A/N: Hey, sorry for the long silence. Modem's been broke.
I hope no-one out there lost houses in the Canberra bushfires, or was evacuated in the Snowy Mountains. I know a lot of people who probably were. We've barely seen the sky in days from the smoke, and ash has been falling, and we're 80km away from the nearest fire. Last night the moon was red.
Disclaimer: By now you should know what's mine and what's not and that more that half of the characters and settings belong to Tamora Pierce.
Alanna's life, as hard as it was for many to believe, became considerably more enjoyable over the first three weeks after Prince Jonathon's death. She now had two people who would talk to her, who she could make laugh, and most importantly, who would listen.
*****
"She must come hear of her own free will. That is the most important part." The woman's voice was quiet, but the men heard every word. "Her friends are the key. Tomorrow you will go to the market place in the City of the Gods. Paula of K'taina will walk un-escorted back to the Convent at half past two. That is your chance. You must be quiet, you must be fast, and /you must not be seen/."
"What's in it for us?" asked the head of the bandit company. He had oily, brown, shoulder length hair, a hooked nose and cold, light brown eyes. He looked untrustworthy, and he had proved it to numerous people.
"2 silver nobles each. One now, one when you bring her to me."
The man looked around at his group of six. All around the circle there were nods and smiles. /Twelve/ silver nobles for kidnapping a girl child? "You've got a deal."
************
"Oh, look at that one Alanna. Isn't it the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?"
"Wow! Come see this Bridget! This one's fantastic."
"Paula, look at this!"
Upon hearing this conversation, most people would assume the three girls were in a dressmakers shop, or a jewellers. Most people would be startled to find them in the finest arms shop in the City. (A/N Please don't get mad at me. I know how cliche it is. But trust me. It's essential to the plot.)
Alanna's interest in the fighting arts had not decreased since arriving at the convent, as her father had hoped. But since an interest in the weapons their future husbands might carry - albeit a small one - was not considered un-maidenly, none of the Daughters had seen it fit to discourage her. And Alanna's interest had only tripled when Bridget, being a year older than the other two, had told her that one of the optional courses for girls in their third year was theoretical weapons and strategy. The idea, Bridget had explained, was that if a fief was under siege - as happened now and again, especially on the borders - the Lord of the fief wouldn't be leaving his people helpless under his wife. Rather, she would be able to help protect her people against the invaders.
Finally, everything in the large shop had been examined (as it had on every other weekend since the Prince's death), and the three girls left the shop.
"I've still got to get some sweets for my little sisters birthday," announced Bridget. "If I buy them today, I can post them when Sister Rowena (A/N Hehehe! Rowena! #&*#&@! Ah, forget it.) comes around for the mail tonight."
"Oh, that reminds me. I've got to finish that letter to Mother this afternoon, so I can send it tonight too." said Paula. "I'll see you two back at the Convent." And with that she left.
"Come on Bridget. Let's go to the shop on Avery Street. Those ones are always the best."
$**$**$**$**$**$**$**$
Alanna and Bridget knocked on Paula's door and then entered without waiting for a reply. There were no locks on any of the bedrooms.
To their surprise, Paula was not in her room, nor in her dressing room. In fact, the only thing that had changed since they had been there that morning was a sealed envelope on Paula's dressing table. The two girls looked at each other, then Bridget picked it up.
"It's addressed to us," she said, sounding a bit confused.
"Open it," urged Alanna.
Bridget broke the seal and unfolded the paper inside. Silently she read it and handed it over to Alanna.
///Paula of K'taina is safe, but she will not remain that way for long unless you bring me what I want. Take the Jewel of Damiel to Quakewater Ford on the River Vandeline. I will be waiting there. If you bring it to me, Paula will be set free. If not, she will be harmed. Tell no-one.///
Alanna was shocked. Finally, she managed to say "What's the Jewel of Damiel?"
"A family heirloom," answered Bridget "It's been passed down to the first- born girl of my mother's family for nine generations. Liselia of Damiel was given it from the hand of the Great Mother Goddess Herself."
"You descended from Liselia of Damiel? Wow!" exclaimed Alanna.
"Yes, but I guess it's not mine anymore, is it?" said Bridget sadly.
"What do you mean?" asked Alanna.
"Well, now it belongs to whoever who kidnapped Paula."
"So we're going after her?"
"What choice do we have?"
#^^#^^#^^#^^#^^#^^#^^#^^#^^#
A/N: Yeah, short. But that's how it is sometimes. And what's more, the story has a direction for the next few chapters.
Thanx to:
Devillkitti8: Yep! Scorpio 4eva! And I haven't updated cos I couldn't. I got the modem back an hour ago, so there.
Keita: I hope this one wont die 2.
Makura Koneko: Make sure you read my next one then. Of course, it's not going up till this one's finished, but it's going to be far more origional than even this! It's Alanna too.
Serotonin: Yeah, we were in the Rock Eisteddfod, and I'd defiantly agree with you, especially when your director decides you have to be the same colour as your costume so he paints your feet, hands, hair and face with house paint and you have an allergic reaction to it... What I really wanted to know was what everyone's was about. Ours was and origional story about the dangers of development and the good-ness of water. I was a bit of dirt and my friend was a dead tree. Oh joy. Nah, it was pretty cool. Definitely worth it.
Aer: Hmm. Good idea. I think I know how to do it...
Princess Cora: Yeah, maybe. And if your hyper, read Thom Goes to the Convent. You might have already, but if not, you'd enjoy it.
Thanks for reading everyone! Luv you all!
~Googlepuss
I hope no-one out there lost houses in the Canberra bushfires, or was evacuated in the Snowy Mountains. I know a lot of people who probably were. We've barely seen the sky in days from the smoke, and ash has been falling, and we're 80km away from the nearest fire. Last night the moon was red.
Disclaimer: By now you should know what's mine and what's not and that more that half of the characters and settings belong to Tamora Pierce.
Alanna's life, as hard as it was for many to believe, became considerably more enjoyable over the first three weeks after Prince Jonathon's death. She now had two people who would talk to her, who she could make laugh, and most importantly, who would listen.
*****
"She must come hear of her own free will. That is the most important part." The woman's voice was quiet, but the men heard every word. "Her friends are the key. Tomorrow you will go to the market place in the City of the Gods. Paula of K'taina will walk un-escorted back to the Convent at half past two. That is your chance. You must be quiet, you must be fast, and /you must not be seen/."
"What's in it for us?" asked the head of the bandit company. He had oily, brown, shoulder length hair, a hooked nose and cold, light brown eyes. He looked untrustworthy, and he had proved it to numerous people.
"2 silver nobles each. One now, one when you bring her to me."
The man looked around at his group of six. All around the circle there were nods and smiles. /Twelve/ silver nobles for kidnapping a girl child? "You've got a deal."
************
"Oh, look at that one Alanna. Isn't it the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?"
"Wow! Come see this Bridget! This one's fantastic."
"Paula, look at this!"
Upon hearing this conversation, most people would assume the three girls were in a dressmakers shop, or a jewellers. Most people would be startled to find them in the finest arms shop in the City. (A/N Please don't get mad at me. I know how cliche it is. But trust me. It's essential to the plot.)
Alanna's interest in the fighting arts had not decreased since arriving at the convent, as her father had hoped. But since an interest in the weapons their future husbands might carry - albeit a small one - was not considered un-maidenly, none of the Daughters had seen it fit to discourage her. And Alanna's interest had only tripled when Bridget, being a year older than the other two, had told her that one of the optional courses for girls in their third year was theoretical weapons and strategy. The idea, Bridget had explained, was that if a fief was under siege - as happened now and again, especially on the borders - the Lord of the fief wouldn't be leaving his people helpless under his wife. Rather, she would be able to help protect her people against the invaders.
Finally, everything in the large shop had been examined (as it had on every other weekend since the Prince's death), and the three girls left the shop.
"I've still got to get some sweets for my little sisters birthday," announced Bridget. "If I buy them today, I can post them when Sister Rowena (A/N Hehehe! Rowena! #&*#&@! Ah, forget it.) comes around for the mail tonight."
"Oh, that reminds me. I've got to finish that letter to Mother this afternoon, so I can send it tonight too." said Paula. "I'll see you two back at the Convent." And with that she left.
"Come on Bridget. Let's go to the shop on Avery Street. Those ones are always the best."
$**$**$**$**$**$**$**$
Alanna and Bridget knocked on Paula's door and then entered without waiting for a reply. There were no locks on any of the bedrooms.
To their surprise, Paula was not in her room, nor in her dressing room. In fact, the only thing that had changed since they had been there that morning was a sealed envelope on Paula's dressing table. The two girls looked at each other, then Bridget picked it up.
"It's addressed to us," she said, sounding a bit confused.
"Open it," urged Alanna.
Bridget broke the seal and unfolded the paper inside. Silently she read it and handed it over to Alanna.
///Paula of K'taina is safe, but she will not remain that way for long unless you bring me what I want. Take the Jewel of Damiel to Quakewater Ford on the River Vandeline. I will be waiting there. If you bring it to me, Paula will be set free. If not, she will be harmed. Tell no-one.///
Alanna was shocked. Finally, she managed to say "What's the Jewel of Damiel?"
"A family heirloom," answered Bridget "It's been passed down to the first- born girl of my mother's family for nine generations. Liselia of Damiel was given it from the hand of the Great Mother Goddess Herself."
"You descended from Liselia of Damiel? Wow!" exclaimed Alanna.
"Yes, but I guess it's not mine anymore, is it?" said Bridget sadly.
"What do you mean?" asked Alanna.
"Well, now it belongs to whoever who kidnapped Paula."
"So we're going after her?"
"What choice do we have?"
#^^#^^#^^#^^#^^#^^#^^#^^#^^#
A/N: Yeah, short. But that's how it is sometimes. And what's more, the story has a direction for the next few chapters.
Thanx to:
Devillkitti8: Yep! Scorpio 4eva! And I haven't updated cos I couldn't. I got the modem back an hour ago, so there.
Keita: I hope this one wont die 2.
Makura Koneko: Make sure you read my next one then. Of course, it's not going up till this one's finished, but it's going to be far more origional than even this! It's Alanna too.
Serotonin: Yeah, we were in the Rock Eisteddfod, and I'd defiantly agree with you, especially when your director decides you have to be the same colour as your costume so he paints your feet, hands, hair and face with house paint and you have an allergic reaction to it... What I really wanted to know was what everyone's was about. Ours was and origional story about the dangers of development and the good-ness of water. I was a bit of dirt and my friend was a dead tree. Oh joy. Nah, it was pretty cool. Definitely worth it.
Aer: Hmm. Good idea. I think I know how to do it...
Princess Cora: Yeah, maybe. And if your hyper, read Thom Goes to the Convent. You might have already, but if not, you'd enjoy it.
Thanks for reading everyone! Luv you all!
~Googlepuss