Disclaimer: La dee da...Scheherezade is missing again...dee dee dee...oh,
right. I own the characters and the plot. Whee.
Muse responsible: Krathnae, who is happy about having his crest scratched...
Everybody say it with me! :colons: are Mindspeech! [brackets] are Kamaria's thoughts!
I haven't really been having writers block, just block-for-this-chappie. I know exactly what will happen in the next couple, but it's been difficult to get this one.
And the delay is long cause I've been at camp! I have (more) new nicknames! (Which makes it...16, I think. Nicknames, I mean!) They are: Shroomie (don't ask) and Bug Food! (Explains itself, ne?)
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Kamaria looked up at her father. "What?" she asked, slightly confused.
A hollow tone rang in Garethe's voice. "23 years ago, we were in a particularly bad situation with the Karsites. The Lord-Marshal Herald had recently promoted me to General, and I finally had the authority to authorize several military maneuvers that would help us kick free of the corner."
Garethe cleared his throat. "My brother was a Herald, and he was under my command. I gave him orders that were supposedly un-risky enough to keep him alive, though I knew he would throw his life down for his people given half a second."
Moisture glistened at the corner of his left eye. "They ran into-into some demon-summoners. The one man who escaped-he told me-my brother had surrendered himself to the Sun-Priests to give the others time to run."
Garethe bowed his head.
Kamaria hugged him again. "Don't worry, Father. Alain said-once-that I had potential to be an excellent Herald-Courier, and Sitara is fast enough that we should be able to dodge our way out of most danger."
Garethe sighed, then replied, "I need to go check with the merchants on prices now." He managed a weak smile. "No rest for the weary, and all."
Kamaria watched him pace away, back straight and proud-little sign that he had unveiled a memory filled with so much pain in his stride.
Alain said, quietly, "I wondered who Poul Chantrea was on the memorial to the Heralds who had died to the Sun-Priests was...now I know, and I wish I didn't."
Sitara butted in. :Um, this might be a bad time, but I'm hungry!:
Kamaria was startled into a laugh. "Then let's go eat!"
Alain and Ramya followed Kamaria and Sitara through the Harvestfest. :Well, at least her father is sensible, if not her mother,: said Ramya in Private-mode to Alain. :At least he's going to let her go to Haven.:
Alain grinned, then answered, :Her mother will have vapours. As usual.:
Ramya snicker-whickered. :I don't envy her.:
Alain fixed his Companion with a mock-stern eye. :Now, that' not very nice!:
Ramya tossed her head, unrepentant.
Alain sighed. :Just for that, I might make you link up with her and witness it all!:
Ramya shuddered. :Anything but that!:
Kamaria called back, "Hurry up! At least, if you want to eat..."
Sitara said, :Hey! No threatening to let ANYONE go without food, especially your lifebonded!:
Kamaria turned to her Companion. :Even the Karsites?: she asked, innocently.
Sitara shifted, then said, :Nobody should go without food! Food is too...edible!:
Kamaria pretended to be afraid.
Alain caught up with Kamaria, Ramya close behind, and heard this parting shot.
Ramya gave Sitara a very strange look. :You are entirely too obsessed with food, my dear.:
Sitara dropped back and nipped at Ramya.
Kamaria laughed. "Well, if you're THAT hungry..."
Sitara hurried after Kamaria to the stables.
Alain stopped at a jewelry booth as Ramya followed, looking over the different types of necklaces.
:Do you know when Kamaria's birthday is?: he asked Ramya.
:Uh...actually, no.:
:Hmm.:
:That one with the knot design is nice...even if it's a hair tie thing...:
:Think she'd like it?:
:Scan the collection again, slowly.:
Alain Felt Ramya in his mind, looking through his eyes as he looked over the collection again.
Ramya muttered little comments about each one as he scanned it again. :Not the bumblebee...Havens, is that supposed to be a Companion? Couldn't tell you, myself...whoever put that shade of ruby with topaz must have been colorblind.:
:Need another look-over?:
:No thanks. I think the knot-design-hair tie-thing is the best.:
:Thanks, Ramya.:
Alain dug a few coins out of his belt pouch and paid the vendor, slipping the hair-tie-thing into his pocket.
Kamaria filled the grain bucket again. :Are you STILL hungry?: she asked Sitara, who had munched her way through one full bucket already.
Sitara snicker-whickered. :Well...actually, no. Go feed Ramya.:
Kamaria left Sitara's stall reluctantly, and filled Ramya's grain bucket.
Ramya stared into space, then shook herself out of it and began to eat.
Kamaria began to head out of the stables-but Alain came in first.
"Kamaria-the first few hours are crucial in a bonding. If you want the Herald-Companion bond to take root, you have to spend a good few hours with Sitara," Alain said, anxiously.
Kamaria smiled. "And here I was, trying to find some excuse not to leave the stables."
Alain laughed. "You don't need one, love. Sitara is your excuse."
Sitara slipped out of her stall and nuzzled her Chosen. "Done eating?"
:For now.:
Kamaria engrossed herself once more in Sitara as Alain leaned against Ramya's stall door.
:Poor Alain. The only male among three females.:
:Uh-oh.:
:Then again, you're soul-bound to two of them, so maybe it won't be so bad!:
Alain scratched Ramya's nose. :Bad? No, it could never be bad around you.:
:Ah...just a bit up and to the left...mmmm.:
:How soon do you think she'll make it through the Collegium? I mean, I'm probably going to get my Whites in a year, maybe two, but she's been Chosen late-ish.:
Ramya half-closed her eyes, leaning into the scratches. :Well, she won't need any training in Courtly Graces, as a noble. Or History. She obviously can ride, but she needs to learn Courier riding...and get her Gifts trained. And learn Herald-specialized information-organizing villagers, Religions, how to fight natural disasters, and all. And Weapons, of course.:
:Maybe...two or three years? If she takes the intensified course?:
:Well, do you really want her to have that little free time?: suggested Ramya shrewdly, and was rewarded by Alain's blush.
:That wasn't nice!: he protested.
Ramya snicker-whickered again. :I remember you saying, on the way up here, oh, something along the lines of, 'More time free is more time for me?':
Alain swatted her.
Kamaria walked beside Ramya through the orchards, which were mostly empty.
Mostly.
:Hold on, dear, I sense featherheads!: said Sitara, pricking her ears.
[Gods. Mother.]
"Motherly vapours, here we come," muttered Kamaria.
:Maybe you should mount-the height advantage may give you something?:
Kamaria looked dubiously at Sitara. "Um, you're kinda tall."
Sitara veered over to a stump, which Kamaria used to mount.
Kamaria braced herself as they ambled into the circle of Lady Amaya's friends...
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I thought I'd spare you the vapours.
Whee! Reviews! I'm loved! Pie for everybody!
WolfChild: Of COURSE Sitara is the perfect Companion for Kamaria! Would she deserve anything less? Have cookies!
Senashenta: OK, explanation right here. *clears throat* Lord Garethe, several years ago, had a BROTHER who was a Herald. Garethe, being a general, was constantly down on the front lines with Karse, and was given command of several Heralds, which included his brother. His brother was leading a squad of men, they ran into demon-summoning Sun-Priests, he handed himself over to the Priests to let everyone else run, and the Death Bell rang. Garethe felt guilty because it was supposed to be a safe mission, being as how you need to preserve Heralds and all. Yeah.
Krathnae: Ah...a time-honorrred and trrrreasssurrred trrradition...*eyes glaze over with happiness*
Herald-Mage Brianna: *raises eyebrow* Um...thanks?
Stee: Salad...? Confoozled Blade here...
Krathnae: All that matters is that she's scratching my crest!
Fireblade: Um, OK...
Etcetera-cat: Lotas rambling in this one...another question is, "What is six by nine?"
Morninglight: Aww, I'm touched!
Stee Parker: Yay! More fans! Love y'all!
Tsukinoko: Um...Kamaria's white-blond, pale skin, silver eyes...no Hawkbrother blood...oh, right, Van had silver eyes! *whacks self, goes cross-eyed* Ow...*uncrosses eyes* Yeah, an Ashkevron female married her great-grandfather...and she had silver eyes...yeah. So she's related. Kamaria's also sorta a Velgarth version of an albino. Ish.
Foenixfyre: Thanks! Garethe is a great deal more sensible than many fathers I could name...*coughcough*Shandi's father*coughcough* (Owlsight) Plus he spent alotta time with Heralds by Karse...yup.
Love y'all! As always, review!
~Fireblade and Krathnae
Muse responsible: Krathnae, who is happy about having his crest scratched...
Everybody say it with me! :colons: are Mindspeech! [brackets] are Kamaria's thoughts!
I haven't really been having writers block, just block-for-this-chappie. I know exactly what will happen in the next couple, but it's been difficult to get this one.
And the delay is long cause I've been at camp! I have (more) new nicknames! (Which makes it...16, I think. Nicknames, I mean!) They are: Shroomie (don't ask) and Bug Food! (Explains itself, ne?)
------------------------------------------
Kamaria looked up at her father. "What?" she asked, slightly confused.
A hollow tone rang in Garethe's voice. "23 years ago, we were in a particularly bad situation with the Karsites. The Lord-Marshal Herald had recently promoted me to General, and I finally had the authority to authorize several military maneuvers that would help us kick free of the corner."
Garethe cleared his throat. "My brother was a Herald, and he was under my command. I gave him orders that were supposedly un-risky enough to keep him alive, though I knew he would throw his life down for his people given half a second."
Moisture glistened at the corner of his left eye. "They ran into-into some demon-summoners. The one man who escaped-he told me-my brother had surrendered himself to the Sun-Priests to give the others time to run."
Garethe bowed his head.
Kamaria hugged him again. "Don't worry, Father. Alain said-once-that I had potential to be an excellent Herald-Courier, and Sitara is fast enough that we should be able to dodge our way out of most danger."
Garethe sighed, then replied, "I need to go check with the merchants on prices now." He managed a weak smile. "No rest for the weary, and all."
Kamaria watched him pace away, back straight and proud-little sign that he had unveiled a memory filled with so much pain in his stride.
Alain said, quietly, "I wondered who Poul Chantrea was on the memorial to the Heralds who had died to the Sun-Priests was...now I know, and I wish I didn't."
Sitara butted in. :Um, this might be a bad time, but I'm hungry!:
Kamaria was startled into a laugh. "Then let's go eat!"
Alain and Ramya followed Kamaria and Sitara through the Harvestfest. :Well, at least her father is sensible, if not her mother,: said Ramya in Private-mode to Alain. :At least he's going to let her go to Haven.:
Alain grinned, then answered, :Her mother will have vapours. As usual.:
Ramya snicker-whickered. :I don't envy her.:
Alain fixed his Companion with a mock-stern eye. :Now, that' not very nice!:
Ramya tossed her head, unrepentant.
Alain sighed. :Just for that, I might make you link up with her and witness it all!:
Ramya shuddered. :Anything but that!:
Kamaria called back, "Hurry up! At least, if you want to eat..."
Sitara said, :Hey! No threatening to let ANYONE go without food, especially your lifebonded!:
Kamaria turned to her Companion. :Even the Karsites?: she asked, innocently.
Sitara shifted, then said, :Nobody should go without food! Food is too...edible!:
Kamaria pretended to be afraid.
Alain caught up with Kamaria, Ramya close behind, and heard this parting shot.
Ramya gave Sitara a very strange look. :You are entirely too obsessed with food, my dear.:
Sitara dropped back and nipped at Ramya.
Kamaria laughed. "Well, if you're THAT hungry..."
Sitara hurried after Kamaria to the stables.
Alain stopped at a jewelry booth as Ramya followed, looking over the different types of necklaces.
:Do you know when Kamaria's birthday is?: he asked Ramya.
:Uh...actually, no.:
:Hmm.:
:That one with the knot design is nice...even if it's a hair tie thing...:
:Think she'd like it?:
:Scan the collection again, slowly.:
Alain Felt Ramya in his mind, looking through his eyes as he looked over the collection again.
Ramya muttered little comments about each one as he scanned it again. :Not the bumblebee...Havens, is that supposed to be a Companion? Couldn't tell you, myself...whoever put that shade of ruby with topaz must have been colorblind.:
:Need another look-over?:
:No thanks. I think the knot-design-hair tie-thing is the best.:
:Thanks, Ramya.:
Alain dug a few coins out of his belt pouch and paid the vendor, slipping the hair-tie-thing into his pocket.
Kamaria filled the grain bucket again. :Are you STILL hungry?: she asked Sitara, who had munched her way through one full bucket already.
Sitara snicker-whickered. :Well...actually, no. Go feed Ramya.:
Kamaria left Sitara's stall reluctantly, and filled Ramya's grain bucket.
Ramya stared into space, then shook herself out of it and began to eat.
Kamaria began to head out of the stables-but Alain came in first.
"Kamaria-the first few hours are crucial in a bonding. If you want the Herald-Companion bond to take root, you have to spend a good few hours with Sitara," Alain said, anxiously.
Kamaria smiled. "And here I was, trying to find some excuse not to leave the stables."
Alain laughed. "You don't need one, love. Sitara is your excuse."
Sitara slipped out of her stall and nuzzled her Chosen. "Done eating?"
:For now.:
Kamaria engrossed herself once more in Sitara as Alain leaned against Ramya's stall door.
:Poor Alain. The only male among three females.:
:Uh-oh.:
:Then again, you're soul-bound to two of them, so maybe it won't be so bad!:
Alain scratched Ramya's nose. :Bad? No, it could never be bad around you.:
:Ah...just a bit up and to the left...mmmm.:
:How soon do you think she'll make it through the Collegium? I mean, I'm probably going to get my Whites in a year, maybe two, but she's been Chosen late-ish.:
Ramya half-closed her eyes, leaning into the scratches. :Well, she won't need any training in Courtly Graces, as a noble. Or History. She obviously can ride, but she needs to learn Courier riding...and get her Gifts trained. And learn Herald-specialized information-organizing villagers, Religions, how to fight natural disasters, and all. And Weapons, of course.:
:Maybe...two or three years? If she takes the intensified course?:
:Well, do you really want her to have that little free time?: suggested Ramya shrewdly, and was rewarded by Alain's blush.
:That wasn't nice!: he protested.
Ramya snicker-whickered again. :I remember you saying, on the way up here, oh, something along the lines of, 'More time free is more time for me?':
Alain swatted her.
Kamaria walked beside Ramya through the orchards, which were mostly empty.
Mostly.
:Hold on, dear, I sense featherheads!: said Sitara, pricking her ears.
[Gods. Mother.]
"Motherly vapours, here we come," muttered Kamaria.
:Maybe you should mount-the height advantage may give you something?:
Kamaria looked dubiously at Sitara. "Um, you're kinda tall."
Sitara veered over to a stump, which Kamaria used to mount.
Kamaria braced herself as they ambled into the circle of Lady Amaya's friends...
------------------------------------------
I thought I'd spare you the vapours.
Whee! Reviews! I'm loved! Pie for everybody!
WolfChild: Of COURSE Sitara is the perfect Companion for Kamaria! Would she deserve anything less? Have cookies!
Senashenta: OK, explanation right here. *clears throat* Lord Garethe, several years ago, had a BROTHER who was a Herald. Garethe, being a general, was constantly down on the front lines with Karse, and was given command of several Heralds, which included his brother. His brother was leading a squad of men, they ran into demon-summoning Sun-Priests, he handed himself over to the Priests to let everyone else run, and the Death Bell rang. Garethe felt guilty because it was supposed to be a safe mission, being as how you need to preserve Heralds and all. Yeah.
Krathnae: Ah...a time-honorrred and trrrreasssurrred trrradition...*eyes glaze over with happiness*
Herald-Mage Brianna: *raises eyebrow* Um...thanks?
Stee: Salad...? Confoozled Blade here...
Krathnae: All that matters is that she's scratching my crest!
Fireblade: Um, OK...
Etcetera-cat: Lotas rambling in this one...another question is, "What is six by nine?"
Morninglight: Aww, I'm touched!
Stee Parker: Yay! More fans! Love y'all!
Tsukinoko: Um...Kamaria's white-blond, pale skin, silver eyes...no Hawkbrother blood...oh, right, Van had silver eyes! *whacks self, goes cross-eyed* Ow...*uncrosses eyes* Yeah, an Ashkevron female married her great-grandfather...and she had silver eyes...yeah. So she's related. Kamaria's also sorta a Velgarth version of an albino. Ish.
Foenixfyre: Thanks! Garethe is a great deal more sensible than many fathers I could name...*coughcough*Shandi's father*coughcough* (Owlsight) Plus he spent alotta time with Heralds by Karse...yup.
Love y'all! As always, review!
~Fireblade and Krathnae