hey all!

Well, I missed 10/10, but oh well. The pace is slow, so thanks for continuing to stick with me!

"Despite everything, you seem eager to get back," Eldren commented, handing Elyssa one of her packs. Elyssa sighed, trying not to imagine what kind of antics Alys would be up to in her absence-well, she couldn't be everywhere at once, so she had to prioritize. Hannan had said the Karsites were on their heels, and to all hells if she was going to let her Holding fall prey. Her parents were always ready for the occasional bandits, but an extended campaign would require more resources than they usually had on hand. She had already tried to warn them secretly through letters, but her attempts to hide the information from anyone who intercepted the letter seemed to have worked too well. There's simply no way to win.

"Yes, well, I suppose I will have to trust you two to watch out for her." Elyssa secured another back on Karyla. She paused, scrutinizing the leather straps that were still hanging. How shall I strap the bow so that I can access it quickly? She probably wasn't going to need it, but-well, one never knew. Despite the nondescript reply she had given him, Eldren smiled.

"I can assure you that Hannan will be watching her, in the very least," he remarked with humor. "No doubt his Companion will be there by his side, shaking his head all the while." The corners of Elyssa's mouth turned.

"His Companion must have monumental patience to stand living that scene in repeat. And what shall you be up to, as our friend is afflicted with paralysis and a severe bout of stuttering?" Eldren put a hand to his chin in mock pondering.

"Well, I suppose I shall try my charms on the sundries girl, so that she might be willing to flirt with Hannan at a discount." His eye twitched, a movement that matched the dryness in his otherwise light tone. "I had bet on him making more progress than he has, but I forgot that Herald-Trainees are often extraordinary creatures, whose patterns cannot be predicted." She had to chuckle at this. Eldren had decided that what their dear secluded friend needed was more exposure, so informally hired a girl to put up with his stuttering until he was able to form more coherent sweet talk. The results so far had been less than satisfactory, and though it was a pittance out of his allowance, even a Trainee's, Eldren hated to see money go to waste.

"You were too ambitious. Besides, wouldn't a Trainee have done so for free? We have Thoughtsensers, which might break him in, and surely Nessa wouldn't mind keeping him company." Now it was Eldren's turn to chuckle.

"Nessa? Well, she would entertain him for free, no doubt, but I think it's too much like casting a rabbit into a lion's den-or, lioness?"

"Well, sometimes you must learn to run before you can walk."

"My dear, that is a proverb that likely even Shin'a'in wouldn't adopt." They shared a look, and then laughed. It seemed absurd to her that they would be talking about socially adjusting Hannan at such a critical time, but Eldren's presence made her feel more at ease than any blade at her side. It was entirely the opposite reaction to Alys...

I haven't been paying a lot of attention to her lately. A pang of guilt accompanied the thought. Ever since the last letter arrived from her parents, she hadn't been in her right mind. But honestly, how could they have missed her hints? "Well, then until Hannan is ready to receive her, I leave Alys in your hands. Don't let her get into unnecessary trouble-she seems to have an affinity for it." Eldren gave a shrug that said he didn't think she was going to be in dire trouble, but that he would humor her request anyway. Elyssa opened her mouth to reiterate, but Eldren opened his first.

"Heyla Selenay!" he called, waving past Elyssa to the Heir astride her Companion. On her way to the city proper, Selenay caught sight of them, smiled, and came over to greet them.

"Heyla! Are you two going home for Midwinter?" she asked, as her Companion came to a stop before Karyla. Eldren replied, regarding her fondly as he did any half decent girl.

"Yes, but I live in Haven. We were just sending off Elyssa here, who lives near the border of Rethwellan.

"Oh, that's far-the Hasenhower estate in the southeast corner?" Elyssa nodded, glad that she didn't call it the new Merisherd tract, as nobles had been apt to do. They seemed unable to divide land into anything other than the holdings of the courtiers and farmland. No wonder Mother left those brickheads to live with Father instead.

:I think your mother simply enjoys cutting up bandits more than attending fancy balls,: Karyla added. :From what you tell me, danger draws her like a moth to candlelight.: That was a more or less accurate description. Speaking of danger...

"Well, as it is difficult to predict how long peace will last, I won't pass up an opportunity to be with my family," she replied, and watched the slight flicker across Selenay's face.

"That's commendable," Selenay agreed, uncharacteristically formal in manner. She knows, and she isn't planning on telling me. Doesn't she consider that this concerns our life and death? Elyssa felt herself heating with anger but hid it with the control she'd gained in the court. Stupider things had been done before-though those didn't have her family's lives at stake.

"Now that I think about it, there's interesting gossip about. I hear we can expect a concentrated attack from Karse this coming year-have you heard this?" Elyssa didn't bother to wait for her reaction, though she caught Eldren raising an eyebrow at the news. "Shouldn't the king inform his subjects, lest they be ill-prepared for battle?" Or haven't you thought of this? The Heir flinched, but set her chin stubbornly.

"That's true, but Father has his reasons." Selenay drew herself up to her full height, and Elyssa suddenly had the impression that Selenay would become a more than adequate Queen. "There will be enough time to prepare after Midwinter. There is no reason to rob Valdemar's people of the joy of the Midwinter Festival when we don't know how long the war will be, nor how long it'll be before they can fully enjoy themselves again."

It was a good response, better than she'd been expecting. Though still somewhat indignant, Elyssa felt a tinge of shame creeping through her. Of course the king would have given his people adequate notice-he is a Herald, after all. It seems they've already planned ahead to the moons, years after these few weeks of Midwinter. I thought too poorly of them and jumped to conclusions.

:Don't worry Elyssa, it's because your usual company are half scatterbrains,: Karyla piped up. :I can't remember the last time Alys has thought through anything.:

:Let's not be mean...but true.:

"I suppose that makes sense," she admitted, feeling a bit better about her own flaws as Karyla shoved examples of Alys ruining various things. Elyssa exchanged some stilted pleasantries with Selenay, though she choked when Karyla Sent the image of Alys with raccoon eyes after a misguided flirt with makeup. Eldren, sensing the conversation's end, spoke.

"Ho, Selenay, you were heading for town. Are you off to a Heraldic hearing?"

"Oh, you're right! I better hurry now, or Mirilin will have my head." She gave a bright wave and headed off quickly, clearly just as glad to leave the awkward silence of the confrontation. Eldren turned back to Elyssa, who was still not entirely convinced of the wisdom of Sendar's plans. "No wonder you've been on edge lately-when did you hear of that?"

"Oh-not too long ago," Elyssa replied, as nonchalantly as possible. Hannan had said it was a secret, but she had let her emotions control her. I really am losing my grip. Perhaps I will feel more at ease after my estate is fortified for battle. Eldren wisely didn't pursue the subject further.

"You haven't been back home for a year now, right? They must be excited to see you-though with all the letters you send back and forth, I suppose there isn't much to catch up on." Elyssa found it ironic that he would say that, considering they seemed to have missed every warning she had ever sent for the last few moons. The one last week had been the final straw.

:You're really too subtle, Chosen. Even I thought you were talking about rabid chickens in the last letter.:

:Oh Karyla, as if the castle would be so irresponsible as to let their chickens run amuck-well in any case, it looks like so far there's been no harm done, so I'll just tell them when I get back.:

"I just hope they've prepared proper quarters for Karyla," Elyssa sniffed, hoisting herself onto said Companion's back. "I'm afraid they still think she's just a white version of the Ashkevron horses." Eldren snorted.

"Those brutes? I don't think she'd appreciate the comparison."

:I don't.:

"Well-this is goodbye for now. Thank you for seeing me off, Eldren."

"I enjoyed it. Besides, I still have something to give you." Opening one of Rantrel's sacks, he produced a small decorated mirror with a carved wooden handle. "Though I know you don't believe in festivities, this is my Midwinter's gift to you." Slightly bemused, Elyssa accepted the mirror from his outstretched hands.

"Oh-well, thank you," she said, turning it over in her hands. "Though isn't it much too small to help check my form?" After a pause, the boy laughed openly, making no attempt to hide his amusement. It would have been a guffaw in anyone else, and Elyssa strongly suspected she was at the short end of some joke.

"My dear Elyssa, this isn't supposed to function as one of the salle mirrors," he said, chuckling. "I figured you didn't have a personal mirror, but I didn't realize you wouldn't even recognize one!" Elyssa blushed. Of course she had heard of them-in fact, she might have seen a couple in the market or in the hands of some courtiers; it just hadn't occurred to her that Eldren would give her something so frivolous.

"It slipped my mind," she responded simply. Though there's more I want to add, perhaps saying less is safer. Not that he would judge me like a courtier... She looked back to the young man, who graced her with a smile that had melted more than one lady's heart.

"I know it's not something you really care for," he continued, voicing the thoughts she just had, "but I still wanted you to have a mirror, so that you could also see what I find beautiful." Despite the legendary balance of a Companion, Elyssa almost fell off hers. Eldren didn't even bat an eye.

"Wh-what a corny thing to say," she retorted, though she could tell she was about to flush an embarrassingly bright shade of red. Is he saying-oh Bright Astera, don't take it seriously! This player charms a dozen women a day! She turned away abruptly, hopefully with a dignified huff, and mentally told Karyla to run. "I wonder how many girls you've tried that one on?"

:Are you sure you want to-:

:Yes, go! Go before I put spurs to you!: Karyla then sped off at breakneck speed per her wishes, fast enough that Elyssa had missed Eldren's reply completely.