Sorry for taking so long, I think the next chapter will be a little later in coming too, I still need to write it. And after that—I can't say. Read and reviw, please, nothing motivates me more than reviews!

-o-

Jaydn wanted to demand an explanation immediately. He restrained himself from doing for a little while, but as he rummaged around the room looking for something to serve as an ankle bandage, he could help asking, "What was that all about?"

"I—I'm not quite sure," Cayri reponded, removing her white slippers tenderly. She didn't seem to notice Kuviay and Josef in the shadows. Jaydn sent a silent message to them, :Wait.:

"He Chose you, didn't he." Jaydn's voice was flat as he knelt to wrap the innjured ankle. He could not restrain the urge to mutter, "Of all people."

"I really don't think he means for me to become a Herald," Cayri said, wiping the tears from her bloodshot eyes.

:Yes, I do.: Kurrem's mindvoice was projected so that all in the room could hear it. Jaydn was startled to recognize it as the voice that had spoken to his earlier, in Court.

Cayri went on as if she hadn't heard. "After all, he knows how I feel about Heralds, as much as anyone else in Valdemar." She directed a glare at the white figure standing awkwardly in the center of the room. "But then, why bother coming here at all?"

"What do you mean?" Jaydn asked.

Cayri paused, then shook her head. "You won't believe me. I'm not so sure I believe it, myself."

"Try me." At the same time, Jaydn cast a Truth Spell.

She sighed. "My husband, Lord Courem, died seven years ago. How old is Kurrem?"

Jaydn paused to recall, not quite seeing where this was going. "Seven years—wait, are you saying that Kurrem here is the Lord Courem?"

"So he says," Cayri told him, tears springing again to her eyes.

:So am.:

The Truth Spell showed no lie.

:I'm sorry.: Kurrem's voice, still audible to the others in the room, was regretful. :I did not mean to leave you, Cayri, seven years ago. I would never leave you willingly. That's why I came back. That, and to show you the truth about those you hate.:

"What more truth can there be shown?" Cayri said bitterly, but she was interrupted by Kuviay, who couldn't restrain himself any longer.

"Wait, wait, you mean she didn't kill you?" he asked the Companion rather incredulously. Cayri was startled to see him there.

"What are you—"

:Of course she didn't kill me. She's said that all along. It was midwinter. I wasn't the only one to get sick.: Kurrem didn't seem to be surprised by Kuviay's presence, though Cayri was, very obviously so.

"But how did you—" she stuttered.

"You're not the only one who has questions, Cayri," Jaydn told her firmly. "You don't recognize Herald Kuviay, but he knows you very well by your actions. He will stay." He left Josef out of it for now.

She said nothing, wordless. Besides, there were more important things. "How on earth—" she began, but Kurrem anticipated her question.

:It was difficult to convince the Deity to allow me to return. I do not know how much of mortal time passed before He permitted it, but time is not measured in the realms of Eternity. However, I was only allowed this form, for the purpose of righting the wrongs I helped to cause. The Heralds are not evil, Cayri, and thus I come to you in Companion's form, to Choose thee.:

Cayri was trembling. "Of all those who know me, you should know my answer best, Courem," she replied angrily. "I will never join the Heralds' ranks."

:It is, and it always has been, the Companions' choice.:

Fury flashed in Cayri's emerald eyes. "How dare you say that?" she demanded. "I speak in greater consideration of things besides my own personal dislike of the Heralds. Perhaps you forget: I have a Hold to rule, men to command, children to raise. Children that you left behind. My people need me, as they no longer require the dead." Her words stung Kurrem. There was a long silence.

"M'lady Cayri," Jaydn began softly after a while, not sure how to tread here, "If it's not too rude of me to ask, there's a question that I know a lot of people want the answer to." He took a deep breath. "Cayri—why do you hate Heralds?"

She looked at her feet, gripping her seat tightly. "That's what it all comes down to, doesn't it," she murmured to no one in particular. "That's what this is all about."

Then she turned and met Jaydn's eyes squarely. "I cannot ever trust a Herald, Queen's Own Jaydn," she said, her voice steady.

"But—" he started to say, but she went on.

"I trusted the Heralds once when it meant the world," she told him. "They failed me. They failed me so thoroughly that my life has never been the same since. Heralds are supposed to help people? Well, they dealt nothing but pain that day."

:Cayri—: Kurrem started to say.

"Quiet, Courem," Cayri snapped acidly. "Jaydn asked for the truth, and by the Deity who so easily ignores his people's prayers, he's going to get it. It's time they realized that someone knows the truth."

"Cayri," Jaydn started quietly, "You speak as if you have been on the receiving end of a great wrong done by the Heralds. But that is not what we are like. Something as horrible as you describe would not go unnoted and unpunished within our ranks. Something that awful would not be tolerated by the Companions."

Cayri had a prompt reply, as if she had been expecting this. "I know exactly what went on, Jaydn. The Heralds returned home without a word, acting as the innocents. There was no word, no apology, no repudiation, nothing. Which leaves me to conclude that such things are actively condoned by the Companions' Order.

"You want to know the truth, Jaydn?" she continued. "Very well, you'll get it. But it's not a pleasant tale, and the telling is difficult. It was ten years ago. I was sixteen..."