Disclaimer: I disclaim all responsibility for whatever horrible writing may follow. I also disclaim the idea this fic was based on, since it belongs to Mercedes Lackey.
I'm trying to post chapters more often, but I'm busy a great deal, so bear with me and keep the reviews coming, please.
Violet Rush: Thanks! I'll do my best.
Fireblade: Yup, it sure does. Mine was down all last week, so I had to use the library computers, what a drag! I totally sympathize. And yes, Treet does rule, and he's coming back.
Wizard: Thanks, I'll try not to.
Tenshi: Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about her. She's off somewhere in the nether regions of Valdemar, but she'll be back in time for the next major crisis.
Rhyia: Thanks!
Lurks in Shadows: Yup, she sure is. I'm trying to work on her relationship with Treet, though. Sometimes, it seems as though she treats him as a child, not her Lifebonded.
Oceanmate: Thanks, I liked that chapter myself. Yeah, it was pretty obvious; mostly everyone saw that little "twist" coming.
Shadowbolt: Yup, I know. Healers rock my socks.
Anyway, taking into account the comment from one of the recent chapters about independent studying, I'm tweaking that part a bit for the younger Trainees, so excuse me while I screw with the previously set down system.
This chapter's switching back to Treet, and it's just another let's hunt down a Healer and see what it does style chapter, but once I get through all those, we'll have more action again, and I'm planning a large and less predictable plot twist for Midwinter, when we get there.
Enjoy the chapter, and don't forget to review!
Chapter 19: More Healers
Treet spent his next morning wandering aimlessly around the Collegium in the direction of the library. He still had to pick a topic for his first moon's study report and get it approved by Healer Josh. So that there wasn't a great demand by the entire Collegium for the same books, the Trainees were supposed to cycle through the subjects in an order arranged by Yeargroup.
He got to the library just in time for the beginning of the shortened Orientation he was to have that day. Josh greeted them in a friendly manner as they took their seats around what seemed to have become their usual table.
"I haven't mentioned this yet," he began, "because I wanted to get all of you used to the idea of independent study. You'll end up doing it eventually, never fear. Now that you've wrapped your minds around it, however, I shall impart more information. Although you still have the option to study on your own, and you will most likely prefer that when your schedules get more hectic, you also have the option of taking classes at the Heraldic Collegium. The Bards modify their curriculum specially and tend to stick to their own Collegium for classes, but we Healers aren't as fussy, and the basic classes over there are very good. You can take morning classes in History, Politics, Mathematics and a bunch of other stuff that will see you nicely through your first few years here if you're so inclined. If, once you choose a mentor, you end up with an extremely odd schedule or hours, or if you just prefer not to have formal classes for some reason, you'll want to continue to work alone, but, be warned, as I have said, your reports will be expected to show a clear indication of learning. Now, at the end of this week, once you get your schedules worked out, I'll take sign-ups for classes with the next Yeargroup of Heraldic Trainees. All of you will be responsible for a report of your learning over the first moon, but after you start formal classes, if you do, we'll trust the Heralds to keep you in line."
Treet looked around at his Yearmates and saw that a good few of them were talking excitedly. Healers were well known in Valdemar, but Heralds were legendary, or so Treet gathered.
Soon after that announcement, the class was released to begin research. Their first assigned topic was the early history of Valdemar, so Treet gravitated toward the history section and stayed there, leafing through books, until the warning bell rang for lunch.
When he heard the lunch bell, he walked to the dining hall with a group of his Yearmates and grabbed a seat, quickly looking around to see if he could spot Lirain. When he saw her, he waved in what he hoped was a fairly dignified and not over-eager manner, and she smiled abstractedly, grabbing a tray and heading in his direction. To Treet, she seemed decidedly displeased about something.
When she reached him, she ran her hand rather distractedly through her hair and said "you'd better not get too comfortable, we've to see Healer Sera today and she's outrageously busy this afternoon, or so she says, so she said come see her during the midday meal. I forgot to tell you yesterday," she said contritely. "We'll eat on the way. Here, I brought you a cheese and sausage roll."
Treet took it. It was rather not what he had been hoping for in terms of a midday meal, but it was still warm, and he supposed it would have to do. He figured he'd have to get used to eating on the fly if he was to be a Healer.
"Lirain?" Treet asked, suddenly remembering something. "My schedule says that for the first week, I have dishwashing. Won't I miss it?"
"No," Lirain said. "Your schedule doesn't start until you have an assigned teacher, in case he or she has to request major changes. The older Trainees take all the dishwashing and such until next week." She grimaced. "Being a new Trainee has its advantages."
After that, they walked outside and onto the palace grounds, munching in silence. As the last crumb disappeared, they crossed the threshold that marked the doorway of the House of Healing and walked into the large entrance hall. Lined with benches along every wall, it was mainly a place for duty Healers who couldn't afford to miss any new cases coming in to catch a quick nap during a lull, for everyone entering the House of Healing passed by those benches. At that particular point, there were many Healers either napping sitting up or flopped full out on the bench of their choice.
"Like the Heralds," Lirain said, "we are rather overworked at the moment, which is why you see so many Healers sleeping. Lots of them are working double or even triple shifts, or, like Rith, are constantly on call." Lirain stepped forwards and stood on the tips of her toes, peering around the room. "There's Healer Sera now."
The aforementioned Sera was not quite sprawled on one of the benches. Instead, she had opted for sitting with her head against the wall and her eyes half-lidded.
She was younger than Rith by a good few years, with hair that a Bard might have called flaxen, but that Sera herself was more likely to pass off as straw-colored. Likewise, she seemed completely unconscious of the silent beauty and grace that she was endowed with.
As Treet and Lirain reached her, she blinked sleepily and opened her eyes just as Lirain was about to cough to announce their presence. She had a level, direct gaze that seemed to bore into Treet with green-eyed intensity. She blinked again and the feeling receded, leaving only a direct gaze that invited trust and spoke of reliability.
Her Greens were spotless, if slightly rumpled, and the green sash she wore around her waist was belted askew. Although she was as scrupulously clean as all Healers, Sera was somewhat less concerned with her outward appearance. Luckily for her and for the public's image of the Healer, she was one of the few that didn't need to be.
The only time her hair could be said to take on a life of its own, as Lirain's did so often, was when it conspired to lie in a sleek, flat waterfall as Sera bolted out of her bed as some obscene Candlemark of the night to attend to some emergency or another. That, Lirain thought wryly, was something of a miracle. Luckily, the emerald hue of her own hair distracted anyone from looking closer than the color.
Where Lirain's hair was fairly long, however, Sera's was cut short in a gleaming helmet that fell just past her ears. She had kept it long as a Trainee, her last and only concession to vanity, but as she had taken on the robes of a full Healer, it had been shorn off so as not to get in the way.
"Hello, Lirain," she said wearily. "I see you're shepherding a new Trainee around?" She smiled at Treet to show she meant no offense.
"Something like that," Lirain said. "This is Tretin. Treet, this is Sera, one of our senior trauma Healers."
They shook hands, somewhat incongruously, Treet felt, given the informality of the situation, and Lirain turned to leave. "As I mentioned, I have the honor of washing the lunch dishes today, so I had better be going. I'll see you again tomorrow, Treet," she added, smiling slightly foolishly and attempting to make up for it by turning on her heel in an overly sharp fashion and striding quickly towards the exit.
Treet and Sera stared awkwardly at each other for a moment, or rather; Treet stared awkwardly at Sera while Sera simply studied him, waiting for him to say something.
After a while, Treet laughed a little self-consciously and said, "So, you're a trauma Healer?" It was an attempt to start a normal sounding dialogue, but after it was said, Treet mentally berated himself for the awkwardness with which it had been said and the pretentious sound of the phrase.
Sera stretched, pulling her robes tighter around herself as she arose. "That I am. First, though, I've heard you called by two different names so far. Which do you prefer, Treet or Tretin?"
Treet was a little amazed that she had noticed such a small thing while seemingly half asleep. "Treet, please. Only my family calls…called me Tretin." He looked down for a moment, then up again, resolving to put his family behind him.
Sera politely ignored that comment, storing it away for future reference, and continued lightly, "Well, Treet, it's a little crowded in here, and since you're not officially my student, I can't take you into the actual House of Healing, how about a walk? I've been in here since far too early this morning." She wrinkled her nose engagingly and began to lead Treet outside.
As they walked out into the fresh air and greenery that made up the palace grounds, Sera turned to Treet. "So, I'll just tell you a little bit about what I do, and if you have any questions, you can ask them, sound good?"
Treet nodded.
"Alright. Apart from abominable hours, my job means that you can be called out of your bed at any hour of the night, even more so than most Healers. You see a lot of death and destruction, again more so than most Healers, but that's just the downside. I'll be straight with you, it can be very hard, but if your talents are so inclined, it can be a very rewarding field. What I do, specifically, is deal with patients who have had sudden, violent injuries inflicted, usually accompanied by shock. That's the basic rundown. If you decide to study with me, you'll work hard, but all Trainees do, it's part of life as a Healer. You'll learn applications of your Gift, how to act quickly and decisively in a situation where every second matters, how to deal with nervous relatives and nervous, conscious patients as well as the unconscious kind. It sounds daunting now, but I'll leave you to make the final choice without pushing either way. Anyway, that's my basic summary. Do you have any questions?"
Treet tried to take in all the information. The rapid-fire barrage of facts had left him more than slightly overwhelmed. "Are you always this direct?" He ventured.
Sera laughed aloud. "Direct? Yes, I generally am, but if you're asking do I teach like this, the answer is no. I've had Trainees before, and I know that fast isn't always better in that regard. I'm on a tight schedule today, have been for a while, that's all."
"Oh," Treet said, amazed at his own daring to question an adult's mode of speech. "I don't have any more questions, then."
"Good," Sera paused. "If you change your mind, Lirain can probably find me. Now, if you'll excuse me?"
It wasn't really a question. Treet nodded anyway.
"You can see the buildings from here, walk straight left and you'll get back to the library eventually," Sera added before walking at a fast clip back towards the House of Healing.
Treet was inclined to like Sera, even if she was a little intimidating, but he was determined not to think about it too hard until he met all of the Healers he was supposed to.
Putting it firmly out of his mind, he headed for the library, muttering about foreign policy in the time of Elspeth Peacemaker.
