Chapter 4

Mountains And Molehills

There was very little light in the chamber where darkness met. A few weak torches burned, casting barely enough light to navigate by. The room held a chill so cold it was only known to things undead and the heat from the torches held no sway over it. The ceiling rose twenty feet and then vanished into shadow. The entire place held the smell of old death. Cultists filled the room to either side of an aisle that ran down the middle.

Dagenheart knelt before a large, marble altar; her body shaking with fear. Atop the altar was an ebony statue of a three-faced man holding a staff of human bones. The idols eyes were emeralds and a diamond worth a king's ransom had been inlaid in its front-facing forehead. At the idol's feet laid a body of a man who had been tortured terribly before his death. His thickening blood poured across the black marble as the hooded men that surrounded her began to chant. Softly at first but their voices began to rise as Dagenheart felt a dark power stirring. The eyes of the statue began to glow with an unholy light and the diamond seemed to trap and hold her eyes like the gaze of a cobra.

Then she felt His presence. The room began to fill with a new kind of coldness that froze the stone floor and hurt the lungs.

"Welcome, my child." The voice was deep and made the animal in Dagenheart want to scamper away, howling.

A crash of thunder sent Dagenheart lurching straight up in bed. Herself and her bed were soaked with sweat and she shivered though the room was warm. Her heart was racing so fast she feared it would leap from her chest. With a deep breath, she pulled her soaking wet hair back and reached into the darkness for the ribbon on the nightstand. She focused on calming herself down as she did so. She failed to twice because of her shaking hands but finally got the ribbon tied. Just as she got calm she thought she smelt the lingering scent that had ghosted her dreams. It was just a dream. A memory brought to the surface by stress. Just a memory. He can't find you here. She repeated the last part to herself over and over.

::Do not worry. You are my Chosen. I will never let him take you back.:: Elrin's voice was solemn and Dagenheart knew beyond a doubt that he meant what he said. He would die to protect her and she would do the same for him. ::Do you want to talk about it? The dream I mean.::

::No. No, you don't want to hear it. Believe me.::

::You can't keep all of these things bottled up inside you. You need to get them out and deal with them.::

She knew what he was saying was true but that did not make her like it any better. She could not tell him these things. He would be horrified. He would abandon her.

::I've dealt with them. A long time ago.::

::If you say so. Soon after you went to sleep two men came to the Gatehouse looking for you. I told Alairus that unless it was important, not to wake you. They said they would return a little after dawn.::

::Who were they?::

::Two mercs who are staying here in Haven. They should be here again in a candlemark or two.::

Dagenheart didn't respond, instead she pulled the blankets off her and went to the wardrobe that held her clothes. She took out one of her leather outfits and then noticed her formal mage-robes. The same robes she had worn since her power reared its ugly head a lifetime ago. They were richly tailored with cloths of black and dark blue. Real silver thread had been used to embroider exoteric symbols along the edges and an oversized hood hung from the back. She debated with herself for a moment before returning her leathers and taking out her mage-robes. They were softer then down and for all their weight, fluttered like silk in the slightest breeze. With a dancer's grace she slipped into the dark regalia. She didn't bother with all the clasps and strings to be tied as she planned on a bath before she got dressed. The anxiety that seemed to plague her when she left her room was absent this time. She didn't even pause at the door to listen for footsteps in the hall.

When she opened the door she saw a gray-clad Trainee seated on the floor, slumped and asleep. He was not a guard, she had been assured. In reality he was an early warning point for the real Heralds, who seemed too busy to be spending the night camped outside her door.

::This is why you don't let kids play Daeom.::

::Daeom?::

::Oh, sorry. That's a Thorden word meaning 'watcher' or 'look-out'.:: Out loud she said, "Wake up, boy!"

The Trainee's head bobbed a bit as he raised it to look at her with sleepy eyes that went wide when he realized his visitor. He stumbled to stand up.

"Don't bother, I'm just going for a bath. I'll be back, unless you want to come snooze by the tub?"

When she turned and walked away the Trainee still had not recovered the will to speak.

The bath seemed to do the trick of making her forget her dream. The water was scalding hot and she had immersed herself almost entirely in it. Her tense muscles were being seared into submission and the tingling pain covering her body served as a good focus. She was determined to burn away the coldness of her dream.

::If you stay in that water much longer your going look like a lobster. How can you even stand that?:: He sounded mortified.

Dagenheart chuckled. ::I've endured worse and its not that unbearable.::

::So, these mercs. Do you know them?::

::Yes, friends of mine, I'd guess you'd say. We worked together on the Frontier against the Imperial forces. In fact the night you tried to kidnap me was the last night I saw them.::

::The night I had to stand in the middle of the street for three candlemarks until someone realized I might be in trouble and came over to check?::

::Yes, that night. Anyway, I'm surprised they came looking for me.::

::Why? I thought you said they were your friends.::

::Well, they are my friends but. . . but they haven't been acting particularly excited about it of late. They are making new friends. Friends they can understand better.::

Elrin's reply was interrupted by the arrival of a sleepy looking Herald looking for a hot, morning bath. Much to Dagenheart's relief, he didn't seem much interested in who she was. He untied the simple robe he wore and dropped it to the floor, then climbed into the basin two to her left. Once in the water had covered most of his body, he closed his eyes and to all appearances, went to sleep.

Elrin never finished whatever it was he was going to say and she spent the last few minutes of her bath in silence. Once she was done with her bath and dressed in her formal robes, she seemed much more formidable. A servant came as she was studying herself in the mirror; straightening her sleeves. It felt weird being in them again and she forgot how much they weighed but nothing would shed weapons and spells better. She had only ever worn them on a field of combat or to formal ceremonies. The servant let himself in and announced that there were two men waiting to meet her at the gatehouse. He went on to inform her that an escort was being summoned and she was to wait.

"Like hell." She snapped and stalked towards the door, nearly bowling the poor man over. She made a dead line for the outer courtyard but after a moment of reflection changed her course and headed to the Field.

::Care to accompany me?::

::I'd be delighted. I'll meet you on your way to the gatehouse.::

She quickly walked down the halls, impervious to the stares of others. Her robes caught the wind of her motion and began to billow and flow, creating a black rustling of dark cloth. She hadn't gotten five steps outside, heading towards her waiting guests, when Elrin came trotting up beside her. She put her hand on his back as they walked down the road leading out. It wasn't hard to spot Shadron and Frickel. The former was giving the guardsman nine kinds of hell because he was not being allowed to just stroll through and visit with his friend, a known murderer. The latter was standing off to the side and shaking his head as his partner raged.

Frickel was the first to spot her as she approached. He slapped Shadron in the shoulder and pointed. Shadron squinted then waved. She couldn't help but smile. They both looked genuinely happy to see her.

"Gods above! What happened to your hair?" Shadron burst out.

"You haven't seen her in days. Didn't know if she was dead or alive and the first thing you bark is something about her hair looking weird; which it does by the way." Frickel scolded.

"Thanks guys, I appreciate it. How did you know I was here?" She asked.

"We saw you riding 'cross the city yesterday with some Herald. We figured you to be in trouble so we followed to see where you went. . ."Frickel was cut off.

"Then 'ol Vigilant the Sentinel over there got all fancy about not being able to find you last night. Almost got himself cut up, same too just a minute ago." Shadron interjected, eyeing the guard. Said guard feigned deafness.

"Give it a rest, mighty rescuer. I'm fine. I think. A lot has happened since that night at the tavern." Her head spun as she tried to think of what to tell them and where to begin.

"How did you end up sacking out here?"

Elrin stamped his hoof and huffed loudly, ::Aren't you going to introduce me?::

"Oh sorry. This is Elrin. Elrin, this is Frickel and Shadron. They are war buddies of mine."

They both stared at her with very odd expressions. They looked at Elrin and then back to her.

"Ok, hi there. . . err. . . Elrin." Shadron eyed her questionably as he spoke.

"He says it is very nice to meet you both." She relayed.

Elrin tossed his head playfully.

The two mercs looked at each other and then back at Dagenheart.

"Dear gods, she's gone mad." Frickel whispered to Shadron.

"Maybe she's just been brainwashed." He whispered back, though both of them were speaking loud enough for her to hear. "You haven't been joining any cults have you?" Shadron looked her up and down as if looking for secret symbols or something.

She laughed, "Well, I wouldn't call it a cult but. . . You know those smart horses Heralds ride? Companions?" They each nodded, "Well, Elrin is one."

"But aren't Champions all white?" Shadron countered.

"They're Companions and yes, they are all white. Mine however is." She snickered, "Defective."

Elrin snorted into her hair.

"I thought only Heralds had those horses."

"They do."

It took a minute for it to dawn on them.

"You're a Herald?" Frickel squeaked, then to Shadron, "She did join a cult."

"Well, no. I was Chosen to be a Herald, thus the horse but it's not working out."

"I'd say. Those white collar boys are to damn tight and stuffy."

"I couldn't agree more, thus the 'not working out' part."

::Not to interrupt but we are about to have more company.::

Instinctively, she turned and looked behind her and was not surprised to see her appointed watchdog come walking up towards them looking grim. His very step suggested he was agitated. She mumbled something unflattering as he walked up beside her.

"You were told to wait for me before leaving your room." Alairus snapped.

She just stared back impassively.

"And just who the hell are you?" Shadron demanded.

"Oh, let me introduce you to this pleasure." Her guts tightened a bit at the word, for on some level, it was more then just sarcasm. "This is Herald Alairus. He has been given the dubious honor of being my shepherd."

They both broke out laughing at the same time. "Wow, you've got a might piece of work handed to you." Frickel cackled.

"Anyway, as I was saying." She turned her back on the Herald and faced her friends, "Seems that Heralding is a permanent occupation, else I wouldn't be here now."

"I just can't imagine you as a Herald." Frickel shook his head.

"I'm not. Seems some mistakes were made and now no one knows what to do."

"And you can't just walk away? They holding you prisoner or something?" Shadron eyed Alairus as he spoke, his tone going dangerously low.

"It's not that simple."

"I tell you what, you just come on with us right now." Shadron moved around her and ushered her towards the street. She went to protest but Frickel had a hold of her arm and was moving out. Alairus rushed forward, his hand on his sword hilt, "She's not going anywhere gentlemen. She still has a lot to account for." Shadron stepped into his path, blocking him from reaching Dagenheart.

"You wanna dance, you just come right on." He challenged.

"Stop! Right now, everyone just calm down." Dagenheart jerked her arm away from Frickel. "I'm not going anywhere. Not with you two; not with you" She indicated Alairus, "Or anyone else. Not yet. He's right in the sense that I have a lot to account for but it will be on my terms. Frickel. Shadron. You two know me well enough to know that I wouldn't be here if I didn't have to be. I need you to trust me on this." She moved back through the gate and towards her Companion. "It was good to see you guys again. When I get some spare time I'll come down and slaughter you two at cards sometime." She smiled as she jumped up on Elrin's back; a venture she almost didn't make. Without being prompted, Elrin turned and headed back to the entrance of the Collegium. The two mercs shot some sarcastic remarks about never let a mage play cards as her Companion turned to leave. Alairus went to follow Elrin when his eyes went blank. Elrin turned back and stopped. Before the Herald's eyes had a chance to unfuzz Elrin relayed the news to Dagenheart.

::A new Imperial thrust has just crossed the border into Hardon. Hardon has lost a large chunk of their armies in the initial skirmish.::

"Oh gods!" The words kind of spilled out of her and she felt color leave her face.

"What's wrong? You ok?" Shadron asked coming up beside her.

"The Imperials have just decimated Hardon's armies and crossed the border."

"What!?"

"What's that you say?" Frickel said as he approached. She repeated herself.

"Fates have mercy. We need to get back to the Inn. Get ready. Be work aplenty now." They each looked at her and she knew what they wanted to ask, but instead said their farewells and hustled off into the city. She felt a longing as she watched them leave. Now wishing she could go with them.

"I must get to the Palace. I'm sure you know your way back." Alarius said as he strode away.

"Wait!" She cried a bit louder then she intended. He stopped and turned with a puzzled look. She didn't know what to say because she really didn't know what she wanted; not really. She knew she had to do something. It was her calling and she had friends who would be going into the dragon's den. She needed to be there with them. She got a grasp on her conflicting emotions and managed her voice, "I am going to the Frontier with the first wave." She stated plainly.

"I do not think so. Not without a royal decree your not."

"Fine, then get me one!"

He rolled his eyes, "That's not going to happen. Not today. Probably not for a while. Fryn is not going to have time to deal with you, much less the King now that fury has come calling."

She wasn't going to argue with him. She would get in touch with Fryn somehow. She urged Elrin to turn away, ::Take me to the Field please.::

Elrin set off at a trot, taking a longer route then usual.

::What are you thinking about doing?:: He asked

::All Companion's can talk to their Chosen, right?::

::Not all. Some Heralds don't have mindspeech.::

She rode him in silence, devising a plan and how'd she was going to pull it off. By the time the Field came into view she had come up with a crude but direct approach to the problem. She was confident that if she could just reach Fryn, he'd let her go. He did, after all, recommend that she resume her status in the war. She was hoping that offer was still good and he had never lied to her. . . yet. The problem was reaching him. No one was going to be allowed into the Council session that was surly being held as she plotted unless it pertained to the disaster unfolding in the east.

::I'm assuming you Companions can identify each other.::

::Yes . . .:: His voice was suspicious.

Elrin began to pick up speed as they neared the small fence and in a small bound, cleared it. Dagenheart looked around the Field at all the Companions; it was hopeless to tell which was which.

::So which one is Fryn's?::

::What? Why?::

::Alairus is right. With current events, no one could get me an audience with him in time.::

::So you figure you'd get his Companion to get one? It's not going to work, I can tell you that right now.::

::Just point the damn horse out!::

Elrin didn't do anything that she could tell and just when she saw about to get really mad, one of the Companions came trotting over.

::This is Elisia. She is Fryn's Companion but she will not talk to you with mindspeech."::

::Fine, you can be the middle man. Did you tell her why I want to speak to her?::

::No.::

"I know this may be a bit unorthodox, but I need to get a message to your Chosen. I have little time and it is really important." She tried to speak calmly and convincingly. Elisia shook her head.

::She says she won't do that.::

"Look, the only way I am getting out of here and to the Frontier in time to do some good is by getting approval from higher up." She fought hard to keep anger out of her voice.

The Companion just stared at her.

::She says she is not going to do it. Not for any reason.::

Dagenheart felt a slight snap three inches behind her eyes. "Look Horse! I have been in pure hell for the last week. I've been kidnapped by your kind, chained to a bed, held prisoner and all in the name of your damned kingdom and rules! I didn't ask to be here and I surely didn't ask to be watched over and gawked at like a leper. I am sick of having people pushing their noses into my business and running my life! By all that is unholy, I will be leaving this day and if Elrin stays here then I'll be only too glad to kill us both trying!" Elrin snorted in surprise. She went to tell him that she was bluffing but didn't trust him not to pass that along. Elisia's eyes were wide and her ears forward, looking quite startled. Dagenheart did her best to look imposing and angry. Nothing happened for a few minutes.

::?::

::She's talking to him now.:: He sounded astonished. She waited for him to say something else but instead, after another minute, he just turned and began moving towards the Collegium.

"Where are we going?"

::Fryn will meet you in your room in a candlemark. It's the quickest your going to get.:: He still seemed unable to believe that she had actually pulled her plan off.

::You know I wasn't serious about killing us both. I was just bluffing. You know that right?:: she asked, feeling really bad about having said it now.

::I was hoping that's all it was but it would have been nice to have some reassurance.::

Her meeting with Fryn was quick and mostly positive. After she convinced him what a fine weapon she was in war, he granted her permission to join the troops already getting ready to move out. The bad news, as there always is, was that Alairus would maintain his perch and had been given power to veto her decisions, for whatever good it would do. Fryn knew he was speaking in vain when he told her.. He did persuade her to stay and leave in the morning with the scouts. She had agreed only because she wanted time to get a message to Shadron and Frickel before they left. Knowing them, they would be two of the first to re-enlist in Valdemar's service. She stressed the need for urgency to the courier she had entrusted her note to, then she set about packing whatever she need. It wasn't much. She had learned to live lean in the field.

She awoke the next morning well before dawn; a time when even the heartbeat of the world has trouble thumping on. She reached out for Elrin and found him already awake and trying to rouse a stable hand to saddle him up. She donned her robes and then went to her bed and reached under the mattress. She felt for a moment and then withdrew a short sword in a simple brown scabbard. She tucked the blade away in her robes snugly and set off to the kitchen to grab a little something to eat. She soon discovered the benefits of leaving early as the smells of fresh bread and pastries filled the entire hallway leading to the kitchen. The same grizzled man that served her before had a small pack made up for her. Cheese, a small portion of jam and a piping hot loaf of bread. She took it without comment and left without looking back.

::Is Alairus ready?:: She asked Elrin.

::He's working on it. I am ready though.::

She smiled and went to the Field to fetch him. A stable boy was there with him and looked at her with big eyes as she approached. She scarcely noticed him until he spoke, "Uh, your Dagenheart, right?" He stammered.

"Yes." She snapped as she climbed onto Elrin's back, not paying the boy any attention.

"I overheard them talking about you. The other Heralds, I mean. They said you're our wild card." His voice was high pitched and choppy.

She didn't say anything to him, instead she grabbed the reigns and adjusted herself on the saddle.

"Can you help beat them for us?"

"What?" She was startled. She looked into the boy's eyes and there lingered a spark of hope. Hope that was almost overshadowed by fear. These Valedmarians were a passive people and the strain of war seemed to weigh so heavily on each and every one of them.

"I cannot promise anything except this; when I get to the Frontier those invaders are going to think the nine hells have come calling!" She gave the reigns a small tug and Elrin started trotting. They reached the Gatehouse and Elrin insisted that they wait for Alairus before going to rendezvous with Shadron and Frickel.

::Seems kind of odd doesn't it? We all had a whole different set of troubles a day ago and now they seem so dull.::

::Why are we going?::

::Because I owe it to my friends and. . . to myself.:: She was quiet for a long moment. ::I have killed too many innocents. Maybe by killing the guilty I can find some form of atonement.::

::Ever tried not killing at all?::

::Some people are born with the gift of music. Some can paint and sculpt. Some have 'Gifts' as you call them. Killing is what I was born to do. It is like second nature; like breathing.::

He fell silent and she sensed turmoil in him.

::Do you enjoy it?:: Just a simple question. Did she enjoy it? The thought had never occurred to her. She searched herself for the answer.

::I don't know. It seems at one time I did but anymore. . . I don't know.:: Growing uncomfortable, she changed the subject, "Where is that damn Herald! We can't wait around here forever."

::He is on his way. Be patient.:;

Several moments later the metal-chime unique to Companion hooves echoed up the road. Alairus did not seem happy to be going anywhere at such an ungodly hour.

"It was not my idea to have you tag along. That being said, you best be able to keep up and out of my way on the battlefield."

He gave her a dirty look but said nothing.

::Why are you so mean to him.::

"I'm mean to everybody."

It was a long ride to Crown City in Hardon. The roads were busy with the comings and goings of traffic of all kinds, most of it military. When they finally reached the city, Dagenheart was amazed by the presence of two battalions encamped around it. She reported to the officer in charge of mercenary recruitment. She knew him well; a tall, lanky fellow with gray hair and a bad leg. She told him that she was looking for some more work and was well pleased when he reinstated her to her former position in Special Operations at the temporary rank of Sergeant.

"Ever since the big battle, we haven't had enough officers to go around so you'll have to find your own. The Crown won't let us hand what few we have left to mercs." He told her.

"Not to worry. I have a few men with me. Same tats as before I assume. Recon, ambush, that kind of thing?"

"Pretty much. How soon you looking to start?"

"As soon as I can get that pen from you and sign the papers."