Chapter Two: Welcome to Valdemar
Kalira felt like Ricki had galloped over her. Every inch of her hurt, especially her head. She sat up holding her head, not opening her eyes for fear they wouldn't focus. She groaned. Footsteps came over towards her. Tentatively, she opened her eyes. Standing in front of her was an exceptionally good looking young man.
"Are you alright?" he asked, concerned.
"My head really hurts," she croaked. He grinned.
"It was Gating that did it," he assured her. "You'll feel fine in no time." She smiled weakly.
"I hope so," she said fervently. "I'm Kalira. And you are?"
"Kris," he supplied. "I'm a Herald Trainee, like you are or will be soon." Suddenly Kalira's head didn't hurt so much.
"So I wasn't going insane!" she exclaimed. She quickly sobered again. "What will my parents think?" Kris looked uneasy.
"Well, you see," he began. "Rolan-"
"You're awake!" The silver-haired woman Kalira had seen right before blacking out walked towards her carrying a mug of tea. "I'm Elspeth. Drink this." She pressed the mug into Kalira's hand. "It'll help your headache." Kalira gulped it down and grimaced. It tasted horrible! The throbbing in her head subsided to a dull ache, though, which made it worth the while.
"I'm Kalira," she said, standing shakily. Kris grabbed her arm. "Where am I?"
"Haven, the capital of Valdemar," Elspeth answered. "Where are you from?"
"Massachusetts," Kalira answered. "What have my parents heard?" Elspeth looked suddenly serious.
"Kalira, we couldn't tell them the truth," she said gently. "First, they'd never have believed it, and we couldn't have your world knowing all about us, even if we knew how to tell them. So, I'm truly sorry, but- my husband Darkwind had Rolan show him where he found you and created an illusion of a body. Kalira, your parents think you drowned in the creek running through the paddock." Kalira felt shock running through her. To her parents, friends and the only life she'd ever known, she was dead. She collapsed, crying. Kris gathered her tentatively in his arms and she sobbed into his shoulder. "Kalira, I'm so sorry," Elspeth repeated.
"As am I," a new voice said. Kalira raised her head off of Kris' shoulder to see the silver-haired man with his hand on Elspeth's shoulder looking at her with sadness in his eyes. "I am Darkwind." Kalira smiled shakily.
"I understand, really I do," she insisted. "It's just- really hard." Elspeth nodded sympathetically.
:Welcome, Chosen.: Kalira started. She could have just sworn someone –or something- just spoke in her head. :You're not imagining it. I am Rolan, your Companion.:
"Kris, there's a voice in my head," she whispered. Elspeth laughed.
"That's just Rolan," Kris assured her. "Laya –my Companion- does that to me all the time." Kalira sighed in relief, greatly reassured.
"It helps to know you're not going crazy, doesn't it?" Elspeth looked as though she understood. "I knew about it when Gwena Chose me, but it takes some getting used to, doesn't it?" Kalira nodded.
"Yeah, especially when you're from a world where people who hear voices in their heads are considered insane!" Kris stifled a grin.
"Here it's considered perfectly normal," he assured her. "At least for Heralds. We're expected to hear our Companion's voice in our head, or at least some form of communication." Kalira glanced at Elspeth and Darkwind, both of whom were looking at each other. They looked for all the world as though they were having a conversation except for the fact that no words issued from their mouths. "And not just our Companions," Kris amended. "Elspeth, please say what you have to say out loud. I would join in your discussion, but it would be rude to exclude Kalira."
:You wouldn't be excluding her.: Kalira jumped.
"Okay, that wasn't Rolan's voice," she said loudly. Elspeth grinned at her mischievously.
:You were correct Elspeth, she is a mindspeaker.: This was a new voice, as plainly masculine as the first was feminine.
"Stop confusing her!" Kris said quickly. Kalira's head was starting to spin. "Elspeth, explain before you go mindspeaking to someone who just Gated who knows how far today. She's exhausted, and confused. At least," he added hastily. "That's how I would be feeling." Elspeth looked curiously at both of them for a moment before gazing into thin air. When she came back, she looked slightly puzzled.
"That was Gwena," she explained. "I really have to go. Kris, will you get her into some of our clothing and set her up over at the Collegium." Kris nodded.
"Should I ask Herald Teren if I can be her mentor?" he asked.
"That's a good idea," Elspeth said, looking impressed. "In fact, yes. You know the circumstances she's coming from so you'll be able to deal with any problems discreetly. An excuse is that you are the prince and she's the new Monarchs' Own." A shadow of sorrow crossed her face before she brightened again. Darkwind put his arm around her shoulders and they left. Kris took a deep breath and turned to Kalira.
"Shall we go?" He offered her his arm. Kalira took it only because she needed something to lean on. Also, she was starting to think that, as a friend, Kris might not be bad. A hint of a smile crossed her face. Valdemar didn't seem so bad after all, she decided.
:What about me?: An indignant voice rang in her head. Kalira giggled at Rolan's mock annoyance and allowed Kris to lead her out into the palace.
A/N So, you like? Review and I update!! The purple button calls!!!