Ch 8 Unexpected Things

"You did what" Darin yelled at his sister. "You don't have to yell" Deena said "besides it was Marnie's idea". "How can I go to a party especially one of mother's with someone I've never met before" Darin shook his head in disbelief, even knowing the crazy things Deena and her friends had done in the past he thought they had topped themselves.

"It was Marnies idea" Deena repeated, she sniffed a tear just escaping as she looked at her brother with sad eyes. He sighed knowing when she looked at him like that he would end up doing what she wanted. "Alright I'll go with this girl".

Deena smiled at this "She's nice you'll like her, her name's Anna". "Is she one of your friends from the Collegium" Darin asked as he picked up his bag from the floor where he had dropped it when Deena first told him about the date.

"No she's closer to your age, by the way we forgot to tell her your name so you'll have to look for her, she'll be in the gardens". "She has red hair and green eyes" Deena added.

"So where did you meet her" Darin asked as he pulled out the gifts he had picked up for his family while on his circuit.

"In the garden, we were there the other day" Deena waited for another explosion.

"Huh"? Darin looked up, a thought came to him "does she use a cane" he asked.

Surprised Deena gaped at him "How did you know". "I've met her, did you know she's probably from one of the foreign delegations that have come here recently, until a week ago she didn't speak a word of Valdemaran".

"I never did get her name though" he mused. Deena looked relieved "Then you know who to look for". "Uh-hum, here's the scarf you asked for" he said pulling it out.

Anna sat on the bench nervously looking around. She was starting to have second thoughts about this, after all she had never met the man. She wondered what she was getting into.

"We meet again" a familiar voice spoke from behind. She turned in her seat, Darin smiled down as he leaned against an arbor support. She smiled uncertainly as she looked back at him.

"Darin" she said "I didn't expect to see you here". He grinned "I'm here to pick up my escort for mother's party, it seems my sister is setting me up in her spare time".

She winced "I hope you don't mind". "No, I'm glad I had an excuse to talk to you again".

"I'm glad you're not upset" she said "And, I'm glad it's someone I've met before, I'll admit I was beginning to worry about what I'd gotten myself into".

Darin looked surprised "didn't they tell you I'm a Herald" he asked. "No, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway, I'm not sure what you mean by Herald".

"Didn't your delegation brief you about Valdemar" he asked surprised at her admission.

"What delegation, I came here on my own" she smiled ruefully.

"Well" he said choosing his words carefully as he thought about what she said. "Mainly it means you can trust me, my companion would never have chosen me if I had been the type to harm you"

"But what is a Herald, and what do they do" she asked curiosity overcoming good sense. It probably wasn't wise to ask questions that obviously most seemed to know, if his reaction was anything to go by.

He looked at her a moment trying to put it into words someone who wasn't born to it would understand. "A Herald does what ever needs doing for the Queen or King as the case may be, mostly they ride circuits as her representative, one who can't be bribed or take favorites.

We may serve as judges, take in taxes, preform weddings and the like. Some deliver messages, some gather information for the Queen. And one of us, the Queens own serves as her right hand, someone she can trust implicitly.

Our ruler has to be a Herald herself as well".He looked off in the direction of the field where his companion was with a slight smile "You can only become a Herald by being chosen by a companion, but once you are, you'll never be alone again".

Anna thought wistfully of the last part of what he said, she had been alone for a long time now.

He looked back at her "Does that give you a better idea of what a Herald is" he asked. She nodded. "well, we should probably be going, I know my mother will be wondering what happened to me if we don't show up soon". He gave her a hand as she rose from the seat.

Once standing he took her arm and they both walked the paths to the nearest door to the castle.