AN: Ah..ha. I give you all permission to beat me...-_- Just make it quick. Thanks goes to Jezzi, Amanda Swiftgold, Rap's, & SteelSoul. I really apologize for the delay in this...I should be coming out with these at least every second week at the LATEST...but I don't know what happened! It's like...time went VOOM! Right by me! @_@ Mucho sorries.
Chapter 7
Zieggy

Arriving in Ulara was much the same as arriving in Aglis was. The only difference was that I knew I was different from the other slaves. I could protect myself if I needed to. Before I'd left Aglis, Savan had told me the Winglies in Ulara were of a moderate viewpoint. Cruelty to humans still existed, but not to such a degree as in Aglis. I didn't really understand that. I'd never seen any cruelty at all. But mother, she accepted this readily as fact. I was still 7 at the time. My time in Aglis amounted to hardly three months. I didn't see how Ulara could be any different.

Fate has this thing where she likes to prove me wrong when I want to be right. The years to come would only amplify that fact.

Upon arriving, we were immediately escorted to the sickbay and put to work. I ran bandages to the doctors and healers, mother helped in sedations and other various tasks. I remember that first day as nothing more than a blur of movement and jobs. I felt sick to my stomach having to work there, and I was incredibly grateful when Charle summoned me the next day.

I was led to her home. The Wingly who took me was a talkative young man, eager to hear his own voice over the wind. He handed me over to Charle with many words that weren't necessary. That didn't mean he was rude, it was simply a matter of an over abundance of what he chose to say. Charle seemed to be no different either.

"My, dear! Look at you, look at you! Come, turn around!" She was sitting upon a regal looking chair, a fan in her right hand and a glass of white wine in the other. I felt horribly pale in comparison. There she was, in her flamboyant dresses and extravagant accessories, and I stood before her a poor slave girl. My clothes, a white shirt that was ten times too big, was tied by a belt around my waist. I wore black trousers, a 'gift' from one of the slaves back in Aglis. It was a gift given in the worst of circumstances.

One of the boys that had the horrid luck of falling under the mastery of one of the more crueler Winglies had died. I had only heard about it at the time. I'd never really known him, isolated as slaves were kept in that city. But possessions were few among slaves, and deaths were actually starting to be looked at as beneficial, as the ownings of the deceased were dispersed through-out the remaining slaves. I received his clothes.

I turned around for Charle as she asked me to, somewhat meak as I eyed the floor and shuffled my feet. My feet, which were covered in ugly brown shoes that I absolutely loathed. Charle only clucked as I came to a stop, shaking her head sadly.

"This won't do, no no. What was Savan thinking? Dressing you like this?"

"Oh but he didn't!" I burst out, forgetting my place. My hands immediately flew to my mouth, my eyes widened in fear. But she only nodded as she had before, her look more than anything asking me to continue. She wasn't going to punish me. I had found another rose among the thorns. "I...all my stuff was left in Aglis. The slave master wouldn't let us take them..." I trailed off, pleading mine and Savan's case. Charle nodded once more, and placed her wine down on the arm of her chair.

"I understand, child. But I won't have you running around my city dressed like that. No no. Tsk tsk, such a shame. If you are to work, you must at least look decent." I wanted to tell her I didn't want to work, I wanted to go back to Niere, I wanted so much back that I couldn't have; but I kept quiet about it. I found that my pains were often not wanted, nor were they important to others. And, while I hated to admit it, it was the same with Savan. Though he was almost a second father to me, he did not care that I wanted to be free. Or perhaps he did. Perhaps he knew all along what would transpire, what I would become, what I would do. Perhaps Fate had conspired my presence here at this time. She had a fair hand in the rest of my life, why not this as well?

"Yes ma'am." I nodded quickly, though I had absolutely no idea where I would get new clothes to please her. But she was already thinking along the same lines, apparantly, and raised her voice clearly.

"Oh Zieggy!!!"

I blinked. Zieggy? But before I could even fathom the odd sounding name, a patter of footsteps erupted behind me and I turned quickly -just in time, as a matter of fact- before a boy about my age rushed past me to bow quickly before Charle. He wore an easy smile, his blonde hair was unruly and wild, and...to my surprise, he looked happy.

"Yes Charle?" he glanced over his shoulder at me curiously, and I returned his open stare. He seemed about as shocked as I was to see the other. After a moment, we both turned to the Wingly ruler expectantly. She smiled and waved her fan in a grand gesture.

"Zieggy, this is Shirley. Shirley, this is my Zieggy."

He turned then, stuck his hand out and grinned. "It's really Zieg, but Charle just calls me that from habit." He answered my unspoken question perfectly and I nodded, smiling, and I took his hand.

"Pleased to meet you." I replied, shaking it firmly.

"Oh good!!" Charle sounded absolutely delighted that we were getting along. "You two will become good friends, I have a feeling about these things. Now," she stood and took the two steps of stairs gracefully towards us, "Zieggy, please show Shirley around the city. If you could, take her to see your sister. See if she'll be a dearie and give Shirley some of her clothes that she doesn't fit anymore, alright?"

"Sure!" Zieg grinned and stood by my side, his hand on my shoulder in a friendly gesture of comraderie. He turned to me then. "Come on, I'll teach you the ropes."

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Charle reminded us, "if I hear of anymore of your pranks, Zieg, I'll take away your sword." His sword? I thought. He has a weapon? Next to me, Zieg swallowed and nodded forcefully. I took it this happened often. When we left Charle's home a few moments later, he immediately took a relieved breath.

"Soa she scares me sometimes. She can be nice as peaches and cream, but tick her off and it's Mayfil incarnate," he shook his head and stuck his hands in his pockets, absently kicking a nearby rock as he smiled at me. "Just do as she says. Don't get in anybody's way, and you'll do fine."

"Savan said the Winglies weren't as cruel here."

"Most aren't," he agreed, "but lately there's been more and more coming in from Melbu. He wants his influence everywhere, even in the more moderate cities." I blinked at his logic and knowledge. I later came to know Zieg as my political informant. He always seemed to know what was what, who was where, and where it happened. It didn't take long for me to add in my own thoughts and reasoning.

I was insightful in most things at an early age. To have to learn what I had known by the age of 7, death, slavery, magic and turmoil... To finally find someone my age who had done almost the same, it was great. I hadn't had an actual friend in ages. Even in Niere, the children were few. Most were already in their teens or just babies, not many were in my age range for me to socialize with. So to me, Zieg was a God-send.

We walked through the city, Zieg telling me along the way of what places to avoid and which were safe. He told me random facts that he had come across about certain areas. When we came to the Gardens, he took my hand and pulled me forwards to the plants. Plants that I could see were carnivorous.

"These are Charle's." He told me, bending over to the ground and coming back up with what looked like a worm. "Her 'babies'. Don't get too close, they'll bite. But watch this!" Grinning, Zieg took a tentative step forward and tossed the worm into the midst of the foliage. I watched in utter amazement as all the plants attacked the worm. It was actually quite disgusting, but at 7 I was fascinated. Zieg turned away, starting to walk towards our next location as I hurried to catch up.

"That's us," he said in a monotone voice after we had walked a distance. I raised my eyes, startled. What? "That worm, that's us. Those plants are the Winglies. We're not strong enough to do anything, you saw what happened to it." His eyes never lowered as he spoke, he kept them level with the air around him. "One of these days," shoulders hunched, he kicked a random pebble, "we won't be the worm. We won't be the weak ones. You'll see, Shirley." He grinned over at me, his eyes bright with confidence for the future. "You'll be there, I know you will. You'll see us fight back." He gave a determined nod, turning his attention back to the path before him. "And we'll win."

*~*~*~*

I had my first real encounter with the notorious 'cruel' Winglies the very next day. Charle had my mother moved to kitchen duty, and I was to report to Charle right after breakfast. Breakfast which, happily, consisted of something more than Wingly porridge. I was entirely too sick of that meal. Zieg came to walk with me afterwards. His knock on my door took my mother completely by surprise, she didn't expect any sort of social life here at all. In Aglis, we were much too confined to have one. But in Ulara, we had our own home, our own quarters. I'd noticed the day before with Zieg that mine was somewhat better off than others, and when I mentioned this Zieg didn't believe me. Until now.

"Shirley!" He ran into my kitchen with an awed look on his face. I was sitting there, finishing my meal of bacon and eggs when he did so. "You weren't lying!" He exclaimed, looking around. I smiled.

"Of course. I never lie." I winked at him, finished the last of my meal, and showed him around before we left.

"Why though?" he pondered this on our way to Charle's. "Why you?" He blinked a moment. "How much were you sold for?"

"Ten thousand gold," I replied. Zieg balked, and I had to giggle. "What?"

"Why so much? My entire family was only sold for two thousand, and there's four of us!" He shook his head. "Do you know why, Shirley?"

I lowered my head. I did know why. It was me...but, what would Zieg say if he knew I could do magic? Before I could contemplate an answer, however, I was falling forward, my foot having caught itself on something. Having not been paying attention, I completely missed the fact that four Wingly children had been tailing us the entire time. I'd also missed the foot placed in my path.

"Shirley!" Zieg bent to help me up, glaring up at the others as he did so. "What do you want? Leave her alone!"

I got to my feet and hurridly backed away. I could feel my magic swell up inside of me, and I mentally calmed it lest it fly free. The Winglies looked about our age, the tallest was a mean-looking one with spikey hair and a cruel smirk.

"Well well, what do we have here?" He sneered. I had backed up right into Zieg, and he had a hand on my shoulder protectively. "Slaves, walking free? Why aren't you headed to the sickbay little girl?" I was pushed from behind and if it weren't for Zieg's hand I would have fallen again. I was beginning to panic, but more than that I was getting angry.

"This is the way to Charle's. Humans like you aren't worthy to see one of the High Winglies." The haughty tone from the one behind me was also very young. I debated using my magic. If I could at least blind them, we could run away. But I wasn't sure if by doing that I'd blind Zieg, too. And so decided against it.

"Charle Frahma summoned her, herself!" Zieg declared, taking a bold step forward. "And I go there everyday, you know that Wyon."

"You're different," the one called Wyon folded his arms, "Charle's pity case. She -" he nodded disdainfully at me and I huddled closer to Zieg. The other two Winglies were moving closer, "-doesn't belong here. Tig and Pir will see she doesn't come back."

"NO!" I cried out as the two boys grabbed each of my arms. "Let go!" I pulled back and Zieg moved to help, but Wyon had his other lackey hold him down. Struggling against their brute strength and their cruel laughter, I fought to reach my new friend. They turned me away from Zieg, pushing me away so that I fell. I didn't cry out, as I had exerted a small amount of magic to lessen the pain as I did so. The next thing I knew I felt a boot to my stomach, and my magic surged forward to heal the pain. I momentarilly wondered at this. My healing magic was something I was just coming into, having only begun to read up on it the past two days.

With knowledge comes power. I recalled Savan saying that to me once.

"Get lost." Tig nudged me with his foot and I rolled over, gasping.

"She's just a girl! Leave her alone!" Zieg's voice was beginning to sound very distant, and I turned to find him. My new friend surprised his captor in a quick dodge to the side, twisting, and letting a fist fly loose. I gaped. He had just PUNCHED a Wingly! As the white haired boy fell backwards, a hand to his nose, I scrambled to reach Zieg. Tig and Pir were in shock, and Wyon was staring at Zieg as if he had just punched Melbu himself!

"Zieg!" I grabbed the cloth on his shoulder and tugged violently. "Let's GO. Quick!" He didn't have to think twice, his swift nod agreeing with me readily. We looked back at the Winglies over our shoulders as we ran. All three of them were standing over the one on the ground. Tig and Pir were laughing, but Wyon looked absolutely LIVID. We didn't stop until we reached Charle's. There, she greeted us with curious worry.

"Heavens, children! What's the rush? Speak up now! Speak!" She stood in the doorway like a wall and it was obvious we weren't getting past until we told her. Zieg groaned, his movements heavy as if he just wanted to collapse. I stood rigid in my stance and waited. When Zieg didn't say anything, and when Charle still didn't move, I sighed.

"We were-" I yelped as a sudden elbow at my side jabbed me. Charle raised an eyebrow and I glared at Zieg for my pain. "We were distracted by your gardens, Charle." I remedied with a grin. "But one tried to bite me...so..." I trailed off and Charle smiled.

"Is that all?" She chuckled, ushering us inside. We did so quickly and with a shared look between us. Zieg grinned gratefully, and I finally understood why he had elbowed me so. If Charle knew that Zieg had punched a Wingly, what would her reaction be?

She can be nice as peaches and cream, but tick her off and it's Mayfil incarnate.

"Shirley dearie!!" My head snapped up and around as Charle summoned me to her chair. "Zieggy, go and practice. Shirley will join you in a bit." I blinked. I would? "Now...Shirley." Charle smiled as Zieg ran off and I ran over to her. "How would you like to come here every day? Hmm? Practice with Zieggy?"

"With a sword?! " I gaped, and Charle laughed.

"Oh it doesn't have to be a sword. There are other weapons to choose from, you know. You could also study. I've always felt that human children deserve education just as much as Winglies. And you're already so advanced for your age. Savan taught you well." She smiled approvingly and I blushed.

"Well, Savan mainly taught me magic," I told her, "I was taught in my home village how to read and write. Savan was trying to teach me Wingly, but I can only understand a few words."

Charle nodded and gestured to a far wall where there was a display of weapons. "Go over, dearie. Choose one and you can begin your lessons." I ran over to it eagerly, eyeing the various weapons with open awe and admiration. There were six, though a seventh place was also there. I took it to be Zieg's weapon and then moved on to inspect the others. There was another sword, a hammer, an axe, a bow, gloves and a spear. I turned back to look at Charle.

"Why are you teaching human children to fight?" I asked. She seemed quite flustered as I asked this and fanned herself quite nervously.

"Don't you worry about why, Shirley. Just you choose one." She gave me an encouraging grin and I turned back, my hand already closing around the one weapon I thought I could handle. The bow. Everything else required me to be upfront with the enemy, and I wanted as much distance as possible. As I pulled it from its place, I smiled with pride.

"Excellent!" Charle clapped gleefully behind me. "Now, run along outside with Zieggy. He'll show you the target practise area. Be careful now. Don't aim at anything living!" She waved as I walked out to the courtyard to join my friend. Said friend who was already hacking away at a dummy. He grinned as I walked out, bow in hand, and immediately picked up a quiver and handed it to me.

"Welcome aboard," he grinned.

"Aboard to what?" I asked, shouldering the quiver naturally. He blinked at that, but then shook his head.

"If you're wondering why-" he turned and hacked at the dummy, "-Charle's teaching us to-" another whack, "-fight. I haven't figured it out yet." I winced as he made a broad stroke and amputated the dummy's arm. He turned back to me with a serious frown. "At first I thought I was just that: a charity case like Wyon said. But...teaching us to fight wouldn't be necessary. Unless she wants body guards. But why humans?" He shrugged and continued hacking at the other arm. "And children? I have no idea, Shirley. I just don't know."

I nodded slowly, turning my head this way and that to find the targets. "That way." Zieg pointed to his left with his sword. "Point and shoot, gotta be easy, right?" We both grinned and I ran over to take my stance. The targets were positioned infront of a row of bushes. Behind the bushes was a row of windows, leading into whatever rooms Charle had. Raising the bow, I notched my first arrow, fired...and missed.

Laughter from behind me reached my ears and I glared back at Zieg. "What?" I demanded. His laughter tripled then, and he dropped his sword as he clutched his stomach in utter hilarity. Stomping my foot, I lowered my bow and turned to look for my arrow. It was then that I saw it. Stuck in the middle of Charle's hat as she watched from one of the windows. She wore a look of complete SHOCK and fright, and I balked at what I had done.

"Shirley....dearie..." Charle called out, reaching up and taking her hat off, "do you think you could...hit... the target ?" She pulled the arrow out, fluffed her hat, and gave me a meaningful look. I gulped, nodded, and turned back to find Zieg laying on the floor in giggles. Walking over to him, I folded my arms and gave him an indignant look.

"You...you...!!" Zieg gasped out. I tapped my foot, waiting. "You shot CHARLE!!!"

"I know that." I snapped. He burst into even more laughter, and I waited impatiently for him to quiet down.

"Come on," he held out his hand and I helped him up. He was short of breath, and still clutching his stomach as he lead me back over to the targets. "I'll show you how it's done."