Goodbye and arrival
With Daine
Daine watches the child leave on the slightly too large pony. The girl does not look back to bid goodbye as she rides over the Scanra/Tortall border. This in its own right was dangerous as Scanra and Tortall had been at odds for some time.
The child was fourteen summers old and Daine was a twenty six summer's old woman. She currently had long shoulder length brunet hair and her dark blue eyes had darkened over the years.
Six nearly seven summers ago, she had tried to kill the queen of Tortall. The queen had been a close friend to the brunet and the betrayal had been like a dagger in the heart to those close to both women.
Their where two reasons she had not been killed for her actions. The first reason was that she had done many services for the country before hand and the second reason was that her high up friends refuse to believe that she tried to kill the queen for no apparent reason. She hadn't helped that train of thought six years ago when she had help save the queen and other important people to Tortall in a rebellion. The rebellion whose leader was still not known and presumed dead was seemingly inactive.
With such a large battle having been fought the town of MayDale had found itself with a lot of people visiting it. Sadly it was still mostly in shambles even after six years and they had only visited it once since the attack so Elly could see her grandfather's grave. However three winters back it fell promptly into Tortalls land and so she was no longer able to visit it.
Last she had heard her friends had begun to move on with their life's. Just six months after the battle of MayDale Alanna had given birth to twins, Elliot and Olivia of Pirates Swoop, making her brood up to five. The queen annoyed at being matched had her last baby two summers ago James of Conte named after the sixth Conte king, King James 1st Tamer of Beasts. Sadly Thyet had found out she was now infertile. From what she had heard although it was just rumours, Roul of Goldernlake and Buri had married and Onua was seeing Stephan.
She had also heard that Numair had tried to date over the years but nothing seemed to stick and the selfish part of her was happy at that.
She sighs as she turns away her pony taking her thither into Scanra, mayhap things would be ok. Mayhap one day she could return home to Tortall. 'Gods protect her please' Daine whispers as the trees fly past her.
with Elly
It had been two weeks since aunt Daine had left her at the Scanra/Tortall border and since she had been following a hand made map to the palace.
In truth she had no idea what to say when she got their, she could not exactly go up to them and say, 'Hi I'm Ellyessa, my aunt sent me by the way she is a traitor'. What would she say next, 'I am a wildmage who has just finished her training, I am only just less powerful than aunt Daine as I can not speak to immortals and can only transform into birds and mammals, sorry' right because that would really make her some friends.
Maybe she could just go their and not say who trained her, or maybe she can just wait until there was an attack or something. However she knew that her mo… aunt wanted her to go their as soon as possible and how was she meant to get into the riders if they didn't know about her.
Elly had wanted to join the riders since she was six, by the time she was eight and aunt Daine had saved her she had really wanted to become a rider more so than ever before so she could save people. So now she could join the riders she couldn't be happier.
A few years ago after many riders where killed in an attack the queen lowered the minimum age of joining to fourteen summers old. She had lived the necessary six months in Tortall as a child and she also knew how to read and write.
Aunt Daine had also taught her to use bow and daggers, and she could speak fluent common, Gallen, Tortillian, Yami and the tong of the Raka. She was ok at map making and knowing the wild and to add a bonus she knew basic numeric equations and could tend to many basic injuries. Aunt Daine would joke that she would have nothing to learn when she joined the riders and she had giggled at the idea.
The City of Corrus was in front of her and all it would take was to find her way into the palace, she considers changing shape and flying in but knowing her luck she would be mistaken as her aunt.
'Whoa girl' comes a voice from behind her. Elly considers diving into the trees for cover before deciding against it may as well see who was trying to keep the horse at bay. From behind her appears a group of about twenty people, much to her surprise she recognises both the Queen and the Lioness from her childhood, they looked more carefree and less haggard and tormented even if there is a darkness in their eyes.
'Sorry Ladyship, Majesty, she cant help it, I have a natural pull to animals and she must of thought I was a small filly who had wondered off, my aunt calls it a knack with animals, hers is a lot better than mine' Elly says as she lowers herself into a curtsy.
The queen's eyes open in surprise as a long black strand of hair flows gently in the wind and over her eyes, her light blue breaches cling to her body as the wind flows around her. The lioness meanwhile is sitting in full armour, she has chopped off most of her copper hair so it is ear length and her purple eyes also open in shock and a little bit of caution.
with Thyet
Thyet looked at the girl it was impossible to say what seeing the child did to her or why she opens her lips and words beguine to form 'You the MayDale girl, the one Daine took with her' the queen inquires aloud. The child nods in confirmation. 'What are you doing in Tortall child?' Thyet asks, 'is Daine ok, is….' She stops as she takes in the appearance of the child, well clothed, not plump but not skinny either and with muscles and grace the child had been raised for high society.
The child looks nervous, was the wildmage ok would this be bad news, please to all the gods who where listening, please let the wildmage be ok. True years ago Daine had tried to kill her and either to this day she wasn't sure why, but their just had to be a reason. Some claim she had joined up with Onua just so she could have the opportunity to kill the queen. Thyet knew it wasn't true because Daine had many opportunities to kill her if she wanted to and that look…
Flashback
Thyet was walking leisurely through the lower courtyard after a meeting with some of the Tortillian mages when she spotted one of her favourite dogs and her pups. The puppies where only six weeks old and Thyet was considering giving one to Vera as a birthday gift.
She sits down and begins to play with the pups when someone sits beside her, Thyet looks up to see Daine who gives her a half hearted smile as she turns back to the dogs she hears a sigh. Thyet once more turns to look at the young woman and finds herself ask what's wrong. And then her voice whispers the words 'I'm sorry' and Thyet looks at the pained eyes and knows something is wrong. So when the dagger comes towards her she does not try to stop it and as black flames engulf the younger of the two, Thyet swears the other has just whispered her thoughts aloud. 'Why'
End flashback
After that the queen tried to find an answer to that question but to no avail. Her attention is drawn back to the present as the red haired child begins to speak 'You shouldn't worry bout traitors Majesty, at least that's what aunty says and well… the child stops for a moment before sighing.
'I am here to be a rider, if you will let me, I have already got a lot of training and aunty says she will send any money I need down when I need it' the child looks worried as if Thyet was about to say why.
'Why' Alannas voice asks allowed and Thyet looks at her for a moment.
'Why' the girl stammers in confusion.
'Why do you want to be a rider' Alanna clarifies her voice carries even if she is only speaking at a normal volume.
'I didn't realise I needed a reason, but I guess its because I want to help people, like my Da and Gran-Da did and like my aunty does' she gulps.
'Humm' Alanna hums And turns to the child, 'and why should the riders take you, when you own 'aunt' nearly killed the queen' she inquires
'Because I'm not my aunt, I'm me and may hap I don't want to join where people will keep on insulting someone I love, but if it's the only way I can help then I will' the child looks at Alanna before continuing in a quitter voice. 'my aunt still cries herself to sleep at nights because of what she did, she never told me why but if you know her you know she hates herself for it, apart of me didn't wasn't to leave just encase she decides to end it and if it was not for me, Dove and her family she may have ended it already. I understand that I will here people insult her, but please don't do it to my face, aunty says I have the temper of Lana' the child looks away before sighing 'I guess it's a no, I will just stay in the town then and if you need any help I will be their' she excuses herself.
'I did not say to leave child, I see no reason why you can not join the riders but perhaps its best I have your name, after all it may become annoying me calling you child all the time' Thyet smiles as she looks at the child who was loyal to her friend, abate friend who was in exile because she tried to kill her but still friend.
'Im Elly, Ellyessa Lillian Evensong, I'm fourteen summers old and am a trained wildmage' the child informs and Thyet wonders if this would be a way to get the last of the group home.
'Come along Elly, if we are to get you started it best be soon, Onua should be arriving with the mounts any day now and we don't want you to miss out' the queen jokes she watches as the child follows and smiles.
A/N Wow I like this format normally I will try and do a Daine Elly pov per chapter if I don't just get stuck on Daine. This is the start of a new story it is a sequel to RUN. Just so you know I don't own anything but my laptop and memory stick and the name Ellyessa. In other words Tortall verse is not mine. Looking for a beta does anyone want to volunteer?
What do you guys think I should write like, more like this or more like Run? Anny Suggestions on what I should add or a desire of a pov tell me and I will try to add it if it fits my story.
Next chapter Elly settling in and Wildmage bashing. Daine is wondering alone for the first time in six years what will she do in her spare time.
Wow 2139 words
