1. Chapter 1 (1/2)

disclaimer:

i disclaim ownership of any and all things in this story that belong

to mercedes lackey.

a/n:

this story is set in the au that i created for "worlds collide,"

and is a gift for etcetera-cat on the occasion of her upcoming

birthday (no, i can't wait until then...i got inspired). actually,

i never thought of writing a story for someone's birthday until i

saw her do it for someone else here. see what you started?

-smile- may the only angst you find on your birthday be

fictitious.

a

forest of sorrow

by

herald

jacquelle herald

aiqueth leaned over the neck of his galloping companion, every nerve

afire with a near-terror. he didn't need to urge delia on. he

could practically feel her own fear in their mindlink, one so strong

that the pain of having hairs ripped from her mane and tail by the

passing tree

anches didn't even register in her mind.

:they're

everywhere!: she cried out.

the

great forest was full of raiders. it always had been, but this

summer had been particularly bad, and the circle wasn't sure why.

already that year, they'd lost six heralds trying to defend their

northern border.

aiqueth

had the sickening feeling that he was going to be number seven.

:it's

oad daylight,: he sent back, :and they're not even trying

to hide.: he'd seen a scattered few among the trees just before

that arrow had nearly pinned him to the tree he'd been resting

against. he and delia were now headed south at her fastest pace, and

to the lowest hells with any under

ush or low-lying

anches.

aiqueth was bent over her neck as low as he could manage, but he

still felt the sting of the

anches as they whipped his face.

looking down at delia's withers, he could see angry red scratches,

some bleeding, and his heart went out to her. but she was

concentrating so much on moving that he knew she wouldn't

feel the pain the

anches inflicted until they were out of danger

and resting.

if

they survived.

they

shouldn't have come into the forest that morning, aiqueth realized,

but he knew it would do little good to relay that information to his

companion now. the village of wellsmeet had been attacked the day

before, marking the most southerly excursion the bandits had made

into valdemaran territory to date. he'd had a bad feeling about

pursuing the raiders back into the forest, but he ignored it. having

only the faintest touch of foresight, he'd never really been able

to tell the difference between the working of the gift and his own

intuition. and it was so slight, it had never really mattered

anyway. the forest had everyone spooked, and if heralds obeyed every

bad feeling they got about it, the raiders would have pushed the

border back halfway to haven by now. but when his gift did

work...

aiqueth

forced the thought from his mind. there was nothing he could do

about it now.

an

arrow hissed near his ear and he felt a sudden pain in his right arm.

he looked down to see a tear in his whites, and a long, bloody cut

near his shoulder.

:dammit,

that was close!:

:hold

on, chosen,: delia replied, and aiqueth noticed that there was a

desperate edge to her voice that he'd never heard before. :we're

almost there, and i've sent word to jasen in berrybay. he and his

chosen have warned the guard there, and are riding to wellsmeet even

now.:

a

scant few seasons ago, the raiders would never have thought of