Llaniea's Story
Chapter One
The crew of the Fire-Lighter were standing on deck watching her walk away. She was quite a remarkable looking girl that turned many heads with her very feminine figure that was complemented with long raven hair that was held back in a plait that hung to her hips. Even though it was becoming more and more fashionable some people thought that a girl had no place wearing breeches, including Captain Ignatie of the Fire-lighter, but she was an exception. And if any one dared to get close to her, like this particular crew, they would notice her eyes; they were as unusual as the famed lioness. They would have been black if it wasn't for the slight purple ting that was seen only when up close. This crew had seen it because they had known her since she stowed aboard their ship, six years ago. She claimed to have no where to go and so when she was discovered it did not take her long to find her place amongst the rest. For an eight year old she had been very handy. So handy she had become a permanent part of the crew.
Then about three months ago they were given a job to take a load of cargo to Port Caynn. She announced that would be her last docking, she had finally found a new home. Every one questioned her about where she would live, who with and the rest of it but she would not budge. So that left them all here, on the deck watching her walk through the streets into the city, the first Tortallan city she had ever entered.
"I wonder what Liea will do now," commented one of the deck hands.
"I say she always planned to come here for some reason," replied Ignatie as he lit his pipe, "she has some thing she wants to accomplish and she is determined to see it through." That was the last they ever saw of Llaniea, as she strolled of into the crowded streets.
I knew as soon as we docked into Port Caynn this was the last time I would see the boys again, but there was not much I could do to change that. When I left home six years ago I knew I had to go to Tortall, but I still had some growing up to do, so I bided my time on the ship and, well, now I am ready.
From Port Caynn I was able to catch a ride with a caravan to Corus, I had never been here before, but it was just like I thought it would be, nothing like Rajmuat. Once the caravan got through checkpoint I said good bye to them and thanked them for the ride.
As I set off down the crowded streets I noticed there were different sights and smells then that of home. The market place had hundreds of different kinds of things, and different kinds of people. There were fish markets, jewellery makers and even flower sellers. It was not long before I noticed an inn called The Dancing Dove. The name struck a cord immediately, this was where grandpa used to work, and live for that matter. He was here when he met and was getting to know grandma, mind you if she ever heard me call her that she would box my ears, her case would be better of if she had actually met me. I have just heard all of her fabulous stories from my dear mother. She had a mean temper and a sharp tongue. Ma always said she barely had the time to be with her children, let alone her father, so my Ma made more of an effort to be with me. I never complained any, I learnt all sort of neat tricks like lock picking, codes, weapons, stealth and heaps of other stuff. Da taught me all of his ancestral things as well as fight tactics and, well, trickiness. He liked to joke a lot and play with people's minds.
I was right about The Dancing Dove, it was interesting. There were people from all walks of life and it seemed to be full of mischievous people just as it was forty odd years ago when it was the head-quarters for the Rogue at the time. The Rogue was the King of thieves, his name was George Cooper. While I was at the inn a few, heavily drunk, men tried to flirt with me, I soon got rid of the and the more sober ones could tell I was not a girl to be messed with, no matter how young and innocent my face was.
I was beginning to enjoy my self, watching the coming's and going's of the inn when I noticed that the sun had gone quite low and I still did not have a place to stay. I pondered my options for a while. Working aboard the Fire-Lighter had given me a tidy collection of coins, however this would not last me forever so I knew that I should find the cheapest accommodation around as I did not know how long I would need such a temporary residence. I racked my brain on every thing I knew about Corus and the one thing that stood out was the Dominion Jewel. I knew that it was my perfect advantage; no one else was game enough to enter the forest since King Jonathon had come into possession of it. So this meant I only had to dodge palace staff, officials and the other palace residence. It was the perfect place for a lonely girl like me to live until something better became available.
I slowly headed toward the forest, making a few minor detours to ensure I was not being followed before I snuck into and old abandoned stables. It used to be for the official guests of Corus, but there was now no use for it. From the stables I was able to slip out the back with lead me directly into the forest.
I was not sure what to expect to see when I slipped in, but I was greeted by a stunning sight. There was a brilliant array of wild life; plants and animals alike. And there was also a great many shrubs and trees that were edible. And I soon found an old tree that was the perfect vantage point, I could climb almost to the top, to see what was around me, and there was also a hollow between the roots were I could leave my belongings where they would not be seen and I often slept there as well. After a few weeks I knew the forest by the back of my hands and I often went to the edge of it to watch the horses grazing in their paddocks. The only things that I truly missed was the crows, I could not see a single one. By the end of the third week I decided to test my luck and call them, and to my great shock, and a slight amount of satisfaction, they replied. Theses were almost as friendly as the Rajmuat crows, but they were wary of this new stranger. They were a great help and they often played with me down at the water fall as I bathed, and warned me of any intruders.
However, one day they failed me. It seemed a boy had noticed me sitting by the palace stables and had informed his master. "Are you sure she lives down here Dominic, there are no traces of her."
"I am sure of it Sire, I have seen her enter here a few times" replied Dominic.
I sat up as I heard this conversation; they were close to my tree. I moved further back it the roots to hide my self as I looked around, they were on the other side of the opening. The older man was looking around with an experienced eye; he knew the signs to look for. "I can't see any traces of her."
I thought it was safe when I heard them become quieter, that was before I saw that face. He had found my hiding spot and was looking right at me, I couldn't help it but I just stared. He beckoned me out and I followed, it was hard to resist him, he was so alike her.
"Young miss, do you not know that the Royal Forest is off limits to commoners?" asked the knight.
"Umm…" I replied feeling a little faint.
"May I enquire why you have been sleeping in here?" he pressed on.
"I have little money and I wanted to save it for emergencies." I replied.
"Where do you come from girl, that accent is not Tortallan."
"I guess you could say I am Kyprish, but neither of my parents really is. My mother was Tortallan, and my father, well he is just special." I responded, looking up at him.
"Well, you can't stay here so you'll have to come up to the palace… why are you staring at me? It's not as if I am a legend like my mother." This was what confirmed it, I knew who he was.
"I am sorry; Sir Alan, but you look just like… her."
"Who are you talking about girl?"
"Alianne."
"Aly… I have not seen her since I squired Raoul, how do you know her?"
"As I said before Sir, I am Kyprish." I knew that would at least half satisfy his questions, she is after all quite well known on the Copper Islands, being the royal spymaster and all.
"Right, well you follow me, Dominic carry her gear. By the way what is your name Kyprian?"
I replied him as Dominic claimed my gear from its hollow, "L… Liea, Sir."
It took Alan a while to figure out what to do with me, eventually he decided to hire me as his personal olster. This meant I had to tend to his horses needs, well all three horses, and I was feed with the palace servants, could use their bathing chambers and I could also sleep in the stables, all this suited me just fine.
