Author's Note: Back again already, aren't I efficient. Read on, and
please
review if you like it.
Oh, and, to Blind Shadows: Of course Valdemar wasn't established until long after the mage wars. And besides, this is after the mage storm books, ages after Valdemar was established anyway. The Haileigh are traditionalists; they won't have changed that much since White Gryphon, so I can still use that information.
*
Chapter 2
*
Vho groomed Edern. They were at a tiny little shed called a 'waystation', just inside the borders of the land called Valdemar. She was glad they didn't have to stay in an inn; the people stared at her constantly, and it made her very uneasy.
She understood the reason for their curiosity, of course; they had obviously never seen anyone like her before. But she had never seen any pale skinned people - except for the very few white skinned people in the Kaled'a'in envoy, when she was a servant in the emperor's palace - and she didn't stare at them.
It didn't help that she was unable to speak Valdemaran. As a mage-student, Vho had been taught Kaled'a'in and the trade-tongue, and that had been fine in White Gryphon and the Kaled'a'in outpost she had been Gated to, and even on the journey through Rethwellan the trade tongue had been commonly used. But here in Valdemar, few spoke trade tongue, and it was becoming harder and harder for Vho to communicate with the natives of this strange land.
:Vho?: said Edern. :What are you thinking about? I can tell that you are worried.:
Vho sighed. "I'm worried about this place you're taking me, for one thing." She said. "Are there more like you there? Are there many mages? They - won't think I'm stupid, will they, for not speaking Valdemaran?"
:There are quite a lot of Companions like me there,: Edern told her. :But there aren't all that many mages. They only came to Valdemar recently. Most of the Companions are bonded to mind-mages.:
"Mind - mages?" Vho echoed weakly. She dropped the brush and stepped away from Edern. "You mean they use - mind-magic - here?" Vho felt nauseated. To have come to a place that used that filthy form of - it couldn't even be called magic! It was disgusting, polluted . . .
:Of course we have mind-magic here!: Edern seemed surprised by her shock. :How do you think I talk to you?: There was a roaring in Vho's ears. Edern used mind magic? That repulsive invasion of privacy? And he was content with it being used by humans, too? In a Godly creature like a Companion, mind magic might be acceptable, but in a human? Vho wanted to throw up at the thought that she might have gone to a place so polluted, that she too, might have been tainted . . .
:Listen to me!: Edern was clearly shaken by her utter revulsion at something that was so basic a talent in Valdemar. :All the mind-mages were Chosen by creatures like me - would we Choose someone who would use their mind-magic for evil?:
"No," admitted Vho reluctantly.
:No one will use their mind-magic against you. It would go against their natures. Would you use your mage-gift against another human?:
"No," admitted Vho. Anyone who even considered using their mage gifts for ill was stripped of their power and cast out of the temple-schools.
:So they won't. I will keep you safe.:
There was utter truth in Edern's words, but still - all her training had led her to despise mind magic. There were rumours that the Kaled'a'in used them, but nothing had ever been proved. Would these people be angry if they knew her people hated mind mages? Would they ask their gods to make Edern Choose someone else? The thought caused an ache in Vho's heart.
:No one will try to make me Choose another,: Edern reassured her, pushing his soft nose into Vho's chest. :They will not despise you because of your people's prejudices. They will not scorn you for not speaking their language.:
"But - how will I talk to them?" Vho worried. "Do they speak trade-tongue?"
:Some speak trade-tongue,: Edern assured her. :And there is a Kaled'a'in envoy at Haven. They will speak the Haighleigh tongue as well as Kaled'a'in. And they will be able to give you lessons.:
This was news to Vho. When she had stayed at the Kaled'a'in outpost, the former K'Treva Vale, she had not asked for another Gate to be built, and had left for the now much nearer land of Valdemar within a few days. Obviously no one had thought to tell her of these envoys.
:Now that you're feeling better, you can pick up that brush and work on my neck. It itches.: Vho laughed, and set back to grooming Edern until he shined.
"How did you get groomed on the road?" Asked Vho curiously.
:Well - promise you won't be upset again?: After a baffled Vho promised, Edern continued. :We can keep a saddle on with no ill effects for over a month, but when I wanted to be groomed - I used mind magic on fellow travellers. Not much!: He quickly added. :Just if there was someone with time, to unsaddle me, groom me, and then forget they'd ever done it. I wouldn't do it often. Only when I needed to.: There was anxiety - anxiety that Vho would think less of him - in Edern's voice, and her heart softened.
But the fear was still there. "Edern" she said, her voice trembling. "Promise me no one will use mind magic on me."
When Edern spoke again, there was sadness and regret in his voice. :I'm sorry you cannot trust us.: He told her. :But I promise.:
*
Vho and Edern rode into Haven a few days later. If she had thought people stared at her before, they really looked at her here. It made her want to shrink down onto Edern's neck. Only pride kept her back unbent and her face impassive.
Even the uniformed guard at the palace gate gazed at her, eyes wide and mouth slackly open. Vho cringed inwardly. If even a professional guard thought her such an oddity, what would others think?
When she was through the gate, she saw two people moving in her general direction. One was mounted on another dazzling white 'Companion' but the other was riding an ordinary horse. Vho wondered if these people had heard about her, and were ready to send her away.
At least, she thought this until they got closer. And then she saw that the one on the other horse had skin a shade darker than her own.
"Wh - what are you doing here, so far from the Haileigh Empire?" she asked, accidentally speaking in her native tongue.
"I might ask you the same question." The man replied dryly. He was a huge man, a warrior, and Vho could see that he carried a sword. "I am Geyr. I was a low caste servant, and I left the Haileigh Empire many years ago, and I came to this land. This - " He nodded to the irritated looking woman on the Companion. "Is Herald-Captain Kerowyn of the Skybolts. I work for her now."
"Excuse me," interrupted Herald-Captain Kerowyn, thankfully speaking trade-tongue. "I don't mean to interrupt a reunion, but what are you talking about?"
"My name is Vho, my lady." She replied politely, her years as a servant coming to the fore. "I apologise for any rudeness; I was surprised to meet a countryman here, so far from my home."
"Humph. Well, can you speak Valdemaran, youngling?" At Vho's embarrassed negative, Kerowyn sighed. "Well, I'd ask Geyr to instruct you, but as it happens, he is on his way back to rejoin the Skybolts."
Geyr grimaced. "I need to get back to hunting down those Gods-be-damned terrorists." he said. "I'll pick up those supplies, and be on my way."
"However," Kerowyn continued obliviously. "We do need someone to teach you, and I haven't the time." Vho could see signs of tension and stress in the lines around her mouth and eyes.
"Edern said there was a Kaled'a'in envoy," She ventured. Her confidence was returning at this simple knowledge. "I speak Kaled'a'in - maybe they could teach me?"
"Treyvan and Hydona," Kerowyn nodded, obviously relieved. "Good choice, Herald Trainee."
And those words, outwardly so simple, filled Vho with belonging, even in this strange country.
Oh, and, to Blind Shadows: Of course Valdemar wasn't established until long after the mage wars. And besides, this is after the mage storm books, ages after Valdemar was established anyway. The Haileigh are traditionalists; they won't have changed that much since White Gryphon, so I can still use that information.
*
Chapter 2
*
Vho groomed Edern. They were at a tiny little shed called a 'waystation', just inside the borders of the land called Valdemar. She was glad they didn't have to stay in an inn; the people stared at her constantly, and it made her very uneasy.
She understood the reason for their curiosity, of course; they had obviously never seen anyone like her before. But she had never seen any pale skinned people - except for the very few white skinned people in the Kaled'a'in envoy, when she was a servant in the emperor's palace - and she didn't stare at them.
It didn't help that she was unable to speak Valdemaran. As a mage-student, Vho had been taught Kaled'a'in and the trade-tongue, and that had been fine in White Gryphon and the Kaled'a'in outpost she had been Gated to, and even on the journey through Rethwellan the trade tongue had been commonly used. But here in Valdemar, few spoke trade tongue, and it was becoming harder and harder for Vho to communicate with the natives of this strange land.
:Vho?: said Edern. :What are you thinking about? I can tell that you are worried.:
Vho sighed. "I'm worried about this place you're taking me, for one thing." She said. "Are there more like you there? Are there many mages? They - won't think I'm stupid, will they, for not speaking Valdemaran?"
:There are quite a lot of Companions like me there,: Edern told her. :But there aren't all that many mages. They only came to Valdemar recently. Most of the Companions are bonded to mind-mages.:
"Mind - mages?" Vho echoed weakly. She dropped the brush and stepped away from Edern. "You mean they use - mind-magic - here?" Vho felt nauseated. To have come to a place that used that filthy form of - it couldn't even be called magic! It was disgusting, polluted . . .
:Of course we have mind-magic here!: Edern seemed surprised by her shock. :How do you think I talk to you?: There was a roaring in Vho's ears. Edern used mind magic? That repulsive invasion of privacy? And he was content with it being used by humans, too? In a Godly creature like a Companion, mind magic might be acceptable, but in a human? Vho wanted to throw up at the thought that she might have gone to a place so polluted, that she too, might have been tainted . . .
:Listen to me!: Edern was clearly shaken by her utter revulsion at something that was so basic a talent in Valdemar. :All the mind-mages were Chosen by creatures like me - would we Choose someone who would use their mind-magic for evil?:
"No," admitted Vho reluctantly.
:No one will use their mind-magic against you. It would go against their natures. Would you use your mage-gift against another human?:
"No," admitted Vho. Anyone who even considered using their mage gifts for ill was stripped of their power and cast out of the temple-schools.
:So they won't. I will keep you safe.:
There was utter truth in Edern's words, but still - all her training had led her to despise mind magic. There were rumours that the Kaled'a'in used them, but nothing had ever been proved. Would these people be angry if they knew her people hated mind mages? Would they ask their gods to make Edern Choose someone else? The thought caused an ache in Vho's heart.
:No one will try to make me Choose another,: Edern reassured her, pushing his soft nose into Vho's chest. :They will not despise you because of your people's prejudices. They will not scorn you for not speaking their language.:
"But - how will I talk to them?" Vho worried. "Do they speak trade-tongue?"
:Some speak trade-tongue,: Edern assured her. :And there is a Kaled'a'in envoy at Haven. They will speak the Haighleigh tongue as well as Kaled'a'in. And they will be able to give you lessons.:
This was news to Vho. When she had stayed at the Kaled'a'in outpost, the former K'Treva Vale, she had not asked for another Gate to be built, and had left for the now much nearer land of Valdemar within a few days. Obviously no one had thought to tell her of these envoys.
:Now that you're feeling better, you can pick up that brush and work on my neck. It itches.: Vho laughed, and set back to grooming Edern until he shined.
"How did you get groomed on the road?" Asked Vho curiously.
:Well - promise you won't be upset again?: After a baffled Vho promised, Edern continued. :We can keep a saddle on with no ill effects for over a month, but when I wanted to be groomed - I used mind magic on fellow travellers. Not much!: He quickly added. :Just if there was someone with time, to unsaddle me, groom me, and then forget they'd ever done it. I wouldn't do it often. Only when I needed to.: There was anxiety - anxiety that Vho would think less of him - in Edern's voice, and her heart softened.
But the fear was still there. "Edern" she said, her voice trembling. "Promise me no one will use mind magic on me."
When Edern spoke again, there was sadness and regret in his voice. :I'm sorry you cannot trust us.: He told her. :But I promise.:
*
Vho and Edern rode into Haven a few days later. If she had thought people stared at her before, they really looked at her here. It made her want to shrink down onto Edern's neck. Only pride kept her back unbent and her face impassive.
Even the uniformed guard at the palace gate gazed at her, eyes wide and mouth slackly open. Vho cringed inwardly. If even a professional guard thought her such an oddity, what would others think?
When she was through the gate, she saw two people moving in her general direction. One was mounted on another dazzling white 'Companion' but the other was riding an ordinary horse. Vho wondered if these people had heard about her, and were ready to send her away.
At least, she thought this until they got closer. And then she saw that the one on the other horse had skin a shade darker than her own.
"Wh - what are you doing here, so far from the Haileigh Empire?" she asked, accidentally speaking in her native tongue.
"I might ask you the same question." The man replied dryly. He was a huge man, a warrior, and Vho could see that he carried a sword. "I am Geyr. I was a low caste servant, and I left the Haileigh Empire many years ago, and I came to this land. This - " He nodded to the irritated looking woman on the Companion. "Is Herald-Captain Kerowyn of the Skybolts. I work for her now."
"Excuse me," interrupted Herald-Captain Kerowyn, thankfully speaking trade-tongue. "I don't mean to interrupt a reunion, but what are you talking about?"
"My name is Vho, my lady." She replied politely, her years as a servant coming to the fore. "I apologise for any rudeness; I was surprised to meet a countryman here, so far from my home."
"Humph. Well, can you speak Valdemaran, youngling?" At Vho's embarrassed negative, Kerowyn sighed. "Well, I'd ask Geyr to instruct you, but as it happens, he is on his way back to rejoin the Skybolts."
Geyr grimaced. "I need to get back to hunting down those Gods-be-damned terrorists." he said. "I'll pick up those supplies, and be on my way."
"However," Kerowyn continued obliviously. "We do need someone to teach you, and I haven't the time." Vho could see signs of tension and stress in the lines around her mouth and eyes.
"Edern said there was a Kaled'a'in envoy," She ventured. Her confidence was returning at this simple knowledge. "I speak Kaled'a'in - maybe they could teach me?"
"Treyvan and Hydona," Kerowyn nodded, obviously relieved. "Good choice, Herald Trainee."
And those words, outwardly so simple, filled Vho with belonging, even in this strange country.