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Helllllllllloooooooo everybody!!!!!! I hope everyone is doing well...... and I am devestated about the fact that I have no idle chatter to torture you all with ( I think up of cruel and unusual punishments like this all the time.......) Anyway, I will spare you all and get on with chapter 3.........which is gonna be the hundredth story posted, and my fourth. And as several people have complained, I happen to have nonexistent paragraphs, and I admit, I REALLY, REALLY HATE PARAGRAPHS!!! but for the sake of you all, try and bear with me here. If my paragraphs drive you to the edge of insanity, don't leave any more notes about PARAGRAPHS! Its driving me INSANE!!!!! just the same( if I haven't scared you off this page yet), I will truly, really, start my story now. So ladies and gentle men(out of slight curiosity, are their any gentlemen here? Just wondering.....) I now present you chapter 4!
*~CHAPTER 4~*
Of course I was immediately frightened, two young girls surrounded by 10 burly men. Aleut was completely oblivious to what they were saying, but she understood the meaning of a knife when it was held to your throat.
"Now be quick about it, and lets see your money."
Thieves? On the edge of the Alkali coast? Suddenly it came to me who they were. Pirates. I gulped, and said in Tyrainian:
" We don't have any Hakrem"
" Aye, and you expect me to believe a tale like that? I don't think so girly. Lessee your Hakrem"
" What do they want?" whispered Aleut, shifting nervously.
" Money. I told them we don't have any. They don't believe us. Do you have any ...pocket change?"
" Is this absolutely necessary?" she asked me.
" OF COURSE IT IS! YOU'RE LIFE IS ON THE LINE! THEY'LL SLIT OUR THROATS FOR THE PURE FUN OF IT IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY! TORTALLIANS!"
She glared at me, and avoiding my glare, reached in her pocket and pulled out a bulging bag of jewels. My eyes bulged. No one that was my age of fifteen had I ever seen carry so much money.
" good geerl. Perhaps since you treat us so kindly, we will kill you off fast."
" hey ZeeKEm ( authors note: capitals are part of this guys name.), they have nice horses ! Shall we keep them?"
" but of course."
The word horses is horce in Tyrainian, which is pretty similar in English to horse, and that was when I lost it.
" LOOK KERRAF LA FEM,( authors note: extremely offensive insult in Tyra) YOU MAY TAKE OUR MONEY, YOU MAY TAKE MY PRIDE, BUT YOU ARE NOT TAKING MY HORSE!"
His eyes narrowed. " You little.........." he started toward me. I glanced wildly about. Aleut's sword. I grabbed it and prayed to the gods. I could pretend I could hold a sword and hope this guy would never turn me in for handling " mens tools" if he ever got caught. He took out his own sword. I suddenly became aware that this was my first time holding a sword and I might not be as lucky as I liked to think I was. So I used the only weapon I've ever been aloud to use. MY tongue.
"NOW, ALEUT!"
ZeeKEm whirled around, probably realizing his mistake as he made it. I knocked him out with my sword, to worried what to do if I drew blood. I quickly checked his caste. Good. Not even a lord. Only a orange streak. Nine other men stared at us like we had four eyes. Aleut ran to our horses, and hopped on hers.
" I don't think so Missee."
Aleut closed her eyes for a moment, and for a quick second I was scared she was going to faint and leave me to fend for myself. That was only for a minute then, because suddenly a Spidren came scurrying out of the wood. The men forgot about us and turned on the spidren.
" What are you waiting for, Aure? Get on, before they figure out the spidren's not real."
I didn't question her motives for the time being, and galloped quickly through the woods. We didn't stop till we had reached the coast the next day. After resting for awhile, I got up, and said.
" I'm going to go to one of the nearby villages, kay? I want to see if there's any kind of boat and guide to hire."
Aleut snorted.
" No offense Aure, but do you really expect for us to go sailing along the ocean by ourselves? In this country, is it even allowed? I'm going to try and send a message to Tortall, and tell my parents to get me out of this awful country."
" You won't be able to. No contact with Tortall is allowed. The emperor is worried that you'll influence us to rebel even more..."
" You need to rebel! And how in the heck am I going to get back to Tortall?"
" Why are you here in the first place? Did your parents just decide to let you come over here all by your happy little self so you could have no fun in a country that is on the verge of a civil war?"
" Please don't be sarcastic."
" And how did you call the spidren anyway?"
" I didn't call it. I conjured it up. First thing I thought of. Anyway, lets go to a village and try and figure out a plan."
~ I suppose this means I'm going too.~ Night Star said gloomily. I ignored him, and we quickly rode to the nearest village. I made sure my purple streak of hair was carefully concealed. Aleut noticed it, and asked me
" Why is your hair purple anyway?"
" It symbolizes my caste."
" I mean, is it natural?"
" No, when you're born in this country, a mage comes and dyes it for you. The dye never wears out and can never be changed. I'm from the royal court, and if these people know that, It will be the spidren episode all over again."
I tapped a middle aged woman on the shoulder.
" excuse me, can you tell me where I might find the next boat due at this boat?"
She pointed at a small hut. I thanked her and went toward it. A man stood outside. I handed him one piece of gold ( stolen from the thieves) and walked in. Always wanted a bribe. A small, bent over old man greeted me.
" welcome, my child. You come seeking news about a port, a ship, other sea news?"
" Sir, I have a rather big favor to ask you. You see, my friend here, is obviously Tortallian. And she and I need to get their as soon as possible. Is there any way?"
" First of all, why is your friend over here in the first place?"
I asked Aleut. She blushed and said
" I got on the wrong ship. I was supposed to go to the copper islands, but instead I ended up here...."
I repeated her answer to the old man.
" Weeel, illegal things against the great emperor are usually not my thing. But I like your horse. Your straw haired friend's horse, that is. A trade, my lady? You are quite far from the royal court."
I blushed, and quickly tucked my strand of hair back in and silently scolded myself.
He outstretched his hand and held it out to me.
" A deal, my lady?"
I shook his hand firmly.
" A deal."
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oooooooooooooooo, I finished chapter four! Have I completely ruined my story yet? Hopefully not(I can't help I'm self concious.) PLEASE REVIEW!