Secrets of the Mage Child.
This is based off Tamora Pierce's Tortall series, starting just before The Immortals book one, and I think continuing on through the whole series. I don't own any of her characters, just Abal Malikah aka Becca.
I would really like reviews, because this is the first time I'm ever actually letting anyone read anything I've written, and I know there's always room for improvement. Or rating, I would really appreciate any input.
Corus was teeming with people, because the Rogue had called a meeting of the Court
Corus was teeming with people, because the Rogue had called a meeting of the Court. This might have been the underground of Corus' society on large, but you would not have known it by how these people were dressed up.
It was hardly on par with the royal court, but the Rogue's Court was pretty good for normal standards in Corus.
Today everyone was meeting in the tavern where George Cooper had held the Court in his day. Now though, this tavern had been rearranged so that they had more room to conduct their meeting.
The Rogue was only twenty-eight, though today was his twenty-ninth birthday. He had gained control of the court at the age of only eighteen. That was part of the meeting, which they all thought he had no clue about. Though he had been tipped off by a few of the merchants, the week before.
So the meeting was definitely going to be a good one. The women were all dressed up as nicely as they could afford, and the men were wearing their least damaged clothes. They were all sitting or standing in their accustomed places, looking at the empty chair set up in the center back wall.
The Rogue, Briar Moret, had told them he was getting the woman they called the Rogue Consort. She was supposed to be there for the meeting, but had not shown up on time. That was cause enough for concern, as the Consort was always on time.
That left the rest of the Court to sit still and wait while he fetched her.
The large tavern room had a high, vaulted ceiling, and numerous wooden chairs and benches scattered throughout. The tables were all in a ring around the room with the chairs outside and also inside that ring.
Most of the stuff was pretty sturdy, but there were a few chairs that were prone to tipping, which proved a main form of entertainment. The bartender kept drinks coming, making sure everyone had their own flagon to drink from, and that no one was taking another's, intentionally or not.
Of course, nothing was really all that exciting for a while.
A good thirty minutes after he had left, the Rogue re-entered, laughing at the young woman with him. She was five and a half feet tall, very slender, and she had the bronze skin of the Bazhir tribes from the southern desert, but hers was a lighter shade. Her hair was deep auburn and fell straight and thick to her hips, swishing slightly with her movements. She moved very easily, graceful and also powerful.
Dark green eyes looked up at the Rogue, a smile lifting her blood red lips into a slight curve as she shook her head. "Briar, you might want to reconsider that statement before I'm forced to make you take it back," she warned.
He laughed at her, "That's nonsense Becca, and you know it." Taking his seat, he smiled at her as she gracefully sat in a chair a few feet away.
She had not bothered to change clothes, and so was still in her crimson skirt and white blouse. Over both she wore a blood red bodice that held in her figure. When she sat down, she had spread out the dusky crimson skirt so that it fell even around her.
"Well. Get it underway, Briar. I have a job to get back to. My merchandise doesn't exactly sell itself you know. And you have your thieves to get you an income. I'm relying on honest work." That made him and half the Court laugh as she leaned back in her chair. The bartender offered her a flagon of mead, which she laughed before tilting it to him. "Thank you for this. Just make sure no officials come in or you'll be in trouble for this."
Then the meeting went underway, the thieves of the court talking about their business and how things were going for them.
Really, Abal knew that she was not really meant to be part of this. She was not a thief, and she had never done anything illegal. The reason she was here was because Briar had asked her to. When they had finished up with all the business matters, she yawned slightly. "You all talk for hours about this. Why'd I need to sit in on this then Briar? It really has nothing to do with me."
He smiled slightly. "Because…you've been part of our Court here for six years now. I think that warrants a little party for you."
"Six?" she laughed shaking her head. Holding out her left hand, they all saw the wicked scar on it. "It's been eight years Briar. I was only eight when I stopped that dagger. I cannot believe you don't remember that!" she smiled at him, shaking her head in sorrow. "Truthfully you know nothing about me, do you Rogue?"
He winced slightly. "I am sorry Becca. That is the other reason you're here. To remind us exactly how grateful we should be."
Looking over at him, she shook her head. "Spit it out Briar. Why exactly am I here? You always have a reason. Just like why you never left me alone even when father told you to." Her eyes were crafty as she looked up at him. "So spit it out already. I don't exactly have time to be worrying about this."
He laughed. "How would you like to be an actual member of this Court?"
Looking at him incredulously, she giggled. "You've got to be kidding me. I actually join the Court and the officials are all down my back. I already get enough heat for not being a woman and dealing in weapons. I'm lucky they haven't found out exactly how young I am yet. I can't risk getting caught."
"You wouldn't," he laughed. "We're just talking honorary. Not any actual danger. You don't have to sell anything beyond your business now, no stealing or anything."
Leaning forward, her elbows rested fully on her knees. "Mm…no risk to my business or reputation?" she asked, looking at him. "I don't exactly have any other way to make my living except for my shop."
"Your reputation?" the bartender shook his head. "The officials know you consort with us. They just don't know how you fit in. Also, you're seen as a lady, so they won't just question you. They'd have to catch you in an illegal act before they could touch you with anything."
She wrinkled her nose slightly in annoyance. "Yeah. That old rumor about my family being an offshoot of the Conté family? Or better yet, that somehow my family is descended from the Gods."
"Well you never know," Briar said, smiling. "What if you are?"
"We have nothing strange about our family. In fact, I'm the only one left," she stated that calmly. "I'm not too worried about the officials though. Besides, I've never read anything about the family. Why are there all these rumors?"
"Because," Briar smiled slightly, "you're quite elusive. You never say anything about your family or about yourself. Really, none of us know very much about you."
One of the thieves was looking out the window. "We have company Rogue. The Provost Guard is coming here," he called out above the laughter and conversations that had abounded when Abal Malikah insisted on changing the subject. "Becca, better get rid of that mead now!"
They all quickly covered up the younger ones flagons, downing them and tossing them to the barkeep. She smiled at him and downed the rest of the mead before she tossed the flagon to him. He slipped it under the counter, laughing at her. "That was good Becca. I've never seen you drink like that."
"Sit around you thieves for long enough, and you learn how to down that nasty drink," she retorted calmly.
Briar laughed at her, "Come and dance. It's as good a cover up as any." He took her arm and led her onto the cleared floor. "Well? You do know how to dance still, don't you? After all, I have taught you before."
Nodding, she curtsied to him. Keeping her right hand clenched on her skirt, she lifted her left arm slightly to let him take it. "How could I forget a thing like that? Simple really to remember how to dance."
Her smile was sweet as he swept his left arm around her waist. "Becca, why didn't you change? You stand out way too much now."
"Hush." She rolled her eyes. "Just make sure this looks good when they walk in or we're all in trouble."
The door opened, and the four guard members all stared at her.
Dropping her left hand from his grasp, she stepped back, a slight smile on her lips. "Hello. How may we help you?"
The four men all shook their heads. "Miss Malikah?" nodding slightly, she turned fully around, giving them her full attention. "We've been asked to take you in for questioning in relation to a break in to your store today."
"No one breaks into my shop, as I'm well certain you know," she said, shaking her head.
The youngest snorted. "I told you she wouldn't believe it. Abal Malikah grew up in the Lower City; she knows a lie when she hears it. Plus, you've heard about how she's the luckiest shopkeeper in the whole country."
She smiled sweetly at him. "Hardly. I just have a fair bit of good luck. I didn't grow up in Corus though. I moved here when I was five. I grew up in the Bazhir."
Briar stepped forward, "Why exactly are you here? We aren't letting the Rogue Consort go anywhere with you. He'd kill us for it. So you'll have to conduct your business with Miss Becca here."
"The lords think she has something to do with the strange behavior of the knights, squires, and pages weapons that have come from her shop," the youngest said. "They want to know what she did to the weapons."
Looking annoyed, Abal Malikah sighed and sat down on the bar. Her legs were pressed together, and all of the men averted their eyes on seeing her ankles exposed. Laughing at that, she drew their eyes up to her face. "They sent a mage down with the weapons master when he bought from me. A tall man, probably a foot taller than I am, black hair, looked like a Tyran. Ask him what magic I put on those weapons, like I even have any magic or Gift." Waving her hand dismissively she shut her green eyes.
The shortest shook his head. "He said he cannot detect any normal magic from it. But he said you had to have some amount of the Gift to produce such stunning weapons with such power."
"Gift? I have no magic. I don't make those. I just sell them," she said calmly. "Do you think that I could have hands like this if I made weapons?" she held out her hands palm up, completely smooth of any cuts or calluses.
"Numair Salmalín wanted to interview you," the youngest spoke.
He was surprised at how smooth her hands were, until she flipped them back over and rested them on her knees. "What is that?" he asked, lifting up her left hand. Across the back was a thin scar, white against her darker skin.
Pulling her hand back she stood up calmly. "A scar I've had for some years. If this Mr. Salmalín wants to see me then fine. I want to get this over with."
"Becca," the barkeep called. "Rogue won't like to hear this you know."
Looking back over her shoulder, a wicked smile touched her lips. "Well I don't particularly care what he likes. I'm free to do whatever I want to after all. If the Rogue really wishes to push the issue, tell him he can speak with me about it some other day. I really am not under his care, nor am I his wife, so he has no say in what I do."
Waving slightly she left the tavern, the four Guards surrounding her outside. "Miss Malikah," the oldest said, "it will be easiest to ride up to the palace."
Looking at the five horses, she smiled slightly. Walking up, she laughed as one of them, the nicest and strongest butted his nose into her shoulder. Leaning down, she spoke softly to him as she unbuckled the saddle. Letting it drop to the ground, she whispered something. The horse knelt down, onto one knee as she lifted up her skirt to sit astride. The horse rose back up, neighing and lifting up onto his back feet. "Well?"
They all shook their heads in disbelief but mounted up, one of them making sure to grab the saddle and blankets. Smiling, she urged the stallion on, and he responded magnificently. He thundered up the road, with the other four struggling to keep up with her and the fast mount.
When they reached the stables, she had dismounted, smiling and stroking the stallion. "He's an amazing boy," she said looking at them.
They all dismounted, asking the stable boys to take care of the five horses until they were ready to leave again. They motioned for her to walk before them into the palace. Looking around she snorted. "What is it Miss Malikah?"
"This is rather ostentatious, don't you think?" she asked, looking around.
The four men laughed, agreeing with her. They were walking down a hallway, and a large group of boys walked around a corner running into them. The tallest boy, the one in the lead, ran head into Abal Malikah. Her quick dance step backwards, coupled by her lifting of her skirts, was all that stopped her from getting hit.
The boys all stared at her, mostly shocked by her shoes being seen by them. Rolling her eyes, she dropped her skirt back down and made a clicking sound. "My face is up here," she said calmly. "What are you anyways? You look like a troop of thieves out on a big bust from the market."
That drew outraged calls from the boys who all made a din saying they were squires and pages.
"Ahh…" she said, looking bored and completely unimpressed by what they said. "So you are noble brats. Well I have business to finish up today, so you can kindly move yourselves out of my way."
They were all protesting when a soft but also imposing voice interrupted them. "You all were raised to listen to a lady. Even if that lady is not necessarily the most graceful and polite," a tall man said. She recognized him, and smiled slightly. "Ah…Miss Abal Malikah. You could come then. Please, come into my office. We need to discuss some matters of a fair bit of importance."
The young men all stared at their teacher. "Master Numair, you actually know her?" the tallest boy asked, nodding at the young woman who now had her hands resting on her hips.
"I recognize you. Most of you sneak off to Corus occasionally," she said, smiling sweetly as the boys all flushed.
"This is the Rogue Consort," Numair said, smiling at her. "I suggest you boys don't insult her. The Rogue would find out, and then you won't be able to buy anything down in Corus."
She rolled her eyes. "Hardly so bad as that. I'm the one to watch out for," she winked at the boys, who all shook their heads.
They were walking off, and one of them muttered something, which made all the other boys laugh. Numair looked at her, seeing her tense up, and the flash of her green eyes as she looked up. "Excuse me?" her voice was cold and halted them all in their tracks. "What did you just say?
He looked back. "You can't have heard that from over there."
Her eyes looked dangerous, and she shook her head in slight disgust. A strange aura surrounded her, green tinged with black as a tendril snapped from her to the boy in question. It wrapped around his throat and began to squeeze. Her eyes widened as she instantly shut her eyes, murmuring a single word over and over.
Numair watched in interest as the green tendril only reluctantly retreated from his neck. It released his neck first, letting him breath, and then wrapped around his head a few times before sliding back to float around her.
Opening her eyes, she sighed. "Don't you ever call me a whore again."
"I thought you said you didn't have the Gift," one of the Guard said, eyes wide with shock. "That sure looked like the Gift."
Numair smiled slightly. "Interesting. Would you come with me Miss Abal Malikah? I think we need to discuss this." He opened his office door and smiled at her, turning to the Guard, "You four are dismissed. Thank you for bringing her here."
The four men bowed before taking off. No matter if Numair was nice to them, they wanted to be nowhere near him in case anything were to anger him.
The squires and pages were all surprised but went off too. They were all headed off to get changed before supper. They spent the whole time talking, shocked by how strange that girl was. The one boy who had made her mad, he had a fine bruise across his neck from where the Gift had tried to kill him.
Numair sat her down at a chair opposite his own behind his desk. She looked directly at him, her eyes still slightly wide with shock.