:You do realize: Daren told Jasan as they paced up the hill to the palace beside Kerowyn and Sayvil, :my brother is not going to be happy about this. Of course, there really isn't anything he can do about it. I wouldn't want to go back without you, Jasan:

:And I don't want you to go back without me: Jasan told him, :You know, I think your friend Kerowyn is going to have an interesting time of it with Sayvil: As he said this he thought to himself, and my dear friend the former Herald-Mage Savil is going to have an interesting time of it as well.

:Why do you say that: came the inevitable question.

:Because they're two of the most stubborn females in Valdemar at this moment: he told his Chosen with unconcealed glee.

:I heard that: Sayvil was glaring at them. So was Kero. Sayvil must have told her. Darn! He thought he had been shielding. He sighed and reinforced his shields again.

:So Sayvil is that stubborn as well: Daren asked him.

:Exactly so: he replied, :I wish we could get to the palace faster. I'm getting hungry. I haven't eaten since this morning and the sun is going down:

:I haven't eaten since yesterday evening, so quit complaining: Daren told him.

:Would you like to carry me: Jasan asked his Chosen sweetly, :I'm the one who's doing the work here.:

:No thank you: Daren shuddered, :You are already large for a Companion. You need the exercise.: Jasan was about to reply when he was interrupted by both Sayvil and Kero.

:Men: He could tell from Daren's fidgeting that his Chosen had heard that as well. Why can't I seem to shield Sayvil out? he thought to himself.

:Because we were both Herald-Mages at one point and we knew each other quite well. That makes it very easy to overhear.: Sayvil informed him. :Your own thoughts nearly caused Vanyel's death, and they did cause your own. Because of that, I've been watching your thoughts ever since we both came back.:

:Wonderful: Jasan groaned, :I came back hoping to see Felar, only to have him die soon after I get here, I don't Chose until I'm almost as old as I was when I died, and now I find out you've been watching my thoughts off and on. I thought Heralds didn't do that.:

:They don't: she replied, :and I haven't really been watching your thoughts, only listening in on your mindspeech. I really am sorry about Felar, but as to your other complaints, we came back at the same time, and I Chose after you did. Besides, you are half-brother to the Queen's Companion, and your Chosen is likely to marry the Queen. You aren't likely to have to do a circuit, now are you.:

:Neither are you, your Chosen will probably join Jeri in replacing Alberich as Weaponsmaster.: He sobered :Come to think of it, he needs to retire anyway. Both he and Kantor are getting old.:

:That they are. But don't let either of them hear you saying that, you'd probably end up running the obstacle course three hours a day for three months. At least that's what happened to the last person who told him that.:

:I know.: They walked in silence for a while until Jasan spotted the palace gates. :Chosen: he grinned, then winced, as Daren jumped, :we're almost home.: