Oh ya this takes place after LK, when Kel's back at New Hope. Just ta let ya know.
She led me inside, and through a narrow hallway. I winced as my wings scraped the walls and doorways, they simply didn't fit. I had to walk extra-carefully to not put deep scratches in the wood. We stepped inside of a room that looked to be an office or study of some kind. She sat down at a desk and offered me a seat. I looked at it, pondering how I could sit down. She realized my predicament frowned. Finally I spread my wings as far as I could in the small room, sat down, and tucked them back in behind me. More scratches. I was going to leave this place desperate for a sanding once I left.
"Alright. Please explain everything from start to finish."
I sighed. As much as I hated heart-breaking life stories and gut spilling sob sessions, I would have to tell all. So I began. After quite a few pauses in the middle of events to adjust my wings, the story finally came out. Piece by piece. The midwife, the hiding, the freedom, the gods, the imbalance, my quest. Once I had finished the Lady Knight spoke.
"What I don't understand is why the gods would choose me to help you. I already abandoned my duties once, I doubt I could just take off because someone told me the gods said so."
"You're absolutely right. Which is why I really don't want your help. If you'd just tell me the places of recent battles, I'll be on my way Lady Keladry."
Suddenly a wind picked up and started throwing things around outside. It was as clear as day that someone wasn't happy with that solution. Keladry realized that as well. She sighed.
"It looks as though we'll be together for some time. You may as well call me Kel."
I managed a lop-sided grin. How on earth was I going to manage with people? I had been on my own for the past 4 years, ever since the midwife died when I was 11.
"Thank you," I replied, "ummm, forgive me for asking but, who exactly are you. I get the idea that you're the second lady knight, but what are you doing here? In a fort that YOU seem to be in charge of. Don't knights usually serve under a commander?"
I struck a nerve.
"Lord Wyldon decided that I was the only person for the job of commanding a refugee camp." She stated flatly. She said this as emotionlessly as possible, but I could sense an undertone of anger. Looks like someone has a grudge. A subject change was in order.
"How will we manage this?" I asked, "Where do we start, who do we take, what do we take, how do we get out of here, when do we go?"
"I have no idea." Kel replied completely frank. "We'll just figure it out in the morning. I'll show you to your room."
I raised an eyebrow. I would lacerate the bed before morning.
"Could I sleep in a tree or something? Are there any trees within the camp?"
"She shook her head. "I can't let you go out in the forest. We get attacked too often by Scanrans for it to be safe for even one night. The roof might work though."
I agreed and climbed out the window, much to her amusement. I just couldn't wait to be outside. Walls and a ceiling restricted me so much. It was like an a itch I couldn't scratch. I nestled myself in beside one of the chimneys and waved goodnight. She closed the shutters and blew out the lights. I closed my eyes, wondering what Gainel had to talk to me about now.
I shouldn't have been so cocky. I think just to spite me he gave me a completely dreamless sleep. Fortunately for me, it was quite restful. I awoke before dawn, as to not scare the refugees out of their wits. Gee, I thought, I didn't know I cared. I rustled my wings, finally able to stretch them out without fear. By now I supposed most of the people within Haven had heard about me, most likely none of it true. I swooped down and began to peek through the windows. Through one was Lady Keladry swinging her scythe-weapon. I would have to ask her what it was, it looked very exotic and dangerous. I watched her and once she had finished I swooped down to land and sit on the windowsill. She glanced at me, not in the least surprised.
"Bad news," she said "I sent a runner out last night to ask permission to go with you. I got a reply back just this morning. I'm not allowed. Obviously they still remember what happened last time I ran off, so they've threatened me with being forced to go to EVERY court function when the war is over. I may not be Raoul, but even THAT scares me. I won't abandon my people. I can't even send some of my men to help you, I can't afford to be even one man short. Sorry."
That short speech over, she went back to her exercises.
"I guess I'll be going then, Lady Keladry. No point loitering around here and longer." I must have said this a bit bitterly because she looked up at me with sadness in her eyes. I stood up and leapt out the window. There had supposedly been a rather large battle somewhere east of here. I decided to go that way. I had no idea how to find my father though, any Stormwing could have done what he did. How would I know for sure who he was? I decided that I would think of that when I got there.
The sun was still barely up in the sky when I heard the pounding of hooves behind me. I twisted around sharply in the air, to see a lone man on horseback galloping down the road I followed. I raised my eyebrows at his audacity and grabbed one of my knives. I wasn't a very good shot, but I had the advantage of height. He stopped and got off his horse, a large piebald mare, gelding, stallion? I couldn't tell. He wore a typical woodsman or hunter's clothes, made for comfort and camouflage. A refugee from Haven most likely. His hair was a nondescript brownish color and his features quite plain. His shoulders filled his tunic nicely though, and I could tell he was no weak merchant by the way he carried himself.
"Ja-Jazika?" He asked hesitantly.
"Mmmmmhhhmmmm" I answered lazily. He was no threat.
"I uhhh, overheard your conversation with Lady Keladry and since she couldn't send out 'er men with you, I thought, maybe…" He trailed off.
Aha. My allies… errr… ally. One was better than none though, and he certainly look as though he could pull his weight and then some.
My unsocialbleness was catching up to me. I was starting to feel the effect of keeping everything inside. I realized this when I spoke to Lady Keladry about my life. I needed to talk, laugh, share. I wasn't going to turn away the opportunity of having a companion, whatever his motives, for my journey.
"I would appreciate it if you came. I can use all the help I can get. Who are you?"
"The name's Ret th' Woodsman."
"The Woodsman? Not exactly too imaginative are you?" I said laughingly.
"I hear you go by the name Jazika the Halfblood."
I raised my hands in defeat.
"Fine truce. We both have REALLY dumb names."
He rubbed his neck. I realized that I couldn't keep this up or he would go stiff from looking up. I landed gently beside him, his horse surprisingly only given the slightest twitch of an ear.
"We need t'rest, I rode my mare hard to catch up to you. She can't go much further without straining 'erself." He said apologetically.
"I don't mind. I'm not in that much of a rush actually. I'm only fifteen which gives me… slightly less than a year to find him. It can't be that hard right?"
"Fifteen? Really? I expected you t'be much older than that. You look so much older! Then again, I really shouldn't judge people, I'm only sixteen myself."
Sixteen? He certainly had come by manhood early.
"We'll stop here and rest if you like," I said, "Eat something. You look hungry."
On cue, his stomach growled.
"I'll fix you something as well if ya like," he said "I've some traveling food in my saddlebags."
I shook my head. I didn't need to food to live. Being an immortal certainly did have it's benefits. I would be dead if it weren't for that.
"I don't need to eat. I only do when it's something tasty."
He nodded and walked his mare over to the side of the road. I followed, thankful for the sturdy shoes I had on. I wasn't used to walking. It felt so odd. He let his mare graze while he rifled through his bags. I sat in a tree, watching him, wondering what kind of partner he would be…
Yup, more! Yay! :oD
I have 8 unfinished and dead stories written down. Not to mention the 3 that I have in my head and I haven't put on paper or hard disk! Geeez. Would you believe that? My plot-cancer is ridiculously lethal!
I hope I finish this one. I better. I have a plot for this one! I promise! Sort of...