Hey all!

Was anyone else disturbed when the Mercedes Lackey section disappeared? I can't think of anything quite as unsettling in my whole career, but still, Valdemar getting its own section was moving.

Man, those puns were a lot funnier in my head.

Kerchen left the classroom in a strange, enlightened daze.

"So this is...'I'...'have'..." he murmured, staring at the book with newfound fascination. He had attended classes at the Academy under Goroch's sponsorship, but all they ever learned was movements, tactics and occasionally the Writ. Here, he was learning all manners of things-history, arithmetic (he never realized counting had such a fancy name), mercantile studies, and reading and writing.

:But you already know how to read Karsite books, so why are you so excited by Valdemaran books?: Alvira had made it known that she wasn't much of a sitting type and often rode Kerchen to exhaustion. It rather amazed him that she had a gift of Healing with her robust personality.

:Well, the verbs aren't at the end for one. The structure is very different. And I've only read the Writ.: He tried to think of a more logical answer, but none came to mind.

:Anyway, today's your first Gift class, so try not to be late.: That was true but unfortunate, as he was looking forward to decoding that text.

:Why do I need to attend a Gift class?: Kerchen frowned, looking up from his book at nothing in particular. :You said my Mindspeech is fine, my Distance Ey-I mean, Farsight was already trained, and Father Goroch taught me shielding for any kind of m-m-:

:Mindspeech, mental Gifts, yes, but there's nowhere better at training the Gift itself than here in Valdemar.: No, that wasn't what he was going to say- :And you might make some friends, and then we can all go riding together!:

:Is that the real reason?:

:Don't worry Chosen, if it comes to a race I'll beat them down to the ground. They'll still be choking in my dust cloud when I finish!: Kerchen was about to make some comment about her haughty attitude but refrained, thinking that he was relieved enough that she was her old self.

"As you might notice, I'm still in my Grays," the instructor said cheerfully, "but it so happens that the regular instructors for Farsight are too busy to give you the individual attention you need. To get you up to speed, I'll be taking over your training for the time being."

"Okay." Whether his teacher was wearing Whites or Grays didn't make much of a difference to Kerchen. The man, probably only a year older than he, was handsome, with straight dark hair falling carelessly on his shoulders. He was entirely at ease, and looked as though he always was.

:This is Eldren,: Alvira explained. :He's about a year or two from his Whites. Due to a rush of new Trainees coupled with the need to train them by the impending war, the Collegium has been concocting ways to teach the new Trainees more efficiently. Be careful though-the boy also has a penchant for seducing anything that moves.: Okay... :But just checking, you aren't shay'ch, are you? I mean, I hear he's also pretty good so I don't want to rob you of a good thing-:

:What-nevermind,: Kerchen amended hastily, as an influx of images from the mindlink told him what good things Alvira meant. :I'm not interested in, er, trysting-I've seen enough on the streets of Exile's Gate.:

:To each his own, but mind you, what you saw there was probably not standard practice.: If Eldren noticed Kerchen's flush, he didn't show it.

"I'll take you through the basics, and if you have any questions, let me know," the instructor flashed a winsome smile, and Kerchen briefly wondered if he should heed Alvira's warning.

It proved to be unnecessary, however, as Eldren drilled him properly and thoroughly. Although he had already learned something akin to this "ground and centering" from Father Goroch, for some reason his control felt more solid than ever through Eldren's exercises. Well, the purpose of Kerchen's original instruction was to shield himself from...perhaps the focus was different and more attuned to his Farsight. Eldren only just explained the purpose of a focus stone when the bell rang, its clear tone resounding in the air. Eldren turned his dark eyes to the bell and gave a heavy sigh.

"Well, I was rather enjoying our lesson, but it seems that all good things must end," he said jovially. "Keep that stone for now. You can give it back to me once you're a Farsight master." I'm already good with my Distance Eye-didn't King's Own Talamir tell anyone about that? There are things I'm not good at that I'd rather concentrate on, like reading...

"Of course," was what he said. "But it sounds like most stones would work-give me yours you need not." Eldren only smiled.

"Oh no, Kerchen, that won't do. I want you to come find me, you see." And with that, he left, his radiating aura of confidence never faltering.

:Are you sure you're not shay'ch? You can try it out you know,: Alvira piped up. Kerchen only pursed his lips.

:You keep asking,: he said, annoyed. :It sounds like you're the one who wants to try something.: There was no reply.

"Pay attention! Too sloppy you are," Alberich scolded, as Alys picked herself off the ground.

"I-I understand," she said, still wincing.

"But improved, you have," he said in his wonderful accent, approval underlying his rough manner. "I see that working hard you are."

"Well, I should always try my best," she replied shyly under his piercing gaze.

"I know practice you do, in the salle at night. It is...admirable." He looked away, groping for words but ending his search still tongue-tied. There was a pregnant pause, filled with unspoken thoughts.

"I try a lot, but...it seems like I'm still helpless with swords," she laughed with embarrassment. He looked to her again and gave a small smile, as though this were a private joke shared between them.

"Agree with that, I must," he said with consternation-

"-A mess, your footwork is. More weight on leading foot needed is-"

and let his mouth quirk up at her dismay. "But your archery excellent is." Alys then flushed with joy.

"Oh-well, it's only because you're teaching me-I couldn't have done it without you." Now it was his turn to be embarrassed, but he covered his strong, weathered face with a hand to hide it.

"No, your own skill, truly it was. Otherwise, your swordswork better would be." He looked at her askance. "But perhaps you only more instruction need.." Alys looked up at him, blinking, but Alberich was already shaking off the unsaid words, his posture forcefully pulling back into his rough persona.

"You dismissed are."

"Yes, Weapons Second Alberich!" she answered cheerfully, and bounded off to join the rest of the students.

Alberich felt a strange chill down his spine as he watched the student prance off gayly, as though she weren't the worst Trainee yet.

Sunlord help me, if there is ever a clumsier student than that one. She was a natural archer, but it was hardly enough to compensate for her lack of skills with other weapons. It would be suicide to send her off against the Tedrels as she was now-

:Until the Weaponsmaster deems her capable, she will never get her Whites,: Kantor responded to the unstated question, much to Alberich's relief. :Heralds die quickly enough as it is.:

:I can believe that,: Alberich replied, watching as Dethor paired Alys with the newest Trainee. There was one child who would pass this class very quickly-his knifework was excellent, as Alberich had the honor to experience firsthand, and probably only needed a few moons' training to become top tier. His skills with weapons that weren't of the concealable sort were rudimentary, but he had already acquired a strong grasp of the basics from his training at the Academy. It had only been a few weeks, but his improvement was significant. He would certainly acquire proficiency by the end of the next winter.

No, his weaponswork won't be the thing holding him down... Whites were determined by a committee, but if the treatment the Trainees were giving him was any indication of the general opinion of the Heraldic Circle, there wouldn't be any committee to pass Kerchen. In the beginning, only a few of the students were avoiding him-certainly those who had witnessed the incident. Soon, the rest of the Trainees followed suit, perhaps even unaware-since their friends were in one place, so naturally were they. Few Trainees tried to make conversation with Kerchen, and the latter made no attempts to hold one, so there was no lessening of the gap between the Karsite boy and the other Trainees.

However, while the subconscious shunning that the Trainees were doing was a bit worrisome, it was the interactions with the Blues that boded ill. Many of the Blues were prone to bullying any lowborns-while Dethor and Alberich did their best to stop any sign of it in the salle, sometimes the classes were simply too big to oversee everything. When the students could choose their partners, Kerchen was usually one of the last to get picked-and always, he ended up with Trainee Hannan, Trainee Eldren, or one of the Blues. Watching their bouts, Alberich strongly suspected the nobles were bullying him, trying to deal him low blows during their exchanges, but Kerchen's evasion skills were too developed for him to even notice. True, he didn't show signs of being verbally taunted, but it could be that he did not even understand them.

:Are you worried, Chosen?:

:How could I not be? That boy knows nothing of high society-he doesn't even know the true face of the high Sunpriests. The Trainees aren't looking after him; if the Blues finally go too far, there's no telling what he'll do.: Kantor agreed.

:The boy grew up as a shepherd's son, and it seems his only run-ins with high society were by assassinating their nonbelievers-not the most ideal setting, I imagine. I could see a situation arising, but Alvira is rather touchy about her Chosen. She still refuses to tell us anything about Trainee Kerchen, and, well, it's rather difficult for us to lend help to a Trainee without the consent of his Companion.: A pause, as Kantor recalled something unpleasant-something he often did on this subject. :And many Companions are still unhappy with Alvira anyway-that she Chose without a real Calling is a serious matter. Imagine if Yfandes had Chosen some random waif instead of Vanyel-well, I suppose that would have been good for Karse, hm?: Alberich had been trained since an early age to shudder at the name of Vanyel the Demon-Rider, but now he only scoffed.

:Something so ancient a history is hardly worth being agitated about.: The current Son of the Sun was hardly a paragon of virtue either.

:You've become rather forward thinking,: Kantor noted wryly. :Of course, despite that this is the main point of contention, the boy's trustworthiness is also in doubt. After Talamir's interrogation, those dissenters can't make a fuss yet, but wait until the boy does anything remotely wrong. In this light, I can sympathize with Alvira's desire to shield her Chosen, but she doesn't believe me when I tell her she's biting her own foot.: That was one trait that the pair had in common: both were apparently as stubborn as mules. :Like most Heralds.:

:There's another thing that concerns me-his total lack of self preservation. If we sent him out now, he would sacrifice himself at a moment's notice-moreso than even a normal Herald.: The boy had said so calmly that he wanted Alberich to kill him, as easily as some people said they wanted lunch. The boy thought of himself as a tool, to be thrown away immediately when not useful; whoever his mysterious Karsite benefactor was, he had trained him "well". Still feeling guilt over almost killing the boy, Alberich wanted to mentor Kerchen himself, but that would be too suspicious to the eyes of the Collegium, so he was stuck doing nothing. Would Kerchen seek out Father Henrick and Acolyte Gerichen? He suspected the answer was no; this boy would not seek the help of anyone. What could Alberich do to help when neither Kerchen nor his Companion would believe they needed any?

The Weapons Second continued to watch as Kerchen and Alys practiced stavework. As expected, the boy was only getting a lesson in what not to do with a stave, and the girl was only learning how to make an incredible impression of a fish out of water. Gazing at the pair, Alberich felt a tinge of jealousy. Just how did that boy learn to hide his scars so well? With that kind of technique, Alberich could greatly expand his daytime undercover work, perhaps even pass as a woman where needed-

:You have no hope, Chosen,: Kantor quipped, :No woman is going to have your physique-or your incurable scowl.: Alberich made no comment. :Though you could get some tips from him-that's the work of a professional.: Well no matter what, it was going to have to wait.