A/N: Thanks again for the reviews!!! Lizai, Jaelle and Aaron were ambushed by a bunch of thugs. It was just a one-sentence remark, as I didn't want to spend a whole lot of time in flashback.

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Chapter 10

Selenay was waiting for us when we arrived at her suites. I put Lucia down and she and Kyrah, Elspeth's daughter, ran off to play while we "grown-ups" talked.

"She's a precious one," Selenay commented, watching Lucia interact with her granddaughter for a moment before turning back to me. "I'm glad you were able to come."

"Of course," I replied, noting the sparkle in her eye that matched the one in her daughter's. "So what's going on?"

Selenay motioned us over to some comfortable-looking chairs. "I think I have a long-term solution for you and Lucia."

"Oh?" I asked. This sounded very interesting indeed. "What is it?"

"Well," Selenay began, "I've just received word that Lord Nestor died."

"I'm so sorry," I interjected. "Were you close?" I rather doubted it, given the nonchalant manner in which she spoke, but I hadn't been in Valdemar anyways near long enough to feel comfortable yet with all the subtle nuances of communication.

Selenay replied with a rather un-queenly snort. "Hardly. We only met once. He was a cantankerous old man, second or third cousin to my father, or some such thing." She reached over to a tall, slim table for a goblet and sipped it. "In any case, he never married or even bedded anyone as far as can be told, so he died without an heir." She rose and went over to her desk, retrieving a parchment and returning to her seat.

She handed me the slip of paper, and I glanced at it to find that it was a map of Valdemar with a small "X" marked on it some ways north of Haven. "What is this?" I asked, glancing back up at her.

"The mark," she replied, "is the location of his estates. They're rather small—"

"I was up there recently," Elspeth said. "Aside from the keep itself, there were about five other homes of families under Lord Nestor's care who worked the land for him and tended his livestock." She paused in thought for a moment. "I believe his raised a special kind of goat that yielded a very soft kind of hair the women would spin into yarn and sell." She shook her head clear of her musings. "In any case, he wasn't a very good steward of his people or his property."

I nodded politely, but felt as though I were missing something that seemed rather obvious to both Selenay and Elspeth. "I'm sorry to hear that," I ventured, "but what does this have to do with me?"

Selenay seemed hardly able to contain her smile. "Since Lord Nestor had no heir, and since he was a distant relative to the Crown, his lands reverted back to the Crown upon his death."

Again, what did this have to do with me? I must have still looked confused because her smile grew all the wider.

"I'm going to ennoble you," she announced, "and deed his lands over to you. That way, you will have a place to live and means whereby to provide for yourself and Lucia, and any other little that might happen to come along."

I could not have been more stunned—shocked—than if she'd struck me in the face with a board. My board-struck face must have been overly expressive, because both she and Elspeth burst into peals of laughter.

"I told you she'd be like this," Elspeth commented to her mother.

"So you did," Selenay replied.

"I made her promise to let me be here when she told you," Elspeth said to me.

I, however, was still stuck back at Selenay's announcement. "I'm sorry," I said, once I could find my voice, "but you're going to what?"

"Ennoble you," Selenay replied, still fighting down laughter. "You'll be a Lady, and inherit Lord Nestor's lands."

"But—"

"The Council has already voted to deed them over to you," Selenay said, "and the papers have already been drawn up."

"But I don't know anything about being a Lady!" I protested. "To say nothing of managing an estate!"

Selenay sobered a little and bestowed upon me a sympathetic smile. "You will do fine. My touch of ForeSight told me it was the right thing to do."

"Is it not a perfect solution to your situation?" Elspeth asked.

It seemed so, but... "I don't know what to say," I told them. I had hoped for a small house in Haven somewhere, perhaps, but I had never anticipated something like this. A whole estate...

"Say 'yes'," Selenay suggested.

I smiled in return and nodded. "Okay. Yes, it is." I tried to contain my own smile then. "Thank you. This is so much more than I could ever have imagined."

"It's the least we could do," Elspeth said, "after what you've done for us, and we not even being able to get you home."

"You did your best," I stated, with less pain that I had thought I would feel. "So, when do I leave? How long does it take to get there?"

"Your ennobling will take place in a formal ceremony tomorrow," Selenay replied. "I anticipated your answer," she confessed sheephishly, "and I've already sent word to the estate to prepare for your and Lucia's arrival sometime in the next two weeks or so. It should take you about a week to get there, which will give you time to pack your things."

"My things?" I echoed. "I could pack my things in an hour!"

Selenay and Elspeth laughed. "Not anymore!" Elspeth exclaimed. "We're going to outfit you and Lucia both with entirely new wardrobes that befit your rank."

"We'll take your measurements down tomorrow as well," Selenay added, "and, hopefully, have a few things ready for you when you go. The rest we'll send up later."

I could only stare at them, speechless, my eyes filling with grateful tears.

"As you can see," Elspeth replied to my silence, "we've thought of everything."

"It was Talia's idea really," Selenay said. "She wanted to be here, but today was the first day that she and Dirk have had to spend some time alone together."

"I don't know what to say," I replied, finally finding my voice. "'Thank you' just doesn't seem enough."

"This is our 'thank you' to you," Elspeth said. "Your generosity and sacrifice saved many lives. It was the least we could do."

"I hope I make a good noble, and don't utterly disgrace you," I told them. "I don't suppose you have a book or something on how to do this sort of thing?"

Selenay chuckled. "I'm afraid not, but you'll be just fine. Really, you will."

I wished I had her confidence in me. At that moment, Lucia and Kyrah came bounding out of the adjoining room where they had been playing, drawing my attention away from thoughts and the situation at hand.

"Mother, may Lucia stay the night?" Kyrah asked Elspeth. "Oh, please say yes!"

"Please, Mama, say yes!" Lucia echoed to me.

Elspeth and I traded glances and I smiled. "It's your house," I said, leaving the decision with her. If little girls' sleep-overs in Valdemar were anything like the ones I had as a child, there would be lots of sugar and no one would be getting any sleep for awhile.

Elspeth returned the smile knowingly and then turned to her daughter. "Very well, but—"

Kyrah and Lucia squealed and held hands and jumped up and down, and whatever condition Elspeth had set was drowned out in their delighted screams. Selenay caught my eye, and we tried to hold back our laughter, but a few chortles escaped nonetheless. If Elspeth and Kris had wanted any private time to themselves this evening, it wasn't going to happen, I was certain.

And then a thought brought me up short: Treven and I would be dining alone now. I felt myself blush furiously at the realization, and hoped that it went unnoticed by the other women. They seemed to be attentive to the girls, and I tried surreptitiously to fan my face to cool it.

Kyrah suddenly whispered something to Lucia, and then grabbed her hand and they both all but flew out of the room, giggling.

I shook my head in wonder. "They're something, aren't they?"

"Indeed they are," Selenay said. "I'm glad they're friends."

"So am I," I replied, rising from my chair, "though I don't know how to tell Lucia that she'll be leaving Kyrah soon."

"I know," Elspeth said. "Kyrah will be heartbroken. She's so enjoyed Lucia's company in the Nursery."

Both she and Selenay rose, and I took that as a sign that our meeting was officially over.

"Would you care to dine with us tonight?" Selenay asked.

I felt my blush return, and knew there was no hiding it this time. "I'm afraid I have plans," I replied, "but thank you."

Selenay and Elspeth exchanged a significant look, and Elspeth turned her sly gaze on me. "Oh?" she asked archly. "And would these 'plans' include someone we know?"

I broke into a smile, one probably as silly as my daughter's had been. "Herald Treven," I replied. Why bother to hide it when all but his name was written all over my face? "We're both in Alberich's class."

"He's a handsome one," Selenay said. "And that reminds me, I still haven't had a chance to talk to Alberich about his dragging you off to class like that."

"How is it going with him?" Elspeth asked. "Alberich, that is, not Treven, though I'd like to know about that as well."

"Today was a disaster," I replied, and I told them what had happened. "I'm going to have to just get over it somehow," I said, "because bladed weapons are the norm in this world."

Elspeth nodded thoughtfully. "It's a good skill to have, though I don't know how essential is will be for you. You're not a Herald, or in the guard, and you won't be living in a border region. You'll have the luxury of taking the time you need to work through your memories."

Selenay bit her lower lip in contemplation. "A Mindhealer could help," she offered. "They've dealt with things far worse than this before and have been successful."

"This is true," Elspeth said.

"I've heard of them," I replied. "May I just say again that your magic amazes me?" I nodded my agreement with their assessment. "Perhaps I'll go over there tomorrow and talk to someone about setting up an appointment."

"I think that would be wise," Selenay said. "In the meantime, enjoy your evening with Treven."

"At least one of us will be having fun tonight!" Elspeth quipped with a wicked grin.

SCENEBREAK

Companions Field was alive with color as the later afternoon sun shone through the trees. I had thought that, given my freedom that evening, I could talk to Landon freely, without having to be concerned for what a pair of little ears might pick up.

But Landon did not come to meet me as he usually did, and I was forced to stop and ask a passing Companion if he would please ask Landon to come to where I was. The Companion nodded once, stood still for a long moment, and then nodded to me again before continuing on his way. I didn't know if that meant only that he had spoken to Landon, or that he had spoken to him, and he was coming to see me. So, I stood there for awhile, but it didn't seem like he was going to show up. I was just about to leave when I noticed a white form approaching from a distance.

He didn't speak to me, not even when he drew close.

I just sighed. "Can we talk?"

:Oh, am I allowed to invade your thoughts now?: he asked in the most acerbic tone I'd ever heard him take.

"Okay, you know what?" I began, trying to keep my exasperation down to an acceptable level. "Never mind. I don't care. Talking—"

:Well I care!: he shot back, interrupting me. :I stayed in your mind because I care, especially after what happened today in class. But you—one minute, you're crying on my shoulder, and the next, you're telling me to go away!:

"I never said that!" I exclaimed, giving free rein to my exasperation. "Where are you getting this from?"

:Telling me to get out of your thoughts is the same thing as telling me to go away,: he replied. :I'm a Companion, and in case you hadn't noticed, I can't communicate in any other way than by Mindspeech.:

"Well, in case you hadn't noticed," I shot back, "I'm not from your world, and even though I know all about you, it is very disconcerting to have your voice pop into my mind when I don't expect it. And furthermore," I continued, "how do you think it makes me feel to know that you could be in the back of my mind, reading my thoughts, without me even knowing it?"

:Well how do you think it makes me feel when you tell people that I'm only your friend because I feel sorry for you?: Landon retorted.

Landon's return brought me up short, leaving me speechless for a moment. When I did answer him, it was with a much more subdued tone of voice.

"I didn't mean it like that," I said.

:Well that's how it sounded,: he replied, although his tone, too, had calmed.

"I think maybe we just have a huge misunderstanding on our hands," I put forth, hoping to make things better. "I didn't know you were in my mind until you spoke, and I certainly didn't know you were there out of concern. I thought you were just eavesdropping." I reached out and brushed his forelock out of his eyes. "And I didn't think much about your limitations on communication. I'm sorry I hurt you. I'd still like to be your friend."

:I guess I just assumed that since you know all about us, you'd be familiar with our ways,: he replied. :I know that I didn't mean any harm, but I didn't stop and think that there was no way for you to know that, or to consider that you might not be comfortable with it. I guess I didn't even realize that you couldn't sense me in your mind, though that's the way it is.: He nuzzled my hand. :I'm sorry, too, and I still want to be your friend as well.:

I smiled and hugged him. "I'm glad." Pulling away, I looked into his eyes. "So, how do we make sure this doesn't happen again? I don't mind if you're in my mind—if I know about it."

:I'll remember to tell you from now on,: he said. :Do you not want me to talk to you when we're apart?:

I shook my head. "I don't mind if you talk to me when we're apart," I replied. "And I'll remember that you can't talk any other way."

:I think we'll do fine, then,: he said. :If I may ask, how did it end with Treven?:

I smiled. "We're having dinner tonight. And Lucia is staying over with Kyrah for the night."

:Well, well,: Landon snickered. :Things could get very interesting!:

"Landon! I've only just met him today!" I protested, though not without another blush. "Besides, that's not my style. Honestly, between you and Selenay and Elspeth—"

:Oh?: he asked. :What did they have to say?:

I then remembered that I was to be ennobled. In the heat of our argument, I had forgotten all about it. Suddenly, I felt very sad at the thought of leaving Haven. I enjoyed Landon's company, and now that we understood each other better, I was certain our friendship could develop even more. But now—

:What is it?: Landon asked, nudging me with his nose. :You look troubled.:

"I am," I replied. "Landon, I'm sorry. I—" I hesitated for a moment, feeling more than sad. "I'm leaving."

:Leaving?: he asked. :What do you mean?:

"The queen has ennobled me and deeded me the late Lord Nestor's estates. I'll be leaving in a week or two." I threw my arms about his neck. "I'm going to miss you!"

Landon didn't say anything for a long moment. :This is so sudden,: he finally replied. :I thought you would stay in Haven.:

I pulled away to look at him. "So did I. You will come to visit me, won't you?" I brushed that stubborn forelock out of his eyes again. "I mean, you don't have to say in Haven all the time, do you? At least, until you Choose, that is."

:No,: he replied. :I don't have to stay. I can come visit. In fact, I think it would be nice to get away sometimes.:

"I don't suppose your Mindspeech reaches all the way to the estate, does it?" I asked.

He shook his head. :No. I don't know that it would even reach that far if we were bonded, to say nothing of being unbonded.:

I sighed. "Well, we'll make do somehow. I suppose I shall just have to write you letters."

Landon laughed in my mind and whinnied aloud. :I'm sure I can find some unsuspecting Trainee or Herald to read them and compose a reply for me.:

"See," I said hopefully, "it won't be so bad."

:You don't believe that anymore than I do,: he said, and then nudged me with his nose in the direction of the palace. :You'd better go if you want time to clean up before dinner.:

"You're right," I replied. The sun was setting, and I did need to be going. I kissed Landon's nose. "You know, it doesn't seem fair that you can talk to me whenever you want, but I can't do the same with you."

:Yes, and I'd give anything to have hands again, even if just for a day,: he said.

I laughed. "Point taken. Have a lovely evening."

:And you,: he returned. :I want to hear all about it tomorrow!:

Laughing, I watched him trot away before turning to make my way back to my suites.