"When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry."
Ari and Bredin returned to the Collegium just over a fortnight after setting out. Two days after their return, Lovat Astey stopped Bredin as he left Companions' stable. "Bredin, I'd like you to meet my father." He gestured for Bredin to follow him into the stable for the regular horses.
Bredin licked his lips and followed the young nobleman. He knew Lovat Astey and respected him. After two years working with Bredin in unarmed combat, Lovat had lost all trace of superiority. Not that Lovat had been condescending, but he had started with an unconscious assumption that his rank and education put him above the young trainee. Now Lovat accepted Bredin as simply another person and respected him for his combat skills. But the son was not the father and Bredin had no idea if Earl Astey would be like Baron Pik Nilsen or a snob like Kensie Poldara.
The two entered the stable and turned down one of the aisles. A huge bay warhorse stood in one of the crossties. A fashionably dressed man stood near the horse's head, presumably Lovat's father. He was talking to a man adjusting a saddle….
"Dad!" Bredin cried out. Heedless of decorum, he ran forward and threw his arms around his father.
Enro Kase stiffened as Bredin hugged him. Even as Bredin kissed his cheek and said "I love you, dad. I am so happy to see you," Enro started to push his son away.
"Your son is a Herald Trainee? How wonderful. How proud you must be." Earl Astey's admiring words stopped Enro.
Enro's ingrained deference to highborn took over. Hesitantly, he returned Bredin's embrace. "Good to see you, son." He said.
Bredin pulled back and grinned at his father before hugging him once more. "I've missed you and mom so much. Are you in Haven long? I want to hear everything about the family. Can we have dinner together?"
Uncertainly and not wanting to appear ungracious, Enro said "Of course, son. I am staying at The Bird in The Hand. Meet me there for dinner." Enro's eyes flicked nervously to Lord Astey.
Bredin took the hint and faced the Earl, remembering why Lovat had brought him here. He bowed to the nobleman. "I beg your pardon, sir. I haven't seen my father in over a year. I shouldn't have interrupted."
Lord Astey smiled. His eyes flicked briefly to his son, who grinned back at him. "A son should honor his father first. He should visit his father's home as often as possible. If one of my sons was Chosen, I would look forward to seeing him at every opportunity." Bredin noticed that Lord Astey placed an odd emphasis on this last statement. Bredin wondered if there was something going on.
Lord Astey reached out and put his hand on his son's shoulder. "We haven't had a Herald in our family for five generations now. I had hopes for Lovat, here, but 'no gift, no Companion.'"
Enro boggled slightly "You'd want your heir to be a Herald, My Lord?"
"Of course!" Earl Astey said. "It is the greatest honor a family can have in Valdemar. I am envious of Earl Peregrine. If I had a son or daughter Chosen, I'd want everyone to see them."
He turned to Bredin. "So you are the young combat master? Lovat has told me quite a bit about you. I understand there is a Temple of the Iron God in your town."
Bredin smiled at Lord Astey. "Yes, milord. I was privileged to start training when I was eight years old. Father Toma thought I would do well in unarmed combat, so he made me concentrate on that." Bredin thought it would be best not to mention why he had started training with the monks.
"We have a Temple in our family seat as well. We had a family weaponsmaster, so Lovat never trained with them. From what I hear from Lovat about you, maybe I should have."
Bredin and Lord Astey spoke for a few more sunwidths. Enro watched in amazement as the Earl conversed with his son.
At last, Bredin excused himself. "I apologise for interrupting, milord. I was so happy to see my dad that I just had to talk to him." He hugged his father once more. "I love you, dad. I know you are busy and have work to do, but it's been so long. I'll see you at the Bird in the Hand tonight." Bredin shook Lovat's hand and thanked him as well.
Bredin left the stable and headed for the salle for a sparring session with Ari. Ari greeted him as he entered "So, how did it go with your father?"
Bredin's jaw dropped. "How…" he started to ask. Then he remembered the conspiratorial looks between Earl Astey and his son. "What did you do?" He asked instead.
"When we were at the City Court, Brion asked why you hadn't gone home to your family for the summer." Ari said. "I told him about your problems with your father. Brion is the son of a minor noble in Earl Astey's demesne. He and Lovat Astey were childhood friends. He knew that Earl Astey was buying a saddle from your father, so he told Lovat. Lovat and his father arranged for you to 'meet' the Earl just as your father was delivering the new saddle."
Bredin rolled his eyes. ::I suppose you were in on this, too.:: He mindspoke Lacaral.
::Um. I might have told Nyinao a bit about your father and she might have passed it along to her Chosen who might have let his childhood friend know that your father wouldn't want to show bad manners in front of an Earl.:: Lacaral's feigned humility had an overtone of smugness.
Bredin grinned ruefully and shook his head over the conspiracy. He couldn't be angry about the meddling which, after all, had given him the longed-for chance to talk to his father. He mock-snarled at Ari. "Well, I'll have to teach you a lesson about meddling." He picked up a practice sword and flourished it wildly.
Ari laughed and brought her practice sword up to meet his. The two 'sparred' with ridiculous swings and slashes for several sunwidths. They played with loud laughter and shouts until Alberich emerged from his quarters at the racket.
"What are you doing?" The weaponsmaster roared. The shout distracted Ari, who looked at Alberich in surprise. Bredin continued his wild swing. It caught Ari's practice sword and sent it flying towards the mirrors.
All three watched in horror as the wooden blade soared through the air.
"No!" Ari shouted, reaching out her hand as though she could grab it in mid-flight.
Ten feet from the mirror, the practice sword stopped in mid-air. Reversing direction, it floated back to Ari's open palm. Ari grasped the blade and stared at in shock. Bredin and Alberich were gaping at her. Ari wobbled on her feet for a moment before sitting down on the floor. "I have the world's worst headache." She said.
Alberich recognized the signs of a reaction to gift-strain. "Lie down." He ordered. As Ari stretched out, he sent Bredin to soak a cloth in cold water for a compress. He took the cloth from Bredin and applied it to Ari's forehead. "First time for your gift, this is?" He asked.
Ari nodded weakly. "I had no idea. I thought I just had a little mindspeech."
Alberich sniffed. "Since the mirror you saved, this sufficient punishment for your folly is." He turned his eye on Bredin. "For the next sennight, the sand ring you will rake." Bredin grimaced. The outdoor practice ring was huge. In the hot weather, raking it would be torture.
Healer Jules Manet arrived, summoned by Alberich through Kantor and Dean Elcarth. Healer Jules gave Ari a light dose of pain-killer for her headache. He and Bredin helped her to her feet and supported her back to the Collegium. Ari's Companion Pania walked anxiously beside them to the door of the building. Gaytha met them at the door and helped Healer Jules get Ari into her bed.
Bredin walked from the palace to the Bird in the Hand. As he walked, he mindspoke Lacaral, seeking his Companion's advice.
::Don't ask why he hasn't let you know he is in Haven. Don't ask if he will allow you to visit him.:: Lacaral suggested. ::Ask him about your mother and brothers. Ask him about your nephew. Ask him about how his business is doing. Actually, that may be the best. People love to talk about themselves.::
Bredin found his father's room and hesitated outside the door, unsure how his father would react. Summoning his courage, he knocked on the door.
Enro opened the door immediately. He looked as nervous as Bredin. Enro's nervousness turned to surprise as Bredin flung his arms around his father's neck and kissed him.
Tentatively at first, then more strongly, Enro returned his son's embrace. After a few moments, he pulled Bredin into the room and shut the door. Before Bredin could speak, Enro said "I am sorry son. I was wrong. I've missed you. Will you forgive me?"
Bredin was shocked. His father had never apologized before. His jaw worked for a moment as he groped for words. "I love you, dad. I've missed you too. I'm sorry I was rude. I didn't mean to be snooty."
Enro hesitated, then blurted out. "Will you come home, son? Will you come and visit?"
"Of course, dad. I'll come as soon as I can." Bredin could hardly believe his father had relented.
"When will that be?" Enro asked.
"I've got a punishment duty for the next sennight…." Bredin began.
::Already fixed. Kantor says Alberich has postponed it until you get back.:: Lacaral interjected.
"Punishment duty?" Enro said, disapproval in his voice.
"I nearly broke a mirror in the salle." Bredin quickly summarized what had happened. "I suppose it's good for Ari, though. She's now found out she has a gift.
"The good news is that Lacaral just told me that I can do the raking after I get back. When do we leave?"
Enro had appointments to measure horses and their riders for saddles for the next two days. They agreed they would leave together in the morning of the third day.
"After your appointments, would you like a tour of the Collegium?" Bredin asked.
Enro shuddered. "Visit the Palace? But I'm just a commoner, it's not my place."
Bredin reassured his father that they would simply visit the Collegium and wouldn't mix with the highborn or enter the Palace itself.
The two went downstairs for dinner. Bredin asked about the family. Enro told him that Twyla was expecting again with the baby due at midwinter. Father and son barely noticed the passage of two candlemarks as they shared stories. Enro began yawning first and Bredin soon followed.
Before Bredin left, he agreed to meet his father at the stable for regular horses the next afternoon.
As Bredin went out the door, he turned to wave to his father climbing the stair to his room. Still looking back, he walked smack into Lacaral's shoulder. Bredin hugged his Companion. ::Thank you for your meddling.:: He mindspoke before vaulting onto Lacaral's bare back.
::That certainly went well.:: Lacaral said as they started up the road.
::Much better than expected.:: Bredin agreed. A thought occurred to him. ::You wouldn't have 'arranged' that would you?::
::Never!:: Lacaral's reply was so vehement that Bredin twitched. ::Nine times never. That would be so wrong that it doesn't bear thinking about.::
::Um. Sorry.:: Bredin apologized. ::I just have never heard him say "I'm sorry" before. He's famous for never giving in.::
::Maybe you don't know your father as well as you thought.:: Lacaral mused. ::Some people hold it in, especially when they've been wrong.::
::You are probably right.:: Bredin agreed. ::I am just so happy to be going home again.::
When they reached Companions' stable, Bredin took special care grooming Lacaral. Felling the need to share his happiness, Bredin also found Losanir and groomed the unpartnered Companion as well. Losanir listened patiently to Bredin's happy chatter before nudging him in the direction of the door after the last twilight faded.
"Boys and girls dueling with each other?" The notion appalled Enro as Bredin showed him the salle two days later. Ari, still recovering from her reaction headache, was doing some light stretches to relax when they entered. Ari had told Bredin she wouldn't be ready for sparring for another few days.
"Of course, dad. They have to know how to defend themselves out in the field every bit as much as the male Heralds. You should see Herald Rebecca. She's got a dozen scars from her days as a field Herald."
"Perhaps more than the men, fighting skills they need." Alberich's soft words from behind startled both father and son, who spun around.
Enro's jaw dropped as he looked at the Weaponsmaster's scarred face. "Dad, this is Weaponsmaster Herald Alberich, who is my combat instructor."
Enro had heard of, but never expected to meet, the famous Karsite Herald. He gaped for a few moments before managing "Honored to meet you, sir" and offering his hand.
Alberich hid his amusement and shook Enro's hand gravely. "Pleased to meet young Bredin's father I am. A good beginning he had with the Iron Monks. Now he must build his skills further."
Enro fumbled for words. "I hope he does his best."
Alberich allowed himself a chuckle. "The best I demand or the sting of my practice blade he will feel." He smacked the flat of the wooden sword against his palm.
The mild joke had its intended effect, Enro relaxed and laughed. "I hope Bredin doesn't get too bruised."
Alberich grinned. "Only as many bruises as he needs."
Enro laughed again. Alberich excused himself to practice with some waiting guardsmen. After he was out of earshot, Enro asked "Is that the Karsite Herald?"
"Herald Alberich was originally from Karse." Bredin agreed. "But nobody thinks of him as anything but the Weaponsmaster, now. He has saved the Queen's life twice."
As the two walked back from the salle, Bredin told his father what he had learned about Alberich since coming to the Collegium.
Bredin met his father early the next morning as Enro loaded his wagon for the journey back to Bransat. After helping his father put the last of his equipment in the bed of the wagon, Bredin mounted and rode beside as Enro headed out the cattle gate.
Lacaral kept silent as they made their way. The wagon's speed was far less than a Companion's normal pace, but Lacaral showed no impatience. When Bredin apologized silently for the slow going, Lacaral replied ::You need the time with your father. However, I expect a good long gallop the day after we get to Bransat.::
They arrived at The Blue and the White late in the evening. Enro was surprised at the Murrays' reception of Bredin and even more surprised at the stable boy's greetings and solicitousness to Lacaral.
They left early again the next morning. Enro had relaxed by now and boasted openly about the many orders for saddles from nobles and wealthy families. He was busy and seeking to expand his shop once more. "I'd take a loan, but your mother is dead set against it. So I'll have to save up for a year or so before I make an addition."
::Humph. A loan is a good way to sell your soul to a banker.:: Lacaral commented. Bredin laughed and passed the comment on to his father.
Enro looked the Companion in the eye. "That's exactly what Zelar said. Have you been talking to Bredin's mother?"
Lacaral made a chuckling whicker.
Enro furrowed his brow. For the next half-candlemark, he kept glancing at the Companion as he guided the wagon on the road. At last, he cleared his throat and blurted out "I'm sorry Lacaral, I take back calling you a horse. I see that you are not. My apologies."
Bredin's eyes bugged out and he stared at his father as though Enro had grown horns.
Enro caught his son's look and laughed. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you, son. But I'd be a pure fool if I couldn't admit the plain truth when it's staring me in the face."
::Three apologies in two days!:: Lacaral commented wryly. ::Maybe the end of times are upon us.::
Bredin ignored his Companion's sarcasm. "Dad, you have seen Lacaral only a few days. There are highborn at Court who see Companions every day for years and still think they are just fancy horses."
Enro quirked a smile. "I think it was that stableboy at the inn last night. He talked to Lacaral just like he was a highborn. Never touched him and just walked beside him like he was escorting a prince."
Bredin contemplated telling his father about Lacaral's sire, but the Companion interrupted the thought. ::Don't say a word. Or I'll dump you here and you'll have to ride in your father's wagon.::
Bredin smiled and stroked Lacaral's neck. "I think Tom Murray dreams of being Chosen himself." Bredin told his father the story of how The Blue and The White got its name.
"If a saddler's son can be a Herald, why not a stableboy?" Enro said.
Lacaral turned his head and gave Enro a surprised stare. Bredin wondered what Lacaral was thinking, but his Companion said nothing.
After a stop for lunch along the roadside, the two resumed their journey. Enro returned to his favorite topic: How busy he was and how much money he was making. He talked about taking on new apprentices and how he was looking for another journeyman. Two, actually, because Fil Crocker would soon be made a Master Saddler and set up on his own.
"Asen is coming along well, but has some years to go. Raid is almost as good with the detailing as you were."
Bredin decided it was his best opportunity to make the request he'd been thinking of for the last four days. "You know, dad, we all have chores at the Collegium. I have to help repair leather armor and saddles. I was wondering if you could teach me some tricks of the trade." Bredin braced himself for his father's reaction.
Instead of reacting angrily or simply saying "no", Enro looked down. He went silent again, only looking up to check where they were going. Enro seemed to resolve himself and stared straight ahead. "Earl Astey talked a lot about his son after you left the other day. He talked about duty to Valdemar and the Queen and doing the right thing and helping the Kingdom. He said sometimes you had to swallow your pride and do what you didn't want to do because everyone had to pitch in."
He looked at his son. "Bredin, I said I never wanted you in my shop again. But you have your duty and it's my duty to help you. If you want to learn a bit, I'll teach you."
Bredin's face showed his astonishment and delight. "Dad. Thank you!" He jumped from the saddle to the wagon seat, nearly falling in front of the wheels as he leapt. Enro grabbed his son and pulled him onto the seat beside him. The two embraced, tears flowing down their faces. Other travellers stared and made their way around the stopped wagon as they pounded each other on the back.
The two pulled apart and grinned at each other. Enro picked up the reins and got the wagon moving again. For the rest of the afternoon, Bredin rode beside his father the rest of the way.
As they neared Bransat, Enro hugged his son once more. He nodded at the village, which they could see in the late afternoon sun. "I bet your mother is going to be surprised. I've got an idea. Can Lacaral sort of sneak out of sight until we get home?"
Lacaral snorted and nodded. He dropped behind the wagon a few score yards.
Bredin got down out of sight in the bed of the wagon as they turned onto the bridge. The wagon rattled and bumped along the cobbles. As they pulled up in front of the shop, Bredin heard his mother greet his father.
Enro jumped down from the wagon and embraced his wife. "I got something here for you that you might like. Take a look in the wagon."
As Bredin heard his mother approach, he popped his head up. "Bredin!" Zelar shrieked and embraced her son. Bredin hugged her back.
After the greeting was over, everything was unpacked and Lacaral stabled and untacked, the family enjoyed a happy evening together. Asen and Twyla joined them along with young Leif. Bredin's nephew clutched his toy Companion and stared at his uncle with wide eyes. Zelar kept leaning over to hug her son's shoulder while Enro held forth on how Earl Astey had talked to him.