Title: A Herald's Wings
Part 4: Wake Up Call
Author: Dreamwind
Disclaimer: Herald Alexian, YoShen (KazeHa), and the people known as "The Lost" are all my ideas and as such are mine to play with as I please. * note: no characters were harmed in the making of this fic. *
*Flashback* ::Mindspeech:: when either YoShen or Alexian are talking to the other in their native tongue. These are used for the person who's POV we aren't in. It means we can understand what they are saying but the other characters cannot.
Alexian woke to the sound of birds singing and a ray of light shining in his face. He snuggled deeper into the blankets and came up against something warm. The source of the warmth was soft and musky. It smelled of cinnamon and orchids. Alexian curled up against it like a cat. It was then that the warm thing made a soft noise. He opened his eyes to see a body curled up against him. Through the fog in his brain Alexian finally realized it was the body of the young boy that he was spooned up against.
::Shit!::
A groggy mindvoice answered his. ::What's wrong, Chosen?::
::Uh...Ylsa love, I didn't...do anything last night, did I?::
::What do you mean?::
Alexian rolled away from the warm body of the other boy. ::I mean I just woke up in bed with our exotic companion.::
Ylsa's mindvoice was calm and even. There was no surprise in it whatsoever. ::This was the only bed available so the two of you had to share. He was kind enough to carry you all the way up here last night. Did you think he just rolled over like any little filly for you?::
::Ylsa!:: Alexian blushed a bright scarlet. He hurried out of the bed and pulled on his freshly dried Whites. It took a lot of staring at the floor to keep him from turning back to the bed to watch the sleeping youth. Okay...he could do this. The boy was a pain in the ass, that's all he had to focus on. A soft moan issued from the bed and Alexian turned. The boy had tossed off most of the blankets. His bare chest was exposed and glowing a soft gold in the morning sunlight. The blankets covered his pelvis and stopped over his thighs. Alexian swallowed hard and thanked the gods that the boy was wearing his pants. He didn't know if he would have been able to control his roving mind if the boy had been naked.
::Get your mind out of the gutter, Chosen. We need to get ready to leave. The weather has already cleared and who knows how long it'll last.::
::Fine, fine. I'm going for breakfast. You wake him.::
::How?! Do you remember what happened last time I 'spoke him?::
::I wasn't suggesting mindspeech. For all I care you could send in a pack of squirrels to wake him.::
Alexian left the room, quietly closing the thick wooden door behind him. Ylsa smiled to herself. ::Squirrels, huh. I can do that.::
Alexian sat down at the bar in the common room and smiled at the few customers that had come to the inn for breakfast. From the pleased expressions on their faces and the empty plates, the food was obviously good. Of course the smell coming from the kitchen alone said just how wonderful it must be. Then again Alexian wouldn't care if it was cold, or burned as hard as stone. If it was food, he was happy.
Fortunately, it wasn't cold or burnt. It was incredible. The eggs were warm and fluffy, the sausage pink and spicy, and the juice freshly squeezed. Alexian was just about to take a large bite when an earth shattering scream and an explosion rocked the inn.
A moment latter the boy was running down the stairs. His shirt was still off and his short black hair was a mess. Clinging to his pants and clutching at his arms were roughly a dozen squirrels. Another squirrel had somehow managed to get caught in his hair and was screaming and thrashing wildly about. Alexian nearly choked on his own tongue. ::YLSA!::
::Yes, dear?::
::I didn't actually mean for you to do it!::
::Too late now.::
A squirrel was suddenly clinging to Alexian's face and he sat bolt upright and screamed in surprise, grabbing the squirrel and flinging it onto a nearby table. The squirrel jabbered angrily at Alexian and scampered away. Alexian spun back to look at the boy, who was glaring angrily at him. Alexian stepped back as the boy moved in on him. Suddenly the boy was right in his face. Alexian blushed. The air around the boy still carried his scent mixed with the warmth of the morning sun. Shit.
You! I don't know how you did it but you sent those damn animals into the bed to wake me! Gods of my ancestors! You could have just shook me, damn it. Stupid gaijin.
* * *
KazeHa grumbled silently to himself. He was not having a good day so far. Being wakened from a pleasant dream by a horde of rabid squirrels was not something he enjoyed. He had scratches from their little claws, and tiny bite marks in places he didn't want to think about. The damned things itched on top of it too! What gratitude the gaijin shows to someone who got him to bed. He could have left him at the sticky table all night long - he would have deserved it. Then he gets some strange sausage thing and greasy eggs for breakfast. He would much rather have had the rice and cooked fish for breakfast that he was used to. Next thing he knew he was being forced to sit behind the gaijin on his not-horse. He could have ridden the damned mule the innkeeper had lent them or even walked! But no! He had to ride the spirit-horse with the gaijin.
Are you going to be this grumpy the entire way to Haven?
"Baka. You know very well I don't understand what you're saying. Are all your people this dimwitted?"
* sigh * I was hoping some of your language would rub off but I don't appear to be that lucky. Lovely. I'll get a one sided conversation all the way to Haven.
::At least when we reach Haven you can have one of the dyheli give him our language, Chosen.::
::I suppose that could be a blessing.::
The rest of the ride went on in silence, though not simply because of the tense mood produced by the activities of the morning and the fact that neither could understand the other. KazeHa found himself watching the countryside. It was beautiful in a way that was very different from the forest. Here the area was open and the sky seemed to stretch on forever. The land was covered in wild patterns where farmers had sown their fields for the next harvest. Some were even blanketed in flowers for miles around. It was so peaceful to look at. KazeHa closed his eyes and was claimed by sleep.
A jolt in the steady gate of the spirit-horse awoke KazeHa from his sleep. He didn't want to leave the dream and fought off the urge to awaken fully. His arm was sore from being wrapped around the warm thing his head was resting against. KazeHa nuzzled the source of warmth and tried to go back to sleep. The source stiffened and groaned. A moment later the spirit- horse jolted again and KazeHa was nearly thrown off. KazeHa clutched at the white clothes of the gaijin and cursed the spirit-horse to the seven hells. The gaijin chuckled nervously and looked at him over his shoulder.
Wouldn't want you to miss this sight, lad. When we crest this hill you'll get to see my city.
KazeHa looked at the gaijin. The man sounded almost wistful and proud. Could they be nearing the gaijin's home? They had better be because he was getting damn tired of traveling like this. As they began to reach the top of the hill KazeHa realized that he could hear a loud buzzing noise that the wind told him came from many more people than he had ever see in one place before. Then they were at the top and KazeHa felt speechless. This had to be how the gaijin had felt when he had first seen Shiratoshi. The city was huge! It was surrounded by high stonewalls and looked as if it was one giant maze. "Incredible, to be sure. Too loud by far though."
Impressive isn't it? The spirit-horse began to move down the hill and towards the city below. But it's even better when you're inside. Just wait until you see the palace gardens!
The spirit-horse continued down the path towards the city. It took a little longer than KazeHa thought it would to get to the city. Then it took a little longer as they passed all the sentries and had to explain where the other gaijin had gone. The gaijin guards all sobered when they were told of the death of the other. Then they would look at him with an angry suspicion in their eyes. KazeHa had expected nothing less. His people would have been just as angry and suspicious of an outsider carrying the ashes of a dead friend. KazeHa looked straight through everything ahead of him at each checkpoint. He didn't want to see those looks anymore. The gaijin's death wasn't his fault. He had never asked for anyone's help.
The city was impressive, after he no longer had to face the angry looks of the gate guards. But aesthetically speaking, it wasn't anything special. The road was lumpy cobbles, the buildings tall and ugly. What kind of people lived in such odd looking houses? The doors were solid wood and swung outward! In many places the houses seemed built right on top of each other and the streets seemed just as crowded. People were everywhere, jostling to make their way. Soon they were moving away from the crush of people. If KazeHa had to guess he would say they had just entered the royal grounds. Just over the gaijin's shoulders KazeHa caught sight of several people waiting, most likely for them. The people were all dressed in the same white uniforms that the gaijin was. One man stood out among them. This man was wearing a green outfit and had a different feel to him than the others - seeming almost like the healers in Shiratoshi.
Welcome back, Herald Alexian. Your companion already sent us the news of Herald Telver's death. The woman in the center stepped forward. The gaijin dismounted and gave her a low bow.
I am sorry that I could not save him majesty, but we have brought his ashes home.
For that we thank you. The woman turned and looked at KazeHa. He stared right back at her, never giving ground. The woman smiled ever so slightly. We have also heard about your traveling companion. Does he understand us?
No, Majesty. I have tried to learn his language but it is quiet complicated. Speaking to him through mindspeech was not a good idea either, but I shall give you a full report about that.
Of course. The two of you should bath and then come to my room. I'll have food waiting there for you both.
KazeHa silently watched the conversation. As annoying as it was he, was actually beginning to get used to not being able to understand what they were saying. The gaijin turned back to him and they dismounted before following the man in green into another building. Inside many more people in white were passing through, others in nearly identical cloths of gray also passed through. Finally they entered a room. The room was tiled and filled with large tubs. The gaijin began to get undressed and KazeHa averted his eyes, but not before he noticed the man in green walk over to the gaijin. Curious now, KazeHa turned and watched as the man in green checked the gaijin over. Well you don't seem to have contracted any unknown illnesses. In fact you're in fairly good health. Now for the boy.
KazeHa simply stared at the man as he approached and patiently waited. If the man was hoping that he would strip down for his pleasure and convenience he was dead wrong. He was doing no such thing. KazeHa crossed his arms over his chest. The gaijin sighed and crawled into one of the tubs that was now filled with steaming water. The man in green just smiled. I can wait all day young man.
KazeHa turned away from the green man and sat down in one of the corners. From where he sat he would be well hidden from the doorway but able to see it. He crossed his legs and slowed his breathing. If this man was going to try and wait him out, KazeHa planned to show him the error of his ways. He would out wait the green man. The gaijin sighed from over in the tub and shook his head at both of them. The green man just smiled and sat up against the wall next to KazeHa. The man crossed his legs and took a deep breath. They stayed that way for quite a while. The gaijin had started to complain and had finally gotten out of the tub. He was all pruny from being in the water for so long that KazeHa had to fight not to laugh at him. Kazeha stayed sitting against the wall with the green man even after the gaijin left. Other people in white came in and out. They would look over with mild curiosity before climbing in the baths. Eventually the steam in the room began to wear away at KazeHA. He had relaxed himself for so long, to ease the pain of an entire day spent riding that damned spirit-horse. Now the warmth of the room along with his own meditation betrayed him and he fell asleep where he sat.
* * *
Queen Selenay sat across from Alexian. Next to her was the prince consort Herald Daren. On her other side was the Queen's Own, Herald Elspeth, Adept Darkwind, and the gryphons Treyvan and Hydona. On the same side as Herald Daren was Herald Kerowyn, ambassador Karal with his Firecat Altra, and Healer Fandel. He had come to the Queen's quarters as ordered after he had changed into clean cloths only to find that the healer had beat him here, so had everyone else, and that the boy wasn't present. Healer Fandel had told him that the boy had fallen asleep in the bath chamber and had been brought to one of the spare rooms in the herald's wing. The healer had then given the boy a sleeping potion so that they could have the dyheli give him the Valdemaran language without any of the repercussions that Alexian had spoken of.
"Well, when the young man wakes up I would like you to bring him to me, Fandel. I think that all of us will have some questions for him." Queen Selenay leaned back in her chair. "For now I would like to have Herald Alexian tell us his story again from when he first saw the city."
Alexian sighed mentally. He had already told this story three times! It never changed so why did they keep asking him to repeat it? "The city was white. The ground seemed to be made of white stone slabs about thirty feet long and twenty feet wide. The buildings were white, some kind of wood I think."
Darkwind made a small noise as if mentally agreeing to something. Alexian turned to look back at the Queen. "The boy took us to a large temple. We left Herald Telver and his Companion's body there. Then he led us to another temple. This one was larger, like a palace." Alexian took a drink of water from the glass in front of him. His mouth felt unusually dry suddenly. "He talked to a bunch of people for a while then they seemed to come to some kind of conclusion. It was then that all of us went outside into this lavish garden. There they performed some sort of ceremony where they tattooed the boys face."
Healer Fandel nodded, remembering the tattoo on the side of the boys face.
"After that they cut off the boy's hair and made him dress all in white. I'm not really sure why. They all seemed to be disgusted by the mere sight of the color." Alexian paused, thinking. "We were rushed out of the city after that. They brought us out front where my companion, Ylsa, was waiting for us. She had a few bags of provisions in saddlebags, blankets, and dry clothes."
"Did this seem odd to you at the time? I mean honestly it does seem odd to spend so much time talking and then to suddenly just thrust them out of the city." Fandel seem to speak mostly for himself, like he was thinking out loud.
"Being rushed out didn't seem really odd. I mean they obviously didn't like having Ylsa and I in their city. And I was glad to leave. I couldn't stand not being able to mindspeak to Ylsa. It felt like something, some force, was trying to split our bond." Alexian drank some more water. "When we left no one even looked at us. The people we passed just turned away from us like the mere sight of us was unbearable."
More questions were asked as the night progressed and Alexian continued to answer them until all thought left him and the answers became automatic. By then everyone seem satisfied with what he had to say. Healer Fandel escorted him back to his room where he found the boy fast asleep on the floor. He was too tired by then to wonder why the boy was in his room when he was supposed to have been out in a guarded room. They were things his sleepy brain told him to think about later, when he was fully awake. Until then, the pretty boy sleeping on his floor wasn't important.
TBC...
Well they've finally made it to Valdemar. Yay! Now things will begin to get interesting. Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter in "A Herald's Wings." After all, who knows what interesting people could show up? What will KazeHa think of Valdemar? What will Alexian think when he finds out about this new relationship he now has with KazeHa? . . .
Part 4: Wake Up Call
Author: Dreamwind
Disclaimer: Herald Alexian, YoShen (KazeHa), and the people known as "The Lost" are all my ideas and as such are mine to play with as I please. * note: no characters were harmed in the making of this fic. *
*Flashback* ::Mindspeech:: when either YoShen or Alexian are talking to the other in their native tongue. These are used for the person who's POV we aren't in. It means we can understand what they are saying but the other characters cannot.
Alexian woke to the sound of birds singing and a ray of light shining in his face. He snuggled deeper into the blankets and came up against something warm. The source of the warmth was soft and musky. It smelled of cinnamon and orchids. Alexian curled up against it like a cat. It was then that the warm thing made a soft noise. He opened his eyes to see a body curled up against him. Through the fog in his brain Alexian finally realized it was the body of the young boy that he was spooned up against.
::Shit!::
A groggy mindvoice answered his. ::What's wrong, Chosen?::
::Uh...Ylsa love, I didn't...do anything last night, did I?::
::What do you mean?::
Alexian rolled away from the warm body of the other boy. ::I mean I just woke up in bed with our exotic companion.::
Ylsa's mindvoice was calm and even. There was no surprise in it whatsoever. ::This was the only bed available so the two of you had to share. He was kind enough to carry you all the way up here last night. Did you think he just rolled over like any little filly for you?::
::Ylsa!:: Alexian blushed a bright scarlet. He hurried out of the bed and pulled on his freshly dried Whites. It took a lot of staring at the floor to keep him from turning back to the bed to watch the sleeping youth. Okay...he could do this. The boy was a pain in the ass, that's all he had to focus on. A soft moan issued from the bed and Alexian turned. The boy had tossed off most of the blankets. His bare chest was exposed and glowing a soft gold in the morning sunlight. The blankets covered his pelvis and stopped over his thighs. Alexian swallowed hard and thanked the gods that the boy was wearing his pants. He didn't know if he would have been able to control his roving mind if the boy had been naked.
::Get your mind out of the gutter, Chosen. We need to get ready to leave. The weather has already cleared and who knows how long it'll last.::
::Fine, fine. I'm going for breakfast. You wake him.::
::How?! Do you remember what happened last time I 'spoke him?::
::I wasn't suggesting mindspeech. For all I care you could send in a pack of squirrels to wake him.::
Alexian left the room, quietly closing the thick wooden door behind him. Ylsa smiled to herself. ::Squirrels, huh. I can do that.::
Alexian sat down at the bar in the common room and smiled at the few customers that had come to the inn for breakfast. From the pleased expressions on their faces and the empty plates, the food was obviously good. Of course the smell coming from the kitchen alone said just how wonderful it must be. Then again Alexian wouldn't care if it was cold, or burned as hard as stone. If it was food, he was happy.
Fortunately, it wasn't cold or burnt. It was incredible. The eggs were warm and fluffy, the sausage pink and spicy, and the juice freshly squeezed. Alexian was just about to take a large bite when an earth shattering scream and an explosion rocked the inn.
A moment latter the boy was running down the stairs. His shirt was still off and his short black hair was a mess. Clinging to his pants and clutching at his arms were roughly a dozen squirrels. Another squirrel had somehow managed to get caught in his hair and was screaming and thrashing wildly about. Alexian nearly choked on his own tongue. ::YLSA!::
::Yes, dear?::
::I didn't actually mean for you to do it!::
::Too late now.::
A squirrel was suddenly clinging to Alexian's face and he sat bolt upright and screamed in surprise, grabbing the squirrel and flinging it onto a nearby table. The squirrel jabbered angrily at Alexian and scampered away. Alexian spun back to look at the boy, who was glaring angrily at him. Alexian stepped back as the boy moved in on him. Suddenly the boy was right in his face. Alexian blushed. The air around the boy still carried his scent mixed with the warmth of the morning sun. Shit.
You! I don't know how you did it but you sent those damn animals into the bed to wake me! Gods of my ancestors! You could have just shook me, damn it. Stupid gaijin.
* * *
KazeHa grumbled silently to himself. He was not having a good day so far. Being wakened from a pleasant dream by a horde of rabid squirrels was not something he enjoyed. He had scratches from their little claws, and tiny bite marks in places he didn't want to think about. The damned things itched on top of it too! What gratitude the gaijin shows to someone who got him to bed. He could have left him at the sticky table all night long - he would have deserved it. Then he gets some strange sausage thing and greasy eggs for breakfast. He would much rather have had the rice and cooked fish for breakfast that he was used to. Next thing he knew he was being forced to sit behind the gaijin on his not-horse. He could have ridden the damned mule the innkeeper had lent them or even walked! But no! He had to ride the spirit-horse with the gaijin.
Are you going to be this grumpy the entire way to Haven?
"Baka. You know very well I don't understand what you're saying. Are all your people this dimwitted?"
* sigh * I was hoping some of your language would rub off but I don't appear to be that lucky. Lovely. I'll get a one sided conversation all the way to Haven.
::At least when we reach Haven you can have one of the dyheli give him our language, Chosen.::
::I suppose that could be a blessing.::
The rest of the ride went on in silence, though not simply because of the tense mood produced by the activities of the morning and the fact that neither could understand the other. KazeHa found himself watching the countryside. It was beautiful in a way that was very different from the forest. Here the area was open and the sky seemed to stretch on forever. The land was covered in wild patterns where farmers had sown their fields for the next harvest. Some were even blanketed in flowers for miles around. It was so peaceful to look at. KazeHa closed his eyes and was claimed by sleep.
A jolt in the steady gate of the spirit-horse awoke KazeHa from his sleep. He didn't want to leave the dream and fought off the urge to awaken fully. His arm was sore from being wrapped around the warm thing his head was resting against. KazeHa nuzzled the source of warmth and tried to go back to sleep. The source stiffened and groaned. A moment later the spirit- horse jolted again and KazeHa was nearly thrown off. KazeHa clutched at the white clothes of the gaijin and cursed the spirit-horse to the seven hells. The gaijin chuckled nervously and looked at him over his shoulder.
Wouldn't want you to miss this sight, lad. When we crest this hill you'll get to see my city.
KazeHa looked at the gaijin. The man sounded almost wistful and proud. Could they be nearing the gaijin's home? They had better be because he was getting damn tired of traveling like this. As they began to reach the top of the hill KazeHa realized that he could hear a loud buzzing noise that the wind told him came from many more people than he had ever see in one place before. Then they were at the top and KazeHa felt speechless. This had to be how the gaijin had felt when he had first seen Shiratoshi. The city was huge! It was surrounded by high stonewalls and looked as if it was one giant maze. "Incredible, to be sure. Too loud by far though."
Impressive isn't it? The spirit-horse began to move down the hill and towards the city below. But it's even better when you're inside. Just wait until you see the palace gardens!
The spirit-horse continued down the path towards the city. It took a little longer than KazeHa thought it would to get to the city. Then it took a little longer as they passed all the sentries and had to explain where the other gaijin had gone. The gaijin guards all sobered when they were told of the death of the other. Then they would look at him with an angry suspicion in their eyes. KazeHa had expected nothing less. His people would have been just as angry and suspicious of an outsider carrying the ashes of a dead friend. KazeHa looked straight through everything ahead of him at each checkpoint. He didn't want to see those looks anymore. The gaijin's death wasn't his fault. He had never asked for anyone's help.
The city was impressive, after he no longer had to face the angry looks of the gate guards. But aesthetically speaking, it wasn't anything special. The road was lumpy cobbles, the buildings tall and ugly. What kind of people lived in such odd looking houses? The doors were solid wood and swung outward! In many places the houses seemed built right on top of each other and the streets seemed just as crowded. People were everywhere, jostling to make their way. Soon they were moving away from the crush of people. If KazeHa had to guess he would say they had just entered the royal grounds. Just over the gaijin's shoulders KazeHa caught sight of several people waiting, most likely for them. The people were all dressed in the same white uniforms that the gaijin was. One man stood out among them. This man was wearing a green outfit and had a different feel to him than the others - seeming almost like the healers in Shiratoshi.
Welcome back, Herald Alexian. Your companion already sent us the news of Herald Telver's death. The woman in the center stepped forward. The gaijin dismounted and gave her a low bow.
I am sorry that I could not save him majesty, but we have brought his ashes home.
For that we thank you. The woman turned and looked at KazeHa. He stared right back at her, never giving ground. The woman smiled ever so slightly. We have also heard about your traveling companion. Does he understand us?
No, Majesty. I have tried to learn his language but it is quiet complicated. Speaking to him through mindspeech was not a good idea either, but I shall give you a full report about that.
Of course. The two of you should bath and then come to my room. I'll have food waiting there for you both.
KazeHa silently watched the conversation. As annoying as it was he, was actually beginning to get used to not being able to understand what they were saying. The gaijin turned back to him and they dismounted before following the man in green into another building. Inside many more people in white were passing through, others in nearly identical cloths of gray also passed through. Finally they entered a room. The room was tiled and filled with large tubs. The gaijin began to get undressed and KazeHa averted his eyes, but not before he noticed the man in green walk over to the gaijin. Curious now, KazeHa turned and watched as the man in green checked the gaijin over. Well you don't seem to have contracted any unknown illnesses. In fact you're in fairly good health. Now for the boy.
KazeHa simply stared at the man as he approached and patiently waited. If the man was hoping that he would strip down for his pleasure and convenience he was dead wrong. He was doing no such thing. KazeHa crossed his arms over his chest. The gaijin sighed and crawled into one of the tubs that was now filled with steaming water. The man in green just smiled. I can wait all day young man.
KazeHa turned away from the green man and sat down in one of the corners. From where he sat he would be well hidden from the doorway but able to see it. He crossed his legs and slowed his breathing. If this man was going to try and wait him out, KazeHa planned to show him the error of his ways. He would out wait the green man. The gaijin sighed from over in the tub and shook his head at both of them. The green man just smiled and sat up against the wall next to KazeHa. The man crossed his legs and took a deep breath. They stayed that way for quite a while. The gaijin had started to complain and had finally gotten out of the tub. He was all pruny from being in the water for so long that KazeHa had to fight not to laugh at him. Kazeha stayed sitting against the wall with the green man even after the gaijin left. Other people in white came in and out. They would look over with mild curiosity before climbing in the baths. Eventually the steam in the room began to wear away at KazeHA. He had relaxed himself for so long, to ease the pain of an entire day spent riding that damned spirit-horse. Now the warmth of the room along with his own meditation betrayed him and he fell asleep where he sat.
* * *
Queen Selenay sat across from Alexian. Next to her was the prince consort Herald Daren. On her other side was the Queen's Own, Herald Elspeth, Adept Darkwind, and the gryphons Treyvan and Hydona. On the same side as Herald Daren was Herald Kerowyn, ambassador Karal with his Firecat Altra, and Healer Fandel. He had come to the Queen's quarters as ordered after he had changed into clean cloths only to find that the healer had beat him here, so had everyone else, and that the boy wasn't present. Healer Fandel had told him that the boy had fallen asleep in the bath chamber and had been brought to one of the spare rooms in the herald's wing. The healer had then given the boy a sleeping potion so that they could have the dyheli give him the Valdemaran language without any of the repercussions that Alexian had spoken of.
"Well, when the young man wakes up I would like you to bring him to me, Fandel. I think that all of us will have some questions for him." Queen Selenay leaned back in her chair. "For now I would like to have Herald Alexian tell us his story again from when he first saw the city."
Alexian sighed mentally. He had already told this story three times! It never changed so why did they keep asking him to repeat it? "The city was white. The ground seemed to be made of white stone slabs about thirty feet long and twenty feet wide. The buildings were white, some kind of wood I think."
Darkwind made a small noise as if mentally agreeing to something. Alexian turned to look back at the Queen. "The boy took us to a large temple. We left Herald Telver and his Companion's body there. Then he led us to another temple. This one was larger, like a palace." Alexian took a drink of water from the glass in front of him. His mouth felt unusually dry suddenly. "He talked to a bunch of people for a while then they seemed to come to some kind of conclusion. It was then that all of us went outside into this lavish garden. There they performed some sort of ceremony where they tattooed the boys face."
Healer Fandel nodded, remembering the tattoo on the side of the boys face.
"After that they cut off the boy's hair and made him dress all in white. I'm not really sure why. They all seemed to be disgusted by the mere sight of the color." Alexian paused, thinking. "We were rushed out of the city after that. They brought us out front where my companion, Ylsa, was waiting for us. She had a few bags of provisions in saddlebags, blankets, and dry clothes."
"Did this seem odd to you at the time? I mean honestly it does seem odd to spend so much time talking and then to suddenly just thrust them out of the city." Fandel seem to speak mostly for himself, like he was thinking out loud.
"Being rushed out didn't seem really odd. I mean they obviously didn't like having Ylsa and I in their city. And I was glad to leave. I couldn't stand not being able to mindspeak to Ylsa. It felt like something, some force, was trying to split our bond." Alexian drank some more water. "When we left no one even looked at us. The people we passed just turned away from us like the mere sight of us was unbearable."
More questions were asked as the night progressed and Alexian continued to answer them until all thought left him and the answers became automatic. By then everyone seem satisfied with what he had to say. Healer Fandel escorted him back to his room where he found the boy fast asleep on the floor. He was too tired by then to wonder why the boy was in his room when he was supposed to have been out in a guarded room. They were things his sleepy brain told him to think about later, when he was fully awake. Until then, the pretty boy sleeping on his floor wasn't important.
TBC...
Well they've finally made it to Valdemar. Yay! Now things will begin to get interesting. Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter in "A Herald's Wings." After all, who knows what interesting people could show up? What will KazeHa think of Valdemar? What will Alexian think when he finds out about this new relationship he now has with KazeHa? . . .