Disclaimer: Since this is a new fic I am rewording the 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 okay now back to Azori… have any of you read Hiroshima? If so what did you think of it… right on to the story then… thanx so much to everyone who reviewed recently, (basiclly Light-fingers and Jc ) You're the best!!!!!!

:What are you doing?: Savannah asked as I rushed through getting her ready.

:I'm getting ready silly,: I replied gruffly.

:Why … Herald Kern said we are staying the day here, he is tired.:

:I know that!: I snapped. Even after a year of traveling with him I didn't trust the other herald. Being nearly a full herald by that point I was fine with the whites and most heralds were close as family before I met them. There was one exception to the close familiarity for me though. I was still wary of the herald-mages. And they had partnered me with one for my internship.

:So what are you doing?: Savannah repeated.

I didn't deign to acknowledge her.

:Chosen…:

:I am not learning magic!: I growled in response to her wheedling tone.

:Azi…:
:I know all I want to about it! It isn't worth it. Do not make me do this.:

:No one is making you do anything Azori.:

:He told me yesterday that I had to learn …:

:Did he threaten you?: Savannah transformed from questioner to protector in that one sentence. My answer changed her back.

:No, he doesn't need to threaten me. He has the authority of the Heraldic circle. They want me to learn to my fullest potential … I have adept potential, I know that.:

:So what's the problem Chosen?:

:I don't want anything to do with magic! All it does is hurt people.:

:Azori, you can't run away if that's what your plan is. After this internship we will mostly ride circuits together, all by our selves. No one will bother you about magic then.:

:Herald Kern has orders to teach me magery. He says there have been problems on the border. Near the mage's keep…:

Warmth flooded back into the companion's voice, :He's dead kid, that mage can't hurt you anymore. It's our duty to do everything we can to protect Valdemar. If that means learning about magic then do it.:

:Kern won't be able to teach me.:

:He is one of the most powerful herald-mages around, if he can't teach me who can?:

:Savannah …: I growled at her, :You know how I learned magic. You ought to be able to figure that out! I won't be able to learn what he has to teach me without some serious work. My master would not make a weapon that someone else could use Sav, remember your history? It's like what happened to Darkwind's father. If I learn more its going to hurt.:

:What about your duty?:

I had no acceptable response for that. I wasn't sure that it wasn't wrong for me to be so worried about a little pain. Except, it wouldn't be a little pain, it would be a lot.

"I'm sorry Sav, but I can't do that. I would die for Valdemar, but I will not become an adept," I slipped into verbal speech. There were other reasons to avoid magic too. I had felt the tug of the power from just ley-lines. I had seen my master tapping into a node. The sheer power frightened me, but at the same time it tugged at me with an attraction that petrified me.

Savannah picked up on my fear, :I will stand with you Chosen, but we aren't running away from this. If you can't become an adept then that's all there is to it. I love you and I will support you, but we are not going to give them the satisfaction of seeing us quit.:

The love that bathed that statement stunned me for a moment. The fact that I believed what the companion said surprised me even more.

"Thanks," I squeaked.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" Herald Kern asked from behind me at just that moment. I jumped at the sound of his voice.

"I was … uh, just about to …"

"I'm sure," Kern said in a way that made me doubt his sincerity, "Are you willing to learn then?"

"No," I shook my head violently, "I don't want magic. I refuse to learn."

"Are you afraid?"

"Not of you!" I spat, "I just don't want to."

"I have my orders girl; it is your responsibility to do this," he said calmly.

"You would have to force me to, and Heralds do not use coercion spells."

"That doesn't mean we don't know how to or that we don't make exceptions."

"I may not be fully trained, but if you even try to lay a coercion on me I'll kill you, herald or not," I threatened. Kern's companion pinned it's ears back menacingly at that.

"Kill me will you?" Kern shook his head in disgust, "You haven't learned much from your years with us have you?"

"What did you want to teach me?"

The other herald glared impassively. His companion stood protectively by his side.

"Don't answer me then! If that's the way you want it we don't have to talk at all until we're back in Haven. This whole ordeal is half over anyway."

Herald Kern gave a sharp quick nod. Without a word we both mounted our companions. I jockeyed Savannah in front of Kern and proceeded to ignore him.

To the misery of our companions Herald Kern and I had not exchanged words for months. The first evening after I had proposed the deal he had made it quite clear that he would only resume communication if I agreed to let him teach me magic, and I ignored him knowing that I would never learn to use nodes. We had managed to complete our training circuit somehow, and we were on our way back to Haven. The journey from the border home allowed for stops at inns and staying in towns made not talking to Kern more interesting.

I had taken to spending my evenings in the inn common rooms. A strange phenomenon had recently developed though. There was a bard at each of the inns we stayed in. That in itself might not have been remarkable; except I was quite sure he was the same bard. For one thing his uniform, though distinctly official bardic garb, was ornate. He always played his harp with a heavenly effect and he would disappear into the courtyard when his performance was finished along with apples, carrots, or other equine favorites.

Yet, in order for the bard to be at the same inn as us three nights running he would really need a companion. In short, my curiosity was piqued. So I went down to the common room in time to hear the last stanza of the last song of the evening and then follow the bard out to the barn.

Savannah was in a roomy box stall, up to her fetlocks in straw.

:I like this place!: She told me contentedly as she lipped up the last of a bucket of sweet feed.

:I'm glad Sav,: I replied nonchalantly going to her stall door to rub her nose and basically stare at her. I stood exchanging small talk with the companion and watching the bard puttering around near one of the other stalls out of the corner of my eye.

I was looking for a good opportunity to ask about his traveling patterns.

"If you think I'm stalking you you're only half-right," the bard said to no one in particular as he leaned against the door to the stall he had been working in.

"Oh?" I said arching an eyebrow.

"Yes, you see I am not at all interested in that other herald or his companion. My main concern is Savannah. Being that I am a bard I have decided to attach myself to your companion and record your, shall we say, adventures?"

"Adventures? What do you mean you have decided to attach yourself to us! Are you insane?" I burst out. Obviously the boy was touched in the head. There was no way he could be serious. And I said as much.

"Come now, of course I'm serious. Justus can keep up with your companions. I am certified as a bard. I can go wherever I please, and you my dear must follow your orders and stay on whatever circuit you are assigned to. So you see I can shadow you two for as long as I live."

"Why in the world would you want to?"

"Surely you have heard of bards following heroes around to record their great deeds of daring do? Well, that's what I intend to do!"

"You really are crazy aren't you? Savannah and I are anything but heroes."

"You serve your country selflessly, that, Azori, is the best sort of hero!"

"Who are you?" I asked, disturbed that he knew my name.

"Bard Cymon at your service m'lady," the bard bowed with a flourish and locked eyes with me, displaying a boyish grin, "It's a true pleasure to see you again."

"I thought we agreed that we weren't acknowledging each other's existence."
"This was always the plan Azori, I probably should have told you that, but, well … things turned out differently than I expected."

"Differently how?"
          "I don't know, just different that's all.  Look, I heard that you are being pushed to learn magic, maybe I can help."

          I glowered at him for a minute, "I know that you're a history buff, and you know how I learned magic, therefore I can only surmise that you are the single most offensive person I have ever met!"

          "Well, granted, but like you said, I am really into history and it just so happens that I have some ideas about how to get around whatever the mage did to you without, shall we say, complications?"

          I was on the point of dismissing the proposal out of hand and really lashing out at the irritating bard when I became aware of Savannah's formidable presence.

          :What is it Sav?: I asked tightly maintaining a hold of my temper.

          :He told me about his ideas, at least give him a chance.  If it comes down to it, he will be a much more forgiving teacher than Herald Kern.:

          :Alright, I will tolerate him, but if this becomes a problem it's all your fault!:

          Savannah sent me wordless acknowledgement.  I drew a deep breath before turning once more to Cymon.  He had returned to his horse's stall and I went over to stand near him.

          "I accept your offer," I said, barely above a whisper.  At first there was no response and I joined him in studying the horse.  The odd coloring was striking.  A jet-black coat with Companion white mane and tail.  Both flowed like liquid silk and the eyes were a deep chocolate brown.  The hooves were polished to a gleaming black. 

          "You like him?  I named him after your brother."

          "He's beautiful, that black is breathtaking."

          He grinned, "I did it with magic, I anchored the spells on his mane and tail, hence the whiteness.  He's actually dark red though, since he belongs to a bard.  Most people mistake it for black."

          "Oh, is that related to my schooling?"

          "I'll teach it to you… I think your potential as a mage greatly surpasses mine, but I can definitely get you on the right path!"

          "Great, you get to tell Herald Kern then!"

A/N okay that took some artistic license with the magic but oh well, it ain't real n/e way!