A/N: Ok, I'm very, very sorry this took so long, but here's chapter 2. I have no idea where I'm going with all this, so if anyone has any ideas I'd be glad to hear them.
Yanquah couldn't sleep for more than about an hour at a time that night, however. She kept having dreams. She dreamed that she was back in Carthak. She dreamed about that horrible night that the man in the dark cloak had raped her and tried to kill her. She dreamed that she was looking into her husband's eyes and then saw the distinguishable purple eyes of Alanna. "Who are you really?" the dream figure demanded of her. "What is your purpose?"
"I don't know!" the girl cried desperately. "If I knew I would tell you!"
Suddenly the scene changed drastically. She stared in awe at the head god, Mithros. "Child, you have a huge job to do. All the forces of good depend on you. You must be strong."
"But what if I don't want everything to depend on me?" she cried. "I am just a girl, really! Why me?"
"You have been chosen," Mithros answered, answering nothing. "There is nothing you can do about it. Now, awake, my child. Awake."
Yanquah woke up in her bed in the Dancing Dove, wondering if it was all real or not.
Suddenly, as her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw a figure in her doorway.
"Who's there?" she called.
"Death is knocking, you little brat!" a harsh, guttural voice cackled. "Die!"
Startled, Yanquah quickly drew the knives she always kept hidden about her person and threw one at her attacker. She was an excellent knife-thrower, but she was still slightly dazed and her dagger hit her foe in the shoulder. It didn't even wince as her blade buried deep inside its flesh.
She quickly drew another blade this time from her armpit, and slashed desperately at her opponent. She knew that this would do her no good, but she was in a panic now, all her training forgotten.
Suddenly,
just as she was about to lose it, she heard the voice of her teacher. You must not panic! You must remain calm. You could beat me easily if you could just
get a hold of yourself.
Calm down! she ordered her inner spirit carefully. Time seemed to have slowed down now. Her enemy was moving in slow motion. Only her body seemed to move at a normal rate, for her brain was buzzing out of control. She saw her hands moving, blazing, and performing intricate moves beautifully. Suddenly, before she could even think, she felt the dagger leave her hand and bury itself in her foe's heart.
hehehehe. cliffhanger. I still don't know exactly what's going on, but I think I have a better idea now… review!!!! (I'll try to get the next chapter up soon, I promise!) (I still don't know if I should have done that… it goes completely against her character in the other one… oh, well. sigh.)
Disclaimer: Alanna, Tortall, Mithros, Carthak, and anything else you recognize belong to TP. Yanquah, her knife skills, her dreams, her unnamed husband, teacher, and unknown enemy are mine, along with the nonexistent plot.
PS. I still don't know what the title has to do with this, but oh, well…