Hey all!

Thanks for staying with me here, despite there not being a plot in sight. So is this the sequel to A Spy's Choice? Nope. Why not? Well, the tone is just too different to really be called a sequel...

"So, um, hi. I'm Hannan," the boy said, not at all sounding like Kerchen's mentor. Kerchen eyed him questioningly. Why is he so nervous?

:Oh, Hannan's pretty shy,: Alvira answered flippantly. :Er, and he was one of the Trainees who spotted the incident.: Oh. :But he's very nice, he won't hold it against you-that's why they picked him!: she added hastily, as though she was worried Kerchen might take slight to anything at all.

:It's alright, Alvira, I know that.: As Sunpriest Goroch's agent, he had eavesdropped on nearly every Trainee. Hannan was as mild and considerate as he looked; neither ugly nor strikingly handsome, he possessed gentle features and warm eyes, the type of person that set everyone at ease. Kerchen suspected that he was being handled as though he would explode at any moment.

It's as if they don't trust their Truth Spell-and how many questions did King's Own Talamir ask me? Admittedly, their first impression of him was still his pointing a knife at Alberich.

"This'll be your room. I'm actually right around the corner, if you need me," Hannan supplied helpfully, opening the door for the new Trainee. The room wasn't large, but it was comfortable. Kerchen looked at the spacious bookcase with interest. Will I need that many books? I should have learned to read a bit better at Magdee's. At least he could pick out numbers well. "So, uh, you'll have house duties-oh, so all Trainees have to do chores around here-you're going to need clothes, but maybe you want a bath first? You have to haul in hot water from-or maybe the Housekeeper should orient you first? Um-"

"You do not have to try so hard," Kerchen said, cutting off the boy's stutters. "I know you were there."

:Chosen, could you sound a little less menacing?:

:Menacing?: Alvira always said interesting things-but seeing Hannan's reaction, he could tell that she was right.

"Sound menacing, I did not mean," he corrected. Despite the imperfect Valdemaran, the statement had the desired effect on his mentor, who relaxed.

"Well, compared to the other Karsite Trainee we have around here, you sound as innocuous as a rabbit." Hannan gave Kerchen a small but charming smile.

:Smile back!: Alvira prompted. Startled, Kerchen turned the corners of his mouth up uncertainly, but it worked.

"Well, shall we go see the Housekeeper then? She'll give you some things and assign you your chores." The older boy took Kerchen down the stairs, and the latter followed dutifully.

:You sure are taking this all in step,: Alvira observed, with a hint of suspicion, :Aren't you going to ask what kind of chores? It could be something terrible like latrine scrubbing.:

:I'm used to being given orders.: He could tell that Alvira wasn't pleased with his answer. Hannan opened a door leading to a whitewashed room. The elderly lady sitting at the sole desk in the room beamed at the two, obviously unaware of Kerchen's origins.

:Let's not be cynical,: Alvira objected. :She'd still be nice to you, even if she knew you were Karsite. You were much sweeter when you were bedridden.: She was probably right-he had been surrounded by Healers, whose only calling was to make everyone better, and Alvira's protective presence. It was only natural that he would only resume being judgmental after he left the Healer's Collegium.

"Are you a new Trainee, then?" she asked brightly. "Name's Mira, what's yours?"

"K-Kerchen," he answered, surprised by how her voice resembled Grandma Magdee's jovial tones. It wasn't until then that he realized how much he missed Dieder and Grandma Magdee, the two Valdemarans he had befriended. Suddenly, he remembered that he had said if he didn't visit within a moon, they should assume he was dead. When was he first admitted into the Healers' ward?

:Honestly, did you have to be that dramatic?: Kerchen could almost see her rolling her eyes. :You better go see them soon.:

:Soon,: Kerchen agreed. :But it was the truth at the time.:

:Sometimes the truth isn't always the best thing to say,: Alvira sighed, and sighed again at Kerchen's incomprehension.

"What chores can you do?" Housekeeper Mira asked. Kerchen pondered this. Under his adoptive father Lugard, he had mostly tended sheep, though he doubted those skills would come in handy. Under the Holderkin, he again tended the livestock, since they didn't trust him in the actual homes. Under Sunpriest Goroch, he had been a spy and assassin-skills that would probably not come in handy either. Despite being a Border peasant, he had little to offer.

"Maybe wash-or clean things?" Mira only smiled at him, as though this happened all the time.

"We'll figure something out for you," she said, looking over some papers. Kerchen caught Hannan's glance, and the latter smiled back encouragingly. So far, everything was going alright.

"Can you believe that? Dirt, everywhere!" Jedeth Levalen scoffed in disgust, dusting off his now immaculate Blues for contrast. That Trainee Alys had once again done a number to his uniform, and he was not at all pleased. True, Blues were cheap enough, but it was the walking around in dirty clothes that bothered him. As if a lowborn had any right even to talk back to him, let alone try to hit him-for anyone not a hateful Gray, it would have been the last thread, but this girl managed something every time he was forced to pair up with her. "If it weren't for the fact she had a white horse, she'd be sent off to a farm on the Border by now." There was a general murmur of assent. The Herald-Trainees were out of control, and their lessons in etiquette were clearly insufficient. Although it made for torturous classes, their barbarity at least made for good discussion.

"They're only getting worse," said Shendelle Fairtheld, a delicate looking girl across from him. She covered her mouth as though talking about peasants left a stench in her mouth. "Likely because there have been more and more of them. Jedeth, if not for your family's reputation for weaponry, I would ask you why you were attending the weapons class here at all! As though it weren't silly enough already, now the Weaponsmaster's Second is a Karsite who can hardly string two words together!" There was a chorus of laughter-though the laughter was courteous and controlled, unlike the buffoons from the pile of Trainees. Jedeth gave a shrug.

"I learn better technique from my tutor, but I suppose there is a dearth of live targets at home," he sighed, rolling his eyes. Though that was only half true. Weaponsmaster Dethor was old, but his advice was better than any of his tutors'. Jedeth could tell at least that much, and so he did respect Dethor on a certain level. Well, it was hardly the atmosphere to make such a side note, so he held his peace as he waited for the smattering of laughter to die down before continuing. "On a related note, why is it that we're eating in the Collegia? Please don't tell me it's because of the fantastic fare." A small laugh.

"Please," Rahlen scoffed, his eyes falling on someone behind Jedeth. "Even as a joke, I wouldn't say that. The truth is, I heard through the grapevine that there is a new Gray. Since there was no word of a new Chosen among our circles, it must be another peasant." A few shared smiles around the table. "Since I can hardly pick out one farmer's boy from another, I figured I could spot him at their watering hole." Jedeth followed his gaze to land on a lonesome Gray-a dark-skinned thing with unfashionably short hair.

"I see your reasoning, but why bother singling out the new Trainee?" If you don't even know what he looks like, obviously he hasn't done anything wrong. Jedeth had a sense of propriety and harbored disdain for anyone who didn't know their place, but complete innocents had no reason to be bothered-even lowborn Trainees. Wary, Jedeth watched as his friends shared some dark grins, while Rahlen looked at him with mild surprise.

"Because they're easier to tease, of course," he said. "You know winter's coming soon-to think we were so worried of becoming idle and having nothing to do." He laughed, and was followed by the familiar chorus of laughter, but this time Jedeth did not join in. Rather, Jedeth looked at the faces at his table and, not for the first time, became unsettled.

:You should make some friends,: Alvira commented, again. :As my Chosen, I'm sure they'll come easily!: Kerchen had the distinct impression that she thought he looked pitiful, sitting alone in a dining hall full of people. He did not share her opinion.

:I shouldn't talk to people,: he replied, looking around warily out of habit. :King's Own Talamir wants me not to tell people that I am from Karse. I'm sure if I tried to make friends, the question will surface soon enough.:

:That's why he told you to say from the Border, or Valdemar!: Alvira exclaimed with exasperation, but even she knew this was beating a dead mule. Kerchen would say he was from the Border, but to lie and say he was born in Valdemar-it was wrong, and that was that.

Only one table is noticing me-a group of Blues. Kerchen had picked up something about Blues and, especially, the highborn. As far as Kerchen could tell, highborn did not exactly mean rich, but the two were hard to tell apart. They were often privileged and opulent, not unlike many of those sinners that Father Goroch had ordered Kerchen to kill-

:Chosen, I'm worried about your thinking,: interrupted Alvira nervously.

:Alvira, I'm not going to kill them,: he replied, surprised that her thoughts felt as though they were tending in that direction. The link between them fluttered with embarrassment, but not at all apologetic-though that was just like her. :Those who have not yet wronged are innocent.:

:Well, Chosen, even if they do wrong, you realize that you don't have the authority to mete "justice" on them, right?:

:Why would I need authority to punish someone for their sins?: That hardly made sense-if someone deserved punishment, as long as the appropriate punishment was dealt, what does it matter who did it? It seemed inefficient to have to wait for "someone with authority."

:What do you think court hearings are for?: Alvira whined.

:For judging if someone is deserving of punishment,: Kerchen answered, bewildered by the frantic tone. :That carrying out the punishment follows the hearing is only logical.: He had the distinct impression that he hadn't answered correctly, and that something about him, not just his notions of court hearings, bothered her. Where was I wrong? I can't tell-is she blocking me? He suddenly remembered how heatedly Alvira had averred that they were meant to be Companion and Chosen, but he still couldn't piece together the reasons for Alvira's reactions.

He's worried, Hannan thought, stealing glances at his new ward from halfway across the dining hall. Or maybe his stomach's upset? Is the food too foreign? I wonder what he normally eats.

:You've taken a liking to him, haven't you?: Erron remarked.

:Well, he's my responsibility-I have to make sure he settles comfortably.:

:I'm surprised you don't get more Trainees under your wing-oh, or maybe they're worried that you'd baby them.: Hannan felt Erron chuckle in the back of his mind. :Well, if I recall correctly, that's one Trainee that can hold his own. He doesn't look like the type to be bullied, though I wouldn't put much past some Blues.: Hannan agreed, but he had no power over that-only Trainees with bluer blood could do anything about the highborns. As a farmer's son, the most he could do was sic Selenay or Elyssa on them.

:It seems like Eldren has the right idea,: Hannan conceded, looking to the eternally calm merchant's son. :Find some dirt on them to keep them quiet.:

:Or make some dirt,: Erron added wryly. :There's always someone in the family he can woo.: Yes, Eldren was liberal, and he'd refuse to be called anything less. To his credit, he did say he wouldn't chase Alys... :Chosen, you're the only one that would.:

:Not true, she's very charming,: Hannan replied, turning his attention back to the conversation at the table.

"Look! I've mapped out Alberich's movements for the past moons," Alys declared proudly, splaying out a giant chart. "He doesn't seem to leave Dethor or Elcarth very often-he eats with Dethor. It must be to keep Dethor company! He's so thoughtful." Her eyes shone into the distance.

:If by charming you mean deluded, why yes, I agree,: Erron sighed. :How many years will her Whites take at this rate? Even if she makes progress in her weapons class, any committee worth their uniforms would turn her down for her unreasonable personality.:

:It's not like all Heralds are reasonable.:

:They're at least practical enough to manage circuit,: Erron reminded, :If she wanted to judge anything, she'd have to cast Truth Spell on everyone.: Even Hannan had to concede that Alys was the last person he'd trust managing a circuit. Her Whites might be far in the future. Maybe far enough that I could be her mentor on circuit... Hannan blushed a little at what could result from that, while Erron snorted in the back of his mind.

"The only movements I don't have is at night-since he never leaves some Herald's side during the day, I should try my chances then." Hannan was amazed that Alys had said this outrageous thing without blinking.

"What Healer's brew have you been taking?" Apparently so was Elyssa. "Is that how you'll be spending Midwinter, romping around town stalking this man? All sorts of drunkards wander the streets during Midwinter, so don't follow Karsite Trainees and don't work." Alys pouted, and it was clear she wasn't going to listen. They were both stubborn and had a similar argument last year, though this time Elyssa would be gone for the actual Festival. After Hannan had tipped her off about the impending war, nothing was going to stop her from bringing the news back home.

:It was a secret for a reason,: Erron chided him curtly, :Though I suppose Elyssa wasn't going to be enjoying her Midwinter anyway, given Alys's antics.:

"The man's twice your age, Alys," noted Eldren, mopping up his plate with a piece of bread, "I won't say that he buys one, but he may already have a lover."

"Oh he doesn't," she replied briskly, and even Eldren raised an eyebrow at the quick response. She must have been tailing Alberich every chance she had..

:Wow that's a surprise.:

This is depressing, Hannan sighed, though Alys took no notice as she sat mesmerized by her Alberich chart. Although it was one of her charm points, Alys's total devotion to one activity at a time left her blind and deaf to anything else. He looked back to Kerchen, a boy untroubled by unrequited love, and wondered what he might be thinking.