Chapter One
France? No, Tortall
I opened my eyes and shut them again. Aren't I supposed to be dead? I asked myself silently and tried to remember what happened. Tried. "Yes, Kalea, you are officially mad. Very, very mead. You're talking to yourself. And, no. You can't remember," I rasped, my throat was as dry and sandy feeling as sand paper.
I grimaced and pushed myself up, staring down at ripped jeans and tattered shirt. I winced as a pain like something being sharp and jagged being pulled out of my flesh shot through my hands. This is just the most wonderful thing that could happen to me, I thought sarcastically. If you know me, which you probably don't, you would know that in a situation like this I would be sarcastic and cynical. Not, that I'm always like that.
I picked my self up and dusted off my butt and looked around. I was in an empty field with no one and nothing in sight. Pick a direction, any direction, I thought and laughed out loud. So, I started walking, aimlessly might I add, in a straight line through the field.
"Halt!" a stern voice called. I looked up, startled from my thoughts and from staring at my feet. A group of five men in full armor were galloping towards me on large horses. Now, the question that first came to my mind was: full armor? Why in HELL are there men galloping around in full armor? I stopped and stared at them. When I noticed the swords I decided that cooperating with them would be mandatory for my health.
"What do you want?" I asked with a sigh.
"You are trespassing on Royal Grounds," one of the guards answered as they drew their horses to a stop in front of me.
"What makes you think I give a shit if I'm trespassing on the 'Royal Grounds?'" I asked bitterly. The guards looked horrified and put their heads together to talk about, what I assumed, was to be my fate.
"It has been decided that either you shall get off the Royal Grounds or be taken prisoner. We do not appreciate people sneaking around unwanted," Their spokesman declared.
"I'm NOT sneaking!" I said loudly. "I'm lost and I don't know where I'm supposed to be and I don't even know where I am!"
The guards looked surprised again and then their leader decreed that they would take me back to the "palace." "You may ride with me," one of the guards said politely. I guess they decided that I couldn't hurt anyone judging by the state of my clothing and that I carried no visible weapons. I walked over to his horse and mounted. It was such a shame that he had needlessly dismounted to help me on.
Then, we galloped in the direction I had been walking, but at a much faster pace.
"What is your name?" one of the guards asked me.
"Kalea," I replied. Even if I had remembered my last name I wouldn't have given it to them if they hadn't asked.
"Holy fuck," I mumbled when I saw the magnificent gigantic building looming above us. "Where are we?" I demanded. "France?"
"No," one of the guards told me, "Tortall."
"Tortall?" I squeaked.
"Tortall."
France? No, Tortall
I opened my eyes and shut them again. Aren't I supposed to be dead? I asked myself silently and tried to remember what happened. Tried. "Yes, Kalea, you are officially mad. Very, very mead. You're talking to yourself. And, no. You can't remember," I rasped, my throat was as dry and sandy feeling as sand paper.
I grimaced and pushed myself up, staring down at ripped jeans and tattered shirt. I winced as a pain like something being sharp and jagged being pulled out of my flesh shot through my hands. This is just the most wonderful thing that could happen to me, I thought sarcastically. If you know me, which you probably don't, you would know that in a situation like this I would be sarcastic and cynical. Not, that I'm always like that.
I picked my self up and dusted off my butt and looked around. I was in an empty field with no one and nothing in sight. Pick a direction, any direction, I thought and laughed out loud. So, I started walking, aimlessly might I add, in a straight line through the field.
"Halt!" a stern voice called. I looked up, startled from my thoughts and from staring at my feet. A group of five men in full armor were galloping towards me on large horses. Now, the question that first came to my mind was: full armor? Why in HELL are there men galloping around in full armor? I stopped and stared at them. When I noticed the swords I decided that cooperating with them would be mandatory for my health.
"What do you want?" I asked with a sigh.
"You are trespassing on Royal Grounds," one of the guards answered as they drew their horses to a stop in front of me.
"What makes you think I give a shit if I'm trespassing on the 'Royal Grounds?'" I asked bitterly. The guards looked horrified and put their heads together to talk about, what I assumed, was to be my fate.
"It has been decided that either you shall get off the Royal Grounds or be taken prisoner. We do not appreciate people sneaking around unwanted," Their spokesman declared.
"I'm NOT sneaking!" I said loudly. "I'm lost and I don't know where I'm supposed to be and I don't even know where I am!"
The guards looked surprised again and then their leader decreed that they would take me back to the "palace." "You may ride with me," one of the guards said politely. I guess they decided that I couldn't hurt anyone judging by the state of my clothing and that I carried no visible weapons. I walked over to his horse and mounted. It was such a shame that he had needlessly dismounted to help me on.
Then, we galloped in the direction I had been walking, but at a much faster pace.
"What is your name?" one of the guards asked me.
"Kalea," I replied. Even if I had remembered my last name I wouldn't have given it to them if they hadn't asked.
"Holy fuck," I mumbled when I saw the magnificent gigantic building looming above us. "Where are we?" I demanded. "France?"
"No," one of the guards told me, "Tortall."
"Tortall?" I squeaked.
"Tortall."