Becca: Ulia has blessed you with an update. As such, he has the honor of disclaimer!!

Ulia: We don't own anything, except Jay, Dena, Malkum, Kenin and other assorted random characters, which are the creation of my genius mind.

Becca: Don't mind him. He's got an ego the size of the Eastern Empire. Anyways, on to the important stuff. FYI, this chap belongs before the last chap I updated. Sorry about that. Ulia is dictating out of order *glares at evil muse*. But it's okay! This is why horsey and kitty made up so quickly! *Kenin and Dena are offended by the names I have called them and begin advancing on this poor, unarmed writer*. Huggles to all my reviewers!!

Reviewer Responses

Airotciv: okay, okay! Update coming!!

oceanmate: yea, that would be a bad idea! Here's your update! No apology necessary for the nagging- Ulia actually likes it. It makes him feel ever so appreciated!

Darienetta Stoke: thank you SOO much for that extremely complimentary review! And yes, Dena and Kenin are getting along now. They had to be- otherwise Jay and Malkum would have come down with one hell of a headache!

HeraldMage Mak: If you are thinking what Ulia thinks you are thinking, you're right!! Kudos for you! All shall be revealed in this chap!

Lurks in Shadows: aw shucks! I'm not all that good. I would give all the credit to my lovely muse, but it would give him a big head, since he does have to share the credit with Cami and Hkal, and all my other muses!!

Chapter Six: Flashbacks

Dena waited until the two lifebonded were fast in the arms of sleep –and of each other- before standing and walking over to the Companion. Kenin lay in the corner, head slumped, a picture of dejection and misery. Considering that she was currently not talking to someone who was in her head all the time, Dena was not surprised.

:Go away Dena,: she said dully. Flickers of self-hate, rising anger, fear and sorrow colored her mindvoice. :Go away.: Dena rubbed his head on her shoulder and purred.

:I know you aren't angry at me,: he chided gently. :Or even Jay or Malkum. You're confused, my dear Companion.:

:No I'm not!: she said sharply. :You and Malkum are servants of the one God. Therefore, you're evil.:

:Do you realize how much you sound like a petulant child?: Dena asked.

:You know who I am,: Kenin retorted. :You know I have an excuse.:

:Dearheart,: Dena chuckled. :I guessed! We met, once, and only for a short while. I died before you.: Kenin's head jerked up in recognition.

:You were that Son!: Her voice rang with shock. :The good one who was only on the Sun throne for- less than a candlemark!:

:Three weeks, actually,: Dena sighed. :Before Jehsan accused me of having Demon Gifts –true, I had minor Empathy- and being a heretic –not true. No one argues with the most powerful Demonsummoner in Karse, so good old Dena was burned alive and Jehsan was put on the Sun Throne.:

:The bastard caught us at the Border,: Kenin said sadly. :He called a Company of the Sunsguard out and Jhon, Dylia, Tilar and I-: Her mindvoice broke off with what could only be called a sob. Memory swamped her and Dena –with Kenin's permission- Listened and Watched.

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They were riding unhurried through Karse. Almost at the Border, Herald Kenaen, her lifebonded partner, Herald Jhon and their Companions, Tilar and Dylia, felt no hurry to return to Valdemar. It looked like a truce with Karse was possible. Son of the Sun Dena seemed unlike –as Tilar put it- :The lying weasels that have claimed to be the Son of more than a dog and a donkey that have sat on the Sun Throne since Herald Vanyel's day.:

They were strolling along, enjoying the summer day when a Company of the Sunsguard came down the road. Tilar stopped and Dylia turned and approached. "Heyla!" Jhon called to the Captain. The Captain's eyes raked them up and down and she felt a feeling very near to fear. At a barely perceptible signal, members of the Sunsguard that had circled around behind them moved forward. Kenaen noticed with fear that grew every second that they were surrounded. In a reversal of the expected, Jhon, the better diplomat of the two stepped forward, while Kenaen, his bodyguard for this trip, hung back, one hand resting casually on her sword hilt, the other ready for the dagger that could drop instantly into her hand from a wrist sheath. The Captain did not hesitate or seem at all taken aback by either the role reversal or her obviously Karsite features.

"We are diplomatic representatives of His Majesty, King Dayrin," Jhon said in clear, careful Karsite. "To the Son of the Sun Dena." The captain bared his teeth in what could hardly be called a smile.

"Rule, the False Son Dena no longer does." His Valdemarean was broken and heavily accented. Kenaen was surprised he spoke any at all. "Under the command of Son of the Sun Jehsan we are. A heretic and demon, Dena was. A truce with the Demonriders we no longer have." His leer widened. "Burned as demons and enemies of Vkandis, you will be." The Sunsguard moved forward, but the Heralds were already in motion. She drew her sword and tossed a dagger as Tilar surged forward. :Tell Dylia,: she ordered her Companion. :Just get out of here and make a run for the Border!: Grim assent was all that came from her beloved Companion.

They were fighting for their lives one second, and the next, they were galloping away. The edge of her sword was bloody, she was missing her dagger, and her shoulder throbbed from a sluggishly bleeding cut. Tilar too was bleeding from a shoulder wound.

But she did not celebrate their freedom. Tilar shrieked in fear and spun on his hindquarters, galloping back the way they had come. For Dylia and Jhon were still trapped in the circle of the Sunsguard. Please, she begged. Please Vkandis! Don't let us be- Her prayer cut off as she let out a cry of pain. She had been cut. She was bleeding from a gut wound. And the pain- Dylia went down underneath her and more pain overwhelmed her as emptiness invaded her soul.

A rush of love that had the feeling of finality behind it overwhelmed her. And then, he left her life, rushing out of her. She shrieked in pain and rage, and she lost her grip on sanity. She and Tilar charged into the fray, her sword slashing and cutting, weaving a pattern of death. I'm coming my love. Beloved, I'm coming. But one woman –even a Herald- and her Companion cannot possibly triumph against that many foes.

Pain rushed from her back all through her body. She couldn't feel her legs anymore- couldn't move them. Blood spurted from a dagger plunged into the small of her back. Tilar, momentarily distracted by the fatal blow to his Chosen, failed to dodge an arrow and the crossbow bolt thudded into his chest. Emptiness was her reality and as she tumbled from the saddle of her dead Companion to land on the churned earth, she tumbled also into blessed darkness.

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Queen's Own: I apologize for the shortness of this chap. Anyways, I hope this explains some stuff. I know it's not really a complete chap, but this was where I had to stop.

Ulia: Kenin is too distressed to say anything else. Reliving her death is very traumatic for her. And Dena respects this and goes back to sleep. The end of this chap.

Queen's Own: Praise for Ulia will be muchly appreciated!!! The next chap coming up ASAP!!!!