Okay, this takes place… two years after 'Lady Knight'. In Carthak a young slave girl, Kari (13), had always had a knack with animals, they loved her and helped her with her duties. Also in Carthak is a group of Tortallans, here to visit Emperor Kaddar and Empress Kalasin. Yes, it consists of Alanna of Pirates Swoop, Daine, Keladry of Mindelan, Raoul of Golden Lake and Malorie's Peak, Buri, Domitan of Masbolle, Nealan of Queenscove, and last but not least Thom of Pirates Swoop.
Thom, being the book worm that he is, only came to see Carthaki culture up close, and maybe see what's left of the Hall of Bones. But when in the market he sees a thin slave girl with a whole lot of magic in her being trailed by a troop of animals will what he has found be much more useful?
BUH-BUH-BUM! Hehe, I always wanted to do that…
-Disclaimer-
Thom: I'm not a bookworm! You're a book worm! Any way… Kari (The author not the charrie) doesn't own any of Tamora Pierce's books; thankfully, I shudder to think how I might have turned out if she did…
K.M.: Shudda up! -Whacks Thom on the head-
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Kari grimaced as she tugged the tight collar around her neck. It was metal and not exactly her favorite part about being a slave. Her bronze hair was shaved, and she had dark green almond eyes.
Even if things had started to look up for Carthraki slaves since Emperor Kaddar took the throne things still weren't great. It stank, she still had to do what her master said or get whipped, and even though Kari was possibly the only one of the slaves on the property who didn't have a completely broken will she didn't want even more whip scars on her back.
She was carrying large buckets of water in both hands. Her green eyes flicked to the trail of animals behind her, an odd assortment of dogs, the occasional cat, and a few mice. The largest of the dogs carried a bucket of water in his mouth and walked beside her. When the group reached the small stables Kari smiled, it was her favorite place to be.
The horses stuck their heads out of their stalls to nip playfully at her ragged green dress as she passed. Kari laughed slightly and started to distribute the water into the bins placed in each horse's stalls, she would need to make another trip to the well soon. The large dog, Pita, brought her his bucket so she could use it before she had to make a trip back the well.
All of the sudden the animal's ears pricked up, the mice scampered away, to the other side of the gate. The cats did the same; the dogs were a little more reluctant, but in the end half of them went and the other half stayed with her.
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Thom grumbled as he climbed off the ship. His mother did the same, clutching her stomach. It was funny to see the great Lioness get sea sick. Aunt Daine got off the ship calmly as did Raoul, Buri, Neal, Kel, and Dom.
Sitting just off the dock where two people, or at least two main people, behind them were at least ten others. Kalasin ran and hugged everyone; Kaddar smiled and shook his head before walking over to them as well. "I see nothing has changed with you Daine." He was right, a troop of animals had already gathered around the docks. Kalasin hugged Thom then stood next to Kaddar who started shaking hands, "It's great to see everyone again," He looked at Thom, "You've you're mother's hair."
Thom grinned, "That I've been told, Majesty." He tried to flatten his copper hair.
That made the young emperor laugh, "Yes, I suppose you have." He turned to the rest of the group and bowed slightly, "I'm so glad all off you could come, it's been far too long. Now, I'll show you to the palace."
Most of the party had been to Cathrak before, but Kel, Dom, Neal, and he were mesmerized. Kel would look with wonder at the animals that you didn't come by back home and purse her lips into a fine line when she saw a slave being tugged along by someone. Dom simply looked dazed. Neal was trying to take in everything at once so in fact was taking in nothing at all. And Thom… he wasn't sure, everything was strange, the sights, the people, they spoke Carthaki, he had learned some before coming here but wasn't good,
His mother had wondered over, "Its strange isn't it? That's what I thought when I first came, all the foreign things, but it isn't strange in a bad way." Her purple eyes looked slightly amused.
"Yes, it is strange, isn't it?" Thom rolled his eyes, and then something else caught them in mid roll. A small girl, possibly only five or six was being beaten by… her father? No, she was wearing a metal collar. Her master, Alanna followed his gaze and sighed.
"I told you that you wouldn't like everything you saw when you said you wanted to come…" She trailed off, then grabbed his shoulders and diverted his attention away from the sobbing girl. "Kaddar has been working on getting rid of the slavery, but you know as well as I do that if he pushes this along too fast it will cause a civil war."
All Thom could do was nod. He didn't understand why anyone would buy another person ho was being torn away from their families but then again he wasn't born in Cathrak thinking it was okay.
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Kari winced as a slave driver glared at her, how was a thirteen year old supposed to deal with all of the work that was required? She pushed her wheel barrow to the next stall and hurried into it pulling her pitch fork along with her. Only one dog remained, Pita, and there was a red tailed hawk by the name of Razi sitting on the rafters above. He lived up to his name being that she had kept the bird of prey a secret for four years ever since she found him in the stable loft with a broken wing. He had stuck with her ever since.
She shoveled the muck out of the stall. It wasn't her least favorite job by far, the only problem was the fact that there was a lot of it to be done so when the job was accomplished you could hardly move. Pita barked softly, Kari glanced at him; he looked like he wanted something. The large brown dog shifted feet. Kari rolled her eyes, "Go ahead, I'm fine here. But when you get back will you explain this whole thing to me? Why everyone's leaving and stuff?" She said softly. Pita nodded and ran out of the stables towards the docks.
Razi shifted uneasily, "You want to go too?" She asked the bird. He shook his head, No, I'll stay with you. Kari smiled up at the hawk, "Have I ever told you how unbelievably great you are?" Razi shrugged, Yes, but not nearly enough. Kari grinned and started to shovel again. It was getting late, she should be done soon.
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After settling into the palace Thom started to explore, it had had to be re-built after the ravaging done by the living skeletons that Daine had brought to life. He glanced out a window, it was getting dark. Damn! He had wanted to explore the city today! Oh well, he'd have to wait till the morning. A servant hurried over to him, "The Lioness wishes me to inform you that you need to get ready for dinner, and she says she wants you looking at least half way presentable."
Thom sighed, "Fine, thank you for telling me." The servant bowed and scurried away. Thom sighed, and walked towards the room he had been given.
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K.M.: HAHA! It sucks…. but I edited it a bit, trying to make it a bit better, thanks to the contructive critisim! I think the next chapter will be better! It's easier when they actually meet, we will get a sample of Alanna getting pissed! Yah! I can't wait! She's gonna be great to right about when she gets mad!
Kari: It's not at me, right? She's not gonna get mad at me?
K.M.: We will have to see!
Kari: Noooo! She's my idol! She can't get mad at me!!!
K.M.: She was my idol first!
Kari: Was not!
K.M.: Was too, I created you!
Kari: You win this round… -Glares-
Thom: I don't see what's so great about her…
Kari and K.M.: WHAT!?! She is the best:O!
Thom:-Backs away from the two mad girls who just sprouted horns- S...S...Sorry...