Disclaimer: this is the part of the show where I say I own nothing (which is basically true) if its new I will gladly take credit for it, (unless you don't like it (in which case I blame… ummmm the freshman yeah, blame everything on frosh) ) the familiar stuff probably belongs to Mercedes Lackey.

A/N okay 5th snowday chap, I know these aren't exactly worthy of being in a novel, but I suppose that's why I'm writing fanfics on other people's stuff instead of having others write fics about mine….

            After running head long for quite a distance across open fields we had gone crashing into the woods to ward off pursuit now we were resting in a clearing and Isaac was raving about how stupid he had been to listen to a horse.

            "I can't believe this… they were right, I really am crazy," he raved.

            :You aren't crazy,: I rebuked, hoping he would calm down so I could concentrate on building a gate.

            "Stop doing that, okay?  Where are you from anyway … you showed me that thing about heralds, but I've never heard of them…"

            :Valdemar,: I replied shortly, sending an impression of Velgarth along with it.

            He mulled the image over and I started to form the gate.  I concentrated on one of the inner doorways of the chapel in the middle of the grove, it was unlikely that anybody would be there.

            The gate fought my control but I finally got it stabilized.

            Isaac stood staring dumbfounded at the opening in thin air.  He went over to it and stared blankly between it and me.

            "How'd you?  Oh, never mind, this is insane…" I sprang forward pushing him through the gate ahead of me, :Goodbye Rachel, and thank you for the help,:  I called out to her as I went through, I  caught a vague sensation of her reciprocating the goodbye before I allowed the gate to close.

            I stumbled out of the chapel with Isaac, :Get on my back, not far now until someone explains all this to you, poor boy.:

            Isaac obeyed meekly and I staggered into the companion stable.  I even managed to stand until a groom plucked him from my back and another was sent for the dean of the heraldic college.

            "Caedmon", the groom exclaimed as a collapsed at his feet, "We thought you dead."

            I sighed and lay there knowing my chosen would be tended to by the able heralds of the collegium.

            "Is he okay?" Isaac asked.

            "He'll be fine, Caedmon is a fine companion."

            "You mean horse," I heard Isaac ask on the point of unconsciousness.

            "No, he's a companion, boy, where have you been not to know a companion when you see one?  Let alone get yourself chosen?"

            "But…"

            "The dean will explain when he gets here, don't you worry about a thing."

            When Isaac didn't offer an argument I let myself slip the rest of the way into sleep.

            Some time later I woke up in a stall with Isaac waiting by my head.

            "They told me all about this place, and heralds and everything.  They say I'm not crazy."

            :So they set you straight?:

            "Yes, you might say that."

            :Good.:

            "I have some friends too."

            :Really?:

            "Yeah there are these twin heralds about my age, Melly and Jedric.  They're very kind."

            :My cousin's herald is their older brother.  They'll be loyal to the end.  I'm glad you make such good friends so quickly.:

            "Quickly?  It's been over two weeks since we got here."

            :Oh.  I suppose you have been to all your classes then?:

            "Yes, I like them well enough, but the best part of it is that no one here thinks I'm crazy."

            :Because you aren't.:

            "That didn't keep anyone from saying I was, except Gary, he was always nice."

            :Good, I'm glad Rachel's got a friend like him.  You don't by any chance have anything for me?:

            "Oh, you mean like a carrot of something?" He asked pulling one out and dangling it in front of me, "cause if it's a carrot you want I might be able to scrounge on up," with that he took a bite of it and then stared at me merriment dancing in his eyes.

            :Yes, a carrot would suit me quite nicely.:

            "Okay, here," he fed me the carrot and then produced another.

            :I knew I chose you for a reason.: I said with feeling.

            "I'm glad you think so Caedmon.  I'm truly glad."

A/N okay there now they are back on the cool planet that I don't own and Isaac is no longer tragically misunderstood.