The next Waystation, they stayed a few days rest boasted a river, Hermione looked at the river longing to swim.
Corina looked at Hermione, "Want to swim?"
"Yes, but is it safe?" Hermione questions
Corina motioned Hermione to follow her, she crouched down in the grass. She searched for the right plant and pulled it. "This is soaproot, Heralds plant it where it is safe to bathe or swim."
Corina began stripping her uniform off. She walked into the water and waded in. While Hermione blushed and watched.
"You shared a bedroom with girls and a bathing room, and you're blushing at me?" Corina questions "The water is a bit cold, but I could do for a bath." she went to the edge and grabbed the plant and took it with her back to the water.
Hermione looked at the Waystation and shrugged, she joined Corina in the water.
Draco and Harry were sharing the domestic chores as Corina and Hermione were at the river. Harry placed the meat skews on the fire, with roots to roast as well.
"Where did you learn to cook?" Draco questions, as he prepared the bedrolls.
"The Trainees share the chores at the Collegium, so I had Cook's helper in the kitchen, I may have fudged the truth a little, but I did do most of the chopping of the vegetables. Along with floor washing." Harry explains "Only the Full Heralds get the use of servants..I'm sure there are servants that bring in wood now, I have never seen trainees carrying wood piles to their rooms."
Draco nods "What was your life like here was it different?"
"I grew up as the son of Sir Jehan and Lady Angelina, most of my family lives on the Estate of Forst Reach, cousins, aunts, uncles. So on and so forth, I'm the youngest having been found on the hearth. I was given to them, so they raised me. I've had lessons in weaponry, but mainly I was with the horses and hiding up in the hayloft with my books. There were times, I was in my mother's Solar, getting lessons on reading, writing that sort of stuff. Then I had tutors from the age of six when I was ten until a hooved visitor came." Harry replies, then launched into more of his childhood.
After the swim and washing, Hermione and Corina were just sitting on a blanket by the river, they didn't feel like moving, Sylvia and Dasher were just grazing within easy reach of their Chosen, should they need it.
"I know you spoke of your mother, but what is your family really like, Corina?"
"My grandfather, Lord Peregrine was the assistant to the seneschal, he's since retired. My grandmother is in charge of resupplying the Waystations. My father is a member of the Court, while my mother isn't interested in anything other than hosting parties, being a courtier. I have older brothers and sisters, so I got nieces and nephews as old as Talia, I was born during mother's change of life when the woman stops producing babies. I think they forgot what to do with a child, much less a tomboy like me. I was given swordsmanship lessons from the time, I could toddler then I was forced to learn the Court finery." Corina replies, "I spent my time either with the Guardsmen or up in an old tree daydreaming. I was in the garden with some of the ladies in waiting of my mother's when a handsome creature came strolling in the garden like he was the King himself!"
Dasher looked up and whickered, tossing his head.
"Before I could take my next breath, I was installed into the Collegium. Where I spent five years studying, then graduated into Whites and then sent out on my Internship with an experienced Herald as my counselor." Corina finished
"How long does it normally take to become a Herald?" Hermione questions
"Three to five years, We're Chosen around thirteen and earn our Whites at eighteen, but some are earlier like my Year-Group was, we passed early. Hellfire, Dean Teren was Chosen in his twenties with children as well, so the Companions don't really care much for age!" Corina answers "If I remember right, the Historian Herald Elcarth was Chosen in his twenties as well and made up for it by being made for Full Herald in three years. So it just depends on where the Dean feels like you'll fit in with classes."
Hermione nods and turned her thoughts inward for a few moments.
A couple of days later, they were back in the saddle, Harry in the lead with Hermione following, Corina, and Draco taking up the rear.
They backtracked to Haven, instead of going to the palace gate. They stopped long enough to pick up some food and decide which direction, North to Sorrows One, or West to Forst Reach. In the end, they chose that Forst Reach was the direction.
On the road that leads to the Ashkevron Estate.
Harry twisted in his saddle to look at Corina, as they were riding side by side. "So tell me again, why we aren't going to your family's estates?"
"Because I do not wish to tell my mother anything regarding my life." Corina replies, gripping the reins tightly as she thought of her overbearing mother, who saw everything she did was wrong. "My Mother isn't the most loving woman in all of Valdemar, she finds faults with everything I do. My love of knowledge for one, my love of the swordsmanship arts. Even now that I'm a Herald, it would be my Love of the Circle and the Kingdom. In her eyes, I should be shackled to embroidery and lace, with nothing in my head but ballads of love and Hero woos the fair maiden and they live happily ever after."
Harry was sorry, he asked.
"Besides I told my Lord-Father and he can deal with Lady-Mother." Corina relented enough. They continued on the road in silence.