applying bandages or ointments.'
Vess firmed his mouth. 'If it goes untrained, it could wind up killing someone. Wild Gifts inevitably twist in on themselves-they must be schooled. And since he is using hers-'
'Assuming,' Sevastan interrupted, an edge of annoyance in his voice, 'that she is using a 'Gift.''
Vess resisted the urge to sigh. On one hand, he sympathized with the man over his lack of family-but on the other
I think the Crown would not approve of me smacking him upside the head, he thought with bland amusement. Though I'm sure the King would understand...
'You're right,' Vess said. 'I am assuming-because I haven't seen her Heal anyone yet. And when I do, I'll know. Which is why I'm here. Sir-' Vess crammed as much sincere compassion as he could into his voice, '-I don't want to take your granddaughter away from you. That's the last thing I seek. But you have to understand that this is for her own good. And I wager that once her training is done, the Healer's Circle would be happy to send her back here-especially since she seems to be needed.'
'And if she does not have a 'Gift' at all?' Sevastan asked, one brow raised. 'What if the gods have touched her and are working through her? Hm? Will the priests then be taking her away?'
'If that is the case-' And it's bloody unlikely, Vess thought, but I'll let you have your wishful thinking '-then it's a matter I will leave to the priests. I have no jurisdiction when it comes to religion.'
'Very well, then.' Sevastan nodded his head to Vess. 'Come by my house at sunset. Marsi is bringing her son Garth by for Juni to attend to.'
'I'll see you then,' Vess said.
Sevastan snapped about, moving off with a stiff, unhurried gait. Vess waited till he was out of sight, then slumped against the Waystation door, pinching his nose with his thumb and forefinger.
:I'm sure you heard it all.:
:Oh, yes,: Kestric said with a mental sigh that gusted loudly through Vess' mind. :I think you did your best, considering that he wasn't here to listen. And he's not going to be happy when you confirm what we already know
:That's his problem,: Vess thought. :If he loves her so damned much, he should move to Haven to be with her.: He straightened. :I'm going to go take a bath.: His anger faded as he stalked off toward the public house, giving his mind room to ponder what he was going to do after this evening to get Juni out of Solmark.
Because just then, that whole idea of Heralds kidnapping children sounded damned attractive...
* * *
'It really is a shame you're the only one who can hear me,' the woman's voice said,
'because you're the first person in decades to show up who can, and you aren't listening.'
Vess blinked. Nothing but darkness and mist surrounded him and he realized peripherally that he must be asleep. 'Hunh?'
'You still don't understand?' A sigh. 'It seems this sort of naivete runs rampant with your people. Perhaps you should find one of your so-called Herald-Mages and call them here? The danger you are flirting with is not a normal one. I failed-with disastrous consequences. You cannot-'
Vess sat up in bed, his heart fluttering rapidly against his ribcage and his mind full of strange dreams. He was, thank the gods, not sweating too badly-so while he was a trifle jarred, at least he didn't smell like old socks.
:How was the nap?: Kestric asked.
:Lousy,: Vess replied, sticking out his tongue. :Another weird dream.: He grasped at the fraying ends of the dream's memory, but it melted away. :Eh-it's gone. How are the apples?:
:You mean how were the apples? Excellent. The slightly mushy ones taste goooood. Tell the publican next time you see him that I really appreciate it.:
:My Companion, rotten apple eater.:
:I prefer well-ripened to rotten. And this from a man who likes tripe stew.:
:Just the one from that inn at Kettlesmith,: Vess said with a smirk. :And no other!:
:Did I mention it's nearly sunset, tripe-eater?:
:Crumbs. And I was so looking forward to a graphic description of rotten apples. Thanks for the reminder.: Vess rose from the bed. :Let's see what we see.:
* * *
He got back to the Waystation sometime after sunset and immediately walked into the stable-built for Companions, so it was wide enough for him and Kestric to stand in together-and sat down on the stool in one corner of the stall.
Vess put his head in his hands and curled the tips of his fingers in his hair.
:Are you going to talk now?: Kestric asked.
Vess took a deep breath, inhaling the dusty scent of hay and leather. :This day couldn't have been stranger if the gods themselves had tried.:
:What's wrong?:
:She's not a Healer.: Vess looked up at Kestric, meeting the faintly luminescent blue eyes of his Companion. :I looked at her while she was Healing the boy-and it's not Healing Gift she's using.:
:That doesn't make any sense.:
:Maybe this will help,: Vess said, drawing up the mental image of what he'd seen and tossing it down the bond. Juni-eyes shut, hand out and glowing faintly red to Vess's Mage-Sight. The edges of her patient's lacerations drawing together and sealing up, the trickles of sweat dripping down the sides of her face.
He followed up the wordless report with the 'signature' of the power she had been using, exercising his limited Empathy to give Kestric the full experience.
Then he waited.
:That's...: Vess felt Kestric recoil in disgust as the Companion took a step back in the stall.
:That's blood-magic! She's using it to reshape the flesh!: Vess nodded. :I wasn't sure of it, but if you think so, too...:
:But she's not a blood-mage! We would have felt it!:
:She has the Mage-Gift-and it is active,: he said soberly. :She also has Empathy and Mindspeech-gods, she's just like me. Except her other two Gifts are dormant. She doesn't
