I was toying with the idea, and I think I'll do it. He needs to be pulled in another direction as well, besides it's fun to mess with this. (Evil laughter in the background). By the way the last chapter was supposed to be boring, a taste of what he has to live with.
Ch 9 A Mare of Another Sort
Van finally fell into a workable routine one that gave him a few minutes to himself here and there, it helped that his father had finally sent him the funds he needed to buy a building. He found one on the edge of a good neighborhood, a little into the section where the craft guildsmen lived and worked. It gave him a little comfort to be there and it weeded out some of the demands on his time. If he wasn't as accessible they only brought him the important stuff.
Well mostly, he thought to himself with an inward chuckle as he read a letter in his new office. He shook his head at it. The things people consider important he thought to himself. One of the minor nobles was planning to travel with a trade caravan to Kata'shin'a'in and wanted him to arrange lodging with Jkathan nobles along the way for his comfort. Van shook his head, he wasn't the man's personal travel agent. He put the letter in the pile rejection letters, he would write an answer later.
He stood from his desk and stretched, I need some fresh air he thought. He had come to his office right after breakfast and it was almost lunch now. Walking quickly so he couldn't be stopped he left the building and started walking down the street taking random turns as the mood struck him. He enjoyed himself looking at the buildings and people as he walked, he had grabbed a bag he kept in his office before leaving and he found a good spot in the marketplace and pulled out his sketching materials. Sometimes a man had to grab some time for himself.
He was so intent on the scene he was sketching he didn't notice the disturbance until something large and white blocked his view. Irritated at the interruption he looked up and was caught in blue eyes.
:I'm Deanna and I choose you: a voice and a wash of love and acceptance filled his mind.
"Huh" he mumbled a little confused.
:You are my chosen: she said in a reasonable tone.
"You can't choose me, I'm an ambassador to a foreign land" he said.
:You are my chosen: she said, her tone strong.
"Oh" he shook his head, He didn't really want to lose her, he only worried about the problems this would cause. "I wonder what everyone is going to say" he said quietly thinking about his father, he didn't deal well when his plans fell through.
:Everything will work out: she said nuzzling him.
:I like my ears scratched: she said, and he obliged not in any hurry to go back just yet.
"She what" Selenay choked out.
:Deanna chose the Jkathan ambassador: her companion said.
She shook her head, she was riding Cayro. They always made time to do that at least once a day. "Why would she do such a thing, he's working for another government" she said bemused.
:Why do any of us choose, he was for her: she said as she walked down the paths.
"What's going to happen now" she asked.
:It's probably up to Lord Neman and his king: she said.
"He needs to enter the collegeum in any case" she mused, wondering at this latest turn of events.
Finally, Van decided it was time to go back to his embassy, he looked at Deanna and decided not to mount, he had the feeling that he would end up at the palace instead of the embassy if he did, she caught the edge of his thought and sent :Chosen we need to go to the collegeum:.
"Not yet, I'm not one of the youngster's usually chosen, it can wait until I've taken care of my business. There are other's relying on me" he said, watching her.
He felt her surprise, but she only nodded and followed him to the Embassy. He frowned looking at the building. "This used to be an Inn and there is a stable in the back" he said. "We haven't done anything with it though, I'm not sure what condition it's in".
:I'm sure it will be fine for now: she said.
They walked around the building and looked into the stable, not as bad as I thought, he thought to himself. It still had hay and everything was clean he looked up to her "I'll send someone for grain and a treat and maybe supplies, if you're going to stay here I want you to be comfortable" he said.
:But we'll be staying at the collegeum: she said.
He shook his head "I can't, I'm still an ambassador, at least until father gets around to replacing me" he said.
:I guess I can see that: she sent doubtfully, then added :but you need to take classes:
"Agreed" he said nodding.
It didn't take long to set things in motion, he hired a stable boy and supplies for Deanna and set everything to be put on hold for a couple of days so he had time to work everything out. He sighed, just as he had been adapting to being an ambassador this had to happen. :You're not mad, are you: his companion sent to him.
:No, not mad: he thought back with a wave of love for her, he couldn't imagine life without her now. He smiled at the return of his love and turned back to his preparations.
He rode her to the palace gates a little apprehensive about how they would receive him.
:You are my chosen: she said as if that would smooth everything over.
"Life isn't that easy" he said back to her, he spoke aloud, still unused to speaking the silent way she did, though he had found he could do so. He laughed at himself, it wouldn't have been good not to be able to talk to her.
:Not all Heralds have strong mindspeach, the Queens own has only empathy herself, she can't actually speak to Rolan: she said to him.
"Is that what you call it, mindspeach" he asked, it wasn't well known where he came from, true magic was more likely to be recognized and trained.
:Yes, I can feel it strongly in you: she paused and he could feel her thinking. :You have a touch of empathy too, you've been using it in your work:
"I have" he asked surprised.
She nodded and added :I think it's mostly instinct for you, you do have shields of a sort too:
"What else do I have, I know I don't have any mage gift, it's something they test for where I come from, my family doesn't usually carry that gift, though it's been known to happen" he said thinking of his brother Sendle.
He felt her surprise :If you're descended from Vanyel, and I've been told you were, it's strange you wouldn't carry his gift:
"We never really did, not even in the time he lived" he said, breaking off as they came to the gate. She didn't have the chance to answer him at that time.
A guard was waiting for him as he entered the gate "The Queen wishes to speak with you" he said.
Van watched Deanna follow a servant to the stables feeling a little lost.
:I'm still with you: she said, and he turned to follow the guard his heart warming with the thought.
He closed the door behind him and turned to see the Queen seated and watching him, he gave her the same degree of bow that he had given her before, and she sighed.
"This doesn't change the way I've been doing things, not in any way that matters" he said quietly. "I'm still an ambassador, and will continue to be until I hear otherwise".
She nodded and said "Then we have a bit of a problem".
He smiled at the understatement "I wasn't able to talk her out of choosing me".
"We never can" she said watching him thoughtfully. "You'll have to get training" she added after a bit.
"So I've heard" he said. "I'm planning to write a letter to be sent by special messenger to my Father after I make the arrangements that needed to be made here, I'm also staying at my Embassy" he added.
"You'll need to wear Greys" she said.
"I can do that" he said.
After his meeting with the Queen he went to the Dean and got a schedule of classes he needed to take, it took much more time than such things normally took, because he had to work around his schedule as Jkathan Ambassador.
Finally he was able to go to the stable with a bag of the books and his new uniforms. Deanna was waiting for him, already outfitted with her tack. He mounted and rode to the gate and his Embassy. Next he would have to write the letter to his Father, a prospect that had him in knots of worry. He had no idea how his Father would take this new turn of events
