Ch 2 From the Horses Mouth

Being that they had extensive stables at the palace, Vandoryn was able to take his own horse. After stowing his bags on Lady Herent's carriage, he pulled himself into his saddle. The black mare, of shin'a'in breeding had been the gift of his father.

Once he had become resigned to Van's determination to leave, he did everything he could to make sure he was fully outfitted. In fact if Van truly needed any help or money he had only to send for his father's help.

He was determined to make it on his own. Luckily for him he had found his current patron almost from the time he had arrived in Haven. Eventually he wanted to buy a house for his studio, and maybe to start teaching art.

First, he thought with a grin, I have to get more commissions. Maybe someone at the palace will see his work and want a painting or, he thought with a sigh, another mural.

He was starting to get tired of those, labor intensive, they took much of his time, at least with paintings, he could put them aside and do other projects. They did pay well, though. He broke off his musings as they came to the gate in the palace wall.

The guards were alert, but since they knew his patron there was no trouble entering the palace grounds. Once inside they had to move to one side to make way for an outgoing group.

He stiffened as he saw some of his countrymen waiting as well. He wondered what was going on. He saw the looks they snuck in his direction. Amused he wondered if the recognized him, if so, they were probably shocked to see him here.

There was no time for them to talk, once the departing group was gone they were waved on. He followed his patron's carriage, only looking back once to see the leader of the other men watching him openly.

At the door of the palace he dismounted and a servant helped Lady Herent from her carriage. She turned to him "Take what you need for sketching, I'll have the servants take our bags to our rooms".

She smiled "I know you want to get on with it, I'll send someone to get you when the light starts to fade". She turned to the servant "Vandoryn here isn't familiar with the palace grounds, could you have someone escort him to the companion's field".

The man nodded then she left on her errand, the efficient serpents whisked away carriage and horse and left him there, his bag at his feet.

Before Van had time to wonder, another servant came to his side "This way sir" she said. He sighed and followed her, noticing the sidelong glances she had been giving him. At least, he thought to himself, he knew it wasn't his money she was attracted to. There was no way anyone here knew who he was.

Soon they came to a fence enclosing an enormous field. "Is there anything else you need" the girl asked.

"Uh, no, I'm fine" he said distractedly not noticing her disappointed look as she turned to leave.

He assumed the white horses were companions and he wondered whether anyone was allowed to enter the field to get closer. He need to get a closer look to get the sketches he needed.

Though, he knew from the family stories that they weren't horses he was finally seeing some evidence of the fact. They didn't move like horses. There were no herds, instead small groups moved together and apart as they wished, it looked more like the dance of the court than any herd he had ever seen.

Well, he thought to himself, they can only tell me no. At least I can get a good look. He swung his bag over the fence carefully lowering it to the ground on the other side. Then he climbed over, and swung the bag back over his shoulder.

He walked over to the nearest group. Heads popped up watching him as he approached. "would you mind if I sketched you he asked". He grinned "I have a commission and she wants a companion in her garden".He knew he was probably being silly, but the stories said they were intelligent and if he were the one being sketched, he'd want to be asked.

Heads shook and some of the group came closer, watching carefully as he set up his easel. "Thanks" he said, setting up the folding stool and easel, then laying out the paints and charcoal sticks then opening the jar of water before pouring it into the cup he used for his brushes.

He reached into his bag and pulled out a sheet of paper, sketching almost as soon as he had it on the easel.

"Could you move that way" he asked one of the companion's, he obliged, and Van smiled his thanks. After the first candlemark he thought nothing of ordering them around as he would any model. He had to use the light, it would be fading soon and he needed to get as much done as he could.

:Van: a voice intruded on his concentration, "huh" he asked irritably. He felt a soft nose on the back of his neck and looked up into the blue eyes of one of the companions.

:You look like Vanyel: the voice breathed. He realized it was the companion talking to him. He was confused they only talked to their Herald, he wasn't a Herald.

Then he realized what she had said. "I'm told he was my ancestor" he said softly.

:I believe it, you could be him: she returned.

"Why are you talking to me don't companion's only talk to their Heralds" he asked.

:I do what I want, life is too short to go looking for my Herald every time I want to talk to someone: One of the other companions snorted and she shook her head at him.

"May I at least know your name" he asked.

:Sayvil, Kerowyn is my chosen:

"Kerowyn....oh the Mercenary" he said.

:Anything wrong with that: she asked annoyance coloring her "voice".

"No, of course not" he sighed as he realized that the light was gone, it was too dark to do any more watercolors or sketches. He started to pack. He noticed the small crowd of companions that had surrounded him had wandered off, leaving him with only Sayvil for company.

He noted her with his artists eye, cataloging everything that made her different from any other companion, he wanted to recognize her when, if he saw her again. Now that he wasn't caught up in his work he was aware of his hunger. "Say" he asked Sayvil "Do you know where a person can get anything to eat around here, I'm starving".

:Starving artist huh: she teased.

He grinned and followed her to a building. :This is where the trainee's eat, but I don't think they would mind if you joined them: She looked at him sideways :Unless she added, you want to eat at court:

"No" he said quickly "this is fine".

She nodded and walked back the way she had come.