Author's Notes: At last, I've found time to upload this chapter! I've been BUSY with school work and exams lately, so this chapter being uploaded is a MIRACLE!

A big thank you to all reviewers out there! Your support is what kept this story going:

Replies:

Hping - Thanks so much for ur prompt review!

dustigrey143 - Here's the answer to ur request. But there'll be more suspense, so u'll have to read on to find out what happens to her in the END. Referring to the word 'strong', if u meant her Gifts, Gifts do develop suddenly when the potential Herald is in danger. Rarely, but it does occur. Thanks for ur feedback, but I didn't really planned for there to be a conflict btw Zarien and Kerri...

Cataluna Avalon - Hi, Cata. Thanks for ur praise and encouragement! That'll at least keep me going for two more chapters, thanks so much! Hope I've updated soon enough for u. :)

Sorry for my long-windedness. Now, on to the story...

Chapter 9 Heralding Darkness

Kerrayrlia vaguely realized that the man had finally stopped pawing at her. But in her current state of less than semi-awareness, that did not mean anything at all. Grey, bulky objects seemed to be floating around, but Kerrayrlia took no notice of them, so locked up in her emotional state she was.

Still awashed in a haze of emotions, she blinked unfocused eyes slowly. Looming before her seemed to be a pair of blurry light blue eyes. Then, Kerrayrlia heard a voice addressing her mentally. Dearest Kerrayrlia, my name is Rannael and I Choose you.

Unconditional love enfolded Kerrayrlia in its comforting blanket of warmth. Through the fog of rage and terror, she somehow felt its soothing presence. I'll never be lonely again… Dimly, she thought she heard someone call her name out loud as her emotions drained away and she slowly floated into unconsciousness…

Zarien stared after Kerrayrlia ruefully as she made her way towards a small path off the main garden. They had been enjoying themselves, of that Zarien was sure. And Kerrayrlia had even graced the party with a smile a few times; Zarien had felt so close to breaking through her mask. Then, he had put his bumbling foot in.

Hellfire, why do I have such a big, fat mouth? And to think that Herald Leonal is training me to be a diplomat. If this were an assignment, I would get a big, fat zero. He felt Dorilynn's brush against his mind, offering sympathy. For once, she spoke without her usual gentle sarcasm. I think you should spend more time befriending Kerrayrlia, Chosen. From what I can see through your mind, she's quite lonely. I think that she's hiding her emotions inside herself.

"And that's not a good thing, because once that barrier holding back her emotions breaks,she will drown in her emotions." And, 'Lynn, I like Kerri. I think that if she opens up, she'll be a good friend.

"Speaking to yourself, Zarien?" Startled, Zarien turned to glare at the person who presumed to speak to him in that tone. He rested his eyes on a man dressed in gold and browns, with dark coppery hair and merry walnut coloured eyes. Zarien relaxed and smiled. "You should know Heralds better than to ask that, Tanvis."

"Ah, but do I know my brother-in-law that well? After all, I rarely see him." Tanvis' tone was half joking, half serious. Zarien shook his head with a little bit of irritation. "Another lecture on how I should spend more time with my family? What with my lessons as a Herald Trainee, your duties and Father's duties on the Council and Zarielle being busy looking after little Joserlyn, you should be glad that we even manage see each other."

A half-hearted grin appeared on Tanvis' angular face. "I know, we certainly are busy, aren't we? But I can see that my wife misses you. After all, before we married, she was closest to you, even though she is five years older than you are. My lady has been a bit lonely lately, since my duties prevent me from spending too much of my time with her."

Zarien was surprised at that statement. The idea of Zarielle being lonely; that was a picture that defied imagination. He arched an eyebrow at his brother-in-law. "Aren't you exaggerating, Tanvis? Zarielle has plenty of friends."

Tanvis snorted, his striking features an expression of disgust. "Friends? Those Court butterflies she kept company with are mostly married to various lords by now. Three-quarters of them are no longer even seen in Havens. As for the rest, marriage seems to have changed them for the worst. Incorrigible gossips, the lot of them. Zarielle confided to me that she's bored of listening to idle chatter about various nobles' private lives."

Zarien was troubled by this revelation. 'Rielle didn't show any of that loneliness just now. But then, she's adept at keeping her troubles to herself. It would be just like her, in fact. He needed time to think over this, but he resolved to find a solution to the problem. Zarielle was his favourite sibling, mainly because she had gotten him out of trouble more than once before he had been Chosen. He smiled a little as he recalled his various antics which had managed to enrage both his mild-mannered parents.

Shrugging a bit, all Zarien said was, "I'll keep that in mind." Then, he changed the subject. "Tanvis, can you tell me what happened today? Why was Bard Stefan summoned before the Council?" That question had been nagging at him since Stefan had left so hurriedly that morning.

Tanvis' expression became somber and slightly worried. He sighed, "I don't know if I should tell you this… Oh well, it's going to be all over Court soon, anyway. Do you know about our Queen's parentage?" Zarien frowned. What was wrong? He slowly answered, "All of Valdemar knows that Queen Jisa is the illegitimate daughter of King Randal and his lifebonded, Shavri. Is there a problem with that?"

On hearing that, Tanvis' sighed again. "That's where the problem lies, Zarien. It turned out that the Queen isn't King Randal's illegitimate daughter. She is actually the daughter of Herald-Mage Vanyel and the previous Monarch's Own Herald, Shavri. Bard Stefan confirmed the fact today."

Zarien's jaws dropped. How could this be? His quick wits however, had gone on ahead without him. While he was still recovering from the shock, his brain had already mapped out the far-reaching consequences of such a revelation. This revelation would put Queen Jisa, who was also Monarch's Own Herald, out of succession. This would change rock the security of the throne, since the royal pair had no heir. This meant that there was room for nobles on King Treven's collateral lines to inherit should anything happen to King Treven. And some of the tradition-minded old nobles may decide that Queen Jisa should not be Queen. After all, they only supported the marriage because of Queen Jisa's parentage...The unscrupulous ones may even take matters into their own hands…

Gravely, Zarien told Tanvis of his conclusions. He watched as Tanvis' eyes widened with surprise. "You surprise me, Zarien. That was the set of conclusions that the Lord Marshal, Seneschal and I came looks like your father is right. You would make a good diplomat."

Zarien shook off the praise, still troubled. He was too much a Herald to not feel worry over this state of things. After all, the main purpose of Heralds were to serve Valdemar and its King. Yet, something nagged at him. "Tanvis, how did this information became known? Surely the Queen wouldn't have announced it now; fifteen years after the death of Herald-Mage Vanyel and King Randal."

Before Tanvis could reply however, Zarien gasped and doubled over. He had heard a mental wail so loud that his head felt as if it was spilt into two. "What happened? Are you all right?" Zarien shrugged off Tanvis' concerned hands. "Something...bad...has occurred." By the time he reached the end of the sentence, he was already racing towards the small path off the main garden.

For that was where the source of that wail was from. He did not pause to consider the implications of this sudden, strange use of Mindspeech. The only thoughts in his mind was that Kerrayrlia had walked away in this direction. Oh gods, please, don't let anything happen to Kerri, please. Another loud mental scream pierced his mind.

Chosen, there's something I have to tell you… Zarien heard Dorilynn's voice in his mind as his long strides took him towards a dark corner. Later, 'Lynn, later. As he reached the dark corner however, he heard the sound of hoofs rumbling behind him. Instinctively, he jumped sideways to his left, crashing into the wall. Eyes wide, he stared as a Companion galloped past.

It was not Dorilynn, of that Zarien was sure. Although confused, he did not waste anymore time, but rounded the corner. Then, he stopped in his tracks as the sight before him completely stunned him.