Sorry..I ...I don't have an excuse just that I lost my muse and all. But I owe it to you to finish the story.
Chapter 5 copper islands part 2
A woman stands on the top of a tower. If it was not for the glazed look in the woman's eyes you would think she was looking at the peasants below. Well that was assuming she could she them in this pre dawn light. The wind blows in her face as a small blue bird lands next to her, she stares at it in almost childlike wonder as it squawks at her in warning. The woman however is not her fr.... well she was not HER and so did not understand the warning. Almost as suddenly as the birds appearance a gust of wind fly's towards the woman. Her long black hair flows untimed around her face and her light blue nightgown flaps uncontrollably in the wind she finds herself struggling to remain upright. Then without warning her foot slips as she loses balance on the wet surface below. Her body forms into an arch as it tumbles backwards in slow motion as she falls over the side. The wind blows vigorously in her hair as she full's to a near certain death. A scream is emitted from her as the small blue bird follows her downwards spiral.
'Thyet' she cries as she sits upright in bed. A cold sweat has broken over her body she lays back knowing she cannot do a thing for the queen of Tortall after all it was just a bad dream. She closes her eyes and listens as the rain taps on the shutters and a small dripping comes from the corner of the room where there is a leak in the roof.
The room was a smallish room it had one bed, a small cooking area and somewhere to put her clothes. She had slept in worse places she thinks as she crawls out from underneath the thin cloth that has become her blanket in the last three weeks since leaving Tortall. It had only been two days since she had met young Dove and gone to see the healer but she was nearly as good as new. She carefully puts on some new cloths before heading out into town.
Daine's source of income was tricks she could do many she had learnt off of Numeric and others in Tortall's court and others she had learned at her own time. Some of the stuff she did was juggling and getting the animals to perform. However relying on this meant she had an unstable income all. The amount of money she had was all depending on how the people of Rajmuat's pockets where doing and how generous they felt. Today was in her opinion a slow day and she decided she might soon have to leave the isles or find a proper job. It wasn't like she was in lack of demand as the wildmage. She could heal animals, she could help in attacks and she could train and escort the animals in a fast but safe manner. However that was some of the things Tortall's wildmage could do not plain Verd Sarrasri the traveller. It was petty she knows but she could not be the wildmage of any other country, it would be the last nail in the coffin, so to speak and really who would want to hire a traitor?
'Verd' comes a squeal as a small form hits her. In her arms was young Dove her dark purple dress clings to her body from the effects of the rain.
'Mistress Dove, where are your servants' Daine inquires as she looks around the market place for signs of the missing people. Her eyes look down to the small child who looks somewhat sheepish.
'They said I couldn't come play with you so I sneak out' the little girl informs her nodding her head in pride before she giggles. 'They were so funny, yelling for me to come back' Dove informs a look of pure happiness portrayed all over her face..
'You're telling me you got past a bunch of full grown adults, without being caught, just to come see me, all the while doing this in the rain' Daine inquires to the child who nods happily. Daine sighs before looking at the sodden child 'let's get you cleaned up' she whispers as she heads towards her own room.
Daine looks at the child now in one of her spare shirts as they sit by a small fire at the side of the room. The child stares into it unaware that Daine has already sent off a letter to her family informing them of where their daughter is. 'Thank you' a small squeal escapes the child. Daine sits next to her.
'For what' she asks looking in confusion as the child fiddles with her figures. The child does not answer she just looks back into the fire.
'Can you tell me a story' dove finally asks. Daine stops the child wanted her to tell a story why.. and why did she just nod in agreement.
'have you ever heard the story of the lioness of Tortall' she asks the girl nods before declaring it was one of her favourites and asking if she could hear it and so that's what Verd does. She begins spinning a tale of the lioness that could make some of the best bards blush in shame and one that could captivate anyone. When she had finished she begins to warm up some milk only to find the child fast asleep. Unbeknown to the two people inside five others sat outside waiting patiently for their mistress to leave.