Hope to see some reviews it keeps me going I made a mistake with the rating didn't know the browser dropped m, as always Missy Lackey is the owner of this world she just lets us throw a few ideas around
Chapter 2
All I feel is pain both legs and my right arm below the elbow my head is fuzzy. All I can think is how am I not dead from two runaway wagons hitting me? I steel myself and open my eyes. Black hair so dark it looks like it is streaked with a deep blue covers my left eye, out of the right I see a figure on a white horse coming like death is chasing him. That's a strange thought I don't know where that came from but my lips turn up in a smile as I pass out.
Opening my eyes I feel a back and forth movement a pushing on my mind a pressure right behind my eyes and then the full stop and a young man maybe 22 comes into view all dressed in white dirty blond hair deep blue eyes. I find myself falling into them as he puts his hand on my brow to brush away my hair from my eyes.
How are you doing my little raven? I try to sit up but I am strapped to the litter. None of that, you have two broken femurs, also a break in the arm below the elbow, a nasty whack to the back of your head and we are in the middle of nowhere. My name is Del can you tell me yours?
At this point I am stuck. I can't tell him Paul so I just say I can't remember. He smiles down at me that's alright I will just call you Raven until you remember. I strapped your legs and arm to some boards back at the farm. I didn't know there were homesteaders this deep into Sorrows. I cleared my throat and he reached up to get a water skin and held it to my mouth.
Thank you and as I am saying it the sound of my voice startles me. Like a small wounded bird. I smile, a broken Raven Del has named me right.
He asks me about the farm and the people on it. I can feel a pushing in my head again but I stick to my story and tell him I don't know, it is the truth. Somehow I know that I cannot ever tell anyone about coming from another world.
We move at a snail's pace he tells me he has a little foresight. Two days ago he saw a man attack a farmstead, jumped onto Griff's saddle and rode like hell, only you were left. For a while I thought I would be putting you on the pyre with your family but that night you just turned around. The gods must like you young bird.
It was the longest four days of my life. As we pulled into house of healing green robes move all around me.
I hear Del say; only she, as a kind woman places her hand on my head and the world goes black.
Opening my eyes I'm in a room with whitewashed walls with no windows and a lamp lit on the table. The nice woman is sitting reading a book that she puts down as she sees me moving. Where am I?
Waymeet dear. We have run into a bit of a snag. We had to set and put your legs and arm in casts. Normally we can fuse the bones and help the healing but your shields are to strong. We tried everything even drugging you but we still had no luck. All of the healers and the three heralds tried to breach you shields to no avail. We are to get you stable and ready for transport. You have peeked a lot of people's curiosities.
Sorry, I smile at her and she pats my good arm. Not your fault, let the grownups worry about it your job is to get better. My name is Patty, Del and I will be bringing you to haven. Let me get you something to eat.
It is the first time I am alone. I look at my small hand and arm. Moving the blanket off I see both legs in cast all the way up to my waist. That was going to have some logistical problems for the foreseeable future. It was bad enough when I only had boards strapped to my legs using the privy was never happening. I hope they have bed pans here was the thought rolling around in my head as Patty came in with chicken soup.
What do you know I guess grandma was right, it really is the cure all and on two worlds. Patty helped me up putting a pillow behind me and then setting the tray on my lap. Looking at the wooded spoon I clumsily ate with my left hand.
Patty helped me clean up guess you are right handed. I shrug and smile. She pats my head and removes the tray. Try to get some more sleep we are leaving at first light. She picks up the lamp and walks out closing the door.
Everything seems so real. Am I dreaming, am I dead? I remember taking a deal but for the life of me I can't remember who asked me. Staring into the dark I have a warm comforting feeling as if someone is keeping an eye on me. Goodnight I whisper, I will do my best. It feels like two arms wrap around me as I fall asleep.
The next day four people in blue came in and helped me onto a stretcher carrying me out to a wagon with no wheels floating three feet off the ground. My eyes are like saucers. Magic, it's all I can say, like the small child I look like. My good hand rubs the side of the box. As they set me in it sways a little. They bring out this massive draft horse and hook him up. Everything looks massive when you are in the body of an eight year old but this thing was the size of a Clydesdale.
Ready to hit the road little raven? Dal has Griff tacked up and his packs are in the bed with me. Griff reaches over and lips my left hand his nose feels like velvet a smile is on my face.
Yes I tell him as Patty steps up to sit with me in the bed. One of the blue men has gotten in the front and picked up reins. He flicks them and makes a clicking sound and we are moving forward. We made good time and two weeks later we were at westmark. There was a tarp almost like a covered wagon to keep the rain off Patty and me. At night Del and Peter the guard slept underneath when it rained or when we had to sleep between waystations or towns.
Time to resupply Del tells us as we pull into something out of the old west. Twenty to thirty two story buildings with farms stretching out in all directions.
How many people live here I ask Patty in a small voice?
She looks at me and smiles in town, sixty to seventy. I know more people than you have ever seen. Just you wait haven is a hundred times bigger.
Del came back smiling. I got us two rooms on the first floor and there is a bard here.
Looking at Patty with pleading eyes I ask if I can stay up?
Del ruffles my hair. You can have the room closest to the tap room.
Patty rolls her eyes. Great I get to listen to a bunch of drunks all night.
Master Pell runs a respectable inn once the bard stops the farmers will head home. They have to be up at first light.
So don't we, Patty mumble as two farmers come out with Peter to help me into the inn. Del brought the bard back to see me. He had him try to get through my shields with his gift. I felt all the things he projected however when he pushed all I felt was a brush it was smoother than when Del or Patty tried but he got no farther than anyone else.
We have been on the road for a little over four weeks now I am so sick of willow bark tea. Patty does not want to give me anything stronger and because of my shields she can't put any pain blocks on me. Some days I was in tears it hurt so much but the last week has been better and today Del told me we will be seeing haven. Peter told me he would turn the wagon around so I can see it when we get there. We have become a tight little group and I know that for the rest of this life I will be indebted to these three people. Not because of being totally dependent on them for food, shelter, even helping me to go to the bathroom. But because they did it with love, ya I look like an adorable little girl but I have seen firsthand some care givers, they do their job and never get emotionally invested. It's a way to protect them self from the pain of loss but the best always accepts the pain. Never flinching even looking at you and seeing death looking back.
Peter turns the wagon; people have stopped to let him swing the 180 degrees. looking with smiles on their faces as they watch me look for the first time on Haven. Patty was right it took up the whole valley. From the rise we could hear the ding of people moving, smoke from homes, and business. There are two walls, the outer with a line of people going in and out, and the inner holding a massive building with three others close together with a huge green space off to the side of the biggest building.
Haven, Del says and in that one word I hear HOME, FAMILY, and LOVE. A smile plays on his face only ten hours away. I look at him and frown. Unless you can fly like your name sake it will take all of that to wind our way through that quagmire.
Patty smiles, at least we are not going by the tanners.
Thank the twain for that Peter tells us as he turns 180 again and we start down the road to the next great adventure.
My head is on a swivel looking and taking it all in. I have found that although I retain all myself I act and think like an eight year old. It must have to do with the brain development in my new body. Intellectually I have a great deal of knowledge with a life time of experiences behind me. But I have the attention of a small child that sometimes finds the littlest thing funny. We finally make it to the second wall and a guard in blue with silver trim with a smile. He tells Del, welcome home then looks at him to introduce the rest of us.
Gary I have the honor to present Healer Patrice, Guard Peter and Raven.
He writes all that down and swings open the steel gates and waves us through, welcome to Haven.
The first stop is healers where I am unloaded and moved into a white room with a window overlooking the garden. Del and Peter follow Patty into the room.
Peter takes my good hand in his, good luck little one.
My eyes tear, don't go.
I must. I have to bring back Thor and the wagon to Waymeet. It's where my post is but you can write me.
I don't know how I say in a small voice. It was true I had the language but not the written word. I would need to learn how to read and write.
Del and I will help you till you learn. I am staying for a while they had asked me to teach young Healers. I was going to head in to haven in the fall you just moved the timetable up for me a few weeks and gave me a more comfortable ride.
Del looks at me and smiles I'm always coming and going but this is home I always return so don't worry little one you can't get rid of me.
At this time another meeting was taking place. Six glowing figures stood in front of a white stallion at a fallen down temple. Rollin, Death inclines his head after giving him a nod.
What do I owe for the pleasure of this visit the companion thinks at them?
Stareyed laughs I have missed you old friend.
He snorts looking at her let's just get this over with.
Kill joy the Twain say at the same time. There is a young girl in healers we need for her to be chosen.
When you called me into being I was given autonomy there is no one true way here in Valdemar in this I have the last say.
All true Death nods. However we felt that you should know what we just dumped in your meadow. With that he showed him the gifts that Raven has and that they were already opening.
Rollin's eyes open as it hits him how dangerous this little girl will be in the next few years. They also let him see the in tacked soul with its old life's memories. That will be the first to go he thunders in their minds.
Stareyed smiles at Saul, told you, I win.
Death rolls his eyes can we keep on track. Looking back at Rollin, you can try but his mind is protected by all six of us.
He stars at Death THIS IS WRONG!
Desperate times and all that, we needed him and a bargain was struck. Stareyed roughs his mane there are limits placed on him and with a soul bond she can be guided. We need her and we need your help.
You all owe me, smiles around with nods they all leave but the Stareyed. The planes have not been the same without you my old steed.
I sneak away every few hundred years he nozzles her hair.
Who will you pick?
He snorts there really is only one choice.
Until I see you again, chase the wind.
Rollin sends out a call and his son trots up I know you are only eight and I have never sent any companion out to choose before ten years old but something has come up. I am sorry to cut short your childhood son.
I have been at healers for two weeks learning how to read and write. Patty is surprised at the speed I seem to be picking it up. To me it feels like it is taking forever.
Del comes in with a smile how would you like to go outside? He wheels in a lounge chair almost like a small settee.
I look at Patty, can I please.
One hour then right back. Del rolls the chair over and takes the side off it is the same height as the bed and Patty helps Del slide me over.
Would you like to see the gardens?
I look at him with big eyes. Can we visit Griff?
Sure sweetie I have to tell you something, I have to leave for a little while. The king needs me to run something to the border.
How long?
Six or seven weeks no time at all, He smiles at me and I see a white companion trotting over. As he gets closer I realize he is much too small for Griff. Del looks up as the young stallion bends over and looks me in the eyes. He has the most beautiful blue eyes and I feel myself falling into them.
A voice gets past my shields. Hello Raven my name is Vallary and I chose you. I feel something I have never felt before. Unconditional love, he will never leave me, hurt me, desert me. He will be the best friend I will ever have.
My hand is rubbing his face as I turn to Del. His name is Val I tell him with tears running down my cheeks.
They had to find me a new room one that Val could come and go as needed. The first few days are important for the bond to settle properly, close contact must be maintained. Needless to say the healers were of two minds about this. On the one hand they had a very big body moving in the house of healers. On the other hand there was now a way to get past my shields, they could use Val to send healing to me. They still could not read any thoughts but the road to the physical was now open.
With one hand on Val and the other on my waist Patty sent warm energy to the breaks in my legs. After she was done another healer took her place and I felt the same heat in my arm. It was the first time that the pain had stopped in almost seven weeks.
Del watched my face and the lines of pain melted away. He pulls away from me and tells me good job now rest shooing everyone out but Val. He lies down next to me and puts his head on the bed next to me. My hand reaches out to rest on the top of his noise.
Rest lovely I hear a faint voice in my head the healer used your strength to heal you.
My eyes open wide Val is that you I think at him?
A soft chuckle comes from him. Rest doing this to much will give you a massive headache. Del looks in and sees me asleep my hand glued to Val with a big smile on my face.
Del comes back the next day with a small older herald she is slightly stooped over and walks with a cane not from old age but from some former injury. Raven I would like you to meet Dean Sharece. Val had stepped out to eat and take care of business as he put it.
The dean sat on the edge of my bed. Nice to meet you Raven. I need to ask you a few questions so I can place you in classes.
I don't remember anything from before I tell her in a small voice. Not even mommy or daddy. Del told me they have gone to the shadow lover's home and they don't hurt no more.
She seems a little thrown by that which is what I want; now she will be off guard for the rest of this. Can you do any math?
I know some like two and five is seven and thirteen takeaway two is elven.
She smiles at me I feel bad about this but I have to work up to excelling. Good good we are going to wait for a few weeks for your orientation class four companions left last week so hopefully we can get you out of here before they come back home with your year mates. Keep working with Healer Patty on your letters.
Yesum I tell her.
She pushes the hair behind my ear and smiles your job is to get better then we'll go from there.
Feed back is good am going for a long story deep into the training years