A/N - Hey all. So I realised I hadn't put an author's note on the top of this page and I thought I should. Personally, I don't believe that we 'authors' (if you could call us that) give enough praise to out reviews and readers. So, here's your praise...
Well done.
Great, wasn't it? I'm thinking about becoming President. My speeches would ROCK your WORLD!
All jokes aside though, I do appreciate every single review that I get and I personally message back with a reply every time :) I've got a current conversation with the most wonderful OneMadCookie that has lasted a good three months and a VERY large conversation it is! So if anyone wants to talk to me about shit... MESSAGE ME! (I have no friends T_T)
Chapter 3 – No One Owns Me
I was absolutely exhausted as the coach entered the forests of Sunder. I had had my eyes closed most of the way through Estill because it seemed that Nikre couldn't help but stare into them. Which made me feel very uncomfortable indeed.
At some point in the journey I had fallen asleep and leaned my head against the side of the coach. When I awoke I found Nikre staring at me again. I opened my bleary eyes slowly and stretch my arms in the air until they reached the roof of the coach. I rubbed my pink eye, which always seemed to be the most irritated when I awoke.
I looked at Nikre only to find him with a shocked expression on his face.
"What were you doing?" He said his eyes as wide a saucers.
I was quite offended. "Waking up. Would you have me sleep more? Should I have never awoken?"
The corner of Nikre's yellow eye twitched slightly. "I just… wasn't expecting it. That's all." He muttered and then looked away from my face and out into the forests of Sunder.
The rest of the journey was silent and frightening. I thought of all the things the king might make me do. Would my family rescue me? And would another kingdom think I was theirs? Our family didn't belong to any kingdom. We generally liked to stay out of their way, but now we had no choice. Well, I had no choice.
We reached Murgon City at noon the next day. Our horses had been exchanged at an inn on the path.
Murgon City wasn't that extraordinary. The walls of the city were made of grey stone that made the place look old and withered. There were huge iron and wood gates that led into the city.
As we passed through the gates I peeked out of the curtained window. People stopped to stare at the coach as we made our way toward Murgon's castle. Some of the people on the sides of the streets caught my eyes and just stood there as if they were paralysed.
"I don't understand." I said to Nikre. "Why do these people react the way they do toward me? They just stare at me. I don't understand."
He huffed a huge sigh. "Your eyes have that effect on people. They just do."
I glance at the large man on the opposite side of the coach. "Do my eyes affect you?" I asked.
He glanced at me and quickly turned away. "I think it was easier when you were blind." He muttered to the window.
We entered the castle wall and the coach jogged a little as we were driven over the cobbled floor.
Nikre opened the coach door and stepped out. He reached his hand toward me, an offering. I took his hand reluctantly and he held on tight as I stepped out of the coach. The sun was a little harsh on my eyes, as for most of the journey we had had the curtains drawn.
"The King will be waiting for you." Nikre said as he led me into the castle itself.
"Oh, goody. Such a warm welcome. I feel at home already." Nikre smiled and I realised that when he was smiling and nor sneering he could look quite handsome. He had dark hair and a broad chest and shoulders. His arms were large too and he was tall. A very eligible bachelor had he not been such a dangerous Graceling.
We walked up a flight of stairs that started out, width wise, very large but gradually narrowed until it was a normal sized flight of stairs at the top.
We walked along a large corridor that had a balcony and overlooked the entrance hall. There were large iron doors at the end of the corridor with gold and silver and precious jewels encrusted on the edges. Nikre swung the doors open with no trouble while I tottered in behind him.
"Ah, Nikre! My trusted friend! I assume you bring me a gift?" The King's voice was deep and rumbling.
"Yes, Lord King. The girl." Nikre stepped aside and I could see the king. He looked like a very, very, very rich lumberjack. He had a curly, ginger beard and curly, ginger hair to match. He wore deep purple robes with animal fur around the edges. They looked like some precious mountain Tiger's fur. It made me angry.
His throne was decorated much like the doors to the throne chamber. Jewels encrusted the sides and arms of the throne, while a deep red padding cushion the bottom and back of the throne.
The king smiled at me but I could almost see the gold coins twinkling in his eyes. He meant to make some money from me for sure.
"Ah, my dear! How nice it is that you joined us!"
I glanced at Nikre and snorted, "It's not like I had a choice."
The king faltered slightly, perhaps at my defiance. "Yes, well, how else would we get you out of that wretched valley. Anyway," He added clapping his hands, "We must proceed to the Grand Dining Hall and start the bidding! "
Suddenly Nikre stepped forward and interrupted him, "Bidding? Lord King, I thought we agreed-"
"Silence Nikre!" The king bellowed. "You have done enough. You will get your reward in due course. You may leave for your duties now."
Nikre hesitated. He glanced at me. He looked almost… worried. Then he bowed to the King and left the throne chamber.
The king sighed and gave me an apologetic smile, "He wanted to keep you as a pet. Poor man. He's so lonely. Anyway," He clapped his hands again and too guards appeared by my sides and attempted to take my arms. "I'm sorry for this, my dear, but we can't afford you running off, now can we?"
No one answered his question but I yanked my arms away from the guards. "I can walk by myself. I may be a Graceling but I'm not stupid enough to try and escape."
I turned and stalked out of the throne room, the guards leading me.
I couldn't believe people were bidding for me. Lots of people were there. I couldn't believe my eyes. There were noble men and Lords from all over the Seven Kingdoms. Well, perhaps not many from Lienid and Monsea but Nander, Wester, Estill, Middluns, and Sunder there were lots.
The hall was large and there was a huge, thick, oval wooden table in the centre with wooden chairs with deep, red cushions on the seats and backs.
I was to stand and the very end of the table furthest from the door, opposite the King.
"Welcome, friends! This is the item up for purchase," He said pointing to me. I didn't like him calling me and 'item'. "Should we start the bidding at 100 gold coins?"
A man in yellow robes, pale skin and white blond hair raised his hand and leaned forward.
Murgon's eyes lit up with a strange light. "100 coins to the man in the yellow robes-"
"No," Said the man. "I was merely going to ask for a demonstration of her skills. We need to know what we are bidding for."
There was a sea of nodding heads and agreeing voices and King Murgon looked slightly nervous. "Well, of course."
He looked at me then. "Guards give her a bow and quiver."
"An archer?" One of the men at the table asked. "What would we do with an archer?"
King Murgon grinned wickedly. "She is a little more than an archer, my friend. See for yourself."
They handed me a bow and quiver and my chain mail I had worn when I was fighting Nikre.
I threw on my chain mail and quiver and notched an arrow in my bow.
"Hey, King, do I kill them?" I called across the chamber.
Murgon looked annoyed but answered me all the same. "No fatal injuries. Maim them. Put on a show."
I held the bow before my face. He wanted me to put on a show did he? Well, I can show them just how dangerous I am.
There were four guards that were coming at me, two more at the doors to the chamber. I was stupid enough to try and escape. After I finished with these weaklings I'm out of here.
I had the guards crumpled on the floor in less than five seconds. The first I shot in the leg and he dropped to the floor immediately. A second later I had another guard on his knees clutching his arms, both of which I had shot. The other two were too close to shoot without risking myself. I slammed my bow into the temple of the man furthest away and he fell forward, unconscious. The fourth guard was circling me, trying to find a weak spot I had unprotected. I feigned right and leaped on him from the left slamming my foot into his side, then I whacked him around the head with my long bow for good measure. The last guard slumped on the floor and I looked back at the other guests. They all looked thoughtful, some even looked shocked but others looked hungry, like they were thinking of all the things they could make me do. I shuddered. There was no way I would bow to the will of any of these disgusting men.
I walked along the side of the table my eyes on the King. He had looked pleased when I had finished with his guards, now he looked scared.
"I am leaving." I said.
I heard a chair being swiftly pulled back from the table. "Hold on! We haven't finished yet! Who gets the archer?"
"No one gets the archer." I snarled turning to the porky man who had spoken.
Another man pulled back from the table, the man who had wanted to see my skill. I narrowed my eyes at him, "Are you not satisfied, sir?" I growled.
"Indeed I am, Archer. Please forgive me. I merely came to see if the rumours were true. And indeed they are."
I didn't have time to ask what these rumours were and I didn't bother in correcting his usage of 'Archer' because I heard the pounding of boots in the corridor ahead. More guards were coming. I had no time.
I notched two arrows and caught the guards by the door in their necks. The guards I had dealt with before were still moaning from their injuries. They would not be causing me trouble. The trouble lay in the corridor. Stood between me and the grand marble stairs were about ten or twelve men. I notched five arrows and shot them. Three hit their target sending the guards sprawling on the floor while the others ran at me. I was a better shot with one arrow at a time. I notched another arrow and it flew at a guards' eye, I didn't need to see if it was a good shot because I knew it would be. In less than a second I had another arrow ready to fire which made the next guard clutch at his throat and stop running.
I kept up the pace shooting as many guards as I could before they could get to me. Nine down, three to go. The guards were almost to me when I spun around rolling on the round to the right side of the corridor, fast. The guards looked around almost as if they had lost me. The closest guard to me didn't even have time to register what was happening before the wood of my bow connected with the back of his neck, making a horrible cracking down as his neck snapped.
I could almost feel my feral side taking over. I growled and kicked a guard in the chest sending him backward. The last guard grabbed my wrist and slammed me into the wall. I saw stars but before the guard could make a fatal strike I snaked my leg around his and brought him down. I slammed my foot against the guards' necks and stood there, breathing hard. I'd never taken down so many before.
I remembered I should really be running for my life, so I did.
I ran down the marble stairs and through the City of Murgon. I could hear soldiers and guards were following me but I didn't stop. I had to keep running. I found myself growing tired and I heard the voices getting nearer and nearer.
Just when I thought I would collapse on the spot an arm snaked around my waist and pulled me to one side. I saw the guards run past me but I realise that I couldn't actually sigh with relief because I could hardly catch my breath.
"Are you alright, Archer?" Said a familiar voice from behind me. I looked up to see the noble man in yellow robes from the auction. He smiled down at me. "Would you like some help?"
I nodded weakly. I was in a foreign country somewhere I had never been before, with no one I knew and several people out to get me, maybe even kill me. I really needed some help.
I'm being really pathetic and trying to make this fic look longer by making too many author's notes.
Review please! Even though i'm pathetic! Don't take it out on Nikre and Tikka and the others! They'll take it as a personal offense if you don't praise them for their good performances :(
Nikre: I don't care.
Me: Yeah you doooooooooooo! You know you dooooooooooooo! Otherwise I'll never let you have Tikka...
Nikre: *glaring* you wouldn't do that to me...
Me: Tikka! Change of plans you're going to get with Raffin instead!
Nikre: NO!
Tikka: *just walked in* too late.
Me: ...
Nikre: You mean you were with him before?
Tikka: I'm joking! Jeez, you losers.
Me and Nikre: F#*# you.
Tikka: *gasp*
REVIEW, PLEASE AND THANK YOU.
