same old same old. don't own anything except my characters the world we play in is Mercedes Lackey's
Chapter 3
Three more days with two sessions of healing a day and they are cutting off my casts. My bond with Val keeps getting stronger. We can talk without touching within ten feet maybe more we will find out later today I have not been out of my room yet.
Wake up Ra Dean Sharece is coming.
It was the first time sleeping without the casts. Although I can't weight bear yet I stretch like a little cat just as the Dean Walks in.
Big day little one she smiles as she walks in another herald is right behind her.
What did you do Val?
I had to tell them about us talking Ra. You need to learn to ground and center and shield. I have been holding them on you but once you move out of healers it will be too hard, dad's been helping me. He told his chosen kings own Holt.
It's ok Val from what you have told me it's important to start learning I was just cot off guard. I had a blank look in my eyes and the new herald notices.
Smiling he looks down at me, looks like we will be starting sooner Dean, we have a prodigy here.
Raven this is Kyle he works with all the trainees when there gifts start to show up.
Nice to meet you sir, I look at him and smile.
So formal little sister it's Kyle we are an informal bunch among our self's. Of course there are exceptions but you will learn all that in orientation. I'm going to put a shield up around the room, Val will you pull your shield?
Ready Ra he is going to talk to you like I do after I pull my shield.
Why did he talk to you out loud?
We only talk to our chosen most of the time Ra it's one of the rules dad tries to pound into my head, ready?
I nod my head and I hear a new voice in my head. Can you hear me Raven?
Yes Kyle how come Val talks in a different part of my head?
Kyle looks at the dean, how old are you Raven?
I am not sure I tell him as a tear rolls down my face I can't remember anything before I met Del.
As a healer I can tell you have a bone structure of an eight year old dear Patty tells me with a smile.
I wipe my cheek and look at Kyle I'm eight.
A very gifted eight year old, to answer your question Val talks to you in privet mode there is also a broadcast mode and a semi privet mode I was using the semi with you. I would like to help you find your ground, first close your eyes. I want you to pitcher yourself-standing in a field bare foot and you are drawing power from the ground. Do you feel it?
Yes it tickles.
Good can you follow it back?
My eyes scrunch up, it's deep.
Can you move the power from your chest over that spot? I felt a click like a bone snapping back into its socket. Kyle had been watching with his mage sight and saw the flare then a bright glow. Great job raven now that you have found your center you will never get pushed off it. The place you felt is your ground and that jolt you felt is your center. Kyle looked at the dean; I have never seen someone pick that up so fast before.
I open my eyes and smile at them; this is fun can we do the other thing Val said I had to learn before I can go to my new room.
Close your eyes again I want you to pitcher a wall around you with a strong door that locks and only you have the keys to can you do that for me?
I pitcher reinforced concrete walls with rebar with a two inch steel door with massive deadbolts; I feel a tapping on my door I crack open the door.
Very good Raven you have a real knack for this most people take days to learn this. Can I do one more thing today?
I give a mental shrug. Ok.
I am going to check you for other gifts to see if anything else is opening early it will make your head feel funny. Hum, we are going to be spending a lot of time together good work today. The pressure stops and I open my eyes. I want you to practices you're grounding and centering and raising and lowering your shields Val will tell you when to stop you listen to him ok sweetie.
Leaving healers Sharece looks at Kyle. Well?
Mind speech and thought sensing obviously, quite strong, the channel is open almost all the way. She will be a firer starter she has a strong gift in fetching but the biggest channel she has is mage gift ye gods adept class at the least thank the Twain they have not opened like her mind speech.
How long before she needs training Kyle?
With anyone else I could slow down the opening to a crawl but those inner shields of hers not a chance. It's a good thing she's an orphan we can't let her off the grounds until she has a handle on that mage gift to big a target for a blood mage even in haven. I would suggest you get her into some ethic's class of some kind as soon as you think she can grasp the concept Dean, with a gift like hers she can hurt without meaning to. She is like a sponge the way she just got it, she shows a very high intelligent.
Hum thankyou Kyle I want you to see her every day I think we may have to go about her training a little differently than usually.
I'll get together with Patty and see what the best times are. He turns around and heads back the way he came the dean stands there lost in thought for a moment as a trainee walks past. Tori a moment please.
Yes May-um.
She ran down the list of female trainees on grounds in her mind. Can you ask Terry to stop by my offices after lunch?
Tori bobs his head I'll finder her right now Dean and heads off.
A young woman of fifteen strides down the hall to the Dean's office if someone where watching they would compare her to panther on the prowl her movement swift and precise. She knocks on the door, hears come in, she steps into a neat room with a desk filled with files and the Dean sitting behind it.
Sharece motions over to the two chairs by the window as she picks up a file she was working on and heads over there herself. Sit down Terry I'm afraid I will have to impose on you again and ask you to mentor one more baby. It's unfair of me to ask you to take on another when you have been working with Char for two years and she is about ready to fly on her own.
The young woman smiles at the dean, I come from a big family dean I was the tagalong as the baby, my sisters never complained it would be in poor taste for me to and besides where would I be if Liss hadn't helped me.
The dean smiles seeing the herald work ethic shinning already. Thank you dear, we call her Raven she hands the file over to the girl and waits for her to finish reading.
Oh my, looking back up at the dean, the poor child and so much going on in the gift department.
She is going to be a lot of work for you Terry not your normal protégé as you can see we will have to work around the usual training practices.
You're the strongest mage gifted among the trainees we have, well had I should say.
I'm just master class dean I am like a raindrop to a flood in comparison.
Don't worry we are calling in a long overdue favor to get her a teacher when the time is right. Kyle will handle the first part of her training.
Well he is the first in the circle Dean that makes it easier knowing someone is watching besides me. I just don't feel up to this by myself.
The Dean laughs, that's what Kyle told me.
Walking back to the dorm a voice calls out Terry, looking around the young woman see a fiery 13 year old red head bobbing down the hall towards her. Char when did you get back?
Just now heading for the baths I feel like most of the road is stuck on my grays.
I'll come with I have something I need to talk to you about. I will grab a change and meet you there. It was still early and most of the students were still visiting family so they had the bathroom to them self.
Filling the tubs and then pumping the kettles full again before stepping in Char made a deep mown I've been thinking about this for two days. What you need T?
The dean asked me to mentor another girl and I didn't want you to feel like I was abandoning you.
PLEASE I take it as a compliment. The dean must think I turned out ok if she is giving you another tenderfoot. Hopefully she knows her left from her right she will be one step ahead of where I started.
You weren't that bad it only took me a week to teach you that.
Char splashes her friend. You beast it was only two days and you know it.
How would you like to come with when I meet her she is in healers had a real rough go of it no family left lost her memory. I figure she could use a couple of good friends.
Sure when we going.
After breakfast I have dishwashing.
Char frowns; crap I'll pop in to housekeeping and see if Ms. Betty can give me the same after I explain what's going on. I will see you in the dining room later T.
Val had been trying to explain the three schools. So it takes about six years before you get your white or greens or reds?
Well not quit Ra different people learn at different speeds and no one moves up until seventeen people would never take them for adults even though they have stopped being children long before then.
Nine years that seems like forever.
Look at it like this you will have a chance to study things other heralds wished they had the time for you could be one of the best the circle has turned out in the last hundred years. Your job is to learn all you can so you can help the most people.
As I think about that there is a knock on the door and two girls walk in. Hi Raven my name is Terry and this is Char. The Dean asked me to be your mentor, what that means is that if you have questions or need help you can find me and we will figure it out together.
She's really great she is my mentor to and one of my best friends.
I smile at both of them how old are you?
I'm fifteen and Char is thirteen.
Will you be getting your whites when you turn seventeen Val was trying to xplane it to me but I'm not sure I have it right.
Terry laughs only the circle knows when a trainee gets there whites I hope I will have learned enough by then.
Char snorts, top in her year she is don't let her gull you and a mage to boot.
I do my best as dose all who are chosen as they say a companion never choses wrong. How about we spring you for a couple of hours you can come meet the weapons trainer.
My eyes light up, I would love to Val and I are sick of looking out that window and see the sun shine.
Char steps outside and pushes in a wheel chair your couch awaits you she giggles.
I am going to go for a roll, and a swim, then grab a bite. I'll meet you back in the room Ra.
Ok love take your time love you. With a whinny he trots off as Terry pushes me.
I have to tell you Raven I'm a little jealous about how you can talk to Val like that, I just started with Ross and I have to be in contact with him Char said the last in a whisper.
Hey none of that your gift is just opening you will get some gift training when class starts again it will come.
Char smiles at me, see best mentor ever.
Herald Kyle has been helping me he comes almost every day before dinner he makes me think at things until my head starts to hurt.
Terry stops pushing and Char just stares at me, every day?
Sometimes we just talk Val listens to he helps me after Kyle leaves but now I can ask you guys too I tell them with a smile.
What has he shown you Raven Terry asks as she starts to push again?
You can call me Ra after I started calling Val Val he started to call me Ra and I kind of like it so my friends can call me Ra.
Char smiles, I would have probably shortened it anyway now tell us what he has shown you Ra.
Ground and center, I have walls and a door now. Val told me to keep them up unless it's another herald or healer I know. Kyle tried to break in last night but I wouldn't let him Val said I did good and when Kyle knocked I opened my door enough to talk with him.
Terry stopped again and sent a probe out first she pushed then she looked for the week spot, her door as she put it then she kept increasing the presser until she had nothing left to give not even a waver her eyes where big as she looked at the eight year old she reaches out again and knocks like she had been taught.
Hi Terry she starts pushing again did Kyle tell you it was ok to talk like this?
Oh yes as long as the other person is a herald or trainee and they knock first he told me not to knock unless I ask permission first; he thinks I might startle people. I didn't understand but Val helped me figure it out can I knock on your door Terry?
She smiles down at me, sure but let's talk out loud now it's not fair to Char we don't want to hurt her feelings.
Have you and Kyle done anything else?
No he left last night shaking his head but Val told me not to worry about it.
Terry laughs, I can imagine. We push into the sally a big room with mirrors along one wall and wooden floors.