I think I have discovered a paradox.  You see, I have come to believe that writer's block only extists as long as you don't acknowledge that it's there.  As soon as I wrote that little note saying that I have writers block, it went away.  Poof, just like that.  It was kinda scary.

So, here I am, back writing.  And this chapter would have been up a long time ago, but I got kinda lazy, and also school played into it a good deal. 

Oh, and don't expect regular updates.  It all depends on when I can sit down at my computer to write.  Well, I have it all written down in my notebook, but that means I have to transfer it to type, which is slightly annoying.  But I'll do it for you people.  Heaven knows why.

^_^

~~~~~

Devina opened the door to her apartments and closed it with a sigh of relief.  She crossed the room and fell onto her bed, and lay there staring at the ceiling.

            :Tal,: she said.  : I think I should ask to be reassigned.:

            :The only way you could be reassigned,: he said.  :Is if you died.:

            :Details, details…: Devina grumbled into her pillow. 

            :Another difficult council meeting?: he asked kindly.

            :Yes,: she said.  :Griffon has gotten the Lord Marshall against me.  Father Ricard is coming around, slowly, as well as Lady Cathan.  But most of them are either with me, or they don't trust my age or my gifts or both.:

            :Griffon is still sore about that?:

            :Yes,: she said, her voice seething.  :I didn't even hurt him, and yet he thinks I can't be trusted.  I'm having trouble sensing the reactions of the other council members, he hates me so much.: she shook her head.  :He's a firestarter.  He should understand what it's like.:

            :Yes, Devina, but,:  Taliesin said.  :He can't control it like you can.  He's jealous of that.:

            :But that's not my fault!:

            :I know, but some people are just…stupid.:  Devina snorted at his choice of words. Taliesin was silent for a moment.  :I'll talk to his Companion.  Perhaps he can talk some sense into him.:

            Devina sent a sigh.  :At least the other Heralds act like normal people around me.:  It was true.  Many of the other Heralds had had similarly bad experiences the first time their Gifts had manifested, and they accepted her for who she was.  Despite his early inhibitions about her, Herald Kyle was one of her good friends.  He had replaced Dirk as the Orientation teacher, and also helped the new trainees with their gifts.  She had also made friends with the twin heirs, Kris and Lyra.  They both had been chosen the year before her, and would be on circuit for their internee period if not for the fact that they were the heirs.  As such, they were spending their internee periods helping out Kerowyn.  From what she had heard from Elspeth, Devina didn't envy them.

            :What about Cy and Jemmie?:  said Taliesin.

            :Well, Cy's out for her internee period, so I can't talk to her right now.  And Jemmie…:  she trailed off, ending in a Sending that was purely confusion at that relationship.  Things with Jemmie were just so…odd.   Since that day in the Healer's Collegium, he had actually kissed her only once, during the Heralds midwinter party.  But then, they had both drunk a bit too much, so Devina didn't really know what it had meant.  And Jemmie had acted like it had never happened, so Devina had done the same. 

            :I know I'm at least attracted to him,: said Devina,  :but he doesn't seem to like me like that.  It's confusing.  He's confusing.:

            :I've spoken with Eris in passing about it, but he won't talk to her about you, besides you not being around.:

            :And I hate that!: Devina said, sending frustration and a little unhappiness.  :I want to spend time with him, but I just have so much work to do as Queen's Own.  I barely ever see him anymore, especially since he's getting intensive training on his fetching gift.  Does Eris know why he's having so much trouble?:

            :I've tried to get her to tell me, but she's close-lipped about it.  However,: he said.  :I suspect it has something to do with his father having fetching as his gift.:

            :Di-didn't Dirk use his fetching to rescue Talia?:

            :Yes, with some help from us Companions and Elspeth.:

            :Then maybe he is reminded of that every time he tries to use it.:

            :Hmm…: said Taliesin.  :That very well might be.:

            Devina rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.  :Well, I won't be able to help anyone if I don't sleep.:  She pulled off her boots and pulled the blanket around her, not bothering to take off her trainee uniform.  :G'night Taliesin.:

            She didn't hear his reply because she was already asleep.

* * * * *

            She stood on the crest of a massive sand dune, a strong wind whipping at her hair and making the strange clothes she wore flutter.  It was loose pants and a loose wrap-around tunic, both a blood red color.  The sash about her waist was orange.

            She looked up, and saw a mass of black moving on the horizon.   As she looked, her eyes seemed to sharpen until she could see the shapes clearly.  They were men, running easily on the shifting sands and dressed in white robes.  They all had long, shaggy blond hair that flashed in the sunlight as they ran.  And they ran toward her.

            She suddenly felt an intense need to stop them, a need so powerful that she could not deny it.  She flung up her hands and let the fires loose, releasing the floodgates.  The flames raced over the dunes, leaving glassy hills in their wake.  They struck the men, and many screamed and perished, and yet they kept coming.  Devina fell deeper into her Firestarting gift letting rage build within her at the nerve of these men.  She built a firewall, long and thick and wide.  She became the fire, screaming with malicious glee every time one of the strange men died.  The fire was alive, and it wanted to share this feeling with her, this energy, this malicious force.  Then the wall broke, and men spilled out like ants, continuing over the sand. 

            But suddenly it was no longer sand, or even sand dunes.  They ran through the castle, killing and murdering as they went.  Kerowyn and Eldan stood back to back, fighting till they were finally overcome by the numbers.  Elspeth and Darkwind fought with both magic and fists, and in the end Final Striked together.  Alberich was cut down defending the Queen, and Selenay died at her Companion's side.  Devina could see all this, moved among it, but no one knew her or saw her.  Then, suddenly:

            "Devina!"

            She whirled to see Jemmie holding off a pair of them with a sword and long knife.  Then one of them got under his guard, and stabbed him in his side, just below his rib cage.  He stumbled and fell to his knees.  The men left him to die slowly, and Devina ran forward and held him in his arms.

            "Jemmie, oh Jemmie…" she said, tears running down her cheeks.  He looked at her with clouded eyes.

            "The lady that I cherish is enamoured of a fool…" he said, and smiled.  Then his eyes went dead and he fell limp. 

            "No, Jemmie…" she said softly, picking at his shirt as if he were only sleeping.  Then he suddenly sat up and grabbed her arms so hard it hurt.  His eyes were milky white.

            "The Li'Cathao are coming," he said, his voice harsh and grating, and not his own.  "Will you be ready girl-child?  Will you?!  You're not now!"  The thing grabbed her and began to shake her violently, it's fingers digging into her arms, it's bared teeth becoming long and sharp and bloodstained, and it's face twisting and contorting in a-

            :Devina!:

Devina woke with a gasp, clutching a hand to her heart as she took deep shuddering breaths.  She jumped suddenly and smacked at her blankets, where a small fire had started on her blanket.  Then she blinked and willed the fire away, and it died down instantly.   

:You had the dream again, didn't you?: Taliesin asked.

:Yes,: she sent.  :It was the same as all the other times, except for at the end.  Something was in Jemmie's dead body.:  She sent the last few moments of her dream to him. 

:Interesting.: he said.  Devina shivered and rubbed her arms, then flinched.  She looked at her arm fearfully and slowly pulled up her sleeve.  On her arm was a bruise in the shape of a hand.  Where the fingers ended she was bleeding slightly.

:What's wrong?: he said, sensing her distress.  She sent him the image of her bruised arm, too stunned to use words.

:Oh my,: he said, and Devina could tell he was just as puzzled and alarmed as she was.

~~~~~~

Yeah, I got tired of that break thing I was doing.  It was annoying.

Link:  Oooooooohh… that was mysterious.

What are you doing here?

Link: Expanding my horizons.

Well stop it, you've only been in here a few lines and you're already giving me a migraine.

(Exunt Link)

Yes, that is Link from Zelda, yes, he is a twit, and no, I'm not going to explain.  If you want an explanation, read my Zelda fanfic, A Link to my World.

Reader Response

Dream Keeper:  I think we discussed Talia and Rolan already.  ^_^

Stee Parker: Thanks for the compliment, and convoluted as it was.

Lady Silver Dragon I:  Puppy-dog eyes of doom and a sugar high!?!?  The terror, the terror, the-can I have a pixie stix?

Xenya:  Thank you, Thank you, and I'm sorry I took so long.

Evar:  Hmm…I think that might be possible…

Linda:  I thought you might. ;^)

Kalyra Shadowdancer:  Thanks so much, and I'm sorry I took so long.

Cat: W's B is gone now!  Yayayayayayayayayayayayayayay! And did I mention Yay?

Once again, I'm very sorry for taking so long in updating.

Laters!

-ER-