A/N: First of all, sorry I haven't updated in so long!! I feel incredibly guilty!! Here is a nice chappie to make up for my lack of updates. Second, Dirk doesn't have to be dead. Van survived, Keren survived, Stef survived- the circumstances were different but it's still there. A lifebond breaking doesn't kill people, but most often, they suicide due to intense grief. Ahrodie kept Dirk from taking that path.
By the way, I've gotten a lot of reviews telling me that Kris is dead. Kris Chosen by Tantras is dead, he died in Arrow's Fall. However, this Kris is Selenay and Daren's son, twin brother to Lyra, Chosen by the Companion Laya. Hope that clears everything up.
Chapter Four: Teren and Jemmie
Kris set her down and knocked on one of the first door in this particular hall in the Herald's Collegium. Kalira leaned against him while several passing people wearing grey glanced quickly at her, Kris, then back to her. One of the Trainees glanced at Kalira, and his brow furrowed. He walked over to her and Kris, his blue eyes revealing no emotion. Yet Kalira knew there he felt a slight bit of apprehension as he ran a hand through his curly brown hair. She ignored this new sixth sense as the boy, who looked about Kris' age, stopped in front of them.
"Kris, is this-" the boy began hesitantly. "Is this- Rolan's Chosen?" He glanced at Kalira again, before looking back at Kris."
"Yes," Kris said evenly, giving the boy a sympathetic look. "Jemmie, this is Kalira, Rolan's Chosen. Kalira, this is Jemmie. You'll meet his Mardik soon enough; he and Jemmie are amazing together."
"Mother taught me everything I know," Jemmie said, slightly bitter. Kris looked stricken.
"I'm sorry," he said hastily. "I didn't mean-" Jemmie waved it away.
"It's okay," he said, managing a quick smile. "Everything reminds me of her, and it's not so bad for me as it is for Da. Empathy is not a good thing to have around him at the moment, even a Gift so small as mine." He glanced at Kalira. "You'll probably want to steer clear of him for a while." She looked startled.
"Why would I want that?" she asked.
Jemmie grinned crookedly. "All of the Monarchs' Own have at least slight Empathy; they double as Mindhealer for the Heralds, and an emotional help for the Ruler. Mother just had one of the strongest Gifts, but they've all had some." Kalira put two and two together.
"You're Talia's son?" she blurted out. Seeing Jemmie nod, she blushed. "Sorry, that was rather blunt."
He shrugged. "'S okay. I'm used to it." Just then a voice behind the door called for them to come in. "Have fun meeting Teren," Jemmie said, walking away. "Welcome to the Collegium, Kalira!" Kris opened the door, picked her up and walked inside.
A man sitting at his desk stood as they walked in. "Kris, what is going on? Did she get injured? Are you in trouble?"
Kris grinned. "Teren, meet Rolan's Chosen, Kalira. Kalira, this is Herald Teren, Dean of the Collegium. Teren, Kalira just Gated here over a very long distance and can't walk at present."
"I can too!" Kalira protested. "He just insists on carrying me around." Kris placed her on her feet next to the desk. Her knees buckled and she was forced to lean on him to remain upright before sitting in a chair across from the desk.
"My point exactly," Kris said, shutting the door and coming back to stand behind Kalira's chair. Teren chuckled.
"Welcome to Haven, Kalira," Teren said, grinning. "And welcome to the Collegium. I hope Kris hasn't given you a bad impression of us; most of us are sane."
"He hasn't," Kalira said, blushing slightly. "And I think he's quite sane." Kris grinned.
"They have proof," he shot back. "Companions don't Choose psychos. And Laya Chose me. By the way, you're going to want to get her Gifts trained as quickly as possible. Her Rolan told my Laya that she's already an active Mindspeaker and Empath and it's going to get her into trouble if it isn't trained. Jemmie and Elspeth confirmed that, if indirectly." Teren nodded.
"I expected no less," he said amiably. "You're to be her mentor, I presume?" Kris shrugged.
"Elspeth said I should be. There are circumstances surrounding her that she wants to keep as quiet as possible. Besides, I can go with her to all the court functions, since I usually have to be there anyway." Teren nodded.
"A wise woman, your sister. Anyway, here are some other classes you should take-" He began to outline a schedule that was worse than anything Kalira had back at her old school. Then again, in her old school, no one was training to be a combination warrior, diplomat, spy and messenger. Kris grinned as her eyes grew wider and wider as she took in the workload. Finally, Teren finished. "Sound good?"
Kris laughed. "I think it'll sink in a few years." Kalira slapped him lightly.
"It sounds like a lot of work," she said truthfully, turning back to Herald Teren.
"But it will be wicked awesome." Teren and Kris stared at her. "I mean great," she said hastily. Teren turned back to Kris.
"I'll have Jemmie set her up –you looked as though you were having a nice talk in the hall, and Jemmie can help her learn how to shield now –he has a bit of Empathy from his mother- and she needs to get shielded as soon as possible from what my Wythra is telling me. Herald Shandi will be her regular teacher as soon as we can get her back to Haven –she's ambassador to Errold's Grove and k'Valdemar at the moment- but Jemmie can get her started on shielding, with Rolan and Mardik's help, and maybe even grounding and centering. Meanwhile, I need to talk to you, Kris." As though on cue, Jemmie walked into the office.
"Mardik said you needed me, and Sayvil told Kerowyn at the same time," he explained quickly. "So I'm excused from my current class to assist you in any way possible." Teren grinned at him.
"The only favor I need from you," he said. "Is to get Kalira settled. Get her a room, show her around, you know the drill." Jemmie nodded.
"That I do sir," he said. "One other thing. Should I take her to the Healers so they can get her on her feet again?" Teren looked at Kris who shook his head.
"It can't be Healed," he said apologetically. "She'll just have to be carried for the next few candlemarks." Jemmie shrugged.
"I've carried heavier," was all he said, but he grinned at Kalira before lifting her up and carrying her out of the room. Teren waited until they'd left before turning to Kris.
"I don't know what the hell is going on here," he said seriously. "But I'd like to know right now." Kris began hesitantly to tell everything that he knew of about Kalira.
"Elspeth showed up about a candlemark ago looking completely drained. Rolan had Kalira on his back. Elspeth told Dirk and me that she'd Gated Rolan to Kalira so he could Choose her."
"And where exactly did she Gate him to?" Teren asked apprehensively.
Kris gulped. "Another world."