A/N- Cat- YEAH!! More chappage from Kyrette!! We're still not to 100 reviews tho… We need MORE!!!!!!!!

Kyrette- :PLEASE!!!! MORE!!!!! I need more from you!!: *looks at the writer waiting for disclaimer* *grumbling* :Let the damn Fairie do it!:

Cat- *looking over her shoulder* Scaretta!!! Kyrette's letting you do the disclaimer!

Scaretta- *fluttering in* Neither Kyrette nor the esteemed Cat McDougall own anything pertaining to Velgarth, Valdemar or Heralds etc…. All of that belongs to Mercedes Lackey. *flutters out*

Cat- Well ok… On with the story!

Chapter 23- Help comes

'Flame awoke the next morning, glad of the magical alarms. Her sleep had been troubled, and waking up to keep watch would not have made it any better. She went and saddled all three horses, while the bodyguard cooked breakfast and the mage did whatever he did every morning. 'Flame wasn't sure what he did, beyond taking down the magical alarms around the camp. She had tried to watch him work, but somehow she hadn't felt safe watching for very long. She wasn't sure if it was him or something else. Better safe than sorry though.

Soon it was back into the saddle again for them, and on towards the Pelagirs. 'Flame played her part to the hilt, scouting ahead and getting dinner in the form of several tree hares and a pheasant.

The mage refused to eat something so common as a tree hare and insisted on something different each night.

That had tested 'Flame's hunting skills to the hilt. Luckily for her she had help, in the form of a very large bond bird. Ayren roamed the way ahead of them, sometimes feeding information back to her. Soon he wouldn't have to hide. Within a week or so, they would be within range of k'Varis Vale.

'Flame was beginning to get nervous. She had not thought beyond getting a scout from a local Vale. Then she had some vague idea about "capturing" them and trying to stop the mage before he started. If she could get some extra help from another Tayledras…. These thoughts took her under the first trees of the Pelagiris Forest.

A quick mental nudge from Darkfire brought this fact quickly to her attention. The last thing she wanted to be was distracted. Although many of the worst change-beasts had been cleared out by the Tayledras, there were still things to be wary of. 'Flame now wished she could use her own magic. It would give her a distinct advantage. Yet with the mage so close, she didn't dare. Hoping that Darkfire's and Ayren's senses would be enough, she led the group into the forest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Firesong relaxed back against the rim of the hot tub, with a sigh of relief. Since he was staying in Haven, he had volunteered some of his time to the Mage's Collegium. Most of the time, he was used as an extra mage in case of accidents.

He'd only found one student who might possibly have Healing Adept possibilities. The lad, however, was already Chosen. Firesong worried that the boy would get so caught up in his Herald duties, that he would not get the proper training that Healing Adepts needed. He planned to talk to Elspeth about it tomorrow.

He sighed again and sank a bit deeper into the tub. The heat was wonderful. Strong hands kneading his shoulders made him smile. He looked up to see the love and contentment radiating from Silverfox's eyes. He enjoyed the strong, firm hands easing the knots from his shoulders for a moment. Then tugging gently, he brought Silverfox down to his level, kissing his life mate gently.

:Firesong!: The Mindcall was strong and very familiar. When the Call had come he'd jerked back, slamming his head against the tub. Silverfox looked at him questioningly. Firesong waved him off and sighed. He opened his mind, leaning back in the tub again.

:You needed me, little sister?: Firesong didn't bother to hide his annoyance. He looked at Silverfox who had moved away to read one of his novels and sighed. It seemed tonight's recreation would be put off a bit longer.

:Interrupt something did I?: 'Flame didn't bother to hide the smugness she felt. Firesong just sent her a picture of him scowling. Her mental laugh tinkled through his mind. It was good to hear it again. :Sorry, needed to ask you something though. Did anyone contact you the other night?:

She sounded so tentative that he wanted to hug her and protect her from the world again. Instead he only sighed. He couldn't do it no matter how much he wanted to. :Yes, they did. Everything is set with k'Varis Vale. One of their scouts will be waiting for you to contact him and one of their Adepts will be close enough to help, if necessary.: Now it was his turn to feel a bit of smugness. He had been able to help despite her protestations. Starfall had been key though. His actually knowing the Elder had helped move things along. Firesong wondered what 'Flame would think if she actually knew he had helped her. He wouldn't tell her just yet. She needed to keep her mind on the task at hand. :Are you alright?: He asked worried about her. She had deliberately put herself into danger.

He could feel her relief and her smile. :I'm fine, Firesong. Tired and wondering just what the hells I am doing, but fine.: He felt her worry and sent wordless reassurance. Now was not the time to point out that he had offered to help. :Return to your fun big brother, and thank you.: Before he could reply, 'Flame broke the link.

With a sigh, Firesong looked over to where Silverfox was reading his book. He wondered if the book was that engrossing. He stood and grabbed the towels waiting for him so conveniently. When Silverfox looked up, Firesong just quirked his mangled lips and an eyebrow. His life mate answered with a small smile. The book was quickly put up. What 'Flame had interrupted didn't take long to begin again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starfall knew nothing of the sibling's conversation, when he woke the next morning. He had become the Tayledras representative on the council. He was also another Mage, to give insight into that world.

As he dressed for Council, he wondered just what 'Flame was doing. She should be closer to k'Varis and to the end of her quest. He worried that she would still not get the help she had asked for. 'If only Gates were still possible,' he thought, straightening his robes. If it were he would immediately Gate himself to k'Varis to help her himself.

He smiled at his own change of heart. Only half a year ago, he would have turned his back on her and thought nothing of it. Now though, it bothered him that she was alone. She was facing a rogue mage alone. If he had had a say, she would have been forced to stay here. He would have tied her to a bed somewhere and sat on her.

He smiled to himself, listening to the protectiveness he now felt. It was amazing how one small fact, the name of her father, could change his opinion so drastically and so quickly.

The young hertasi had already straightened his room and he was really just procrastinating going to Council. What he really wanted to do was see if Firesong could use his spell again to see if she was alright. He was worried about her. She was alone, facing Havens knew what. Yes, she'd asked for help and the help was going to be there, still everything could go wrong. Sighing, with his hawk on his shoulder, he finally left his room. If anything happened to her, he'd never forgive himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wanderstone sighed and shifted his seat in the oak, where he'd taken up residence. Overhead his falcon rested easily in the branches, having just devoured a tree hare, unlucky enough to be caught. The area had been scouted, but no one new was in the area and he definitely hadn't seen any bond-eagles. They were a bit hard to miss.

Below him, Rrussin, a neuter kyree, patrolled around, as impatient as he was for whatever was going to happen, to begin.

They had been given very sketchy details by Snowblade. The only thing they knew for sure was that Adept Firesong's younger sister was coming their way and needed help. He wouldn't say anything else. Wanderstone had gotten the distinct impression it was because he didn't know anything else.

Wanderstone sat munching on some berries, thinking of what he knew of Shadowflame. Admittedly, it wasn't much. He knew she didn't look Tayledras any longer. Her bondbird was an eagle. She was the daughter of Starfall's wife and another man, conceived when he had been out of the Vale on business. She hadn't had much to do with the Vales since the Mage Storms.

That was about all he knew. Now he was expected to help her in some way. Whatever that way was, he hoped she knew what she was doing.

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