Disclaimer: You know...this is a 30-chaptered story now. Do I really need a
disclaimer?
Doo doo doo...hope you liked Beneath the Moon...those of you who haven't read it, go check it out. Alain/Kamaria flufferness.
Not much to say. Storytime!
Muse responsible: Krathnae!
[thoughts] :Mindspeech:
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The days before Midwinter slid smoothly by, filled with catching up with siblings, snowball fights, and Lirite's entertainment. After the first night, she had taken to vanishing early to the kitchens, eating before the formal dinners, then keeping everyone content over the four-course meals. This arrangement pleased all-the family and servants were not bored-the opposite, with a talented Bard at their disposal. Lirite was glad for the practice and preened under the attention, and Amaya was happy to think that "her" castle was becoming so similar to Court.
At about noon the day before Midwinter, however, Kamaria was bored. It had stopped snowing, but there were several feet of the stuff on the ground. The younger members of the castle had already had a snowball fight-several, in fact, that morning-and Kamaria was tired of snowball fights. For the inside activities, there wasn't much variety, and Kamaria was tired of reading, pretty much the only option left.
She sat on her window seat, staring out of the window at the snow. It was cloudy, but the air was clear. Kamaria sighed.
[Bored, bored, bored...]
:Want to go riding?: came Alain's voice in her mind. :I'm bored out of my mind.:
Kamaria grinned. :Now, now, it's rude to say that to your hostess,: she teased.
:I really am,: insisted Alain, :I've finished my work, Lirite is absorbed in replacing a string on her harp, and that's a long and fiddly process, and if I see another snowball, I'll scream.:
:About time you thought of us,: said Ramya, mock-scolding. :Sitara and I are being petted and pampered, and...well, I'm tired of it.:
:Riding it is,: replied Kamaria, after a moment where Sitara did not Send her own insights. :Stables, now.:
Alain Sent a brief feeling of assent and broke the contact. Kamaria picked up her cloak, put it on, and set off at a trot to the stables.
Both Companions were in the paddock, Ramya near the fence and Sitara edging away from a small child. :It's sticky,: said Sitara mournfully, looking up at Kamaria, :And it's trying to hug my legs, because it can't reach my neck.:
:A she, Sitara, a she,: said Kamaria, sighing. Interposing herself between her Companion and the child, Kamaria said, "You're not supposed to be out here. It's lesson-time."
The girl's eyes widened and she whirled before Kamaria could add another comment. The small child pelted from the paddock, and behind her, Sitara gave a sigh of relief.
Alain was standing near the entrance to the stables, looking uncertain. :Bareback or saddled?: he said to Kamaria, looking at her. :I don't know if you're very good at riding bareback, but I'm not that motivated to get the saddles.:
Kamaria snorted. "I'll get them, then," she said aloud, going into the stables.
Taking the two sets of tack was harder than she had realized. The bells chimed as Kamaria heaved them to the door, and jangled as she tripped. Kamaria blinked in the faceplant she had done in the snow. One of the saddle's pommels was digging into her stomach, there were several bells pressed into her neck, and she was sprawled over the other saddle as if she were riding flopped across it, though if she had actually tried to ride in that position, she would have fallen off within seconds.
"Ow."
Disregarding the saddles and bridles, someone's-Alain's-hand wrapped around Kamaria's arm and lifted her up. Kamaria brushed snow off her face, blushing. "That hurt."
Alain didn't answer, but his eyes caught hers. Softly, he brushed a bit of snow from Kamaria's hair. They stood still for a moment, frozen as they looked into each other's eyes...
:Either kiss her or get moving and saddle us,: said Ramya, wickedly. Alain turned to stare at his Companion. He raised an eyebrow at her.
Ramya didn't have eyebrows, but her posture conveyed the same thoughts Alain's eyebrow did. After a moment, Alain smiled as wickedly as Ramya had shot the thought, looked back at Kamaria, and pressed his lips to hers.
Kamaria's eyebrows shot up as Alain kissed her, but she did not pull away. At least, until someone coughed.
They separated and looked around, startled. Kamaria's eyes widened as she saw her father leaning on the fence. "Don't let me interrupt," said Garethe, mildly. "I was wondering if you were going to go riding. I'd like to join you, if you don't mind."
Both Kamaria and Alain blinked. :Tell him certainly, if he doesn't mind being left in the dust,: said Sitara, :I'm the third fastest Companion in the Field, fastest of my age group.:
Kamaria relayed this, and Garethe laughed. "Perhaps not, then. Bareback, or saddled?" He shot a pointed look at the jumbled Companion bridles and saddles on the ground. Both Herald-Trainees separated the tack hastily and went to their respective Companions. After a few minutes, the mares were tacked and the Trainees were mounted.
Garethe looked up at his daughter, sitting on her Companion as if they were one creature. She smiled at her father, and the Companions turned. As one, they galloped, and jumped the paddock fence, setting off on a run.
The Companions moved in a smooth lope, matching paces as they flashed over the snow. It was nearly three feet deep in places, the Chantrea estate being several days north of Haven, where the snow was not so profuse, but the Companions avoided them with nearly supernatural ease. Kamaria felt herself relaxing as they left the castle and village behind-there was a pressure there, that of people and her emotions, that placed more stress on her than she had realized.
But now, there were only people who loved her anywhere near her-Kamaria's Companion, who was reveling in the joy of the run, Alain, who loved her as much as Sitara, and Ramya, who loved Kamaria through Alain.
The Companions hooves turned from crunching in the snow to light thuds and the occasional chime when a hoof met a rock as they deviated onto a path. :What's up here?: asked Sitara, as they took advantage of the only lightly- covered dirt path.
:The ropes course,: said Kamaria, :Before Mother decided we would go to Court, I was up here nearly daily, for the training-that was Father's insistence, that we would become good at some sort of physical activity, to keep us healthy. I chose riding, mostly, but I got some basic hand-to-hand training, because Father still has enemies and he wants his children to at least be able to save themselves and run away, but this was my secondary choice. I got pretty good at the course...:
This information was relayed to both Companions and Alain, since Kamaria wasn't particularly shielding the thought, and they mulled over it.
:Can I try?: said Alain, at last. :Not now, but maybe in the summer, if we come up here? And maybe we should add it to training. You never know when it will come in useful.:
Kamaria thought about that. :I think Father got the idea from an officer of his who came from-somewhere in the south. Ceejay, or maybe Jkatha. Anyway, they have these down there, and it's extremely good physical training. And I like climbing.:
Alain thought this over. :Is that it?: He pointed up to a platform in a tree.
Kamaria asked Sitara to stop with a slight tug of the reins. Both Companions slowed to a walk. Looking up, Kamaria peered through the snow and said, aloud, "That's one of the start-off points for the advanced obstacle course. That one goes around the perimeter of the entire course, and you have to be very good at it. Let's see..." Kamaria trailed off, trying to remember if this was one of the ones where you did not need a belay.
"I could do a short demonstration, if it isn't icy," she said, at last, remembering that for the advanced course you got no belay, depending entirely on your own skill. Dismounting, Kamaria went to the bolts embedded in the tree, tested them with her gloves, and decided they weren't icy enough to stop her.
Climbing up to the platform took very little time. Kamaria brushed the snow off and called down, "There's a better vantage point over to my right- there. The twins love this even more than I do-they're absolute terrors, really, or they were when I was last here. They rigged up a system of ropes through the orchard to harass Mother and her ladies-anyway, they like to do this year-round, gods know why." Kamaria found the rope and tugged on it, making sure it was secure.
She looked through the trees and saw the other platform-about ten feet higher than she stood now. "This one, you have to climb up a rope to a rope bridge," she continued, looking up. "It's not the hardest one, but I have to go up on a rope-"
Kamaria looked at the rope in her hands. It was knotted and entirely ice- free. Looking up at the bridge, Kamaria muttered, "Here goes."
Taking the rope in her hands, Kamaria summoned up her strength and heaved herself off the ground. The winter clothes encumbered her progress a little, but the weapons-training had strengthened her muscles. Kamaria at last remembered the trick to climbing a rope and found her momentum.
After a few minutes of hard climbing, Kamaria stood on the rope bridge. :This is the easy part,: she said to Alain, :There's two ropes here, one to stand on and one to hold. The climbing was the hard part.:
Alain watched her, a slight feeling of worry resonating through the bond. :I'll be fine,: said Kamaria, :Even if I slip, I can get back on.:
Kamaria moved along the rope bridge, concentrating on the rope, as she had been taught. The foot-rope was firm, as usual, but the holding rope was oddly slack. Kamaria figured it was just winter, but used it only for balance in any case as she made her way along.
In the center of the bridge, the holding-rope gave. One of the knots had apparently loosened, or been iced and then broken, or maybe just had worn through. Kamaria screamed, falling, but her body remembered her training and hooked a leg around the foot-rope. Her fall stopped with Kamaria upside-down, hanging from one leg and a hand from the unbroken rope.
Alain and Ramya rushed forward, standing under her. Alain held out his arms. :Drop! I'll catch you,: he said, his heart pounding as he watched his beloved examine the situation.
:That's the worst thing I could do,: said Kamaria, grasping the rope in her other hand. She worked her legs until they were crossed at the knees over the rope. Now she hung from four limbs, rather than two. :This happened to Sivan, once, a few years ago,: she explained. :Except the foot-rope snapped instead. He went hand-over-hand for a bit, then got to a point where he could hang like I'm hanging. Then he did this.:
Kamaria began to inch herself towards the platform, her calm exterior hiding her terror. [What if the other rope snaps, I'll fall and I'll break my neck or my back or my-]
[Shut up,] said her more practical side, the one that thought like a commander. [Hands, then legs. Hands, legs. Keep going. Just like Sivan.]
At last, Kamaria reached the other platform. As soon as she was there, she examined what was left of the knot. "Worn through," she announced, her voice shaking now she was safe. "I'm coming down. I'll tell the twins next time I see them."
Kamaria came down the other tree on a series of bolts just like the other one. Alain dismounted and waited at the bottom, so when Kamaria leapt the last few to reach the ground, Alain was able to snatch her up from behind. She turned awkwardly within his grip and returned his embrace, resting her head on his shoulder, holding him tightly so she would not shake. "I'm all right," she said, her voice less shaky, "Just feeling rather stupid. I should have looked at the knots before I did this. And now I'm shaking and you're shaking, and both of us were terrified out of our minds a few minutes ago-"
Kamaria gave in to her shivers now and stopped talking, burying her face in her lifebonded's shoulder. Sitara moved behind her, her nose just touching Kamaria's back.
:Worse things have happened to me,: continued Kamaria in Mindspeech, trying to convince and calm herself, Alain, and the Companions. :Like being kidnapped by a psychotic Earl and having to climb 500 feet down a tower with bedsheets, or having an arranged marriage with aforesaid psychotic Earl, or falling down the stairs and breaking my arm when I was eight.:
Alain laughed shakily, loosening his grip slightly. :Come to think of it, more terrifying things have happened to me,: he said, :Like when bandits attacked our caravan, or when I fell asleep in the woods and my family continued traveling without me and I got lost catching up. Or when I got a concussion falling out of a tree in Companion's Field.:
:That was terrifying for both of us,: said Ramya, :I thought you were dead for several moments, which was far too long for both of us.:
:I've...: said Sitara, then stopped. :Had the granary burn down?: she hazarded.
This was so ridiculous, both humans and Ramya-and at last Sitara-burst out laughing, the humans aloud, the Companions in Mindspeech. The last vestiges of fear were shaken away, and Kamaria turned to hug her Companion.
:But seriously,: said Sitara, :When I was a foal, I loved to jump, and I tried to jump the Terilee in spring-flood. But instead I fell in.:
Everyone winced. :But all of us are fine,: said Ramya at last, using her minor touch of Empathy to soothe everyone back down. :Let's continue with our ride, and Kamaria, don't do anything harebrained like that ever again!:
"Certainly, Ramya," said Kamaria, when Alain released her, mock-bowing to the Companion.
"So what else is there?" said Alain. "Before it snapped, I thought it looked fun."
"It is," said Kamaria, mounting Sitara again, "There are a lot more kinds of courses-we call them stations-in here. There's low-ropes and high ropes, but the low-ropes is more for balance-the basic training, really- than anything else."
She continued discussing the various stations with the other three, pausing occasionally to answer a question. They continued with their ride, and when they emerged from the course, they had exhausted the topic and moved on to other things.
They returned to the castle in the middle of the afternoon, and lingered with their Companions, giving them a rubdown and combing their manes. After a while in the paddock, where they had been talking partly in Mindspeech and aloud, Kamaria noticed Mandel lingering on the side of the paddock. Looking around, she spotted Favian and Feleti on another side, watching them. Alain finished his part of the conversation and, seeing the boys, said, "Come in!"
The three shyly approached the Companions. Both mares regarded them interestedly, blue eyes avid.
"Hello, Lady Sitara and Lady Ramya," said Feleti at last, bowing in their general direction. The other two boys hastily copied him. Looking at Kamaria, he said, "How can you tell them apart?"
Alain's lips twitched. Glancing at Ramya, he said, "Ramya says 'no doubt we're just two blue-eyed white horses to you.'"
Ramya snicker-whickered as the twins slowly blushed. Mandel was better at hiding his expression, but his ears were pink. Though it may have only been the cold.
Kamaria answered Feleti at last. "It's rather like telling you terrors apart, I suppose," she said to the two of them, "At least to non-Heralds. Sitara is my Companion. I'd be able to pick her out from a crowd of a dozen Companions, even if they were all identical, but that's because she's bonded to me. But...do you mind?" she said to Sitara, relaying her plan mind- to-mind.
The mares glanced at each other. :No,: said Sitara, followed shortly by agreement from Ramya. The Companions turned slightly, so the boys could see their general bodylines. Kamaria stepped away from Sitara. "For the moment, look at them like you would a horse," she said, pointing to the two. "Ramya, there, is tall and graceful. She's obviously fast, but she's not exactly a racer, slightly more on endurance lines, if you want to go that far. Now look at Sitara. She is built along racer lines-shorter, slimmer, and more powerful. That's those two, but there are more differences in other Companions."
Kamaria groped around for an explanation, and Alain took the thread. "Companions, though they are not horses by any means, have as many differences physically as-as a warhorse and a racehorse. None are along plowhorse lines, of course, or draft, but they range from looking like the very best Ashkevron war-stallion-powerful and bulky-to tall and rangy for endurance, to smaller and sleeker ones like Sitara, near to a racehorse. Though-"now some irony entered Alain's voice-"You'll never find a Companion that isn't graceful and far faster than any horse. But each type serves a different need-Companions built more like Ramya, with high endurance, though not necessarily as much speed as those like Sitara, are best-suited to Circuit. Those with build like Sitara's are Herald-Couriers and Special Messengers, which is what I think your sister and her Companion are likely to be assigned to. And the warrior-types, of course, are warriors."
Comprehension dawned on the three boy's faces. "Wow," said Mandel, at last. "That's-amazing."
Alain shrugged. "If you have a need, the Circle will find the best pair suited to that need. Mostly it's the Herald's abilities that are taken into account-we wouldn't put a someone with less skill in weapons into the most strenuous Guard-Herald's place, no matter how warlike their Companion is-but the Companions are always kept in mind."
The twins and Mandel looked at the Companions with new interest.
"Anyway, I'm sure that isn't why you came here, is it?" said Kamaria, looking at Mandel.
The twins immediately asserted that the ladies were the reason; Mandel, however, bit his lip. "Can I talk to you?" he said, not quite meeting Kamaria's eyes.
Kamaria glanced at Sitara. "We'll finish!" chorused Favian and Feleti in unison, scrambling for the brush. "I guess I'm not needed," said Kamaria, with a grin at her Companion.
Sitara luxuriated in the grooming. :They know all the good spots, too,: she said, sighing in contentment. Kamaria waved at Alain and followed Mandel. Her brother led her inside, but rather than going to the Hall or one of the common-rooms, he took his sister directly to his own room.
Kamaria shed her cloak and gloves on the way, handing them absentmindedly to the servants who hovered around her, and sat on Mandel's desk-chair. Mandel himself remained standing, nervously, in front of his sister. Kamaria noted that he was standing on only one foot, rolling the other on his toe, as was his habit when he was nervous.
"Yes?" Kamaria prompted, gently, after a moment of silence. Mandel glanced away from her, dark brows furrowed over silver eyes as he examined the doorjamb.
"I-I think I have a Gift," he said, after a long silence. Kamaria stared at him. "That's all?" she blurted, before she could stop herself.
Mandel treated his elder sister to a dry look, such as she herself gave to those who asked stupid questions. Kamaria bowed her head momentarily. "Sorry. What makes you think this?"
Mandel turned and paced to the window, placing his hands on the sill, bracing himself on the wood as he looked out. Kamaria inwardly marveled- from behind, Mandel was identical to his father, and you could see Garethe's lineage in every line of his face-except his eyes. Those matched Kamaria's own silver.
"Healing," he said, at last. "I-I've read about Empathy, and all that. The feeling of emotions? Now-I don't like being in crowds. Being with the twins, with Taliesin-"Mandel named his best friend-"They're all right. But crowds...I never go to the village, if I can help, it, and I could hardly eat at the dinners. At least, until you came. But...sometimes I go to the infirmary. And...I don't know, if no one's in there, I go up to a patient, if they're asleep, and...well, I'm not sure what happens, but I-"
Mandel turned back to his sister, spreading his hands, awkwardly. "I don't know what I do. It's just-I reach, and find where the bad place is, and I try to fix it. I can't explain any better than that."
Kamaria continued to look at Mandel, quiet for the moment. "That sounds like Healing," she said, at last. "But..."
She conferred for a moment with Sitara. The bond, at this distance, was a bit shaky-but Sitara got the gist of the thoughts and Sent the equivalent of a "mindshrug" at her Chosen. Kamaria returned a "you're no help" expression, and looked back at Mandel. He looked back at her, waiting.
Kamaria looked down at her hand. There was a blister there, from climbing the ropes in the cold, with leather gloves, after her calluses had faded. She extended her hand to her brother. "See what you can do about this," she said, and lowered her shields, gingerly.
Mandel's "aura"-that was the best thing Kamaria could come up with in her mind-was quietly soothing, somehow, as he took her hand and stared at it. He was calmly concentrated, with vestiges of nervousness at the edges, as he fumbled around in his mind.
Kamaria caught no thoughts, only a sudden concentration and stillness. Energy rushed into her, but it was not hers-Healing energy danced through her, concentrated on the blister.
And quite suddenly, the blister was healed. It swelled, then shrank at super-speed, leaving Kamaria's palm unscathed. Mandel opened his eyes from where they had closed. He stared at his work.
It took a moment for Kamaria to find her voice. "You certainly are a Healer," she said, at last. "You're coming to Haven with us."
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Yes, that was rather a pointless chapter, but I liked it. I hope you did as well. Can't have all excitement, after all.
Thanks and pie to Queen's Own, Herald Kelsin, (hey, I'm not THAT bad! –glare-) Storm Queen, (hope you like the granary comment) Lurks in Shadows, Moonoflight, Myuu Foxgirl, (you don't want to know) Breezefire, silentmaiden, danilion, and Vaches! (I know...poor, poor Mandel. Muahaha.)
Songwind: I'm intending to write one about Garethe, actually. I decided to. It'll be up eventually. And this isn't going to be finished soon...I don't think...
Reviews make me happy!
-Fireblade K'Chona
Doo doo doo...hope you liked Beneath the Moon...those of you who haven't read it, go check it out. Alain/Kamaria flufferness.
Not much to say. Storytime!
Muse responsible: Krathnae!
[thoughts] :Mindspeech:
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The days before Midwinter slid smoothly by, filled with catching up with siblings, snowball fights, and Lirite's entertainment. After the first night, she had taken to vanishing early to the kitchens, eating before the formal dinners, then keeping everyone content over the four-course meals. This arrangement pleased all-the family and servants were not bored-the opposite, with a talented Bard at their disposal. Lirite was glad for the practice and preened under the attention, and Amaya was happy to think that "her" castle was becoming so similar to Court.
At about noon the day before Midwinter, however, Kamaria was bored. It had stopped snowing, but there were several feet of the stuff on the ground. The younger members of the castle had already had a snowball fight-several, in fact, that morning-and Kamaria was tired of snowball fights. For the inside activities, there wasn't much variety, and Kamaria was tired of reading, pretty much the only option left.
She sat on her window seat, staring out of the window at the snow. It was cloudy, but the air was clear. Kamaria sighed.
[Bored, bored, bored...]
:Want to go riding?: came Alain's voice in her mind. :I'm bored out of my mind.:
Kamaria grinned. :Now, now, it's rude to say that to your hostess,: she teased.
:I really am,: insisted Alain, :I've finished my work, Lirite is absorbed in replacing a string on her harp, and that's a long and fiddly process, and if I see another snowball, I'll scream.:
:About time you thought of us,: said Ramya, mock-scolding. :Sitara and I are being petted and pampered, and...well, I'm tired of it.:
:Riding it is,: replied Kamaria, after a moment where Sitara did not Send her own insights. :Stables, now.:
Alain Sent a brief feeling of assent and broke the contact. Kamaria picked up her cloak, put it on, and set off at a trot to the stables.
Both Companions were in the paddock, Ramya near the fence and Sitara edging away from a small child. :It's sticky,: said Sitara mournfully, looking up at Kamaria, :And it's trying to hug my legs, because it can't reach my neck.:
:A she, Sitara, a she,: said Kamaria, sighing. Interposing herself between her Companion and the child, Kamaria said, "You're not supposed to be out here. It's lesson-time."
The girl's eyes widened and she whirled before Kamaria could add another comment. The small child pelted from the paddock, and behind her, Sitara gave a sigh of relief.
Alain was standing near the entrance to the stables, looking uncertain. :Bareback or saddled?: he said to Kamaria, looking at her. :I don't know if you're very good at riding bareback, but I'm not that motivated to get the saddles.:
Kamaria snorted. "I'll get them, then," she said aloud, going into the stables.
Taking the two sets of tack was harder than she had realized. The bells chimed as Kamaria heaved them to the door, and jangled as she tripped. Kamaria blinked in the faceplant she had done in the snow. One of the saddle's pommels was digging into her stomach, there were several bells pressed into her neck, and she was sprawled over the other saddle as if she were riding flopped across it, though if she had actually tried to ride in that position, she would have fallen off within seconds.
"Ow."
Disregarding the saddles and bridles, someone's-Alain's-hand wrapped around Kamaria's arm and lifted her up. Kamaria brushed snow off her face, blushing. "That hurt."
Alain didn't answer, but his eyes caught hers. Softly, he brushed a bit of snow from Kamaria's hair. They stood still for a moment, frozen as they looked into each other's eyes...
:Either kiss her or get moving and saddle us,: said Ramya, wickedly. Alain turned to stare at his Companion. He raised an eyebrow at her.
Ramya didn't have eyebrows, but her posture conveyed the same thoughts Alain's eyebrow did. After a moment, Alain smiled as wickedly as Ramya had shot the thought, looked back at Kamaria, and pressed his lips to hers.
Kamaria's eyebrows shot up as Alain kissed her, but she did not pull away. At least, until someone coughed.
They separated and looked around, startled. Kamaria's eyes widened as she saw her father leaning on the fence. "Don't let me interrupt," said Garethe, mildly. "I was wondering if you were going to go riding. I'd like to join you, if you don't mind."
Both Kamaria and Alain blinked. :Tell him certainly, if he doesn't mind being left in the dust,: said Sitara, :I'm the third fastest Companion in the Field, fastest of my age group.:
Kamaria relayed this, and Garethe laughed. "Perhaps not, then. Bareback, or saddled?" He shot a pointed look at the jumbled Companion bridles and saddles on the ground. Both Herald-Trainees separated the tack hastily and went to their respective Companions. After a few minutes, the mares were tacked and the Trainees were mounted.
Garethe looked up at his daughter, sitting on her Companion as if they were one creature. She smiled at her father, and the Companions turned. As one, they galloped, and jumped the paddock fence, setting off on a run.
The Companions moved in a smooth lope, matching paces as they flashed over the snow. It was nearly three feet deep in places, the Chantrea estate being several days north of Haven, where the snow was not so profuse, but the Companions avoided them with nearly supernatural ease. Kamaria felt herself relaxing as they left the castle and village behind-there was a pressure there, that of people and her emotions, that placed more stress on her than she had realized.
But now, there were only people who loved her anywhere near her-Kamaria's Companion, who was reveling in the joy of the run, Alain, who loved her as much as Sitara, and Ramya, who loved Kamaria through Alain.
The Companions hooves turned from crunching in the snow to light thuds and the occasional chime when a hoof met a rock as they deviated onto a path. :What's up here?: asked Sitara, as they took advantage of the only lightly- covered dirt path.
:The ropes course,: said Kamaria, :Before Mother decided we would go to Court, I was up here nearly daily, for the training-that was Father's insistence, that we would become good at some sort of physical activity, to keep us healthy. I chose riding, mostly, but I got some basic hand-to-hand training, because Father still has enemies and he wants his children to at least be able to save themselves and run away, but this was my secondary choice. I got pretty good at the course...:
This information was relayed to both Companions and Alain, since Kamaria wasn't particularly shielding the thought, and they mulled over it.
:Can I try?: said Alain, at last. :Not now, but maybe in the summer, if we come up here? And maybe we should add it to training. You never know when it will come in useful.:
Kamaria thought about that. :I think Father got the idea from an officer of his who came from-somewhere in the south. Ceejay, or maybe Jkatha. Anyway, they have these down there, and it's extremely good physical training. And I like climbing.:
Alain thought this over. :Is that it?: He pointed up to a platform in a tree.
Kamaria asked Sitara to stop with a slight tug of the reins. Both Companions slowed to a walk. Looking up, Kamaria peered through the snow and said, aloud, "That's one of the start-off points for the advanced obstacle course. That one goes around the perimeter of the entire course, and you have to be very good at it. Let's see..." Kamaria trailed off, trying to remember if this was one of the ones where you did not need a belay.
"I could do a short demonstration, if it isn't icy," she said, at last, remembering that for the advanced course you got no belay, depending entirely on your own skill. Dismounting, Kamaria went to the bolts embedded in the tree, tested them with her gloves, and decided they weren't icy enough to stop her.
Climbing up to the platform took very little time. Kamaria brushed the snow off and called down, "There's a better vantage point over to my right- there. The twins love this even more than I do-they're absolute terrors, really, or they were when I was last here. They rigged up a system of ropes through the orchard to harass Mother and her ladies-anyway, they like to do this year-round, gods know why." Kamaria found the rope and tugged on it, making sure it was secure.
She looked through the trees and saw the other platform-about ten feet higher than she stood now. "This one, you have to climb up a rope to a rope bridge," she continued, looking up. "It's not the hardest one, but I have to go up on a rope-"
Kamaria looked at the rope in her hands. It was knotted and entirely ice- free. Looking up at the bridge, Kamaria muttered, "Here goes."
Taking the rope in her hands, Kamaria summoned up her strength and heaved herself off the ground. The winter clothes encumbered her progress a little, but the weapons-training had strengthened her muscles. Kamaria at last remembered the trick to climbing a rope and found her momentum.
After a few minutes of hard climbing, Kamaria stood on the rope bridge. :This is the easy part,: she said to Alain, :There's two ropes here, one to stand on and one to hold. The climbing was the hard part.:
Alain watched her, a slight feeling of worry resonating through the bond. :I'll be fine,: said Kamaria, :Even if I slip, I can get back on.:
Kamaria moved along the rope bridge, concentrating on the rope, as she had been taught. The foot-rope was firm, as usual, but the holding rope was oddly slack. Kamaria figured it was just winter, but used it only for balance in any case as she made her way along.
In the center of the bridge, the holding-rope gave. One of the knots had apparently loosened, or been iced and then broken, or maybe just had worn through. Kamaria screamed, falling, but her body remembered her training and hooked a leg around the foot-rope. Her fall stopped with Kamaria upside-down, hanging from one leg and a hand from the unbroken rope.
Alain and Ramya rushed forward, standing under her. Alain held out his arms. :Drop! I'll catch you,: he said, his heart pounding as he watched his beloved examine the situation.
:That's the worst thing I could do,: said Kamaria, grasping the rope in her other hand. She worked her legs until they were crossed at the knees over the rope. Now she hung from four limbs, rather than two. :This happened to Sivan, once, a few years ago,: she explained. :Except the foot-rope snapped instead. He went hand-over-hand for a bit, then got to a point where he could hang like I'm hanging. Then he did this.:
Kamaria began to inch herself towards the platform, her calm exterior hiding her terror. [What if the other rope snaps, I'll fall and I'll break my neck or my back or my-]
[Shut up,] said her more practical side, the one that thought like a commander. [Hands, then legs. Hands, legs. Keep going. Just like Sivan.]
At last, Kamaria reached the other platform. As soon as she was there, she examined what was left of the knot. "Worn through," she announced, her voice shaking now she was safe. "I'm coming down. I'll tell the twins next time I see them."
Kamaria came down the other tree on a series of bolts just like the other one. Alain dismounted and waited at the bottom, so when Kamaria leapt the last few to reach the ground, Alain was able to snatch her up from behind. She turned awkwardly within his grip and returned his embrace, resting her head on his shoulder, holding him tightly so she would not shake. "I'm all right," she said, her voice less shaky, "Just feeling rather stupid. I should have looked at the knots before I did this. And now I'm shaking and you're shaking, and both of us were terrified out of our minds a few minutes ago-"
Kamaria gave in to her shivers now and stopped talking, burying her face in her lifebonded's shoulder. Sitara moved behind her, her nose just touching Kamaria's back.
:Worse things have happened to me,: continued Kamaria in Mindspeech, trying to convince and calm herself, Alain, and the Companions. :Like being kidnapped by a psychotic Earl and having to climb 500 feet down a tower with bedsheets, or having an arranged marriage with aforesaid psychotic Earl, or falling down the stairs and breaking my arm when I was eight.:
Alain laughed shakily, loosening his grip slightly. :Come to think of it, more terrifying things have happened to me,: he said, :Like when bandits attacked our caravan, or when I fell asleep in the woods and my family continued traveling without me and I got lost catching up. Or when I got a concussion falling out of a tree in Companion's Field.:
:That was terrifying for both of us,: said Ramya, :I thought you were dead for several moments, which was far too long for both of us.:
:I've...: said Sitara, then stopped. :Had the granary burn down?: she hazarded.
This was so ridiculous, both humans and Ramya-and at last Sitara-burst out laughing, the humans aloud, the Companions in Mindspeech. The last vestiges of fear were shaken away, and Kamaria turned to hug her Companion.
:But seriously,: said Sitara, :When I was a foal, I loved to jump, and I tried to jump the Terilee in spring-flood. But instead I fell in.:
Everyone winced. :But all of us are fine,: said Ramya at last, using her minor touch of Empathy to soothe everyone back down. :Let's continue with our ride, and Kamaria, don't do anything harebrained like that ever again!:
"Certainly, Ramya," said Kamaria, when Alain released her, mock-bowing to the Companion.
"So what else is there?" said Alain. "Before it snapped, I thought it looked fun."
"It is," said Kamaria, mounting Sitara again, "There are a lot more kinds of courses-we call them stations-in here. There's low-ropes and high ropes, but the low-ropes is more for balance-the basic training, really- than anything else."
She continued discussing the various stations with the other three, pausing occasionally to answer a question. They continued with their ride, and when they emerged from the course, they had exhausted the topic and moved on to other things.
They returned to the castle in the middle of the afternoon, and lingered with their Companions, giving them a rubdown and combing their manes. After a while in the paddock, where they had been talking partly in Mindspeech and aloud, Kamaria noticed Mandel lingering on the side of the paddock. Looking around, she spotted Favian and Feleti on another side, watching them. Alain finished his part of the conversation and, seeing the boys, said, "Come in!"
The three shyly approached the Companions. Both mares regarded them interestedly, blue eyes avid.
"Hello, Lady Sitara and Lady Ramya," said Feleti at last, bowing in their general direction. The other two boys hastily copied him. Looking at Kamaria, he said, "How can you tell them apart?"
Alain's lips twitched. Glancing at Ramya, he said, "Ramya says 'no doubt we're just two blue-eyed white horses to you.'"
Ramya snicker-whickered as the twins slowly blushed. Mandel was better at hiding his expression, but his ears were pink. Though it may have only been the cold.
Kamaria answered Feleti at last. "It's rather like telling you terrors apart, I suppose," she said to the two of them, "At least to non-Heralds. Sitara is my Companion. I'd be able to pick her out from a crowd of a dozen Companions, even if they were all identical, but that's because she's bonded to me. But...do you mind?" she said to Sitara, relaying her plan mind- to-mind.
The mares glanced at each other. :No,: said Sitara, followed shortly by agreement from Ramya. The Companions turned slightly, so the boys could see their general bodylines. Kamaria stepped away from Sitara. "For the moment, look at them like you would a horse," she said, pointing to the two. "Ramya, there, is tall and graceful. She's obviously fast, but she's not exactly a racer, slightly more on endurance lines, if you want to go that far. Now look at Sitara. She is built along racer lines-shorter, slimmer, and more powerful. That's those two, but there are more differences in other Companions."
Kamaria groped around for an explanation, and Alain took the thread. "Companions, though they are not horses by any means, have as many differences physically as-as a warhorse and a racehorse. None are along plowhorse lines, of course, or draft, but they range from looking like the very best Ashkevron war-stallion-powerful and bulky-to tall and rangy for endurance, to smaller and sleeker ones like Sitara, near to a racehorse. Though-"now some irony entered Alain's voice-"You'll never find a Companion that isn't graceful and far faster than any horse. But each type serves a different need-Companions built more like Ramya, with high endurance, though not necessarily as much speed as those like Sitara, are best-suited to Circuit. Those with build like Sitara's are Herald-Couriers and Special Messengers, which is what I think your sister and her Companion are likely to be assigned to. And the warrior-types, of course, are warriors."
Comprehension dawned on the three boy's faces. "Wow," said Mandel, at last. "That's-amazing."
Alain shrugged. "If you have a need, the Circle will find the best pair suited to that need. Mostly it's the Herald's abilities that are taken into account-we wouldn't put a someone with less skill in weapons into the most strenuous Guard-Herald's place, no matter how warlike their Companion is-but the Companions are always kept in mind."
The twins and Mandel looked at the Companions with new interest.
"Anyway, I'm sure that isn't why you came here, is it?" said Kamaria, looking at Mandel.
The twins immediately asserted that the ladies were the reason; Mandel, however, bit his lip. "Can I talk to you?" he said, not quite meeting Kamaria's eyes.
Kamaria glanced at Sitara. "We'll finish!" chorused Favian and Feleti in unison, scrambling for the brush. "I guess I'm not needed," said Kamaria, with a grin at her Companion.
Sitara luxuriated in the grooming. :They know all the good spots, too,: she said, sighing in contentment. Kamaria waved at Alain and followed Mandel. Her brother led her inside, but rather than going to the Hall or one of the common-rooms, he took his sister directly to his own room.
Kamaria shed her cloak and gloves on the way, handing them absentmindedly to the servants who hovered around her, and sat on Mandel's desk-chair. Mandel himself remained standing, nervously, in front of his sister. Kamaria noted that he was standing on only one foot, rolling the other on his toe, as was his habit when he was nervous.
"Yes?" Kamaria prompted, gently, after a moment of silence. Mandel glanced away from her, dark brows furrowed over silver eyes as he examined the doorjamb.
"I-I think I have a Gift," he said, after a long silence. Kamaria stared at him. "That's all?" she blurted, before she could stop herself.
Mandel treated his elder sister to a dry look, such as she herself gave to those who asked stupid questions. Kamaria bowed her head momentarily. "Sorry. What makes you think this?"
Mandel turned and paced to the window, placing his hands on the sill, bracing himself on the wood as he looked out. Kamaria inwardly marveled- from behind, Mandel was identical to his father, and you could see Garethe's lineage in every line of his face-except his eyes. Those matched Kamaria's own silver.
"Healing," he said, at last. "I-I've read about Empathy, and all that. The feeling of emotions? Now-I don't like being in crowds. Being with the twins, with Taliesin-"Mandel named his best friend-"They're all right. But crowds...I never go to the village, if I can help, it, and I could hardly eat at the dinners. At least, until you came. But...sometimes I go to the infirmary. And...I don't know, if no one's in there, I go up to a patient, if they're asleep, and...well, I'm not sure what happens, but I-"
Mandel turned back to his sister, spreading his hands, awkwardly. "I don't know what I do. It's just-I reach, and find where the bad place is, and I try to fix it. I can't explain any better than that."
Kamaria continued to look at Mandel, quiet for the moment. "That sounds like Healing," she said, at last. "But..."
She conferred for a moment with Sitara. The bond, at this distance, was a bit shaky-but Sitara got the gist of the thoughts and Sent the equivalent of a "mindshrug" at her Chosen. Kamaria returned a "you're no help" expression, and looked back at Mandel. He looked back at her, waiting.
Kamaria looked down at her hand. There was a blister there, from climbing the ropes in the cold, with leather gloves, after her calluses had faded. She extended her hand to her brother. "See what you can do about this," she said, and lowered her shields, gingerly.
Mandel's "aura"-that was the best thing Kamaria could come up with in her mind-was quietly soothing, somehow, as he took her hand and stared at it. He was calmly concentrated, with vestiges of nervousness at the edges, as he fumbled around in his mind.
Kamaria caught no thoughts, only a sudden concentration and stillness. Energy rushed into her, but it was not hers-Healing energy danced through her, concentrated on the blister.
And quite suddenly, the blister was healed. It swelled, then shrank at super-speed, leaving Kamaria's palm unscathed. Mandel opened his eyes from where they had closed. He stared at his work.
It took a moment for Kamaria to find her voice. "You certainly are a Healer," she said, at last. "You're coming to Haven with us."
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Yes, that was rather a pointless chapter, but I liked it. I hope you did as well. Can't have all excitement, after all.
Thanks and pie to Queen's Own, Herald Kelsin, (hey, I'm not THAT bad! –glare-) Storm Queen, (hope you like the granary comment) Lurks in Shadows, Moonoflight, Myuu Foxgirl, (you don't want to know) Breezefire, silentmaiden, danilion, and Vaches! (I know...poor, poor Mandel. Muahaha.)
Songwind: I'm intending to write one about Garethe, actually. I decided to. It'll be up eventually. And this isn't going to be finished soon...I don't think...
Reviews make me happy!
-Fireblade K'Chona