Chapter 30

Afiona strode out of the door, which the Lord Martial held aside to allow her to get out without dropping a message or map tube.  Daric gave her a sympathetic look.

:So, now what?:  He asked.

:Now, I take these to the cottage then I am going to sleep.  I'll deal with the Healers in the morning.:  Afiona said as she adjusted her burden.

:I could see if Ausin will talk to Dagin  about talking to the Lord Martial about finding someone else.  That is just way too much for one person.:  He offered.

:No, I am sure he has his reasons for wanting me.:   Afiona shook her head and started walking towards the stable that was housing the Companions.  :He feels strongly that I should do it.  I could sense it.  But shouldn't a Herald to be contact for the 'informants'?  I only watch the Karsites, I have never even entered the borders.:  She worried her bottom lip.

:You are a Herald.:  Daric pointed out.

Afiona rolled her eyes.  :I'm a Healer.:

:This way he also gets some one who patch up his spies and send them back out with a minimum of fuss and bother.  It's not like he is asking you to run a spy ring, simply receive messages and pass them on and heal those who need it.:  A strange voice said in her mind.

Spinning about she saw a vaguely familiar Companion behind them. 

:Ausin.:  Daric said in surprise.  :Sorry if we bothered you.:

:You didn't.  Dag is working late, again.:  He heaved a great sigh.  :Being the Lord Martial's Herald doesn't exactly offer regular hours.: Ausin addressed Afiona again, :Dagin was actually the one who suggested you as a contact.  But the position of Senior Healer—that was solely the idea of the Healers Circle.  They figured that if you aren't going to be working on the human victims you will have the energy to ride herd on the young Healers here, many of which were either taught with you or by you to some extent.:

:Oh, wonderful!  I have a bunch of rookie Healers that are going to be looking to me for every little thing.  Wonderful, just wonderful.:  Afiona was ready to toss the tubes at someone.

:It's hardly our fault you managed to make yourself so useful.:  Ausin pointed out with amusement.

Afiona made a sound suspiciously like a growl and flung a map tube at him.  He deftly caught it in his teeth and offered it back to her.

[:No.  I don't want it.:  Afiona knocked away the tube so it fell to the ground several feet away.  :I don't want to be responsible for the lives of the spies or the Healers!  What do you think I am?  Some endless fount of power?  How do you expect me to be able to Heal Companions and spies, watch over gods know how many new healers that will want to have every decision approved or will ignore me thinking they know better, and spy for the crown?:  Afiona complained with a mixture of panic and disbelief.

:I understand.:  Daric said quickly.  :You want to be quietly in the background where nothing wrong can be blamed on you.  You are not going to live up to your true potential hiding in the crowd.:

Afiona glared at him.

:He's right.:  Ausin added.  :You aren't going to have visitors every night, we are too far from the front for that, just the ones who think traveling this far inside our borders is worth it to get to a Healer.  It will be easier on you to spy from here since you are considerably closer to your targets and the Lord Martial is not going to be as reliant on you as you might expect.  Back in Haven you were his only hope of getting timely information from the front, here he has other sources.  So far there are blessedly few Companions in need of you and we can handle much of the Healing ourselves once you get us patched up enough.  The biggest drain on you is going to be the Healers and as you said, you are a Healer, so you can't turn them down without due cause.:

Afiona's shoulder sank in surrender.  :Do you always have to be right?:  She accused Ausin.

:I try.:  He said with a mental chuckle. 

:You can always ask Mia or any of the other Heralds for help when it gets too rough and you know I will do my level best to keep Nico out of everyone's hair.:  Daric added.

Afiona's shoulders sagged.  :I'm just tired.  Maybe it'll all look better in the morning.: she offered in way of a backhanded apology for her poor mood.

:There is a cellar under your little cottage, you can store the tubes under there.:  Ausin said helpfully.  :And anything else you need to hide.  There should always be a Companion or two about if you need anything protected.:

Afiona managed a smile as a thank you since if she actually said anything she'd probably start complaining again.

:Afiona, love, I should have asked before about what their plans were.:  Daric rubbed his nose on her cheek. 

:You're missing the point!:  Afiona complained tiredly.

:That you don't want all this responsibility?  That you don't want to be a prominent figure?  Oh, I got the point, I live in your head, remember?:  Daric reminded his Chosen wryly.  :You prefer to remain anonymous and unnoticed but it's too late for that.  You've been noticed by some powerful people, they know what you are capable of and expect you to live up to their expectations.:

Afiona grumbled and glared at her Companion. 

:I'm right and you know it.  I think you should stop—: Afiona's glare spoke louder than words, or thoughts, and he stopped mid sentence.

Afiona led the way back to the small cottage with a brief stop along the way to make certain her windows were being made. 

Mia looked up as Afiona entered the cottage and was obviously surprised to see both the burden Afiona was laden with as well as her decidedly displeased face.  :What happened?:

:I got promoted.:  Afiona nearly growled.  :By everybody in the bloody camp!:

Mia frowned and motioned for her to go back outside.  :You are going to wake the baby.:  She scolded. 

Once outside Afiona sank onto the parched grass.  :I was just informed that not only am I a spy for the crown, but the spycatcher.  To top it off I was made the senior Healer for the camp because the Healers think that I will have the energy to spare to control a bunch of new Healers.:

Mia grinned.  Afiona yanked up a handful of grass and tossed it at her.  :It's not funny!:

:But it is, you are being everything but what you are, a Herald.:  Mia pointed out.  :Now, what are you going to do?:

Afiona sighed.  :What else can I do?  I'm going to do what they want.:

:I figured as much.:  Mia flopped down next to her.  :But at least we get to complain to each other about the rookies.  I'm supposed to play nanny to the baby Heralds.:

:I can do one better, I have a true baby.:  Afiona pointed out.

Mia chuckled.  :How true.:

:I should get to bed seeing as I have to face the Healers first thing in the morning.:  Afiona made a telling face as she stood. :I'm sure everything will look better after some sleep.:

:Everything usually does.:  Mia stood.  :Unless it involves too much alcohol then the view might not be so good.  See you at breakfast?:

:No, I think I'm going to eat with the Healers.  The sooner I face them the better.:  Afiona grimaced in anticipation .

:Hey, remember, they can smell fear.:  Mia grinned and winked.  :And if necessary, I am sure you and I can knock a couple of the thicker heads together until they get the point.:

:Careful, I just might accept your offer.:  Afiona said as she entered her little cottage and was nearly bowled over by Nico.

:Mama-Afi, you went away.:  He scolded.

Afiona scratched his ears affectionately as he nuzzled her chest.  :Do you have to pee?:

:No.:  Nico pranced back.  :Story?:

Afiona sank onto her bed as the long hours of the day caught up with her.  :Not tonight sweetie.  I'm tired and need to sleep.:

Nico hung his head in disappointment then peeked out of the corner of his eye at her to see if she changed her mind.

:Nice try lovey, but it's bed time.:  Afiona said firmly as she changed and stretched out on her bed.  Nico huffed before finally taking his post next to her bed. 

She curled up on her side and pillowed her head with her arm.  She tried to think of what she would say to the healers in the morning and came up with nothing.

 ~ * ~

Afiona wished it was a nightmare but she knew she was awake and standing outside the Healers tent.  Taking a deep breath she stepped inside.  It took less than a minute for all the chatter to die and for her to be the focus of every eye.  Some were hostile, some were confused, but none were terribly friendly.  Their brilliant greens, as yet unfaded by attempts to remove blood and other stains made it clear they were all young.  She saw two or three than had been in her year group but even they were a couple years younger, they had been the ones that had gone on to specialize after getting their greens.

"Good morning."  She said calmly and stopped at the head on the table.  "I am Healer Afiona."

"We know."  Someone grumbled.

Afiona ignored them.  "Now, in case you aren't aware, I have been assigned as the Senior Healer to this camp.  I'd like copies of your notes on your current patients by tonight.  Any requests for supplies can be made through me as well and I will do my best to provide it to you, within reason."

"Why'd they make an animal healer the Senior Healer here?"  A male healer demanded.

"Because I have experience."  Afiona answered.  "I chose to tend animals and Companions.  Now, we will be getting people who have already been tended on the frontlines and are here mostly to recuperate.  I want them to have confidence in us so if you have a problem with somebody take care of it in private.  If you can't resolve it on your own, come to me.  This is a tense camp and I know we are going to be feeling it worse than the others; especially those of us who are empaths.  There is only one occasion I will tolerate any of you raising your voice to anyone and that is in defense of your patients.  That includes hollering at stubborn Heralds trying to sneak back to the frontlines."  This earned a few chuckles.  "Any questions?"

"Why should we listen to you?"  A female healer sneered.  "You deliberately didn't tend a man because he hurt your dog."

Afiona had wondered if someone would say something about that incident.

"Amazing how rumor likes to forget facts isn't it?  Firstly, he killed my dog while he was trying to kill me.  Secondly, it was a Companion that attacked him.   Thirdly, He had been sentenced to death several years earlier for attempted murder of my cousin, Herald Tashir, and myself."  Afiona explained calmly.

"Attempted?"  A young woman at her left repeated.  Afiona recognized her the woman.  She had been several years behind her in the Healing Collegium.  She had once stared at Afiona's scars for so long it took a borderline rude remark to get her to look away.

"Who do you think gave me those scars you used to stare at?"  Afiona asked with a hint of exasperation creeping into her voice.  The younger woman blushed and looked away.

"As it was pointed out, I am primarily an animal and Companion Healer.  I'm stationed over by the Companion's barn where my patients are.  If you need me and I'm not here, I'm there.  Today I'd like to observe and in the next few days I will be choosing who is responsible on what shifts.  If you have any concerns about those positions talk to me soon."  Afiona glanced around the table.  By in large they looked unsettled.  A few didn't look like they believed her.  "If you have preferences for what shifts you'd like to be assigned to come and let me know soon, don't wait until they are assigned.  That being said, I am going to eat."  She walked towards where the cooks had left the food and served herself.

:Well done.  You certainly made them think they might not have the full story.:  Daric praised.

:That wasn't so bad.:  Afiona admitted.

:No, you were just fine, my knees are still shaking though.  I am so glad I don't have to do any public speaking.:  Daric confessed.  :Nico wants to know if Mama-Afi is going to join him for Medren's story.:

:You know I can't.:  Afiona sighed.

:I know, but I can't lie and say I did ask you if I didn't.:  Daric explained.  :I never thought having a child could make one so devious.:

Afiona filled her plate and took a seat at the end of the table.  Slowly conversations started back up but nobody spoke to her.  She was actually grateful for the isolation.  She had to tour the Healing tents immediately after breakfast and appraise the abilities of the younger healers; not something that would earn her any friendships.  She also had to take a look at the Companions before Nico decided is was time to be with his mother. 

Worries chased themselves about her head.  If the war went badly the battles could come very close, she needed to train these young healers how to rescue the wounded.  The heat would probably only get worse, she needed to make certain there was plenty of cool water and not just for the patients, the still hale and whole soldiers were drilling religiously and the last thing anyone needed was them collapsing from heat related illnesses.  Afiona had a feeling she should also make certain everybody knew the procedures if they were suddenly flooded with casualties.

Afiona frowned thoughtfully then smiled.  She could talk to the Lord Martial and arrange a mock war.  Right here.  It would give everybody a chance to practice, and if done right it could even be a tool to raise moral.

"What emergency procedures do you have in place?"  Afiona asked nobody in particular.  "Like if we were suddenly flooded with injured."

"Nothing set in stone."  One healer admitted.  "We haven't had any emergencies and most of us arrived in the last month."

"Then we have our work cut out for us."  Afiona said in a brisk business like tone.  "Eat up, the next few days are going to be chaotic."

~ * ~

The first three days had passed in a chaotic blur as she arranged schedules and assigned tasks, mostly ignoring the requests of the young Healers in favor of what she believed was the best distribution of abilities and skills. 

She tried to have at least one empath, no matter how weak, on at all times to help alert others to nightmares or increased pain.  She also arranged for most healers that Healed by touch to work first thing in the morning; the heat and an intensive healing session could cause the Healer to pass out.

Her idea for mock battles was welcomed by the military leaders, as well as by the Heralds.  The first was set for the next morning, an ambush where the Healers would be receiving men and women whose only wounds were ink that was going to be smeared on pot metal blades and mud from headless arrows that would probably cause a few injuries.

Mia's Heralds were going to be on both sides, the more experienced playing referee and therefore not actual targets.  Afiona was going to decree the severity of the wounds for humans and Companions; she even had a couple extra tents set up for the animals and Companions that were currently being used for shade by anybody off duty. 

When they became a popular gathering spot she arranged for tubs of water just big enough to soak one's feet arranged in the tents with chairs.  After drills she'd often find the tent, and the tubs, packed as men and women cooled off.

Afiona had found a small tent to use as an office with a table, some chairs, and a large bucket of water for whomever, or whatever visited her.  At that moment Nico was making a mess with the water by blowing bubbles.  Afiona sipped her water and watched Nico's happy abandon. 

:Mama-Afi play too?:  He asked he stopped playing, water dripped from his long white lashes and his velvety muzzle.

"Shall we brush you?"  She suggested.

Nico tilted his head to the side then bobbed his head in agreement.  :Bath!:

Afiona smiled and set aside her water and picked up some towels she had for Nico's baths.  Everyone in the camp was using the nearby river to cool down including Companions.  Nico thought it was the greatest thing since sugared apple slices.

"Let's go see if anyone needs us first."  Afiona led him from the tent.  The wet colt pranced happily behind her.

The Healers still weren't accustomed to Nico's presence but she didn't particularly care, at least the patients thought he was amusing.  "I'm taking Nico for a bath to cool off."  Afiona informed the Healer she had assigned to on to the six shifts to see if he had the right qualities for the position, soon she would cut it down to three shifts and she required at least two others to act as supervisors when she wasn't here, they'd be nearly her equal. 

He nodded curtly.

Afiona ignored his rude silence.  "If you have time make certain we have plenty of clean bandages and such for tomorrow.  After tomorrow we are going to act like we are expecting a flood of patients at anytime."

He nodded again.

"Also, making certain everybody has a chance to go sit down for a while, we don't want anymore getting heat sick."  Afiona ordered, getting more brisk as she became more irritated by his silence.  "Have your supplies request ready by the end of shift, I am going to send it out tomorrow by Herald."

He nodded a third time, still not even looking at her, making it quite clear he would rather deal with anyone but her.

Afiona turned away and whistled for Nico who was waiting outside.  "Bath time baby."

Nico whickered happily and scampered toward the river.

Four other Companions were enjoying the cooler water and they all greeted Nico with knickers.  Afiona removed her green robes revealing the cut off pants and sleeveless shirt she was wearing in attempt to keep cool.  Nico charged straight into the water towards the others Companions leaving Afiona to make her way down the sandy bank with more decorum.

She sat in the shallows leaving the deeper water to the Companions, trusting them to keep Nico out of the deeper water.   The riverbank had been unofficially divided up into male, female, and Herald swimming spots with a screen of trees between each.  The Herald's spot was closer to their camp and both genders used it freely.  Males approaching the normal female swimming hole, a calmer little cove, were often chased back to camp fearing for his vitals.

"How's the water?"  Stef asked as he emerged from the screen of trees.

"Cool and wonderful.  Care to join me?"  Afiona asked easily.  Stef was obviously ready for a swim wearing only a pair of old breeches.  He waded in and sat next to her.

"How's it going with your Healers?"  He asked.

"They are doing as I order, that's enough for now."  Afiona shrugged.  "Working on any new songs?"

"Yes, actually."  Stef cleared his throat uncertainly.

"Well?"  Afiona prodded.

"It's about you and the death of your brother."  Stef confessed.  "If you don't want me to work on it anymore, just say so.  But I had this idea for the verse…"

Afiona listened patiently as he sang the verse for her then eagerly outlined what he had written.  "Stef—"

"Before you say no just remember you told me to write some songs about ordinary men and women."  The Bard reminded her quickly.

"I was going to say those last two lines don't sound right together."  Afiona laughingly explained.  "I have no problem with you making a song of it, better you than someone who doesn't approve of me."

Stef relaxed.  "Good.  Medren and I have been discussing how we can improve morale here as you asked."

"And what have you come up with?"  Afiona asked hopefully.

"Ditties."

"Pardon?"  Afiona asked dubiously.

"Little songs about routing the Karsites.  Make them catchy enough and we'll have the entire camp singing them and maybe believing them if they say it often enough."  Stefen explained. "Nothing you'd ever catch a bard singing of course."

"Unless he's drunk."  Afiona said teasingly then became serious. "Sounds like it's worth a shot, it certainly can't hurt."  Afiona agreed.  "I've ordered the Healers to give the birth prevention powders to anyone asking for them so maybe they'll enjoy themselves there."

"You're encouraging them to hop into bed?"  Stefen asked with an amused grin. 

"They are young and in a stressful situation, they're going to do it anyway, better to prevent any unwanted children."  Afiona said wryly.  "I also have some of the healers available for talking every afternoon and evening.  Beyond that, it's up to the commanding officers to see to their own.  I'm not going to have Nico thinking happy thoughts at everyone."

Nico paused his playing when he heard his name.  When it was obvious he was not the topic of conversation he returned to splashing.

"What more can you do?"  Stef asked rhetorically, not really expecting any answer from his friend.

"What I can do and what I will do are to vastly different things.  I can make them all cheerful but that is a violation of ethics of the highest order."  Afiona explained.

Stef lounged back on his elbows so only his head was above the slowly moving water.  "Van was just as unbending about his code of ethics as you are."  He observed.

Afiona studied her friend.  "Feeling lonely today?" She asked quietly.

"Hell yes."  Stef grumbled.

"Everyone around you is pairing off and you're left alone, right?"  Afiona guessed with understanding in her voice.

Stef frowned slightly.  "I wasn't aware I was being so obvious."

"If I were in your shoes, I would feel the same way."  Afiona admitted.  "Why haven't you taken a lover?"

Stef stared at her as if she had grown a second and third head.  "But…Van."

"I figured as much."  Afiona turned so she was facing him.  "You feel it would betray him."  She said with a touch of sorrow on his behalf.

"Have I ever told you that it can be very trying having an empath for a friend?"  Stefen grumbled.

"I am not suggesting some wild love affair, I am suggesting you need some companionship."  Afiona explained quickly.  "Maybe some friends that aren't absorbed in some romance right now."

"Like who?  How many people do you know who are actually willing to be friends with someone whose shaych?  They act like it's some contagious disease."  Stefen said bitterly.

Afiona tried to think of something to say and came up empty handed.  "Their loss."  She said finally. "Well, I have to get back before someone can't find just the right width of bandages and has a fit.  I swear, they don't know how to improvise!" 

Stef laughed and stood to help her out of the water.  "Have you talked to Lance yet?"

"When would I have had the time?"  Afiona said with exasperation.

"Can't wait to see his face when he sees you."  Stefen teased as he picked up his large towel and tossed hers to Afiona.

Nico rushed out of the water, his fur spiked out in every direction, to get dried off.  Donning her robes she started back to her tent-office.

Stef draped his towel around his shoulders and accompanied her.  "Do you need any help in the Healers tents?"

"No, no one is in too much pain at the moment.  We have the usual assortment of sunburns and heatstroke, both of which could have been prevented, so I don't have too much sympathy for them."  Afiona said matter-of-factly.  "But if you could watch Niko for me, and make sure he's not getting into trouble I'd be eternally grateful."  

The damp colt looked up hopefully.  :Stories?:

"Let me guess, he wants a story."  Stef said dryly.

"If you don't mind." 

Stef rolled his eyes.  "Come on four foot.  We'll see if we can find anyone else who wants to listen."

"Why not the tent across from mine?  It's nicely shaded and there's always somebody there."  Afiona suggested.

"He can keep an eye on his Mama-Afi from there too."  Stef pointed out.  "What shall it be today?  A romantic tale or an adventure?"

:A Nico story!:  Nico suggested happily.

"He wants a story about himself."  Afiona relayed.

"Very well, the tale of Nico and the Firebird it is."  Stef said as he led the colt away to change and collect a music instrument or two.

Afiona took the most direct route back to her tent and found three Healers wanting impatiently inside.

"I need more healers on night shift!"  The first said before she could even utter a word.

Afiona held up her hand for silence before the other two could speak out.  "Are any of you here about your patients welfare?"

"I am.  I have a foot soldier from the front who was sent back to recover from an illness but, no matter what I do, he doesn't show any improvement."  The young healer said quickly.

"His name?"  Afiona prompted as she opened her collection of papers that had been sent up with patients.

"Gosil, Aster."  He said obediently.

Afiona located his sheet.  "The healer there suspected it was a blood disease but didn't have time for a more thorough exam apparently.  Had Ilsie take a look; she has experience with blood diseases.  If you are both stumped or if he takes a turn for the worse then come to me again."

He nodded and left.

"Now, you."  Afiona pointed to the Healer that had remained silent so far, making the one demanding more Healers wait impatiently.

"About tomorrow, are we going to be having any spinal injuries?"  She asked worriedly.

"Yes, I'll make certain of it.  Why?"  Afiona asked.

"We don't have any way to keep them immobile."  The conscientious young healer pointed out.

"I'm sure with the hours remaining you and the others can find a suitable substitute in time for tomorrow now that you know. I have every confidence in your combined abilities."  Afiona said confidently.  She had already requested the specialized equipment needed for back injuries in the next shipment but she wanted the healers to learn to make do and improvise. There were going to be times when they were not going to have the materials to hand, and not just in the field. They could easily run out of supplies in the camp if the fighting got nasty enough.

The younger Healer still looked worried.

"You don't have long."  Afiona pointed out gently but with some underlying steel in her voice.  "Get the healers who are off duty and work together.  You are a smart bunch, I know you can come up with something feasible."

The young Healer frowned slightly and nodded as she hurried away.

"Now," Afiona turned to the only remaining Healer. "Why do you need more healers on night shift?"  Afiona asked. 

This particular Healer was both a bane and a blessing.  He was a younger son of a wealthy noble who never had to make do with less, which resulted in him in her tent a couple times a day complaining about pretty much anything that was not ideal.  Also he made no secret that he thought of her, which was not flattering.  But he was also a natural leader, had started studying young so he had more experience than most others here, and he never lost his cool in front of a patient.  All reasons she made him one of the night shift supervisors and was eyeing him to keep that position when shifts were lengthened.

"The ideal ratio is four patients to each healer and I have ten beds to each healer.  What if there's an emergency?"  He demanded.  "If we were flooded as we are assigned right now we'd be lost!"

"But right now you have a ratio of one patient per healer."  Afiona pointed out logically.  "Also, the massive emergencies you are talking about are much more likely to occur during the day since that's when battles occur.  If there's an ambush and you are suddenly flooded, just order the bell rung and everyone comes running."  Afiona gritted her teeth and tried not to let her irritation with the younger man show.  He wasn't even looking at her; he was staring at the wall as if waiting for her to be quiet so he could harangue her again.  "If you don't believe you are capable of handling this shift I can assign you to the afternoon shift to help with the idiots who get heat sick."

His jaw clenched and he glared down at her.  "I can't believe you expect us to make do with half shifts and missing equipment."

Afiona stood, flattening her palms on the table to keep from making fists.  Her quickly fouling temper was obvious as she leaned forward and glared right back.  "I expect you to make do because we all must.  The front requires the supplies more than we do so odds are we are going to be continuously short of supplies.  Instead of thinking about how much of an obstacle this is posing to you, you should consider why we are short bandages."  Afiona scolded, keeping her voice pitched lower so her words wouldn't carry beyond the tent's flimsy walls.  "Now I am going to tell you what I told her.  Make do.  The only thing we rank high for is medicine because in the next few weeks we can expect to receive soldiers who have been injured severely enough that they need more than a week to recover.  Since you will be participating tomorrow along with everyone else I suggest you either get some sleep or help the others find some reasonable alternatives."

He clenched his fists and started to walk away.

Afiona sighed and sat back down, at this rate the boy would storm back home to daddy by the end of the week and she needed all the experienced Healers she could gather.  "Shain, have you wondered why I gave you that shift?"  She asked, hoping to get through his thick skull she wasn't an enemy.

He stopped.  "Because I made no secret that I think you are a cold hearted killer and you thought that giving me this is punishment?"  He snapped.

Afiona shook her head.  "I couldn't care less what your opinion of me is.  If I was insulted by it, I would certainly not have given you a supervising position.  I chose you for the position because you think on your feet, you act confident, and you have more experience than many of the others who have never had to make a life or death decision.  All qualities I need in my night supervisor."

He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her suspiciously.

"Look, I have quarters over with the Companions."  Afiona pointed out.  "I will come immediately if you call but in our work seconds count.  The other supervising Healers are not as experienced as you so I wouldn't be comfortable giving them the night shift.  Now go cool off or something, don't let our patients see you angry, it weakens their confidence in us."

He hesitated before turning and leaving with considerably less force than his first attempt.  Afiona sighed and rested her face in her hands.  Hopefully he didn't think she was just stroking his ego to keep him from storming off.

:You yelled at Mama-Afi!:  Nico's high pitched mindvoice exclaimed.

"Nico!"  Afiona yelled and ran out of the tent to find her adopted son stomping his hooves and acting decidedly like his father.  :Daric, your son is imitating you.:

:What's he doing?:  Daric asked worriedly.  Afiona got a fleeting vision of he bursting into a run towards them.

:He's threatening a Healer.:  Afiona informed him and stepped forward so Nico could see her and that she was not happy.  Shain stared at Nico like he had grown a second head.

"Don't worry, Shain.  He's just a little protective of his mother."  Afiona said.

Nico's head immediately dropped.

"Nicodimus, what do you say to Shain?"  Afiona prompted.

:I not sorry.:  Nico said sullenly.  :Mama-Afi good, not bad.:

Shain opened his mouth to say something to Afiona but she quickly interrupted him.

"He's a baby."  Afiona reminded him flatly before he could utter a word.

:Mama-Afi is very good.:  Nico insisted, stomping one hoof.

"Nicodimus, you scared Shain.  Remember what I said about scaring people on purpose?"  Afiona prompted.

Nico turned his head away but Afiona knew he could still see her easily.  :Scaring people not nice.:

"That's right.  Now what do you say."  Afiona pushed again.

:I sorry for scaring.:  He said finally.  :Mama-Afi still not bad!:

Afiona rolled her eyes, that was about as good as the apology was going to get.  "Weren't you listening to a story?"  She asked, hoping to prevent further protestations in her defense.

Nico bobbed his head enthusiastically.  :Nico and a Firebird story.:

"And you ran off in the middle of it?  That was rude."  Afiona pointed out.

Nico bobbed his head in agreement and trotted back to Stefen who had watched it all without bothering to get up.

Shain watched Nico leave then turned back to Afiona.  "Did I just hear him?"  He asked incredulously.

"Yes, he hasn't learned not to talk to other humans yet."  Afiona explained.

"He's a Companion."  Shain said in disbelief.

Daric slid to a stop in front of Afiona.  :Should I ask.:

:No, love, just remind him not to talk to strangers.:  Afiona suggested as she stroked Daric's cheek absently.

Shain's eyes darted between the two and his brow furrowed.

"Nico's father."  Afiona explained.  "I have to go.  He shouldn't pester you again."  Afiona assured Shain, hoping she was right.

As she walked away Daric stayed at her side stealing a few moments of talk with his chosen before she was again absorbed by her duties.

Shain frowned thoughtfully as he watched her walk away with the Companion before turning decisively the Bard telling stories to the colt.  "Master Bard, may I ask you a few questions?"