Disclaimer: If you think this sounds anything like something that the great Mercedes Lackey would write, I'm afraid you are either delusional or on something. As always, only the characters and writing belong to me.
Reviewers, I thank you for putting up with my sporadic updates and severe lack of action. Well, I promise you, said action is coming very soon. Actually, it's coming now, after I respond to these reviews and turf the writer's block out of my head. Even Karissa's emphatic suggestions haven't budged the thing, but maybe today it will head for the hills at last.
Tenshi: Yes, I have something truly evil planned for Treet and Lirain, and yes, she will scare him right out of his little wits, at first anyway. Yeah, I've always wanted to have long purple hair, but I don't want to have to bleach mine, so no amethyst tresses for me, I'm afraid.
Wizard: Glad you liked it!
Nesuto: New reviewer! -Herald glomps to death- Well, the way I see it, you can actually TELL the lie, the words will go, but it is absolutely obvious to everyone receiving that it's a lie. She can't tell a lie and get away with it, but she can try all she wants.
Badgerwolf: Yes, she should afford a little amusement. I think you guys will like her, though. She has a compassionate streak.
Breezefire: Ugh, -thwaps typo- For some reason, my spell check missed that one. And yeah, refer to my above explanation of the MindSpeech thing.
Fireblade: Yes, I can see that that chapter needed a little grammar help. By the time you read this, it should be re-uploaded in better form. What can I say? I was exhausted and I really wanted to get an update out.
Vaches: Yes, there shall be much funniness.
Lurks in Shadows: Don't worry. Poor Treet will manage. The two of them go together quite well, actually, personality wise.
Desert Angel: Yes, there is much entertainment in store for the two of them.
Anyway, here we are. The chapter I'm sure you've all been waiting for with bated breath. They reached Haven. Of course, if I decide to be evil, or just get long-winded about the trek through the city, they might not actually make it to the Collegia until chapter eleven.
Opportune, isn't it, that the exciting chapter is chapter ten. I don't know, it just seemed apt to me. Anyway, I'm sure you all are tired of listening to me ramble, or have already skipped this part and cut to the action, so I'll just say my usual words and be on my way. On with the show!
Chapter 10: Haven
To Treet, who was really a country boy at heart, the path they took to the center of Haven seemed hopelessly convoluted and strange. It was just like a huge maze, or so he thought, dizzy from repeated sharp turns and tiny, dark alleyways barely large enough for Veria to pass through.
When they finally emerged into the center of Haven, the sudden daylight and loud chatter caused Treet to blink hard and shy back, nearly falling out of the saddle.
People were everywhere! Large people, small people, women, men, children, adults, all dressed in bright colors that Treet had never seen in common usage. They swirled about their business, chattering happily, seemingly unaware of their strangeness.
The women showed no especial deference to the men, walking possessively arm in arm with them down the street or thumping them lightly on the shoulder, an action that would have warranted a beating, back in the Hold.
And the smells! It was like the small marketplace Treet had visited, only a thousand times more intense. As the smells of various types of food assailed him, his stomach wrenched his attention away from the splendor of it all to forcibly remind him that he had not eaten since that morning and it had only been porridge, at that.
As though Karissa had heard his thought, or at least his stomach, she turned to him, grinning with a happiness that he had never before seen in her smile.
"We're home. This is my true home, anyway, and before long, it will be yours too. You'll see." She flashed him an encouraging smile.
"Hungry?" She asked, changing the subject before he realized that she was being friendly for a change. Besides, if she was hungry, and she was, Treet was probably famished.
"Oh yes, Herald. Half-starved!" Treet admitted.
Karissa pulled out a belt-pouch and walked over to one of the booths that studded the inner city like stars in the sky.
Treet could see her bargaining fiercely, and she returned holding two skewers adorned with roasted meat and vegetables.
At the sight of the meat, Treet felt sure that he would faint of hunger. When he finally held the warm, steaming food in his hands, he nearly died of pleasure. The first bite was very nearly heaven. It was juicy and good, done to perfection. Before he knew it, the whole thing was gone.
"What did you do, inhale it?" Karissa asked laughingly when she looked over, half finished hers, to see Treet licking the last particles of food from his wooden skewer.
He grinned in reply. "I told you I was hungry. Oh, here." He reached into his own belt pouch for money to pay Karissa for the meal. That was when he realized that he was completely broke. His face fell.
"Herald, I haven't got any money to pay you. Not even a copper."
"Never mind, Treet. Heralds get a stipend, and the Gods know I have nothing and no one else to spend mine on."
Treet reached into his pocket again, having felt a parcel inside and being unable to remember what in Havens it could be. He drew it out and noticed that it was the glue he had bought at the market for his Mother barely a week ago. It seemed like a moon ago, at least, but Treet blessed whatever God had kept it in his pocket throughout his ride.
"Can you make any use of this, Herald? I surely don't need it. It was for my mother, but I owe you, and I don't suppose I'll get much chance to give it to her, now."
Karissa looked at Treet's crestfallen expression as he thought of his mother. Knowing better than to refuse the gift, she smiled at him as kindly as she could.
"Exactly the thing, Treet. A Herald on Circuit never can have enough glue."
Treet's eyes practically glowed with happiness as he felt her sincerity. After all she had done for him, it was a nice feeling to be able to do something for her.
They mounted up again, as they had dismounted to sit on the ground and eat their lunch. As they passed through the city, people stopped their work to stare at them in awe and respect.
Even in Haven, where Heralds were relatively commonplace, many people still regarded them as Gods, or nearly as such.
Treet had wondered why Karissa had bought nothing for Veria to eat, for surely the Companion was as hungry or more so than they were, having been forced to carry them all this way.
As they passed through the main streets, Treet saw why.
Vegetable stand proprietors lobbed carrots and other raw treats towards Karissa with great frequency, which Karissa deftly caught and Veria happily munched on, with a nod of thanks to their former owners.
One stall owner in particular did his best to welcome the Herald and her charge to Haven. After he had chucked over the ubiquitous carrot for Veria, he also tossed over two rosy red apples, one each for Karissa and Treet.
The slippery apple was too hard for Treet's greasy fingers to grasp, even after he had overcome his surprise at being tossed one. He brought up his hand to catch it, but his palm only glanced off of it, deflecting it in Karissa's direction.
Luckily, her combat trained reflexes were sufficient to deal with apple missiles, and she caught it one handed, passing it back to Treet.
By the time his apple had been gnawed away to nothing but the bitter and hard core, which he offered to Veria, they had reached the gates of the Palace grounds.
Now, Treet had thought that he was doing a rather good job at containing his awe at the city of Haven in general and its people in particular, but at the sight of such a magnificent accommodation, Treet couldn't tear his eyes off of it.
Watching him fondly, Karissa remarked, to nobody in particular. :I'll miss him, you know.:
:I know you will. He's been good for you, though. And you'll never forget him, will you?:
:I suppose every time I don't wake up at night at least once in a cold sweat, I'll have to remember him.: Karissa said wryly.
:You'll see each other again.: Veria reassured her.
:I know, but things won't be the same. He'll leave me too, just like everyone else.: Karissa said, somewhat plaintively.
:Does anything ever stay the same for long? And you are his hero, his prized Herald. I doubt that he will abandon you. Wait and see. If anything, he'll need you more than ever.:
Not being able to think of a good reply, Karissa left well-enough alone, allowing Veria the last word. She dismounted and walked over to the gate Guard to register her arrival.
"You are Herald Karissa, no? Coming in from Western Sector Three?" The Guard asked, checking her arrival time against his list.
"Yes, that's me."
"Go on through. Oh, wait, hold on. I have it noted here that you're bringing a Trainee in? Heraldic?" He asked, ignoring the absence of a second Companion.
"No, a Healer. I've got him right here. His name's Tretin, coming in from the Karsite Border. He's Holderkin."
"I see. Do you need me to get him an escort to the Collegium while you report in?"
"That's alright, Guard. I'll take him in myself. My Seniors can wait."
"As you wish, Herald." He said dubiously. "Go on through."
Karissa led Veria through the gate and mounted up, indulging in a wild gallop through Companion's Field, Treet clinging to her dusty Whites as she celebrated her homecoming.
She stopped at the stables to ensure that Veria would be tended to, telling her that she would come back to groom her after dropping Treet off.
:No hurry, Chosen. He won't want you to leave too soon, I suspect, given, well, given certain things. Come back when you can.:
:Alright, I will.: Karissa said, knowing that the more she pressed for information, the less likely it became that she would get any.
She returned outside to find Treet waiting exactly where she had left him, staring up at the Palace.
"Big, isn't it? Come on, though. You can gawk at it all you want later, I'm going to bring you over to the Dean and get you all set up."
"Yes, Herald." Treet said, slightly subdued at the thought of their parting. The externally gruff Herald had worked her way into Treet's heart. She was like the older sister he wished he had had.
