A/N: After three midterms, a semester paper, a major history project, and the holidays, I'm finally able to update. Thanks again for the reviews!!! I really appreciate them. I hope everyone had a joyous Thanksgiving!

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Chapter 11

I was, as the books had once put it, as nervous as a cat about to kitten. I couldn't decide between my old clothes or one of the dresses I had been given after I'd arrived here. I figured that Treven would be wearing his Whites, so it was probably best that I not be too dressed up. I therefore shrugged into a clean pair of jeans and a fresh t-shirt and, having nothing else to do but wait, began to nervously pace about my suites. Going in circles soon made me dizzy, however, and I finally settled down in a comfortable chair with an old book.

A knock on the door a few moments later made me jump and, with a deep breath, I laid aside my book and rose to answer it. Treven was there, holding an enormous tray of various dishes, and wearing something of a sheepish grin on his face.

"Something came up," he began, "and I wasn't able to cook for us, but I did beg a meal from Mero." He bit his lower lip. "My suites are a disaster, so I thought I'd bring it here. Do you mind?"

"No, of course not," I replied, stepping aside to let him in. "I hope all is well."

"It is," he answered, carefully setting the tray down on the table. "Two of my yearmates just returned early from visiting their families. Their own suites are having some repairs done to them and can't be used, so they're staying with me until their rooms are ready." He turned to face me. "So, are you hungry?"

I nodded. "Very."

Treven just smiled and pulled out a chair for me.

scenebreak

"I received my new circuit orders," Treven said, scooping up the last spoonful of his cream pudding.

"Oh?" I asked. "When do you leave?"

"In about a week," he replied.

"I'm leaving about that time as well," I told him.

"You're leaving?" he asked, setting his pudding bowl on the tray. "Where are you going?"

"Somewhere north of here," I replied, reaching for my teacup. I gingerly took a sip of the hot drink before setting the cup back down on the table. "The queen, if you believe this, has ennobled me and deeded me Lord Nestor's estates. Lucia and I are leaving in a week to take up permanent residence there." I shook my head disbelievingly. "I don't know the first thing about being a noble or managing an estate!"

"Old Nestor died, did he?" Treven replied. "He managed his estates terribly. I'm sure the people will be happy to have you as their new Lady." He looked at me and smiled. "Well, well. Lady Jaelle. It sounds nice."

"It sounds terrifying!" I countered.

Treven chuckled. "I'm sure you'll do fine. Selenay would never have given you the estates if she thought otherwise." He reached for his own teacup. "It's a good arrangement for everyone—except, possibly, Lord Ehnley."

I felt a chill run down my spine at the sound of his name, and sipped some more tea to chase it away. "Why do you say that?"

"Ehnley's had his eye on Nestor's estates for a long time," Treven replied. "His own personal holdings border Nestor's—now yours—and he's wanted to expand his lands for some time now."

"Fantastic," I muttered over my teacup. Of all the people in the kingdom to have as a neighbor—and now a disgruntled one at that!—it would be Lord Ehnley. I wonder if it's too late to back out of this, I thought.

"You don't like him?" Treven asked.

I shook my head. "I met him my first night here, and I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him."

"Really?" he asked, and then got that faraway look in his eyes that Heralds got when speaking to their Companions. A moment later he focused on me again. "My Companion agrees with you." He shrugged and took a sip of his tea. "I've never met the man myself, but I implicitly trust Althea's judgment." He frowned in thought and set his teacup on the table. "You know, we're traveling on the same route. I go right by Nestor's estates. I'll see if I can reschedule my departure to coincide with yours. Althea and I can accompany you up there and I can take a look around and make sure all is well."

"I would appreciate that," I replied. "Thank you."

"It would be my pleasure," he said.

I found myself blushing, and I quickly rose and set about clearing off the table.

Treven stood to help me. "You know, it's a nice area of Valdemar that you're going to. My family is from Three Rivers, not too terribly far from your estates."

"Isn't that where Mero is from?" I asked. At least, I thought that's what the books had said.

"Mmm-hmm," Treven replied. "Which is probably why he indulges me so much! Our families have been friends for years. You'll have a lot in common with the people there, I think."

"Oh?" I queried, stacking the plates on the tray.

He nodded. "It's rumored that you believe there is only one god."

"Many, if not most, people on my world believe that," I replied. "Most of the major religions are monotheistic."

Treven laughed softly as he gathered the silverware. "It's just the opposite here. The Three Rivers area is the only place in Valdemar that believes what you believe. Hopefully, it will help make things a little less strange to you."

I felt a sudden wave of homesickness, but I smiled politely and filled the kettle with more water and set it over the fire to boil.

A couple of hours and several cups of tea later, we were both ready for some sleep, though, I expected, much to Landon's dismay, not with each other.

"I had a very nice evening, Treven," I said, walking him to the door. I had convinced him to just leave the dishes in my suites, as there was probably no one in the kitchen at this time of night, and he was too tired to wash them himself.

He opened the door, stepped out into the hallway and turned back to face me. "I did, too. Thank you for suggesting it."

He was standing close enough to set my heart on a quick beat, and I had forgotten that this whole evening was my idea. I felt myself blushing. Honestly! I chided myself. You'd think you were on your first date! Although, I had to admit, it had been awhile since I'd—

The soft brush of his lips against mine brought me out of my reverie, and I reached up to entwine my fingers in his hair. He stepped back, smiling, and captured my hand in his, kissing my fingers.

"Goodnight," he said.

"Goodnight." I watched him walk down the corridor for a few moments before closing the door. I leaned against the closed door with a contented sigh, and heard a soft snickering in the back of my mind.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping?" I asked, and rolling my eyes, I pushed away from the door and sought the comfort of my own bed.

scenebreak

The next day was pure insanity. The servants came for me early in the morning. They took away the dishes, brought in a seamstress, and proceeded to measure every inch of me. Then they brought out bolts of cloth, asking for my opinion on each one. Did I like the color? Did I want a train? Should it be detachable? How many layers did I want? Did I want the chemise to match the gown?

They finally left, and I barely had time to eat a bit of dinner before another set of servants came in to dress me for the ennobling ceremony. They brushed and parted and twisted and pinned my hair until I thought I was going to scream.

The ceremony itself was rather anti-climactic after all that fuss. I went forward as Jaelle, knelt, and thirty seconds later, rose as Lady Jaelle. I was then ushered out of the Throne Room as Selenay carried on with other matters of state.

The rest of the week flew by in a whirl. Lucia was heartbroken to learn that she was going to have to leave Kyrah, and subsequently, the girls spent almost every waking moment in each other's company. For myself, I had very little time to devote to unraveling the mystery of Vanyel that I was so intent on solving. Reluctantly, I sent the books back to the library. The resources of the Palace provided the best chance I had at finding out what was going on—well, those, and Landon, but I barely had time to visit him that week, and I would soon be going away. It seemed now, more than ever, that the mystery would remain unsolved.

I finished up my classes with Alberich. I hadn't even wanted to return, but Treven assured me that Alberich understood. It was with great trepidation that I returned to the salle, but Alberich did not mention my emotional collapse. He just continued training me in hand-to-hand self-defense as though nothing had happened. I somehow managed to visit the Mindhealers during that time as well, and by the end of the week, I was surprised to find that I could hold a dagger without being afraid. Unfortunately, I was leaving the following day, and there was no time to train me in weaponswork. Still, I wanted to thank Alberich for what training he did give me, little though it was. I remained behind after my last class to speak with him.

He was putting away his armour, his back to me, and I sat down to wait until he was finished.

"Leaving tomorrow you are?" he asked, not turning around.

I should have known that he needn't have turned around to know I was there. "Yes," I replied. "We leave in the morning." I rose from the bench as he turned to face me. "I wanted to thank you for your training. I'm sure you had better things you could have been doing."

He shook his head and came over to me, gesturing to the bench. We both sat down. "One more student in a class is no difference."

I pulled a pouch of coins from my pocket. As Lady, I had an income, and Selenay had given me an advance on it. Even as Alberich shook his head, I set the pouch in his lap. "I will not accept refusal, Master Alberich," I said. "I know perfectly well that it is custom to pay a weaponsmaster for training, and I am not a Trainee."

"Your money, I want not," he said.

"Well, you shall take it anyway," I insisted. "I am sure there are plenty of things you can buy—perhaps apples for Kantor."

Alberich almost smiled at that. "Agrees with you, he does." His almost-smile faded, however, and he gazed at me with a troubled expression, setting me ill-at-ease.

"Selenay tells me that you can see into the future," I said.

"Yes," he replied.

"Have you seen something concerning me?" I asked. "Is that why you wanted to train me?"

Alberich sighed. "It is usually immediate, what my Gift sees," he replied. "With you, I have seen nothing—yet—but uneasy I feel when I see you." He laid his hand on mine. "Careful, you must be."

"I will," I replied, repressing a shiver of dread.

"And training, you must continue," he stated, though it was more of a command than a simple declaration.

"I will," I promised.

"Send you a weaponsmaster, I will," Alberich said. "Train everyone, he should. Marin, his name is, from Three Rivers. Retired is he, but very good, and looking for work."

"Thank you," I replied. "Though I will miss you." This was not the first after-class talk I'd had with him, and I knew I would miss them.

Alberich made a non-committal sound in his throat and then rose. "Class I have now," he said, his voice gruff.

Hiding a smile, I rose, kissed his cheek and dashed out of the salle before he could respond.

scenebreak

The day of our departure dawned. The trunks had been packed, and Selenay, as one final gift, had given me one of the Palace horses, a gelding. I had yet to pick a name for him, and I had little experience in riding, but she had assured me that he was the gentlest of creatures. I was very touched.

Lucia had spent the night with Kyrah, and Elspeth assured me that she would bring Lucia to the courtyard where the carriage was waiting. Talia and Selenay had had a long night with the Council, and were both still sleeping, so I left them each a note of goodbye.

I rose early so that I could spend some time with Landon, having seen little of him that week. I made my way towards the Field and was surprised to find him waiting for me, groomed and saddled.

I kissed his nose. "What's going on? Are you going out to Choose?"

He shook his head. :I've decided that, since you've been so busy this week, I would go with you on your journey.:

"You're coming with me?" I cried, throwing my arms around his neck. "Oh, Landon, what a perfect surprise!" I let go of him and stepped back. "But why are you saddled?"

:I thought you might like to ride,: he replied. :Since Treven and Althea are coming along, I thought it might be nice if we all rode on ahead of the baggage carts.:

"But what about Lucia?" I pointed out. "I can't leave her behind."

:She's such a small thing, she can ride as well,: Landon stated. :It won't take us long to get there, and Althea and I can carry what few supplies and changes of clothes you might need. We'll be staying in inns on the way up as well, so we needn't worry about food or bedding.:

"You've thought of everything, haven't you?" I asked.

:I am a Companion,: he replied.

I only rolled my eyes at that remark and walked with him to the courtyard. Treven and Althea were waiting for us there, and Elspeth was bringing Lucia down the Palace steps as we arrived. I won't waste the time relating the shock of Landon's offer to carry one who was not his Chosen. Suffice it to say that about an hour later, we were re-packed and ready to go. The carriage was sent back to the carriage house, and the baggage carts were sent on ahead, though I strong suspected we would pass by them before we even left Haven.

Elspeth and I said our almost-tearless goodbyes, but Lucia and Kyrah were unconsolable. Treven handed her up to me after I had mounted Landon, and she just clung to me and sobbed. I thought my heart would break right along with hers.

"You can write to each other," I said, trying to comfort her.

"I don't know how to write!" Lucia wailed.

"Neither do I," Kyrah echoed, clinging to her mother.

"Well," Elspeth said, "the sooner you learn, the sooner you can write to each other."

Both girls stopped crying long enough to consider this. They looked at each other for a long moment, and then Kyrah turned to Elspeth and said, in a very grown-up tone of voice,

"I would like to start lessons today, Mother."

"Me, too!" Lucia exclaimed.

Elspeth and I tried to hide our smiles as we assured our daughters that they would be taught as soon as possible. For Lucia, it would not be until we arrived at the estates, but I promised her that until she learned, I would be happy to write for her.

That crisis over, there was nothing left but to leave. Treven mounted Althea, and looked over at me. "All set?"

I nodded. "I guess so." I quelled a bit of anxiety that threatened to rise up in me. While I didn't consider Haven my home, I was certainly much more comfortable there than anywhere else. But I was always like that when going to new places. The feeling would soon pass as I became accustomed to my new surroundings.

Treven and Althea took the lead.

We were off.