HERALD OF DEATH: A NEW BEGINNING
Disclaimer: I do not own Mercedes Lackey's stories, books, series, etc., etc., etc.
Colons for Thought Speech
This, Little One, is Haven.
Chailyn looked up from her nap and before her was the largest gathering of buildings she had ever seen.
"Zephyr?" she asked skeptically.
Oh, don't worry. You see that large area? That's the Companion's Field. See the buildings near it? They're the Palace and the Collegium; that's where we're headed.
Shocked, she replied, "But it's so….big."
You'll get used to it, don't worry, her Companion reassured. Chailyn looked hesitantly on the city; she couldn't see how anyone could get used to such a place. Zephyr did a little shrug and continued on his way.
As they passed through what looked like a market place, she saw a man give a boy a honey bun and whispered in his ear. The next time she saw the boy, who could have only been about 14 years, he was next to her left stirrup. He smiled up at Chailyn and handed her the pastry. Then he vanished into the crowd.
That was strange, Zephyr, that boy was wearing light green tunic and pants. The color was not too pleasant on him she sent looking between Zephyr's ears.
Not that odd really; I believe this is the day the students get a break. Light green you say? He must have been a Healer Trainee, unless he wanted to wear light green from head to foot. It really doesn't matter. Oh good, we're approaching the gate to the palace. Zephyr replied happily.
As they came to the gate, they were stopped by a soldier, which to Chailyn's surprise was a female.
"Zephyr? You came back quickly!" the woman exclaimed after checking something on my saddle. "So you're Zephyr's Chosen? What's your name?" she gently inquired of me.
"Yes, ma'am. It's Chailyn, ma'am." I replied docilely.
"Run along, I imagine someone is waiting for you." She said ushering them along.
Zephyr made his way to what looked like a stable without doors.
"Umm… Zephyr, why aren't there any doors?"
This is the Companion's stable; I think were smart enough not to have doors, don't you Zephyr answered humorously.
"Oh, there you are!" called a young lady with auburn hair. "I was waiting for you. My name's Triss, what's yours?
"My name's Chailyn," the younger said very softly.
"What was that?"
"My name's Chailyn," she said again, only a little louder but still as shy.
"Alright Chailyn, let's get your Companion untacked and give him some dinner, then I'll explain some things."
After Zephyr was settled in, Triss guided me along a path talking as we went.
"So, where are you from?"
"I'm from Rendholding."
"Holding? Oh, Holderkin! Wow, you and The Queen's Own should get together sometime; she's Holderkin, too ya' know," stated the grey-clad woman. "So, on a different subject, would you like me to explain what being Chosen means?"
"If you would, I pried Zephyr for information but he wouldn't say anything about it."
So as they walked along, the older in grey and the younger in brown, Triss told Chailyn what it meant to be Chosen.
While she was explaining, the pair had entered the Collegium itself, passed through several doors, and was, at the moment, in front of another set.
"So, any questions?"
Chailyn shook her head.
"Good, now let's get you some uniforms, a schedule, and a room. Oh, and also a map, they started giving those out since the Hide and Seek Incident."
"The Hide and Seek Incident?" Chailyn asked warily.
"I'll tell you about it later, but now let's get your stuff," replied Triss as she knocked and entered.
"Gaytha, I've brought you another Chosen!"
"No need to shout, girl, I can still hear you know," the Housekeeper retorted sharply. "Now, let's see. Bright Lady! You are very small! You're smaller than Rirn was at your age! You're about a six, we scarcely get Chosen this small. Don't tell me, you didn't bring anything with you did you dear? That's what I thought; newly Chosen never do." The Housekeeper shook her head as she disappeared behind a door, but she returned quickly with a bumpy bag and folded clothes.
"The Collegium rules are that you must have a hot bath every night and wash before every meal," she said handing half of the articles of clothes to Triss and half to Chailyn. "Your dirty clothing goes down the laundry chute in the bathroom. Your bed sheets are changed once a week; you'll get new sheets with the rest of the girls, and the old sheets must go in the laundry. If you're grungy from weapons practice or by being with your Companion, change your clothing before going to eat. Heralds must be—"
"--Clean so they can be trusted on sight. You know, you don't have to give that lecture to every Chosen who walks through your door! You know well enough it's told to us in a round about way in Orientation!" Triss interrupted.
The Housekeeper gave the young trainee a reproving look, "I give this lecture to newly Chosens because they will inevitably wonder why we must stay clean. Now, there are chores everyday; what household skills do you possess?"
"I can cook, clean, mend, card wool, if you name it I can do it," Chailyn admitted with a sigh.
"She's Holderkin," Triss whispered quietly to the elderly Housekeeper so that it was hard to make out what was said from where the new Chosen stood.
Gaytha nodded, "I'll have you be a Cookhelper and mender in the Sewing room." She wrote a few things down on a piece of paper and handed it to me. "This is your schedule; if anything's too much just say so and it'll get changed."
I looked at the writing with a sinking feeling in my gut, "Ma'am, I can't read or write."
Whatchamacallme: So, please review if you'd like. I don't care. Again, I'll say that I take anonymous reviews. Thank you!
I skipped what it means to be Chosen because anyone who is reading this probably already knows what it means. If I get some reviews asking me to put in the meaning of being Chosen I will.