I wanted to answer the person who asked about Vandoryn's origins, Vanyel never had any legitimate children, however he did help friends who couldn't have children. The Valdemaran royal family is a descendant of one of these children. Van is descendant of another. For a little more information check my profile page.

Chapter 6 His Father's Reach

When he finally escaped from Lady Herent he went back to his rooms to gather some supplies, if he was out painting she wouldn't be able to find him as easily.

He made his way back to Companion's field, but this time the Companions were not alone. There was a class of some kind. Van sighed, he had been hoping for some uninterrupted time for sketching. He was about to leave when one of the young riders spotted him. "Van" he called, heads turned and those of the group not currently riding came over to where he was standing near the fence. "You're the Artist" one of the girls said.

"Yes I am" Van answered.

"You draw companion's" another asked.

Van nodded "Look, I'm interrupting your class, I could come back later".

The instructor rode over to the group gathered around Vandoryn "What's going on here" she asked annoyance clear in her voice.

"This is the one who draws Companions" one of the boys said.

"Did you have to show up during class" she asked ruefully.

"I could come back later, I wasn't trying to disrupt your class" he said.

"Don't bother we're almost done anyway" she said. She looked at him "Just keep out of the way" she added.

She urged the trainee's back to the rest of the class. Van climbed the fence to sit and watch. Occasionally one of the students would dart a glance in his direction and he knew that as soon as class was over he would be mobbed again. He was considering leaving when he saw someone approaching his position on the fence. It was one of the Jkathan party. He sighed, he had hoped he wouldn't be recognized. He should have known better, he looked too much like his father, perhaps if he had looked like his younger brother Jerminy he could have been able to do so. He figured that as soon as they realized he was from Jkatha they would have a very good guess to who he was.

"Lord Vandoryn" the man asked.

He nodded wearily.

"I thought so when I saw you the other day" he said. "My name's Garathan, I'm with the Jkathan trade delegation. Are you here to act as Jkathan Ambassador".

"No, I'm simply here as an artist" he answered hoping the other would leave before the class finished.

"I had heard you painted" he said. Van winced, nothing like being damned with faint praise.

He looked at Van again "You must have some influence here to be in the palace, perhaps you could smooth things out for us here".

Van shuddered, he came here to escape the family business, not to be dragged into it here "Maybe" was all he answered. He was enough of his father's son to leave it at that.

Garathan nodded, he thought that Van would do what he could.

As he walked away the trainee's class ended and they streamed towards him, he sighed. He had the feeling it would be some time before he would be painting.

"My Lady" the man said in the hall. Lady Herent looked up from the notes she had been reading as she walked to the next meeting. It was one of the Jkathans she had seen when she and Vandoryn had come to the palace.

"Do I know you" she asked the man.

"We haven't met but I have a letter for you from Lord Neman" he said, handing her a packet of paper's.

"Oh, thank you" she said to the man.

He continued to walk with her and she gave him a puzzled look. "I've been instructed to give you any help you might need" he said to her.

"I think I can handle it, if I need you I know where to find you" she said dismissing the man, he nodded and turned down the next corridor, leaving her alone with her thoughts as she glanced at the letter in her hand.

Once she was back in her rooms after her meeting, she opened the letter. She had heard of Lord Neman through her contacts. He was highly involved in Jkathan diplomacy. It seemed to be his family's business, they had been working for their crown in this manner for at least two hundred years. She read silently, stiffening as she realized what the letter was saying.

"Oh my" she said out loud. Vandoryn was Lord Neman's son. That explained a lot, she had been aware that he must have had noble blood. His bearing and manners could come from nowhere else. She shook her head. Poor Van she thought to herself as she thought about the implications of the letter, she knew that he only wished to work as an artist. A quiet life was all he aspired to, but the letter changed everything. She would have to give him some warning.

After escaping his admirers Van walked in Companion's field. He found some trees for privacy and tried to think about the implications of being approached by Garathan. He brooded going over the encounter in his mind, he had a very bad feeling about this, it had the feel of his father about it. He sat there thinking for a couple of candlemarks before giving it up, he didn't have enough information yet. But he would keep his eyes open.

:You are too much like Van:

He looked up surprised. Sayvil had walked up unnoticed while he had been thinking "What do you mean" he asked.

:He would go off alone to brood when something bothered him too:

"How would you know that" Van asked.

She just snorted not answering his question. It was comforting to have her here. She sat near him and he reached out to scratch her as he sat finally relaxing for the first time today. He had the oddest feeling that she took comfort from his presence too.