- Chapter 10 -

The sound of Trainees moving about and an impatient shove finally woke Afiona.

:Mama?:  The small Companion, half draped with a blanket, stared at her.

:Afiona.:  She corrected as she struggled upright.

:Mama-Afi.:  The colt compromised.  :Hungry.:

He started lipping at her shirt, searching for milk.

:Can someone tell the mare from yesterday to meet us here?:  She broadcasted to all the Companions, hoping they would oblige.  "I need to find some formula for you Nico.  We can't keep taking milk from her foal."

Nico wasn't interested in where his meal came from, so long as he got it soon.

She used her Healing gift to check him over, other than a weaker than normal immune system and his small size he was fine.  So long as the weather was warm she could see no harm in taking him outside.

"Come on Nico.  Let's go find your meal."  She was still yawning as she stepped out of the stall.  Nico kept himself pressed close to her side as the Trainees and Heralds stopped to stare at her.

"How is he doing, Healer?"  The boy from last night asked.

"He is doing very well."  She assured him. 

He relaxed and smiled.  "I am glad to hear it.  What's his name?"

"Nicodimus, Nico for short, but at the moment he is best known as hungry."  She gave the boy a smile, hoping the experience wouldn't harm his self-confidence.  "You did the right thing coming to get me, there was nothing you could have done."

"What happened?"  The boy asked, his pale blue eyes serious.

"An artery tore, I don't know what caused it but it triggered her to go into labour early.  Which saved the foal." 

He nodded slowly.  "Why didn't she call for help?"

"She probably thought it was false labour.  Companions are prone to periods of false labour in their later months."

He nodded.  "Rania says she had false alarms three times before her filly was born."  The boy tilted his head to one side slightly, as if listening to something.  "The mare is coming, she'll be here in a moment."

"Oh, good.  I was worried I would have to go looking for her."  Afiona said with obvious relief.

Nico used the moment to see if her pant leg produced milk. 

"Sorry sweetie, there isn't any there."  She eased her pant leg from his mouth.

The colt looked up at her with some confusion.  :Mama-Afi, hungry!:

She stroked his neck as she continued to lead him outside.  :We'll find you some food then it is my turn.:

 As they stepped into the sun he stopped to blink up at the blue sky in awe.  :Big…:

:Big.:  She agreed.  She almost wept with gratitude when she saw the mare from the night before, followed by an older filly, approaching them.

Nico didn't need any further urging to nurse. 

Afiona took a moment to pull the straw out of her hair and to examine her clothing.  She had looked worse, she supposed.  Her clothes were wrinkled and falling off of her, one shoulder was actually bared by the massive collar of her shirt.

"Healer.  I am sorry I am late."  Herald Lance ran towards her, followed by his Companion.  "Is it really safe for him to be out here?"

"Yes.  I am stimulating his immune system as we speak."  She pulled up her collar.  "He is speaking today."

"To you?"

"I am an animal mindspeaker.  And I doubt anyone has told him not to speak to me."

"Care to join me for some breakfast?"  Lance offered.

Afiona turned to study him.  He was taller than her, with red-brown hair, he was not incredibly handsome like Stef, but he had an open, interesting face.  She liked him, she knew, given time, she could come to trust him.

"Just remember, Nico must come with me."  She warned.

"My room is on the ground floor and Nico is welcome to join us when he is done, or I can bring some food out here."

"I think out here would be better."  She gave him a smile.  "And I want a chance to change."

"I can watch him while you change if you like." 

"It won't work.  I have tended enough infant Companions to know he won't let his 'mama' out of his sight."

"What are you going to do?  Sleep in the stable till he's grown?"

"No, I can have him in my room.  I will remove my bed and bring in a larger mattress, which should do until he is older.  I have a door to a garden, it is rusted shut, but that is easily remedied."

"If you need any help, feel free to come to me."  Lance offered.  His sincerity obvious.

"It is still up to the Companions to teach him."  She reminded him.  "Could his father help?"

"His father left three days ago to search for his Chosen."

"So he won't have time when he returns."  Afiona crossed her arms and watched her new charge.  "He nurses about a year, right?"

"Carmia says that is about right."

"I can't ask her to nurse him that long.  I am sure I can find a suitable substitute soon.  Actually, I think I remember one in an old book."  Her eyes grew distant as she tried to remember what text she had seen it in.

Finally Nico was finished and he pranced back to his 'Mama-Afi'.

"Hey beautiful."  She smiled and knelt to rub his fuzzy nose.  "Want to see where we will live?"  She repeated the invitation with Mind speech

:Go with mama-Afi.:  He said happily.

She chuckled and stood.  "I can meet you at the bridged in half a candlemark or so if you like."

"What's so funny?"

"He calls me Mama-Afi."  She admitted.  "If I am late I am sure you can figure out why."

As she suspected, her curious adopted son was fascinated with the room, so long as his mama was close by.  He often hurried back to her, just to assure himself everything was alright.  The mere act of changing fascinated the little fellow, who wanted to be green too when he saw her don a robe.  Demon was confused by the interloper; horses were certainly not indoor creatures.  He didn't leave his spot on her bed but watched them both intently.

:He is my son.:  Afiona explained to her old friend.  Unable to find a better explanation the dog would understand.

:Son?  Not fit!:

Afiona laughed as Demon, who was familiar with how babies came out, tried to understand how she had birthed such a large baby.  :I chose him to be my son.  His mother is dead.:

Demon looked much more comfortable with the explanation.  :No mate?:

:No mate.:  She scratched his ears and watched Nico.  :Nico, time to go.:

:Go where?:  Nico looked up from his examination of the hearth.

She stood and headed for the door.  Nico eagerly followed her.  First, she had to tell the other Healers about Nico and she also had to see to having her bed changed to a stack of mattresses.  Thankfully she didn't need to go up any stairs to accomplish her tasks.

She had to stop Nico from burying his face in a vase of flowers as she waited to see her superior.  :Enough little one.:

Nico sighed and turned his attention back on his mama. 

:How about a story?:  She offered.  :Once there was a little Companion called Nico.:

:Nico!:  His ears perked up, recognizing his name.

:Yes, a Nico just like you.:  She marvelled at the maturity of the colt.  He was barely hours hold but he was already as aware as a toddler.  :This Nico loved pretty colors.:

Nico watched her intently, his entire being focused on the story. 

:One day Nico saw a magical creature, it was made of all the colors.  It was as big as his nose.:

:I have a nose!:  Nico said excitedly.

:Nico tried to sneak up on the pretty creature.  He stepped as quietly as a cat as he crept closer.  Sensing Nico, the small, colourful creature fluttered his wings and rose slow into the air.:

:What is it?:  Nico's limited patience ran out. 

:A butterfly.:  She sighed, glad she wouldn't have to figure out the end of the story.

:I want to see a butterfly!:

:Maybe later.:  She promised as the door opened.

"Healer Afiona."  As always, Healer Geina looked harried.  Her washed out blue eyes took in the tiny foal.  "A new patient?"

"Actually, he is why I needed to speak to you."  She stood and beckoned Nico to follow.  "His mother died last night.  He has decided I am his mother."

Geina looked down at the colt.  "And a Companion mare won't raise him?"

"Because he is smaller and his immune system is compromised it would be necessary for me to remain with him constantly already.  They have decided that I am a suitable surrogate mother for the time being.  I am going to need the door to the garden in my room opened and to have my bed removed and some large mattresses put in."

Geina chuckled softly.  "I have never heard of any Healer being asked to raise a Companion.  From the moment you joined us you have been undeniably unique.  I will have Tagin take over you students so you can raise your little fellow."

"Thank you."

"You are welcome, keep we apprised of your progress when you can."  Geina ordered.  "I want a record of what you do in case this happens again."

"I will.  I better get him outside soon, he just ate."  She scratched his ears.

"I hope you explain the difference between inside and outside to him soon."  Geina chuckled as she watched one of the most promising Healers in the Circle lead the small Companion from the room.  She often argued with Afiona about her choice not to tend humans.  Geina had no doubt that Afiona could easily be one of the most powerful Healers in Valdemar.  She didn't understand Afiona's reluctance but the Mindhealer that had spoken to her when she first arrived said it was highly unlikely she would ever be able to tend humans and counselled Geina to accept Afiona's choice.  A difficult proposition for a Healer who wanted all possible resources brought to bear for her patients.

Finally outside Afiona strolled slowly, letting Nico examine the world around him. 

She was genuinely surprised to find she was already in love with Nico.  For years she had doubted she was capable of the emotion.

Lance and his Companion were waiting at the bridge.  Of course it took Nico several minutes to examine the bridge. 

"I was about to come looking for you."  Lance admitted.

"He just had to examine everything we passed."  She smiled and accepted Lance's offered arm.

Lance's Companion paced next to Nico, her full attention on him.

"How is she dealing with her loss?"

"She misses her of course."  Lance glanced at his Companion.  "And she worried about her grandson of course."

"I won't let anything happen to him.  As we speak my room is being outfitted for him."

"I bet you never expected to become a mother when you came running to the rescue."

"You win that bet.  I love him already though."  She turned her attention on to Nico and smiled tenderly.

"That is obvious."  Lance tightened his grip on her arm making her look up at him.

"What?"

He smiled down at her.  "Carmia is teasing me.  She is saying I am infatuated with you."

"Are you?"

"Of course.  You are fascinating." 

"I am honored, but…"

"Don't worry, I am not trying to lure you into an affair."  Lance stopped in a small copse.  "Carmi pointed out that you are more in need of a friend.  Also, I am a teacher, I can probably help with Nico."

"Good."  She flashed him a genuine smile.  "I have the feeling I am going to need a babysitter soon enough."

Lance shook out a blanket as Nico ran back to his Mama-Afi's side.  "What's wrong?"

"He is just making sure I am still here."  She explained as Nico again hurried back to his Grandmother.  "He is a sweetheart."

Afiona helped him set out the cold breakfast.

They ate in almost silence for several minutes, watching the foal examine a clump of grass for a butterfly.

"Do you mind if I pry?"

"Better than trying to guess."  She shrugged.

"You said your family caused your scars."  He started.  "Why?  What happened?"

"My father was blood path mage, so long as I didn't die he was safe to do what ever he wanted.  He would make the cuts on my arms and legs for the Power he could raise.  It wasn't often, thank goodness, and he always saw to it that I was Healed afterwards.  But my brother was the worst.  At every chance he would beat me for the littlest things.  One day, when the Healer was patching me up yet again I decided not to answer him and he decided I had suffered from brain damage.  Not long after my family, except for my brother, died."

"What killed them?  A disease?"

"No, Herald Vanyel.  I am a Mavelan."

"Oh."  Lance's voice had a distinctly uncertain quality.

"I don't want your pity, their deaths saved me."  She met his worried green gaze.  "The world was better off with them gone."

"What about the other children?"  Lance asked.  "Aren't they bitter?"

"There was only one other survivor.  My brother and I."

"At least they could no longer harm you."

"The last time I saw my brother he stabbed me in the back."

"Oh."

"Could we discus something else?  The weather?  The war?  Your classes?  Anything?"

"Sorry for prying."  Lance looked away.

"I just rather not think about it."  She sighed and scratched Nico's ear as he hurried over to check on her again.  "It is the past.  Tell me, what do you teach?"

"Weapons.  Normally I take the afternoon classes.  With the tension between us and Karse even more emphasis has been placed on weapons and tactics."

"I have treated many of the Companions who were injured on the border.  You should work with the Companions more."  She said bluntly.  "It is incredibly difficult to reverse the nerve damage that has set in by the time they make it to me."

"Maybe you should take a post down there."

"I applied for a post down south but it was rejected.  Apparently they want me held in reserve in case hostilities flare again.  Three Healers were taken in the last year, forced to work until they died of overwork."

"I heard."  Lance toyed with a piece of grass.  "One of my students was the one who discovered their fate."

"They are keeping all the powerful healers out of the south but at the ready.  I was ordered to keep a bag packed."  Afiona shuddered at the thought of dying, surrounded by blood and pain and unable to even make a dent in the suffering.

"What about Nico?  Will you still be expected to go?"

"I think so.  I hope that he will be older and will understand why I can't stay with him, nothing will convince me to take him to a front, unless he is under his Chosen and capable of making his own choice."  She said firmly.

"I feel the same way about my students.  If war was declared many would be thrust into Whites so fast their heads would spin.  None of them would be ready."

"They won't be ready, no matter what."  She remembered the young Guardsmen that she had tend while she was still a trainee.  "The best you can do is make them as prepared as possible to face the chaos."

"Exactly."  Lance agreed.  "It is almost always the young and inexperienced that die."

Afiona lay on her back and took a bite out of an apple.  "I teach first and second year students.  They will be sent with the Master Healers.  I can't help but wonder how many are going to die doing their duty.  Gods, if only we could just wave our hands and have this all disappear.  You should Feel the stress over at the Healers.  It is obvious that tensions are rising.  Our beds are filling up."

"The Companions have chosen fifteen new trainees, that's always a bad sign.  I wonder, how long until we both head south?"

Nico stumbled and crumpled on top of Afiona.  :Mama-Afi!  Play?:

The dark mood broken, she laughed and helped him stand.  She left the half eaten breakfast to chase after the spindle legged colt, allowing the concerns that had plagued her for months to slip from her mind.