Chapter Four

Avi awoke in a rush, flailing desperately; trapped in the nightmarish memory of the beatings he had taken, and felt someone press him back down. He opened his eyes, trying to see, and realized he was in a bed, and a comfortable one at that. He blinked, trying to clear the sleep from his eyes and make out who it was holding him.

After a few moments he managed to clear the blurry images and see that the person perched on the side of his bed was actually a young woman, perhaps a few years older than he, wearing a pale green robe and smiling at him. She was beautiful, golden hair trailing down over one shoulder to rest against her robes and her smile making her green eyes sparkle.

"Rest, you're going to be fine." She reached over to a small table and took a small cup there, handing it to him. As he fumbled for it, she continued speaking. "My name is Alyn, I'm a Healer trainee. I'm afraid this village is too small for a full time Healer, but I was home visiting family, and you were rather bad off, so I didn't think you'd prefer to wait until you got to Haven. Luckily, you didn't have anything broken, so most of what you needed was rest and a few mixtures for the pain and fever."

As she was speaking, he took a drink of the potion, and choked, it was awful. With a swift reach though, she tipped the cup up until he was forced to swallow or wear it, and he didn't want to be rude and make her change the bedding, so he downed it in a rush. When she finished, he finally managed to get a word in.

"Ah.. My companion?" She blinked, looking surprised.

"Well, yes. I mean, you are her chosen, aren't you? Companions don't generally carry people around that aren't, and then constantly try to get into the house to see you. Mother had a fit, let me tell you. Hoof prints all over." She giggled, and he laughed a bit himself at the thought, realizing she wasn't older as he had thought. "Do you remember what happened? How you got this way, I mean?"

He shook his head. "Not really. I mean, I vaguely remember walking to the village – that is, my village, Willowdeep, and then it gets sort of fuzzy. I remember being attacked, beaten, but.." His voice rose as he tried to remember, and the girl laid a hand on his forehead.

"Shh. Easy. It's over. It will come, in time. Don't try to force it." She frowned, and reached to the table again, this time laying a cool damp cloth on his forehead. "You've a bit of fever still. Nothing serious. You should be fine to move in a day or two. Just sleep, you need your strength." She stood, and he opened his mouth to protest, but to his surprise only a yawn came out. His vision swam again, and before she reached the door he was asleep.

When he woke again, the shutters in the room were open and sunlight streamed in, brightening the room – and his mood – quite a bit. He was wondering what to do when the door opened and an older woman bustled in with a small tray. Seeing him awake, she smiled. "Ah good, you're awake! I imagine you'll be wanting some food, youngling. Here you are. Eat up!" And she was gone back out the door before he could open his mouth.

Shrugging, he made short work of the excellent meal, not invalid's fare but a real meat-pie and some sort of juice. He was licking his fingers when she returned and grinned. "Excellent! Now, if you'd care to try to walk a bit, feel free. Your companion is worrying herself sick, and Alyn will be glad to get her bed back soon, I'm sure." He blushed, drawing a laugh from the woman. "No, don't you worry. She wouldn't hear anything other than that you'd have the bed. She takes her training seriously, my daughter does, and I couldn't be more proud of her."

He pulled the covers back and turned, sitting up on the edge of the bed, and paused a moment as the room steadied. Finally, he eased himself forward and rose, standing, one hand on the bedpost for balance. Once he was up, he was overcome by a fierce need to get outside and see the companion. Surprised, he nevertheless stumbled one step after another towards the main room of the house. The woman followed, hovering nearby but not so near as to make him feel that she thought he was too weak. When he reached the front door, he hesitated, but reached down and twisted the handle, pushing it open.

Standing not three feet from the door was the companion, ears perked forward and eyes looking him over. Alyn was also there, brushing the companion down. He stepped forward and threw his arms around the companions neck, burying his head against her and just enjoying the moment. Alyn stepped back and watched. As he stood there, he remembered her words floating to his mind, and her name. "Atria," he whispered.

After a moment, he looked up and reached up to scratch behind Atria's ears. She whickered softly and pushed against him with her head. He laughed. "Alright, alright. I know, you want to be on the road. I don't know why, but I can just tell you're in a hurry." He was puzzled a moment, but chalked it up to the strange gifts he'd heard Companions had. Turning, he spread his hands at Alyn and her mother.

"I only have a small bit of coin to offer for your care. I can try to get more soon-"

The mother cut him off in mid sentence. "Nah, don't even think on it, youngling. You're a Herald trainee. The Queen makes provisions for this sort of thing. And besides, I couldn't charge ye for helping anyway. Wouldn't be right." She eyed him a moment. "But actually, there is something I'd like to ask of you, if you don't mind."

He shook his head. "Of course not! What can I help with?"

She smiled. "Well, Alyn here needs to get back to haven, and I doubt the two of you would be a strain for your friend there. Would you two mind giving her a ride?" He heard Alyn gasp and turned to see her staring at the ground, blushing. Confused, he turned to look at Atria and saw her shaking her head. Then her voice came across to him again. It's no problem, but we really do need to get moving.

His eyes widened and she whickered again. It's good you can hear me so early. Most can't, it takes time for the bond to form. Her mind voice was laced with laughter and he smiled, growing used to it. He turned back. "Atria says it won't be a problem. We'd be happy to offer a ride."

The mother turned to go back inside. "Good. I'll just be a moment, and Alyn, you can get your things." The two went back in and the door shut. He turned back to Atria.

"Are- I mean, am I.. Am I really a herald?"

You're going to be. You're a Trainee right now. Once we get to Haven, they'll teach you how to be a Herald. And no matter what, I'll always be right here for you.

He sat there and just thought about that for a few minutes, until the door opened and they came back out. Alyn had a small pack, and her mother had another, which she handed to him. "There you go. That should last you until Haven. If not, I'm sure Atria knows where to get more."

Atria nodded, and Avi tied both packs to her saddle, which he had barely even realized was there. Then he stood back and offered Alyn a hand mounting. After she had done so, he struggled into the saddle himself, a lot less gracefully than Alyn had managed. "Thank you again."

The woman smiled again and waved. "It was no problem, just get my Alyn safely back! Alyn, dear, I'll see you at Midwinter."

Turning, Atria started towards the road, and as they turned onto it she began to pick up speed, until Alyn reached around and held onto him, and sped into a gallop. Avi couldn't help but wonder at the smoothness of it. Hang on, I'm going to try to make Haven by tomorrow night, so we have some hard riding ahead.

He relayed that thought to Alyn and she nodded. Then he simply concentrated on what he might find in Haven as they sped down the road.