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Chapter Text

Myste was startled by the knock at her office door, but was thrilled to see it was Alberich, back from his months long assignment. She ran into his arms.

“There is something I must tell you.” He said in his native Karsite. “In order to keep my cover–I got married while on assignment.”

“I’m sorry, what?” She said in the same language.

“I–or rather my undercover persona–got married while on assignment. We’re waiting for Selenay and Talmir to sort out the divorce now. I’d like you to meet her.”

“She’s here?”

“She wouldn’t have been safe once I left. Hell, she wasn’t safe before I got there. Poor thing was gifted to me for saving her father from raiders like a herd of cattle.”

Myste felt a confusing mix of emotions at this. She understood why Alberich would need to keep his cover, but part of her was–jealous? Part of her was annoyed at the part of her that was jealous. Part of her wanted to know more and a teeny tiny part of her she never knew existed wished she didn’t know as much as she did. Sympathy for this unknown woman who’d been married to a man not her choosing.

“Where is she now?” 

“I’m moving her into the spare room in the salle until other accommodations can be made. Do try to hold back your questions for her, I’ll answer everything, but she’s scared enough.”

Myste nodded. “Let’s go meet your wife.”

***

Myste wasn’t sure what she expected, but the child in Alberich's sitting room was not it. At first Myste thought the girl was only ten or eleven, then on closer examination realized she was a little older, just small and malnourished, maybe twelve or thirteen.

Myste was more observant than people gave her credit for, and didn’t miss the way the girl held herself, not like a child at all, but like a very tiny adult–though one who was used to being ill-used.

“Talia, this is Myste, brought her to meet you I have.” Alberich said, approaching the girl. Talia. Myste noted that the name fit with Holderkin naming patterns, which made sense since Alberich had been undercover on their lands. The girls tended to have softer sounding names, often ending with the soft a sound.

Despite the girl probably being Holderkin, she was dressed as any lower class woman of Haven, in a pale blue dress, a very unHolderkin outfit.

“Hello Herald Myste,” Talia said, meeting her eyes. “I’ve heard a great deal about you from my Honored Husband,” she added with a slight tone of amusement.

“I wish I could say the same,” Myste replied. 

“I believe my Honored Hus–” she was interrupted by Alberich

“Use my name you can. Among your people we are not.”

“ Alberich, said something about wishing he was close enough to Mindspeak you. Frequently.” Talia said. 

“ Really , I’d love to hear what else Alberich said. Would you like to go for a walk, Talia? I could give you a tour of some really lovely spots in Companion’s Field while Alberich goes back to sorting things out.”

Talia seemed to look to Alberich for permission. “Told you I have, that here you may do what you wish, as long as it harms none, breaks no laws, spills no secrets—though you may tell Myste everything—and endangers you not. If you wish it, go with Myste.”

****

“So tell me everything.” Myste said.

“Everything?” Talia asked. The girl seemed taken aback by that.

“Let me ask a simpler question, how is Alberich as a husband?”

“I could not in my wildest dreamings have imagined a husband as wonderful as my Honored Husband.” Talia said, and Myste could tell it was the truth

Whatever answer Myste had expected, that was not it. “Oh, but you’re still getting a divorce?”

“Yes, he explained that here in Haven I can be my own person, without a husband or father at all. And I would receive alimony as a divorcee. He said he would even help me pursue my education! I wasn’t very keen to be married in the first place. But Alberich is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

***

Talia loved her room at the back of the building that Alberich called the Salle. First off it was all hers. She’d had her own room as First Wife, back at the Hold she and the undercover Alberich had held, but it hadn’t been nearly this nice. This room had polished wood floors, and a window looking out onto what she’d been told was Companion’s Field. She’d never felt more, or less, at home.

***

Alberich thought it would be a good idea to pretend he was more social than he was—for Talia’s sake. He didn’t think she would willingly venture into the Palace to socialize. But he hoped that if he had people visit his quarters in the Salle he might trick her into meeting people. 

The first evening back they were too tired, but a few days later he asked Kris, Dirk, Talamir, and Myste to come for dinner to spend the evening with him and Talia. 

By then, word of his marriage had spread, though since his assignment was secret, Talia’s true origins were also secret. Instead they’d concocted a false background for her, which he hoped was enough to lure the unknown “money man” he was investigating into a false sense of security. Or at least, not tip them off. 

The money man had bought poison from a Holderkin man and used it to try to kill Talamir. With Talia’s help, he’d found the Holderkin who’d grown it, but even he hadn’t known who the money man was. 

As far as anyone else was concerned, Talia had come from the western border, near Rethwellan.

Myste had been an obvious enough choice for the dinner. He wasn't sure what had prompted him to extend the invitation to Kris and Dirk, so newly in Whites themselves. But seeing as Talia clearly liked Dirk's singing once she heard it, he decided it was a good enough decision. 

And Talia did like Dirk’s singing. Or perhaps, as Myste noted to him via Mindspeach, it was actually the Herald she liked. :I think your wife has a crush: He looked at Talia, who kept glancing at Dirk, looking away, and blushing ever so slightly.

:I do believe you are right. Well, he’s safe enough. He’ll probably view her as a little sister and be completely oblivious to it, and if he does notice he won’t embarrass her or take advantage.: A crush on a slightly older lad was normal at her age, and Dirk would treat her kindly, even if the age gap was too much at this point in their lives for him to be interested in her. But maybe he should introduce her to boys her own age, though it was likely they would all be too immature for her. Hmm, maybe Skif. He’s the right mix of immature and seen too much for her.

:It’s kind of adorable, actually.: Myste noted. :I wonder why she seems so uncomfortable around Kris.:

Alberich thought back to the brother of Talia’s he’d met named Justus and suppressed the urge to shudder. He’d put two and two together when he’d seen Talia withdraw from Kris and didn’t wonder at all. :He looks like one of her brothers, one who was particularly sadistic. The handsome men among the Holderkin seem to be the most violent towards their women. She was very frightened of me at first.:

:Poor dear. If handsome men scare her, and you frightened her, then Kris must be the stuff of nightmares!: Myste replied, her mind voice filled with amusement. 

:That joke isn't any funnier than when Kantor made it.: Alberich paused a moment, thinking. :I'm strongly considering giving her self-defense lessons. But perhaps I will start her with Jeri or Skif.:

~~

Talamir listened to Dirk and Kris play as he watched Alberich’s soon-to-be-ex-wife. :Rolan, what is it about her that I’m sensing?:

:She’s your successor, Chosen, and my next Chosen.:

Chapter Text

“HOLY SHIT! DEMONS IN A DRESS! I was away at Daniel’s parent’s place a week and I come back and there are all these rumors.” It was only then Skif took a breath. “I came to ask you about them, but given what I find here I can only assume you really did kidnap a Rethwellian Princess.”

“I hadn’t heard that one,” the girl said, tilting her head.”

“Think quickly, daughters of her age, how many does King Farementha have? Any Sisters?”

“One sister! Princess….Calioponia? See? I WAS paying attention in class! And it’s certainly a much more believable rumor than you got married! I mean everyone–” Skif cut himself off before he said “knows you’re in love with Myste”, just in case Alberich had gotten married and his new bride didn’t know. “Would believe you’d kidnap foreign royalty.”

“I told you they would find out, Herald,” The girl said. “All this effort to get me away from my brother and his toadies…”

“Seriousl–off course not. If Alberich had actually kidnapped foreign royalty there would be NO rumors about it. I just picked it because it was the funniest of the three I heard. Points for messing with me though!”

The girl's eyes held mischief. "Alberich has been a very fine husband, though it will be over soon. Besides, I think he and Herald Myste make a better couple, don't you?"

Skif's eyes flicked to Alberich, then the girl, and then Alberich again. "You two are messing with me again."

"Know you that a sense of humor, I have not," Alberich said. "My wife, Talia is."

Skif blinked. "A bit young for you, don't you think?"

Alberich did not look amused. 

Talia’s eyes were twinkling. "I'm thirteen," she said. "Old enough, according to my people. And my honored husband has been very kind to me since the day we were wed. He has ensured that I want for anything."

"Part of my cover while investigating, the marriage was," Alberich said. "With her help, a lead I found."

"You trust him well enough?" Talia asked. 

"Talia, meet Herald Trainee Skiff. A former thief, he is, but honorable now. Teaching him the spy game, I have begun. Loyal to the Circle as any Herald, he is, and trust him, we can."

Talia nodded. "Then you can know, Skif, I'm Holderkin. I'm recorded as Talia Bryanswife–since he was using an alias. If you're worried about consummation, that hasn't happened. Alberich’s told me I have the right to say no, and he never asked, anyway. He seems more attentive to Herald Myste though.” She giggled. “And who knows what I'll become with no husband or father? Alberich says I can be anything I want."

"Well, he's right," Skif said, "and welcome to Haven. No worries, though. My lips are sealed."

"For now, from the western border, near Rethwellan, she is," Alberich said. “Story is, sword point wedding it was, and that older she is.”  Talia nodded “Alberich said to avoid suspicion we should say I’m 15."

"Well, it's a good idea, but I don't see you passing for fifteen," Skif said. 

"Bah, nonsense," Alberich said. "Hard, border life is. Our border with Rethwellan is of mountains made, with difficulty growing food."

"Alberich is right," Talia said. "And borderers may be smaller, but we are still sturdy. We have to be."

"An advantage there is," Alberich continued. If smaller you are, less food you need."

"Then explain Dirk!" Skif cried. "He's border-bred and practically a mountain, himself!"

"I noticed," Talia said shyly. 

"More fertile the area near Sorrows is," Alberich said. "And with a Healer for a mother, better health he has." He didn't fail to notice the tone of Talia’s voice. Well, not like Dirk or any other Herald would ever harm her. "And you, Talia, the marriage, over tomorrow hopefully shall be, so imagine then I do that you should notice the young men of Haven?"

Talia blushed a little. "I just never had much chance to interact with anyone that wasn't family before you arrived, especially not males. How am I to learn about inKingdom males otherwise?"

Skif winked. "I could teach you."

Talia turned redder.

***

Talamir, Alberich, Talia, a Herald called Teren and a clerk who was not Myste sat in the Queen’s office. Herald Teren had been asked to step in to see to Talia’s interests in the divorce. 

“So this divorcement entitles to Talia to alimony from the crown, as Alberich married her in the course of his duties. This settlement gives her the following,” Talamir said, and then handed a piece of paper of to Talia and Teren.

Talia saw that she was entitled to housing, a household allowance, a clothing allowance, and a discretionary fund. But the numbers seemed ridiculously high to her; it wasn’t like she was running an entire Hold!

“Talia will also be provided a dowry in the event that she remarries.”

“This all seems to be in order, as we discussed.” Teren said. “Talia, thoughts?”

Talia was a little overwhelmed, and just nodded. 

“Alberich?” Talamir said.

“Agreed to it, I am.”

“Then if everyone could sign?”

And just like that, Talia was no longer married.

Chapter Text

Alberich was of the opinion that Talia needed her own house. He wanted her somewhere he could keep an eye on her, but it was impossible for her to bring friends back to the salle, and he wasn’t so fond of living with another person after so many years alone either. 

:Thoughts, Kantor?:

:There’s living quarters attached to the Companion stable that are currently empty. It’s a nice enough spot with its own small kitchen, sitting area, and bedroom. We Companions could keep a pretty good eye on her there.:

:How do I phrase, ‘I want you to move out and into a stable?’:

:By pointing out that she’d get her own space to set up her household and she’d be near Companions; have you noticed she adores us?:

:Ah, yes, I wanted to ask about that.:

****

Talia was thrilled with her new space that was entirely hers! It was just two rooms, a bedroom and a sitting room with a small stove for cooking. Alberich suggested she stay here now, and if she wanted when she was a little older she could move into the city. 

Alberich had said Herald Teren was going to stop by and take her shopping for things she might want to make it more homelike. So used to living a mostly subsistence based lifestyle, she was very nervous about buying things instead of making them, but she didn’t have the means to make them here. And Alberich had assured her she did have the money.

Soon Teren arrived and they left, walking into Haven. He helped her pick out a few dishes, bedding, more clothes, and even the most beautiful woven rug. 

Her favorite item, though, was a small vase, in which she could put wild flowers when they were growing. 

Teren also took the opportunity to give Talia a proper tour of the central parts of Haven, pointing out where it was safest to go, and where she should stay away from, at least for now. 

By the end of the day, Talia was exhausted, and she put some simple porridge on to cook while she arranged everything to her liking. 

She was also starting to understand the high numbers in her divorce settlement. Prices were so much higher here in Haven! Add to that the fact that she had to buy more than she made? 

And yet, it still seemed like more than enough.  She wondered how much housing would cost her if she wasn't living in the Companion stables?

And that was something else. The Companions. She absolutely loved them! And while most of the time they were out in Companion’s Field, it was easy enough for her to visit them, and she was more than happy to brush them down and just talk to them. 

Kantor was her most common visitor, which was no surprise. After all, he was her now ex-husband's Companion. But he was far from the only one, many of the Companions were frequent visitors, and she got to know several by name, including Talamir’s Companion, Rolan, and Dirk’s Companion, Ahrodie. 

***

Alberich was entertaining Myste, Teren, and Elcarth one evening, though he had an ulterior motive. “Talia, to further her education she wishes.”

“That would be wonderful!” Teren said. “I had gotten a similar impression from her. I think she’d probably need tutoring before being able to enroll as an Unaffiliate?”

Myste nodded. “Yes, she can read just fine, loves it in fact, but doesn’t have much else in the way of an education.” 

Elcarth nodded, “There are several Heralds and Trainees who love teaching and I’m sure would volunteer to  tutor her. Do you want to see to that, Teren?”

Teren nodded.

***

Talia was cooking herself dinner one night when there was a knock at the door to her rooms. Who could that be? She was not expecting the far too handsome Kris.

Kris held up what he was holding. “I brought you some books. Teren said you like to read. I wasn’t sure what you would like best, so I brought a variety. There’s history, tales…” 

He didn’t get a chance to finish listing off the types of books. The moment he said ‘tales,’ Talia eagerly took them, looking as if her birthing day had come early. “Oh, thank you!” she cried. Then she blushed. “Oh, sorry, that was rude. Shall we sit in the Field?” 

Kris chuckled. “It’s alright, and yes, actually. I’m glad you’re so enthusiastic about reading and learning. That’s actually the other thing I wanted to talk to you about.” 

“Learning?” Talia asked.

“Alberich thinks you need a tutor. I volunteered.” 

“A tutor?” Talia wasn’t sure what that meant. 

“You know, someone to teach you. One-on-one,” Kris clarified. “Teren thought it might be better to start you off with a tutor rather than putting you into the Collegium as an Unaffiliate.” 

“Oh…I…I don’t want to be a bother.” 

“It’s not a bother. It’s really not. I actually like tutoring others. I helped Dirk, some, through his course work, and Skif, too. It’s actually a dream of mine to take over the Collegium as Dean, someday. I love teaching.” 

Thoughts raced through Talia’s mind. He’s handsome. Too handsome. Handsome  means danger. But he’s a Herald, like Alberich. Heralds are kind and trustworthy. But he’s male. I shouldn’t be alone with him in private. But I was alone with Alberich in private all the time. But we were married! It was okay because we were married. I’m not married to or related to Kris. 

“Are you alright?” Kris asked. 

“I…I’m sorry…it’s just…handsome men scare me. I…I’d rather you were cross eyed or had warts!” 

Kris blinked. “That’s legitimately the first time I’ve ever heard that. Or, really, any wish that I be ugly. It’s a little refreshing.” 

"Well…umm…thank you for the books," Talia said shyly. "When do we start?"

"We can start whenever you're ready," Kris said. He tilted his head. "Would it make you more comfortable if we were in a more public area, like the library? Or maybe the gardens when it's nice out?"

"Yes…I…I think so. Thank you. So…tomorrow morning?"

"Sure. I'll come by after breakfast, if that's alright."

“That sounds great!”

Chapter Text

Kris thought Talia might be more comfortable if another Herald was present at their study sessions and her comment about his looks led him to one Herald in particular. “Hey Dirk?”

“Yeah?”

“So, I’m going to be tutoring Talia, and I think she’d be more comfortable if it wasn’t one-on-one. Do you mind playing chaperone?”

“Sure, but why me?”

“She made a comment about me being too handsome to be trusted,” Kris admitted with a sour face. 

Dirk laughed. “How’d that feel?”

“Not great, I’ll admit.”

****

Kris noticed that Talia was certainly more comfortable with Dirk there, when they met in the library. But he also noticed she was slightly distracted by his Oathbrother. Maybe more than slightly. They were chatting about personal things one day, when the subject of their pre-Haven lives came up. 

“And Talia, you’re from over by Rethwellan right?” Dirk said.

***

Mindful of Alberich’s need to keep his mission a secret, Talia nodded. 

“I know they marry kind of young over there, how old are you?” Kris asked. 

Remembering what her Honored-Former-Husband had said, Talia lied. “fifteen.”

***

Dirk was surprised Talia was so close in age to him. For some reason he’d thought she was younger. He didn’t know why. There weren’t many places even on the Border that married much younger than fifteen. 

He wasn’t sure why the news was so–so–so something. He couldn’t put his finger on why it mattered.

***

The next time the three of them met, Talia was surprised that Dirk brought her flowers. He mumbled something she didn’t quite catch, and handed them to her, his ears were burning bright red and he didn’t quite look at her. 

“Thank you, Dirk.” Talia was fairly certain this was a courtship gesture. But she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to respond. Except that she wanted to be courted by Dirk. She had discovered in Haven courtships could take a while, and while she didn’t want to remarry now, she did want to spend more time in Dirk’s company. 

“Would, would it be acceptable for the two of us to go for a walk in the gardens after the study session?” She asked. “I’m still trying to figure out the rules here.”

Dirk beamed at her. “Yes, it would, and I would like that very much.”

***

Dirk and Talia had been walking together for about two weeks, when Kantor decided it was time to speak to Alberich. 

: Chosen, as you know you told Talia to tell people she was fifteen.:

:Yes?:

:Well, her and Dirk’s walks in the gardens…:

:He thinks she’s fifteen doesn’t he?:

:And she has no idea why he would be upset to learn the truth:

This was a headache Alberich did not need. And the worst part was it was all of his own making. He had known Talia liked Dirk before he told her to lie about her age. A thirteen year old, Dirk would have treated like a little sister, a fifteen year old was only a couple years younger than himself and he would be flattered that she showed interest. 

: Has anything other than walks happened, or is likely to happen soon, or do I have time to figure out how to approach this?:

:You have time. And no, they’ve been quite chaste, thankfully.:

****

Of all the problems for Alberich to bring her, this was not one Myste was expecting. “I can’t believe we didn’t foresee this.” She said in Karsite.

“Don’t remind me.” He answered in the same language. 

“Now what do I do?”

“Well, you have to talk to them both, but separately.”

“Why separately?”

“Because if Dirk’s first instinct is to blame Talia she shouldn’t be there for that. It’s your fault not hers. She has no idea that men in Haven would be grossed out by the thought of courting a thirteen year old. You need to own up to Dirk about Talia’s real age and WHY she lied, and then you need to tell Talia WHY Dirk no longer wants to go walking with her. And make no mistake, she’s likely to be devastated.” 

Alberich sighed. “I suppose you are right.”

***

"Dirk, a word if you please?"

Dirk looked at Alberich. He had just entered the salle for some practice and was waiting on Kris to join him. "Is this about Talia? Because I know you still feel responsible for her."

"Perhaps better in private this would be," Alberich said, motioning Dirk into his office. 

Dirk supposed he should have expected this. After all, Alberich and Talia had been married, even if it had just been for Alberich's mission, and the weaponsmaster was still fairly protective. But surely, as a brother Herald, Alberich trusted him, right? 

And Dirk definitely wasn't going to do anything to hurt Talia. At least, he had no plans to do so. Rather, he was hoping that their courtship would continue to go well.

Once the door was shut and both he and Alberich were sat down, Dirk started to speak. "I'm letting her set the pace, if that's what you're worried about. And we're always in public together. I really like her. She's not just pretty. She's also smart. She's been doing very well in the lessons and tutoring that Kris has been giving her."

"None of that is the problem," Alberich said. "And pleased I am that she is doing well with her learning."

"Is there a problem? Because I think I may be falling in love with her." 

"A problem, yes, but not one you have mentioned. Dirk, as part of my mission, and part of keeping my cover, some details about both of us were changed. For example, went by Brian, I did."

"Is that it? Is Talia not really her name?" Dirk felt relieved. If that's all it was, then it was fine. He could learn her real name and, with her permission, use it in private. 

"No, Talia, her name is. But not from Rethwellan’s Border, for starters, but from Karse's. Holderkin, she actually is. And then, there is her age."

Dirk began to have a sinking feeling. There wasn't a lot known about the Holderkin. He knew they had a strong, dominant god, and a meek, submissive goddess. He knew men were in charge and took multiple wives. But what really made him worry was the sinking feeling that Talia wasn't fifteen. "How old is she?" Silently, he prayed that it wasn't true that they married their girls off as young as twelve or thirteen. 

And then Alberich confirmed his fears. 

"Thirteen. Fourteen at midsummer."

"She's thirteen? But… she acts so much more mature… I mean, she looks younger, but I trusted her when she said fifteen."

"A result of her upbringing, I suspect, is her maturity, and also her fear of men. But my idea this was. Hold it against her, you should not." 

"And I won't. But obviously I can't keep courting her. Not now that I know. But how do I break things off without hurting her or blowing your cover?"

Alberich looked thoughtful. "Speak to Talia, I will, and help her to understand. And perhaps go on Circuit, you should. After all, out of sight, out of mind, they say."

“That, that might be good,  I think I want to put some distance between us for now. Astara, I can’t deal with the emotions I’m feeling right now. I think 18 months to process them with Ahrodie is definitely called for.” Dirk didn’t know which was worse, that he couldn’t go walking with Talia anymore, the feeling of having been misled, the knowledge that Talia probably didn’t understand what she had done, the anger at her anyway, the anger at himself for being angry at her, or–and this might very well be the worst–the small part of him who wished he’d never found out.

"And speak with Talamir, I will, about the why, and Kyril about the how," Alberich said at last. "But for now, free to go, you are. To speak with Talia, I must, and unsure, I am, on how to proceed."

"I just hope she doesn't end up hating me for not wanting to continue our walks after this," Dirk said. "I may not want to court her anymore, now that I know her real age, but I still don't want her to be hurt."

"And that, Dirk, is why I trust you. If fifteen she was, no issue would I see with you and her courting."

***

Talia was surprised when Alberich came by her little apartment after supper. She hadn't been expecting him. Or anyone, for that matter. "Is something wrong?" she asked. "Have I done something wrong? Because Dirk told me he's going on Circuit and then canceled our walk for this evening." Just saying it put her on the edge of tears. 

"No, Talia. Nothing wrong you have done. My fault, it is." 

"What do you mean? What did you do?" 

"Perhaps we should sit?" When Talia nodded and both were in chairs, Alberich continued. "First, it is glad I am that you are so good at secret keeping, and keeping to a cover. But it was because of that skill that Dirk felt comfortable enough to court you."

"I still don't understand. Does he think I can't keep a secret, now? Did you say I can't? You said this was your fault."

"No, no, it is nothing like that. It is only that I felt a need to confide in him your true age." 

Talia had never felt so confused. "Then what's the problem? Why is he going on Circuit to get away from me? Because if I'm old enough to be married then I'm old enough to be courted! Is… is he angry with me for lying about my age?"

Alberich sighed and then took a deep breath. "Talia, here, in Haven, not old enough, you are. Only the Holderkin marry their girls so young. Fifteen, perhaps, on most of the borders. But closer to twenty do most girls in Haven wed, and only begin courting at fifteen or sixteen."

Talia was beginning to feel even more upset. And, to be honest, she was feeling a little bit angry, both at Alberich for ruining a good thing by telling Dirk the truth, and at Dirk for handling it so poorly and not talking to her. Instead, he was just running away. 

And perhaps worst of all, they were treating her like a child. She certainly didn't feel like a child. Not when she was capable of everything required to run a Hold. Even Keldar had thought she had it in her to be a First Wife. And that was the highest compliment a Holderkin girl could get! The only way she could have done better in her family's eyes was to get pregnant right off and have a strong, healthy boy as an heir for her Honored Husband. 

Not that she'd ever had the chance. Not with Alberich treating her like a child instead of as his wife. She was glad, now, that they were divorced and she no longer needed to obey him. 

Right now, she was absolutely seething. 

And perhaps Alberich could read it on her face, clear as day, despite how she tried to school her features into a neutral mask, because he reached out as if to place a hand on her shoulder, seemed to think better of it, muttered an apology for how poorly things were going, and got up to leave.

Something steeled inside Talia. Alberich was not her husband anymore. And he was taking Dirk away from her.  “You’re treating me like a child.”

“Talia, by Haven standards…” Ablerich started.

“I’m tired of the word ‘Haven’. I can run a Hold, I can do anything required of a First Wife. I follow your instructions even though you’re not my husband anymore, but when following your instructions brings me the least little bit of happiness you yank it away! I don’t understand what the big deal is anyway!”

Alberick walked over and knelt in front of her chair. “I am so sorry Talia. I should have seen this coming. Mean to take away your happiness I did not. I worried for Dirk, lest he do something he would regret if he knew the truth.”

Talia’s anger had left and she was sobbing now. “You mean he would regret courting me if he knew I was Holderkin?”

“No,” Alberich said, gathering her up into his arms. “But perhaps he would not knowingly court a thirteen year old. And indeed, when I told him he was upset with himself.”

Talia cried herself out on Alberich's shoulder. By that point, she was practically asleep, and she didn't protest when he picked her up, put her in her bed, and rubbed her back until she slept.

Chapter Text

Kris was worried when Talia didn’t show up for her lesson. Dirk had left for his Circuit that morning so Kris was already inclined to think it was a lousy day. Something had been weird about Dirk and Talia too before Dirk left suddenly. It had all started when Dirk spoke to Alberich.

Speaking of which, Kris was just about to mindspeak Alberich to let him know Talia wasn’t there when he got another idea. :Featherfoot? Can you tell if she’s in her rooms? Seeing as how they're in the Companions’ stable and all?:

: She is, poor thing is moping in bed. Hasn’t even gotten out to get something to eat.:

:Really?: Then realization dawned on him. : That idiot heart-brother of mine didn’t say goodbye did he?:

:Nope. It’s–complicated. But he hasn’t spoken to her in several days.:

:Remind me to kill him when he gets back.: A mental sigh. : I’d definitely better tell Alberich that she’s that upset.:

****

:Hey, Alberich?: Alberich was in the middle of repairing equipment between lessons and was surprised to “hear” from Kris, the younger Herald didn’t Mindspeak him often. 

:Yes?: 

:Well I thought you’d like to know that Talia didn’t show up at her lesson today—probably because my damned partner didn’t bother to say goodbye to her. According to Tantris she hasn’t even gotten out of bed to eat today.: Kris’s Mindspeach was overladen with anger at Dirk which just made Alberich feel guiltier even than he already would have felt at the news.

Trying to hold back so that as little of his guilt as possible was sent through his Mindspeach, he sent back acknowledgement.

Now who was the best person to speak to her? If she wasn’t coming out of her bedroom she wouldn’t want a man–except maybe him, and probably not him given the situation. Maybe Myste? No, Myste was sitting in on something for the Queen, her Gift to tell when someone was lying without casting Truthspell being needed today by the Crown.

But he knew Talia had been getting close to Keren, as both spent a lot of time in Companion’s Stable. : Keren? You have a few minutes?:

:?: 

:It seems Talia is upset. The Companions said she hasn’t gotten out of bed today. I would check on her but I fear I may make things worse. And Myste is busy for the Queen.:

:Sure, I’ll check. Any idea what’s up?: 

Alberich thought about what to say carefully. Too many people knew too much already. And it wouldn’t be fair to ask Keren to keep a secret from her twin, nor from her lifemate. : I believe Dirk left without saying goodbye.:

:That’s not like him:

:It–may have been my fault. I–may have expressed my concerns about their relationship to him.:

:ARGH!!!!!!!! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT! ARGH! Don’t answer. Fine. I’ll go check on her.:

****

Talia ignored the knocking at the front door to her rooms. She didn’t want to talk to anybody except Dirk, and she was sure it wasn’t him. She heard a muffled woman’s voice from her bedroom. Yup. Not Dirk. 

More knocking. More speaking. Then she heard the front door open and footsteps. “Talia, I’m coming in. I need to check that you aren’t dead.” That was Keren’s voice.

Talia could appreciate Keren’s pragmatism. “I’m not, now go away.”

"Talia, lovey, Alberich told me what he did and what happened with Dirk. And he had absolutely no right to interfere like that."

"No, he didn't." 

"I want you to know I have let Alberich know how I feel on the situation. Now, as for Dirk, he may not be completely to blame. Yes, it was a bit cowardly, to be honest, to not talk to you in person or even say goodbye, but based on what Alberich admitted to me, he deliberately scared Dirk off, and he can be intimidating. There's a reason one of his nicknames is Herald Stoneheart."

Talia finally sat up, grateful to have an ally in Keren. "He treats me like a child. But I'm not a child."

"No, you're not. You're small, but that's just your natural build, and not surprising when you consider how much of our borders with Rethwellan and Karse are mountainous, so I suspect you grew up with hard to farm soil."

"My family raised sheep," Talia admitted. That seemed safe enough information. She wondered how much of the truth Keren actually knew. Until she knew for sure, though, she wasn't saying anything that would blow Alberich's cover. After all, she might be angry with him, but that didn't mean she wanted someone who was trying to kill others to go unpunished. And Talamir hadn't done anything to hurt her. 

Just Alberich and Dirk. 

"Honestly," Keren said. "I don't know what that man was thinking. But Alberich and Dirk being stupid doesn't mean you need to mope. Besides, why lay in bed all day when you can find a way to make Alberich miserable?"

That thought made Talia smile a little. "I wouldn't mind being a bit further away from him. I think I might like to go to town for a bit, at least."

"That can be arranged. Here's an idea. Let's go to the Bell for lunch, and then I have an idea I want to run by you."

"What kind of idea?" Talia asked. 

"One that would make you feel a bit more independent and also be helpful to my grandfather."

"Your grandfather?"

"Didn't you know? Teren and I are Talamir's grandchildren."

"Oh! Well, I kind of like Talamir. He's been nice to me. So has Teren. Kris has been a good tutor, but I'm unhappy with him, too. After all, he's the one that brought Dirk around in the first place!"

Keren chuckled. "Well, come on. Let's get you bathed and dressed and get some food in you."

****

Talamir was not surprised when, while sitting down to finalize details of Elspeth's fosterage, he was pulled into a family Mindcall by his granddaughter. He was, however, surprised by the contents.

: Grandfather? You available? For a quick second?:

:For you, yes.: Talamir sent back. :What's going on? . 

:Well, I had an idea,: Keren said. :Talia was complaining about not feeling useful and not having much to do, and I got to thinking that with her small size, people are going to underestimate her at every turn. They certainly wouldn't think of her as a potential spy. Not a fifteen-year-old who looks twelve or thirteen.:

:You think she could be a good spy?: Teren asked. 

:I wouldn't be surprised if she is,: Talamir admitted. If he were honest, Keren had a good notion. Alberich had mentioned how much of a help she had been on his mission, and she had kept her identity a secret since. Plust would help Talia become familiar with Haven, at least. It would give him a good excuse to start getting her trained in court niceties, as well as self-defense, at the very least, for when the time eventually came for Rolan to Choose her. That, in turn, would shorten her time in the Collegium. :Bring it up with her and see what she thinks on the subject,: he said at last. 

***

Keren had taken Talia to the Companion's Bell for lunch, and when Talia had admitted to wanting to do something, she had immediately contacted her grandfather.. “Alright,” she said at last, “after talking it over with someone, I’ve got a proposal for you.”

“What do you mean?” Talia asked. 

“Well, my grandfather thinks you might do well helping him with some things.” Keren leaned closer so that she could lower her voice but Talia would still hear her. “He thinks you would be an asset to his spy network.”

Talia's eyes went wide. “I was just thinking about getting a job, maybe as a cook or something. But really? Talamir thinks I could do that?”

“He does.” Keren watched Talia as she seemed to be thinking it over. 

“Alberich said I could do anything, but I thought he meant like being a servant or something. A woman can really do that?”

“Lovey, you really can do anything, be anything you want to be, with only a few exceptions. I mean, you have to be Chosen to be a Herald, or have the Healing Gift to be a Healer, or the Bardic Gift to be a Bard. And unless you decide to marry a highborn, you would never be a Lady or have a noble title. But other than that, you have lots of options. And the tutoring that Kris is giving you will help give you even more choices.”

***

Talia couldn't believe it. Talamir thought she could be a spy? It sounded both scary and exciting. “I think I’d like that,” she said at last. “And, um, there's something else I think I’d like to do. Could… could you maybe… help me move into Haven? I'm not really wanting to be so close to Alberich anymore. And Teren said my alimony would be more than enough.”

“I think that can be arranged,” Keren said. “And even if you weren't mad at Alberich, which I still can't blame you for, it would be helpful for your new position.”

Talia smiled. “Thanks, Keren.”

Chapter Text

About a week after Dirk left, Alberich was starting to get very concerned, as he had not seen Talia in all that time. Eventually it grew to be too much, and he went to knock on the door of her little cottage in the Companion's stable. But there was no answer. 

Was she still that angry with him? Or perhaps she was at a lesson? :Kantor, have you seen Talia?:

:Not since she moved into Haven.:

:What? Why wasn't I told?:

:She didn't want you told. But yes, she moved out the day after you asked Keren to check on her. Keren, Teren, and Skif all helped her, between finding a room in town and moving her things. She even has a job, now.:

Alberich wasn't sure what to do. On the one hand, Talia was thirteen. He had good reason to be worried about her. She was also a bit naive, having never lived in a city like Haven before. That just gave him even more reason to worry. And now she was alone. Away from the protective eye of Heralds and Companions. 

On the other hand, everyone else, with the exception of Skif, Myste, and Talamir, believed that Talia was fifteen. And while no doubt Skif assumed that Talia could take care of herself at that age, because Skif had, at slightly younger, Teren and Keren might think otherwise. 

But they didn't know, and Alberich couldn't tell them. Or anyone else for that matter. 

Because that would blow his cover. And also likely get him yelled at by Keren. Again. Though she might finally understand why he had interfered with Dirk and Talia's courtship. It didn't seem worth it, though, between the headache and the potential to completely destroy his cover. 

:And where is it that she is now employed?:  

:Not certain I should tell you. Talamir set it up.:

:?!?:

Not good. None of this could be good. This was not safe. There was too much potential for trouble. And Talamir knew Talia’s real age. What was he thinking?  

Definitely time for a chat with the Queen's Own. Off Alberich marched to the palace complex. Until a thought stopped him.

What if Talamir was working with Selenay at the moment? How was he supposed to explain the need to speak with Talamir in private? He sighed. :Talamir?:

: I'm a bit busy, Alberich. Can it wait?:

:If it absolutely must, but I would greatly like to speak with you at your absolute earliest convenience. In private:

Talamir's mental sigh was evident. :I can meet you in your rooms after Council.:

: I’ll see you then.: Well, that was likely to be the best Alberich was going to get from Talamir any time soon. At least he had classes to teach in the meantime.

***

Talamir arrived immediately after Council. Only after the door was shut and they were certain nobody was able to hear them did he speak. “I suppose this is about Talia.”

“Thirteen she is. Too young to be one of your spies, she is.”

“And she's old enough to be one of yours?”

“Different circumstances they were. Given to me by her father she was. Simply took advantage of a difficult situation, I did.”

Talamir raised an eyebrow. “And I’m not? Look, if she can ferret out who grew the poison while practically stuck in the house all day as your wife, then who knows what she might pick up in her current position?”

“And what, pray tell, is her current position?”

“I'm not telling you. You’ll go in and ruin her cover.”

“I will not. Only mean to keep her safe, I do.”

“And she'll be safer if you don't show up. You're too well known among her clientele.”

“You set her up in a brothel?!?”

“First, quiet down before you say something that gets heard. Second, no, I didn't. It's not your sell-sword persona that's well-known. It's you.”

Alberich thought about that. That meant that she was either at the Bell, which was unlikely, as Heralds were the main clientele there, and the least likely people to be causing any kind of trouble for Talia, or in general, the Sun Cat, which was equally unlikely, as the girl didn't speak Karsite and it was mostly Karsite refugees, or the Dancing Dragon, where Haven’s upper crust tended to congregate, including nobles.

Granted, there were also the others that the different Collegium students, teachers, and graduates tended to frequent. 

He rather hoped it wasn't the Dragon, as the nobles and wealthy who congregated there tended to be arrogant, boastful young men who thought that their gold could and should purchase anything they desired. Such purchases could and often did run the gamut, from jewels and silks to imported drinks to less savory things, such as argonel. 

And while those running things at the Dragon wouldn't permit them to so much as touch the waitresses, that didn't mean some of them didn't try to draw the girls in. 

“I know what you're thinking,” Talamir said at last. “You're worried about her safety. But I made sure she knew what she was getting into and how to respond to anything they might say. There’s also an older, more experienced part of my team there, acting as the cook, watching over her.”

That did make Alberich feel a little better. The cook at the Dragon was a friend of Mero’s, and the two often exchanged recipes when a new one came along, sometimes working together to tweak or improve them. Though Alberich hadn't known the man to be part of Talamir’s network. 

Still, he needed to talk to her. How was he supposed to do that at the Dragon without blowing her cover? 

“And how is it that her lessons with Kris are going? How is it explained that a Herald is tutoring her?”

“I'm also not telling you that,” Talamir said. “Or what time they usually meet, now. You’ll just use that information to go see her and, again, blow her cover. Now stay out of it. If she wants to talk to you, she will. For now though, I’m ordering you, Alberich, stay away from her. Do nothing that will interfere with her cover.”

Chapter Text

Talia’s new little apartment was lovely, and more important, it was away from the prying eyes of Alberich. It was in a building that had quite a few apartments that belonged to mistresses of better off merchants. 

This meant that no one cared when Kris (out of uniform of course) visited her to help her study, and part of Talia felt rather bold being alone in the apartment with him, knowing what the neighbors must be assuming they were up to.

Her assignment for Talamir led to her getting a job at a place called The Dancing Dragon. It would have been a rather shocking place for her, but Talamir had briefed her extensively on what it would be like: that the rich men who frequented would try to buy her favors, and traded in all sorts of legal and illegal substances there. 

She made note of any illegal dealings she saw or heard about there and passed them onto Jeremy, the cook. He was her main point of contact for Talamir. So far she hadn’t heard about anything that was very interesting, and nothing about who had tried to kill Talamir. 

Some of the men had tried to buy her company, but Talamir had ordered her explicitly to turn them down, and helped her practice ways of doing so.  Not that it stopped her from at least pretending to flirt, a little, the way she saw the other girls doing. If nothing else, it usually resulted in some extra coin thrown her way. 

She didn’t need it, of course, due to her alimony. Mindful of her cover, though, and knowing that she would have to explain why she was willing to part with it if she passed it onto the other girls, though, she instead gave it to Kris during their tutoring sessions, who, at her behest, would pass it on to temples or to the pages, or anyone else he thought it could help, if even a little. 

She missed the Companions, but it felt good to be doing something . Usually she’d fall right into bed after getting home in the middle of the night and sleep till mid-morning. It was very odd to her who’d always risen with the sun. 

Most of all she both missed and resented Dirk though. It wasn’t fair that she missed someone who obviously didn’t care enough about her to at least say goodbye! Some of the other girls had sweethearts, but everytime Talia thought about courting she wanted to cry all over again for Dirk. This generally just made her angry, so she tried not to think about it. 

The other girls assumed her lack of interest in courting, combined with the neighborhood she lived in, meant she had a wealthy lover paying her rent. She didn’t disabuse them of this notion. 

***

Kris was pretty much just waiting for Alberich to corner him about Talia, and was only surprised that it took the Weaponsmaster so long to do it. But one day, about six weeks after Talia had moved into the city, Alberich asked him to step into his quarters.

“I'm not telling you when and where we meet, Alberich.” Kris wasn't stupid. He knew better. He knew damned well that Talia would never trust him again if he did. “You’ll just show up and upset her further.” 

“To know that she is safe, my only desire is,” Alberich said. Which was a lie. He also wanted Talia to forgive him. 

“She's safe,” Kris said. “I helped scout out the neighborhood, myself. It's in an area with little more than the occasional pickpocket. Jeremy keeps an eye on her at the Dragon. And because you're the reason Dirk left without saying goodbye and broke things off, which was an idiot move on your part, she wants nothing to do with you right now. So back off.”  

Alberich sighed and looked defeated. Kris almost felt sorry for him. 

Almost.  

“Look,” Kris said, “if it makes you feel better, I’ll let you know if she ever does want to see you.” 

“Then that I must accept,” Alberich said.

***

Two months after Talia started working in the Dragon her birthing-day rolled around. The Dragon was closed for Midsummer’s Day, as their clientele would not be spending the day at the inn, and they might as well give the day off to their staff, and a few of the other girls who worked there took Talia out in celebration of what they thought was her sixteenth birthing day.

“Just think, you’re now legally old enough to do whatever with whomever .” One of the other girls, Lynel, said. “Not that it would have stopped you before.”

Talia understood that Lynel was talking about sex, but was otherwise confused about what the law had to do with it. Well, Kris was a student of the law, right? She’d ask him, he was visiting the next day, anyway.

***
Kris sighed. “Legally speaking, under normal circumstances, if your relationship with Dirk had turned physical, he could have gotten into a lot of trouble. The only reason he wouldn’t have is because of a clause that allows relationships when both parties are within three years of age.

“It’s rare for even a noble girl whose parents are desperate to marry her off to go into courtship before fifteen. Sixteen is what we call the age of consent. We know and acknowledge that borderers tend to marry about fifteen, and so long as all parties are consenting, it gets overlooked. Things also tend to get overlooked within the Collegia, especially at Herald’s Collegium. 

“I presume this is why Alberich felt he needed to step in, even if there was no actual impropriety going on, and wouldn’t have been even if you two were physical. I suppose he felt the appearance of impropriety would have been enough to cause damage. I’m sorry no one felt the need to explain why they were messing about with your life.”

***

Talia felt a mixture of emotions. Kris said that it would only have been allowed because she and Dirk were within three years of each other’s age, but the truth was they weren’t within three years. She was four and half years younger than Dirk, not two and half. What would have happened to Dirk if he had accidentally broken the law?

And if marriages had to be consenting, why hadn’t hers been? 

It was all so very confusing!

***

Kris noted tears welling up in Talia’s eyes. He wasn’t sure if he should hug her or not. The Talia who’d first come home with Alberich would have been offended and scared of him doing so. But she’d changed a great deal since then. He reached around the kitchen table and gently ushered her into a hug.  “Hey, it’s okay to cry.”

She buried her head into his shoulder and started sobbing. “Why didn’t anyone explain that! Alberich just told me I was too young “by Haven standards” but I was old enough to get married on the Border!”

Kris wondered at just how hard this all must have been for her. From what he understood the “consenting” part may have been missing in her earlier marriage to Alberich’s undercover persona, and to go from being old enough to marry to not old enough to court must have been traumatic. It took a special kind of person to be able to adapt to that as well as she had, not to mention seeing Dirk for the gem he was (even if he had a feeling she was still angry with him at the moment).

Well, maybe what he had in his bag would cheer her up some. With a gentle finger beneath her chin, he brought her head up to look at him. “Hey, I know this has been hard on you, but I know today’s your birthing day, and I brought you a present.” 

“A present?” 

Kris tilted his head a little, confused by the confusion in her voice. “Have you never gotten a present for your birthing day, before?” 

“No. I’ve never been allowed to celebrate it. My family thinks Midsummer is evil and thinks poorly of me for having the bad taste to be born at Midsummer.” 

Well, that certainly helped explain why her family had no problem just handing their fifteen-year-old daughter over as a wife to a much older man they barely knew! He’d wondered about that. Though now he was wondering which of the many groups on the Rethwellian border. Now he was curious. Anyways, back to the topic at hand. “Midsummer is not evil, and being born at Midsummer means nothing other than that it’s your birthing day, and we should celebrate.” He reached into his bag and pulled out the package. “First, open your present.” 

He watched as, shyly, Talia undid the paper and string around the present and gasped when she saw a book. And not just any book. Kris had figured out rather quickly that Talia enjoyed history and had once had a copy of a book about Herald Vanyel, but that it had been lost. And so that was what he had gotten her.

“Oh, Kris! Thank you!” Talia wrapped her arms around him. 

Kris chuckled and returned the embrace.

Chapter Text

Talia was waitressing at the Dragon when the loud man came in again. He sold packets of herbs out of the Dragon, but Talia wasn’t too concerned, all the herb packets bore the mark of the licensed herbalist who had prepared them and authorized them for sale. Still, something told her the guy wasn’t on the up and up.  Maybe she’d mention it to Jeremy or Kris.

Today he was selling an herb “guaranteed to put the man back into your manhood” in addition to his usual wares. While no one admitted to needing it, more older men than usual had drinks with him this evening.

***

The stomach flu stumped the Healers. First off because they were generally not called in until it had already been happening for some time. But second because its pattern seemed–odd. It didn’t go from person to person. It didn’t follow food. It wasn’t spread by any means the Healers could trace. 

All of the patients were men, they tended older (though there were a few younger ones as well) and all were of a certain class or above. It all seemed very suspicious when Healer Myrim laid it out in front of Alberich.

“Alberich, each and every one of those men has an issue in bed, and that’s what they’re going to the man at the Dragon for.” 

“In bed?” Alberich asked. “Trouble sleeping?” 

He’s a Herald and a former soldier. There is no way he’s that innocent, Myrim thought. Then again, I have heard that Herald Myste has called him dense in the area of romance. She took a deep breath. “Not sleeping. In, ah, enjoying their partners.” Alberich still looked confused, and Myrim sighed. “They can’t get or keep an erection during sex.” 

“Oh.” 

“Naturally, I need an older man to go and have a talk with him, get hold of some of his wares.” She was looking right at him as she said it. “I need to know what it’s been mixed with.” 

“Old, I am not,” Alberich said. “Besides, go into the Dragon, I cannot. Too well known there, I am.” 

“Well, I can’t send Devan in. He’s worthless for spycraft. Besides, if what we got from Talamir via his contact at the Dragon is true, then the regulars may well recognize him as the Healer that helped with their stomach issues.” She looked thoughtful. “Then again, Talamir did say his contact had noticed that a small percentage of the customers were on the younger side, and so were a small percentage of the patients we treated for this. Know anyone who would make a decent spy who’s at least male and an adult?” 

“Teren, perhaps,” Alberich said. “After all, not well-known at the Dragon, he is. And starting to gray some, he is.” 

“Then I’ll let you make the arrangements,” Myrim said. “Just get me one of those packets.” 

***

“Teren, a word with you I might have? Alone?” 

Teren arched an eyebrow and followed Alberich to somewhere private. “What is it?” 

Quietly, Alberich explained the situation to Teren, and why he, himself, couldn’t do it. 

“That is a problem,” Teren admitted. “Fine, but I’d better get a damned good disguise for this.”

“As a nobleman, you need to dress. Else stand out, you will.”

“Understood.”

***

Talia didn't recognize the latest customer at the Dragon. And yet, somehow, he seemed familiar. He was definitely a noble. Had she seen him on the palace grounds when she had still been living in the Companion stables? 

And then she heard his voice when she took his order, and had to refrain from giggling. Teren looked like an absolute fop, like she imagined Kris would look like if he wasn't in Whites all the time. He pretended to be eyeing her up and down as cover for giving her a look of not a word. Not one word. And that just made Talia have to work harder to not laugh. 

She held it in until she got to the back, when she could no longer keep the amusement from her face. 

“What's so funny?” Jeremy asked. 

“Just one of the dandies out front. He looks… very new money, and a tad uncomfortable.”

Jeremy nodded in understanding, having gotten the message. “Well, best not keep his order waiting. The new money types tend to act ungentlemanly towards the servants.”

“Oh absolutely. You can always tell the new money from the old by how they treat staff. The more arrogant, the more likely to be new money.” Please let Teren have heard that. It might well help him keep his cover.

She got her answer when she brought Teren his order. “Here you go, sir.” 

“How about you join me in my room later tonight?” Teren asked. 

“No,” Talia said. “Perhaps one of the other girls, though?” She set food and drink both down on the table, and had to keep herself from laughing at Teren awkwardly acting as if he were entitled to her company as she took off to see to other customers. 

***

“And then… and then he pretended to try to drunkenly grab my butt, and fell on his face!” Talia was laughing as she relayed the tale of Teren trying to pretend to be a wealthy merchant, feeling that since Kris was in on what she was doing at the Dragon, it was safe enough to tell him. 

Kris was howling with laughter. “I wish I'd been there to see it,” he said, gasping for breath as he spoke. “But then, I don't think I could have kept from laughing and blowing his cover.”

“Oh, I don't think it would have blown his cover,” Talia said, still laughing. “Everyone else was laughing at him, too!”

***

“I am never doing that again,” Teren said as he changed back into his Whites in the little changing room Alberich often used to get into disguise. “I don’t know how that could have gone worse.” 

“But retrieved a packet, you did?” Alberich asked. 

“I did, and without arousing his suspicions that I’m a Herald. But a certain ex-wife of yours was absolutely getting some entertainment out of it. I’m not entirely sure how she kept a straight face.” 

Alberich knew very well how it was that Talia kept a straight face. When he’d been undercover, he’d seen that all Holderkin women seemed to keep an almost unreadable mask, unless they were taking unruly littles to task. Then they looked stern. But he wasn’t going to explain that to Teren. Not when Teren still thought the girl was sixteen, not fourteen. 

“If she could not, Talamir would not have her positioned as she is. A terrible spy, she would make,” Alberich said at last. 

Teren chuckled a little. “That's true. Still hard to believe she's got such natural talent, and so young, too.” He turned over the packet of herbs. “Here. I expect one of the Healers can determine what, exactly, is in it.”

Alberich took it carefully. “Get it to the assigned Healer I will. Thank you, Teren, for getting it.”

Chapter Text

“When I signal you tonight, head straight to the kitchen.” Jeramy had told Talia that at the start of her shift, which meant that he must have information that something was going to happen that night.

She’d been busy refilling glasses and flirting when she saw Jeramy signal her. She excused herself and was headed toward the kitchen when a customer who’d probably had too many drinks pulled her onto his lap. 

Just then the doors of the tavern burst open and Guards and Heralds came in.

Talia pulled herself out of the drunk customer’s grasp and was trying to get her back against the wall when she was grabbed again, this time by Leroy, the owner of the Dragon, who held a knife against her throat.

“Let me go or her blood will be on your Whites.” Talia almost rolled her eyes at Leroy’s melodrama.

She twisted to get away from him but it didn’t work, he had too good a hold on her and the knife scraped her throat. Just then Leroy dropped, dead, with a knife in his back. Alberich was standing there.

***

Alberich had  had a tingling of Foresight that it was important that he sneak in and stand in that exact spot. Now Talia looked at him, made eye contact, and something seemed to pass between them, some note of understanding. 

Then she was back to playing the frightened barmaid and she screamed.

***

The Heralds fussed over Talia and insisted she be brought to the house of healing to look over the cut on her neck and the bruises forming on her wrist.

She was sitting draped in a blanket in a private room, alone, when Alberich came in. She looked up at him. “Thank you,” she said, her voice soft. 

“Always will I feel protective, I think,” Alberich admitted. “Divorced we might be, and never lovers, for many reasons, but still care, I do.” 

Talia reached out, then, and hugged him. “Kris finally explained things to me and why you did what you did. I still don’t agree with it, but I know your reasons, now.” 

Alberich returned them embrace. “And perhaps another way I should have done things, and perhaps been more clear to you about the whys. But glad, I am, that you now understand.” He pulled away. “Am I then forgiven?” 

Talia nodded. “Yes. You’re forgiven. But I’m not moving back into the stables. I like my new apartment.” 

“Fair enough, I suppose,” Alberich said. 

***
As fate would have it, Talia did have to give up her new apartment. Due to Leroy’s death, the Dragon was closed, and she, Jeremy, and the other girls were in need of new jobs. 

Talamir placed her and Jereamy in the kitchen of a noble named Lord Orthallan. Jeremy was working as second cook, and Talia was working as an undercook. She knew there were other spies in the house, but she didn’t know who they were.

She met with Kris on her day off, and she understood Lord Orthallan was Kris’ uncle.

***

“I heard you were seen with my new kitchen maid on her day off.” Kris panicked for a moment at his uncle’s words. Was Talia’s cover blown? “Try to be more discreet, it’s bad for morale if the servants think one of them is getting favors from the family.”

“Umm…” Kris said.

“Oh don’t be coy with me. She’s quite pretty. I see what you see in her. I just never thought you one to play bed games with the servants.”

Fuck. What was Kris supposed to say? If he told his uncle that he wasn't sleeping with Talia, he would have to explain what he was actually doing. And that, of course, could blow Talia's cover. Or his uncle might not believe him. 

Instead Kris lifted his glass toward his uncle and said, “As you said she is quite pretty. But we will try to be more discreet. It wouldn't do for your household to be disrupted. Truth be told, I thought we were being discreet. How did we get found out?” Perhaps there was something to be gained from this gods awful conversation.

“My valet saw you with her at the inn. Said you were giving her books. I suppose it wasn’t just her looks that attracted you, hmm?”

“Well, you know me, if all it took were a pretty face, I’d have a lot more partners.”

“Oh dear gods don’t tell me it’s serious? You are just playing bed sports with her right? I don’t think I could bear the shame if you married her.”

Kris spit out his wine, and finally managed to say. “I promise, I will not marry for anything less than a life bond. And if I find one of those I will let you know.”

***

Kris had a fairly good idea of what it was that Alberich wanted to talk to him about. He was absolutely sure it had to do with Talia, and he could hazard a guess at the specifics based on little hints he’d picked up. 

For starters, she’d mentioned sheep and being in the mountains. That narrowed down which part of the border she was from, and there was as much of that part of the border shared with Karse as shared with Rethwellan. Then there was the fact that she had never been allowed to celebrate her birthing day or Midsummer. 

Add to that the fact that, despite loopholes in the law, Alberich had felt a need to frighten off Dirk and her small size, even for a borderer? Oh yes, Kris had gotten a very good idea as to what the problem was, and it had nothing to do with that Talia had only been fifteen, supposedly. In fact, Kris suspected that she was actually younger. 

“Another of Talamir’s spies in your uncle’s household said something interesting about you,” Alberich said when Kris arrived. “Believe it I do not, but ask you about it, I must.” 

Kris rolled his eyes. “Contrary to my uncle’s beliefs, I’m not sleeping with Talia. And I’ve got a feeling that you’re not just being over-protective. She’s Holderkin, isn’t she?” 

“She is.” Alberich didn’t bother denying it. Not with Kris. 

“This wasn’t her sixteenth birthing day, either.  How old is she actually? I assume that’s why you got Dirk to break things off.”

Alberich nodded. “Just turned fourteen.”

Kris winced.

“But you see why the lie was necessary?” Alberich said.

“I see it,” Kris said, “but I don’t know how much longer it’s going to stay secret. Can I assume that Talamir doesn’t know her true age?”

“He knows.” 

“And he still made her part of his spy ring? Huh.” Kris would need to think that over some. But right now there was also something else to think of. If there was talk that he and Talia were sleeping together, to the point that his uncle had directly asked him about it, then there was a chance that word of it, however false that word might be, would reach Dirk.

Granted, Talia wasn’t working under her real name. And Dirk wasn’t due home for another year. But a year was just more time for rumors to grow and change, and get out of control, and Dirk wasn’t stupid, but he also didn’t always think things through. 

Well, they’d just have to cross that bridge when they got to it.

Chapter Text

“Talia, we need to talk.”

Talia glanced at Kris, wondering what was wrong. He had changed the location of their meeting place, and she wasn't sure why. “What is it?”

“For starters, we need to be more discreet. My uncle's valet saw us together and saw me giving you books. My uncle thinks we're sleeping together.”

Talia almost choked on air. “What did you tell him?”

“I let him think he's right. To do otherwise would blow your cover.” He lowered his voice and leaned in closer to ensure that only they would hear. “I also figured it out, by the way, and confirmed it with Alberich, about your real age and where you’re really from.” 

Talia sighed. When she spoke, she kept her voice equally low. “Then you must understand why I didn’t understand… My own people thought me ready for marriage. Why shouldn’t I have thought I could be courted?” 

“And why you’re mostly uneducated,” Kris replied. He lowered his voice even more, to barely a whisper. “For legal reasons, I need to know how far your courtship with Dirk got.” 

“Never more than walking,” Talia whispered back. She understood, after what Kris had explained to her after her birthing day. If she and Dirk had gotten more serious than walks in the garden, then Dirk could have gotten in a lot of trouble. “Are you mad?” she asked. 

Kris shook his head. “No. I understand why it was necessary. And I definitely won’t blow your cover. But it seems to me that our only option is to be more discreet so that nobody else from my uncle’s household notices. My uncle is fine thinking we’re going to bed, but you should have seen it when the idea got in his head that it was serious and I was thinking of marriage.” 

Talia snorted. “No thanks. Even a marriage to Alberich was too much. I didn’t want to be married to him! But if I had to be, he was the best possible outcome. I was afraid of being beaten, bred, or both. I got lucky that my father gave me to someone kind, like Alberich, who did nothing but ask me to help him track down some information.” 

“I had a suspicion as much.” Kris took her hands. “Don’t worry. Nobody is ever going to make you remarry if you don’t want to. And Alberich obviously saw the same thing I do. You’re highly intelligent. The only reason you couldn’t read as well as most girls your age is because nobody allowed you to. But look at how quickly you’re learning now that you’re not only allowed it, but encouraged!” 

Talia smiled shyly. “Thank you, Kris. And thank you for not being angry with me.” 

“Why would I be? You did what you believed necessary to help Alberich keep his own cover and keep you both safe. And in a year, when Dirk is back, you’ll be fifteen, so he might feel more comfortable. Sixteen may be the legal age of consent, but at fifteen, so long as you’re not going to bed and it’s just casual courtship, nobody should have a problem with it.” 

****

Kris found himself called in for a chat with Talamir, who was just as to the point as Alberich. “I’m told you know the truth about Talia.”

“I do. I’m surprised you know her real age and still have her in your spy ring.”

“Look at it this way. Holderkin Wives aren't really allowed off the Hold. They do the housework and work in the garden. They go to shop with traders once every few months or so. And yet, despite those restrictions, Talia unearthed valuable information just gossiping with other Wives. Just think about how much more she can get in the right situation.”

Kris could imagine it quite well. After all, it was Talia's information that had uncovered what was happening at the Dragon. He had no time to respond, however, because they heard a commotion coming from Selenay's quarters. 

When they got there, the Queen was fending off a pair of would-be assassins. 

Talamir and Kris both drew their blades and got between the assassins and Selenay. Once it was three against two instead of two against one, it was a quick dispatch. 

“Are you alright, Majesty?” Talamir asked.

“I’m fine. Thank you both for getting here so quickly.” Selenay looked at Kris, who was bleeding from a gash on his arm. “Get him to a Healer. I’ll have someone else take care of the bodies.”

***

Healer Elayna couldn’t turn her back on a patient, much less a Herald who was injured in the line of duty no matter how much she wanted to. This was the too-handsome highborn nephew of Lord Orthallen, who was bedding one of his uncle’s kitchen maids, according to rumor. Elayna had seen the girl in question when she visited her sister, Margeret, who was an undercook in the same house. The girl had just turned 16–if she hadn’t lied about her age to get the job. 

In Elayna’s eyes it said nothing good about the man in front of her that he was taking advantage of such a large power imbalance between him and the girl to take her to bed. She wondered what his Companion had to say about it. 

***
Kris was sure the Healer patching up his wounded arm –Elayna, she’d said her name was–didn’t like him. Her hands were gentle and her Empathy wasn’t actually projecting, but he could read her body language and silence clearly enough. 

He wasn’t sure why he wanted her to have a good opinion of him. Why did it matter? It clearly wasn’t affecting her ability to do her job. He seldom cared what people thought. But he really wanted her to hold him in high regard. But why?

:Any insight Featherfoot?:

:You’ve caught feelings. Keep them over there, so the rest of us don’t get them.:

:Ha,ha, I’ve not caught feelings; I don’t do feelings. Do you know why she doesn’t like me though?: 

:No, but you could ask her.:

“I get the feeling I’ve done something to offend you.” He said.

****

Normally, Elayna would have been able to handle such a question from a patient with grace and redirect. This idiot was special and got extra under her skin. “You’ve done something to offend common decency. Toying with your uncle’s kitchen maid. Talk about a power imbalance! You have the power to get her fired without a reference and ruin her livelihood! She cannot say no to you! She’s barely sixteen, how is she supposed to navigate this? Do you know that while she knew what moonpowder was, she didn’t know where to get it until two days ago?”

***

Shit, shit, shit. What was he supposed to say? “It’s not like that…”

“Oh, are you planning to marry her?” 

He couldn’t lie to her. First off, he suspected  she would catch him, second, he just couldn’t bring himself to do it.

“My Companion is aware of everything, and Bridget” - Talia’s fake name she was currently using - “knows exactly where we stand. I am confident that I am not misusing her.” Whether Talamir was misusing her remained to be seen, though Kris doubted it after talking to him.

“So you're not marrying her,” Elayna pressed. 

“She's made it rather clear that she refuses to ever marry,” Kris said. “She's rather enjoying her freedom and single life. Whether she ever changes her mind on the matter remains to be seen.”

Well, crap. I think I just accidentally implied that I love Talia and want to marry her. How do I clear this all up? Anything I say is likely to blow multiple covers.

:What now, Tantris?:

All Kris got in return was the sound of equine laughter in his mind.

:This isn't funny, fairy foot!:

:I disagree, Chosen. I think it's hilarious.:

***

Well, wasn't that just interesting? Elayna thought. It sounded like the Herald in front of her was trying very hard to get out of admitting to being in love. 

Either that, or, like many highborn, he was trying to get out of trouble by putting blame on the poor girl. Oh, no, it was never the fault of the man, was it? Her mother had told her how the highborn man she had been in love with had told people that she was the one who hadn't wanted marriage. 

And then he had married another, claiming his family had forced it, leaving her mother pregnant with her. 

Elayna had no idea to that day who her father was. Her mother had never given her an identity. 

And yet, something in her urged her to believe Kris. Something wanted him to have a high opinion of her. 

Well, whatever part of her it was, she squashed it flat.

“Don't lift anything with that arm for the next two weeks. Just keep it in a sling until then, so you don't forget. Come back then to let me check on the stitches,” she said, using the same no-nonsense tone she used with her students. 

She walked out, then, before she said something she might regret.

Chapter Text

Elayna needed Margeret’s advice. She hadn’t been able to get that damned Herald out of her head since their meeting a week ago. So now she was on her way to see her sister in Lord Orthallen’s kitchen. 

Suddenly there was a commotion as a horse pulling a cart spooked, and several people had to hurry to get out of the way while the driver tried to get control back. He managed to just as a young girl fell back in her attempts to scurry out of the way.

Elayna didn’t hesitate, she rushed over to stabilize the girl, who looked vaguely familiar. “Healer coming through!” she shouted as she pushed through the onlookers. The girl was unconscious; it looked like she had hit her head on the cobblestone when she fell. “You!” Elayna pointed at a bystander, “Run to the nearest Guardpost and tell them Healer Elayna requires help transporting a patient.”

“That won’t be necessary,” said a voice. Elayna looked up to see the blasted Herald Kris standing there. Suddenly she knew why the girl looked familiar. She was Orthallen’s undercook that the Herald had basically confessed to being in love with. Bridget, she thought. “Tantris can carry her. We’ll have to keep to a walk inside the city anyway, but it’ll be a smoother ride than anything the guard can give her.”

“I suppose that’ll do.” Elayna said. “I’m going to confirm it’s safe to move her.” She went back to her patient, trying to be in professional mode. “Yes, it’s safe to move her.”

Like she weighed nothing at all (and to be fair, the girl was tiny), Kris lifted her into his arms, and managed to somehow mount his Companion. But then, to be fair, it was likely a part of his training. 

Elayna walked alongside the Herald and his Companion, eyeing him. Hesitantly, she reached out just a little bit with her Empathy. He felt very concerned and worried. And not in the way men who only cared about what a girl could do for them in bed worried, as if he feared having to find someone else to take to bed. 

No, it was the kind of concern and worry that came with genuine caring and affection. So perhaps she had misjudged him. He wasn’t like her father. Herald Kris might actually be in love with Bridget, might even be disappointed, possibly even hurting, because of Bridget’s refusal to marry. 

Quickly, she stopped reading him and, as a precaution, strengthened her own shields, as if she might project her own disappointment regarding what she felt from him. But that didn’t make sense. Why was she disappointed to learn he was a decent man?

  No, some part of her tried to say. You’re not disappointed that he’s actually a good man, the type he should be as a Herald. You’re disappointed, for some reason, that he’s in love with her.

She squashed that part of her faster than she had erected her shields. Why should she care about that? 

****

Kris was worried. He’d been on his way to meet Talia when he saw the cart horse spook. She’d taken a hard hit. The fact that she hadn’t regained consciousness by now spoke to that. He wanted to gallup all the way to the House of Healing, but that would only get more people injured. 

He was uneasy being in Elayna’s presence. He’d been thinking about her this past week. And having weird dreams. No matter what Tantris said though he hadn’t ‘caught feelings.’ He didn’t catch feelings. 

They arrived at the House of Healing and Talia was transferred to a room. He was then shooed out to let the Healers work. Some part of him was relieved to see Elayna stayed with her. He knew from the interrogation he had received that Elayna had her best interests at heart.

***

Talia was in a strange bed. Her head was killing her. It ached something fierce. 

“Oh good you’re awake.” A woman in Healer’s robes appeared from somewhere. “How are you feeling?” 

“Head hurts.”

“To be expected, what’s the last thing you remember?”

“Was walking to meet Kris, there was a runaway horse?” Talia said.

“Just need to do a quick check of your memory. What year is it?”

“1387?” It took Talia a long time to figure out what year it was.

“Very good. How old are you?”

Talia’s brain was so foggy. How old was she? “14?”

***

Elayna had guessed that the girl had lied about her age to get a job. The fact that she knew what year it was suggested that she was in fact 14 and that Herald Kris whom she had just thought to not be anything like Elayna’s father was in someways worse. Or he didn’t know. Either way she’d be having a chat with him. 

She schooled herself to remain calm and kept asking the standard questions of a head trauma patient.

***

“What’s your name?”

For some reason Talia wasn’t sure what to say. Her head hurt and it felt like she was thinking through cobwebs. “Talia.”

***

That’s odd, thought Elayna. She would have thought that the girl would have used her real name when she applied for work.

“Okay Talia, I’m going to use my Gift to check on you now.”

***

Kris was sitting worrying in the waiting when a very angry seeming Healer Elayna came out. 

“Office. Now.” Was all she said, as she pointed to where her office apparently was. 

Fuck. Talia had just had a head injury. There was no telling what she had said in that state. 

Once inside Elayna shut the door. “Want to tell me why your lover tells me she’s 14? Or want to tell me why she tells me her name is Talia? Or why your Companion hasn’t repudiated you for having an affair with a 14 year old? Especially given the immense power imbalance?”

Kris didn’t see any way out of this. : Featherfoot? Any Advice?:

:Honesty is the best policy?:

“Can anyone overhear us in here?”

***

That hadn’t been what Elayna had been expecting. “It’s pretty well soundproofed.”

Kris sat down and seemed to wilt a little. “My Companion advises me to tell you the truth. She’s not my lover.”

“I felt your concern for her when we were coming over; you were genuinely worried about her.”

“Because she is a friend. I think of her as a little sister, almost. I’m her tutor. She’s working for Talamir. I’m helping her get the education necessary to fit in anywhere for Talamir.”

“She’s a spy? Talamir has a 14 year old out there spying for him?”

“Believe me, it wasn’t my idea. But she’s proven damned useful in various places. This isn’t her first assignment. Remember the incident with the herbs?” 

“I do…” Elayna said suspiciously. 

“Talia is the one who got us the information for that,” Kris said. 

“And she’s a spy in your uncle’s home?” 

Now Kris looked really uncomfortable. “I don’t know what he’s suspected of, but yes. Talamir placed her in my uncle’s home.” 

Well, that certainly put things in perspective. And Elayna knew enough about the Heraldic Circle to know that Talamir outranked Kris, so even if Kris disapproved of using someone that young (and she suspected he did,) there was little that Kris could do about it. 

It also meant that her negative impressions of him were all completely incorrect. She felt far more relief about that than she should have. She wondered what that meant.

Chapter Text

Talia woke for a second time with the strong feeling that she’d said something wrong when last awake, but she couldn’t for the life of her remember what it had been.

She was in the dimly lit room she thought might be in the House of Healing, Kris was sitting in the corner reading by the light of a candle. 

“Kris?”

“Oh, good, you’re awake.” 

“I feel like I did something wrong but I don’t remember what it was.”

“Ah, yes,” Kris looked embarrassed now. “When Healer Elayna was checking you for memory loss you told her your real name—and age.” Talia grimaced. “This was particularly problematic for me as she was under the impression that you and I were lovers.”

“OH,” was all Talia could say.

“I couldn’t figure out how to avoid being brought up on charges without blowing your cover, and all Tantris could tell me was “honesty is the best policy” so I ended up telling her the truth.”

“Shit.” She paused for a moment and then said “Does Talamir know? Does Alberich?”

“Yes,” Kris admitted. “I Mindspoke them earlier.”

“It hurts to think too much about this.” 

“I told Elayna I’d let her know when you woke up anyway. So don’t think too much, I’ll go get her.”

Talia lay there waiting for Kris to return with Elayna. When the Healer arrived, Talia recognized her, not just as the Healer who had treated her, but as Margaret's sister. 

Alright. So her cover was as good as blown, likely. She wondered what her employer, Lord Orthallen, had been told. Hopefully nothing about her real name or age. She also wondered what Talamir and Alberich had to say on the matter. 

When Elayna arrived in the room with Kris, Talia found she felt strange. She felt Kris’s worry, now. She had thought she felt something when she first woke up, but now she was sure of it. 

And there was something else. She was also sensing something… She wasn't sure, but she somehow got the idea that there was some unusual tension between Kris and Elayna. She didn't understand why. It was hard to put her finger on, but it was almost like how she had started to feel about Dirk before he had taken off. But it was also different. 

It felt more like they would be more than happy to rip each other's clothes off and climb into bed, which was more intense than the walks she had enjoyed with Dirk. 

But perhaps that was because they were older, and though she had been raised to be married off at thirteen, she had never felt quite ready, especially for the physical aspects. Kris and Elayna, on the other hand, were both old enough to be ready for such things. 

In fact, was it just her, or had Kris seemed more than just embarrassed about Elayna thinking they had been lovers? 

Elayna came over and started checking her over. Once more, she checked her memory, and Talia, knowing Elayna knew the truth, didn't bother lying about her name or her age. 

“You suffered a concussion,” Elayna said. “You’ll recover, but I want to keep you at least another night for observation. And don't worry. I won't tell anyone, as much as I disapprove of someone as young as you acting as a spy.” 

“Thank you,” Talia said. 

Elayna nodded and turned to Kris. “I need to speak with you.”

“Of course,” Kris said. He looked over at Talia. “Rest. I’ll be back, I promise.”

***

Kris followed Elayna into her office, confused. Now what was she going to yell at him for? 

“She needs a Mindhealer,” Elayna said. 

“What? Why? Has someone done something to her?” Now Kris could feel himself getting angry. 

“As a teacher,” Elayna clarified. “She's Gifted. When I was checking on the concussion, I noticed that her Empathy pathway was wide open.”

“Oh.” It was all Kris could think to say. “Healing Gift as well?” He asked at last. That would make a lot of sense. Empathy was almost always a Healer's Gift. It was rare in Heralds. 

“Not a bit,” Elayna said. “I checked for it when I noticed the Empathy. She could, technically, still end up a Mindhealer, herself, though, depending on whether or not it's projective.” 

Well, that was interesting. “I’ll have to notify Talamir,” Kris said. “Alberich, too, since he's also involved.”

“Why is Alberich involved?”

Fuck. :Tantris?:

:I said it before, and I’ll say it again, Chosen. Honesty is the best policy.:

Kris sighed. “It's complicated.”

“Explain anyway.”

Kris wasn’t strong enough to face her being cross with him, not when he didn’t even have his Companion’s support. “Did you hear a while back that Alberich got married while on assignment?”

Elayna nodded.

“Well, she’s sort of the ex-wife in question. He still tries to keep an eye on her given how young she is.”

Elayna let out a big sigh. “Anything else you want to tell me?”

Might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb . “In order to keep the details of where she was from a secret Alberich initially told her to tell people she was 15 instead of 13, when she arrived here. This led to her and my oathbrother walking in the garden. Till Alberich clued him in on her real age and he freaked out and left on Circuit without saying goodbye. I think despite being mad at him for how he handled it she still has feelings for him.”

Elayna sighed, “This poor girl.”

“And now you know why I worry about her. When I said that she's like a little sister to me, I meant it.” He glanced back towards Talia's room. “She should know, as soon as possible, about her Gift. She could pick up anything while unshielded, and she needs to learn to Ground and Center so nothing will shake her shields once she gets them up.” 

“I agree,” Elayna said. “The next question, of course, is how to go about teaching her to control her Gift without blowing her cover completely.”

“I know. You're not the only one who assumed I was bedding her. My uncle has said something about it, as well.”

“She should probably be pulled from your uncle's house,” Elayna said pointedly. “She’ll need to spend too much time training her Gift for it to not be suspicious. Meanwhile, it may take me some time to decide on a Mindhealer to teach her that won't ask too many questions.”

“I can get her Grounding and Centering,” Kris said. “I’m already tutoring her. I can take that on as well.” 

“Good. That will give me more time to decide on a good teacher for her to use her Empathy,” Elayna said. “Well, no time like the present to start.”

***

Kris entered Talia’s room a little while later after talking to Talamir and Alberich. Talia was looked up when he came in and smiled. “I have news. It seems the hit to your head woke up a Gift, called Empathy.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you can sense what people are feeling. You may develop the ability to influence it, and help them Heal from traumas.”

“Oh.” She seemed to think for a minute. “So what I sensed from you and Healer Elayna was real?”

Kris stilled. “What, what exactly did you sense?”

Talia blushed. “Well, it felt a little like I do when I think about Dirk, except more intense. Like you two were ready to rip each other’s clothes off and drag each other to bed.”

Kris wasn’t sure how to respond to someone he thought of a little sister picking this up from him, but then something occurred to him. “Wait, do you mean we both felt this way?

“Yes.”

:Hmm, almost sounds like someone has caught feelings.:  Tantris chimed in.

Chapter Text

Kris wasn’t sure what to do with the knowledge that Talia had imparted to him about both him and Elayna, but he was sure he was supposed to do something. He knew if he asked Tantris he’d just get another damned reminder about honesty.

So maybe honesty and communication were the best way to go about things. But maybe not too much honesty, Elayna seemed the type to get defensive and run if he was too blunt.

He poked his head into her office, where she was filing reports. “Can I come in?”

“Sure,” she said, looking up.

“I was thinking, maybe we should discuss finding Talia a teacher over dinner?”

***

Elayna wasn’t sure what Herald Kris was suggesting, so she decided to check, “Should we invite Alberich and Talamir as well?”

There was a look of panic on his face that was quickly smoothed over, “We could, but Talamir is usually obligated to take dinner with the Court, and Talia wants Alberich less involved.”

It was the look of panic that told her what he was about, he wanted to have dinner with her, and was seeking out her company. Part of her almost insisted they work it around Talamir’s schedule, but another part of her was thrilled that he wanted time in her company. 

The later part of her won out. “As long as it’s not the Bell, the food there is too greasy.”

***

Elayna couldn’t believe the amount of effort she put into finding the right pair of Greens to wear to eat dinner with Kris. The pair that fit her just so. She certainly wasn’t going to admit that she spent any extra time in front of her tiny mirror doing her hair. 

She didn’t know why she put any effort in. She’d asked around about Kris (discreetly) and discovered that all of his previous lovers were fellow Heralds. There was no way he was interested in her like that. Besides, he could have any woman he wanted, and quite a few men, there was no reason he’d be interested in her. This was strictly a working meal.

She arrived at the tavern they’d agreed to, and found him already waiting, out of uniform. He waved her over, and she joined him at the table. He’s not wearing Whites. Why am I wearing Greens? I’m technically off duty, right? But he said he wanted to talk about Talia and…

Ugh! Why does he have to look so poetic in black? He looks like something out of a Bardic ballad! Alright, Elayna, calm down. 

Despite her inner panic which she didn't understand at all, she smiled. “Have you ordered, yet?”

“Just some wine. I wanted to wait until you got here, since I wasn't sure what you would enjoy,” Kris said. “But ehris wine is my favorite, and I thought you might like it, too.”

Elayna nodded. “I do. It's easy to overdo it, though, so I don't have it often.”

“And always with food,” Kris said. “The serving girl said that they have some good roast venison, tonight. I was thinking about having that.”

“I think a good trencher of stew sounds better,” Elayna said. 

The server, seeing that Elayna had arrived, came and took their orders. Elayna and Kris continued to make small talk until their dinner arrived, and then lowered their voices to discuss Talia's need for a teacher. 

“You said you can get her grounding and centering?” Elayna asked. 

“I’m sure of it,” Kris said. “She's intelligent and learns new concepts easily. I have no doubt she'll grasp it quickly. Then it's just a matter of a Mindhealer who can be trusted to be discreet about things.”

“I’ve been thinking about that all afternoon. I think our best bet is Healer Alara. She's a Mindhealer who is used to teaching and also used to working with Heralds. She won't say a word if she knows she needs to keep quiet. Now, what about getting Talia out of your uncle's house?”

Kris shrugged. “My uncle doesn't really pay much attention to his servants. All we have to do is tell him that the hit Talia took to the head is taking longer to heal than expected, and that she likely won't be back. After that, Talamir can find something else for her.”

“Is that wise, considering her age?” Elayna asked. 

“It's not up to me,” Kris said. “If it were, she would be under the care of loving parents, but she never even had that. As I told you. As it is, what Talia does is up to her, though after this, Talamir may well take her out of the game.”

“I hope so, for her sake.” Elayna took a chunk of the bread that made up her trencher and scooped up some of the stew with it before popping it in her mouth. Why? Why couldn't she think of anything further to say? “I’ll talk to Alara tomorrow, if it's alright with you.” Why does it matter if it's okay with Kris? Why should I care about his approval on the matter? 

Oh, right. Because he's the one that's going to help Talia ground and center, and he's the one that's going to get her to open up to Alara.

“That sounds like a good idea,” Kris said. “I’m glad you agreed to have dinner with me. I wanted to spend time with you, to get to know you better. I mean, after all, it looks like we're going to be working together quite a bit…”

“Yes, that does seem like a good idea,” Elayna said. Calm down, she told herself. This is still just business. “How do you feel about taking this somewhere more private, where we can talk more openly, like my quarters?”

“I’d like that. A lot,” Kris said. He paid for their food, leaving a generous tip, and the two of them walked back to the House of Healing, where Elayna kept her quarters. 

Once the door was shut, though, Elayna couldn't help but realize she wanted so much more than to talk. Perhaps she was accidentally projecting, though she was fairly certain her shields were up. Whether she was or not, though, Kris seemed to be able to read her mind as he kissed her, and she found herself kissing him back, ecstatic that he wanted her as a lover even as she wondered why that excited her so much. 

Soon enough, as their passion flared, they found themselves in Elayna’s bed, exploring each other's bodies. 

***

It was time, Orthallen thought, to pay a visit to his nephew, and he did so after dinner, only to find that Kris was not in his quarters. But the door was unlocked, and he let himself in. 

Something on Kris’s desk caught his eye. A letter to Herald Dirk. Normally, Orthallen wasn't one to read his nephew's private correspondence, but he saw the phrase “head injury.” Interesting. Why was Kris writing to Dirk about Bridget's head injury? Unless it was serious between them? Oh Gods, the shame, Orthallen thought at the idea of his nephew marrying his undercook.

I thought you might want to know that Talia suffered a nasty head injury when she was almost run over by a horse and cart. Healer Elayna and I got her taken care of, and she is recovering well.

It didn't take much for Orthallen to put two and two together, and he left to go home. If Bridget's real name was Talia, and Kris knew that, then Kris knew other things that he wasn't telling him about. 

If Talia/Bridget was working in his home under an alias, then she was obviously there as a spy, and if Kris knew, then Kris was also spying on him, using Talia as a tool. They might be sleeping together or not, but those secret meetings were obviously for Talia to pass information. 

It occurred to Orthallen that he ought to do some more research into young Talia. He had seen her a few times, and he wondered how well trained she actually was, as well as her real age. Because surely if she had lied about her name, she had lied about that, as well. She must be older, surely, to be so well trained as a spy.

Perhaps she was an acrobat; that would explain her small size.

He wasn't certain, yet, how to handle things where Talia was concerned. Not to mention Kris’ betrayal. He would decide that once he had more facts. After all, the more one knew about an enemy, even if that enemy was your own nephew, the more easily you could crush them. 

Chapter Text

Talia was released from the House of Healing after about a week. Talamir had told her she’d need to take a break from spying, but that was alright. According to Kris and Elayna, she had something new to focus on. A Gift. Empathy. Elayna explained to her what the Gift meant, that she could sense the emotions of others, project her own, and possibly even influence others, and that they had a Mind Healer to properly train her. 

And so Talia took up a lease on a new apartment in one of the safer parts of Haven, with the building right next door to a small town house, with a beautiful garden, that was owned by a sweet old widow who took a liking to Talia, often giving her extra fruits and vegetables. 

The result was that Talia had a bowl of black currants on the table when Kris next visited. “Where did those come from?” he asked. 

“The woman next door gave them to me from her garden,” Talia said. “She told me that she had grown too many to use, herself. I thought I might make some jam with them.”

Kris, who loved black currants, himself, grabbed a small handful and ate them, savoring their mouthwatering sweet-tart flavor even as Talia gave him a stern look that was likely meant to be intimidating but wasn't. Not in the least. 

Not when Kris knew her as well as he did. 

Talia snatched the bowl away and put it on the counter. “How am I supposed to make jam if you eat them all?”

“Sorry,” Kris said, grinning. “I never have been able to resist the things. Are you ready to get started?” 

“Yes. Now do I do this grounding and centering thing?”

“First, sit and get comfortable,” Kris said. He began leading her through the exercises, but soon found his mouth drying out. He got some water from the pitcher Talia always kept, and continued, confused when no amount of water could seem to quench his sudden need. And then the headache hit. 

“Are you alright?” Talia asked. 

“I don't know,” Kris admitted. “Have you had any of the currants?” 

“No. I told you, I’m planning to make jam.” 

Starting to feel his stomach cramp, Kris stood and went over to the bowl. He picked up one of the berries and examined it closely. “Don’t make jam from them. Throw them out. I’m going to see a Healer, immediately.” 

“What's wrong with them?” Talia asked. 

“Those aren't currants,” Kris said. “They're deadly nightshade.” He collapsed, then, no longer conscious.

Before Talia could panic too much, her apartment was swarmed with Healers and Heralds, who must have been summoned by Tantris. Unfortunately, she didn’t recognize any of them. The Healers carried Kris off and took the currants without any prompting from Talia. The Heralds seemed suspicious of her.

“Is Kris going to be okay?” She asked a Healer, to no answer.

A Herald approached her, finally. “I’m Herald Kyril. I’m going to need you to come with me to the guard post to answer some questions.”

Talia nodded, scared. Surely they didn’t think she’d poisoned Kris on purpose, did they?

Her best bet, she knew, was to just go with them and answer Herald Kyril's questions, and so she let them guide her to a large building on palace grounds. She thought she remembered it from the tour she had been given of the grounds and the safer areas of Haven. 

Once inside, Kyril led her into a private room and motioned for her to take a seat. “Do you know what Truth Spell is?” he asked. 

Talia shook her head. “Nobody has told me about it.”

“It's very simple,” Kyril explained. “There will be a blue mist surrounding you, and you won't be able to see it, but I will, and there are two stages. In the first stage, the mist will disappear if you lie. In the second stage, you’ll be forced to tell the truth.”

“I won't lie, anyway,” Talia said. 

“I should hope not,” Kyril said. “But because of the crime you’re accused of, I do have to invoke it.”

“Will it hurt?”

“Not a bit. You won't feel a thing. I promise.”

***

Herald Kyril was just sitting down to question the obviously frightened young woman who may have poisoned a Herald when the door to the room burst open. It was Lord Orthallen.

“Is it true this chit just poisoned my nephew? Ah, Bridget, is it, I suppose he was going to break things off with you in favor of that Healer? And you couldn’t let that happen could you?”

“You know her?”

“She used to be an undercook in my household, Kris was sleeping with her. I had to ask him to be more discreet so as not to disrupt my household.”

Kyril was shocked by this, but tried not to let it show on his face. It sounded very unlike Kris. 

“I’d like to be here when you question her, considering it is my nephew and all,” Orthallan said.

Kyril had the  utmost respect for Lord Orthallen, and it seemed like a reasonable request coming from one of the Queen’s most trusted advisors. “Of course.”

With a clerk to take notes, Kyril began the proceedings.

“I’m going to be using Truth Spell, since there was an attack on a Herald’s life.” The girl nodded, clearly scared. He cast First Stage Truth Spell, then continued. “State your name, for the record.”

“Talia Cooper.” The Vrondi held steady, but it was different from the name Orthallen had called her.

“Have you ever gone by any other names?”

“Yes.”

“And what are those names?” He pushed.

“I’m sorry, Herald, that’s on a need to know basis. And you don’t need to know.” The girl had guts, that was sure. The Vrondi had held steady through her announcement. So  she believed what she was saying. Well, it seemed Second Stage was called for. Silently Kyril invoked Second Stage Truth Spell, and then asked again. “What names have you gone by?”

“Talia Sensdaughter, Talia Bryanswife, Talia Cooper, Janet Carter, and Bridget Stafford.”

“Why have you gone by so many names?”

“Talia Sensdaughter was my maiden name, Talia Bryanswife my married name. When I got divorced I changed it to Talia Cooper. Janet Carter and Bridget Stafford were both aliases I used in my work.”

This was going to take a lot longer than Kyril had thought to interrogate her.

“Sensdaughter and Bryanswife, are you Holderkin?”

“I was, yes,”

“Was?” Kyríl pressed. 

Talia nodded. “I left that life behind. I no longer consider myself Holderkin.”

***

:Chosen?:

:What is it, Rolan?:

:You need to get to the guard post here in the palace grounds, immediately. Tantris informed me that his Chosen has been poisoned, and I have it from Kethas that his Chosen is currently interrogating Talia, as she stands accused.:

Talamir hadn't moved this fast since he was a young man. This was very much an emergency. If he didn't get there in time…

He didn't want to think about the implications. He was more than slightly panicking as he made his way to the guard post.

Unfortunately, it was too late by the time he got there. He could hear Talia answering another question. Kyril must have been using Truth Spell, possibly even Second Stage, because he heard Talia admit to being only fourteen. Still… “Kyril, stop!” 

“Talamir, she's been accused of a very serious crime,” Kyril said. “And she's already confessed to multiple aliases.”

“And I will pull rank if I have to,” Talamir said. He wisely didn't say that the girl would one day be Kyril's superior. He wasn't sure if the other man could handle that. 

“And help her cover up her crime?” Orthallen asked. 

“They think I poisoned Kris,” Talia said, “but I didn't. Herald Kyril could have just asked me that instead of all the other questions.”

Kyril had the good sense to look embarrassed, at least, regarding the fact that this girl had just pointed out the obvious. He could have just asked Talia point blank about the poisoning. 

Talamir, realizing the damage was done at this point, but not sure how much more to let her admit to, motioned to Kyril to continue. “Go ahead, but if you ask her a question I don't want her answering, I’ll tell her not to answer.” 

Kyril turned back to Talia, having never removed Truth Spell. “Did you try to kill Herald Kris?” 

“No,” Talia said. “I would never do that! He’s been so kind to me. I thought they were black currants. The woman next door gave them to me from her garden. I had no idea what they were. I was planning to make jam from them and told Kris not to eat any, because of that, but he did anyway. And we weren't sleeping together.”

“If Kris wasn't sleeping with you, then why were you meeting in secret?” Kyril asked, relieved to hear that Kris hadn't acted dishonorably. 

“He's my tutor,” Talia said. “He's been teaching me. And today he was supposed to teach me to Ground and Center, because I have a Gift. Healer Elayna called it Empathy.” 

Talamir recalled the conversation with Kris. “You see? There's no jealousy involved. She's just been getting an education, and this poisoning was clearly an accident.” Personally, he wasn’t so sure, but he wanted any further investigation to be done without Orthallen’s knowledge.

“Well, I suppose I’ll have to be satisfied with that,” Orthallen said. Was it just Talamir, or did Orthallen sound extremely disappointed? 

“Just one more question, youngling,” Kyril said, “and this is for the purposes of your own safety. “Tell us where to find Bryan, so we can ensure to arrest him for forcing you into marriage. The age of consent is sixteen.” 

“Don't answer that,” Talamir said. 

“Talamir, he has to be arrested for his crime,” Kyril said. 

“But it wasn't consummated,” Talia said. 

“He still forced you into an underage marriage,” Kyril said. 

“One might think Talamir is trying to protect a predator,” Orthallen said. “So young, and unable to tell the difference between currants and deadly nightshade, young Talia is undoubtedly too innocent to understand how serious this is.”

Damn. “I am not covering up a predator,” Talamir said. With a sigh, he nodded to Talia. 

Talia looked down. “Bryan doesn't exist,” she said. “It's an alias for Herald Alberich. He is my ex-husband.”