Chapter 11
All three Heralds stared at Kyminn. Jannen found his voice first. "It seems that there has been a misunderstanding." He glanced at Pell, then at Kyminn. "I was given to understand Randen and Derris would be in your care for the trip."
"I'm not sure where you got that impression Herald Jannen, but you're mistaken." It was excruciatingly formal. "If anyone goes with you it should be Healer Pell. He can heal both Randen and Derris." He shook his head. "I am not the one to go."
"Kyminn," Pell pointed out reasonably, "I can't go. I'm posted to Ravenswood. If I go, it will leave the region without a Healer."
"What about mother and grandmother?", he said doggedly.
Anya's voice was tart. "I'm retired, grandson. Have been for many years. Being a Healer on station is a young person's charge, not mine." Her voice drew his eye unwillingly. "Kyminn, if Pell goes to Haven it will be mid-summer by the time he gets there. There won't be time for him to get back before winter. That means some of the villages won't have a Healer there until next spring. We can manage for Oakden, your mother and I, but what about the others?"
Kyminn looked wildly around the room. "But I'm needed here!" He stared at Jannen and blurted, "You said it yourself – it's a good thing that I was there when Randen and Derris got hurt."
"And I meant it! But lad…" Jannen realized the mistake as soon as he saw Kyminn's face cloud. "Kyminn, yes, you and your gifts saved them. We don't doubt that and we would never, ever want to change that fact. But…we die, Kyminn. No Herald expects to die in bed. Accident, illness, war, treachery, it's part of being a Herald. It was the gods own chance that had the right man, with the right gifts, here when they were needed. And that's all it was, chance.
"If the slide had happened in Waymeet, or Knowles Crossing, or a nameless track somewhere, then they would have died. We would have grieved, deeply at the loss, but another Herald would step up and carry on. Having a safety net like your gifts is a treasure, but we go whether it's safe or not."
Kyminn looked down at his feet. "This is my place. This is where I'm needed."
"You're needed other places too, Kym." Keli said softly.
His eyes were hot accusation. "Oakden lives or dies by its timber, mother. I'm not arrogant enough to think it's all on me, but you know that people rely on me to keep their beasts healthy." He shifted his gaze over to Merrell. "Without our draft animals, we can't move the timber. No timber harvest, no income."
Merell looked away, uncomfortable at being drawn into the matter. He stood abruptly and gestured at the guard. "This is not a village decision. Aye, Kyminn's gift is of great value to us and I won't deny it. But it isn't on me to say whether he stays or goes. His future is his own, as far as that goes. And whether his gifts need to go to Haven for training or whatnot, that's something for a Healer or Herald to decide. Not for the likes of us." He gave a polite, if short bow to Tarva. "I'll see you in the morning Herald."
The door closed behind them and Anya growled at Kyminn. "You've handled yourself better, grandson."
Kyminn opened his mouth to lash back at her and Randen held up his hand wearily. "Peace, please."
Unwilling to argue with the injured man, Kyminn grudgingly subsided.
"Kyminn, I think I am uniquely qualified to testify as to how important your skills are." His tone was dust-dry. "It's clear that you do tremendous good here. But," his voice softened, "you can do even more good in Haven."
Kyminn looked sideways at him. "Are there healers in Haven that can treat Derris?"
"Yes." It was matter of fact.
"And healers that can help you with your shoulder, and help you learn to walk?"
Levelly again, "There are."
"Then why," and it was a harsh whisper, "do you want me so badly?"
Randen tried to keep the exasperation out of his voice. "Because, dammit, it's like Jannen said. Your gifts are a treasure, Kyminn. Gifts don't just grow on trees you know. It's like being able to turn air into food and you choose to sit here and make cake for the village when you could be feeding the starving!"
Kyminn rose and paced frantically. "The Gifted flock to Haven! I'm sure there are several dozen people there who can do what I do. I'm the only one Oakden has!"
"There aren't enough to go around, Kyminn. There are never enough to go around."
He whirled and advanced on Randen. "Animal healers? You're saying there's a shortage of Animal Healers?" He glared at the Herald, his reluctance to argue with a sick man forgotten. "If I were a regular Healer, you'd have an argument. I'd be on the next horse to Haven. But I'm not. I'm a decent herb healer and Haven doesn't need those. And I'm a damn good animal healer, and people who rely on their animals, they need me!" Fists clenched at his side, he glared down at the Herald. "If you can swear to me, on Derris, that they need me for the Companions, or there is something I've missed, then yes, I'll go."
Randen met his eyes, glare for glare, for long moments. Finally, he dropped his eyes. "I can't swear it. But," and he was pleading, "that doesn't mean I'm not right."
Tarva's voice was steel in the silence. "What about the kingdom?"
Kyminn snapped his head towards her, then slowly dropped his gaze, his anger blunting on the authority of a senior field Herald. Finally, reluctantly, "What do you mean 'What about the kingdom'?"
"I meant exactly that. You say you want to stay because you can be the most use here, yes?"
A stiff nod.
"And you don't think you'll make the best use of your gifts in Haven, yes?"
Another nod.
"What," it was biting, "makes you so sure that Oakden is the best place for your gifts then?"
Kyminn opened his mouth, and then closed it on silence.
Tarva relented a bit, but steel still underlay her words. "Kyminn, no one doubts that you fully plan to use your gifts the best you can. Not when living proof will kick my arse from here to Rethwellen if I argue the point. But the fact is, we need someone to go to Haven with Randen and Derris. You're the best choice for that. Another point, one we haven't brought up yet, is that working with other Healers and gift teachers might strengthen and expand your skills. There's still a lot about healing you don't know yet. Finally," and this was remorselessly logical, "what if there's somewhere else that needs you more than Oakden does? Maybe there's a somewhere else you need to be."
Kyminn dropped his eyes and his shoulders slumped. "Can I think about it?"
"We'll be here for a few more days yet. Of course you can think about it."
