Queen's Own: Wow!! Another update so quickly! I didn't think I had it in me!!
Sami: I have been working overtime to get this out. As such, if you want a disclaimer, look at the first chap.
From Sami to His Reviewers:
kimbly: such high praise!! Thank you muchly!!
Lurks in Shadows: J the homesickness bit!
Airotciv: Well, Lilly sort of slipped and fell, didn't purposefully commit suicide. Tami was pretty upset –but she's known Kalira since they were like, three and they've been best friends the whole time- and tried to slit her wrists, but lost her nerve at the last second, and just ended up opening a cut on the side of her arm. Everyone's going to be okay! You'll see!
jorgeiscool: thank you very muchly! Update is here!!
Cat McDougall: I know the feeling! Thank you for the bit of advice- I'll watch it very carefully!!
The beginning of this chap is dialogue. Mindspeech. You'll see.
Chapter Eight: Down by the Banks
:If you're going to give her part of the information, you should give her all of it!: Her replying mindvoice was amused.
I give you what I want, she said. Grove-born, I did not mess up this girl's life. I give her the information she wants.
:Yes, but you do not give her all the information.: The Grove-born sounded irritated. :Goddess you may or may not be, but my Chosen needs the whole picture or she's going to go insane.:
And this is my concern, why?
:You generally don't appear this way to your worshippers.:
You did not answer my question, Grove-born. The goddess sighed. There are many things that, as you are not a god, you do not understand. I act this way to you because I can. You are not one of my children. I have no obligations to you or yours. Never the less, I will give your Chosen the information she desires to make a clear picture, if only because I feel sorry for the girl. Next time, do it yourself. I am busy, Grove-born. Do not annoy me any longer.
:I will leave. But do not treat my Chosen with such disregard. She will turn the wheel more than you think.:
The goddess snorted, a very undignified sound. Do not presume to know more than a goddess.
:Maybe I simply have clearer sight than said goddess,: Rolan retorted.
* * * * *
Sayvil knew every Companion in the Field by Feel. Right now, she identified the frantic mindvoice currently ringing in her head as belonging to Laya, the Prince's Companion, something that probably meant that this needed her immediate attention.
:Laya,: she said, mindvoice clear and firm. :Calm down. Tell me calmly.:
:It's Kalira- she had some kind of nightmare- she ran off- Kris went after her and Rolan's not responding- maybe in some kind of trance or-: Sayvil stood and sent a quick mindcall to her Chosen.
:Kero, something's wrong with the new Monarchs' Own. I'll take care of it. Just know.: The only answer she got was wordless assent. :Laya, where did they go?:
:I don't know. In the general direction of the Terilee-: Sayvil set off at a ground-devouring gallop, alarm bells ringing loudly in her head.
:Try to follow him, Laya,: she Sent hurriedly. :I'll be there.: Companions can maintain quite a speed if necessary, and right now, Sayvil deemed it necessary. As she flew over the fence of the Companion's Field and continued on, hooves touching down only lightly, she prayed that it wouldn't be too late.
* * * * *
The young Monarchs' Own sat on the bank of the Terilee. Her knees were drawn up to her chest and she stared at the water with tortured eyes. Sayvil came up behind her, making no attempt to be silent.
:Kalira,: she said, projecting the worry that Laya and every other Companion in the Field felt for her. :Thank the Gods you're alright.: The girl smiled thinly.
"You're breaking the Silence." Her voice had no tone, no inflection, to betray any of her feelings.
:To the Hells with the Silence,: Sayvil said rudely. :It was a stupid rule anyway.:
"But it was made with reason." Her voice was soft. She hadn't yet turned to look at Sayvil, and still stared across at the water. "To keep from telling what shouldn't be told."
:What's that supposed to mean?: Sayvil said. Doubt and uncertainty crept into her mind.
"Wouldn't it just disturb Kero if you told her some of the things you have seen?" Kalira asked, emotionlessly. "Just as it would have disturbed you if Kellan had told you how she'd once been a Herald. That would have been incredibly disconcerting, wouldn't it, Savil? Why did you come running over here so quickly? Was it because you were worried about me? I don't think so. I think it was because you didn't want to see another Trainee jump to their death. One was enough for you, wasn't it?"
Sayvil stepped backward. :How do you know about that?: she demanded, shocked.
"You forget," she said, still toneless. "I'm from another world. This is one I've only read about in books. You were in them, Herald-Mage Savil."
:I don't know if you realize it, Kalira,: she said, projecting the truth in every syllable. :But we all care about you. Can you honestly say that Rolan doesn't love you?:
"Yes," she said. Only now did she turn to face Sayvil. The Companion noticed that her face was streaked with tears and her eyes held an amount of pain that brought echoes of memory back. "If he loved me, I wouldn't be here."
:Kalira, please! Think before you react. You have no way of knowing if what you saw was true. I knew someone whose Foresight-:
"Vanyel. Yes I know. Had a dream –actually Foresight- of his death at the hands of the Dark Mage Leareth, actually a reincarnation of the Sorcerer-Adept Ma'ar. The dream changed several times and was connected to the 'ice dream' and began shortly after his arrival in Haven. It's also the dream Herald-Trainee Tylendel Frelennye woke him up from before-"
:I get the point,: Sayvil growled. :Kalira, you need-:
"I'll tell you what I need, you prancing pony!" Kalira interrupted. "I need to go home!" Tears trickled down her already tear-streaked face. "I want to go home!" she sobbed. Sayvil hesitated for only a minute, before lying down next to the girl. Kalira –now gone completely in grief and tears- buried her face in Sayvil's mane. "I want to go home!"
This was the scene that Prince Kris, Companion Laya and Grove-born Rolan walked in on. Rolan's eyes were grave. Kris walked over to Kalira –who had gone from tears to exhausted dozing- and shook her shoulder gently. "Kalira," he said softly. "Kali! Wake up!" She stirred slightly and lifted her head.
"Kade?" she said, voice slurred slightly. "What happened? I had this drea-" She broke off as she looked up at Kris. "Then again, maybe not." She smiled wanly. "Someone saw it fit to give me the rest of the story." Her eyes were still sad, but her voice held a promise of hope. "See for yourself." She reached out to Rolan for help. He in turn projected the images she sent him to Laya and Sayvil. Laya passed them on to her Chosen.
***They were in a funeral home. A short redhead with sad blue eyes stared at the coffin sadly. "It wasn't her time," she said softly to the boy next to her. She lifted her arm to brush the coffin gently. Her arm was bandaged heavily. The black-haired, brown eyed boy standing behind her put an arm over her shoulders.
"Everything has a reason, Tami," he said, equally soft. "Maybe- I don't know what could be so important- but who knows."
"She was my best friend, Kade," Tami said, holding back tears. "And I'm going to miss her."
"I will too," Kade replied.
Just then, a little girl who looked very much like Kalira came unsteadily through the door, leaning on an older boy who again, looked like Kalira. A cheer went up and Tami smiled. "She's okay," she whispered, joyfully. Kade smiled.
"I always thought she would be," he said quietly. She's like her sister that way- she never gives up." Kalira's younger sister was swallowed up by hugs and laughter. After a minute, she extricated herself from the mob and walked over to the coffin.
"Goodbye, Kali," she said softly. "I'm going to miss you." Without another word, she turned and left the way she had come, tears streaming silently down her cheeks. Tami looked at Kade who shook his head.
"Let her me," he advised. "Jamie's not going and he knows Lilly better than us. She just needs to cry. Because her sister-" He swallowed hard as though voicing it would make it true. "Because her sister, Kalira, is dead." He swallowed back tears. "I loved you," he whispered, barely audible. Without another word, he too left out the front door. Tami saw him grab his bicycle and ride off. She watched him go before walking out as well. The hushed voices continued as the two teenagers left, leaving no trace of themselves behind at their best friend's funeral. ***
Kalira's smile was only halfway, but it was a smile. "They're going to be okay," she said, voice teary. "They're all going to be okay." Kris put an arm around her shoulders and embraced her.
"Thank the Gods," he murmured. "You're going to be okay."
A/N Apologies for shortness- I seem to have a knack for making chappies way too short. The next ones will be longer, I promise!! Zhai'helleva! ~Queen's Own and Sami