Chapter 27
"I thought you wouldn't Heal a human." Geina said coldly.
"Well, someone had to." Afiona responded. "Asher, go check on Milvin and I suggest you get something to eat."
He nodded and hurried from the room.
Afiona stood and met Geina's glare. "I am still willing to turn over my Greens anytime."
"You do and we will be forced to block your powers." Geina countered.
"You can't actually." Afiona said matter-of-factly. "I earned my Greens with the approval of the entire Healing Circle. Refusing to Heal a murderer when there are ample Healers about to take my place is not grounds to strip me of my powers. I checked the law."
"You swore to do no harm. What do you call what happened out in the field?" Geina challenged.
"I call it self defense." Afiona responded. "He was already sentenced to death for attempted murder."
"And how could you have known that a couple days ago?" Geina asked. Afiona saw the other Healers gathering at the door.
"Because I was the one he was trying to kill." Afiona pointed out. "He stabbed me in the back, it was a miracle he did not hit a kidney or my spine."
"He wasn't even sentenced by a Herald or a judge, just some backwoods baron. He deserved to have his case before a Herald." Geina snapped.
"Actually…" A familiar male voice interrupted. "He was also found guilty of attempted murder of a Herald by a Herald."
Afiona was stunned to see Tashir force his way through the crowd. He was wearing his Whites and the Baron coronet that had once been the king's coronet when it had belonged to his father. She knew he hated wearing it but it certainly gave him an authoritative air.
"Tashir! What are you doing here?" Afiona greeted him warmly. She stepped around Geina to embrace her cousin. "You are looking well."
"I heard about your brother." Tashir said bluntly. "About time someone flattened the bastard. Were you hurt at all?"
"No, but he killed Demon." Afiona said with genuine sorrow.
Geina snorted. "He was a bloody dog!"
"Is she normally this thick?" Tashir asked but didn't wait for Afiona to respond. "He was a wonderful dog that saved Afiona not once from her own brother but twice. I would say that he is worthy of being mourned."
Geina crossed her arms over her chest.
"Tashir, stay out of this." Afiona requested. "I have to settle it on my own."
"Well, if you get turned off, the Mavelan lands are yours to do with as you wish." Tashir informed her.
Afiona stared at him. "What?"
"I had the lands transferred to you about a year ago, just never got around to telling you." Tashir admitted. "I figured it's the least I could do."
"You shouldn't have." Afiona protested then looked around at the avid faces staring at her and hurried out of the room. Tashir followed close behind.
"How long have they been like this?" He asked as they emerged outside to find Leshya, Daric, and Nico waiting for them.
"Well, it is only going to get worse now." Afiona grumbled. "I didn't tell anyone who my family was for a good reason. Haven't you heard the saying 'as mad as a Mavelan'?"
"Oh, so now is not a good time to mention you are a lady?" Tashir asked sheepishly.
"A what?" Afiona repeated, looking horrified.
"I knew you wouldn't want to use the Mavelan name, don't blame you actually, so you're just Lady Afiona. Have been ever since I found you." Tashir admitted guiltily. "I figured it would give you some measure of protection."
Afiona rubbed her temples, trying to thwart the throbbing that was starting to build into a headache. "You had me ennobled?"
"I tried to have you made a baroness of the Mavelan lands, but since you were not exactly responsible at the time, the king refused. Instead he made you a lady with the possibility of holding the lands if you recovered sufficiently." Tashir explained. "If you want you can burn the castles to the ground and there is nothing anyone can say about it."
Afiona grabbed Tashir by the arm and nearly dragged him to her room where she locked the door. "I can't accept them."
"Why not?" Tashir asked in confusion. "Is it because of the past?"
"No, at least not completely." Afiona shook her head. "I was Chosen."
"Why wasn't I told? Why are you still wearing your greens?" Tashir asked in confusion.
"I haven't told anyone yet." Afiona explained. "As a fully trained Healer I can do more than a Herald Trainee. Especially with war on the horizon."
"Oh." Tashir leaned against the door. "Are you planning on going to the front?"
"I am going where my charges are going, so yes." Afiona admitted. "Daric agrees that is the best use of my talents."
"Daric being…?" Tashir prompted her.
"Bardaric is my Companion and Nico's father. And Nico is probably why you and Leshya are here." Afiona explained.
"A Companion foal that is manipulating the moods of those around him?" Tashir said as if reciting the description from a letter.
"He thinks happy thoughts at people that are in bad moods. It has been helpful with a few of my patients but he does it to me as well." Afiona explained. "He's powerful and has a natural instinct for it, but he needs some teaching and Leshya is the only one capable of teaching him. I've tried, but he sees me using mine to make others feel better and wants to do the same."
"How old is he?" Tashir asked.
"Less than half a year old, still a true baby." Afiona said with a slight smile.
"Leshya says he'll do what he can, but it is still going to require a lot of help on your part. He says the foal thinks you're his mother." Tashir raised one eyebrow invitation of an explanation.
"I am raising him." Afiona explained simply. "He even calls me Mama-Afi."
"So, you're Chosen, raising a Companion, feuding with the Healers, lost Demon, and killed your brother. Anything else you never bothered to write about?" He asked, torn between amusement and annoyance.
She nibbled on her lip. "I am having weapon lessons and riding lessons from some of the Heralds and I spy for the crown, but other than that…"
"You what?" Tashir asked in disbelief.
"You can't tell anyone though." Afiona informed him. "I am only telling you because you are family."
"About the spying or the lessons?" Tashir asked.
Afiona smiled. "The spying and the being Chosen."
Tashir returned her smile. "It's good to see you happy."
"Oh?" Afiona asked in confusion.
"Last time I saw you Demon was glued to your side and you were acting like a frightened rabbit. Now you are actually arguing with people." Tashir explained. "I think it's amazing that you have come so far."
Afiona beamed. "You're right, I have."
"Well, cousin, I'm expected a court this evening, care to come along and help relieve the boredom?" Tashir asked.
Afiona considered it for a few seconds before agreeing. "Lord and Lady Ashkevron will be there, I know they will like to see you. Lady Treesa has even managed to see to it that I have a suitable gown for the occasion."
"Wonderful. Hope you don't mind that I intend to stick to your side the entire time, I am not one for that courtly stuff." Tashir informed her.
"Neither am I. But at least there will be several other Heralds there to take shelter with." Afiona said optimistically.
"Then I better go see to Leshya and get settled myself." Tashir said as he opened the door.
Afiona heaved a deep breath as the door closed.
:See, not so hard.: Daric said suddenly but it wasn't unexpected, he had been in her mind since the healing.
:Just don't let me talk my self out of going to court.: Afiona requested.
~ * ~
Afiona took a deep breath as Tashir and her stopped in the doorway to be announced as the Herald-Baron of Lineas-Baires, Tashir, and the Healer-Lady Afiona.
Afiona shot him a glare which he blithely ignored as they became the focus of all the eyes in the room. All talk stopped as Courtiers jostled to see the newcomers. Afiona gripped Tashir's arm tighter.
"I do not want to be called a lady and I certainly did not wish to be announced." She hissed.
"Better tell all now than let them discover later when they will want to prove to you that they know who you are." Tashir explained. "It also stops some of the speculation."
Afiona was about to remind him she never wanted the title when Jisa spotted them and waved them over to the little cluster of Heralds. "That's the King's Own, Jisa." She explained.
"The old King's daughter? I've corresponded with her." Tashir said as he guided her towards the group.
"Afiona, I never expected you to come." One of the Heralds she had seen in passing several times greeted her. He cast a quick, observant glance at Tashir. "You must be the Baron-Herald. Don't envy you one bit you know. I have enough on my plate just being a Herald."
"Now that I have an heir I can be more Herald than Baron hopefully." Tashir said as he extended his hand in greeting.
"How are you related to Afiona?" Another Herald, who also a male, asked. "You almost look like twins."
"We are first cousins. No more." Afiona answered.
"Afiona tell you what she did yet?" A Herald asked with a knowing grin.
"I don't know. What did she do?" Tashir asked. Afiona wracked her brain to see which rather tale he was going to trot out.
"She saved a Companion foal when his mother died trying to birth him and is now raising him as her own son. Absolutely amazing little guy too, he actually understand human speech." The Herald answered.
"That's ages old." Another Herald said laughingly. "She also gave the Healers an ultimatum, let her work with the Companions or lose her."
Tashir gave her a wry look. "You never mentioned that part."
"That is covered by the feuding with the Healers." Afiona responded lightly.
Another Herald sidled into the group next to Afiona. "Healer, I was hoping you would come tonight." He greeted her. "Could I steal you for a dance? I swear, I am not a bad dancer."
Afiona glanced at Tashir uncertainly. "I'll be back in a few moments, don't you dare tell anymore stories about me." She ordered the Heralds with a slightly strained smile.
As she was led away by the Herald Tashir turned to Jisa.
"She's looking good." He commented.
"She's doing better." Jisa agreed. "Especially now that her brother is dead. Did she tell you she was Chosen?"
"Yes actually, but she doesn't think anyone knows." Tashir chuckled. "She should have known the Companions wouldn't keep a secret like that."
"Actually, they did. Daric breaking down her door as he charged to the rescue was what let the cat out of the bag." Jisa explained.
"I'd love to go over and tell those idiot healers that she is ours." One of the Heralds grumbled.
"Exactly why are they feuding?" Tashir asked. "I walked in on a fight earlier at the Healers."
"Afiona doesn't feel comfortable healing humans." Jisa explained. "Mentally they get too close during the healing bond for her to be comfortable. She never bothered explaining why she didn't feel comfortable with humans so they assumed she was just uncertain about her abilities and that she would come around. After a while they started to think she was wasting her abilities on animals but it really got bad when she turned in her greens to serve the Heralds. They allowed her to be assigned to the Companions but that is when they started to let their disgust of her show. Then she didn't help her brother." Jisa shook her head sadly. "Apparently she is strong enough she could have saved him. He may not have had much of a mind afterwards but he would have been breathing. I can see how they would be frustrated, she's one of their strongest Healers and she refuses to help humans."
"Well, I am glad she was Chosen." Tashir said as he glanced at Afiona dancing with the Herald.
"Don't worry, we're looking out for her." One of the Heralds assured him. "Our Companions have never been treated so well. They especially like that she insists they have their legs massaged after working hard."
"Did you know some of the Healers had her cornered today?" Tashir asked. "They were threatening to strip her powers."
"What?" Jisa asked, aghast.
"They were saying she had promised to do no harm, and by refusing to Heal her brother, she was responsible for his death." Tashir relayed. "They even had the guts to suggest that he hadn't been legally convicted because it was the verdict of a Baron and not a judge or Herald."
Jisa crossed her arms over her chest and the other Heralds close by who had over heard looked very displeased.
"Where was this?" Jisa asked after a few seconds thought.
"At the Healers. Can you believe they didn't understand why she mourned a dog? She is an animal mindspeaker!" Tashir exclaimed.
"Here she comes." One of the Heralds warned just as Afiona entered hearing range.
"I do believe it is my turn." Another Herald stepped forward and led Afiona back out onto the dance floor as the bards struck up another dance.
She glanced at them suspiciously but allowed him to lead her away.
"Do you lot intend to keep her dancing all evening?" Tashir asked.
"Are you kidding? And pass up a chance to catch her eye?" Jisa asked rhetorically. "There are rarely this many Heralds at a court function. They heard that Afiona was coming and all showed up in their best Whites. Frankly I don't think they stand a chance even with Lance gone."
"Lance?" Tashir repeated. "Who's Lance?"
"That would be the son of Herald Rissa, the weapons teacher, and the Dean. He's down south at the moment." Jisa explained. "I do believe they're courting."
"Well she never mentioned that." Tashir said as he turned to watch Afiona, she was obviously growing more comfortable as the evening passed. It was impossible to tell that this was the same girl who had flitted from shadow to shadow for most of her life. "What's he like?"
"He is completely enthralled by her." Herald Rissa informed him as she approached with Herald Mia.
"She even goes and talks to him still." Mia added. "Using Farsight I assume."
"I have the feeling she failed to mentioned a great deal of what's been happening." Tashir commented, obviously amused.
Rissa looked him over critically. "She never mentioned a brother."
"We're cousins." Tashir corrected.
"Good, Medren was bad enough." Rissa said bluntly. "What're you doing here?"
"My Companion was needed to help with the foal. I am just here for the ride." Tashir explained to her.
"Report to the salle immediately after breakfast." She ordered. "I want to see what you can do."
Tashir stared at her mutely for several seconds as the gathered Heralds chuckled. "As you command." He said with wry humor. He was accustomed to giving the orders, not taking them.
Rissa remained serious despite his teasing tone. "If you think being a baron is going to keep you safe you are mistaken."
"I never thought it would." Tashir corrected. "I am a Herald first, it's only a coincidence that I'm a Baron."
Afiona returned to the small group, her cheeks flushed and she was smiling. "Rissa, I thought you avoided these courtly things like the plague."
"Normally yes. But I thought you would appreciate this." She held out a slender, slightly battered letter.
Afiona hesitated before slowly taking the letter. She fingered the edge but didn't read it. "Thank you."
Rissa smiled knowingly.
Mia grinned widely and sidled closer to Afiona. "Come on, what does he say?"
Afiona blushed.
"It must be from Lance." Jisa teased.
Afiona turned an even brighter red. "Yes."
"So, read it." Jisa prodded without the slightest bit of shame.
Afiona eagerly broke the plain wax seal. Mia leaned over to read it but Afiona angled it away from her. An almost blissful smile played over her lips dashing the hopes of all but the most optimistic of the Heralds that Lance's absence had left a place they could fill.
"So?" Mia asked in exasperation.
Afiona folded the short letter and turned a glare that lacked any heat on Mia. "That is none of your business. Do I ask you how your pursuit of Medren goes?"
"No, but you should." Mia said stubbornly.
"A lady never pries." Afiona said primly.
"And since when have you been a lady?" Mia scoffed.
"Apparently, since I was about thirteen." Afiona informed. "And I have my cousin to blame for it."
"Not that it matters." Mia winked at Afiona.
Afiona quickly glanced around at the gathered Heralds to see if they understood the reference to her being Chosen and saw nothing to make her suspicious.
"Any other news from the front?" One of the Heralds asked Rissa.
"Nothing good." Rissa said darkly. "I expect some of us will be getting marching orders tomorrow."
Her words had the effect of dousing the group's good mood.
"Do you think they will send me down?" Afiona asked seriously. "If any Companions are being injured I should be there."
Rissa shook her head. "You're needed here."
Afiona was about to protest when she realized it was not her healing skills that kept her here. "Just remind them that I should be where I can do the most good."
"I'll remind them." Rissa assured her.
Afiona withdrew emotionally, if not physically from the group. If even one Companion was killed she knew she would feel guilty for being here where she was safe. For the first time she wondered if she had done the right thing availing her Farseeing abilities to the Council.
:You did the right thing.: Daric assured her.
Afiona jumped slightly. :Sorry, I didn't mean to Send that.:
:You didn't.: Daric assured her. :Remember how I said that I was going to tighten the bond between us? Hearing each other's surface thoughts and feeling each other's emotions will be a side effect.:
:Oh. I forgot, sorry.: Afiona apologized sheepishly.
:Just remember, you can redirect Heralds out of harm's way. You can prevent the worst of the injuries.: Daric reminded her.
Afiona straightened her shoulders unconsciously. :You're right.:
:I'm afraid you are something of an experiment for us. The first true test of Vanyel's Web. What should happen is when you find danger the Companions will sense it and drag their Herald to the right place at the right time.: Daric explained. :We have a couple Foreseers involved as well. But we don't know how close you have to be to the center stone of the web to be the most effective.:
:I'm not going to be preventing harm then, I'll be sending them charging towards it!: Afiona protested.
:Sister of my heart, I know it is hard to accept, but you're a Herald as well and it's your duty to act in the best interests of Valdemar.: Daric reminded her.
Afiona was so absorbed in the conversation she didn't notice Tashir watching the play of emotions on her face or the rapid changed in her body language.
"Afiona, are you alright?" He asked when she started to look very worried.
Afiona jolted slightly. "I think I am going to retire for the evening. I have some things I need to think over."
"I'll walk you to your room." Jisa offered, startling Afiona. "I think I may know some of your questions."
Afiona nodded and led the way from the room. They were silent until they were out in the hall.
"You are worried about sending fellow Heralds to their deaths, aren't you." Jisa said more than asked.
"How can I do that?" Afiona asked. "How can I send friends to their deaths? I am a Healer!"
"You're a Herald." Jisa reminded her. "It doesn't matter what you wear, you are still a Herald. I have sat on the Circle and on the Council as we made decisions that would send my friends into what could easily result in a dead Herald. It's not easy, but it is necessary. Do you think there is a single Herald who would refuse an order that would result in their deaths knowing that it would help others? It's the price we pay for our Companions and the bond we share and now that you are one of us can you honestly say you wouldn't do the same."
Afiona and Jisa walked in silence most of the way to Afiona's room.
"You're right. I would. But that doesn't mean I'm willing to send others to pay that price." Afiona said finally.
"You are only seeing the darkest consequences. Don't forget that forewarned is fore armed. If a Herald knows that he's going into a dangerous situation he will be better prepared and much less likely to die." Jisa argued.
Afiona stopped at her door and leaned against the heavy portal.
"There are also the people they will save." Jisa reminded her. "I am not saying you have to be alright with all this, I am just saying that if you don't do it the toll will be higher, and not just for Heralds."
Afiona nodded slowly.
"It's a heavy burden, but you don't bear it alone." Jisa reminded her.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Afiona said as she opened her door.
"Tomorrow then. Please think about what I said. We all know the fate of half the Heralds, we accept it, and we hope that our deaths will not be some senseless tragedy." Jisa said as she walked away.
Afiona entered her room and sat on her comfortable chair and stared at the small fire burning merrily in the fireplace. Daric had Nico for the time being which left only her and her thoughts. Taking a deep breath she let her muscles relax and her heart slow. In a matter of heartbeats she was in a trance and searching for Lance.