Author's Notes:

Disclaimer: Everything you may recognise in this fanfic belongs to Mercedes Lackey.

Chapter 4 Cracks in the Mask

Zarien started. He gazed into Kerrayrlia's ice blue eyes curiously and was surprised into a smile. He had not bothered to shield his sense of Thoughtsensing, one of the abilities linked to his powerful Mindspeech Gift, and her thoughts behind her change of subject had leaked over to him. After ruefully remedying that lack, he wondered absently about his teacher's reactions if he ever heard about this. Knowing Heryon, I'd probably be given a severe tongue lashing...

Then he turned his mind to Kerrayrlia's thoughts on the subject of worry. She was quite right, of course. Worrying did not help at all. At last, his Companion snorted. I've been trying to tell you this for ages and you've only realized it now. Oh, what a blockhead I've Chosen. Hiding his smile, Zarien replied, Well, what does that say for the Companion who Chose the blockhead then? And they say Companions are supposed to be wise…

Dorilynn mock-glowered at her Chosen. Just for that, I am not going to shield tonight. With your extremely strong Mindspeech abilities, you know you'll hear me no matter how you try to block .Then we'll see how well the aforementioned blockhead can sleep with a Companion singing away loudly in his head, hmm? Zarien raised mental hands in surrender. Please, not that, sweetling. The last thing I need is a Companion singing in my head tonight. I have to attend that party with Father tonight, remember?

Zarien stopped the conversation when he realized that Kerrayrlia was staring at him, considering that her normal expression was one of pleasant blankness. A hint of challenge was barely perceptible in her eyes, but Zarien, trained in reading people, noticed it. Yea gods, she probably thinks I am evading her question. He almost laughed, then reminded himself that although Kerrayrlia was a friend he had known for a year, she was not a close friend. She could not have been on the receiving end of too many incidences where Heralds and Heraldic-Trainees went blank suddenly, since she had few Heraldic friends. And he did not need to break this friendship by laughing at her.

So, Zarien explained gently. "Sorry for blanking out like that, Kerri. I was speaking to 'Lynn." Kerrayrlia narrowed her eyes almost imperceptibly. "Your Companion?" Zarien nodded and continued with a crooked grin. "And in answer to your question, Bard Stefen is a friend of my father." So saying, he then proceeded to tell her the story of how his father had befriended Stefen, in the days after the death of Vanyel Demonsbane.

Zarien was an eloquent and gifted story-teller and that story had been a funny one indeed. By the time he had finished his story, he had managed to startle a few laughs from Kerrayrlia, something which he considered a tremendous accomplishment. He had Sensed a few times that Kerrayrlia was not entirely comfortable around him, and he had decided to do something about it, simply because Kerrayrlia was a friend he'd like to have.

Eyes shining with almost hidden delight, Kerrayrlia commented, "That would make a good song, Zarien. Oh, if only I could meet your father or see Bard Stefen again! I could get more details from them!" Seeing Kerrayrlia's delight, Zarien had a sudden impulse. He began to restrain it, then thought, Why not?

Clearing his throat, Zarien cautiously asked, "I could arrange that, Kerri. Would you like to come with me to a party that Father's organizing tonight?" For a moment, surprise broke through Kerrayrlia's mask. Then, her control came back, and she asked coldly, "Is that the only reason for your invitation?" Coming from someone else, Zarien would have snapped back in a small display of temper and turned away immediately, but he could Feel Kerrayrlia's yearning through her mask. She yearned for something; for the invitation to be a sincere gesture of friendship, rather than what she feared it was; an invitation with hidden motives.

Zarien was also Gifted with Empathy and it was a strong gift at that. Thus, he could Feel and understand Kerrayrlia's feelings clearly. At first, he was a bit surprised at it, then angered. Such lack of trust meant that Kerrayrlia had suffered some sort of betrayal in the past; he was angered that anyone would do such a thing to the young girl of barely twelve she had been before she came to Havens. Certainly no one could have hurt her after she entered the Bardic Collegium, he was sure that the Master Bards would have noticed and put a stop to it.

But he let none of his feelings show as he laughed lightly and said, "Well, I must admit to having an ulterior motive." He Felt Kerrayrlia's avid disappointment at this confirmation of her worst fear and almost winced. Quickly continuing, he said, "I had hope to take advantage of your beauty by asking you to be my escort. That way, I would be the envy of all those court dandies." He raised his eyebrow and asked, "Well, Dark Princess, will you grant me my wish?"

The moment the words came out of his mouth, he cursed himself mentally. Whatever in the world had made him say that? True, he had taken to calling her that mentally, in view of her coolness that bordered on regal aloofness, but nothing, nothing should have possessed him to let it slip. Not even all the tortures that Dorilynn could devise and put him through should have prompted him to say that...Oh, what a fool I am! Saying that to a girl who's already wary of men… If she decides to slap me now, I won't even attempt to evade her. He could even hear Dorilynn's mental snicker in his head.

Yet Kerrayrlia surprised him once again. She lifted her head and looked searchingly into his face with her large blue eyes, then said softly, "I would be…glad to attend the party. And I don't mind you taking advantage of me in that particular way... Where is it to be held?" Immediately, Zarien heaved a mental sigh of relief. He thanked the gods silently before replying, with a grin, "Well, I'll come to your room to collect you at, say, seven? Is that all right?"

Kerrayrlia nodded once, then frowned. "What am I supposed to wear?" Zarien almost laughed at the remark. So, no matter how cool Kerrayrlia seemed to be, she was still a young girl. It was nice to know that some things were universal. I shouldn't really be surprised. For Havens sake, 'Lynn's a Companion and she still preens every time she sees a handsome stud. Don't you, darling?

The last remark prompted a mental kick from Dorilynn. Ignoring it, Zarien said, "Don't worry, you can wear anything. Your Trainee uniform, your Formals, a gown, anything. Just as long as you don't turn up wearing rags, I won't mind. Havens, even if you turn up in rags, you'll still be beautiful."

Upon hearing that compliment, Kerrayrlia graced him with a smile. Then, a small wicked gleam entered her eye, and she said, "I don't have that poor a taste, Zarien. But, I am not sure if you'll have anything to wear by the time your teacher's done with you. D'you know that the bell went off some time ago?"

Zarien stared at Kerrayrlia with chagrin. Then, he cursed softly. "Horseturds, it's my Religions lesson now! It slipped my mind completely! I have to go, see you later, Kerri." With a final crooked smile, he raced off, leaving Kerrayrlia alone with her thoughts.

First of which was, Why did I agree to go to the party? I never did like crowds. Did I agree to go only because I would have a chance to get the details of the story out from Zarien's father? I know I want to compose a song on that story, but are there any other reasons? Vaguely surprised, Kerrayrlia tried to analyze her feelings methodically and thoroughly, but it was difficult. For one thing, it meant that she had to admit to herself that her actions were very unusual. And the reason behind that could only be, Hellfire, I was charmed by that mesmerizing smile of his. That's the only explanation. If 'Ritia knew of this…

Her thoughts trailed off as she thought about Liritia. Whatever was in the song prompted her anger, Kerrayrlia knew that it was serious. I had better look for her, and if needs be, apologize to her. She shivered, then realized that it had been almost an hour since she came out to the gardens. Striding off towards shelter, she told herself sternly to pay more attention to the comforts of her body. If I fall sick because of such idiocy, 'Ritia would never forgive me.