Thanks for the nice reviews. ^_^ I've written another chapter, in pretty quick time, for me, anyway *laughs*
Now I'm glad I learned what little html I have done since it doesn't seem to look good any other way *smiles*
The usual disclaimer holds - I'm just borrowing Ms. Lackey's characters for a bit, and throwing in a few of my
own into the mix to see what happens. I may give them back *winks* when I'm done...Read on...
Chapter 2 - More Questions Than Answers
Tantris sat down heavily in one of the thickly padded chairs in front of the fireplace
and held his head in his hands. Vanyel looked at him, his eyebrows rising ever higher with
every passing moment. Finally the silence got to him and he cleared his throat. This brought
the Herald to his senses and he looked at his friend slowly.
"Start at the beginning," Vanyel said calmly. "I want to hear everything, even the smallest
detail could help."
"There's not much to tell," Tantris replied tiredly. "I was spending some time with Delian
in the Companions' Field when I saw this incredibly bright light coming from the Companions'
Grove. I'd wondered what was going so went to investigate. That was when I found the woman
and contacted you."
He sighed.
"I don't really know what to do either. When I went to see if she was still alive, I felt
these strange feelings coming from her. I know now she's an Empath but..." He trailed off,
not sure what to say next.
He sat staring out the window, lost in thought, for what seemed like an eternity. Vanyel
brought him back with a discreet cough.
"What sort of strange feelings?" he asked, reminding his friend of what they'd been talking
about.
Tantris thought for a moment.
"I'm not really sure, to tell you the truth. It was a jumble of pain, confusion...I'm not
sure at all. I'm not even sure why I felt it all, even if she was an Empath. Why me and not
the whole Collegium? Or even the whole of Haven?"
Vanyel had no idea himself. He wondered why, given his Gate sensitivity, he never felt a
thing and said as much to the other Herald. Tantris shrugged.
"I don't know that either. It didn't really feel like a Gate to me - I've seen you and Savil
do it enough times I think I would know," he sighed. "Delian told me she had Mindspeech, very
strong Empathy and also the Bardic Gift. Why she'd have both I don't know and I'm not sure I
want to at this point."
An urgent-sounding knock came at the door. Vanyel moved soundlessly, taking down the wards.
To both Heralds' surprise, a Healer stood uncertainly in the doorway.
"Is there something you need us for?" Vanyel asked, a little shortly, unhappy at being
interrupted.
The Healer cleared his throat and got straight to the point.
"The woman is very ill, we're not sure what's going on but we think that...well," he appeared
very nervous indeed. "We think that Herald Tantris may be able to help since he was the one
who found her in the first place. We found...some sort of tie between them." Here he glanced
at the Herald in question. "I swear it's a lifebond, though how it could be since he said she
never spoke or even opened her eyes.." he trailed off at the odd expressions on the two Heralds'
faces.
Vanyel recovered quicker than his friend. After all, he knew how quickly a lifebond could develop.
It raised even more unanswered questions but they could wait. They needed to make sure the woman
made it through whatever was the matter with her.
"Let's get going, then," he replied, grabbing his friend's arm and almost physically shoving him
through the door after the Healer, who had scuttled away as soon as his message had been delivered.
Vanyel chuckled dryly. He seemed to have that effect on people. Tantris still seemed to be in
complete and utter shock at the news, though Yfandes didn't seem to be surprised at all.
:Is this one of those things you're not going to tell us about until we need to know?: he asked
his Companion sarcastically.
:Yes: Yfandes relplied calmly and left it at that.
Vanyel hmpfed in annoyance and led his bemused friend towards the Healer's Collegium, doubtful
that Tantris would make it on his own at the rate he was going. They could finish their conversation
later when things calmed down.
