I'm sorry I seem to keep ending chapters at an interesting point, the story just seems to be writing itself this way. If it helps, the next chapter will be longer and I have a lot of interesting things planned for it.

Ch 5 Looking for evil

Dorian followed the herald down the hall, eventually they came to a door to the outside. And he continued across the grass towards the Salle. As they neared Dorian heard the faint sound of weapons play. The closer they came the tenser Dorian became.

Alberich, he couldn't believe he was actually going to have to talk to him. The older boys told horror stories about him to the younger classes. And while in his head, Dorian knew a herald wouldn't do those things, in his heart he wondered. He was actually shaking a bit as they entered the door.

Lorrin turned to glance at him as they went through the door "You don't have to worry" he said. "Alberich is a herald, he wouldn't harm you".

Dorian nodded, but he was still nervous as they skirted the various groups that were sparing, those not actually engaged looked at them curiously. He was surprised to see some that were his own age. He had never actually been here himself having a weaponsmaster at home who had been teaching him.

He smiled a little at the thought of what the man had been teaching him, he had found most of the others in his classes were being taught for the duel, but his father had been in the guard at one time and had little patience for that mode of fighting. He insisted that his children learned real weapons work and had hired a man who had fought in a real war.

Even Lorilyn had been taught the use of a sword and knife work. He frowned wondering why they hadn't been sent here yet, he knew he had a lot more to learn. He would have to ask his father when he saw him next.

Dorian looked up startled from his thoughts, they were passing the largest mirrors he had ever seen. He paused a moment in awe before running to catch up with Lorrin.

He heard a shout and looked at it's source. His eyes widened in horror before his training kicked in and he dropped rolling away from the combatants, he came to his feet holding a bit of practice armor as a shield.

"Halt" a voice shouted and the two fighter's stopped instantly.

Dorian stood there feeling foolish as a tall man with a scarred face walked up to them.

"Too near the mirrors you are" he said in a forbidding tone.

The two flushed and stepped back to the spot where they had started their bout.

He turned to Dorian and frowned slightly "Training you've had" he asked.

Dorian gulped and nodded "Yes sir" he realized with a sinking feeling in his stomach that this must be Alberich.

"Good, joining us again you must" he said.

Dorian nodded relieved, if his father had any objection to the training he wouldn't nay say Alberich's word. Dorian knew that his father greatly admired him, that was one of the reasons he didn't fully believe the stories the other boys told.

"We're not here now to train" Lorril's voice intruded. "We came to talk to you privately".

Alberich nodded and Dorian almost caught the edge of a thought and realized that they were having another conversation nobody else could hear. He flushed at the look Alberich gave him, he really wasn't trying to eavesdrop. Alberich waved them onto a door at the back of the Salle before turning back to the two who had come too close to the mirror. Dorian followed Lorril quickly.

Once they entered what had to be Alberich's quarters, Dorian looked down at his hand. He was still holding the armor. He walked over to a table by the fireplace and set it down, not knowing what else to do with it. Wandering the room he looked closely at his surroundings, the others would never believe him if he told them he had been in Alberich's quarters.

When he came to the window, he stared never having seen anything like this before. "Wow" he whispered.

"Impressive isn't it" Lorril asked from his chair near the table.

Dorian nodded "It's beautiful".

The rich color of the glass glowed in the afternoon light, Dorian sighed, he couldn't believe anything so beautiful could be hidden like this. It should be out where everyone could see it. He turned at the sound from the doorway.

"Looking to talk you are" Alberich asked Lorril.

Lorril nodded "I have a young man who came to me to be tested for a gift, he isn't chosen, but he had been having disturbing dreams" he looked directly at Alberich before adding. "Dreams of the one who killed those three young women".

"Continue" Alberich said softly, his whole attention on the other Herald.

"It appears that he has Mindspeech and a bit of empathy among other things, I looked at his memory of his dreams and it looks to ring true with what I know of the three murders. I came to you because you are involved with the investigation"he said.

"Wise you were to bring this to me" Alberich said. He turned to Dorian. "This is the boy" .

Lorril nodded "This is Dorian, his family is here for court this summer".

"Noble you are" Alberich asked the boy.

Dorian nodded "My father is Lord Sedren".

"Wishing to look at your memories I am" Alberich said looking at his face.

Dorian nodded and took a seat. Trying to relax as Alberich continued to watch, he lowered the shields Lorril had taught him to build. He took a deep breath and looked at Alberich "I'm ready" he said.

Alberich walked over to his chair and put one hand on his shoulder, then Dorian felt the now familiar sensation of another mind within his.

A short time later Alberich sighed as he disengaged from Dorian's mind "True the connection is" he said. Alberich turned to the other Herald. "Your thought on this" he asked carefully, knowing the other Herald was an expert on mindspeech and the related gifts.

"I think he knows the killer" Dorian stiffened and opened his mouth to deny that but Lorril held his hand for quiet. He turned to Dorian "I don't mean you know who it is, I think it's a matter of it being someone you have contact with. Someone you have something in common with".

Dorian shook his head "I can't think of anyone I know who could do such a thing, the way he thinks, it isn't natural" he shivered at what he remembered of the killer's thoughts and emotions.

"To go over your life we must" Alberich said.

Lorril nodded "I agree" he said. He paused a moment as a thought came to him "Dorian could be in danger now, if the killer finds out we have someone who is tapping into his mind he will want to stop him. We have to find a way for Dorian to help without being obvious".

"I'd have to come here for lessons wouldn't I" Dorian asked.

"A good idea, he has" Alberich said looking at Dorian.

As Dorian walked back home he wondered what he was getting himself into.

That night at supper Dorian waited until Lorilyn finished talking about the latest gossip at court before getting his father's attention. "I saw Alberich today, he wanted me to start weapons training"Dorian said.

"He asked you himself" his father asked.

Dorian nodded.

"Then we will have to rearrange your classes to accommodate him" his father smiled. "It's a great honor to be taught by such a man. I expect you to give him your respect and obedience, if I hear you are giving him any trouble you will have to answer to me" his father said sternly.

Dorian nodded stifling the urge to laugh nervously, now he had a reason to work with Alberich "Yes sir" he said softly.

The next three weeks passed in a blur as he adjusted to his new schedule. One day as he was heading to weapons practice he was stopped by Gareth.

"Heyla Dorian, Lorril has asked me to bring you to his office" he said.

Dorian nodded and turned to go, he knew if Lorrin was asking for him, the delay to his class was expected by Alberich.

Lorril looked up from his desk when Dorian entered the doorway. "Greetings" he smiled at Dorian.

Once Dorian was seated Lorril had a more serious look on his face "We only have another week to prepare" he said.

"I know" Dorian replied.

"Alberich and I have been going down the list you provided for us, we have also been looking at all the places you frequent and your household and staff, but we haven't had much luck yet" he shook his head. "Nothing stands out".

"I can't think of anything else" Dorian said in a subdued tone.

"I know you're doing the best you can" he said. "Now, we need to go into your training, have you been doing the exercises I gave you".

Dorian nodded.

"Then we can begin" Lorril said as they began the lesson.