Disclaimer: I do not own the Heralds of Valdemar.
Chapter 1Nalani allowed herself to feel a hint of pride at what she had done, and some relief at being away. Buck was feeling good too. She jigged and pulled at the reins wanting to run. Nalani laughed and let the mare go. The horse stretched out into a ground-eating canter. The air was bracingly cold; the sun was out, shining off the snow. Buck was enjoying the chance to run. Her rider, however, was paying no mind to the joys of cantering down a snowy road. Nalani was deep in though. She had successfully conned another village into thinking she was a Herald. It was a brilliant plan. She had stolen a Herald's uniform and equipment from a way station she had stumbled upon. She had also gotten herself a "Companion". It had taken her nearly two years to find a horse that met the requirements: blue-eyes, a white or gray coat, and it had to be a mare or stallion (it would have been difficult to explain why her "Companion" was gelded), but she had found her. The con artist had even taught the horse some tricks; she could rear, kick, nod, and bow on command. It impressed the gullible villagers to no end.
Now, Nalani could get whatever she needed from the trusting fools in the villages and she was free to find the information she needed. She would travel from village to village, never staying for more than a day, two at most. She only wore her stolen uniform when there was a village at least a day's travel in any direction. It was the same in every settlement, she would arrive and attract lots of attention from the villagers, who were falling over themselves to help her, and ask for supplies and information on any local bandit activities. The village members would give her what she asked for and town chits. They expected her to take the chits to the capital and get a reduction on their taxes with them. 'Those town chits are probably the only reason they help me,' she reflected. She would then move on as soon as she could. If the village folk protested her quick escape she always told them she was on a mission to track down some dangerous criminal that had been reported in the area. They were always eager for her to leave and continue her search after that. The plan was as perfect as any plan could be. The only hitch in her plan was the real Heralds. 'If they ever catch me…'Nalani shuddered at that thought.
The only exception to the routine had been almost two months ago; Buck had slipped on a patch of ice and sprained her fetlock. Those had been the most nerve-racking nine days of her life. She heard rumours that a real Herald had turned up a few days after she had left. She had been on edge ever since. Now, she no longer stopped at every village she came to. Lately, she had been only passing through the villages. She stopped long enough to ask some questions and then moved on. She did not even stay long enough to resupply. But, their food stores had been all but spent, indeed, they had been on meager rations for days and Buck was beginning to show some rib. Nalani had intended only to resupply, but the chance to sleep indoors for at least one night had over come her better judgment. Both of them had longed for a night out of the cold. The pair had been sleeping in the brush and snow a distance off the roadsides. 'Maybe its time I stop, she mused, or at least take a break. I can hide this uniform and die Buck's coat….'
The sound of a second set of hoof beats roused her from her reverie. She wasn't particularly worried; few would dare to attack a Herald. She would be just fine, if she played her part right. That feeling vanished when the galloping horse pulled up next to her. It was a real Companion with a real Herald.
"I've been looking for you." The Herald told her coldly. His Companion flattened its ears and bared its teeth at her. 'Oh hell…' she thought. She reined in Buck. The mare was not pleased at her run being ended, but obeyed.
"Well you've found me. How can I help you?" she asked playing the role of helpful Herald, snatching for the thin hope that he'd buy it and leave. It was not to be.
"You are to come with me. You are to be tried and punished for impersonating a Herald." Nalani sighed. 'You knew this day might come' she mentally scolded herself. She gave a hefty sigh, "Well, let's get on with it then." Both Herald and Companion looked startled.
"You're not going to try and escape? Defend yourself?" It was Nalani's turn to look at the Herald coldly. "Do I look stupid to you? You have magics so I cannot attack you and your horse could chase Buck down before we got anywhere." The Herald nodded his agreement.
After a pause he said "We need to get you into something else. Now. Do you have other clothes?" Nalani nodded. The Herald watched her, waiting.
"What? Now, now?" Nalani sighed and dismounted and pulled her other clothes out of her saddlebag. The Herald respectfully turned around but the Companion kept his angry gaze on her. Nalani moved to stand on the other side of her mare, and quickly changed. She was relieved to be out of the uniform. She hated the Herald's uniforms. They made her made her feel like a target and it made her sick to wear them. She felt as though she were betraying everything she'd been taught.
"There. Happy now?" she demanded.
"I need your knives and bow too." She rolled her eyes and removed the two sheaths from her belt and handed them over.
"All of them." She gave an irritated sigh and pulled off and wrist sheath and took the knife from her right boot and handed them over. Nalani flipped her copper braid back over her shoulder and looked irritated. Secretly, however she was pleased. The Herald had failed to notice that she had a knife in her other boot and another one down her back. She mounted back up and followed the angry Herald and Companion.
That evening they tended to their mounts in a tense and icy silence.
Herald Axton noted that his captive positively doted on her horse, spending at least twice the amount of time brushing and cleaning her horse than Axton spent on his Companion Deonn. When they were finished Axton took the woman's saddlebags asking, "What's your name, I am going to assume that Herald Alicia is not your real name." The woman said nothing. Axton sat and began to go through the bags' contents. His captive sat as well and watched him like a hawk. He found yet another knife which he added to the pile he'd collected from her earlier; a whet stone; clothes; horse brushes; a hoof pick; another knife; a bag packed with town chits. Axton poured out the little bits of wood stamped with town insignias. There were dozens of chits from villages all over the area.
*Why did she keep those? * Deonn asked, *it looks like she kept all the chits she's ever received. *
*Who knows.* Axton looked up at his captive, *I doubt I'd get an answer .* He switched to the other bag. In it he found a spare saddle blanket; another Herald's uniform; yet another knife (*How many is that now? * Deonn asked); bow polish; bowstrings; food for both horse and rider; rope; and under it all a thin hardwood case that was scarred from travel, but well polished and inside was a silver flute. It tingled in the Herald's hand.
"Do not damage that." The woman tersely warned the Herald.
"Where did you get this?" He asked. She replied only with "It is mine."
*There is magic in this and it is very well crafted. * Axton mind-spoke.
*Yes, the spell is well done. It doesn't feel like it's a harmful spell, but be careful anyway Chosen. * Axton nodded then slipped the flute back in its case and snapped it shut. He put the flute, the other knives, the bag of chits, the bowstrings, and the second Herald's uniform in his bags before returning her bags to her.
Axton quietly cooked his meal. His captive rummaged through her bag and emerged with what looked like hardtack. They ate in a cold silence. When Axton finished eating he cut a short stretch of rope of his coil and moved towards the horse. The woman flew to her feet, Deonn looked up from his feed.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
"I'm going to hobble her."
"No, you're not." She told him but made no move to stop him. Instead she sat down to watch. Axton shrugged and took another step towards the white horse. The mare took one look at the man approaching her with a rope and exploded. She flew at him ears pinned, teeth bared. Axton leapt back, Deonn flew to get between the two, and the woman rushed to get between the Companion and her horse. Deonn pinned his ears and snapped his teeth. The mare backed off.
Looking the Herald square in the eye she sang out, "Told you so."
"Did you teach her that?"
"I didn't have to." Was the sad reply, the Herald and Companion exchanged a glance. She turned to the tense mare and petted her muttering pointless nothings. Axton sat back down on his bedroll. When the mare calmed down the woman moved to her own bedroll.
"Come here." The Herald told her. She looked at him through narrowed eyes.
"Why?" Axton sighed, picked up the rope, and pulled himself to his feet.
"I can't have you riding off in the middle of the night. Now turn around." She complied. She was rigid as a post and her hands were fisted tightly. Axton bound her hands loosely, but securely, behind her. She tested the ropes.
"This is going to be uncomfortable." She complained. Deonn snorted and Axton ignored her. The woman sighed. The Herald and Companion watched with interest as she tried to grab a hold of her bed. After several tries, she managed to grab the corner of her bed and dragged it to her horse. She tapped the mare twice on the fetlock with her foot. The mare sank to the ground with a sigh and she dropped the bed on the ground between the mare's hooves before flopping down on it. She seemed to fall asleep instantly.
*Do you think she's ever been stepped on doing that? * Deonn asked.
*I have no idea, but I'd never do that with a horse.* Deonn snorted and the pair went about getting comfortable.
*G'night.*
*Night.*
The next morning Herald and Companion found their prisoner still sleeping between her mount's hooves. The only difference was that the rope that had bound her hands was in a tangled knot by the fire's ashes.
*Maybe it wasn't as tight as you though. *
*No, I tied that fairly tight. * Axton blew out a deep breath and ran a hand through his ruffled blond hair, *At least she didn't run off. *
*She said she wasn't stupid. *
*She was impersonating a Herald. *
*Well…. *
Axton handed her to rope after they mounted up. "Fix it."
The two had ridden in silence for several hours before Nalani finally asked, "So, what is my punishment?" She did not expect an answer. She had refused to answer all the Herald's questions. She would not even tell him her name.
"You will be sent to the Collegium in the capital for a year."
She snorted, "I'm being sent to school?" she snorted again. The Herald went on as though she had said nothing.
"During that time you will be taught skills that will help the Herald that caught you. After a year at Haven I will take you with me on my circuit. During this time you will work off what you took from the people you tricked."
He cocked his head to the side. Then nodded and added, "While you are at the Collegium you will help caring for un-Chosen Companions."
"What if I decide that I don't want to go on this circuit with you?"
"Then you will stay at the capital, caring for un-Chosen Companions…." Nalani glanced at the Companion next to her. His nasty look warned her that caring for the Companions would be no pleasant task. 'Fine, it's only a short delay. Even if I will have to work for those evil beasts,' she told herself.
"Or I could return you to the villages you visited and you can work off you debts there." The con artist quickly decided she'd go to school.
That night as Axton went through his bags getting what he need for the night out. Something was not quite right. He went through his bags again.
*What's wrong? * Deonn asked.
*That flute, its gone.*
*Really?* Axton and his Companion looked at each other then shifted their gaze to the woman cocked an eyebrow at them. Axton stalked over and quickly flipped open one of her saddlebags. He found the flute sitting on top. He said nothing as he returned to his side of the camp, but the little quirk at the corner of the mouth side volumes.
*How do you suppose she got it out of your bag without waking either of us? * his Companion asked.
*I have no clue.* He answered as he grabbed up the now unknotted length of rope. Axton stalked over to his detainee. This time he made his knots as tight as he could without cutting off the circulation in here hands. Well, at least not severely. The woman said nothing but twisted and flexed her hands, annoyed. Axton noticed there was the scar forming a deep furrow across her right palm from the outside edge or her wrist to just under the first joint of her index finger.
"Are you trying to tourniquet my hands off?" she hissed.
"What happened to your hand?" He asked before he though.
Her answer was to curl her hand closed. Axton returned to his side of the fire.
*You knew she wouldn't tell you. Why bother? *
*I couldn't help. That was a nasty cut. It probably damaged the tendons in her hand. * Axton replied, "showing" his Companion what he'd seen. He got the impression of Deonn raising his eyebrows. *That is bad. Only a Healer could fix that kind of damage. *
*Yes, but she is belligerent. So why bother? * Axton repeated his partner. Deonn nodded.
The next morning was the same as the first with the rope knotted into a ball and the flute back in the woman's saddle pack.
*How the hell is she doing it? * Axton asked Deonn as they all rode out of their camp.
* No idea. Whatever she's doing she's quick and quiet about it since she did not wake me. I am a light sleeper. *
That night Axton bound the woman's hands a third time with the now untangled rope. The moon was not full that night but it was bright and sky was cloudless. Both Herald and Companion feigned sleep for several hours before the woman made her move. She quietly rolled away from her horse to get more space. She moved her hands down low, to hip level. She arched her back and slid her hands to the back of her knees. From there she moved her bound hands as close to her feet as she could and then carefully pulled first on foot then the other over the rope.
* Can you do that? * Deonn asked his partner.
*I'd break something trying. *
The woman cast a condescending look at her "sleeping" captors. Returning to her bed she worked the knots loose with her teeth and hands. Soon she held the length in her hand and stared at the Herald. For a moment Axton thought she knew he was watching. She wrapped the rope around both hands and pulled it taught. The woman looked at the rope and than at her captour. Axton did not like the coldness he saw in her gaze. Nor did Deonn, he snorted and shuffled as though he were dreaming. The woman's dark gaze was drawn to the Companion. After a long moment she began to tie the rope into another complex knot.
The next day the flute was back in the prisoner's bags again.
*Well now we know how she got out of the rope, but she never touched my packs.*
*I know what it is!* Deonn crowed *It's an anti-theft spell. No matter who takes that flute or how far away they go it always returns to it's owner.*
*How did a thief get a hold of a solid silver flute with a theft prevention spell on it?*
*Perhaps she conned someone out of it? There is more than one way to rob someone.* Deonn suggested.
Axton sighed, *Yes, there is.*
The rest of their trip to Haven was uneventful and Axton did not bother to tie her hands again or take the flute.