1 Chapter 10: Working For A Stump
Authors Note: Yes, I know that this all works differently to Squire, but, I wrote this before it came out and I'm not going to change. You'll just have to put up with my stubbornness, and I warn you, the whole of the fic is going to be like this! Sorry for lateness, again, well, here you go!
When Fi woke, it was late morning. Cursing, she got dressed quickly into plain clothes. She looked out the window to the apple tree and coaxed a branch to grow to her. Grabbing one fruit, she ripened it and pulled it off, instructing the bough to shrink back. Just as she was about to leave, she saw a sealed envelope sitting on her dresser. Ripping it open, she skimmed through the text, written in neat handwriting under a small crown printed in blue at the top of the page. Folding it again, she stuffed it into her pocket, before exiting the room, hurriedly locking it and sprinting towards her lesson in the Gift, for which she was late, whilst trying to eat her apple at the same time.
When she got there she was bright red in the face and nursing her jaw, which she'd bashed on a sharp corner. From the doorway, Duke Baird raised a red-brown eyebrow before pressing a hand to the sore area. With a green flash, the pain was gone.
"Sorry I'm late."
"You're not. If you remember, I told you that your lesson has been changed to straight after the one with his highness. You are, in fact, three and a half hours early.
Fi smacked her hand to her forehead. "I completely forgot! Thanks for reminding me."
"That's quite alright Fiona."
"Your grace, could you tell me where I might find the locksmiths?"
"Just one moment," Duke Baird said, before calling over his shoulder, "Relaeh? Could you come here please?"
A young woman of about seventeen came to the door. She wore grey healers robes and owned a pair of bright green eyes that were veiled under bark brown hair. She wore an inquisitive expression on her face. The Duke decided to organise introductions. "Fiona, this is my daughter Relaeh of Queenscove. Relaeh, this is Miss Fiona Larkspur."
The young woman shook Fi's hand. "How can I help?"
Her father told her Fi's wish to go to the locksmith. Relaeh removed her overalls to reveal a pretty yet simple green dress that accented her eyes. The girl passed them to her parent and then started down the corridor, expecting Fi to follow.
*****
Once there, the young healer said her goodbyes to Fi. The girl knocked on the door. Walking inside, she saw another man was already there. On the visible left side of his face ran a faint scar from the corner of his stern brown eye to his temple. The man gazed at her with an unreadable look on his face. FI bowed to Lord Wyldon, who acknowledged her with a small inclination of the head. "Miss Larkspur. It is nice to finally meet Keladry's part-time student. Did you know thta I have offered her a position as a teacher of Yamani fighting techniques?"
"No my lord."
"It is a new addition this year. I believe she has already taught you a little."
"Yes my lord." Fi said. Kel had shown her some glaive pattern dances and taught her them.
Wyldon considered this before replying, "Do you think you would be able to spare the time to help? I'm sure Keladry would be grateful."
"But my lord," Fi started to protest, "I know very little. I am only learning myself."
"No one else in the palace knows any of these skills, bar the royal family. I have been told that you are very good at what you know. And demonstrating needs two people. I also know you have a little mastery in Yamani un-armed combat and dagger work.
This was surprising Fi a lot. To hear Lord Wyldon of all people, asking her to help train young knights. She hid a grin before answering. "I would be honoured to help my Lord."
The knight gave her a smile of approval. "I am glad to hear it. A man handed him a key, for which he got 2 gold nobles in exchange. With a quick,"Nine o'clock tomorrow", the training master left.
The other man looked at Fi, his expression clearly asking what she wanted. The girl passed over a slip that had come with her letter from Liam and said. "I believe the prince wanted a key made for me."
The man nodded and went into an adjoining room. When he came out again her handed over a beautiful gold key with a blue opal on the handle. The man whispered. "To use it, put your Gift into the stone. Once used, it'll only ever work for you."
Fi nodded to show she understood. "Thank you."
The man bowed and left. Fi in turn pocketed her new possession, and turned to go.
*****
Fi visited Liam's garden and tried her new magicked key in the lock. When she heard the tumblers turn, she smiled. Once inside, she went round all the plants, tending to them as she went. When she finished, she was in possession of another black opal. She decided she would tell the king of the new occurrence and give him the precious stone. Locking the prince's area, she went out into the adjoining garden and into the courtyard next door. She was surprised to see Raoul and Kel sitting on a bench in one corner. The two knights were surrounded by sparrows and were laughing cheerfully. Fi walked over to them, wanting to talk to Kel. Just as she got there, she was attacked from behind by a small mass that jumped at her legs.
"Jump! Be nice to Fi!" said an amused Kel. Fi looked at the little dog and shook her head. Ugly though he was, the way he sat panting innocently was quite loveable. She stooped and patted his head, then giggled as he pounded his tail loudly on the cobbles. Smiling, she turned to Kel.
"You didn't tell me you were going to teach Yamini techniques to the pages!" she accused.
"I told Lord Wyldon to tell you. Did he also tell you that I want you to help?"
"Yes he did. Do you really want my assistance? I'm not that good."
"You are, at what you know. At first we'll just do un-armed stuff and daggers. We won't move onto the glaive for a bit."
After a moment, Fi hugged her. "Thank you Kel! This means a lot to me!"
"It is I who should thank you. I need a good fighter beside me, and one who uses my techniques. Wyldon will pay you well. So you needn't worry about money anymore. And the pay includes your rooms and food. And you are getting your lessons for free so you can use your money as you wish."
Fi burst into tears down Kel's shoulder. The woman got worried. "What's wrong? You dont have to help, its your choice."
"Of course I want to! Everyone has been so kind. You, Alanna, Daine, Jon, Thayet, Roald, Raoul, Duke Baird, Neal, Liam...." she broke off and tried to gain control, "How can I thank you all?"
Raoul patted her shoulder. "You dont need to thank us. Its been a pleasure to help you. Now, its nearly time for lunch and a little bird tells me we have cherry tarts," he pointed at a sparrow holding a stolen cherry in its beak, "And I have a particular love for cheery tarts. C'mon, lets go." He got up and started towards the door into the castle. Fi stood up. Kel rummaged in her pockets before looking up.
"I lent you my last hankie!"
Fi took a moment to remember the incident in Pirates swoop. Chuckling she searched her own pockets and pulled out a crumpled piece of white material. "I've still got it," she wiped her eyes then offered it to the woman, "I dont suppose you want it back!"
*****
The next day Fi found a small package outside her door. It contained a cream coloured, colourless cotton shirt and loose black trousers, which hung around her legs unlike her muscle hugging breeches. Obviously these were what Kel wanted her to wear for lessons. Once she had put these on she buckled her belt round her waist and slipped her dagger inside. She then walked over to her window and took an apple from her tree again. Leaving and locking her room, she walked down to Kel's quarters. There she was greeted by the lady knight and shown in. She bowed to her new employer, and grinned at the Knight Commander, who grinned back. Lord Wyldon looked her over, eyes emotionless but calculating. "I'm glad you came here. I want to see what you can do with your dagger." With this he drew his own belt knife and got into a guard position. "As I am the nearest to your height, it would be best for you to try against me."
Fi looked up at Kel who nodded. With that, she got into a more comfortable position. In England she'd been an enthusiastic fencer. She had transferred some of the skills of speed and quick reflexes in her dagger work. So when the man made a lunge at her, she was ready. She parried with a speedy movement, taking the force of his dagger on her equally strong blade. Then she moved quickly to the side and took her blade away, letting the momentum carry him forward. The training master was good though. He quickly pivoted and made a cut for her arm. She moved backwards to let his blade slice uselessly, then made a quick twist with her own dagger, sending his weapon up into the air. As it fell, she caught it by the hilt and offered it back. "Is that good enough my lord?"
The man took the dagger and smiled. "If you can teach them to do that, you are a good teacher indeed." He shook hands with Fi then moved towards the door. "I'll see you can Keladry in an hour on the practice courts." He said, before leaving.
Kel hugged Fi, "Well done, I couldn't have done that."
"You taught me!"
"I didn't teach you everything. How you became that quick I'll never know."
Raoul clapped her on the shoulder. "Well done youngster. I'm proud of you."
Fi blushed. Coming from Raoul, it meant a lot. She liked the knight a great deal. She wished she be as cheerful as he always was. "Thank you Raoul. I'll see you later."
The giant of a man nodded and left. Fi smiled at Kel. "What will we teach them today?"
Kel thought for a moment before replying. "Dagger work. Obviously they might need it from what we've just seen, though far be it from me to criticise my lords teaching. We only take the 4th years so we needn't worry about what lessons we give to whom. Come on, we'll go get some proper food. An apple is hardly enough now is it!"
In chapter 11: Well, its a different chapter to most the next one. I wont tell you how, but we learn a bit more about Liam and Fi. But I might put chapter 12 up at the same time. And I'm not giving ANYTHING away about that chapter! *Evil Grin* You'll see why later.
Thanks to EVERYONE who has EVER reviewed me. Aerin, Cythera, Nightwitch, Starsong, Purple Dominion Jewel, Norneen, Aufidia, Windstorm, Rayne, Jillian, Sara, and you lot on ff.net. THANK YOU! And keep reviewing. It's what people write for, as well as pleasure. Reviews give me that little happy feeling inside: D
And of course, thanks for Cathy for being great author/web owner/mate. Three cheers for her!
Authors Note: Yes, I know that this all works differently to Squire, but, I wrote this before it came out and I'm not going to change. You'll just have to put up with my stubbornness, and I warn you, the whole of the fic is going to be like this! Sorry for lateness, again, well, here you go!
When Fi woke, it was late morning. Cursing, she got dressed quickly into plain clothes. She looked out the window to the apple tree and coaxed a branch to grow to her. Grabbing one fruit, she ripened it and pulled it off, instructing the bough to shrink back. Just as she was about to leave, she saw a sealed envelope sitting on her dresser. Ripping it open, she skimmed through the text, written in neat handwriting under a small crown printed in blue at the top of the page. Folding it again, she stuffed it into her pocket, before exiting the room, hurriedly locking it and sprinting towards her lesson in the Gift, for which she was late, whilst trying to eat her apple at the same time.
When she got there she was bright red in the face and nursing her jaw, which she'd bashed on a sharp corner. From the doorway, Duke Baird raised a red-brown eyebrow before pressing a hand to the sore area. With a green flash, the pain was gone.
"Sorry I'm late."
"You're not. If you remember, I told you that your lesson has been changed to straight after the one with his highness. You are, in fact, three and a half hours early.
Fi smacked her hand to her forehead. "I completely forgot! Thanks for reminding me."
"That's quite alright Fiona."
"Your grace, could you tell me where I might find the locksmiths?"
"Just one moment," Duke Baird said, before calling over his shoulder, "Relaeh? Could you come here please?"
A young woman of about seventeen came to the door. She wore grey healers robes and owned a pair of bright green eyes that were veiled under bark brown hair. She wore an inquisitive expression on her face. The Duke decided to organise introductions. "Fiona, this is my daughter Relaeh of Queenscove. Relaeh, this is Miss Fiona Larkspur."
The young woman shook Fi's hand. "How can I help?"
Her father told her Fi's wish to go to the locksmith. Relaeh removed her overalls to reveal a pretty yet simple green dress that accented her eyes. The girl passed them to her parent and then started down the corridor, expecting Fi to follow.
*****
Once there, the young healer said her goodbyes to Fi. The girl knocked on the door. Walking inside, she saw another man was already there. On the visible left side of his face ran a faint scar from the corner of his stern brown eye to his temple. The man gazed at her with an unreadable look on his face. FI bowed to Lord Wyldon, who acknowledged her with a small inclination of the head. "Miss Larkspur. It is nice to finally meet Keladry's part-time student. Did you know thta I have offered her a position as a teacher of Yamani fighting techniques?"
"No my lord."
"It is a new addition this year. I believe she has already taught you a little."
"Yes my lord." Fi said. Kel had shown her some glaive pattern dances and taught her them.
Wyldon considered this before replying, "Do you think you would be able to spare the time to help? I'm sure Keladry would be grateful."
"But my lord," Fi started to protest, "I know very little. I am only learning myself."
"No one else in the palace knows any of these skills, bar the royal family. I have been told that you are very good at what you know. And demonstrating needs two people. I also know you have a little mastery in Yamani un-armed combat and dagger work.
This was surprising Fi a lot. To hear Lord Wyldon of all people, asking her to help train young knights. She hid a grin before answering. "I would be honoured to help my Lord."
The knight gave her a smile of approval. "I am glad to hear it. A man handed him a key, for which he got 2 gold nobles in exchange. With a quick,"Nine o'clock tomorrow", the training master left.
The other man looked at Fi, his expression clearly asking what she wanted. The girl passed over a slip that had come with her letter from Liam and said. "I believe the prince wanted a key made for me."
The man nodded and went into an adjoining room. When he came out again her handed over a beautiful gold key with a blue opal on the handle. The man whispered. "To use it, put your Gift into the stone. Once used, it'll only ever work for you."
Fi nodded to show she understood. "Thank you."
The man bowed and left. Fi in turn pocketed her new possession, and turned to go.
*****
Fi visited Liam's garden and tried her new magicked key in the lock. When she heard the tumblers turn, she smiled. Once inside, she went round all the plants, tending to them as she went. When she finished, she was in possession of another black opal. She decided she would tell the king of the new occurrence and give him the precious stone. Locking the prince's area, she went out into the adjoining garden and into the courtyard next door. She was surprised to see Raoul and Kel sitting on a bench in one corner. The two knights were surrounded by sparrows and were laughing cheerfully. Fi walked over to them, wanting to talk to Kel. Just as she got there, she was attacked from behind by a small mass that jumped at her legs.
"Jump! Be nice to Fi!" said an amused Kel. Fi looked at the little dog and shook her head. Ugly though he was, the way he sat panting innocently was quite loveable. She stooped and patted his head, then giggled as he pounded his tail loudly on the cobbles. Smiling, she turned to Kel.
"You didn't tell me you were going to teach Yamini techniques to the pages!" she accused.
"I told Lord Wyldon to tell you. Did he also tell you that I want you to help?"
"Yes he did. Do you really want my assistance? I'm not that good."
"You are, at what you know. At first we'll just do un-armed stuff and daggers. We won't move onto the glaive for a bit."
After a moment, Fi hugged her. "Thank you Kel! This means a lot to me!"
"It is I who should thank you. I need a good fighter beside me, and one who uses my techniques. Wyldon will pay you well. So you needn't worry about money anymore. And the pay includes your rooms and food. And you are getting your lessons for free so you can use your money as you wish."
Fi burst into tears down Kel's shoulder. The woman got worried. "What's wrong? You dont have to help, its your choice."
"Of course I want to! Everyone has been so kind. You, Alanna, Daine, Jon, Thayet, Roald, Raoul, Duke Baird, Neal, Liam...." she broke off and tried to gain control, "How can I thank you all?"
Raoul patted her shoulder. "You dont need to thank us. Its been a pleasure to help you. Now, its nearly time for lunch and a little bird tells me we have cherry tarts," he pointed at a sparrow holding a stolen cherry in its beak, "And I have a particular love for cheery tarts. C'mon, lets go." He got up and started towards the door into the castle. Fi stood up. Kel rummaged in her pockets before looking up.
"I lent you my last hankie!"
Fi took a moment to remember the incident in Pirates swoop. Chuckling she searched her own pockets and pulled out a crumpled piece of white material. "I've still got it," she wiped her eyes then offered it to the woman, "I dont suppose you want it back!"
*****
The next day Fi found a small package outside her door. It contained a cream coloured, colourless cotton shirt and loose black trousers, which hung around her legs unlike her muscle hugging breeches. Obviously these were what Kel wanted her to wear for lessons. Once she had put these on she buckled her belt round her waist and slipped her dagger inside. She then walked over to her window and took an apple from her tree again. Leaving and locking her room, she walked down to Kel's quarters. There she was greeted by the lady knight and shown in. She bowed to her new employer, and grinned at the Knight Commander, who grinned back. Lord Wyldon looked her over, eyes emotionless but calculating. "I'm glad you came here. I want to see what you can do with your dagger." With this he drew his own belt knife and got into a guard position. "As I am the nearest to your height, it would be best for you to try against me."
Fi looked up at Kel who nodded. With that, she got into a more comfortable position. In England she'd been an enthusiastic fencer. She had transferred some of the skills of speed and quick reflexes in her dagger work. So when the man made a lunge at her, she was ready. She parried with a speedy movement, taking the force of his dagger on her equally strong blade. Then she moved quickly to the side and took her blade away, letting the momentum carry him forward. The training master was good though. He quickly pivoted and made a cut for her arm. She moved backwards to let his blade slice uselessly, then made a quick twist with her own dagger, sending his weapon up into the air. As it fell, she caught it by the hilt and offered it back. "Is that good enough my lord?"
The man took the dagger and smiled. "If you can teach them to do that, you are a good teacher indeed." He shook hands with Fi then moved towards the door. "I'll see you can Keladry in an hour on the practice courts." He said, before leaving.
Kel hugged Fi, "Well done, I couldn't have done that."
"You taught me!"
"I didn't teach you everything. How you became that quick I'll never know."
Raoul clapped her on the shoulder. "Well done youngster. I'm proud of you."
Fi blushed. Coming from Raoul, it meant a lot. She liked the knight a great deal. She wished she be as cheerful as he always was. "Thank you Raoul. I'll see you later."
The giant of a man nodded and left. Fi smiled at Kel. "What will we teach them today?"
Kel thought for a moment before replying. "Dagger work. Obviously they might need it from what we've just seen, though far be it from me to criticise my lords teaching. We only take the 4th years so we needn't worry about what lessons we give to whom. Come on, we'll go get some proper food. An apple is hardly enough now is it!"
In chapter 11: Well, its a different chapter to most the next one. I wont tell you how, but we learn a bit more about Liam and Fi. But I might put chapter 12 up at the same time. And I'm not giving ANYTHING away about that chapter! *Evil Grin* You'll see why later.
Thanks to EVERYONE who has EVER reviewed me. Aerin, Cythera, Nightwitch, Starsong, Purple Dominion Jewel, Norneen, Aufidia, Windstorm, Rayne, Jillian, Sara, and you lot on ff.net. THANK YOU! And keep reviewing. It's what people write for, as well as pleasure. Reviews give me that little happy feeling inside: D
And of course, thanks for Cathy for being great author/web owner/mate. Three cheers for her!