Disclaimer: Valdemar, Velgarth, Heralds, et. al. belong to M. Lackey. I am merely borrowing and playing with their lives.

Chapter 13 Heralds shouldn't wear Black

I knew I was getting odd looks from people who saw us go through the streets of Haven. After all Heralds wore white right? This was a constant in their world, something that could be counted on.

So, why, was this red head, riding what could only be a Companion, wearing black?

Oh, they didn't ask the question out loud but I could just about see it popping out of their minds. Hells, if I'd been one of them, I would've been asking the same thing.

Kelath, riding his Companion, was ahead of myself and whatever-her-name-was, when we got to the South gate of the city.

The Guard simply waved us through, after giving me an assessing look, of course. After all, wearing all black and riding a Companion. Not exactly daily occurrences. I hate being stared at.

Once free of the city traffic, including the traffic going into the city, the Companions picked up the pace, their hoof beats matching perfectly. I'm absolutely sure they weren't doing it on purpose. And the neck arching and looking like they were on parade? Completely coincidental.

I was studying the maps given to me by someone or another. I'd forgotten who. My saddle bags were packed with my change of clothes for when we got closer to the border. After all, Rethwellan and wherever else we were passing through wouldn't recognise me as a Herald. Kelath had changes of clothes as well. I wasn't sure he'd actually wear the clothing.

I blinked, hearing my name. "Huh?" I asked, looking around. Like there were lots of people of around. Yep, huge crowds of them. If two talking horses and another human counted as huge crowds. Observant. That's me.

Kelath cleared his throat. I noticed his reins were lying a bit slack against his Companion's neck. "I… wanted to apologise." He said slowly. His stallion snorted, rolling one sapphire eye back to look at him. Kelath frowned down at his partner. "Humbly apologise for trying to hurt you." He said, sounding anything but humble.

I snorted and turned back to my map. I wasn't going to make it easy on him. When his voice came again, he sounded like he'd lost an argument. Glancing at the rather smug looking stallion, I guessed he had.

"I really am sorry, Miss Jakeson." There was a creaking of leather, but I didn't look at him. "I had no call to blame you for anything. As my Companion has pointed out, you're probably more lost than I am."

I made a mental note that I owed that Companion a treat. Maybe having an external conscience was a good thing to have. Idly, I wondered if Kelath had been kicked.

What a wonderful image that was! I sat and savoured it. It kept replaying like a sports reel. So lost was I in the niceness of that image that it took my Companion stopping and bucking before I realised that reality was still going on around me. I have a one track mind at times.

"What?" I looked down at the mare. There was a huffing out of her sides as she began moving again. "What!" I asked, looking completely confused.

"As I was saying," Kelath sounded like he was repeating himself. Oops. "I had no cause to blame you, and hope you can accept my apology."

I stared at him. A headache was beginning to build behind my eyes. This man just had not asked me to accept his apology. He couldn't have. It just… didn't make sense.

Of course, I could accept his apology and not forgive him. Devious. I liked it. I looked at him, allowing the Companion to go about her business. After all, she probably knew more about what was going on than I did. "Apology accepted." I said, nodding once. Turning my attention back to the maps, I decided ignoring him was best.

—Remember I said I was observant? I wish to reiterate that fact.—

It took Kelath dragging me out of the saddle before I realised that the Companions had not only stopped, but had stopped in front of an Inn that smelled like there was food to be had. My stomach was telling me of its neglect.

Kelath gave me an amused look. "Herranna and Griff would like to go get something to eat. As would I. Care to join me?"

I stared at him for a moment, not comprehending. "Food? Oh. Right." I finally managed. I straightened myself up, and looked as Kelath headed into the Inn. Herranna, I assumed that was the mare's name, apparently got tired of me standing and looking silly, because she brushed right past me, almost knocking me over.

That had better not have been a smile I saw twitching Kelath's mouth. I accepted his apology, forgiveness was a long way off. Laughing at me? Not the best way to get it. He seemed to notice my glaring, and quickly opened the door to the Inn, waving me inside.

Not a chance! I waved for him to go first. I didn't know what I was doing. I mean, I've just spent the last half-year in Haven, surrounded by nobles, Heralds and Important People. And somehow, I didn't think my redneck tendencies would go over very well here.

Once inside the smoky room, and after having drawn every single stare in the place, we got our meal. I have to say it wasn't the greatest food. But it was filling, it was hot, and it did stop my stomach from gnawing on my backbone. All very important things in my mind.

The sacks of pastries (something I hadn't expected to see outside of Haven) that went with us, went a long way in redeeming road travel in my mind.

Sweet tooth? Nope. Sweet teeth. Sweets had always been my downfall. Which made it nice that I was so active. Pastries and the like tend to stick to the hips.

• • •

The road was boring. Mainly because there wasn't anyone to talk to. Herranna, as I'd finally been informed my Companion's name was, wasn't inclined to chatter. Although, I'd have sworn she was talking with Griff, because there were several times she acted like she was laughing.

Kelath was silent as well. Griff, well, him I didn't exactly expect to talk to me. After all, he had a Herald. So, silence from him was to be expected. Still, I was bored. Very bored. Extremely bored. Bored to the point of counting leaves as we passed under trees, bored.

If that wasn't bored, I don't know what was.

Had I brought anything to keep my hands busy? No. Wood carving on horseback, even Companion-back, wasn't a good idea. And even sanding carvings would have been hard. It wasn't that Herranna's gait wasn't smooth —it was— it was just that, I didn't have anything to keep my hands occupied. Or my mind. Meaning, I was B-O-R-E-D. Bored.

:You are also loud,: a voice said in my mind.

I almost fell out of the saddle. And I yelped. Scrambling to grab at the silvery mane in front of me, I felt Herranna wince and compensate for my very bad riding.

"Something wrong?" Kelath asked, concerned as he and Griff stopped, waiting for Herranna and I.

"Who was that!" I demanded. Yes, I actually did have a brain; it just wasn't functioning very well.

"Who was what?" Kelath asked, confused.

:That would be me.: A rather sour voice told me. :And you owe me a rubdown this evening. That hurt!: Herranna turned back to look at me. :I thought you could ride.:

"I can!" I yelped indignantly. "I'm just not used to the horse talking to me is all." Big mistake.

:Horse!: Herranna yelled. :Horse!: She managed indignant much better than I did. She also locked her legs and stopped in the middle of the road, throwing me against the cantle of the saddle. :Who are you calling a horse?: She flared at me.

Damn. I knew I'd forgotten something. "Uh. Sorry?" I offered tentatively, as Kelath looked between Heranna and I completely confused. They'd ridden ahead a bit and couldn't hear what was going on. The fact that his own Companion was wheezing in what could only be laughter wasn't helping matters. Or maybe I should say Kelath couldn't tell what was going on.

Herranna snorted and looked down at me along her nose. I'm not quite sure how she managed that. Considering I was sitting on her back and all. :Damn right you're sorry!: She said, picking up an easy trot.

I sighed in relief. At least she wasn't going to punish my rear end and back with a nasty gait. "I didn't mean to insult you," I said. "It's just well… you are horse-shaped." I offered lamely.

I hated being off balance again. I'd finally got my feet back underneath me, so to speak, and she'd come along and yanked the rug. Not nice at all.

She snorted again, passing Kelath and Griff. :Really? I'd hadn't noticed.: That dry of a voice could've absorbed every rain drop that had fallen all winter long and still have been drier than a desert.

I frowned at her ears. "Now you're just being a smart ass." I said sourly. I could feel Kelath staring at me. Apparently, he hadn't heard of UnBonded people insulting Companions. Trailblazer! That's me.

Herranna, however, seemed to curve her neck just a bit more, her gait just getting a bit smoother. :I'm glad someone noticed. Sarcasm seems to be a lost art.:

Now that I could readily agree with! And did. "It's a dying art. It's up to artisans such as ourselves to keep it alive." I said seriously.

:Absolutely!: She agreed, whole heartedly. Her steps seemed to bounce. :I have to say though, we'll probably end up blunting ourselves on this trip. Kelath and Griff are a bit thick.: She said sadly.

"Really?" I asked, widening my eyes for our travelling partners' benefits. "That's a shame. Maybe we can thin them out a bit?"

Herranna glanced over at Griff and Kelath. Then she twitched her hide in what I assumed was a shrug. :The trip isn't going to be that long is it?: She asked, innocently.

I grimaced. "Long enough. But hopefully not that long. Still, beggars can't be choosers." I reminded her.

Herranna made a long dramatic sigh. :And right now we are the beggars.: An obvious look at Kelath and Griff. :And the pickings are extremely slim.:

Somehow, this trip was shaping up a bit better than I'd assumed.

• • •

Fate liked messing with me. Really. There was a Fate somewhere that was laughing so hard that they widdled themselves. I was utterly convinced of this.

After that first day of pretty weather, and good travelling, it all went downhill. The skies became grey, and they tinkled on us. Coldly. Persistently. Non stop. For days.

After the first day, Kelath and Griff began to ignore Herranna and I. We griped. We snarked. We made death threats at various deities who need to stop the bloody rain and dry us out. And we never. Shut. Up.

I had it better than 'Ranna. At least my legs weren't frozen and covered in mud. Plus, I didn't have to slog through the mess that the roads became. Hence, I made sure she got cleaned off and was completely pristine every single night before I went and dried myself out. Kelath did the same too, but 'Ranna was prettier than Griff. For some reason, she never argued with me when I said that.

Funny huh?

By the time we reached the border with Menmellith, we were sick of rain, mud, water and clouds. I'm pretty sure Kelath felt the same way. But he was quiet about it, so I didn't really know.

Of course, once we got to Menmellith, there were mountains to deal with. Now, mountains and rain aren't generally a good combination. There were floods, washed out roads, hock deep water and uncertain footing to deal with. I had never respected Gating more. If only….

Still, the Storms didn't allow for that. So, we were stuck with simple walking. Well, riding. 'Ranna was the one doing all the walking.

We got to one hostel in a small mountain town. After settling our Companions and checking in, both Griff and 'Ranna informed the pair of us we were staying here. For at least three days. They were tired, sore and not moving from the warm stable for at least that long.

It was our first morning there that we realised our purses were gone. Oh. Shit.