Chapter 11 A New Worry

Dorian followed Alberich as he walked quickly back to the palace. He wondered who Alberich was taking him to meet. Eventually they came to an Inn that Dorian hadn't seen before and he followed him back to the stables where Kantor, Alberichs Companion waited for them.

Alberich motioned for him to stay where he was and disappeared into the Inn to return later dressed in his whites. When he had first seen him without them Dorian had been a little surprised, but then he thought about it. It made sense to him, there were things the queen had to know that a Herald in uniform would never be able to learn and who better than a Herald, someone totally trustworthy, to learn these things in whatever way they could.

Dorian watched him thoughtfully as he mounted and leaned down holding an arm out to him. Reaching out to grip his arm, Dorian found himself in the saddle behind Alberich. They were on their way before he could blink.

:Kantor, what do you think about the link the boy has:

:It doesn't feel natural, it has a taint of something to it: his Companion replied.

:That's the feeling I've gotten. I want to take him to Sejanes, Tremanes mage: he sent.

:I think that's a good idea, if there is anything of magic to it. He would find it:

Alberich nodded and fell silent.

Dorian knew that they were talking, he couldn't hear the Companion, but he felt the edges of Alberichs sending. These last weeks he had become more sensitive as he used his gifts more. Now he had to keep his shields up at all times or he would have been bombarded with the thoughts of even the untalented.

He sighed, he just wished this thing was over with and his bond with the madman gone. Why me? He thought again, what had he done for this to happen, but then without the bond, Lori would have been in incredible danger with no warning. So perhaps the bond was a good thing, he could put up with it if it meant her safety.

:Gaven: he called feeling a little lonely.

:Yes Chosen:

:We are heading back to the palace, Alberich wants me to meet someone there:

He felt a hint of something from his Companion and he realized that through his actions, he had endangered them both.

:I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gone off after the killer alone:

:No, you shouldn't have:

He sighed :Next time, you'll come with me:

:Yes, we belong together. How can I protect you if I'm not there. I don't think you are a match for him. Not alone:

He smiled slightly at Gaven's tirade :I'll be good I promise:

:You do that:

They approached the gate and were waved through.

After Alberich took off Kantors tack and brushed him, Dorian followed Alberich through the halls, he wasn't familiar with this section off the palace. It was where many of the foreign Envoys had their rooms. He sighed as they finally came to an door and Alberich knocked.

He was a little concerned about who Alberich wanted him to talk to, he still hadn't told him a thing. The man who opened the door wasn't what Dorian expected. He was an elderly man with a kind face. He looked up at Alberich and stepped back opening the door to allow them in.

"Welcome, I have some tea if you'd like to join me" he said. He waited to see why they had come.

"Staying here long we are not, a question I have" Alberich said absently as he turned and urged Dorian into the room.

"Why don't you have some tea while we talk?" The man asked.

Dorian smiled back at the older man and sat in the seat the other man pulled out for him. Alberich sighed and sat as well, they were quiet at the man poured them each a cup and gestured towards a plate of pastry's. Dorian glanced towards Alberich before taking one.

"So, what has brought you to visit me?" the man asked with a pointed look.

"The Murders you've been hearing of?" Alberich asked.

"Yes, They've been bothering me. It has the feel of a ritual to me. At least the little I've heard about it. I think the guards are holding back many of the details" he said, sitting back and folding his hands.

"I dream what the killers sees" Dorian burst out.

"Hmm, when did this start?" he asked.

Dorian looked to Alberich at his nod he continued "Right after the first murder, I think I actually dreamed some of it" he said with a shudder.

"Interesting" the man said, he watched Dorian carefully with a particular expression. Dorian felt like he could see more than the surface, but it didn't feel like mindspeach, he wasn't really sure what the man was doing, but he had the feeling it was why Alberich had brought him here.

'Ahh, just as I thought" The older man said.

"what!" Dorian burst out.

"You have the taint of blood magic on you, but I feel no mage gift in you" he said with a frown.

"Nor will you, Chosen he is" Alberich said.

"Ah, then you wouldn't be the mage" he said.

"Why is that?" Dorian asked, confused.

"To use blood magic, one harvests the power from pain and death or the spilling of blood" he said.

"Oh, that's what I felt. The power, he craves it. I didn't understand before" Dorian said thoughtfully.

"Interesting, you shouldn't even be feeling the power at all even with a bond."

"I don't directly, but I'm in his mind and I feel it through him" Dorian said hugging himself.

"Hmm, I wish I knew more about mindmagic, we really have little experience with that in the Empire. This is truly fascinating" he said leaning towards the boy.

"Can it broken be?" Alberich asked harshly.

"I would say yes, except that the boy has a mindgift and I'm guessing that the bond has been growing. What happens when a bond of the mind is broken?" The mage asked.

Alberich looked grim "Nothing good, it will the boy hurt. It seems that to kill the mage we must not."

Dorian gulped then took a deep breath "If it stops him do it, I'll just have to live with it."

Alberich frowned "If avoid we can, we will."

"That's the trick of it" the other man said.

"Now that it appears you will be needing me, perhaps introductions are in order" the man said.

Dorian nodded.