Exile's Honor

out, after all, was how long she would hate him—

'Of course, you. You saved her life, she knows that. Everyone knows that. You did it twice over, in fact, once by keeping her from following Sendar, and again, when that lot of infiltrators popped up.' She spoke matter-of-factly, in such a way that he could not doubt her. 'And you did more than that, although there aren't too many who know it was you that caused Sendar to send the reinforcements out to save the countryside. Ah—' She hesitated. 'Just so you know, Selenay wants to keep it that way, except for those of us who were there.'

He didn't feel up to stumbling his way through Valdemaran anymore, and reverted to Karsite. 'Myste, I have no objection to that. He might just as well have had the visions as I; what did or could I do about them? I just blurted them out to you, and not even in a tongue he could understand. He understood what they meant, and in his greatheartedness, elected to save his land rather than his own life. He charged the front line, knowing what he was doing, and knowing full well that he had less chance of surviving that charge than a rabbit charging a pack of foxes. Let his people think whatever they want; he deserves all of it.'

'I told her you'd feel that way.' She nodded. 'Anyway, Selenay did indeed send me this morning to stay here with you until you woke, and tell you to come to her when you did. A bit melodramatic, that, passing out at her feet, wasn't it?'

He winced. 'I hope I was discreet about it.'

'You weren't, but I don't think anybody cared; actually, those of us who were still able to think were trying to figure out if we'd have to get Crathach to mind-blast you to get you to stop being so infernally noble and self- sacrificing.' she lifted an eyebrow at him. 'You saved us from that by neatly falling over.'

Well, he was cleaned up, at least; someone had done him that tremendous favor, and left him to sleep off his exhaustion in a clean white shirt and trews. The rest of his Whites were beside him on a chair. He started to reach for them—

'No,' he said aloud. 'I put them on for Sendar, but I do not think I will wear Whites again. Not unless there is a pressing reason.'

Myste pursed her lips, but looked curiously satisfied, as if she thought she had been particularly clever. 'I thought you might say that. So I stopped by your tent, and brought these.'

She pulled a basket out from under his cot—and there were his form of the Heraldic uniform; the dark gray leathers he had worn up until they had left Haven.

'Are you certain you are not an Empath?' he asked.

'No, I'm a Herald with work to do, and now that you've been informed that Her Majesty wants you, I need to go do it.' She softened her words with a slight smile, then suddenly reached out and took his hand.

'But I won't always have work to do,' she said, giving it a slight squeeze. 'And I find you excellent company because I don't have to pretend or mince words around you.'

Then she picked up a crutch from beside her stool, stood up, and hobbled off.

He stared after her with bemusement.

:You really don't know what to do with a woman who isn't either untouchable or a whore, do you?: said that familiar, faintly mocking voice in his mind.

:Well, why don't you teach me?: he shot back, stung, and reached for his familiar gray leathers.

:I might. But you'll have to ask me nicely.:

His ears burned.

Changing swiftly, he headed out of the tent, intending to pause only long enough to tell one of the Healers that he would not be needing that cot beside Jadus anymore.

But the first Healer he ran into was a very familiar face, and one he had not expected to see tending to the wounded.

'Crathach!' he exclaimed, and seized the man's arms, grasping him by the elbows with both hands. 'But— Talamir—'

'Come see for yourself,' the Healer said, taking him by the elbow. Crathach led him out of the ranks of the Healers' tents, and into the ring of command tents. Alberich could not help but notice some gaps, where tents had been—and felt a stab in his heart.

But one tent still stood. Crathach led him to it. As with many tents used by Heralds, it was fully large enough