Queen's Own: So, here after a long wait is the next chapter of White Flame. No reviewer responses this chapter- that will wait until the next one sorry guys! I appreciate all the reviews so much, regardless. Longer author's note at the bottom!
Disclaimer: I'm too young to be Misty!
Chapter Eight: Of Splashing, Swimming and Rain
Telling Kenin turned out to be harder than Jay had expected. She had expected to be furious with her Companion, what with all the emotional ups and downs of the last few days. Yet the only feelings she could summon up were confusion and a bit of sadness.
She knew everyone could tell something wasn't quite right. So, being the friends they were, they decided to make her spill before they left for the day. Conspiring amongst themselves by use of mindspeech, Dena and Kenin conspired for Kenin and Jay to go on a long walk down to the stream to get water.
Jay had scarcely boosted herself onto Kenin's bare back to begin their lazy amble down to the stream, when Kenin asked what was wrong. To Jay's astonishment, a few tears began to trickle down her cheeks.
:You lied,: was the first thing out of her mouth.
:Loverling, what's wrong?: Kenin's mindvoice was concerned.
:This.: Too tired to explain, Jay simply shoved the whole dream into her Companion's head. It took very little time for the Companion to sort through it, and when she had, she stopped dead. :How is that possible?:
Kenin hesitated before plunging ahead. :When Heralds die –and not just Heralds, Companions, Bards, Healers too- they don't just go to the Havens. They're given a choice. They can either go on to the Havens- or they can come back. Companions remember their past lives, everyone else doesn't. That's what happened to Dena too, only he was a Son of the Sun –a decent one, don't worry- and came back as a Firecat. Malkum knows, because Firecats don't try to keep that little detail secret from their followers. We Companions do.:
:Oh.: It took a few minutes for Jay to process this information.:Why didn't you tell me?: There was very little accusation in the Herald's Voice; instead there was resignation and sadness. :You know everything there is to know about me. I thought you trusted me to know everything there was about you. I guess I was wrong.: The tears began to slide down her cheeks faster, still silent.
:Jay- Chosen- It's not that I didn't want to tell you,: Kenin said. :It's just that- those rules have been in place for centuries. I couldn't just break them. We're not allowed to tell our Chosen about our past lives.:
:Oh.: She was silent for a moment, as though working up the courage to ask something she didn't quite want to know the answer to. :How- why do you hate Malkum if you are –you were- just like him?: Kenin's silence must have scared her, for she quickly added:Don't be mad. You don't have to answer, it's okay, I was just- wondering.:
:No,: Kenin said. :You should know. I spent my entire life fighting Karse. In the end, I was stabbed in the back and Jhon, Dylia, Tilar and I were killed by the Sunsguard. I hated my homeland, and in effect, hated my family. And there is no worse feeling, than feeling as though you betrayed someone. I love you too much to ever let you feel that. I wanted to help you- wanted to protect you. Stupid, I know, but I don't want to ever feel that again.:
:It's not stupid.: Jay reached down and looped her arms around Kenin's neck. :When you love someone, you can forgive them their mistakes.:
At some point during the exchange, Kenin had begun walking again. The rushing of the stream broke their companionable silence. Jay wiped the tears from her eyes, swung one leg over Kenin's back and hopped down. She filled their flasks and a bucket with the icy water before turning to walk back with her Companion.
Dena and Malkum were relieved to see a much happier Jay enter the Waystation. The immediate emotional problem gone, they were out of the Waystation within a candlemark. The four talked happily, though to an onlooker, it would have been a very fragmented conversation, due to the combination of mindspeech and regular speech being used.
They stopped briefly for lunch, before continuing on. By the time they stopped for the night, they were well away from the Border and into warmer, less hostile country. There were more people here, though, and more Heralds, making it harder to stay relatively unnoticed. Kenin took back roads, and they traveled well past dark to make it to an unoccupied Waystation instead of staying at an inn.
This was the norm for the next few days. It was about halfway to Haven that they had their first encounter with another human. It was a Herald on circuit. Dena, who had taken to running along the road to scout ahead, alerted Kenin several minutes before they ran into each other; a good thing since it really wouldn't do for another Herald to see the way Jay leaned against Malkum, the way the two were joking familiarly and how relaxed Kenin and Jay were about escorting a potentially dangerous Sunpriest to Haven. With the warning, they were able to pull together an image that matched the heavily edited reports Kenin was sending Caryo, Kantor and Mores.
Herald Karina and her Companion Dain rounded the corner to an unexpected sight. A young Herald sat, back rigid, behind a Karsite Sunpriest. The Sunpriest had his hands uncomfortably on the pommel and looked more than a bit terrified.
"Heyla!" Jay called to the approaching Herald. The woman played with the black braid that fell over one shoulder as her eyes scanned the group. She was young, Jay observed. It was probably only her first time on circuit.
"Hello," the Herald called back. "How's the Border been?"
Jay shrugged. "No better, no worse than usual. I'm glad to be out of there, frankly- this job isn't too demanding. We can take our time."
Karina smiled lightly. "He's not giving you any trouble?"
"Does he look up to it?" Jay asked scornfully. Her heart twisted as she referred to Malkum with disdain. "He's been terrified out of his wits ever since we got more than a day away from the Border. One of us always has to be awake, but I get more sleep than I did before I got on the road to Haven."
Karina laughed. "I'm glad I drew circuit."
"When does your circuit end?" Jay asked.
"Oh, I've got another year," Karina said. "And hopefully, they'll just keep me out here. I like it. The people are nice, country's easy."
"Do you have any fresh food?" Jay asked curiously. "For obvious reasons, we haven't been able to restock along the way- can't bring him within arms length of a town." Karina laughed.
"There's a Waystation down a little ways," she offered. "If you can wait there, I'll be back within a candlemark with the best food you'll see in this area."
"My thanks," Jay called over her shoulder as Kenin started walking. "You'll stay and eat with me? It's been rather lonely, with only my lovely Companion for company."
"I'd be happy to," Karina called, before nudging Dain into an easy lope. Jay glanced enviously at her easy seat before turning her attention back to her Companion.
:Wonderful job,: Kenin said, sounding relieved. :Why'd you ask her to stay for midday:
:Because I need to know I can keep it up for more than a few minutes,: Jay said reluctantly. :When we get to Haven-: She broke off, not wanting to touch on that yet. Glancing over her shoulder to ensure that Karina was a safe distance away, she hugged Malkum.
"You did a wonderful job," she murmured. "You looked terrified."
"Acting, it was not all," he admitted. "Scare me, that Herald did." She leaned her head against his back.
"I won't let anyone hurt you," she promised. Malkum shook his head.
"Make promises impossible to keep, you should not." Jay opened her mouth to protest, but Malkum kept talking. "Try, I know you will. But when Haven we reach? Against your queen can you go?" Jay buried her face in his shoulder.
"If I have to," she said, voice muffled. "I will." Kenin did not reprimand her, only sent a mental hug.
:And I will be behind you,: she promised. :All the way. No matter what.:
They reached the Waystation within a quarter candlemark. Working together, the humans quickly pulled Kenin's tack off and gave her a thorough grooming. Companion clean, Jay surveyed the room. It was slightly smaller than most, but the room was cozy and clean.
"Would you all mind if we just stayed the night here?" she asked. "I'm in no huge rush to get to Haven and this seems as good a place as any. Besides, we can get Karina to bring us enough food for dinner tonight and three meals tomorrow. Kenin's tack needs cleaning, I'm sure Dena would like a break from scouting –he's always complaining about lack of sleep- and I would enjoy not having to go somewhere."
:What about my back?: Kenin put in. :I get tired from carrying you.:
:I'm assuming that's a yes?: Jay said sardonically.
"A good idea, I think it is," Malkum said, just as Dena agreed to the idea as well.
Jay smiled as an idea occurred to her. "I can wash my Whites too," she said. "I'm not going to get another chance until we reach Haven and I really should before then. Wait, Malkum- you don't have any clothes other than the ones you got from the soldiers on the Border, do you?" The Sunpriest shook his head. "I can get Karina to get you something a little more comfortable- a little less conspicuous too, I should think."
"Useful, that might be," he admitted.
Jay rummaged through her saddlebags until she found a well hidden rag and saddle soap. Getting a bucket of water from the pump outside, she set about showing Malkum how to clean Kenin's tack. By the time Karina returned with food, Kenin's tack had most of the dirt scrubbed out and –though still worn- looked decently clean.
The Herald knocked on the door first, and Jay opened it, stepping outside to talk to the Herald. "He understands a little bit of Valdemarean," she said in exasperation. "So I can't talk to Kenin outside of mindspeech anymore."
Karina shook her head sympathetically. "That must be horrible. When was the last time you could talk to someone?"
"The Border," Jay said with a shrug. "That was days ago."
"Poor you," Karina said. "I don't envy your job. Speaking of jobs, I brought your food." She pulled a wrapped package from one of her saddlebags –considerably lighter than Jay's- and handed it to Jay.
"Thank you," Jay said, inhaling the delicious aroma rising from the food. "Could I ask another few favors of you?" The younger woman nodded. "Kenin and I have decided that since we're halfway to Haven, it's a fairly good idea to spend the night here instead of moving on today. I was wondering if you could get us some more food –enough for tonight and tomorrow at least- and also if you could get some clothes for Malkum –the Sunpriest. What he has now is a little conspicuous and I don't want anyone getting upset or worried by the sight of a Sunpriest."
"It's no problem," Karina assured her. "I'll be back before sundown." She left with Dain, leaving a relieved Jay to carry the food back to Malkum, Kenin and Dena.
The contents of the package were four rolls stuffed with sausage –still warm, Jay was pleased to see-, and some fresh fruit juice. Malkum divvied up the rolls between himself, her and Dena while she got Kenin her own lunch from some of the grains stored in the Waystation. Once the Companion was happily munching away, Jay slipped easily down to the floor, Tayledras-style. She silenced her growling stomach by digging into the roll and a half she had been given by Malkum. Rolls settled in her stomach, she washed them down with a swallow of the juice.
:Horrid table manners,: Dena said sardonically, sedately eating his own roll.
"You got to eat between breakfast and now," Jay reminded him. "And you had a halfway decent breakfast." The Firecat refused to comment, and simply continued eating. Malkum laughed slightly.
"Talk back to him, you do," he said approvingly. Jay smiled.
"He's not so different from Kenin in that way," she said. "Give him some good logic and he shuts up."
:Only because I wouldn't favor such a horrible argument with a response.: Jay resorted to a very juvenile tactic and stuck out her tongue. Malkum laughed. "Karina is getting you some clothes," she said, turning to Malkum. "I'm going to change into something that isn't Whites so I can wash all of those."
"I think get water, I will," the Sunpriest said quickly. He left the Waystation, Kenin behind him in case Karina or someone else were to see him. Jay shook her head, as she searched through her saddlebags.
:He's so- touchy,: she complained to Kenin. The Companion laughed.
:Give him time,: she reprimanded. :You'll have him where you want him before you get to Haven. Trust me. Being pressed for time does wonders.: Jay sobered up for a moment, before focusing on the first bit of Kenin's comment.
:You really think so?: she said, a bit too eagerly perhaps if Kenin's laughter was any indication.
:Jay-: she said hesitantly. :Hate to spoil the move, but- what about Fas?: Jay's eyes became sad for a moment, as she pulled on a pair of loose tan pants and a dark green shirt.
:I'm going to break it off with him as soon as I get back to Haven,: she said honestly. :There's nothing else I can do. It's not fair to lead him on- I'm lifebonded, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.: Kenin's mental approval lifted a little bit of the gloom.
:I'll help you,: she said comfortingly. :I know it won't be easy.:
:I know.: Jay thought it was time for a change of subject. :Kenin- do you think you could help Malkum bring back enough water for us to take baths?:
:Why don't you just use the river?: Kenin suggested. :You can wear clothes –don't give me that- but a swim will clean you both up.: Jay laughed.
:Sounds like an excellent after-dinner activity,: she said with barely contained glee. Kenin laughed.
:Don't get ahead of yourself, Chosen: she cautioned. :Don't want to scare him away.:
:Kenin!: Jay faked hurt. :How could you think such of me?:
:I've lived in your head for years,: her Companion said. :That's how.: Jay laughed, and broke off the link to dig around in her saddlebags for soap and the rest of her Whites. By the time Malkum returned, she had also found a tub in the back corner of the Waystation. She set the bags of dried food it was holding on the floor and together, she and Malkum carried the tub outside. They filled it with the water Malkum and Kenin had brought from the stream and set to work.
By the time Karina returned, two candlemarks later, almost all of her Whites were clean and hanging on one outside wall of the Waystation. The other half were in the process of being washed. Dena –on lookout again- warned the laughing and joking Jay and Malkum seconds before they saw a flash of white up the road. Instantly, the laughter and jokes stopped, and they quietly spoke in Karsite, a language Jay prayed Karina didn't know.
"Heyla Jay," Karina said, swinging off Dain's back. "I brought the food and clothes you asked for." Jay nodded.
"Thank you," she said. Turning to Malkum, she said quickly in Karsite, "Could you take the stuff from her? Just put it with out other stuff in the Waystation. You can change too if you want- we can wash your clothes too while we're cleaning." Malkum nodded and walked over to Karina. She untied a few bundles from her saddle and passed them to him. As he went inside the Waystation, she smiled apologetically at Jay.
"Sorry I can't stay," she said. "I need to be at Brook's End by sundown."
Jay waved her apology off. "I understand. Anyway, we'll be fine here. My Karsite's not all that bad- we'll see what I can get out of him before we reach Haven. And at least we're doing something useful." She waved a wet hand covered in soap suds at her Whites.
Karina laughed. "Good luck."
"You too," Jay said, and meaning it. "See if you can find me next time you're at the Collegium."
"I will," the younger Herald promised. Without a formal goodbye, she simply turned and left the Waystation. Jay sighed, shook her head, and tackled another patch of dirt on the White breeches.
Malkum emerged a few minutes later. He dumped a pile of clothes next to the last few articles of White clothing on the grass, and returned to rinsing soap out of a White shirt. Jay eyed him discreetly out of the corner of her eye. Kenin snickered mentally- her Chosen ignored it. The Sunpriest didn't look half bad, especially now that he was out of either ill-fitting black or military blue –both of which looked horrible on him. It looked as though Karina had gotten him relatively nice clothes- a pair of loose brown breeches and a light blue shirt that looked soft.
"How much clothing did Karina get you?" Jay asked absently.
"For three days, enough," Malkum said.
:Chosen: Kenin said, suddenly serious. :He should learn more Valdemarean before we reach Haven. Vkandis knows what gets lost through interpreters.:
"Malkum?" Jay said casually. "Have you ever thought about learning Valdemarean?" Malkum looked startled.
"No," he said. "Occur to me, the thought had not."
"Well Kenin thinks you should learn. And I agree. It's something to do anyway, while we wash clothes. So how about it?"
"Learn, I will try," Malkum said with a shrug. "A good idea, it may be."
:I'll help,: Dena offered from his position sunning on top of the Waystation roof. He had dismissed the ground as 'too cold'.
Jay beamed. "Thank you Dena. So," she said, handing the article of clothing she had been washing to Malkum before picking up a pair of breeches. "Where should we start?"
Three candlemarks later found them sprawled on the grass. Clothing hung from the Waystation wall, some of it practically dry. With help from Dena and occasionally Kenin, Jay had managed to muddle through teaching some rudimentary Valdemarean vocabulary to Malkum. The intelligent Priest had quickly picked up a lot of what she had to say, and had made very good process.
Jay stretched like a cat. As it was early spring, the sun had already begun to go down, and she wanted to go swimming before it got too cold. "I've got an idea," she said lazily. "You know the river down there?" She gestured vaguely in the general direction. "Let's go swimming." Malkum was almost certainly not expecting this.
:Oh come on,: Dena said, in private Mindspeech. :If your chivalry so insists, you can wear clothing. Good God, Sunpriests have changed since my day.:
"A good idea, this is," Malkum said finally. He decided it was worth the hint of embarrassment to see the grin on Jay's face. She stood.
"I'll go change into something I can swim in," she told him, after a slight nudge from Dena. "When I come out, you can change if you want."
Minutes later, they were at the river. Jay had pulled on a too-big tunic of Fas' that had been floating around in her saddlebag, and Malkum had on a pair of breeches he'd been given back at the Border. Without a thought, Jay took off through the water. She grinned underwater at the sound of swimming. She had been taught to swim by a friend from Lake Evendim when she was little- she swam like a fish. Malkum obviously had not had the benefit of such training. A mad grin on her face, she swam down and pinched his ankle before darting away. He refused to rise to the bait, simply waited until she inevitably surfaced.
She laughed in delight. "Like to swim, you do?" Malkum asked, one corner of his mouth darting up.
"I love it," she said, swimming easily back towards where he was standing on a rock. "It's so much fun!" She felt so giddy, it was hard to pinpoint the feeling. When she finally located it, it shook her. No one was depending on her. If she wanted, she and Malkum could run away right now. They didn't have to go back to Haven. For the first time since she had been given Whites, there were no constraints on her. And, to make everything better, she was swimming in the middle of nowhere with only her lifebonded, her Companion and a talking cat. What more could a person ask for in life?
Catching the gist of her Chosen's thoughts, Kenin sighed. She had not forgotten what awaited them in Haven. Yet she wisely did not remind her Chosen of this fact. She deserved a few moments of freedom before reality came back.
:I don't want anything to happen to them,: Dena said sadly, tail twitching. :She seems to have forgotten for the moment, and I know he has, but they're in a very dangerous place right now and it will only get worse.:
:I just want to protect her,: Kenin sighed. :Why is everything so difficult?:
:If it were, we wouldn't be so happy,: Dena said. But it was scant consolation.
Jay splashed Malkum playfully from shallower water. He swam after her –quick but clumsy- as she darted away. "No chance!" she teased. He laughed and stopped swimming.
"Unfair, this is," he said, laughing. "Swim too well, you can."
"Isn't that all the fun?" she asked sweetly. He laughed. Jay hadn't noticed that, as he'd been talking, he'd been edging closer to her. Now, he reached out and grabbed her, throwing her into the water. But she kept a hold on his shoulders, and they tumbled together into the water.
Once in the water, she released her grip on his shoulders and swam easily away. She poked her head out of the water once she was out of reach. "Cheater," she gasped, slightly out of breath.
"Evening the odds, I was," he said, no trace of guilt on his features. She laughed.
"Try again," she informed him. "I got the better of you." He set off after her, and she took off.
They were both fairly winded by the time Kenin and Dena broke in with an apologetic summons. :You two should get out of the water,: they said. :There's storm clouds moving in and you want to get the laundry up before it gets soaked.: Jay swore fluently and swam to the rocks where they had gotten in, Malkum close behind. The two scrambled out of the water, grabbing the towels draped over Kenin's back. With the aid of a rock, Malkum and Jay got on the Companion's back and she loped easily back to the Waystation, Jay holding her mane while Malkum wrapped his arms around her waist.
They had just gotten back when the first drops of rain began falling. Laughing and swearing –well Jay was anyway- the two grabbed armfuls of clothing from off the wall. Jay unpinned them, while Malkum ran them into the Waystation. The rain was really coming down when they finally got the last articles of clothing inside, and Jay thought she heard a rumble of thunder in the distance as she slammed the door. She looked at the clothing strewn haphazardly around the small room, and a dry Dena, a damp Kenin and a soaking Malkum, then down at her own soaked form before collapsing into laughter. Malkum followed suit seconds after. By the time she stopped laughing, Jay's stomach muscles ached. Malkum was wiping tears from his eyes. Jay crawled over to the fire and managed to prod one into shaky life after a few minutes. She used one candle to light a lamp or two before coming back to stand next to Malkum.
As she moved next to him, she heard him inhale sharply. Looking at his eyes as they moved up and down her form, she shivered. Glancing at him, she realized that the tunic she was wearing was still wet, and clung to her form. In the newly kindled light, her body was outlined against the fire. In spite of herself, a slight blush colored her cheeks as she let her own eyes drift over Malkum's body. While not heavily muscled, he was not out of shape, and she appreciated the view. When she met his eyes again, they had darkened slightly.
"Jay?" he said. His voice was low and soft, and it made her stomach flip. She moved closer and skimmed her hands over his bare shoulders to rest lightly at the nape of his neck. His own arms wrapped around her waist and he drew her closer. Their faces drew nearer and Jay brushed her lips over his in a light kiss. I'll be damned if I let him get away with just that, she thought giddily. She brought his lips, refusing to let him draw away. But he wasn't fighting her. When their lips met again, he deepened the kiss until when they pulled away, their breathing was slightly ragged.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that," she said breathlessly.
"A good idea, I think I have," he said, smiling.
:Finally!: Dena said privately to Kenin. :It's about time!: The Companion snorted her agreement.
After a few more kisses, the two curled up on the bedroll, Malkum sitting up against a few packs, Jay leaning against him. They sat there in silence, soaking up the warmth of the fire and each other and listening to the rain fall on the roof.
"What's Karse like?" Jay finally asked, drowsily. "What's your family like?" She looked up at Malkum.
"A soldier, my father was," Malkum said quietly. "Illegal it is, for soldiers of the Sunsguard married to be. But married to my mother, my father was. Killed while I was still a child, he was, and know him I did not."
"I'm sorry," Jay murmured.
He shrugged. "All right, it is. The difference, I did not know. Remarry, my mother did, to a merchant. A happy child, I was. Then," his expression darkened. "The Sunpriests came. Test the children, they did. At twelve, to the Priesthood I was taken. Hear from my mother, I have not since. A family, the other novices and priests were not. Religious calling, I did not have. Happy, I was not." He smiled at her. "Until now."
She smiled. "I'm glad."
"About your family, tell," he said, smoothing hair from her face.
"My father was a landowner- he had a farm," she said softly. "I was the middle of five children. My parents were always busy, but they loved me. Kenin came for me when I was eleven. If she hadn't, I'd probably be married with several children now." She smiled faintly. "But anyway, she took me to the Collegium. The Heralds, and the Trainees became a family; I made lots of friends, found mentors." The smile took on a melancholy edge. "I was assigned to the Karsite Border after I finished my internship. I've been- scouting villages. I guess I was pretty much your typical Herald- until I met you." She smiled and kissed him lightly.
:As much as I'm enjoying listening to all this,: Kenin put in. :Might I suggest sleep? We can't hold off travel another day.: Jay sighed and relayed the suggestion to Malkum. He nodded.
"Correct, she is," he admitted. "Sleep, we should." Jay closed her eyes and tucked her head on his shoulder.
"Good night," she whispered. Within moments, she was asleep, fast in the arms of sleep. And it was a dreamless sleep for both of them. Kenin, worry riding on her mind, listened to the rain for a long while, before she finally slept.
Queen's Own: So how was it? I have become un-writer's blocked! This story is finally beginning to take more shape in my mind. By the way, does anyone know how long it takes to get from the Karsite border to Haven? Rough estimate? I'm guessing two weeks, so that's how it's appearing in this. If anyone has a more accurate number, I'll edit the story to reflect that.
I'm going to be editing the first few chapters of this- I feel as though some of it is rushed, badly written and not up to the standards I hold now. So take a look at those- I'll let you all know when I edit those.
Until next chapter! If you review that will be a shorter period of time, so please do! -Queen's Own