They love me! They REALLY love me! * bursts into tears * Oh, I just LOVE it
when I get reviews!!! YAY!
Eve Eastborne-That is for me to know and you to find out for thee moment...hee hee...You'll understand later on. THANKS!
Kurleyhawk2-You wouldn't happen to be a country fan, would you? I like it, I love it, I want some more of it! I try so hard I can't--* realizes that everyone is staring at her like she is some kind of mutant country-obsessed freak * well...You know. Tis a good song! Thanks!
Bird-WHY THANK YOU!
Now that I have thanked my ever-so-faithful reviewers, we shall continue on with the story.
Disclaim: I OWN EVERYTHING. Well, all right, I won nothing 'cept Randi, Sote, and the street people, and everything else is Tamora Pierce's, but...IT SHALL SOON BE MINE! MWAHAHAHA!!! * chokes from evil laughter * Cough, cough, ANYWAYS...
Outside the air was cool. It was still pretty early in the morning, and fog I hadn't seemed to notice before wisped around the street. I started back to the market. The shops that had seemed bright and friendly just minutes before now seemed dark and formidable.
Great, I thought. Just great. NOW what're you going to do? Try to find your way back home from an uncharted planet? I knew I had messed up. That part of my brain, the one that sees things somewhat rationally, had been yelling in my ear not to do anything stupid, but there's the other side, the side that won't ever shut up, the one that urges me to do stuff I always regret, had been yelling too, and it had won. I cursed myself inside.
I pushed my way through the hoards of people. I knew Eve wasn't following me. And even if she was, I didn't care. I wasn't going to go back with her. Although where I was going now, I hadn't the slightest idea.
First things first, I told myself. Finding a public restroom. Okay, in Chicago, and maybe even in Sheboygan, every store and shop has a bathroom. It's as simple as that. Nice flushing toilets, soft toilet paper, maybe even fluffy hand towels if you're lucky. I seriously doubted that I was going to find fluffy hand towels here. What I did find, after wandering around in circles for several minutes, fuming, was a nice isolated tree.
The next order of business was to...Well, I didn't exactly know what I was going to do next. I mean, what would you do if suddenly you found yourself in a world you thought nonexistent since last night? Go sightseeing? Go to the local arcade and bum quarters, or nobles or whatever? I didn't know anyone here, and I didn't know the streets. Put the two together, and it isn't that safe, no matter where you are. Finally, I just sat down on a doorstep and took out the book. I began to read, trying to find something in here that might help me.
Maude, the village healer, listened to them and said nothing. When Alanna finished, the woman turned and stared out the door for long minutes. Finally she looked at the twins again.
They didn't know it, but Maude was in difficulty. She had taught them all the magic she possessed. They were both capable of learning much more, but there were no other teachers at Trebond. Thom wanted everything he could get from his magic, but he disliked people. He listened to Maude only because he thought she had something left to teach him; he hated Coram-the other adult to looked after the twins-because Coram made him feel stupid. The only person in the world Thom loved, besides himself, was Alanna. Maude thought about Alanna and sighed. The girl was very different from her brother. Alanna was afraid of her magic. Thom had to be ordered to hunt, and Alanna had to be tricked and begged into trying spells.
The woman had been looking forward to the day when someone else would have to handle these two.
I shifted. I bet you anything mom was looking forward to the day someone else would have to take care of her good-for-nothing slacker of a daughter who couldn't stay out of trouble if her life depended on it.
Now it seemed the gods were going to test her through them one last time.
She shook her head. "I cannot make such a decision without help. I must try and See, in the fire."
Finally! Something about magic...Eve had said something about Seeing, or the Sight-being able to see the past, present, and future.
Thom frowned. "I thought you couldn't. I thought you could only heal."
Maude wiped sweat from her face. She was afraid. "Never mind what I can do and what I cannot do," she snapped. "Alanna, bring wood. Thom, vervain."
They rushed to do as she said, Alanna returning first to add wood to the fire already burning on the hearth. Thom soon followed, carrying leaves from the magic plant called vervain.
Maude knelt before the hearth and motioned for the twins to sit on either side of her. She felt sweat running down her back. People who tried to use magic the gods had not given to them often died in ugly ways. Maude gave a silent prayer to the Great Mother Goddess, promising good behavior for the rest of her days if only the Goddess would keep her in one piece through this.
She tossed the leaves into the fire, her lips moving silently with the sacred words. Power from her and from the twins slowly filled the fire. The flames turned green from Maude's sorcery and purple for the twins'. The woman drew a deep breath and grabbed the twins' left hands, thrusting them into the fire. Power shot up their arms. Thom yelped and wriggled with the pain of the magic now filling him up. Alanna bit her lower lip till it bled, fighting the pain her own way. Maude's eyes were wide and blank as she kept their intertwined hands in the flames.
"Hey, ye," I gruff voice said above my head.
I looked up. I was staring at the biggest man I had ever laid eyes on. He was huge, with a flabby face covered in bristles and arms the size of large hams. His stomach rolled out from a mustard-yellow tunic. He grabbed me by my collar and held me up to his face. The book fell to the ground.
"It was ye, wasn't it?" he spat. His breath smelled like decaying pork.
"What d'you mean, 'It was me'?" I asked. "I didn't do no nothin'."
"Yes ye did," the man insisted, squinting up his eyes. "You and yer li'l thief friends-ye've been targetin' me shop, taking what ain't rightfully yers."
I started to protest.
"Well, it ain't right, and I'm a gonna teach ye a lesson 'bout it, see?" The man raised a fist, preparing to punch my face in.
Hundreds of thoughts went through my head all at once. So there isn't such a thing as child abuse here-God, what'd he just eat-Zarif? Does he think I'm Zarif-Duck, Randi, he's gonna hit-No mom, no, I didn't do anything- Please no please--That stupid Jorshan-Just Chet to me friends, all right-- Why did I have to read that book-You ain't in Chicago anymore, Randi, welcome to Corus-DUCK!
I through my head to the side, just in time. The man's fist knocked me hard on the shoulder, but it didn't hurt near as much as it would've in my eye. I struggled to free myself, kicking and clawing, as the man cursed.
"Damn you," he huffed, "li'l shit."
I found my arms and clawed his arm, kicking at his stomach. The angry man grunted and let go, stooping, giving me the chance to jam my elbow into his face. It wouldn't hurt him, not much anyways, just get him pissed. Without thinking I used all my weight to push him to the ground, on his hands and knees, while I yanked one of his arms up behind his back. It was hard, and I knew it wouldn't work, but I did it anyway, I was so scared. The man got up, and picked me off of his back like I was a flea, then took my by my shirt and threw me into a wall. I slammed into it hard, and my shoulder felt as if it had cracked.
Panting and red in the face, then man gasped, "That'll teach you li'l beggars to come stealin' at MY shop agin!" He waddled away.
I slunk down to the ground, feeling dizzy. I was mad at myself. I had let that guy beat me, just as mom used to, and even when I tried to do something, it didn't work. I sat there, gazing out at the streets, gathering a few stares, trying to get my breathing return to normal.
So this is what it's like in Corus, I though angrily. Anyone can hurt anyone, just because they're bigger and-
"Is this yours?" A voice in my ear asked calmly.
I jumped and saw a boy, about my age, standing over me. His skin was a creamy brown, lighter than mine. He had friendly eyes, a deep brown, and black hair that hung partly in front of his face. His nose was too big to make him look attractive, but when he smiled his straight white teeth seemed to make up for it. (A/N: Does this sound familiar???) He was wearing plain brown britches, a white cotton shirt, and a leather belt with several bags hanging from it. He didn't look like a street kid. He was holding my book.
"Yeah," I said, managing to find my voice. I took the book from him, and he helped me to my feet. "Thanks."
"Are you all right?" the boy asked.
"I'm fine," I said irritably. "It was just a little misunderstanding. I can take care of myself." I went and stuffed my book into my bag, which had fallen several feet away.
"Hey," the boy said, "I'm Sote Carrium." (A/N: Pronounced SO-tay CARRY- um...not like the frying thing.)
"Randi DiCarlos," I muttered.
"You ain't from around here," Sote noted casually. "You sound like you're from the south. You ain't Bazhir, are you?"
"No," I replied sharply, wondering who the heck the Bazhir was.
"Good. You look it, though. Pa don't like the Bazhir-says they're tryin' to steal his business-and he don't want me talking to them, neither. We sell horses," Sote explained, as he led me into the crowd. "Raise 'em, too. Best in Corus. Bazhirs, now, they got horses too, pure breds, but they work 'em too hard. Put 'em to use in the deserts, they do. But we've got a stable, and we 'ave fifteen different breeds right now." Sote began to the name off horse breeds as I stared nervously out at the street, looking to see if any more merchants were wanting to kill me. "Arabians, thoroughbreds, quarter, paints, pintos..."
"Look," I said, interrupting Sote's list of horses, "d'you know any place that I could get a job?"
He stopped and stared blankly at me. "A job?"
"You know, so I could get some money?"
"Oh, yeah." He grinned slyly at me. "You could always help out at the stables."
I rolled my eyes. "You can stop flirting with me," I said venomously. His grin faded, but I didn't care. I was in no mood to mess with a lovesick stable boy. "And I'm from the city-I don't know anything 'bout horses."
"Well then," Sote said, staring up at the sky. "You could 'elp out at merchants' stalls. They always need an extra hand." He looked back at me. "Just go up to one o' them and ask if you can help."
"Um," I said uneasily, "I don't think now would be the best time to be 'round merchants."
Sote glanced curiously at me, but brushed the look away. "Go to an inn. You're sure to find work there."
"Where's the nearest inn?"
"I dunno. Maybe you could try the Golden Harp, 'bout one street down. Big place, it is-not hard to find. Run by Pat Idle. He'll make you work." With a laugh, Sote slipped into the crowd. "I'll be seeing you, Randi!" he called.
"I bet," I muttered, then started down the street.
Sorry it was so short, peeps...But yay, I got a new character in, even if his name is pronounced like a cooking technique. R/S??? You decide...All right. And I KNOW this wasn't as good a chapter as the last...but my brain's dead. Well, until next chapter, SEE YA!
Eve Eastborne-That is for me to know and you to find out for thee moment...hee hee...You'll understand later on. THANKS!
Kurleyhawk2-You wouldn't happen to be a country fan, would you? I like it, I love it, I want some more of it! I try so hard I can't--* realizes that everyone is staring at her like she is some kind of mutant country-obsessed freak * well...You know. Tis a good song! Thanks!
Bird-WHY THANK YOU!
Now that I have thanked my ever-so-faithful reviewers, we shall continue on with the story.
Disclaim: I OWN EVERYTHING. Well, all right, I won nothing 'cept Randi, Sote, and the street people, and everything else is Tamora Pierce's, but...IT SHALL SOON BE MINE! MWAHAHAHA!!! * chokes from evil laughter * Cough, cough, ANYWAYS...
Outside the air was cool. It was still pretty early in the morning, and fog I hadn't seemed to notice before wisped around the street. I started back to the market. The shops that had seemed bright and friendly just minutes before now seemed dark and formidable.
Great, I thought. Just great. NOW what're you going to do? Try to find your way back home from an uncharted planet? I knew I had messed up. That part of my brain, the one that sees things somewhat rationally, had been yelling in my ear not to do anything stupid, but there's the other side, the side that won't ever shut up, the one that urges me to do stuff I always regret, had been yelling too, and it had won. I cursed myself inside.
I pushed my way through the hoards of people. I knew Eve wasn't following me. And even if she was, I didn't care. I wasn't going to go back with her. Although where I was going now, I hadn't the slightest idea.
First things first, I told myself. Finding a public restroom. Okay, in Chicago, and maybe even in Sheboygan, every store and shop has a bathroom. It's as simple as that. Nice flushing toilets, soft toilet paper, maybe even fluffy hand towels if you're lucky. I seriously doubted that I was going to find fluffy hand towels here. What I did find, after wandering around in circles for several minutes, fuming, was a nice isolated tree.
The next order of business was to...Well, I didn't exactly know what I was going to do next. I mean, what would you do if suddenly you found yourself in a world you thought nonexistent since last night? Go sightseeing? Go to the local arcade and bum quarters, or nobles or whatever? I didn't know anyone here, and I didn't know the streets. Put the two together, and it isn't that safe, no matter where you are. Finally, I just sat down on a doorstep and took out the book. I began to read, trying to find something in here that might help me.
Maude, the village healer, listened to them and said nothing. When Alanna finished, the woman turned and stared out the door for long minutes. Finally she looked at the twins again.
They didn't know it, but Maude was in difficulty. She had taught them all the magic she possessed. They were both capable of learning much more, but there were no other teachers at Trebond. Thom wanted everything he could get from his magic, but he disliked people. He listened to Maude only because he thought she had something left to teach him; he hated Coram-the other adult to looked after the twins-because Coram made him feel stupid. The only person in the world Thom loved, besides himself, was Alanna. Maude thought about Alanna and sighed. The girl was very different from her brother. Alanna was afraid of her magic. Thom had to be ordered to hunt, and Alanna had to be tricked and begged into trying spells.
The woman had been looking forward to the day when someone else would have to handle these two.
I shifted. I bet you anything mom was looking forward to the day someone else would have to take care of her good-for-nothing slacker of a daughter who couldn't stay out of trouble if her life depended on it.
Now it seemed the gods were going to test her through them one last time.
She shook her head. "I cannot make such a decision without help. I must try and See, in the fire."
Finally! Something about magic...Eve had said something about Seeing, or the Sight-being able to see the past, present, and future.
Thom frowned. "I thought you couldn't. I thought you could only heal."
Maude wiped sweat from her face. She was afraid. "Never mind what I can do and what I cannot do," she snapped. "Alanna, bring wood. Thom, vervain."
They rushed to do as she said, Alanna returning first to add wood to the fire already burning on the hearth. Thom soon followed, carrying leaves from the magic plant called vervain.
Maude knelt before the hearth and motioned for the twins to sit on either side of her. She felt sweat running down her back. People who tried to use magic the gods had not given to them often died in ugly ways. Maude gave a silent prayer to the Great Mother Goddess, promising good behavior for the rest of her days if only the Goddess would keep her in one piece through this.
She tossed the leaves into the fire, her lips moving silently with the sacred words. Power from her and from the twins slowly filled the fire. The flames turned green from Maude's sorcery and purple for the twins'. The woman drew a deep breath and grabbed the twins' left hands, thrusting them into the fire. Power shot up their arms. Thom yelped and wriggled with the pain of the magic now filling him up. Alanna bit her lower lip till it bled, fighting the pain her own way. Maude's eyes were wide and blank as she kept their intertwined hands in the flames.
"Hey, ye," I gruff voice said above my head.
I looked up. I was staring at the biggest man I had ever laid eyes on. He was huge, with a flabby face covered in bristles and arms the size of large hams. His stomach rolled out from a mustard-yellow tunic. He grabbed me by my collar and held me up to his face. The book fell to the ground.
"It was ye, wasn't it?" he spat. His breath smelled like decaying pork.
"What d'you mean, 'It was me'?" I asked. "I didn't do no nothin'."
"Yes ye did," the man insisted, squinting up his eyes. "You and yer li'l thief friends-ye've been targetin' me shop, taking what ain't rightfully yers."
I started to protest.
"Well, it ain't right, and I'm a gonna teach ye a lesson 'bout it, see?" The man raised a fist, preparing to punch my face in.
Hundreds of thoughts went through my head all at once. So there isn't such a thing as child abuse here-God, what'd he just eat-Zarif? Does he think I'm Zarif-Duck, Randi, he's gonna hit-No mom, no, I didn't do anything- Please no please--That stupid Jorshan-Just Chet to me friends, all right-- Why did I have to read that book-You ain't in Chicago anymore, Randi, welcome to Corus-DUCK!
I through my head to the side, just in time. The man's fist knocked me hard on the shoulder, but it didn't hurt near as much as it would've in my eye. I struggled to free myself, kicking and clawing, as the man cursed.
"Damn you," he huffed, "li'l shit."
I found my arms and clawed his arm, kicking at his stomach. The angry man grunted and let go, stooping, giving me the chance to jam my elbow into his face. It wouldn't hurt him, not much anyways, just get him pissed. Without thinking I used all my weight to push him to the ground, on his hands and knees, while I yanked one of his arms up behind his back. It was hard, and I knew it wouldn't work, but I did it anyway, I was so scared. The man got up, and picked me off of his back like I was a flea, then took my by my shirt and threw me into a wall. I slammed into it hard, and my shoulder felt as if it had cracked.
Panting and red in the face, then man gasped, "That'll teach you li'l beggars to come stealin' at MY shop agin!" He waddled away.
I slunk down to the ground, feeling dizzy. I was mad at myself. I had let that guy beat me, just as mom used to, and even when I tried to do something, it didn't work. I sat there, gazing out at the streets, gathering a few stares, trying to get my breathing return to normal.
So this is what it's like in Corus, I though angrily. Anyone can hurt anyone, just because they're bigger and-
"Is this yours?" A voice in my ear asked calmly.
I jumped and saw a boy, about my age, standing over me. His skin was a creamy brown, lighter than mine. He had friendly eyes, a deep brown, and black hair that hung partly in front of his face. His nose was too big to make him look attractive, but when he smiled his straight white teeth seemed to make up for it. (A/N: Does this sound familiar???) He was wearing plain brown britches, a white cotton shirt, and a leather belt with several bags hanging from it. He didn't look like a street kid. He was holding my book.
"Yeah," I said, managing to find my voice. I took the book from him, and he helped me to my feet. "Thanks."
"Are you all right?" the boy asked.
"I'm fine," I said irritably. "It was just a little misunderstanding. I can take care of myself." I went and stuffed my book into my bag, which had fallen several feet away.
"Hey," the boy said, "I'm Sote Carrium." (A/N: Pronounced SO-tay CARRY- um...not like the frying thing.)
"Randi DiCarlos," I muttered.
"You ain't from around here," Sote noted casually. "You sound like you're from the south. You ain't Bazhir, are you?"
"No," I replied sharply, wondering who the heck the Bazhir was.
"Good. You look it, though. Pa don't like the Bazhir-says they're tryin' to steal his business-and he don't want me talking to them, neither. We sell horses," Sote explained, as he led me into the crowd. "Raise 'em, too. Best in Corus. Bazhirs, now, they got horses too, pure breds, but they work 'em too hard. Put 'em to use in the deserts, they do. But we've got a stable, and we 'ave fifteen different breeds right now." Sote began to the name off horse breeds as I stared nervously out at the street, looking to see if any more merchants were wanting to kill me. "Arabians, thoroughbreds, quarter, paints, pintos..."
"Look," I said, interrupting Sote's list of horses, "d'you know any place that I could get a job?"
He stopped and stared blankly at me. "A job?"
"You know, so I could get some money?"
"Oh, yeah." He grinned slyly at me. "You could always help out at the stables."
I rolled my eyes. "You can stop flirting with me," I said venomously. His grin faded, but I didn't care. I was in no mood to mess with a lovesick stable boy. "And I'm from the city-I don't know anything 'bout horses."
"Well then," Sote said, staring up at the sky. "You could 'elp out at merchants' stalls. They always need an extra hand." He looked back at me. "Just go up to one o' them and ask if you can help."
"Um," I said uneasily, "I don't think now would be the best time to be 'round merchants."
Sote glanced curiously at me, but brushed the look away. "Go to an inn. You're sure to find work there."
"Where's the nearest inn?"
"I dunno. Maybe you could try the Golden Harp, 'bout one street down. Big place, it is-not hard to find. Run by Pat Idle. He'll make you work." With a laugh, Sote slipped into the crowd. "I'll be seeing you, Randi!" he called.
"I bet," I muttered, then started down the street.
Sorry it was so short, peeps...But yay, I got a new character in, even if his name is pronounced like a cooking technique. R/S??? You decide...All right. And I KNOW this wasn't as good a chapter as the last...but my brain's dead. Well, until next chapter, SEE YA!