Chapter Seven
Chloe shifted her weight from one set of hooves to the other. She was still trying to get used to this whole saddle thing. It really wasn't heavy or anything, just weird. It was like putting on a backpack after a summer of freedom. The whole walking all day bit wasn't much fun either.
Wren giggled at a joke made by Herald Sashi. Sashi was making a courier run to this area of the country and volunteered to escort Wren, claiming that it wasn't that far out of her way. Chloe suspected that it was a good deal out of her way. The warm, pragmatic woman had immediately put Wren at ease, and was doing an excellent job of keeping Wren's mind off her teacher and imminent training. Chloe had to hand it to them, those Heralds were sneaky buggers.
:: Yes, well, we have a lot of practice at it. :: Sashi's Haron commented sardonically. Chloe glared at him without turning her head. That was one of the benefits of having our eyes on the side of your head.
:: How come you horses are always eavesdropping? ::
:: We aren't, you're always sending your thoughts. It's rather like hearing someone mutter under their breath constantly. ::
:: And you're just telling me this now why? :: Haron had to pause for a moment to untangle the grammar.
:: You never asked before. ::
:: You're just yanking my chain. :: Haron simply chuckled softly. They were still two days out from Errold's Grove, where they were to meet this Firesong dude. The wind was from the west and carried with it the scent of wood fires and cooking food. Chloe snorted and shook her mane.
:: Race ya. :: She challenged Haron and lurched into a gallop without waiting for answer. Wren yelped, startled, then began to laugh. Haron, not about to be outdone by an impudent youngster, raced after her. The two of them clattered into town, riders breathless from laughter, and debating the results.
The owner of the inn (The Green Man) greeted them cheerfully and quickly had the two Heralds (Wren was wearing Trainee Grays to avoid looking suspicious) and their Companions ensconced in comfortable quarters. This particular town was on a main thoroughfare and saw many a Herald over the course of the year, so their arrival didn't cause too much excitement.
The stable boy, however, was not as used to Companions as the rest of the village, and was near to bursting with pride at the honor of tending to the big white horsies. It was like he was running a day spa for horses, complete with room service.
:: This is the life. :: Chloe told Haron. Eventually though, the small child had to move on to his other charges. It was around eleven o'clock (Chloe was getting good at telling time without a watch) when Wren crept into the stables.
:: What's wrong chica? ::
"Can't sleep."
:: Bummer. Why? ::
"I can't do this."
:: Why? ::
"I just can't."
:: Wrong answer, try again. :: Wren glanced up, startled. Chloe turned her head so that one blue eye looked straight into Wren's.
"I…I don't think I can. I've never been good at school. This is so much more important. What if I fail?"
:: What if you don't? :: Wren wouldn't be tricked into self-confidence.
"I could kill someone! They should just take it away." Wren said bitterly.
:: Hermanita, it ain't that simple. :: Rolan and Gwena had given Chloe a crash course in magic before her departure. There were a whole lot of rules and stuff, which Chloe had found kinda disappointing. She thought that having rules for magic defeated the purpose of magic. :: This magic thing is a part of you, they can't take it away any more than they can take away your sight. ::
"I wish that I was just a normal girl."
:: So do all who find that they are different, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the gifts given us. :: Wren contemplated this for a few moments.
"So… if I can't get rid of it, I might as well use it." Wren was resigned to a horrible fate of being able to do things like teleport around the country and make her own fireworks. O cruel destiny. It probably hadn't occurred to her yet that magic was good for more things besides hurting people. Chloe decided that this was a marked improvement over a few weeks. At least Wren wasn't about to run off in a fit of hysterics.
:: Off to bed with ye. :: Chloe nudged Wren with her nose. Wren smiled and yawned and trudged off to bed.
:: Well handled. :: Haron had been doing an excellent impression of a sleeping horse until now.
:: Now that's eavesdropping. ::
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Questions, comments, critisicms, complaints? Make your voice heard.
.•´¨`•»¦«•Kerowyn•»¦«•´¨`•.
Chloe shifted her weight from one set of hooves to the other. She was still trying to get used to this whole saddle thing. It really wasn't heavy or anything, just weird. It was like putting on a backpack after a summer of freedom. The whole walking all day bit wasn't much fun either.
Wren giggled at a joke made by Herald Sashi. Sashi was making a courier run to this area of the country and volunteered to escort Wren, claiming that it wasn't that far out of her way. Chloe suspected that it was a good deal out of her way. The warm, pragmatic woman had immediately put Wren at ease, and was doing an excellent job of keeping Wren's mind off her teacher and imminent training. Chloe had to hand it to them, those Heralds were sneaky buggers.
:: Yes, well, we have a lot of practice at it. :: Sashi's Haron commented sardonically. Chloe glared at him without turning her head. That was one of the benefits of having our eyes on the side of your head.
:: How come you horses are always eavesdropping? ::
:: We aren't, you're always sending your thoughts. It's rather like hearing someone mutter under their breath constantly. ::
:: And you're just telling me this now why? :: Haron had to pause for a moment to untangle the grammar.
:: You never asked before. ::
:: You're just yanking my chain. :: Haron simply chuckled softly. They were still two days out from Errold's Grove, where they were to meet this Firesong dude. The wind was from the west and carried with it the scent of wood fires and cooking food. Chloe snorted and shook her mane.
:: Race ya. :: She challenged Haron and lurched into a gallop without waiting for answer. Wren yelped, startled, then began to laugh. Haron, not about to be outdone by an impudent youngster, raced after her. The two of them clattered into town, riders breathless from laughter, and debating the results.
The owner of the inn (The Green Man) greeted them cheerfully and quickly had the two Heralds (Wren was wearing Trainee Grays to avoid looking suspicious) and their Companions ensconced in comfortable quarters. This particular town was on a main thoroughfare and saw many a Herald over the course of the year, so their arrival didn't cause too much excitement.
The stable boy, however, was not as used to Companions as the rest of the village, and was near to bursting with pride at the honor of tending to the big white horsies. It was like he was running a day spa for horses, complete with room service.
:: This is the life. :: Chloe told Haron. Eventually though, the small child had to move on to his other charges. It was around eleven o'clock (Chloe was getting good at telling time without a watch) when Wren crept into the stables.
:: What's wrong chica? ::
"Can't sleep."
:: Bummer. Why? ::
"I can't do this."
:: Why? ::
"I just can't."
:: Wrong answer, try again. :: Wren glanced up, startled. Chloe turned her head so that one blue eye looked straight into Wren's.
"I…I don't think I can. I've never been good at school. This is so much more important. What if I fail?"
:: What if you don't? :: Wren wouldn't be tricked into self-confidence.
"I could kill someone! They should just take it away." Wren said bitterly.
:: Hermanita, it ain't that simple. :: Rolan and Gwena had given Chloe a crash course in magic before her departure. There were a whole lot of rules and stuff, which Chloe had found kinda disappointing. She thought that having rules for magic defeated the purpose of magic. :: This magic thing is a part of you, they can't take it away any more than they can take away your sight. ::
"I wish that I was just a normal girl."
:: So do all who find that they are different, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the gifts given us. :: Wren contemplated this for a few moments.
"So… if I can't get rid of it, I might as well use it." Wren was resigned to a horrible fate of being able to do things like teleport around the country and make her own fireworks. O cruel destiny. It probably hadn't occurred to her yet that magic was good for more things besides hurting people. Chloe decided that this was a marked improvement over a few weeks. At least Wren wasn't about to run off in a fit of hysterics.
:: Off to bed with ye. :: Chloe nudged Wren with her nose. Wren smiled and yawned and trudged off to bed.
:: Well handled. :: Haron had been doing an excellent impression of a sleeping horse until now.
:: Now that's eavesdropping. ::
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Questions, comments, critisicms, complaints? Make your voice heard.
.•´¨`•»¦«•Kerowyn•»¦«•´¨`•.