Queen's Own: Sami and I have been very mean to all you poor devoted readers with our slow update. We are sorry.

Disclaimer: Do I look like Misty? Do I look like Misty to you? I should think not, or you need vision correction badly!

4- Alyx: Oh my Gods! It can be serious!

Alyx bounced down the hall.  Meriya followed more slowly behind. I wonder what kind of food they have? I hope it has lots of sugar. Sugar is the best!

:You do not need sugar.: Doss said tiredly. :You're already too energetic!: Alyx gave her a big mental hug.

"I love you Doss." He said excitedly. An annoyed laugh behind him made him turn around.

"What are you doing?" Meriya asked no trace of humor evident.  Alyx was -as usual- oblivious to this fact.

"I'm talking to my awesome wonderful Companion!" Alyx said.  "Don't you talk to Lyan?"

"Yes." Meriya sounded like she was explaining that one plus one equals two. "But I do it quietly in mindspeech."

"What's that? Do I have it? What about Doss and Lyan? Does everyone have it?"

Flamelets began dancing in Meriya's hair. Several Trainees in the hall saw, blanched and scurried away as fast as they could.  Many of them whispered behind their hands about the stupid new Trainee who kept annoying her. Alyx was- again- oblivious.

Meriya was this close to making Alyx run away, assisted by some of the flamelets dancing in her hair.  Her eyes flashed. Alyx's smile didn't fade. In her anger, she unconsciously made every fire in the Collegium roar up and go out, much to the cook's frustration.  In the dining hall, several teachers exchanged worried looks and stood.

A perfect sphere of fire sprang to life in Meriya's hands. This was one trick she'd mastered that never failed to impress people, Herald or no. According to the Chronicles, not even the famous Herald Lavan Firestorm could do that. Alyx stared, not- for once- bouncing.  Doss and Lyan held their breath, determined not to interfere- at least not yet.

"Doesn't it scare you," Meriya asked coldly. "That as easily as I can do this, I could kill you?"

Alyx was- for once in his life- acting serious. He stared at the fire Meriya still held. Finally, he met her eyes.

"No," he said quietly. "But it scares you."

Meriya stood, shocked, as Alyx resumed his normal happy bounce down the hall, heading once more to lunch.

:Lyan?: she asked, floundering wildly for the familiar. :Lyan?:

:I'm here, Chosen.: he assured her.

:Is he- right?:

There was no answer.

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Queen's Own: I know this chap might seem a bit OOC, but I think that Alyx isn't ­just hyper and Meriya isn't all temper.

Sami: Ysa's fault if the next chap takes a while!

Queen's Own: Sorry for shortness! I'm actually currently on vacation with no access to computers! Big thanks to Milky Way Bar for typing this up and emailing it to LIS!

LIS adds her two cents before posting: Review please! And I just wanted to say, because I didn't get to tell you this before, that this chapter is great QO!!!