Before I say anything: THIS STORY IS NOT ANTI DAINE!!!!!! Thank you.
Okay, so here is the little (maybe big) extension of TT (Tortall's Twin) part 2. You don't need to read that to understand this, though. In fact, don't read that, I have enough flames on that already. Umm, sorry, but I forget what Kaddar looks like and Morgen (drat that girl) has my copy of Emperor Mage (and my copy of The Realms of the Gods, and First Test, and $2.75… grr). I love this plot, if you don't then don't read it. On we go…
Disclaimer: I don't own any on TP's characters. Or places. Or things. Etc.
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Twin's Children: The Wildmages
Chapter 1: The Heir
Jaunne was on her hands and knees, scouring the wooden floors of her master's house. She hated her life. Most of all, she hated whatever god-forsaken son of a bitch that had dumped her off at a snotty woman's house. She had been left at this doorstep when she was a baby, it a basket with a yellow blanket and pillow that was embroidered with her name, Jaunne. She lived as a scullery maid, slave to that pompous Cook. If she could just use her magic…
Jaunne had the Gift, all right, and it was powerful. But she hadn't the slightest clue how to manipulate the yellow fire inside her. Damn thrice over! Then Jaunne saw and insect, a little beetle skitter across the floor. She wasn't afraid of bugs, like those silly girls who screamed at butterflies.
"Hello, shell-brother…" she whispered. His reply was the usual, hunting now, talk later. Juicy, foolish, ants in these parts, all alone. Jaunne didn't mind. She respected beetles; they had a sense of power that the other bugs didn't have. Ants, now, ants were soldiers. Their society was based on the military, scavenging, and battles. Spiders were cunning, with quick wits, and they could make good use of the eight legs they had. Every bug had its own personality, it's own nature, and Jaunne knew them like the back of her hand, if not better.
"Hurry up with that scrubbing, girl!" Jaunne winced. "We want that floor CLEAN for the next visitors!" Gana, the owner of the bed and breakfast where Jaunne worked, was only a bit less harsh than a slavedriver. "With these tough times, we gotta keep the money moving!"
'These tough times' is what Gana called the time since the Emperor had been murdered. It was like a chain; his uncle had been murdered, and his father before that. Now a Regent ruled Carthak, and he loved his taxes almost as much as Ozorne had, before Kaddar. Most had liked Kaddar; he was irresponsible, but fair. There was no heir, at least none that anyone knew about. The Empress Veralidaine had run off when she was pregnant, almost eighteen years ago. For seventeen years Jaunne had slaved in this damned inn. They thought there was no heir. But Jaunne knew the truth. She remembered…
Jaunne dashed through the alley, hiding around a corner as she saw the Emperor's slave carried litter. Jaunne could see his face, the strong jawbone, the green eyes, and the golden brown hair. Suddenly he saw her face around the corner, and halted the litter.
"Come forward," he ordered. Jaunne came forward, and gave him look for look, staring straight into his eyes.
"Father," she said so only he could hear. Kaddar laughed.
"You may be the daughter of that second-rate wife of mine, but to all them-" he waved a hand to indicate the city, "-You are nothing but a whore's bastard, who tired of you like some new toy. You are not the heir, just a silly girl fancies herself Empress. Move forward!" he commanded the slaves.
Jaunne clenched and unclenched her fists, grinding her teeth. She would have her revenge.
Jaunne hated her father. And her mother, who had abandoned her. She had felt it when Emperor Kaddar died; she had felt the ruling switch to her. But that Regent, that usurper had taken the bloody throne.
Jaunne finished the floor and went to Gana for further orders.
"Here, girl, take these coppers and get some bread, carrots…" she rattled off a list of items. "And if you take that money and leave me you'll wish you'd died as a child. Now go, girl, and be quick about it!" Jaunne scuttled off, strapping on her sandals as she rushed out the door. Once outside, she took the familiar route to the lesser market. There was anything a poor Carthaki could need at the market, and if you knew the people you could wheedle out better prices. She was about halfway to the market when she saw some young boys poking and prodding something. She disliked people who mistreated animals of any kind, and especially insects. A common pastime was for boys to catch a spider, and then pick off its legs one by one before squishing it. Jaunne saw what the boys were doing, and was furious right away. It was a black beetle, the biggest she had ever seen. They put it so it was on its back, then when it was finally on its feet again they'd push it over with a stick.
"Herdan Jacer! What the hell do you think you're doing!" Jaunne yelled.
"Oh, look," one taunted, "It's the Roach. Come to protect your subjects, oh Queen of Bugs?"
Jaunne broke his nose. She then moved to pick up the beetle and put it out of the way, but when she touched it there was a flash of yellowy-copper light, and she was almost blinded. When the spots faded from her eyes, she was looking up at a black beetle the size of a horse. She blinked again, and rubbed her eyes. No, it was still there. She hadn't shrunk; everything else was still the same size. The fact was that the beetle had grown, and grown to enormous proportions.
"Holy shit," she whispered. "Did I do that?"
The beetle didn't seem malign; in fact it seemed rather friendly. Gently, carefully, it picked her up in its gargantuan pincers, and held her. After a little relaxation of the beetle's jaws and a slight pause, Jaunne realized he wanted her to climb up. So she did. It was fun, and much different than riding a horse. It was rather like sitting on a smooth rock that moved, its shell was hard and shiny. Well, this is faster than walking, she thought. Some people who saw her gave her odd looks. Some ran away, screaming. Some seemed in their own private little world, and didn't notice a thing.
"Left," she said to her steed, and he obeyed. She rode him all the way to market, and as she went, a plan began to form. More than anything, Jaunne wanted to be Empress. But there had never been a female heir, ever. But she was of Imperial blood, and with this, power, this power over bugs, to make them big… she could have and army. She could fight- and win.
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Whee hee! I hope everyone likes this story, 'cause I love it! Love it! Looooooooove it!!! R/R, please!