and so much liberty. How could she blindly accept that this place is safe?"
:This is exactly what I didn't want to get into with you, but I agree with you.:
"I wish I could help her."
:The twins are her friends.:
"I don't think it would be good for me to be close to her … I am too prone to being jealous of her."
:She will be disappointed to hear that you don't want to meet her. Everyone she knows here goes on about how great you are.:
I laughed, "You're joking, right?"
:No, Azori really does want to meet you. She wants to thank you for helping her.:
"I didn't do anything."
:You cared about her when she was sick. That's good enough for Azi. Don't forget how little caring she has experienced.:
"If you think it's for the best I'll talk to her. About what it's like here … if she trusts me as much as you implied then maybe she'll listen to me. After all I have no stake in whether she believes me or not, and I am her peer."
:I would appreciate that,: the companion said, relief evident in her voice.
"I brought you a treat Sav," I said offering her a carrot. Her ears perked up at that and soon she was chomping happily as I scratched her neck.
A/N okay, that took a long time to finish, but none the less it is finished, hope you enjoyed reading it :0D (like my new smiley?) right, well G'night then.