Chapter 27

Awake and fed, Kyminn was still tired, but infinitely more coherent. Determined to get started on the second report, he inquired of the hall boy how to go about getting one of the slates the trainees were using. That query led him through a succession of persons, one of whom handed him off to one of the Healer instructors. That worthy listened carefully to Kyminn's request and simply nodded, saying only that Kyminn should return to his quarters and the matter would be taken care of. He had just started to sort through the materials at the desk when a trio of Healer trainees arrived at his door. They carried with them a slate much larger than the one he had requested, neatly framed and mounted on a clever easel. The chattering mob installed the contraption, left a basket of chalks and other supplies on the desk and with the usual polite "Will that be all sir?s", took themselves off, leaving a ringing silence behind. Whatever hidden faults one might find at the Healer's college, inefficiency was certainly not among them.

Thus equipped, he was able to begin the process of preparing Derris's case notes. Although no artist, the slate enabled him to make enough practice sketches that he was able to creditably transfer his thoughts to paper.

The process was slow and careful, but he found he didn't mind. Rather, this immersion into the details of his calling proved to be profoundly satisfying. By the time the final bell rang that evening, he felt he'd made a good start.

The next few days followed the same pattern – a session with Evin in the morning, with the rest of the day spent in his notes and books. He and Evin both agreed there was no discernable benefit in pursuing Kyminn's Foresight at this time. They did make a single experiment wherein Kyminn tested his shields permeability against the Foresight. To the surprise of neither, the previous urgency and "chatter" had vanished. Clearly the message had been delivered, although it still remained to be understood.

Pleased with his progress in developing his Gifts, Kyminn was equally pleased to present Healer Delassia with the requested case notes, precisely on schedule. He was thus somewhat baffled when she handed him a set of case notes in return.

Leafing through them, he was dismayed to realize he was holding his own notes on Randen's injuries, handed in to Delassia several days prior. The pages were liberally annotated in what he had come to recognize as Delassia's handwriting.

"Excuse me, Senior Healer, but…what are these?"

"Your notes, as written, could be improved. I have made notes to that effect." The senior Healer was watching Randen tack up Derris. She seemed to be making mental notes regarding the process.

"In what way? I realize I am somewhat inexperienced," he struggled to maintain an even tone, "however I assure you I followed the usual standard for such things."

"The usual standard, yes. However, they were not to my standards." Her tone was abstracted as she watched Randen and Derris begin their drills.

"I…was unaware that there were additional requirements." Kyminn experienced a sinking dread as he considered the three days of hard work he had just given the senior Healer.

"Master Kyminn," she dragged her attention away from Derris and her tone was the familiar tartness, "You are clearly an able student. You are, however, working at a level far below your potential. I regard that as a nearly criminal waste of your time and mine. If you wish to continue to thrash around in mediocrity, like a dog trying camouflage its scent in a dung heap, so be it. If, however, you wish to consistently produce results like that – "a sharp gesture at Derris, "- then you must be willing to put in the work. Otherwise you do a disservice to every future patient you treat. I will not let your ignorance cost a Companion his or her life."

Kyminn choked down his anger. He was willing to work, dammit, hadn't he proved that already? Hadn't he done everything they had asked? Mediocrity? MEDIOCRITY!? He realized he was grinding his teeth and forced his jaw to unclench. He didn't yet trust himself to speak, so he held himself to a stiff nod.

"Besides," she went on, her attention returning to Derris, her tone once again distracted, "I've spoken with the instructors and some of the other Seniors. We intend to add this case to our Ethics class for the senior year students. It is thus critical that it be as complete as possible."

Ice water flooded through Kyminn's veins, freezing him to the ground and further, down to the center of the world. Ethics class? What!? Why?!

"Delassia!" Randen's voice was a harsh bark, deep with anger. "Look at what you've done!" The Herald gestured at Kyminn, abrupt and distressed.

The Healer spun to regard Kyminn, her head swiveling back and forth between him and Randen, her expression confused.

"Delassia, you're an idiot", it was barely more civilized than a snarl. "You've got him convinced he's DONE SOMETHING WRONG!"

"But…" she was puzzled, "Master Kyminn, did you really think that?"

The world swung around again, wobbled, steadied. Kyminn felt distinctly whipsawed. "You said it would be reviewed for Ethics…" faintly.

A casual, dismissive, wave of her hand, oblivious to why he might possibly have been alarmed by her words. "Well, yes. Naturally. Really Kyminn, you do take everything to heart don't you? This is a perfect teaching case for our senior-level students. Tricky for so many reasons: many possible courses of action, medical and ethical complications, challenging setting…yes, a very good case for students to dissect and work through. A Healer finding herself thrust into a situation like this needs to be able to think things through with a clear head if she is to gain the optimum outcome. An excellent teaching case indeed." She seemed very pleased by the notion and equally clueless as to her effect on Kyminn.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, using his hand as a mask while he wrestled to arrange his features and emotions. Evin should just bring in Delassia whenever he needed to teach 'ground and center'. Just being in the woman's presence guaranteed to keep one off balance. Finally, Kyminn managed a weak wave of assent and tried to drag his attention back to Derris's therapy.

"So," Kyminn ventured, after what he hoped was a suitable interval, "how did you determine which drills and exercises would benefit Derris?"

Delassia's attention was on Derris, who was engaged in an odd series of crow-hops and vicious kicks. Her answer was a question. "Have you reviewed Primary Traumas in Companions yet?"

"I'm afraid not. I was focusing on making a thorough report." He hoped it would sound diligent, rather than exculpatory.

"Hmm. Well. Companions aren't horses." She finally turned away from Derris and met his gaze. "I know that you are aware of this, but do you really know it? Have ever actually seen a Companion in the performance of his or her duty?"

It was an interesting question. Kyminn had seen Derris's intelligence, determination and love for his Herald. He'd seen the other Companions performing a variety of activities – most of them involving bearing a Herald. Running, jumping…all of these things. All of them though, fundamentally horse-like in action, whatever the intelligence within. Clearly, Delassia felt he was missing something.

"I'd wondered." Delassia gave a brisk nod, a sure sign she was planning on rearranging Kyminn's life once again. "Read the preface and introduction to Traumas. I will make arrangements for you to observe a Companion at work. I believe you will find it educational."

"Save me from this woman's version of educational," Kyminn muttered. Delassia didn't hear him, but Derris's ears twitched.

SCENE BREAK

Kyminn settled into his now-usual place at the desk. Before him lay two stacks of paper. The first was the extensively annotated case notes that Delassia had sent. The other was a stack of fresh paper, awaiting his expanded thoughts. Curiosity warred with duty, with curiosity winning. He lifted down Primary Traumas in Companions and leafed it open to the Preface.

It is foundational to the treatment of Companions that the Healer recognize that Companions are much more than simply "not horses." While a majority of Healers may

have an intellectual understanding of this fact, they often fail to fully appreciate the implications. This work is derived not only from numerous actual records, but with the

input of the Heralds and Companions themselves. It considers not only the training and capabilities of the Companions, but also their tasks and roles as well. It is hoped

that the result underscores the point that – physiology notwithstanding – Companions do not suffer the same injuries as horses.

Consider, for example, one of the noted physical traits of the Companion – namely his speed. A horse suffering a leg injury whilst at the gallop could be reasonably

expected to experience a certain, largely predictable level of injury to bone, tendon, skin and other structures. Consider the same injury, with a multiplicity of

velocity and force behind it. The corresponding damage would be immeasurably more severe.

The previous example is perhaps disingenuous in that it posits a situation that actually has a very low likelihood of occurrence. This is because Companions do not

experience the same injuries as horses. Companions do not misstep. They do not shy, balk at jumps or flinch at obstacles. A horse will suffer

burns to back and hindquarters as it flees a burning barn. A Companion is more likely to suffer injuries to head and forequarters as she runs into the fire.

Rather than trying to start with equine injuries and extrapolate to a kind of 'superior war horse', the Healer must never forget the intelligent actor within, and should

instead approach the issue from the perspective of 'If I had the shape and strength of a horse, how might I think, behave, and move, and

what injuries might one incur as a result'? It is from this perspective that this work was compiled.

Kyminn sat back, mulling over Delassia's words. All of a sudden, he was intensely keen to observe this "demonstration."