Queen's Own: Yet another edited chapter! This is the first one in which I have actually changed the storyline, as I felt that the first version was horrible, unrealistic and OOC.
A couple people asked what Jay was doing. She was spying on Karsite Border villages, counting troops, and sort of getting the lay of the land. She was chosen for this task because of her Gifts (quirky Fetching and Farsight and powerful Mindspeech). She wears peasant's clothes so that if anyone sees her, she won't be recognized as Valdemarean. She doesn't need to get anywhere near the villages, and if anyone sees her, they probably won't see her face. If they do get close enough, her makeup and hair dye should be sufficient to convince anyone that she's the product of a Valdemarean soldier's rape, something Karsites would believe all too easily.
Chapter Three: Of Lifebonds and Learning
Kenin and Abrem slowed their pace slightly once they were well inside Valdemar's borders. There was no sense risking their necks in a headlong dash over icy ground with all sorts of hidden snags under the snow. The Karsites wouldn't mount a rescue attempt for quite some time, with no leaders to turn to, and Malkum had nowhere to run.
Myra and Abrem left them about a candlemark after they entered Valdemar. Both thanked Jay and Kenin profusely and shot glares at Malkum before turning away. They were headed for the camp where Myra had been stationed with the Guard- they had a perfectly good Healer there and Myra was needed at her assigned post.
Before they reached camp, Kenin halted. Jay pulled Malkum's hands behind his back, and put her hand on his shoulder. It was mostly for show- Kenin wouldn't let him get away. But what's the use of an important prisoner if you don't make an impressive entrance?
"I swear," Jay said quietly into his ear. "Be harmed you won't if nothing you attempt." Malkum just swallowed hard. His face was pale, and every muscle in his body was tensed. Jay felt a pang of sympathy for him, so scared and alone-
She shook her head to clear it. Kenin picked up a parade trot. :Show off,: Jay teased. But her heart really wasn't in the teasing. Kenin didn't reply. Jay tore her gaze away from Malkum's pale hands, and her hand on his wrist to look over Malkum's shoulder at the camp.
When she spotted the place where she knew the first scout lurked, she whistled the chorus of My Lady's Eyes loudly. Malkum jumped. After a short pause, a howl answered. The sound was accompanied by a short boy, probably below minimum recruitment age for the Guard, named Mo. He had run away from a nearby farm or Hold- nobody had gotten a straight answer out of him. One hand brushed brown hair out of his eyes as they widened in shock.
The sight of a 'Karsite peasant' and a Sunpriest of Vkandis seated on the bare back of a Companion was a contradictory sight, and even with the prior warning of who it was, Mo's surprise was evident. As Jay opened her mouth to greet him, he threw back his head and let out his trademark howl.
"What kind of greeting is this?" Jay asked, smiling slightly. If there was a worried edge to the smile- well no one would notice.
"Beggin' yer pardon Lady 'Erald," the scout said. "But iff'n yer plannin' t' be bringin' that-" He shot a disdainful glare at Malkum. "-int' th' camp, Venna 'n' Rissa will be wantin' t' know."
"No harm done," Jay said, sighing. Kenin flicked an ear back at her.
:You knew they'd make a big deal out of this,: Kenin said mildly. :And with reason.:
:Yes, but-: Jay sighed. :I don't like making a big deal-: She broke off as they broke through the trees and walked into the camp.
Their welcoming party was a large one. First and foremost, was the senior Herald of the camp and Jay's commander, Herald Venna. Her Whites were slightly askew, and she had a naked sword in one hand. The other hand rested on the shoulder of a large Companion stallion. Mores was more heavily built than Kenin, and much more imposing than the delicate-looking mare –who was not in any way fragile. Just behind that pair was the camp's Healer, Rissa. She was covered in dirt, and something that looked suspiciously like blood- Jay hoped no one was seriously hurt. One hand fingered her nose as she looked from her lover to Jay and back again. The rest of the soldiers at the camp were behind them, out of rank and disorganized.
Upon seeing Jay, many of the eyes narrowed. At the sight of Malkum, several hands went directly to sword hilts. But Venna lowered her blade.
"Jay!" she said incredulously. "What happened- Who's-?"
"Herald Venna and Companion Mores," Jay said, nodding. "Healer Rissa. Allow me to introduce Sunpriest Malkum-" Her voice broke off as the Sunpriest chose that moment to lose consciousness.
Jay caught him before he slid to the ground, but it was a near thing, and she was perilously close to losing balance herself. She was rather relieved when several soldiers moved forward and she was able to lower the unconscious priest down to them. As soon as they had carried him safely out of reach, she slid off Kenin's back herself, legs protesting slightly as she hit the ground. She winced.
:I thought I was in shape!: she complained.
:You are,: Kenin comforted her. :It was a long ride over difficult terrain- and you were bareback.: Jay still grimaced.
Venna left her no time to reply, however. "You three," she ordered, motioning to the soldiers holding Malkum. "Take him to a tent- set an empty one up in the center of the camp. Then take an informal watch outside. I'll set up a formal watch schedule later." Turning, she motioned for Jay to follow her. Once inside her tent, she lost no time in demanding a report. Jay quickly related the day's events, from the time she had left camp that morning. Venna looked mildly impressed by the time she was done.
"Nice work," she said briskly. "Mores is going to relay that information to Kantor as quickly as he can. You are excused."
Jay left quickly. Finally, she thought with relief. I can take a bath! Kenin just laughed.
:First I'll give you a good grooming though,: Jay promised. :You deserve it.:
When the Companion was sparkling white, she nuzzled her Chosen. :Good work,: she said, voice filled with pride. Jay patted her absently. The words were an uncomfortable reminder of the uncertainty she still felt. An image of Malkum's terrified face seemed branded to the inside of her head. :Chosen: Kenin asked. :Are you okay?:
:Am I?: Jay asked absently, stowing her gear. :I'm not sure.:
:Go take a bath,: Kenin urged, trotting off into the woods. :You're tired.: Jay sighed.
If only I knew that was the problem…
Malkum paced his tent nervously. He'd measured it out- ten paces long, five wide. His nerves were wound to their tightest, and he could feel the beginning of a headache setting in.
It was a standard army issue tent. The soldiers had brought in a bedroll shortly after he'd regained consciousness, and left silently, giving him looks all the while. He'd laughed bitterly- they were as afraid of him as he was of them.
His panic subsided after a while, as his initial fear faded and gave him room to think. If they'd intended to kill me now, he reasoned. They wouldn't have set up a tent. The realization that he at least had time had calmed the unreasonable panic that had been starting to build.
With the absence of panic though, his mind had free rein to return to another topic. The image of the Demon Rider called Jay imposed itself in his brain, and as much as he tried, he could not make it leave. I don't trust her, he thought in frustration. She's my enemy- so why can't I get her out of my head? Those brown eyes swam into his vision, presenting him with an answer.
He collapsed in frustration, a mental tirade screaming inside his head. Most of the vocabulary used was less than holy, but he was beyond caring at that point.
:Feeling sorry for yourself?: a sarcastic voice inquired. Malkum's head jerked up at the voice that didn't pass through his ears. His eyes widened in shock and disbelief at what was sitting just inside the tent flap.
But they haven't been seen in- generations! His mind protested the very idea, while his eyes refused to repudiate what was before them and his faith demanded that he drop to his knees. Sitting inside his tent, was a cat. But to call it a cat would be to call a White Demon a horse. It's size alone would give it away- no cat was that big. Besides, any Karsite worthy of the name and quite a few other worshippers of Vkandis would have recognized the brick colored markings on its face and legs. For anyone who still doubted, large blue eyes would soon set them straight. No, this was no cat.
"A Firecat you cannot be!" Malkum blurted, voice hushed so no one outside could hear. He couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that an Avatar of Vkandis was sitting inside his tent in the middle of a Valdemarean army camp. "Impossible-"
:My name's Dena,: the Firecat interrupted. :And if it's impossible, why am I standing here?: Malkum's jaw seemed to have fixed itself to the floor.
Just then, a familiar voice came from outside the tent. "Sunpriest Malkum?"
It took a few tries to get his voice to work again. "Come in." Jay stepped into his tent, closing the tent flap behind her. She looked completely different. Her wet hair was now light brown, though a few strands remained stubbornly black. A smattering of freckles was now visible, thanks to the fact that her skin had lightened several shades. The smell of mint filled his nostrils. She was dressed in white from head to toe, a uniform that made him instinctively draw back.
"Hello," he said uncertainly.
"Hello," she replied, sounding almost shy. To Malkum's shock, Dena began twining around her legs, purring. Combined with the look he shot at Malkum, it was a clear gesture of approval. Jay bent down and picked him up easily. "I love cats," she admitted quietly in her horribly accented Karsite. "And he's a gorgeous one." She scratched him under the chin, and behind his ears before releasing him to jump to the ground. As he landed, Malkum caught the fleeting double image of a small white cat, one that would not be looked at askance as a mouser in Karse. He realized that Dena didn't want Jay knowing what he really was.
:Clever Sunpriest,: the Firecat commented as he trotted out of the tent. :Not yet anyway. She's wonderful, your Herald. Talented hands.: Malkum got a distinct feeling of amusement with that comment, that he ignored. Instead, he turned his attention back to Jay.
She looked slightly uncomfortable. "May I sit?" she asked finally. He winced at her accent. It was bad enough to have a similar effect on a cow. She saw his wince and laughed. "Apologize for my bad Karsite," she said. "Very little have I learned."
"Sit," Malkum invited, gesturing to the floor. Jay sat, crossing her legs. After a moment of hesitation, Malkum sat as well.
"We never got properly introduced," Jay said. "I'm Herald Jay and my Companion is Kenin. You know that already though."
"Sunpriest Malkum," he replied. After a moment, he continued. "A question I have. How can Karsite you speak?" Jay shrugged.
"A little I learned at the Collegium, before I became a Herald," she said. "Kenin's prompting me with the rest. How she knows is a mystery." She shrugged easily. A realization hit Malkum that sent a shiver up his spine. She was telling him this because she didn't expect him to be able to bring the information back to his people. Jay apparently didn't notice.
Her brow was furrowed with concentration, her eyes unfocused slightly. :She's talking to Kenin,: Dena supplied. Malkum jumped at the unfamiliar feeling of a voice in his head. :I gather they're having an argument.:
"Malkum," Jay said quietly. He almost missed her murmur, so quiet it was.
"Yes?" he asked, equally soft.
"Tell you this-" She hesitated, biting her lips as she searched for the words. "Should not. Kenin- not want. I- blocked her from mind." Malkum waited as she scrambled for the unfamiliar words. "To Haven, you will go. Take you- I will, I think. I-" She jumped as they both heard the mindvoice.
:Jay don't go against Kenin,: Dena said. Jay rose to her feet, a dagger in one hand.
"Who are you?" she demanded, challenging.
:A friend,: Dena said. :Kenin knows me from a long time ago.:
"But you can't be another Companion," she said, brushing hair from her eyes.
:Not a Companion, no,: the Firecat agreed. :But like. And it doesn't matter. Listen, Jay, don't make Kenin-: Jay winced visibly as Kenin broke through her shields.
:Chosen: Her mindvoice was ablaze with confusion, worry and anger. :What were you doing?: Jay shook her head and sighed.
:Nothing, Kenin,: she said. :Nothing: The Companion held back the accusations she wanted to throw at her Chosen.
:Jay: Dena said. Somehow she knew that the Firecat was speaking to her and her alone. :Jay, there's something you have to know. Normally, I wouldn't tell you this, but-: Suddenly, Kenin was rudely shoved from her mind.
:What in the seven hells-: Jay demanded in fury. Her head ached from the pressure of two minds warring to push the other out.
:YouandMalkumarelifebonded: The information hit her all at once, like a bolt of lightning. Kenin broke back into her mind, and suddenly, her head ached so fiercely she couldn't stay on her feet any longer.
She was only dimly aware of dropping to her knees, her head in both hands. Kenin's worry was at the edge of her awareness, as was Malkum's worry as he started forward to catch her. The worry of that other Voice was also dimly in her mind. But she didn't care. The only thing she was aware of, besides the pounding of her head, were those words. She was lifebonded, not to Fas her longtime lover, but to a Karsite Sunpriest.
And blessed blackness claimed her before she could dwell too long on that.
She regained consciousness in Rissa's tent. The woman's auburn hair was tickling her nose as the Healer hovered over her. "Rissa," she said. "I'm okay." The worry in the Healer's green eyes lessened slightly when it was obvious Jay was awake.
"You're alright," she said with obvious relief, straightening. "I was worried- Kenin didn't know why you were out." She handed Jay a mug that she recognized with relief as tea for headaches. "Drink." Jay gulped it down quickly, grimacing at the taste. "Can you stand?" Jay clambered to her feet, slightly unsteady.
"Mostly," she said.
"Good. Venna wants you at her tent." Jay nodded. Yelling a thank you over her shoulder, she walked to Venna's tent.
:Chosen: Kenin's tone brooked no argument. :What happened?:
:I don't know,: Jay said honestly. :Someone started Mindspeaking me –I have no idea who. You were both trying to push the other out, and I think the strain caused me to faint.: Not to mention that I just found out I'm lifebonded to a bloody Sunpriest! She purposefully left that part out of what she told Kenin. The Companion would not be happy with that piece of information.
:Come see me after Venna's done with you,: Kenin urged.
:Promise: Jay slipped into Venna's tent. The older Herald looked up.
"Jay. Have a seat." She motioned to the tent. Jay took a seat on a folding camp stool across the table from Venna. "How are you?"
"I'm all right," Jay lied. "Bit of a headache but not too bad."
"Good." Venna continued to write as she spoke to Jay. "You're the only one I can spare for this."
"For what?" Jay asked.
Venna looked up. "To escort that Sunpriest to Haven. Not surprisingly, Alberich, Her Majesty and probably Rolan's Chosen when they return, want to –ah- question him."
"You mean torture him," Jay said, a hint of venom in her voice. Venna shrugged and returned to writing.
"Either," she said, showing little worry one way or the other. "Kenin will be required to remain in contact with Mores, Caryo and Kantor in case something should go wrong. You two should take back roads, and make for Haven as quickly as you possibly can." She continued talking about the assignment, as Jay half listened. The other half was debating whether to be dismayed or overjoyed at the prospect of spending two weeks (or possibly more) alone with only Malkum and Kenin.
When Venna dismissed her, her legs took her to Kenin without breaking her from her internal conflict. The Companion met her at the outskirts of the camp and the two just walked silently into the woods.
:Why did you shield against me?: Kenin asked finally. Jay looked at her in surprise.
"I-"
:Don't lie to me. I know you shielded against me: The sadness into those sapphire eyes hardened into anger. :You were going to tell him what was going to happen to him, weren't you? Why do you feel more loyalty to a Sunpriest than to Valdemar- to your Companion:
Jay snapped. "Why are you accusing me?" she said, taking care to keep her voice down. "You don't know anything! You don't know anything about Malkum and you don't know anything about my loyalty to him." Kenin glared at her.
:Oh, so you admit it?: Kenin said coldly. :You admit being loyal to one of them: Jay felt tears gather in her eyes.
"It's not my fault what strange voices in my head tell me!" she snapped.
:Oh so now they're imparting valuable information,: Kenin said caustically.
:Quite so, Hooved Sister.: Herald and Companion spun around to face a large cat: Dena.
"It's you! You're the one who-" Jay stopped. "What are you?"
:I'm a Firecat, an Avatar of Vkandis. I'm a bit like Kenin there, though she'd rather not admit it. She doesn't like to think about Karse, do you Kenaen: If Companions could pale, Kenin would be whiter than a sheet.
:How- What- Who-:
:Later: the cat said lazily. He fixed Jay with a blue eye. :She doesn't know what I told you earlier.: Jay hoped this was in Private-mode. :I'd suggest you keep it that way for a while. She's had enough surprises for one day.: Kenin looked from one to the other, eyes wide with fear. Without warning, she turned and galloped away. Jay watched her go, looking lost.
"Why'd she run?" she asked softly.
:She'll tell you in time.: Dena rubbed against her leg comfortingly. But all Jay could do was stare blankly after her best friend who had just run from her.
To avoid thinking about what had happened, she returned to her tent. There, alone beneath the canvas, she cried, stifling her sobs so no one would hear. When Kenin never spoke to her, to apologize, ask if she was okay or even to yell at her, Jay fell into an exhausted sleep.
Jay looked around and started at the sight that met her eyes. Only she wasn't in control of her body. She was, she saw, a young girl of about nine or ten. Surrounding her was a Karsite village, much like those she had been spying on these past months. She was hidden at the back of a crowd, watching a Sunpriest speak.
"Heretics!" he yelled, in Karsite that she realized she could understand. "The village, we must cleanse!" A shiver crept down her spine as she heard his hateful thoughts, his angry mind raging along with his words. And beneath it all, the worse, were those cold and calculating thoughts. She had demon powers. And she was afraid.
The villagers were only a confused babble of fear and apprehension. Silently, she crept away, unnoticed, to find a horse. I have to get out of here, the little girl told herself. Otherwise- Jay swallowed back tears looking at the girl's memories of other children burned at stake by Vkandis' will.
A touch on her shoulder made her jump and almost drop the saddle she held. She spun around, but laughed nervously upon seeing who her intruder was. "Just a horse," she said. "Sad sight when afraid of you I am."
She met his eyes, and then she did drop the saddle. For they were sapphire eyes, and they held her in their warmth. She flung her arms around his neck, feeling safer than she had since discovering her demon powers.
:I am Tilar: the horse said. :And I Choose you, sister of my heart. Come quickly, we must leave.: As though in a daze, she climbed into his saddle. She knew he was a Demon Horse, but some how, she couldn't bring herself to care. She had demon powers- they were a match. And oh that love- she couldn't refuse him.
He snuck out of the village with a skill she wouldn't have expected in a horse that big. Once clear, he picked up a gallop, the fastest of any horse she'd ever ridden or seen. She clung on as he galloped away from the only life she'd ever known. And she didn't care.
Jay woke, startled to see daylight outside the tent. Strange dream, she thought. And yet- it had a different feel than a dream. More real somehow.
:Kenin: she asked, Sending an image of the dream. Kenin didn't reply, but Jay felt a trace of sorrow that the Companion couldn't block. :Kenin: she persisted. :I know you're angry with me, but-:
:Nothing: Kenin said, almost angry. :It was nothing.: But it all too clearly wasn't nothing.
Queen's Own: Review my luvs! Tell me what you thought. Again, almost doubled the length of this chapter, and improved the plot. I'm very pleased with myself. But that doesn't mean anything unless I hear something from you!