-Reliable Sources -
By TheRogue
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except for the characters you don't recognize form the books; those are mine. So I own next to nothing.
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Padduk L'Petrie nearly laughed with relief as he saw the palace of the capital of Tortall, Corus, rise in the near distance. His ride hadn't been a hard one, really. The weather had been good, considering it was March, and he hadn't met any bandits or raiders along the way. It was the fact that no one he knew seemed to want him to go on that ride. Of course, he had gone anyway; he never let what someone thought get in the way of him doing something. He had still taken the ride, because he knew he must, he knew it was important even if everyone had told him to forget about it. But Padduk had not gone happily on the ride, rather, he had gone reluctantly. He didn't like not being in everyone's good graces in the first place, and now he knew that they would never accept him back into the community, now that he'd gone against them like this. Yet here he was. Perhaps he was headstrong, as his mother had always said he was. Padduk hadn't known what it meant at the time, but he knew he did now.
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King Jonathan knocked at the door to the rooms Lady Alanna used when she was at the palace, aware that she wouldn't like what he had to tell her. Behind him were Lord Raoul, Lord Miles and Buri, his most trusted advisors along with Alanna.
"Good evening, your majesty, Miles, Raoul, Buri," The Lioness said as she opened the door and let them in. Her eyes were questioning; the king and his advisors usually didn't call on her in the afternoon, they waited until the evening because the afternoon was when appointments were made. So either the king had no appointments lined up for today, or something very big had happened.
As the sat down at Alanna's table, she fixed lemonade for them and joined them at the table. "So what brings this lovely group to me?" she asked when they were all settled.
"Well, as you've probably already guessed, me and Thayet didn't have any appointments set up for today," Jon said. "So we decided to see some of those people who show up requesting to see the king and queen, but don't schedule an official appointment beforehand." Alanna nodded. She had already guessed all of this, and still didn't see why half of the king's council was here.
"I know that half of the time these people aren't worth listening to, but I have a feeling that this one may be worth looking into, and it seems quite serious as well. So I want this visitor to tell his story to all of you as well, because I'd like to have your opinion on the matter."
"So why don't you just tell us what his deal is, instead of wrangling us all together to go down and have this stranger tell us himself?" Alanna asked, finishing her lemonade.
"I didn't want to keep him waiting, and I thought he could tell the story better. So will you come hear him? It won't take that long. The rest have agreed to," Jon said, indicating the others seated with them.
"I guess so. It's not like I'm doing anything terribly important now that I'm on this break from the fighting with Scanra," the Lioness said, rubbing her eyes. She didn't feel like working, but this was her king. Jon smiled at her, and they headed off to the throne room.
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Alanna looked at the young man that Jon had introduced to her, Raoul, Buri and Miles as Padduk L'Petrie. Everyone was in one of the palace's conference rooms, because they could seat everyone, unlike the throne room. Padduk was at the opposite end of the table of them, standing. He looked as if he had no idea what he should be doing in the presence of people of such eminence. As soon as she had seen him, Alanna had known that he had good reason to be nervous in the palace, and especially among some of Tortall's most important people. The Lioness had instantly recognized the visitor as a gypsy, people who were often ostracized by other Tortallian society. His moon-faced, soft-featured looks, pale skin and dark eyes spoke of a mix of nationalities, as almost all gypsies were. His clothing was their traditional garb: very loose and baggy brown linen pants, a white shirt that draw-stringed at the neck and cuffs, and a fine, home-tooled leather vest, and around his waist a collection of scarves and sashes were tied, with a dagger and battle axe stuck into them. Padduk had the traditional numerous ear piercings and necklaces as well. One thing puzzled Alanna, though: the man's head was completely and utterly bald. He was obviously too young to have had his hair fall out (he looked barely 23), so he must have shaved it on purpose. This puzzled her.
For a few minutes, nothing was said, and Padduk just stood there debating whether he should take it upon himself to sit at the table with them, or if he should wait for the monarchs to invite him to sit. Just as he had decided to sit, the King said, "You may sit, Mr. L'Petrie." Padduk blushed and sat, looking at his hands folded in his lap.
"Mr. Padduk, I have brought my advisors from my council here to listen to your story because I would like to have their opinion on the matter. Do you mind repeating what you've told me for them?" King Jonathan asked, Padduk lifting his eyes to look at him.
"Yes, I can certainly do that if your majesty wishes," Padduk replied, with a brisk intelligence that was unexpected by the others. The gypsy cleared his throat and then began. "As you may know, I am what many refer to as a gypsy. Gypsies such as myself live in traveling caravans and are usually shepherds. My caravan is L'Petrie, hence my sir-name. There is a middle-aged woman in our caravan that has been known for her accurate Sight, and she often consults her Seeings for the caravan. She has never used her Sight to help anyone outside of our caravan, since we Gypsies do not usually like to get tied in with others. Lately, though, this woman has been Seeing different things then usual. Her Seeings usually had to do with the caravan or people within it. Now she has been Seeing things that have to do with the whole country, all of Tortall. And she says all of her Seeings have to do with the fighting with Scanra; upcoming battles, tactics, important victories, etc. I, myself, haven't been around when she's given them since I don't know her that well. But she has been having them. The caravan was concerned but didn't want to notify anyone. As I told you, we don't like to get tied up with the outside. We like to tend to our sheep, travel and trade with other caravans. We're simple people and we like to keep it that way. Besides, the outside doesn't like us much because we usually squat when our caravan needs to stop. So nobody wanted to tell anyone else about this woman's visions. I guess I was the only one who saw how important this might be to Tortall, because I was the only one who attempted to tell your majesties about them. The rest of the caravan told me not to go, but I went anyway. I know that they won't let me back with them, but...I guess Tortall is worth it." Padduk finished with a sigh, and fidgeted with the scarves at his waist.
The king looked at his advisors. "So what do you think we should do? Should we take it seriously?"
"I think you should at least send someone to check things out with her, see what the really deal is before we go ballistic over this," Buri spoke up.
Alanna nodded. "I agree. I could be real, or she could be making it up for attention. People with the sight have been known to be very accurate even with matters as broad as this one," she said.
"So what about you two, Miles and Raoul? You agree that we should send someone to check it out before taking it full on?" The King asked. Raoul and Miles nodded their agreement. "That's settled then. Now whom should we send? I'm thinking about two should go with Padduk to where the caravan was when he left and find them from there."
The advisors took a moment to think, when Alanna spoke up nonchalantly. "I'll go. I'm suppose to be 'taking a break' from fighting with Scanra, since I've been down there for nearly a year."
"When I told you to take a break, I meant it, Alanna. You can't work non-stop," Jon said, frowning.
"This will be a break. I'm just going to go for a little ride with my buddy Padduk here and visit with a Seer. No big deal," The Lioness retorted, giving Padduk a smile when she mentioned him. He felt very awkward with people talking about him and his problems while he was around.
Jon rolled his eyes and sighed, showing that he had given up. "Okay, you may go, Alanna. I suppose you haven't done this sort of thing in while, after all. I want you taking two other knights with you for safety. You can never be two sure with the fighting going on now."
"Hmm... Who's here at the palace now?" Alanna thought out loud. There's Kel of Mindelin, I can take her along, and who else? Anyone remember if any other Knight is here?"
"There's Neal of Queenscove, I believe. We were talking yesterday," Raoul pointed out.
"Okay, so that's that. Alanna, you will leave tomorrow along with Lady Kel and Sir Neal, and Padduk will be your guide," Jon proclaimed, finalizing the decision. He looked to Padduk for approval.
"Sounds wonderful to me. But, honestly, three knights? That's more than all the nobility I had seen in my life before today!" Padduk said in all honesty. The small council couldn't help but giggle at that.
By TheRogue
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except for the characters you don't recognize form the books; those are mine. So I own next to nothing.
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Padduk L'Petrie nearly laughed with relief as he saw the palace of the capital of Tortall, Corus, rise in the near distance. His ride hadn't been a hard one, really. The weather had been good, considering it was March, and he hadn't met any bandits or raiders along the way. It was the fact that no one he knew seemed to want him to go on that ride. Of course, he had gone anyway; he never let what someone thought get in the way of him doing something. He had still taken the ride, because he knew he must, he knew it was important even if everyone had told him to forget about it. But Padduk had not gone happily on the ride, rather, he had gone reluctantly. He didn't like not being in everyone's good graces in the first place, and now he knew that they would never accept him back into the community, now that he'd gone against them like this. Yet here he was. Perhaps he was headstrong, as his mother had always said he was. Padduk hadn't known what it meant at the time, but he knew he did now.
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King Jonathan knocked at the door to the rooms Lady Alanna used when she was at the palace, aware that she wouldn't like what he had to tell her. Behind him were Lord Raoul, Lord Miles and Buri, his most trusted advisors along with Alanna.
"Good evening, your majesty, Miles, Raoul, Buri," The Lioness said as she opened the door and let them in. Her eyes were questioning; the king and his advisors usually didn't call on her in the afternoon, they waited until the evening because the afternoon was when appointments were made. So either the king had no appointments lined up for today, or something very big had happened.
As the sat down at Alanna's table, she fixed lemonade for them and joined them at the table. "So what brings this lovely group to me?" she asked when they were all settled.
"Well, as you've probably already guessed, me and Thayet didn't have any appointments set up for today," Jon said. "So we decided to see some of those people who show up requesting to see the king and queen, but don't schedule an official appointment beforehand." Alanna nodded. She had already guessed all of this, and still didn't see why half of the king's council was here.
"I know that half of the time these people aren't worth listening to, but I have a feeling that this one may be worth looking into, and it seems quite serious as well. So I want this visitor to tell his story to all of you as well, because I'd like to have your opinion on the matter."
"So why don't you just tell us what his deal is, instead of wrangling us all together to go down and have this stranger tell us himself?" Alanna asked, finishing her lemonade.
"I didn't want to keep him waiting, and I thought he could tell the story better. So will you come hear him? It won't take that long. The rest have agreed to," Jon said, indicating the others seated with them.
"I guess so. It's not like I'm doing anything terribly important now that I'm on this break from the fighting with Scanra," the Lioness said, rubbing her eyes. She didn't feel like working, but this was her king. Jon smiled at her, and they headed off to the throne room.
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Alanna looked at the young man that Jon had introduced to her, Raoul, Buri and Miles as Padduk L'Petrie. Everyone was in one of the palace's conference rooms, because they could seat everyone, unlike the throne room. Padduk was at the opposite end of the table of them, standing. He looked as if he had no idea what he should be doing in the presence of people of such eminence. As soon as she had seen him, Alanna had known that he had good reason to be nervous in the palace, and especially among some of Tortall's most important people. The Lioness had instantly recognized the visitor as a gypsy, people who were often ostracized by other Tortallian society. His moon-faced, soft-featured looks, pale skin and dark eyes spoke of a mix of nationalities, as almost all gypsies were. His clothing was their traditional garb: very loose and baggy brown linen pants, a white shirt that draw-stringed at the neck and cuffs, and a fine, home-tooled leather vest, and around his waist a collection of scarves and sashes were tied, with a dagger and battle axe stuck into them. Padduk had the traditional numerous ear piercings and necklaces as well. One thing puzzled Alanna, though: the man's head was completely and utterly bald. He was obviously too young to have had his hair fall out (he looked barely 23), so he must have shaved it on purpose. This puzzled her.
For a few minutes, nothing was said, and Padduk just stood there debating whether he should take it upon himself to sit at the table with them, or if he should wait for the monarchs to invite him to sit. Just as he had decided to sit, the King said, "You may sit, Mr. L'Petrie." Padduk blushed and sat, looking at his hands folded in his lap.
"Mr. Padduk, I have brought my advisors from my council here to listen to your story because I would like to have their opinion on the matter. Do you mind repeating what you've told me for them?" King Jonathan asked, Padduk lifting his eyes to look at him.
"Yes, I can certainly do that if your majesty wishes," Padduk replied, with a brisk intelligence that was unexpected by the others. The gypsy cleared his throat and then began. "As you may know, I am what many refer to as a gypsy. Gypsies such as myself live in traveling caravans and are usually shepherds. My caravan is L'Petrie, hence my sir-name. There is a middle-aged woman in our caravan that has been known for her accurate Sight, and she often consults her Seeings for the caravan. She has never used her Sight to help anyone outside of our caravan, since we Gypsies do not usually like to get tied in with others. Lately, though, this woman has been Seeing different things then usual. Her Seeings usually had to do with the caravan or people within it. Now she has been Seeing things that have to do with the whole country, all of Tortall. And she says all of her Seeings have to do with the fighting with Scanra; upcoming battles, tactics, important victories, etc. I, myself, haven't been around when she's given them since I don't know her that well. But she has been having them. The caravan was concerned but didn't want to notify anyone. As I told you, we don't like to get tied up with the outside. We like to tend to our sheep, travel and trade with other caravans. We're simple people and we like to keep it that way. Besides, the outside doesn't like us much because we usually squat when our caravan needs to stop. So nobody wanted to tell anyone else about this woman's visions. I guess I was the only one who saw how important this might be to Tortall, because I was the only one who attempted to tell your majesties about them. The rest of the caravan told me not to go, but I went anyway. I know that they won't let me back with them, but...I guess Tortall is worth it." Padduk finished with a sigh, and fidgeted with the scarves at his waist.
The king looked at his advisors. "So what do you think we should do? Should we take it seriously?"
"I think you should at least send someone to check things out with her, see what the really deal is before we go ballistic over this," Buri spoke up.
Alanna nodded. "I agree. I could be real, or she could be making it up for attention. People with the sight have been known to be very accurate even with matters as broad as this one," she said.
"So what about you two, Miles and Raoul? You agree that we should send someone to check it out before taking it full on?" The King asked. Raoul and Miles nodded their agreement. "That's settled then. Now whom should we send? I'm thinking about two should go with Padduk to where the caravan was when he left and find them from there."
The advisors took a moment to think, when Alanna spoke up nonchalantly. "I'll go. I'm suppose to be 'taking a break' from fighting with Scanra, since I've been down there for nearly a year."
"When I told you to take a break, I meant it, Alanna. You can't work non-stop," Jon said, frowning.
"This will be a break. I'm just going to go for a little ride with my buddy Padduk here and visit with a Seer. No big deal," The Lioness retorted, giving Padduk a smile when she mentioned him. He felt very awkward with people talking about him and his problems while he was around.
Jon rolled his eyes and sighed, showing that he had given up. "Okay, you may go, Alanna. I suppose you haven't done this sort of thing in while, after all. I want you taking two other knights with you for safety. You can never be two sure with the fighting going on now."
"Hmm... Who's here at the palace now?" Alanna thought out loud. There's Kel of Mindelin, I can take her along, and who else? Anyone remember if any other Knight is here?"
"There's Neal of Queenscove, I believe. We were talking yesterday," Raoul pointed out.
"Okay, so that's that. Alanna, you will leave tomorrow along with Lady Kel and Sir Neal, and Padduk will be your guide," Jon proclaimed, finalizing the decision. He looked to Padduk for approval.
"Sounds wonderful to me. But, honestly, three knights? That's more than all the nobility I had seen in my life before today!" Padduk said in all honesty. The small council couldn't help but giggle at that.