A Life Less Ordinary: Chapter 6
By Sulia Serafine
[This is a Protector of the Small fanfic, all credit goes to Tamora Pierce. I'm broke, so you can't sue me. I've only read The First Test, but as I read the others, the story will fit into place with them. Well, it won't really, but it'll be as accurate as I can make it. I usually don't write fanfics of this style, so forgive me if I relapse into my angst/action Gundam Wing things again. 11-19-00
Oh, one more thing: BAD LANGUAGE ( i.e. cursing, swearing…) You have been warned!]
Keladry and Joren followed Egavar to a tiny cottage in the middle of the woods. It was a simple wooden structure with a bundled straw roof and a stone foundation. They left the horses tied up outside and followed the black-haired man inside.
"Please excuse the mess. I wasn't expecting visitors," Egavar said softly as he picked up a few shirts off the floor. There was a bed in one corner with quilts piled on top of it. A window was opposite of it, as well as a table and chair. Two trunks were at the foot of the bed. Joren and Keladry stayed near the door.
"How did you find us?" Keladry asked. "I don't mean to be rude for your hospitality, but it is strange how you just came upon us in the dead of the night."
Egavar smiled. "Yes, that is strange, isn't it? Well, it's the reason why I live out here in a forest of Lon Falas all alone."
"Why live alone?" Joren asked in a cold monotone voice.
The man sat down in his chair and let out a deep breath. "I'm a Nodestrum." Before they could respond, he held up his hands. "I know, I know. I look too young to be one, but you wouldn't believe how old I really am."
Keladry shook her head. "What's a Nodestrum?"
Egavar looked up at their expectant faces. "You d-don't know…?"
The two Tortallians exchanged looks. They said in unison, "No."
He stood up immediately and leaned toward them in disbelief. "Well, I'll be… I thought they taught this stuff." He ran a hand through his shoulder length hair and tried to form words that made sense. "Well, a Nodestrum is a keeper of the Old Magic. Oh, you know," he shrugged. "There's New Magic, and then there's the rapidly fading Old Magic. Uh… the Kodestrums prefer us to be away, and since the Old Magic is generally weaker now than it was, we oblige. And--"
"Kodestrums are keepers of the New Magic?" Joren interrupted.
"Er, yeah," Egavar frowned. "Sweet Nodh, they don't even know what a Kodestrum is." He shook his head. "Anyway, to keep the Old Magic in existence, the Nodestrums pass their knowledge and skills to one who is worthy of the burden-- er, I mean, duty." He sat down again. "I usually know when people are in my woods thanks to the Old Magic, and that's how I found you."
"We see," Keladry answered. "Would you mind if my companion and I talked for a moment?"
"Oh, no, go right ahead. I'll just see if I can find some food around here." Egavar stumbled out of his chair and toward a few baskets filled with dried plants and fruits. Keladry and Joren went to the opposite corner.
"You think we should trust him?" she asked.
"At first he looked mysterious and possibly powerful. Now I'd say he's in his normal state, awkwardness. He's harmless," Joren shrugged. "Want to ask him about the purple furball?"
"I guess." They walked back over to Egavar, who had set down some dried berries on the table. Keladry bowed slightly. "Thank you for the food, but we're not hungry. Um, sir--"
"Please, call me Egavar."
"Egavar, yes, uh, we were wondering if you could help us out with something," Joren began.
"Go on."
"We've been looking for an odd little creature. It looks like a cross between some sort of dog and a bear."
"Except it has purple fur," Keladry pointed out. The Nodestrum's mouth fell open. His eyes widened.
"Y-you s-saw a…"
"I hope he's not this easy to startle all the time," Joren muttered.
"You saw a labafret!" Egavar exclaimed.
"Oh, my, look at all the new words we've learned," Joren murmured sarcastically. Keladry elbowed him in the ribs.
"But, labafret? That's the name of the purple furball?" she asked.
"Furball," he repeated. "You should never call a creature of the Old Magic by such a disrespectful name."
"It'll be our business to disrespect the little monster," the blonde squire growled. "After throwing us in this world."
Egavar's head was swimming. These two children had walked into his forest, having no idea what a Nodestrum was, nor most magic for that matter, and then having seen a labafret and crossing dimensional planes with it?! He rested his palm on his forehead. "So, does that mean the two of you have crossed over from one of the labafret's trips?"
"Trip? That was the little monster's trip? You make it sound like a stroll around the town." Joren snorted. "We were happy in our home world, and here comes your stupid laba-what ever and…" He couldn't find any more words to say, so he just asked, "How and why did it 'cross'?"
"Uh, well, according to the scrolls of Old Magic, labafrets can cross over to different planes of realities and… and… well, do whatever they like. They're very powerful and like traveling," he explained. "I can only imagine what you did to annoy it so much that it bothered to acknowledge your existence."
Keladry gave Joren a dirty look.
"Can you tell us how to find the one that sent us here?" Joren said.
"Unfortunately, no. Labafrets rarely spend time in their home plane, and normally come back every, oh, four to five years?"
"Four to five years!" they both shouted.
"I'm sorry. It's true." Egavar tapped his chin. His eyes were lit up with curiosity and awe. "Did you two really come from a different plane?"
"Obviously so," she answered. "Egavar, you mean to say we're going to be stuck here for a while unless we can find another one of these Old Magic creatures?"
"The labafret in particular is the one with plane crossing abilities, but I suppose there's some others that could do the same. Hey! You are welcome to stay with me while I find out." He paused. "It might take a few years, but--"
"No thanks," the two said simultaneously. Egavar looked disappointed.
"It's been a long night," Joren sighed. "Let's get what little sleep there is left."
"You two go ahead and take the bed. I can sleep outside," the older man offered.
"No, this is your house. You don't have to do that," Keladry protested out of politeness.
"Well, the both of you have been through a lot. You deserve it. Besides, my Old Magic will keep me warm." With that, he went out the door. They could hear him whistling and the branches bend and move for him as he climbed into a tree and rested there. Joren picked up a quilt and tossed it to her.
"You take the floor. I'll take the bed."
"I don't think so."
He frowned. "And just what makes you think you deserve it?"
"Being grabbed by all your Miran buddies and insulted because I'm a girl-- why, is that not reason enough?" She pinched the bridge of her nose in stress. She reminded herself to keep calm and not talk back, but it was hard not to. Being in a different world so far from home with the hopes of never going back had that effect on a person.
Joren growled. "Fine, take the stupid bed. Fragile girls need their comfy beds."
"Yes, girls need their comfy beds. You know what, Joren? Take the bed. People have always mistaken you for a girl with those red cheeks of yours and long hair," she muttered. Keladry thought he didn't hear.
"What did you say?!" Joren grabbed her by the arm. Keladry wrenched herself free of him.
"Oh, stop it! I'll take the damn bed if you'll just shut up and let me get some sleep!" she yelled back and shoved the spare quilt in his arms. She stomped over to the bed, yanked off her boots, and got under the quilts faster than Joren would have expected. He stared at her for a moment, letting his anger dissipate. Then he took off his own boots and lay down on the floor. It was surprisingly clean. He guessed that Egavar swept his cottage a lot. With a few wandering thoughts, he eventually fell asleep.
Keladry, however, stayed awake a long time. She stared at the wall beside the bed. She thought of how much she disliked Joren, the labafret, and Egavar. Things were only going to get worse…
~~
Egavar shook Joren by the shoulder. "Wake up, boy. We'll get some breakfast."
"I'm not 'boy'. My name is Joren," he mumbled as he rubbed his eyes and yawned.
"Joren," Egavar repeated. "Well, Joren, get up. We'll catch some quail or what ever is out and bring it back for breakfast."
"I hate quail," the squire complained.
"Beggars can't be choosers, can they? But, I guess there's some reasonably good fishing at the stream."
"What about Keladry? Don't tell me she's getting out of work just because she's a girl." Joren paused. "I can't believe I just said that." He groaned and threw the quilt over his head. Egavar chuckled.
"Let her get some rest. Now come on. Let's go."
Joren reluctantly tugged his boots on and followed the Nodestrum out the door. They walked for a few minutes before coming to a reasonably large brook. It sparkled in the morning light that came from the patch of clear sky overhead. Egavar walked behind a large tree and came back with two crudely made fishing poles.
"You always keep them there?" Joren asked while plopping down onto the bank.
"Yeah. I like to fish," he shrugged. "Most of my order would prefer using their magic to get food, but I have no problem relaxing like this."
"Hmph," Joren grunted and set up his pole. Something sprung to his mind. "Hey, Egavar."
"Yes?"
"How did you know what I was talking about last night when you found us? You know--"
".... It's so annoying. She's too good for the job."
"Of course, you'll never tell her that."
"Old Magic. I'm sorry. Did I trespass on your privacy?"
"Yes," he snapped. "Don't do that again."
Egavar grinned. "I guess you don't want to let your sister know that you really do have good respect for her. You cover it up well with the screaming and arguing. I could hear you both from my tree and I didn't even use any magic."
"She's not my s--" Joren stopped himself in time.
"Not your what?"
"Nothing. My sister and I just… don't get along," he replied quieter than before. He frowned. Egavar left him to his thoughts and enjoyed the leisure of catching breakfast. They sat on the bank in silence, listening to the water and the forest around them.
Author: Hope you liked that one! This chapter was kind of a calm interlude where everyone gathers their wits and takes a breather. Unfortunately for our two Tortallians, it's back to the fast life. ( insert cackle here.)
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you and your families have a great time (I know I won't… If I'm lucky, I can sneak out between the carving of the Turkey and the time it takes for somebody to start throwing the mash potatoes… *sweatdrop* )
11-22-00