Rolan turned to look at the Herald who had led him away from Tera. "They've been gone a long time, Lady Talia." He was slightly worried.
Smiling, Talia reached over to ruffle his slightly too long hair. "Do you feel any distress coming from Tera, Rolan?"
"Well…there was some confusing stuff a little bit ago, and something like…sadness? But she seems to be okay now."
She nodded. "They have their own personalities and relationships, quite like we do. She may have had some news that made her a little unhappy, or she may have just heard something she didn't like." Peering a little more closely at the boy, she seemed to come to a decision. "'Rolan, our Companions are more special than people realize; even most Heralds. I won't share with you why right now, because I think you'll find out for yourself soon enough, but I want you to understand that Tera is every bit as much of a person as you, she just has a different body and set of skills. She is in a unique place to help you with your gifts, and you will absolutely know if there is anything to be concerned about with her. Right now, even though your bond is very, very young, you already feel her in the back of your mind, and that's something that I don't think has happened since…well…since me and MY Rolan. It's very rare."
Suddenly, she smiled as a…well, plain is the nicest way of saying it, looking man came up behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders. She reached up and placed her hands on his without looking away from Rolan.
"I think they're coming back now, Love." The man said.
"My husband, Dirk. This is Rolan, Tera's chosen."
His eyebrows rose and he laughed, a free sound full of amusement and happiness. "I bet that was a surprise."
She merely made an amused quirk with her lips. "It was. He was highly amused by it."
"I missed something again, didn't I?" Rolan spoke quitely, not offended, simply curious.
"My Companion is Rolan, as you know. He has been the Queen's Own Companion for a long time, and has a certain level of…fame of a sort. He thought it was funny that someone named their child after him." At the look on the boy's face, she hurried to continue. "He was flattered, but it struck him as odd, since Companions usually aren't as noticed as their Heralds."
"You're the Queen's Own, which means you directly advise the Queen, right?"
She beemed at him. "That's one of my jobs, yes. Most people don't know that."
He blushed. "My mom told me stories about the Heralds and their magic horses. They were my bedtime stories every night until she died. I guess I learned from them without realizing it."
Dirk smiled. "Your mother must have known that you were special, and that you would need to know all about our world."
"I don't know if she knew, but I know she held those stories close to her, and she set a lot of store by them."
The two Heralds looked up simultaneously as a woman with a slightly different uniform and long silver hair stepped through the doorway. "What was your mother's name, Child?" she asked with a smile.
"Queen Selenay." Rolan bowed.
"My heralds never need bow to me, Child."
He looked up at Talia, question clear in his eyes.
"We don't bow to our Queen very often, Rolan, and never in this room."
Standing, he answered her question. "Her name was Terana. I think she was a Herald before she had me."
The Queen raised an eyebrow. "Why do you think that? Heralds almost never leave the city, and never leave service."
He thought for a minute. "She had a set of those uniforms. She kept them in a cedar box under our bed. She didn't take them out, often, and she seemed sad when she saw them."
"Did she ever do anything that seemed like one of our gifts?" Dirk asked gently.
Shaking his head, he said "No, but there were times she would hold her head and wince, like she had tried to do something and it hurt her."
Talia made a sound. "I remember, now." She looked at Selenay. "Terana was one of those who were affected most harshly by the mage storms. Her gift seemed to just…leech away. She requested to leave the Heralds when she became pregnant, because she wanted to raise the child away from all the things she couldn't do anymore."
"My mother was a Herald?"
"Your father was too, if I recall correctly." Talia said quietly. "He didn't give up his service, and he continued to ride circuit and help wherever needed. He always planned to retire with you and your mother, but he got caught by a couple of magic-changed creatures while we were trying to clear out a section of the Pelagirs."
"But…But what about her Companion?"
The Queen looked to Dirk. "Would you ask Ahrodie?"
His eyes unfocused for a minute, and he looked surprised. "She is here. She lives with the others."
Talia raised a hand to forestall the question. "I suggest, young Rolan, that you take your Companion and find your mother's. She will be the best to tell the story, and it's time you get back to Tera, anyway. You've been outfitted, and we will take your things to your room for you, given the situation. When you come back in, in about a candlemark, for dinner, then I will have an older trainee show you to the baths and your room." She smiled at him. "Now shoo!" and shoved him, gently, out the door and toward the white not-horse waiting for him at the end of the sidewalk.