The Angry Boy

by Tantris

Heralds are not perfect human beings. They are people with flaws and failings like all of us. They have their gifts but they must also have courage and determination in order that their flaws may be turned to facets of what makes them Heralds. They may not do Great Things, but they may rise to greatness by what they do. As always, the Valdemar Universe belongs to Mercedes Lackey.

66. Chapter 66

The Angry Boy Chapter 66

The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love. - Hubert H. Humphrey

Kensie mopped the sweat off his brow and picked up the rake once more. The ring hardly needed raking, considering that most of the Collegium students were still on summer break, but his own experience in the guard had taught him that punishment duty was not intended to be productive but to instill discipline. At least Alberich had allowed him to strip his tunic so that the slight breeze could help cool him. Nevertheless, he was covered with a sheen of sweat.

"Hmm. Very nice. I bet you're a tiger in bed." Naril said appreciatively as she came up behind him.

Kensie gritted his teeth. Without looking up, he continued raking. "Excuse me, sister. As you can see, I am presently occupied with an assigned duty."

"Any gardener could rake the ground." Naril pouted. "I can find a better task for my noble brother. Are all your muscles that hard?"

Despite the hot sun, Kensie felt his hair standing up at Naril's tone. 'Is she trying to seduce me?' He thought to himself.

::It would appear so.:: Losanir drolly added himself to the conversation. Kensie smiled briefly. He didn't mind his Companion 'listening in' to his thoughts. In fact, if he had consulted Losanir yesterday, he wouldn't be sweating in the sun right now.

::True enough. And your sister wouldn't be feasting her eyes on your well-muscled body right now.:: Losanir added a snicker to his mindvoice.

Kensie kept on raking, not looking at his sister. ::Any suggestions?::

::Ask Healer Kyminn to say you have Companion pox.::

::There's no such thing.::

::Your sister doesn't know that.::

Annoyed at Kensie's apparent silence, Naril said. "Kensie? Are you ignoring me?"

"Sorry, Naril. I was just speaking to Losanir for a moment."

"Who is Losanir? I didn't hear you say anything." Naril said.

Losanir snickered mentally.

"Losanir is my Companion. We speak to each other in mindspeech." Kensie managed to keep the exasperation from his voice. How many times had he told her that?

::It appears your sister has difficulty retaining any idea that does not relate to herself.::

"Kensie, look at me while I am talking to you!" Naril complained.

"Apologies, sister, but I am on a duty and am not allowed to stop to talk." Kensie kept on raking.

"But this is so far beneath your rank."

"So was starting a fight with a Herald." Kensie said. "And that is why I am here now. Besides, I renounced my title."

::Another fact she does not appreciate.::

"But you were defending my honor!" Naril said.

Kensie counted mentally to ten, trying to think of a courtly response. "I am afraid my superiors did not see it that way, sister." He bit back the temptation to tell her that Lacaral had passed on every detail of the exchange between Naril and Bredin through Losanir. 'Honor' did not seem an appropriate description of Naril's actions.

::'Approach with carnal intentions' would be more accurate.:: Losanir observed. Kensie fought to remain expressionless.

"But he spoke to me in vulgar terms." Naril pouted.

Kensie raked harder, taking his irritation out on the sand. Sweat was stinging his eyes and he wanted to wipe his face, but he did not want to stop and look up. "I agree, Naril, he was vulgar." Bredin had said that himself.

"So you were right to teach him a lesson." She sounded satisfied.

"If you remember, sister, I once tried to teach Perry Cork a lesson. I wound up cleaning dung off the streets of Bransat for ten days. At least the sand smells better."

She sniffed dismissively. "Oh, that silly tradition nonsense. Honestly, Kensie, you are such a stuffed shirt."

Kensie shrugged. "Sorry. It's just the way I am. Now, if you will excuse me, I'd like to get this done."

"Oh, very well." Naril said. "But I appreciate you defending my honor. Would you like to come by for dinner tonight?"

"I regret I have training every evening. I am simply unavailable." Kensie said. 'For dinner or any other invitation.' He added mentally.

::Myra will be disappointed.:: Losanir teased.

Naril sighed. "Oh, well. Maybe another time." She turned and walked away.

Kensie kept raking. ::Myra is a candlemaker's daughter, but I think Naril is more likely to burn me.::

::Garees says that Myra would like to light your wick.:: Losanir was definitely laughing.

Kensie waited. He glanced over his shoulder until Naril disappeared down the path. Once she was gone, he pulled a cloth from his pocket and wiped his face.

::I would enjoy a night with Myra.:: Kensie said.

::Go to her room at curfew.::

Though Losanir was invisible in the deep woods, Kensie looked towards Companion's field. ::You didn't!":: He said indignantly.

::Myra appreciates hard muscles as much as Naril. She saw you talking to Naril and passed her own invitation through Garees. You were preoccupied, so I accepted on your behalf.:: Losanir sounded very pleased with himself.

Kensie looked up at the sky. ::Do I have to put up with this pandering pony?::

::Pony? You will pay for that. In the meantime, do you want me to tell Myra 'no'?::

Kensie shook his head. ::No, no. I will be there.::

::I thought so.:: Losanir smirked.

##

Kensie handed the ledger to Achel. The ledger was from the village of Loosbroek from about twenty five years ago. He thought he knew the answer to Herald Patrig's question, but this was a group question, so Kensie kept silent until the other fourth and fifth year trainees in the advanced field investigations class had their own chance to examine it.

Achel shook his head. He flipped back and forth over the pages Kensie had checked. Myra leaned in from Achel's side, apparently every bit as perplexed. Achel handed the ledger to Breanne and Viktor.

After a few sunwidths, Breanne shrugged. "I lived about fifteen miles from Loosbroek. One of my aunts came from there. I never heard of any problems there." She glanced at Kensie. "I'm wondering what our baron sees here."

"Former baron." Kensie smiled. "I had to look at the tax rolls on my own behalf and on behalf of the Crown. It didn't happen in my time, but my major-domo showed me a case in Bransat from about fifteen years ago. Fortunately, Master Dane caught it before the Heralds did."

"So what are we looking at?" Breanne asked.

"The village had some very prosperous years, wouldn't you say?" Kensie asked. Herald Patrig smiled, but said nothing.

Myra looked askance. "So? The tax revenue kept going up. Very good for the Crown."

Kensie chuckled. "Yes. Very good. Except, not everybody's taxes went up."

Viktor shrugged. "Just because most people are doing well, doesn't mean everybody is."

"Did you notice the names of those who did poorly?" Kensie asked. Herald Patrig looked amused.

The other four bent over the ledger once more. After a while, Myra said tentatively "I notice that several people named Klein made less money for several years running."

"Take a look at the property register." Kensie said. Herald Patrig was now grinning.

The other four flipped back to the page for the deed transfers. "They were all buying more land!" Myra said.

"Exactly. Where did they get the money? Also, did you notice the name of the village clerk?" Kensie grinned.

Viktor glanced at the bottom where the clerk certified each page. "Nadya Klein! She was helping her family evade taxes!"

Kensie nodded. "That's what I think." He looked at Herald Patrig.

The instructor nodded. "Our new trainee has figured it out. Nadya Klein became village clerk about three years before this was discovered. She immediately began helping her relatives cheat on their taxes. If you look closely, most of the other families whose taxes went down were relatives on her mother's side.

"Herald Rebecca was not pleased." Patrig said. The five trainees grinned. The elderly history instructor was famous for her acid characterizations of those she deemed cheats and fools. "She levied double penalties for every groat that the families didn't pay, fined Nadya Klein twice her salary since she had become clerk and dismissed her from office."

"Didn't they protest?" Achel asked.

Patrig chuckled. "They started to, but the rest of the village stood up and threatened to throw them all in the pond. They'd had their suspicions, but when Herald Rebecca proved that Nadya and her relatives had been cheating, they were pretty indignant. Rebecca actually had to remind them they were not to take punishment into their own hands."

Breanne smiled. "Well, now I know what Aunt Jesse meant when she used to say 'crooked as a Klein.'"

The class concluded, the trainees picked up their books and left the room. Once in the hall, Viktor tapped Kensie on the shoulder. "Kensie, a group of us are heading up to one of the field huts for a Sovran feast. Want to join us?" Behind Viktor, Kensie could see the other trainees waiting to hear his reply.

Kensie smiled broadly. "I'd love to." The Collegium would have a holiday on Sovran and Kensie knew that his sister intended to invite him to feast with her and Benal. With his parents still in Poldara and their family feast out of reach, Kensie had been looking for an excuse to decline Naril's invitation.

"Great." Viktor said. Myra and the others smiled. "That makes ten of us, which is about all the field hut can hold. We'll ride out in the morning, spend the day relaxing and feast in the evening."

"I assume this is one of those 'everyone bring something' feasts. What do you want me to bring?" Kensie asked.

Viktor looked around. "We hadn't gotten that far yet. What do you have in mind?"

"I can bring a beef roast. We can cook it on the spit. Put it on when we get there and it will be done by sunset."

::I thought you didn't like your own cooking?:: Losanir teased.

::I can handle a roast. There's no mixing needed.::

"I can get the wine." Achel said.

The group started walking, discussing who would bring what.

His part settled, Kensie listened as his fellow trainees planned the feast. ::I can drop by Poldara House a couple of nights before and arrange for a roast. Piran Couch will send a cook's helper down to the butcher shop.:: He said to Losanir. ::I can pick up the roast on the way out of town on Sovran morning.::

##

Healer Kyminn lifted his hands from Roque's hock while Trainee Dwight watched anxiously. "Nothing serious." Kyminn said. "Just rest it and cold hose it for a quarter candlemark twice daily for a sennight."

Dwight's relief showed on his face at Kyminn's prescription. He stroked Roque's head and promised he would follow Kyminn's orders.

::I told you it would be alright.:: Roque reassured his Chosen.

"What were you doing galloping through Companion's Field at night?" Kyminn asked the trainee.

Dwight blushed and looked down. "It was a warm night and I love riding in the moonlight."

"Hmm. I see." Kyminn said. He looked at Roque. "Normally, you lot are so sure-footed that you never twist a joint or strain yourselves. What happened?"

The Companion nuzzled Dwight's cheek. The boy placed his hands on either side of the beautiful head and kissed the stallion's nose. "My cloak caught on a branch and almost pulled me off. Roque pivoted and halted to save me. He strained his hock doing it."

Kyminn nodded. "Very well. Just hose his hock like I told you and rest it for a sennight. He should be fine."

Kyminn leaned heavily on his cane to straighten himself. He turned to face Healer Delassia, who raised an eyebrow expressively. Kyminn shook his head. This was not the injury he had foreseen. This morning, Kyminn's animal foresight had given him a vision of a Companion injured, perhaps fatally. A second foresight in the afternoon had told him it would be tonight and that the injury would be the result of an attack, probably in Haven.

Delassia closed her eyes briefly. To Kyminn, her weathered face showed her disappointment, though someone who did not know her might think her indifferent. From years of working with Delassia, Kyminn knew how deeply she felt for Companions. She had hoped Roque's injury was the one Kyminn had foreseen and kept them both at the Collegium this evening.

Stabbing pain! Men firing crossbows. Bolts from all directions! Surrounded! Pain, terror, under a pitiless moon! Kyminn gasped, nearly falling over as the vision struck.

"Kyminn! When? Where?" Delassia grabbed his shoulders, recognizing the outward signs of Kyminn's foresight. "Can we save them?"

"Any moment now." Kyminn fought to clear his head. "On High Street. Just off the Great Square."

He looked at Dwight and Roque, who were clearly alarmed by Kyminn's reaction. "Pass the word. Any Herald and Companion near the Great Square or near High Street should turn back immediately."

Roque lifted his head slightly, getting the 'absent' look that told Kyminn he was talking to his fellow Companions.

Dwight stared at his Companion for a moment and turned back to Kyminn. "Kensie and Losanir are on High Street. They've got the warning. They're turning back!" Kyminn flinched, remembering the tall, powerful Companion who carried Cydris south before the final battle.

##

Kensie looked around the Great Square as he and Losanir made their way across in the brilliant moonlight. The silvery shapes of the buildings surrounding the square seemed a ghost city with the ruddy lights from a few windows seeming to be eyes in the night. Three candlemarks after sunset, the square and the nearby streets were nearly deserted. Everything was peaceful.

::Beautiful night. I hope this holds until Sovran.:: He said to Losanir as the Companion's long strides carried them towards High Street and Poldara House.

::According to the Companions in the field, there are no storms heading our way.:: Losanir replied. ::We should get another sennight of False Summer.::

The two reached the edge of the square and started down High Street amid the manors of the Great Lords, including Poldara House. Though his father was spending Sovran at the county seat, Piran Couch and the resident staff would still be at the family townhouse. Kensie only needed a moment to speak to his father's major-domo to arrange for the roast he would bring to the trainee's Sovran feast. Kensie knew the major-domo would still be awake for another two candlemarks. His visit would disturb no one.

Kensie glanced around. ::Strange. The lamplighters haven't been around yet.:: Normally, High Street and the nearby streets were illuminated at night.

Losanir halted abruptly and spun. ::Chosen! We're under attack! Back to the Palace!::

A superb rider, Kensie had no trouble maintaining his seat as the Companion reversed direction and launched himself into a gallop. Kensie glanced back to see armed men emerging from the shadows. He laid himself low on Losanir's back as the Companion ran.

They were nearly back to the Great Square when the first bolt struck Losanir's left hindquarter. Losanir uttered a squeal of pain. He staggered a moment, then forced himself to run on, limping heavily on the left hind. Kensie screamed in sympathy, echoing Losanir's cry.

Bolts showered around them. One grazed Kensie's shoulder, tearing the fabric of his tunic and scratching his skin.

Just as they emerged into the moonlight, another bolt struck Losanir in the barrel. The Companion staggered again and nearly went down.

Kensie tried to pull the Companion to a halt, preparing to dismount.

::No, Chosen! Stay on. We're dead if I stop.:: Losanir's mindvoice was filled with pain as he continued a three-legged run across the square.

Kensie looked towards the gate. The duty Herald was galloping towards them, his bow drawn and ready to return fire at Kensie's attackers. Behind the Herald, guardsmen were running forward to help.

The duty Herald reached them. He took one look at Losanir and said. "Over. Behind me. Get on Orlina. Get your weight off your Companion."

Losanir was stumbling more heavily and Kensie could hear a bubbling sound as the Companion struggled to breathe. Kensie dropped from Losanir's back and threw himself up behind the Herald, who put himself between Losanir and the entrance to High Street. "I'm Olek, by the way." The Herald introduced himself as he shot an arrow towards Kensie's attackers.

Orlina backed slowly as Losanir stumbled towards the gate, keeping herself between him and the attackers. Herald Olek kept shooting arrows towards them, grazing one who dropped his crossbow. Seeing Kensie had protection, the attackers broke off and disappeared into the twisted back streets of Haven.

The guardsmen reached the four and surrounded them, forming a defensive shield.

Now protected, Kensie jumped down from Orlina and rushed over to Losanir. A crossbow bolt protruded from the Companion's left buttock and a second angled forward between his ribs. As more Companions burst out of the Palace gate, Losanir collapsed onto the pavement.

Kensie screamed as Losanir fell. "No, no. By all the gods, no." He hugged Losanir's head to his chest, heedless of the blood flowing from the Companion's nostrils and soaking his uniform. Tears poured down his cheeks. ::Live, please live. I cannot live without you.::

The Companion coughed, spitting another gout of blood onto Kensie's uniform. ::I'll obey. At least, I'll try.:: Kensie laughed and wept at Losanir's sardonic humor.

A pair of healers arrived, slipping down from the backs of the Companions who had brought them riding pillion.

"Bleeding in the lungs. Kyminn, get it stopped." Delassia said as Kyminn dropped his cane and lay down against Losanir's side. "The one in his biceps femoris isn't critical. It can wait."

Kyminn placed his hands around the crossbow bolt. "It's barbed. We can't pull it. Do we have someone with a fetching gift?"

"Someone's on the way." The Herald Olek said.

Kyminn focused on the wound, finding bleeding veins and arteries and pinching them off. Delassia focussed higher in Losanir's chest. "Entered between the eleventh and twelfth ribs. Ribs nicked by not broken. No major arteries cut. Not close to the heart. But he's got a lot of blood in his left lung. He needs to be intubated."

"I can handle that." Healer Justin Autenberry pushed Kensie gently aside and began shoving a rubbery tube into Losanir's nostril. Kensie winced in sympathy as Justin inserted the tube. He hardly noticed as a healer apprentice quickly cleaned and dressed the slight cut on his own shoulder.

::It's better than drowning in my own blood.:: Losanir's black humor made Kensie laugh bleakly.

Two more Companions galloped up. Kensie saw his cousin Kris and another boy jump down from the Companions' backs. "Dirk can fetch the bolts out if I give him the sight." Kris said.

Kris squeezed in beside Delassia from Losanir's right side. He placed his hands over Kyminn's and focussed.

A moment later, the bolt vanished. "Got it." Dirk said. The bolt was in his hand. He handed it to a guardsman. "Now the other one."

Kris moved to Losanir's rump. He placed his hands around the point of entry and focussed. Once more, the bolt vanished. "Got that one, too." Dirk said. He looked a little woozy.

Kris looked up at Dirk. "Any more?" He asked. When Dirk shook his head, Kris got shakily to his feet.

"You two get back and get some rest." The Olek ordered.

Dirk and Kris looked at each other. "We're not leaving until we know Losanir's ok." Kris said.

Olek frowned. "Very well. But keep out of the way." Kris and Dirk moved back and stood with their Companions.

Healer Syd Nugent, who Kensie remembered from Bransat, knelt carefully beside Losanir's rump and applied his hands to the wound.

"I've got all the bleeders." Kyminn said. "The lung should re-inflate on its own once the tear is repaired."

"I'm working on that." Delassia replied. "Take care of the pericardium and the muscle lacerations."

While the two lead healers concentrated, Justin and Syd finished their tasks. "He'll have some bruising," Syd said, "but the muscle should heal on his own." Keren helped Syd to stand and get his wooden foot back under him. She handed him his cane.

Kyminn and Delassia sat up, breathing heavily. "That's it." Kyminn said. He placed a hand on Losanir's shoulder. "Let's get you back to the Collegium, old man."

Kensie looked at the healers, his face showing worry and hope. "He's going to be OK?"

::I'll take you on a gallop tomorrow, Chosen.:: Losanir said. Kensie smiled and stroked his ear.

Kyminn smiled at Kensie. "He'll be fine. We've got the bleeding stopped and most of the blood out of his lungs. He'll cough up a bit and his manure will be black for a couple of days from what went down his throat, but he'll be healthy as a horse in no time."

::I'm not sure whether to kiss him or kick him for that.:: Losanir pinned his ears.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." Kensie said. "I can't tell you how much this means to me."

Kyminn flinched slightly, remembering Zayle and Rosen. "It means a lot to us, too." He and Delassia exchanged a sympathetic glance. "Besides," Kyminn added, "I owe Losanir. He and Lacaral helped me and Cydris before the final battle against the Tedrels."

Kensie looked at him curiously.

"I'll tell you later." Kyminn said. He looked down at Losanir. "Time to get you up, old man. Can you rise enough so we can get the sling under you?"

Losanir rolled up and raised himself. Keren, Olek and several other Heralds quickly slid the sling under the stallion. Dirk and Kris quickly undid Losanir's girth and pulled his saddle off. Once Keren and Olek strapped Losanir into the sling, Dantris and Orlina lay down on either side of him and the two Heralds wrapped the sling straps around them.

The three Companions rose together. Kensie held his breath as Losanir got to his feet.

::Get on, Chosen. I'll carry you back to the Collegium.::

Kensie smiled wanly and stroked Losanir's head, his bloody hands leaving red streaks on the white cheek. ::If I could carry you, I would.::

::Hmmph. I'll have to tell Kantor to have Alberich assign you more weight training.::

Slowly, the group made its way back to Healer's Collegium, where Losanir was placed in one of the special stalls for Companions. Carefully, Orlina and Dantris helped Losanir lie down in the clean shavings.

"As a precaution, we'll keep him here overnight." Delassia said. "He should be able to go back to Companion's stable in the morning."

::See, I told you we would have a gallop tomorrow.::

Kensie kissed Losanir's forehead and stroked his mane.

A healer trainee came in with some blankets and a pillow.

"We figure you'll probably want to stay with him." Kyminn said. Kensie smiled back at the healer.

After a final check, the healers left, taking the lantern with them.

There was a soft glow from a light at the end of the hallway. In the dim light, Kensie pulled off his boots and lay down beside Losanir. He covered himself with the blanket and put his head on the pillow. He reached out with his right hand and stroked Losanir until they both fell asleep.

[Kyminn and Delassia appear with the kind permission of Raelynn Daria Mayne.]