Disclaimer: Anyone familiar belongs to the holy Tamora Pierce. Please forgive my peverted idea of Daine being a hooker - I was bored!
@


Part I
A New Life
(dorky title)

For Damara Janasri, it had all started like a normal day. In the morning, she had gone through her establishment, and with her girls, she had switched all the flowers and changed the theme of the place. Some of her trainees changed all the bedclothes; now, the silken sheets and plush pillows were fresh and smelled slightly like lemon.
In the afternoon, she had gone to the market, hoping to find some strawberries. They were hard to come by in this time of year, Galla being so northern and cold. Fortunately, she had found the much desired fruit and bought several kilos.
But as she made her way back to the Silver Temple, she heard a comotion coming from a small alleyway. Damara placed her baskets in a hidyhole - there were hundreds in the city, and she knew most of them - and with a dagger in her hand, strode into the dark path, her small Gift lighting her way.
The source of the noise came from a huge man - probably a blacksmith Damara thought scornfully - and a smaller person, who was being beaten by the man.
What's going on? Damara demanded. The man turned to her; Damara recognized him. Her girls had said he was one of their most violent customers; Eric Larson.
The little meretrij was stealing some of my works! he snapped. No one steals from Eric Larson! He raised his fist to hit the thief some more, but Damara yelled,

Eric glared at her. What's the meretrij worth to you? he sneered.
Give her to me, Damara said instead. Eric pushed the girl to her; she stumbled, but Damara caught her.
Feeling like a mother, Damara brushed away tangled curls to reveal a thin, half-starved face. Blue-gray eyes were overly bright, framed in incredibly long lashes. Ruddy lips - which were, at the moment, split and bleeding slugishly - balanced a stubborn chin.
She's so beautiful Damara thought suddenly. Thank you, Eric, I'll take her. Good day. She guided the stunned child to the hidyhole, retrieved her strawberries, and returned to the Silver Temple, leaving a stunned Eric Larson.

The girl was very quiet when Damara made her bathe. She endured a brief healing with an experienced air, and accepted a simple dress gratefully. Damara was somewhat relieved when she all but breathed down the offered food.
So, child, what is your name?
The girl regarded her with those huge eyes. Veralidaine Sarrasri, mum, she answered at last. But people call me Daine.
Damara liked her clear, accented Common. I am Damara Janasri, mistress of the Silver Temple.
Daine's eyes went, if possible, even bigger. You're named after your ma, too? I...you're the first person I... She was totally at a loss for words.
Most of us at the Silver Temple are bastards, Damara assured. You must be from a small place if I'm the first bastard-born woman you've met, besides yourself.
I was born in Snowsdale, the girl said stiffly. My ma was the village healer. Sarra Beneksri...she's dead.
I'm sorry.
Daine shrugged. Happened when them bandits attacked. Her and grandda were killed. Me and...I wasn't there. She left it at that. The pain was obviously too fresh in her mind. What's the Silver Temple? she asked, changing the subject.
Damara, grinning, gestured around them. This! The Silver Temple is my establishment. It's the most renown brothel in the Galla, maybe even in the Eastern Lands!
Daine seemed to shrink into herself. You're a -?
Prostitute? Yes. The head one, actually. Everyone here answers to me. But don't worry, Daine. I'm well educated - I know letters and numbers. I have a small Gift for healing. I have connections. I used to be the favorite woman of King Trystam.
whispered Daine. You're common-born.
snorted Damara. If I was noble, d'you think I'd be here? No, my ma was common-blood - but I know for a fact my da was some foreigner noble. She had slipped into her informal Comman, dropping her aloof manner. Daine seemed more at ease with the down-to-earth Damara.
Dunno who my da is. Just know that my ma met him at Beltane.
At that moment, two young women skipped into the room, laughing. One was tall and willowy, with white-blonde hair and pale blue eyes. She was dressed in a simple dress; the finery she wore at night was hanging in her closest. The other woman was short and slender, with generous curves. Her hair gave the impression of flames, and in the firelight, her blue eyes could almost be violet.
Daine, let me introduce you to Valentina My Valentine and Pichi the Kisser, said Damara. Pichi is the copper-top, and Valentine is the one who makes you feel like you just arrived at the Roof.
Pichi came forward, eyes friendly. And what may we call you, youngling?
I'm Daine Sarrasri, Daine said.
A pleasure, Valentina said, frowning. Did someone beat you?
Eric Larson, Damara said; both young ladies winced.
We really ought to poison him someday, Pichi muttered; Damara narrowed her eyes.
If anyone does the poisoning, it'll be me, thank you very much, she said darkly. Anyway, Daine? she turned to the young girl.

Would you like to stay here for a while? I could teach you how to read and write and do numbers.
I know some of all, already. Ma taught me.
I'll sharpen your skills. I can teach you...er...courtly behavior, how to dress to please the eye. I'll school you.
Daine cocked her head to one side, considering the offer. she finally asked. Why do this for me?
'Cause I've taken a liking to you, Damara replied, grinning.
Pichi muttered, Smiling at Daine, she added, She'll supply a room, food, clothes, medicine, and eveything you want.
Valentina patted Daine gently on the shoulder. I have to go pick up my new dress, she commented, then stalked off.
I have to go decide what to wear for tonight, Pichi said. She left, leaving Damara and Daine alone.

Daine's brow furrowed with thought. I can leave whenever I want?
Damara nodded. I hope not. She'll be a stunner when she grows up.
Yes. I need a place to stay.
Damara's breath exploded from her chest. With childlike abandon, she leapt up and pulled Daine to her feet. Let's go get you a room!ยค