Yeah! Reviewer responses!!
etcetera-cat: Yeah! You guessed! Venna and Jay are kind of overreacting to the whole helping Malkum to escape idea, but then again, you can't blame them; isn't every day a Herald tries to commit treason.
mysticmoods: Well, Venna and Jay were kind of overreacting and scared that Kenin would repudiate her. It probably wouldn't have happened, but hey, they were scared.
hawk: um, I think it could have been either one, but thanks!!
For all of you who said Jay and Malkum shouldn't have lifebonded so quickly, what about Selenay and Daren? Lifebonded right there on the battlefield. Most lifebonds don't form that quickly, but some do.
wizard116: all shall be explained in this chap.
arrowblade, caoilte, and The Chaotic Ones, thanks ever so much for reviewing!!!
Sorry I've been so long updating; been busy with school –why is everything always due at the same time?!- and other ficcies (read Flawed Gems- its better now, I swear!). But here's your next chappie. Hope you like!!
Chapter Four: We're on the Road
Three days later, a silent party began their journey to Haven. They were a strange group indeed. A Sunpriest rode behind a Herald of Valdemar on a Companion's back. A white cat perched behind the Sunpriest, claws dug into the Companion's saddlepad to keep from falling. An acute observer would have noticed small symbols of the tension that hung around the group; the way the Herald's hands were white knuckled from clinging to the pommel, how the Sunpriest tried to avoid even the most casual contact with the Herald –hard to do when you're riding two to the same horse-, how the Companion was tense with eyes as hard as sapphires, how the cat was smirking.
Kenin still wasn't speaking to Jay. Jay was therefore either on the edge of tears or seething with rage. Malkum was too scared to talk –being well within the borders of your country's ancient enemy did that to you- and Dena was being his aloof self and not telling anyone anything. Tension hung over the group as they rode along in silence –the uncomfortable kind of silence, not the companionable type.
:You know,: Dena commented sarcastically when they'd been traveling for about a candlemark. :Some of us would be a lot happier if Kenaen there would just slow down!: The Companion snorted. Jay furrowed her brow in puzzlement.
:I'll slow down when I want to,: Kenin snapped. :I don't make it a habit to listen to annoying, priggish cats!:
"Kenin!" Jay yelled. "Don't insult Dena when you are being an equally priggish horse!" She grabbed the reins of the hackamore and jerked Kenin's head up. Kenin, surprised, didn't react until her head was in the air. She would have reared were it not for the weight on her back. As it was, she kicked slightly. "Now you listen to me, you prat of a pony! I am not a stupid girl, I am not lovesick. I am making clear decisions with a brain. And may I remind you, you got me into this mess in the first place by Choosing me! We're going to be together until we die, so you'd sure as hell better start talking to be again, or you're going to have a very long life, not talking to your Chosen." Kenin stamped in irritation, a mood that was not helped by Dena's approving words, describing Kenin in a fashion that was not at all flattering. Jay snorted with laughter.
:I can quickly remedy the situation of your being my Chosen,: Kenin said angrily. :I should have never Chosen you, you stupid girl. You committed treason, you consort now with a Firecat and a Sunpriest as though they were of us- You are a traitor, Jay. You shouldn't be a Herald. I don't know why I Chose you, but it was a mistake.:
"Fine," Jay hissed. "But I always thought you had to be a dog to be an evil bitch." Kenin's fury was apparent to the least observant of viewers now.
:And I never thought I'd see the day when a Herald would get along better than a Firecat from Karse: -she spat the word as though it were something filthy. :Than her own Companion.:
:I beg to differ,: Dena said placidly. Kenin rounded on him.
:You are not helpful, you interfering, meddling, mangy, flea ridden feline! Butting in here like you know everything- well you know nothing. If you wanted to be omnipotent, you should have been here when the war started!: Dena's eyes showed a flash of sorrow.
:I tried to, Kenaen. I tried.: His mindvoice was heavy with guilt. :You have no idea.:
:Oh I think I do,: she retorted. :Should I bow now, o' Son?: Sarcasm tinged her voice an ugly purple. Jay didn't understand that last bit.
"Both of you, quit being jealous! Dena, you did come and screw with Malkum's and my life quite neatly. Thank you very much for that. But Kenin, you are being an evil bitch. Put on a happy smile and meddle through life with the rest of us mortals, won't you?" Malkum hadn't said a word through this whole silent exchange, staring in confusion from cat, to Herald, to Demonhorse.
"About what are you speaking?" he asked in slow, laborious Valdemarean. Jay smiled at him, a welcome expression on her face, for all that it was layered with anger, guilt and fear.
"Kenin's being incredibly rude to both Dena and myself," she replied. Kenin protested loudly and rudely. Jay yanked her head again, but Kenin ripped her reins through the hand of her Chosen, pulling her head back down. Jay hissed in pain. The reins had left a raw patch running through both of her palms. Dena hissed at Kenin in the angry manner cats are famous for, and responded by rubbing his head against Jay's elbow, the only part of her he could reach. Malkum fixed the back of Kenin's neck in an angry glare.
The rest of the ride was silent. Kenin brooded, Dena fumed, Jay muttered evil things under her breath and Malkum sat, slightly unsure of what to do, still trying not to touch Jay, even when he was perilously close to falling out of the saddle, something Kenin made no effort to prevent. They stopped once at midday, giving Malkum a chance to stretch muscles unused to riding all day. Dena caught a mouse and ate it. Jay grudgingly loosened Kenin's girth and allowed her to graze. The humans shared a meal of cheese, bread and sausage that Dena gracefully declined and Kenin stuck up her nose to. After washing the frozen food down with a gulp of water, Jay tightened her Companion's girth again and mounted up in front of Malkum who had already climbed into the saddle. Dena sprang into Jay's lap this time, a gesture that pleased Jay and served to further enrage Kenin, though the only comment she made was traitor, which Jay ignored.
Their ride through the afternoon was also a silent one. As dark started to fall, so did snow. Kenin took in the change in the weather with a feeling of alarm. Dena tensed. :That can't be good,: he commented. :Storms here tend to spring up out of nowhere and be awfully nasty.: Jay nodded her agreement. She'd never actually seen one of the monster storms, but she'd heard too many horror stories from the soldiers, many of whom were from this region.
:There's a Waystation back a little ways,: she commented to Kenin. The Companion replied with a dismissive snort, but did turn around. She picked up her pace too, as the wind began to seep through her coat and Dena's as well as Jay and Malkum's cloaks. Before long, the storm had picked up to the point where Jay couldn't see far past the tips of Kenin's ears. Thankfully, that was the point where they turned down a nearly invisible track that Jay knew led to the Waystation.
They were within reach of the warm shelter within seconds. Fortunately, someone had kindly provided firewood, so all they had to do was start a fire. The four of them entered the Waystation as quickly as was possible, and Jay and Malkum shouldered the door shut against the wind. Jay then turned her attention to lighting a fire while Dena directed Malkum on how to untack and groom Kenin. The Companion's annoyance at being cared for by a Sunpriest was evident.
Jay had a respectable fire going soon and she soaked in its warmth gratefully. Dena stretched out like an oversized hearthrug. :I do believe that I have found the Havens. I shall simply stay here for the rest of eternity.: Kenin snorted.
:I've seen the Havens,: she said scornfully. :And there are no Sunpriests in them. They rot in hell.: Dena's tail hit the floor hard. Thud, thud, thud. Jay, who was thoroughly sick of her Companion's close-minded attitude, walked over, shouldered Malkum out of the way with a quick apology and grabbed Kenin's nose, pulling her down to stare into Jay's very angry eyes.
"Now you listen to me," she said, both in mindspeech and vocal speech. "You are an annoyance, Kenin. You are getting in the way, and you are making all of us angry. I am sick and tired of it, Kenin. Stop it or else."
:Don't think you can lord over me,: Kenin said in disgust. :By Vkandis, you're as bad as they are! Not only do you side with them against your own Companion, but you've lifebonded to him! Don't think I'm blind. I can see. I should recognize a lifebond.: All at once her voice was sad as well as angry. :You think you're all special- it won't last, Jay. It can't and it won't. You're a traitor and traitors burn.: With those ominous words, she pulled her head from her Chosen's grasp and walked over to a far corner. Jay blinked back hot tears.
"I hate you, Kenin!" she sobbed. "I hate you- more than anything!" The Companion jerked her head up, and for one second her eyes reflected her pain. Then, they were cold and hard once more.
:Why should I care? The feeling's mutual.: Jay stood there for a split second, stunned, before collapsing into tears. Unseeing, she collapsed against a shoulder that belonged to the arms that awkwardly embraced her, sobbing her heart out.
Malkum hesitantly embraced the sobbing Herald, her head on his shoulder. Much to his chagrin, he found himself enjoying the sensation of being this close to Jay. Dena walked over and rubbed against Jay's leg, purring comfortingly. The Herald ignored him. Malkum directed an angry stare at the Companion.
:If we are all that bad,: Dena said absently. :Why did she swear by Vkandis?: Malkum jerked his head up. The thought had never occurred to him- :And you had no way of knowing,: the Firecat said, barely suppressed rage turning his mindvoice red. :Kenin is being so awful- but trust me, it will get back to her in the end. A Herald can't survive without her Companion, true, but it works both ways.:
Malkum didn't know how long he held the sobbing Herald in his arms. It felt like a long time before the tears stopped. Instead of raising her head, though, Jay went limp and he staggered with her dead weight.
:She fell asleep,: Dena said.
"What do I do?" Malkum asked in Karsite.
Dena twitched his tail irritably. He walked over to the pile of packs Kenin had carried and easily unfastened and unrolled one that proved to be a bedroll, a feat that left Malkum staring. :Lay her down on this, and cover her with a blanket.: Malkum awkwardly did as he was told. Dena stretched out over Jay's feet.
"And where do I sleep?" Malkum asked.
Dena didn't even open his eyes. :Next to her. It's going to get awfully cold.: Malkum had a second's hesitation before lying next to the Herald. To his mixed delight and horror, she curled against him, laying her head on his shoulder. Malkum fell asleep listening to the snow falling outside and the heartbeat of the Herald beside him.
~They had fled through the woods. Now, the plants hadn't changed, the animals hadn't changed, but Tilar slowed down. :We're safe,: he said. She hugged his neck, shedding very few tears for the loss of all she had known before. Tears would come later, when it had all sunken in. "Heyla! Who's this?" She shrank back instinctively from the White Demon and his Demonhorse. :Herald and his Companion,: Tilar corrected gently. :You need not fear them.: Tentatively, she waved. The rider smiled and waved back, drawing up beside her. He was older, a comforting smile on his face. His eyes widened as he took in her distinctive features. "Tilar!" he exclaimed. "She's not- Karsite!" Even though he did not speak her language, she could understand him. :It is because of me, love. Tell him this.: Tilar gave her the words to say. "Karsite I am. Kenaen, my name is. Tilar's Chosen, I am." The Herald stared in awe. "Bloody hell!" he said finally. "I'm Jak."~
A/N Well??? What do you think? Reviews are loved muchly!! Check out my other ficcies too- Flawed Gems especially hasn't gotten many reviews! Zhai'helleva! ~Queen's Own