Chapter 10
Derris twitched his shoulder, pulling it away from Kyminn's kneading hands. Kyminn straightened up and regarded the Companion with surprise. "What? Did that hurt?"
Derris was shifting about in the padded sling. Had all four feet been firmly on the ground, he'd have been prancing. Kyminn blinked and reached out with his mind and it was his Empathy that answered back. Derris was very, very pleased about something. The anticipation practically shone from him.
Clearly, this afternoon's session of massage and exercise was at an end. Whatever was going on, it had completely claimed Derris's attention. Kyminn huffed and lightly smacked Derris on the shoulder. "Fine then. Let's see what this is all about then."
He was barely out of the barn when Keli appeared at the door of the healer's building.
"Kym? Randen said that Derris told him there's a Herald coming. Should be here in a bit less than a mark."
"Well," Kyminn muttered. "I guess that does explain things then." He pivoted back to the barn and glared at Derris. "We have nearly a mark. You can't make your friend get here any faster. You still have plenty of time to finish your stretches."
Derris whickered, and Kyminn was certain that had his face been human-shaped, it would have sported an impertinent grin.
Derris had timed things perfectly. Kyminn had just finished refilling Derris's water when a clatter of bells sounded on the road. Kyminn was not alone in moving into the square and by the time the Herald pulled up, a sizable crowd had gathered to greet the new arrival.
Arrivals.
Not a Herald.
Two.
And not two Companions.
Four.
The sight of two Heralds and four Companions triggered a clamour in the crowd. One of the Heralds straightened in her saddle and raised her hand slightly. The noise ebbed immediately. Kyminn raised an eyebrow, wondering how she had managed that. Was it some Heraldic skill or simply her presence alone?
A warm smile creased her face and Kyminn decided it was presence. Having now spent nearly a moon with Randen and Derris, he'd thought himself well past being subject to the mystique of Heralds and Companions. Clearly, he'd been wrong. She wasn't beautiful, but Kyminn was sure this was someone who would have dominated a room even without being a Herald. A mane of stunning autumn-copper hair made her whites seem somehow brighter and drew your attention while the lively character of her features held it.
"Good afternoon." Her voice was a smooth alto and carried clearly over the crowd. "I'm Herald Tarva and this is my Companion Aelish." She nodded to the other rider. "This is Herald Jannen and his Companion Niko." A last gestured took in the two other Companions. "And these are Bryann and Jerith." She looked over the crowd. "We're looking for Kyminn."
Kyminn moved through the crowd until he was standing in front of Aelish. "I'm Kyminn."
Tarva slipped her foot out of the stirrup and slid down to the ground. Profoundly green eyes regarded Kyminn steadily. "How are they?" Her tone was quiet, somber, as though they stood alone in the square. "The last word we got was that they were safe and likely to recover. What wasn't clear was what condition we might find them in when we got here."
Kyminn injected as much reassurance into his tone as he could. "They are both going to be fine." A small smile. "I'd guess you want to see them then." He gestured towards the barn. "They're over here. Derris is closest. Him first?"
Jannen gave a small laugh as he dismounted. "That would be fine, Healer Kyminn."
"I'm not a Healer, Herald Jannen, but thank you for the courtesy of the title."
"Oh?" Jannen's look was speculative. "That's not what we were given to understand." His tone said clearly that the matter would be revisited at another time.
The crowd parted as they followed Kyminn, Companions at their heels. The once-airy barn seemed suddenly crowded with three people and four additional Companions. Jannen gave an inarticulate moan of dismay at the jagged scar on Derris's chest. He lightly ran his hands over the insult. He looked up at Kyminn. "You said he'll recover?"
Kyminn was on sure ground here. He laid out for the six newcomers the details of Derris's wounds and the progress of his recovery.
"…by the end of summer", he concluded.
The two Heralds exchanged looks. It was Tarva who spoke. "I think I speak for the circle when I tell you we are all deeply grateful for what you have done for Derris and Randen."
A small shrug. "I'm not sure what else I could have done. I couldn't just leave them there."
Jannen gripped his shoulder. "We're just lucky you were on hand where you were so badly needed. So then. Let's see Randen then, shall we?"
Pell's voice sounded from the doorway. "I can help you with that, Heralds."
Tarva looked a question at Kyminn. "Kyminn?"
"Healer Pell," a slight emphasis on the title, "is in charge of Randen's care. I don't think there's anything that I could tell you that he couldn't. If it's all right to you, I'll see to getting your Companions settled."
Tarva's face briefly took on a distant look while she spoke with Aelish. "That would be fine, thank you Kyminn. As Aelish pointed out, you clearly know how to handle the needs of Companions."
"Which are not bloody horses," Jannen muttered. Kyminn pretended not to hear him.
The two Heralds wended their way through the forest of white bodies and moved off with Pell, a low voiced conversation about the injured Herald's condition following them.
Kyminn gave the companions a courteous nod. "If you can move outside, I'll be able to remove your tack for you." He glanced around the barn. "I'm afraid I've only the two remaining box stalls, although both open into the back paddock. If you plan to sleep inside, you'll have to share. Sorry about that."
The four companions put their heads together, exactly like classmates conferring. Aelish looked back at him and nodded as the others moved back into the square. As Kyminn followed, he realized that the two lone Companions were not wearing regular tack. Each was wearing an unusual harness, along with a bundles of gear.
Nonplussed, Kyminn moved to Jareth and began unfastening the bundles. To the best of his knowledge, no Companion ever let himself serve as a common pack beast. Jareth reached his head around and gave the bundle, and then Kyminn a nudge. A stamp of the foot emphasized the message.
Unrolling the bundle, Kyminn gave a small cry of relief. "This is exactly what we needed for Derris!" He stretched out the array of straps, hooks and braces. "Derris can only just stand, and that for a short time. If he's to go anywhere, he'll need help to carry his weight. He certainly can't walk home." Kyminn looked up at Jareth. "I was worried they were going to try to send him home between two draft horses. I think that would be a mistake – what would happen to Derris if they panicked or even had a bad day doesn't bear thinking about. I was prepared to scream my head off if anyone insisted on it. That's why you and Bryann are here then? You're here to get Derris back?"
Jareth whickered smugly in agreement and Kyminn resumed removing the harness.
By the time all four Companions had been untacked, groomed and settled, it was well into evening. Kyminn used the soap and rag he kept at the barn and did a quick wash at the pump. He slipped into the healing house and found Anya and Pell at the table, a meat pie laid out in front of them. The door to Randen's room was closed and he could hear the murmur of voices.
"Herald's conference," Anya said, pushing a basket of bread and crock of butter towards Kyminn, nodding her head at the door. "I imagine they've a lot to discuss."
The meeting that gathered that evening was far different in tone from the one of a fortnight ago. For starters, it was held in the sitting room of the healer's building and not a sickroom. For another, Randen was sitting upright, smiling and cheerful. Merell again attended for the village, and the four healers revisited their roles. Tarva and Jannen joined Randen, creating a bright spot of white in the warm lamplight. Corporal Garvas, the senior of the three men tasked to help the village, stood in for Captain Anden.
Tarva cleared her throat. "Jannen and I", she indicated her colleague, "have spent several hours with Randen. Part of it was passing on messages from Haven and instructions from the circle, but much of it was spent making a record of his circuit and making sure we have a complete report. I think," she glanced at Jannen and he nodded agreement, "that we have all the information we need."
She looked at the guardsman. "Corporal Garvas, I will be taking over Randen's circuit. He still had another seven months left of the duty and both the king and circle agree that this region should not be left without a Herald for that long. I ask you to please make a note of this in your report so that it can go in the records. Also, I am going to ask you to please make sure that Captain Anden is personally told of the change so that he can let other posts know."
Garvas touched his chest in salute. "Of course Herald. Did you want the message to go out immediately?"
She shook her head, red hair flashing in the firelight. "No, thank you. I would appreciate it though, if you could send someone out in the morning. We will have more information - as well as some requests - for your captain by then."
The corporal gave a half bow of acknowledgement and settled back into his alert stance.
Tarva turned to Merell. "Headman, Randen was on his way here when he had his accident. He tells me that he hasn't had a chance yet to receive your report or address any disputes." A dry smile. "He says he's been a bit busy."
Merell's eyes bugged out a bit as he tried to decide whether or not it would be appropriate to smile. Swallowing any untoward expression, he simply said, "I'm afraid he hasn't, milady Herald. I am ready to sit down with you whenever you wish though."
"Would tomorrow morning suit you then?" At his nod, she turned to Kyminn. "Pell tells me that Randen is well enough to be moved back to Haven. Is Derris fit to travel?"
"He is. Especially now that Jareth and Bryann are here to help him. I was wondering if he was going to spend the whole summer with us. Not that I'd mind, but I think Herald Randen would probably find a summer in Oakden just a little bit dull."
Randen laughed. "I would never say that!"
Kyminn grinned at him. "I know you wouldn't. But there's not much for you here aside from exercises. And besides," and he was serious again. "You should be seen by the Healers in Haven, both of you, for rehabilitation."
Tarva broke in. "Which brings us to the last point. Kyminn, how long will it take for you to get Randen, Derris and yourself ready to travel?"
Kyminn gaped at her. He swallowed and said carefully, "With all due respect, Herald Tarva. I am not going to Haven."
