Supper past uneventfully as Skif and Alberich told of their trip to the fair and what they had learned. Alberich's disguise had apparently passed, especially with the lines of the scars softened as they were by the Healer's cream Talia had given him and the homespun tunic and trews. Talia simply mentioned that the barrelmaker's apprentice had passed, thinking they were horse merchants, and offered them a place to stay if they needed it. Alberich nodded, seeing the advantage of staying in a Holderkin household as guests and the realism it would bring to their story. Myste shuffled and shifted though all through dinner, although she admitted that the man seemed to be friendly and honest and genuinely willing to help. He could not figure out her mood though, and after supper, tired of trying to puzzle it out. Instead, once they were around the fire with half an ear turned to listen for any footsteps or warnings, Alberich took his turn at telling stories. He had chosen a tale from the old Chronicles that were kept in the library and which he had taken the time to copy when taking classes with Alberich. It was, by far one of his favorites, and they listened to the story of Herald Pol and his earlier adventures and the questions and anguish that had filled him after the death of young Lavan Firestorm. It was a somber tale, but one which all of the listeners loved. So after they discussed what they needed to of their strategy, they went to sleep. All except Alberich, who lay on his back and wondered what it was about this mission and Myste's behavior that worried him so much. So much so that whether due to his Foresight, Kantor's promptings, or the instinct he had developed after years of training and drilling everyone from hardened soldiers to the greenest Trainees, Alberich was waiting beside the horses when Myste came to help get ready. If she was surprised to see him, it didn't show, and she let him walk with her to where the Companions were settled and began to gather the things to pack. However, surprise might have worried him less Alberich decided as he listened to Myste chattering on over nothing like a drunken granny-gossip, her pale face and worried eyes growing all the more visible the more she talked. Finally, once they had all of the larger items packed, Alberich touched Myste's shoulders and guided her to where two of the sleeping rolls where rolled up against a tree. Sitting gingerly on one of the bundles, he gestured for Myste to sit on the other. She finished her story with the same bright pitch she had been using and then slowly she seemed to collapse in on herself, incapable of keeping up the facade any longer.

"Friend," he began, struggling to find the right word in either Karsite or Valdemarian for a moment. "Friend, whatever is frightening you, share it I must ask of you. No need of a brave face you have here. And heroes I wish not to have on this mission, for only one way do Heralds become heroes, and that cost, if I can help, is too great to pay."

Myste looked at her hands in her lap and blushed, turning a little away as she did so. Alberich bit his lip, struggling to keep the normal expressionless face that he had become habit that he had resumed in the past few days as they approached the Holderkin lands. The inner dichotomy in his head made it hard though as his Thoughtsensing gift tried to reassure him she was struggling find words to explain with the rest of him feeling as if he had received a sword in the stomach, sure that somehow even Myste did not fully trust him, even after all these years. A derisive snort from Kantor broke the more self-pitying of the thoughts and focused his attention fully on Herald Myste again. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her, far more gently than he would have thought possible under the circumstances and spoke again, hoping that the carefully chosen Valdemarian words would hide just what he was feeling enough for her to open up. "If something is wrong with our host-to-be, if you noticed anything that would make you feel this is a trap, that will be enough, and we will find another way in. I trust you enough in this. But if that is to be, I need you to tell me what it is that bothers you, Myste, and I need to know now."

Myste leaned against the tree behind her and began to speak in a small voice. "It is not Dielth. Not really, at any rate. He was honest with Talia and me, far more honest than most people would be with strangers, Heralds or not. And it is unlikely that we will receive a warm welcome from anyone else in the Hold, let alone anyone who would be willing to help with the Companions. No, he is hiding something, but not anything he is aware of. And it bothers me. I keep thinking that will be the thing that undoes all of our work, which risks us all. And by not being Holderkin by birth, I fear that our host may be the next victim. I do not See anything of the sort. Foresight is not my Gift. It's just a feeling, but it bothers me."

Alberich listened, hoping that Myste realized just how honestly he had meant that he did trust her judgement with this. By the Sunlord, after all of the times she had pulled him out of a mess with that, he had better trust her Gift!

"That would explain much of his attitude if he is not pure Holderkin, although I do not know the people well enough even with Talia's memories to know how you could tell that. We Heralds are loved here almost as much as we are loved in Karse! But I believe you when you say that this is a good option and he is being honest. Still, could he be part of a trap unknowingly?"

Myste shook her head. "He whistles. Holderkin don't hold with music. That and a million little things with features and child has been born in an army and raised by people who are very used to fighting and raids. He has as much military sense as you do, and is not likely to let himself be used. No, he is one of the orphans we gathered after the Tedrel Wars. I am sure of it. I can almost tell you which one if I look at his face too long. And he is Gifted. Powerfully gifted, even a bit trained, although not any sort of training I recognize to be honest. I think that if we survive this, there might be a Companion in this boy's future. I- I need a second opinion, but there is really something about this boy that calls to the part of me that's a Herald and makes me want to protect him from whatever else might happen. Apparently Talia feels the same way, because she is very careful to be fully shielded around him because of her Gift. I think you will see what I mean when you meet him yourself. At least, if its not misplaced guilt on my part."

Alberich smiled and hugged her, breathing a mental sigh which was made up of equal parts relief and frustration. So it wasn't him, but their host's past and emerging Gift which had set Myste on edge! Well, if there was any risk of the Gift going rogue, that was hardly a shock. Alberich shook his head softly. "Foresight I have had, but not enough to help in this. If anything helpful I can provide, let you know I will. Now wake the younglings from idle dozing I think it is time to."

And they headed back to the camp and the sounds of a newly crackling fire, the concerns each carried regarding the rest of the mission still shifting in the back of their minds.