Chapter Four

"The House of Healing, this is. Attached to the Healer's Collegium, it is, here on the Palace grounds," Herald Alberich said as he walked. Mairi gave a start, as she realized that she, a lowly, orphaned, thieving bastard, was on the Palace grounds. :None of that: chided Aranya in her head. :You shouldn't think like that here. Nobody cares about who you were before you came here. All that matters is that you're a Herald-Trainee now.:But why do they trust me: thought Mairi, amazed at the knowledge that they let a thief wander on Palace grounds and didn't care. :Because you're with me.: Aranya said simply. :Companions don't Choose bad people. Everybody knows that.:

Mairi puzzled a while over this before she realized Herald Alberich was starting to talk again. "The Bardic Collegium, over there is. Herald's Collegium just after, is. Take you to see the Dean of this, I do." Mairi felt apprehensive. A dean? What'll he think of me? :Chosen, Elcarth is one of the nicest Heralds and he's seen Trainees from so many different places and backgrounds that you won't be anything of a surprise.: Aranya stated, a little annoyed with her Chosen's surety that people would hate her because of what she was. So annoyed that, unbeknown to Mairi, she sent out a mind call to Cymry, the Companion to Skif. Minutes later, a figure dressed all in pale gray came running up to them.

"Alberich," he gasped. "Cymry got a message…Hullo, who's this?" He stared at Mairi, a look of good-natured inquisitiveness on his face. "Gods, she looks…"

Alberich interrupted him mid-sentence. "Mairi, this is, a newly-Chosen. Mairi, Skif, this is. Good, this meeting is. Talk, you should. Have things in common, you do. Skif, leave her to you, I do. Meet the Dean, she must. Classes to teach, have I." He turned away, leaving the two of them alone. They looked at each other for a minute or two.

"Hullo," Skif said finally. "So, you're a new-Trainee? Where are you from?"

Mairi looked at her feet and whispered, "Near Exile's Gate."

"Me, too!" said Skif. Mairi's eyes flew up. There was another of her kind here? "I worked for my uncle Londer for a couple of years, then set off and joined a thief gang. They trained me in the liftin' lay and roof work. Then I saw this white horse that wasn't secure and I thought to steal her. Turned out she was Cymry, a Companion, and she had decided to Choose me. How 'bout you?"

"I worked for a guy called Roskyter for about eight years. First, I just ran errands and the like, but later, I worked in the common room. 'Bout half way through, he trained me to be his pet thief. I didn't do roof work, just was a common pickpocket with a sweet face that nobody ever thought was the cause of their missing valuables. Tried to lift Herald Alberich's purse. He caught me and I thought he was going to throw me in gaol. Later, when I found he was a Herald I was sure that I was going to the noose. That was the night of the storm. I passed out, and woke at the Healer's. He was there and I still thought he was going to hurt me, so I tried to escape. He caught me, and then Aranya came in and Chose me." She raised her eyes to look at Skif after her little litany.

"Nice," was all that he said. "Guess Alberich was right. We are alike. Hunh." They were fast approaching a large building, built entirely of stone. "Well," Skif said. "Here we are. The Herald's Collegium. Home for you for the next few years."

"Is it all the Collegium?" Mairi asked, astonished that such a large building would be dedicated to learning place for Heralds.

"Nah," answered Skif. "Most of it's the Palace, and some are the Heralds living quarters." He seemed so casual and nonchalant about it that Mairi was shocked. The Palace? She thought. Me at the Palace? :Chosen: Aranya said timidly. :I have to leave now. I cannot go inside with you.: Mairi was at first a little nervous about entering such a large place with so many strangers, but the outburst of love that Aranya sent through their link was enough for her to let go her clutch on Aranya's mane and let her leave as she entered with Skif.

Mairi immediately noticed the rush of people, many of whom gave her curious glances. She was apprehensive and more than a little frightened. This was nothing like her old neighborhood, where everyone was just too busy minding their own business to pay attention to anyone else. But Skif steered her through the crowd eventually leading her through a door into a cramped office. At first, it appeared as though no one was there.

"Herald Elcarth?" Skif called out. They heard the faint echo of a crash from somewhere inside.

"Just a minute!" a friendly-sounding, male voice called back. Moments later, a small, bird-like man appeared from inside what resembled a very messy storage closet. He had his arms full with scrolls and pieces of parchment. He looked at Mairi closely, and Mairi immediately felt herself being scrutinized carefully. "You are Mairi, my Companion says. Newly Chosen by Aranya. Hmm…" he said, dropping the scrolls on his cluttered desk. "Skif, you may go, for now at least," he said, a polite dismissal. Skif winked at Mairi on his way out the door, and Mairi allowed herself to relax just slightly.

Herald Elcarth beckoned Mairi to take a seat in an ancient leather armchair.