Disclaimer: *gasp* I am actually changing it (again)! The old new one bored me so now I'm changing it again … essentially I own nothing (minus anything unfamiliar) that has to do with Valdemar… no suing I have no money!

A/N snow again, lol, right well here's another chap… my exciting thing for the week is that I finally, finally, finally can do mills mess (yeah it's a really cool juggling trick I love to juggle) right and I am getting better at four balls so right on that note … did I mention that my job for the week is lawyer? Probably not but there it is, that'll change next week, just like accountant and doctor, and veterinarian, and author, and any other job I have briefly considered… right anyhow... fast-food employee sounds pretty good until I realize that they are required to not spill beverages and then I know I wouldn't qualify… right this time I am really gonna start the story here… (Oh right almost forgot to mention that I'm not sure whose POV this is…)

            I woke up the next morning, if the early hour could be considered morning, to Cymon shaking me.

            "What?" I mumbled.

            "Time to go Azi, you don't have to come, but…"

            "No, I coming, I can help."

            He grinned and I got up to follow him.  We were in place long before daybreak and as the first rays of light glittered off the estate's bleached white walls we attacked.  The fighting raged all around I stood beside Savannah.  She offered magical and physical support to my efforts.  Since Roy wasn't there his Garth did the same for Cymon.  Justus was with one of the Skybolts, a warhorse was a weapon to valuable to leave aside.

            I could tell that Cye was worried for his horse, but there wasn't anything to do about it.  We had a great view of the attack and counterattack from our vantage point just within the woods.  That was a fair distance away from the walls for security purposes. 

            We fought along with the 'Bolts, mostly countering the attacks of Malken's mages, for candle-marks.  Finally around mid morning Malken himself appeared on the walls.  Fighting ceased momentarily as he made an announcement in a magically enhanced voice, "If you do not leave now," he boomed, "I will kill the Herald that is in my possession, if you do I will negotiate for his life with his queen."

            There was no turning back though, no bargaining with evil.  Within moments the Skybolts continued the battle with renewed fury.  Moments after that Garth leapt from behind Cymon and charged for the estate.  As if he could actually do anything for his chosen.  I lost watched him until he reached the frenzied fighting and then he was lost to my sight as I countered an attack by one of the other mages.

            A short while after that Cymon faltered beside me, I followed his line of sight to where Justus was surrounded; the big black looking stallion went down and didn't get back up.

            "I'm sorry Cye," I whispered placing a hand on his shoulder.  He brushed me off.

            "It's fine, he was a warhorse, this is what he was trained for, we have to keep fighting," he managed to blurt out.  So we did until there was no one left to fight.

            The sun was nearly setting when the remaining Skybolts brought Malken and his top mages to us for inspection.  I verified that all the leaders were there and then saw to their summary field execution.  Then I went into the estate to help find the slaves, and hopefully Herald Roy's body.  Cymon was occupied with Justus's burial.

            I was successful on both counts.  The freed slaves followed me about like ducks until I barked at one of the Skybolts to take them in hand.  They were escorted out and would be returned to Valdemar.

            When I found Roy's body it was in the stables and two others had beaten me to it.  Savannah and Garth were both there, looking like conspirators.  I joined them.

            :Azori, Garth and I need to talk to you.:

            :Huh?: I asked Savannah wondering what the Queen's Own's companion could possibly want with me.

            Then I heard Garth's powerful mind-voice for the first time, :Azori, you know what happens when the Queen's Own Herald dies.:

            :A new one is chosen,: I replied nervously, :Usually someone who is already a herald … oh no! Wait a minute I am not … I refuse to go along with this!:

            :I told you she is clever,: Savannah said fondly, :Azori, dear Herald Roy is dead, Garth needs a new herald, he chose you.  He had an idea this might happen for a few years now.  In fact I chose you for safekeeping.:

            :Oh, I see, then I was right all along, you never really did care about me, did you?:

            :Azi…:

            :Whatever Savannah, I don't believe you!  I'm not a piece of property for you stupid white horses to trade around; you're the one who told me that to begin with remember?:

            :Azori, she never wanted to go along with this.  I asked it of her when you had been with us for three years already.  I didn't expect it so soon, or so violently, but I needed to make arrangements, Queen's Own is an important post.:

            I wanted to snap at them and yell.  Instead I thought about what they were proposing.  If they were trying to control me, or hurt me why in the world would they give me one of the highest posts in the country?  It made much more sense if they were telling the truth.

            :Alright, fine, I'll be Garth's herald … but you had better go to Cymon and choose him right this minute Savannah, that infuriating boy deserves you!:

            :Thank you Azori, thank you so much,: Savannah ran off, and I turned to Garth.

            :I suppose this means I'm your chosen now.:

            :Yes,: Garth said.

A/N there, now everybody can be happy yay!!!! Well at least Cye and the companions will be happy.  Azori isn't happy no matter what so that's fine.  Right then I'll move on to the next chapter.