Chapter 12 Painted into a Corner

Van stopped in shock when he caught sight of the man standing near the window. "Father?" he gasped.

A figure much like his turned and he saw a face that looked like an older version of his.

Lord Neman looked into the eyes of his son and sighed. Of all his children, Vandoryn looked the most like him. It was a pity that they didn't share the same aptitude for intrigue. Yes, the boy had the talent for it, but he was a little too ethical for the kind of work the family specialized in.

"Hello son, It seems that you have gotten yourself into a bit of a predicament" he said.

Van sighed "It couldn't be helped, you'll have to relieve me of my office now."

Lord Neman shook his head "You can't abandon your post, just turn down the office they have given you." he said frowning at the grey uniform his son wore.

Van shook his head "It doesn't work that way, I've been Chosen by Deanna. It can't be undone."

"Chosen?" his father looked confused.

Van looked at his father in surprise "You remember the family stories don't you? Of our ancestor Herald Vanyel? I've been Chosen by a Companion, I'm to be a Herald and thus belong to Valdemar now."

"Those were just stories Vandoryn, tales for children" his father said, pacing the floor.

Van laughed "Take a look at a painting they have of Vanyel and say that again. But part of the stories are definitely true; Once Chosen I belonged to Valdemar."

His father sighed and his shoulders slumped "Then I will have to replace you here."

"That would be wise" he said gently, a thread of excitement ran through him as he thought, I'm free, I'm really free.

Lord Neman looked up with a slight smile "You must be relieved, I know you never liked this work."

Van nodded "Yes, I know you knew that."

"I knew, but we can't always do as we wish. Once you had been here for a time, the man who had been slated to be Ambassador wasn't suitable after all and here you were, well established" he said to his son.

"Then you didn't plan it from the start?" Van asked.

Neman smiled a bitter little smile "No it was your cousin Gheris who was meant for here."

"What happened?" Van asked, a little shocked that one of his fathers plans had fallen through.

Neman frowned "He ran off with a Shin'a'in woman, they eloped and now they are living on the plains."

Van started, his cousin had been the one that was most likely to take over his fathers position after he died. His father saw his shocked look and laughed "Yes, one would think it was totally out of character, but Gheris had a wild streak that comes out from time to time."

Neman shook off his mood and turned to Vandoryn "Son, just where were you when I arrived last night anyway, I stayed at the embassy but you never came home."

Van blushed and looked at the floor "I've met someone, she's a Herald" he said quietly.

"It's about time, I was beginning to wonder about you." he looked up at his fathers words to see a smile upon his face.

"You don't mind?" he asked.

Neman laughed and shook his head "You are too well trained to let anyone sway you that way and you have been alone for too long, why would I mind?"

"Thank you" Van whispered, feeling a warmth drive away the cold dread that had filled him from the time he had seen his father here.

:I like him: Deanna said quietly in his mind.

:I'm glad, he isn't so bad. It's just the job he has, he needs to think about the larger picture: Van told her. He could see the larger picture himself, but it was the individuals that meant alot to him as well. He had always looked out for others and what was right. It had been a hard line to walk. A narrow path between what was needed and what was right.

:That's why I chose you: Deanna said, startling him.

He smiled slightly and looked up to see his father looking at him uncertainly.

"Deanna, my Companion said that she likes you" he laughed at the look on his fathers face.

"Didn't you listen to any of the stories? Companions are as smart as we are and they have a bond with their Chosen. I can talk to her mind to mind." A thought occurred to him. "Would you like to meet her?" he asked.

His father nodded cautiously.

"Good. We can go this afternoon after classes" Van said.

He sighed as he realized he was unlikely to see Charol again tonight. :Deanna:

:Yes:

:Could you pass on to Garin and Charol that I probably can't meet her tonight, tell her that my father is here:

:I already have: she said with a hint of amusement.

:Thank you: he really wished he hadn't had to cancel with her.

Charol walked towards Companions field, she at loose ends until her new assignment next week. She felt her spirits dip as she realized that she would be gone for months and she had just gotten together with Van. She felt a slight chill of fear as she realized he would find somebody else while she was gone. A man like him wouldn't want for companionship.

:Don't be silly, he cares for you, Chosen: Garin said with a hint of irritation.

She shook her head :He's hardly seen me at all, how could he care this quickly:

:Think about it, he didn't find anyone else but you since he's been here and that is with all the ladies of the court who've been throwing themselves at him: her Companion said.

She looked up to see Garin waiting for her by the fence. :At least I'll be seeing him tonight: she said, her heart lifting.

:I'm sorry, Deanna's told me he can't make it:

Was he already tired of her? The thought entered her mind before Garin continued.

:His father has come here to Haven, he's going to be busy with him for awhile:

:Oh, I see: she was surprised, it was hard to think of his family, she really wondered what his father was like. They knew so little about each other. She wished she could have seen him tonight, their time was short.

:Would a ride do: her Companion asked wistfully.

She hugged him and said :A ride will always do:

She jumped to his back and they wandered the Companions field together. She closed her eyes content for now to just be, later she would fret.

Some time later she started from her musings when Garin fell into a trot :What:

:I have a surprise for you: Garin said cryptically.

Soon they came to the fence where another Companion stood, It was Deanna she realized. Then she noticed the two men standing nearby. She knew instantly that the older one must be Vans father, he looked so much like him. Both of them looked up at her arrival and Vandoryn gave her a wide grin, she smiled back and they watched each other, almost forgetting his father and their Companions.

:Uh,Charol:

:Huh: she responded absently.

:You might want to greet his father, you don't want him to think you're lacking in manners now, do you:

She flushed and glanced at Vans father, he was watching them both with a slight smile on his face. It was eerie, she had seen the same expression on Vandoryns face the day that she had first met him.

"I'm sorry. Lord Neman is it?" she asked, still red from embarrassment.

He nodded gracefully and smiled "Don't worry about it, I approve."

She looked at Van in confusion and he smiled "I told him about us" he said quietly.

"Oh" she said not knowing what to say.

"You must join us for supper tonight, I would like to get to know the young lady who has captured my sons heart" Lord Neman said.

"I'd like that" she said softly, she didn't know how to tell him that he was wrong about that, her heart she knew. But Vans, she just wasn't sure about.

:Thank you: she said to Garin as she dismounted. She felt his amusement as he walked off into Companions field with Deanna.

:You're welcome: was his reply, then she was alone except for Van and his father. What now? She thought a little panicked.