The next of the edited chapters! A huge improvement yet again if I do say so myself.
Chapter Two: Of Rescues and Reunions
A week later, Jay was yet again crouching on the ground outside a Karsite village. The onset of spring had been fickle this year, with warm weather one day, and blizzards the next. The week had been a particularly warm one, but with lots of rain. Unfortunately, the day before the temperature had plunged and the ground had gone from muddy to frozen. Her shins and knees ached from the number of times she had slipped and fallen on the icy ground.
To make everything worse, it was early morning and she was cold and grumpy. She had been up late last night, getting counts on a particularly stubborn group of soldiers who wouldn't have the common courtesy to all be in the same place at the same time. It had been past midnight by the time she'd finally gotten to her bed. Four candlemarks later, she had been rousted out of her warm bed by Kenin to pull on clothes, stumble out into the cold and ride bareback for three candlemarks. It was only supposed to be a two candlemark ride at most, but the ice had prevented Kenin from going her usual pace. The sun had been up by the time they'd reached this village. And now she was crouching, cold, hungry and irritable, behind what Kenin insisted was a tree but really looked like no more than a stick planted in the ground.
:I haven't eaten in more than three candlemarks!: she complained. :And all I ate this morning was a roll with sausage and a cup of hot tea.:
:May I remind you who it was doing all the running?: the Companion asked. It was evident by her tone that Jay was not the only one who wasn't a morning person.
:It's not like I just sit there,: she retorted. :And besides, you aren't the cold one. I forgot my jacket.:
:The sooner you get numbers,: Kenin said. :The sooner we can embark on our quest back to warmth. So get those damn numbers! Otherwise you'll have to defrost me: Jay sent the mental equivalent of sticking out her tongue before breaking the link.
Things were starting to look up a candlemark later. But, that was when light flurries of snow started falling- and the temperature dropped.
:Gods all bless it!: she shrieked at Kenin. :Someone up there hates me!:
:Somehow, I doubt it,: Kenin said. :I'm as cold as you are. And everyone knows Companions are supremely wise and godly beings.: Jay replied with several rude words regarding just how wise and blessed her Companion was. :Rude I'm not talking to you anymore until you get numbers.: Jay sighed heavily. It was going to be a long day.
It was a candlemark before she heard from Kenin again. :Chosen:
:I thought you weren't talking to me,: Jay said irritably. :I haven't gotten any numbers yet.:
:Oh damn the numbers,: Kenin said rudely. :Do you know Herald Myra: Jay thought for a moment. Myra had been several years ahead of her at the Collegium, her lifemate Evas several years ahead of her. Myra was stationed with the Guard somewhere along the Border, but Jay hadn't talked to her much ever.
:Yes…Vaguely,: Jay said slowly. :Why: A cold chill settled in the bottom of her stomach.
:Apparently she was captured by the Karsites less than a week ago,: Kenin said quickly. :Evas has been frantic as has Abrem –her Companion. They haven't been able to get anywhere near her until now. We're the closest to her. Abrem will meet us to try to cut her loose before they move inland and- We've got to go now.: Jay was already running.
Kenin met her halfway, and she vaulted onto the Companion's back. Ignoring the flurries of snow, and the frozen ground, Kenin took off. Jay flattened herself on the Companion's back as she galloped.
It took them half a candlemark to meet up with Abrem. Several minutes later, Jay found them on the top of a familiar ridge, cloaked by the snow. It was the village where she'd met that Sunpriest- but she didn't think about it long before Kenin plunged down the slope, following the stallion.
The scene at the bottom of the hill was fairly typical of the Karsite Border. A tall, thin woman in Whites was standing on a platform in the middle of the town, tied to a pole. There was –thank the Gods- no wood piled around the bottom. A Sunpriest stood next to her, speaking quickly. The soldiers and townsfolk stood around him, watching.
The Sunpriest was the first to see them emerge from the snow. His voice broke off as his eyes widened. One by one, the people around him turned. Chaos erupted, as they sighted the two Companions charging through the snow. :Quite a dramatic entrance, if I do say so myself,: Kenin commented.
Calls of "White Demons!" "Demon Rider!" and "Hellhorses!" heralded their arrival. Kenin and Abrem caused a considerable amount of havoc, as the mostly unarmed soldiers ran for weapons, the townsfolk rushed for shelter, and the captain and the Sunpriest called for what Jay assumed was order. Herald Myra looked up at them, tired eyes showing glimmerings of joy.
In the midst of the melee, Jay had slipped off Kenin's back. She used her previously gained knowledge of the village to sneak around behind the platform. Sword drawn, and daggers loosened in their sheaths, she hoisted herself silently onto the platform. No one saw her as she drew closer and closer to her target. Her Companion worried, but didn't dare send a mental note of caution for fear of causing her to shift her weight wrong and alert her quary.
The Sunpriest began to turn. Before he could react, Jay grabbed his arms and wrenched them upwards, something she knew from experience was very painful. With a gasp of pain, he dropped to his knees. Jay laid her sword across his throat. "Don't move," she hissed in badly accented Karsite. "Or I slit your throat."
A deadly quiet spread over the scene, as the soldiers saw their priest held. "The Herald, release," Jay ordered. "Move nobody." The soldiers shifted uncertainly, looking for orders. They wouldn't be getting them- Jay caught sight of the captain's sightless eyes from where he lay. Finally, one young man came nervously up behind Myra and cut the cords binding her to the pole. Abrem came right up to her, and she slid onto his back. Jay noted with relief that though she favored her right leg, and wasn't moving her right shoulder much, she seemed all right.
:Kenin: Jay said, keeping a careful eye on the scene. :Come over here. I'm going to see if we can't get Haven a Sunpriest.: Kenin returned with agreement, followed by caution and worry.
With a bit of mental strain, Jay Fetched the dagger from his waist. Thankfully it was light- probably mostly ornamental. "Stand," she ordered. The Sunpriest complied.
"If kill me you will," he muttered. "Quickly, do it."
"Death's too quick," Jay muttered in Valdemarean. In Karsite, she replied, "Ride my horse you will. Quickly we go." Fear was becoming evident in the Sunpriest's posture as he swung one leg over Kenin's back, having no choice but to comply. The soldiers watched helplessly as Jay mounted up behind him, not daring to venture closer due to the Companion's murderous hooves and the sword still across their priest's throat.
Jay sheathed her sword quickly as the two Companions took off galloping. They were out of sight of the village within moments. Her breathing eased as they got further and further away.
:Kenin: she asked. :IsMyra okay?:
:Her ankle's sprained, she thinks,: the Companion replied. :And her shoulder's badly bruised. But except for an assortment of minor bruises, there's nothing else.: Jay breathed a sigh of relief. Karsites were not known for their hospitality.
"Your name?" she asked the Sunpriest.
"Malkum," he said tersely. Jay started. He twisted slightly in the saddle to face her. Meeting her eyes, he inhaled sharply in surprise. "Seen you before, I have. On the hill-"
"Yes," she said, without elaboration. Those dark eyes still threatened to drown her in their depths. She turned her face away quickly and he turned back around to face front.
:Chosen-: Kenin warned sharply.
:I'm fine,: Jay reassured her.
:Tell him to stop squeezing with his legs,: the Companion said. :It hurts.: Jay relayed the request.
"Talk- it does?" Malkum said in surprise.
"A lot," Jay said wryly. "My head inside. Called Mindspeech." Malkum hesitated.
"Going where, are we?" he asked fearfully.
"Camp," Jay said shortly. She saw him swallow, and felt a pang of pity.
:Don't forget what Myra looks like,: Kenin said with a bit of heat. :Don't forget what priests like him have done to your fellow Heralds.: Jay bit back the protest that he was different. He wasn't really- or if he was, she had no way of knowing or proving it.
"A name, do you have?" he asked, after several long moments of watching the countryside fly by.
"Jay," she said. "Herald Jay. This is Kenin." She gestured to the Companion. Not surprisingly, Malkum ignored this piece of information.
For the rest of the ride, Malkum stared deliberately at the snow being kicked up by Kenin's hooves. Jay stared at her hands, gripping his wrists loosely incase he should try to jump free.
But as they passed the lightning struck tree that for her was the landmark for the Border, Jay caught sight of his profile as he turned to look behind them. Pure, unadulterated fear flashed across it, before disappearing from her gaze. Something tugged at her heartstrings when she saw it. That moment of empathy shook her to the core.
Why am I thinking like this? she wondered. About a- Sunpriest?
Queen's Own: Too short, I know! But like I said last time, it's an improvement by twice over last time, and I'm still not combining chapters. So I'm pretty proud of myself. Review my dears! What wonderful motivators those things are.