Dun-dee-DUM!!! Here it is, part 6 for all of my beloved fans. *Sigh* I'm getting them up as fast as I can, but if you remember this a huge group project and I have to check with my several other conspirators every time I write a chapter so please have a little patience. Anyways, read on and review at the end. BTW this is an extremely LONG chapter to make up for the really short one last time.
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Jennifer walked into the locker room, noticing the book below her flute locker, as the rest of the students seemed to mysteriously disappear from the locker room for no reason at all. Most had a sudden urge to go bug the band director or get something to eat, but none the less it was soon empty in there other than Jennifer and the unusual book.
[What have we here?] thought Jennifer as she looked over the cover, noticing the main picture and the smaller ones in the corners and the two on the back as well. Opening the cover she started at the front and noticed something the others had not, for each gilt picture on the front there was a larger, full color one just inside the cover.
[This is pretty neat] she thought, turning the page, what she saw made her blood run cold. It was Amanda and Elizabeth standing beside two beautiful mares in front of a small fief. Elizabeth was dressed as a Lady in one of her gowns with her hair braided and such, and Amanda was wearing breeches, shirt and tunic fit for a wealthy merchant. Both had changed a little, Amanda's hair being longer and Elizabeth appearing to have grown a few inches, but nothing too different.
She sucked in a breath of air and turned to the next page, another shock awaited her. There was Sarah and Hewitt, standing in front a large ranch with a field of horses behind them. Both were dressed as common workers, but looked like they were happier than she had ever seen them at school. [Oh my gosh...] was all that she could think in her head and her instincts were telling her that something was definitely not right here.
Jennifer braced herself and turned to the next page, wishing she never had after that. It was Brenna, Bryanna, and Allie, inside a bar at some medieval tavern. Brenna was sitting beside two men (Jeremy and Joe) and appeared to be talking with them while Allie was flirting with a third and Bryanna was serving drinks. [It fits them but it almost looks too real to be a picture] she thought, turning to the next page.
It was of a Japanese looking girl, standing before some women also dressed in kimonos and holding two fans in her hands. By the way they were drawn they looked really sharp. [Wait a sec] she said to herself [That's Alyse! But Alyse isn't Japanese...at least I don't think she is]
There was nothing after that and Jennifer closed the book quickly. She was planning to go get the band director and show it to him, but if you've read any of the last 5 chapters, you know what happens next. The flash dutifully appeared and she disappeared, and all of her things with her. The book was about to find some place else to float to when there was a shout of surprise...
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"#@$&%@*^@*^%$@*%@(^@)_*^@%$%@$#@^%%@#!!!!!!!" cursed the lady mage as she watched the scrying bowl. Someone had walked in just as the book had sucked that short redhead in. She waited impatiently, hoping the other girl, a short, brown haired girl with freckles, would pick up the book, otherwise she couldn't bring her in as well and that would not be good...
"The last thing I need right now is for someone to blow this whole thing," grumbled the mage, leaving the other girl hanging in the space where she kept people before sending them off their new lives. It wouldn't matter, she could leave someone there for a hundred years, and when they woke up it would seem like they had been awake only seconds ago.
Lucky for her, the girl did pick up the book and the flash appeared, taking her away to wherever she was going in Tortal...
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(Going back in time a few minutes)
Lyssa had walked into the almost empty band locker room, having been instructed by a few of the guard members that if she wanted to see Amanda, she would find her there. The only person in the room had been a short red head girl standing by the far wall holding a rather unusual book.
She was about to ask her if she had seen her friend, but the girl closed the book she had been looking at and a light flashed, making her and all her things that were on the floor disappear. Lyssa had just gaped there for a moment before running forward and yelling in surprise. Nobody came running because it was the band room and people were yelling in there all the time.
She picked up the book cautiously, having only one conscious thought before she was gone. [How am I going to explain this one to Amanda?]
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The lady mage sat at her desk, over looking the files she had received the moment those two had been sucked in.
"Hmm, a fourteen year old sophomore who likes to cook, is fairly innocent from the looks of things, I think I may be able to find a place suitable for her..." mumbled the mage to herself, glancing over the scrying bowls to make sure nothing had happened.
She grabbed a book labeled 'Recent Happenings, The Last 5 Minutes' and began to skim through it, doing her best to keep an eye on everything she had to at the same time. "Here we are," she said at last. "Roberto Gonzales of the fine food restaurant in Tortal (of all the places…) has just fired his best chef and needs a replacement now." She glanced up at the picture of the redhead flying in space, grinning slightly. "I guess that's where you're going." Saying a short spell, she sent the girl on her way with another spell to finish off any loose ends like clothing, money, possessions, etc.
"Now what to do with the other one..."
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Jennifer found herself standing outside of a restaurant, somewhat foreign by the looks of it with a disheveled man standing outside. She was wearing a dress with an apron over in and some sort of a hat on her head. The man paced back and forth, searching the crowd outside for someone or thing. [Holy cow…]
"You there!" he said, pointing at Jennifer, "Can you cook?"
"I'm pretty good," said Jennifer, shrugging as she did with a grin, "Why do you ask sir?" [This all has to be a dream] she thought [So I'll just play along and make the best of this dream] Unfortunately she didn't somehow believe those lies, even if she had said them herself.
"I need a cook for today," said the man, waving her over closer. "I'll pay you well. If you do really good job, I let you stay and work all the time for a high salary." His accent was very thick, and she couldn't place where he might be from, so she just followed him inside and went to work in his kitchens.
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Lyssa found herself outside of a small castle looking mansion. [What in the world…] She stood there for a minute, trying not to panic and years of practice coming to the rescue. [I have no idea where I am, but I might as well make the best of it…]
A flyer blew across her feet and she picked in up quickly. It read, "Wanted: A trained personage in weapons who could drill a garrison of troops and be in charge of it. Has to have a no nonsense attitude and be tough to the core." [Hmmm] she thought [Maybe all those years of guard are going to pay off...] "Come to the Trebond mansion for details. Might as well go see if anybody at that place over there knows how to get there," she said aloud, noticing she was closer to the mansion than the town and opted for the shorted walk.
On the way she noticed that she was wearing a boy's clothes (green breeches, white shirt and blue tunic with brown boots) and was armed with a bow, arrows, and a dagger. Her hair had been tied back out of her face, and if you saw her from afar you probably could've mistaken her for a guy.
Lyssa walked up to the door confidently, ignored by the servants and soldiers that scuttled about as she knocked on the door heavily. "Can I help you?" asked a man dressed in a serving man's outfit.
"Yes, is this the Trebond mansion?"
"It is."
"Then I am calling in response to this flyer." She held it up for him to see and his frowned slightly.
"I'm not sure you understand the full extent of the job," he said, thinking that women were only fit for housework and having kids.
"Listen, bub, I took a lot of time out of my busy life so I could come ask about this," she growled, getting annoyed, "You will go and get the head of this place so I can talk to him about this job. Now." [Ok, so maybe that was a bit of a lie, but it doesn't matter. I have no idea where I am. Or what's going on for that matter and I need a place to stay for a while at the least] she reasoned, waiting for him to return.
When he did he said, "Follow me, Miss." He led her to a study and stood just inside the door as she walked in, taking in all that was around her.
A fairly large man, probably in his late 50's, sat at a desk with a Lady beside him, both dressed at nobles and going over some paper work. "Sir, this is the young lady who wished to speak to you," said the serving man, getting the two's attention.
The man stood and bowed, which Lyssa did in return, and said, "My name is Coram, and this is my wife Lady Trebond." (A/N: Sorry, y'all I can't remember her name!) He motioned to the lady who stood beside him, and she nodded her head in acknowledgement, grinning as she did. "Who do we have the honor of meeting?"
"I am Lyssa," she replied, bowing again. "And I wanted to speak to you in regards to the flyer about a position open here."
"Yes, Niles mentioned something about that," said Coram, motioning to the serving man by the door. "What kind of experience do you have?"
"I have trained and drilled two different guards these past three years," started Lyssa, "I don't take crap from anybody, it's my way or you're gone. I have some weapons ability, and I'm sure you've already got someone who teaches them how to fight, you just need someone in charge, right?"
"Impressive," admitted Coram, "But there are some details that might be a problem. First of all, there's your age. You can't be an older than 16, maybe even less than that. How are my men supposed to learn to take you seriously when you're the age of most of their daughters?"
"What do you want me to do to make you a believer, huh? Let me at your top guy right now and if I can pound him into the dirt, I get the job," said Lyssa stubbornly, "I'm not gonna back out because someone thinks I'm too young."
"What about the fact that you are a female?" asked Niles from the door.
"Niles, you're my head serving guy and I respect you, but when I want your opinion I'll ask for it," said Coram pointedly.
"Let her have the job," said Lady Trebond. "She has the fire of a leader, I can see it. If she wins the fight, no one will argue her value and since this is the place where Lady Alanna was born I think most will agree that we do things differently from the rest."
"Then I can have it?" asked Lyssa.
"Sure. Go take today to wrap up anything that you have to and tell your family where you're going. You'll have a room here and get paid once every two weeks. You're duties will be entailed to you later and just come back when your done. The match between you and the best man here will be tomorrow and I don't expect to see you until then."
"I don't have any loose ends or anything, sir," she said formally. "Could I just get it over with today?"
"What about your family?"
"I couldn't tell them even if I wanted to."
"Where are you from anyways? How did you get here?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you..."
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Alyse stood at the rail of the ship, feeling the breeze blow through her hair and watching the waves as they broke against the bow. Though she would miss the Yamanis Islands greatly, she looked forward to seeing Tortal, home of the Lioness, Lady Alanna, as well as many other characters that she had read about.
Priestess Soranami had cried when the ship had left the port, and Alyse had promised her many times that she would return to visit after she had settled in for a few years. She was one of the few who were to remain with the princess after the wedding because of how well she spoke Common and she didn't have anywhere to go.
"Enjoying the view?" asked Princess Shinkokami, coming up quietly beside her new serving lady.
"Very much, Princess, thank you," replied Alyse, bowing to her as she turned around. "I've never traveled by boat before and it is an interesting experience."
"Call me Shinko," returned the Princess. "If you are to be living with me I wish us to be friends, since strangers do not live well together."
"All right, Shinko," agreed Alyse. She fell silent for a minute, watching the waves and the dolphins that played in them. They reminded her of visiting the beach that last summer, when the dolphins had come strangely close to shore and she had watched them for hours.
"Would you like to have a practice round with the glaive?" asked Shinko, being rather bored herself.
"Sure," replied Alyse, shrugging as she tucked up her skirts and went to get the weapon from a rack near by. Shinko had her own and soon the two were facing off fiercely in the middle of the deck, the sailors watching appreciatively and Lady Haname noh Ajikuro shouting out corrections when one of them failed to complete a throw or missed an obvious opening.
The match ended in a draw, both young ladies with their blade mere centimeters from the other's throat. "Put up the glaives, ladies!" called Lady Haname, "We're about to arrive!"
Both did as they were told, rushing down to their cabin and freshening up a bit with Lady Yumiki noh Daiomoru, the fifth travel companion in the Yamani group not counting the Prince who was accompanying them.
"Are you excited?" asked Yumiki as she applied some rice make up and red lip paint.
"Yes, very," replied Alyse, just changing her kimono and obi, not messing with the makeup and such since she was only supposed to be a serving lady (who happened to be able to fight with two shukusens...)
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Jennifer had been working hard all day, making things from old recipes that she had never heard of before and doing a rather good job at it too. Roberto had been impressed and decided to keep her on as full time, telling her she was the best cook he had had since his first one had died.
"Really?" she asked, washing some dishes in the sink.
"Really, where are you staying? I'll need to know incase we have an emergency catering job or something," sighed Roberto, rolling his eyes. "Those nobles think they can waltz right in here and get a whole 7 course meal for 40 set in an hour and the problem is I can't afford to do otherwise! If not for the fact that those dirty rats paid so much I'd refuse to serve them at all! At least when the King asks me to do something he gives me a two or three week notice..."
"I'll be cooking for the King?" asked Jennifer, cutting him short.
"Yep."
"But doesn't he have dozens of cooks at his disposal?"
"Yes, but none of them have all of my secret recipes for some of those dishes you cooked today. It would be an honor for you, to say that you cooked a meal for a King! But anyways, where are you staying? One of the inns? With a relative?"
"I don't actually have a place to stay," admitted Jennifer, looking kind of sad.
"Well, then you can room at my house. I've got a wife, Chelsea, and two darling daughters. You can stay there until you have rooms of your own and I'll just take whatever we spend on you as far as food and stuff from your pay," offered Roberto, putting the last of the dishes away.
"Will it be alright with your wife?"
"Sure! As long as you don't mind helping with the girls and maybe cooking a meal now and then she won't care a bit!" he insisted. Jennifer threw the last of the water outside the door and locked it as she closed it. Throwing a shawl over her shoulders and grabbing the bag she had had in her hands when she found herself in Tortal (which she had found out by listening to other people talk) she followed Roberto out the front door and stood there as he secured the locks quickly.
"How far is your house?" she asked, not wanting to walk long on the roads in the dark, from what she had heard (again) from others the streets were quite dangerous at night.
"Just around the next corner. Don't worry about anyone trying to drop on us. I'm pals with the King of the Rouge at the moment and he's guaranteed that me, my family and business are safe as long as I help him out from time to time and pay him a fee, which I usually pay in free meals for him and his people," answered Roberto.
"What's the Rouge?" asked Jennifer.
"It's what the commoners call the Court of the Thieves."
"Thieves?"
"Yeah, every once in awhile I'll help them clear a fellow by taking him as a worker here and claiming to have known him my whole life or such." They arrived at that time in front of a small, four-roomed house with a loft on the top.
"Daddy!" cried two little girls, running out the door. One was five and the other eight.
"Maria, Carla! How are my two little princesses?" he cried, picking them up so they could meet Jennifer. "Girls, this is Daddy's new cook at his work, Jennifer."
"Robby? Is that you?" called a woman's voice from inside.
"Yes, darling. There is someone here I would like you to meet," he called back, motioning from her to follow him into the house.
"Did you hire a new chef?" asked the woman, presumably Chelsea.
"Yeah, that's who I want you to meet." The lady turned around wearing an apron and dress similar to Jennifer's with deep brown eyes and wavy dark brown hair. She wasn't beautiful by any means, but her eyes show with kindness and it was enough to make one forget her looks and just be happy. "Chelsea, Jennifer. Jennifer, Chelsea."
"Nice to meet you, Jennifer," she replied, bowing her head. Jennifer did the same, saying she was honored to meet her as well.
"Where is your family, Jennifer?" Chelsea asked when she learned the girl was to be staying with them for a while.
"I'm not exactly sure..." started Jennifer, being not exactly sure what to tell them.
"Then you somehow lost them or got separated? I'm sorry dear, that happens too often these days and I have to watch my two young ones closely to make sure I don't lose them." Jennifer just nodded in reply, figuring that was as good of an excuse as any.
"Since you'll probably be here for awhile, why don't I show you your bed?" suggested Roberto, getting up from his chair. Jennifer followed him over to the ladder that lead to the loft that was over the kitchen. Up there was a large mat with blankets, a small mirror, a wash basin and pitcher, an old chest for her belongings, and a curtained area for privacy when she changed.
[This may not be so bad] thought Jennifer as she put away her things, settling as Roberto climbed back down to the kitchen. [A place to sleep, food, a job, new friends, and having no idea where I am or how I got here. I think I haven't done half bad...]
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Vixen walked wearily into the Dancing Dove, finally returning from their first big run with Mouse and Allie in tow. "Hullo, girls!" cried Jeremy in welcome, holding up his tankard in a salute. "How'd it go?"
"Shut up, you son of a thief!" she growled, sitting down wearily.
"Actually," countered one of the others. "That's not true…"
Vixen turned and gave him a glare that made him shut his mouth with a snap and head out of the room as fast as he could. The other two trudged up the stairs with the sacks of stuff without saying a word to anyone, and going straight to sleep afterward.
"Tsk, tsk, Vixen," admonished the King of Thieves mockingly, shaking a finger at her as he would a small child. "That's no way to speak to royalty, now is it?"
"Listen, buddy," she snarled, "If it weren't for you I wouldn't be so snappy. You forgot to take care of that problem in Blue Harbor with that rebellion of thieves and we got caught right in the middle of it. I haven't slept in 36 hours because we had to ride straight through with no safe stops to rest at."
"Oops, guess I did," he said carelessly, getting an odd look from his cousin. "What? It's not my fault I forget things from time to time?"
"But a rebellion with three of our best on the line," Ratina argued, "That's not like you, Jeremy, what's going on?"
"So I slipped up once-"
"And it almost cost me and my sisters our lives," cut in Vixen, getting up quickly. "Another 'slip up' like that and you won't be King much longer."
"Was that a threat, Vixen?" asked Jeremy in disbelief.
"No, good King," she sneered mockingly, walking towards the stairs to her room, "just a promise."
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Coram had let the family thing drop and now Lyssa was standing in a dirt ring, wearing only her shirt and breeches with no weapons at all. Across from her was a tall man, scars running up and down his back and chest, visible to all since he wasn't wearing his shirt. [What have I gotten myself into...] thought Lyssa as she took up her stance, just hoping she would come out alive at this point. The guy was twice her size for crying out loud!!!
"Alright, you two, you know the rules. First one that can't get back up loses, if Lyssa wins she becomes your Commander and you will do as she says or meet her here in the ring to settle your differences. If she loses you'll keep training under me until I can find you a suitable person. Ok, go!"
The man leapt across the ring, driving his foot towards her mid section swiftly. Lyssa side-steeped it just in time and kneed him where it would hurt a guy most, happening to have stepped to the right side. The man, Caleb, was more than surprised and shrank to his knees in pain. Lyssa waited patiently for him to struggle to him feet again and waited for his attack, this time he tried something more complicated.
Using an intricate pattern, he threw at her punches, jabs, and chops that would've sent the average person's head spinning. But Lyssa had had to learn to do things on the spot and he only scored two or three shots on her as she dodged her way through them. Immediately after he stopped she feigned left and jabbed right, giving him a lovely black eye and broken nose, sending blood everywhere.
She followed with a kick to his stomach and knees, sending him back to the ground. A spinning drop kick took him all the way down to where he wouldn't get back up again for this fight and she was declared the winner.
"Where did you learn to do that?" asked Coram as he led her through the cheering crowd of men to her new quarters. Caleb may've been the best but he was far from popular. Most disliked him for using his fighting skills to get what he wanted and now that he could be beaten they knew he would no longer be a problem.
"I haven't the slightest idea," replied Lyssa, smiling devilishly.
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Sarah and Jon worked in the barn, currying down the horses and getting all the tangles out of their beautiful manes. The sound of hoof beats outside their barn called the two outside, some of the horses whickering irritably as they realized their turn would have to wait. "Oh, chill," called Jon over his shoulder. "We'll be back in a minute for your precious combings."
Outside, a familiar dark brown gelding with an even more familiar rider came up the path, another fellow they didn't know following him on a black mare with white markings on her face.
"Hey, Dom!" yelled Sarah, recognizing him right away.
"Oh, great," muttered Jon.
"Be nice," whispered Sarah.
"Whatever."
"Hello Sarah and Jon!" called Dom as he got off his horse. "Good to see you again. I'd like you to meet my Meathead cousin, Neal of Queenscove."
"Hello, Dom tells me you've got some good mares here and Onua said I could pick one out while I'm here," said Neal, getting off his mare. He was wearing his Squire uniform and looked pretty good in it as he led his horse alongside of Dom's. "My sister's mare went lame and Pa wanted me to see if I could find her a real beauty with a gentle spirit for her birthday."
"It's nice to meet you, Neal," said Sarah kindly, "Dom can show you to the fields and we've got a few that are in the stable for grooming. Take your time looking, there's no hurry. Will you be staying to eat this time?"
"That'd be great, if you don't mind," said Dom, having the time this time.
"Then go choose and come in whenever you're ready."
The two cousins headed out to the field while Sarah and Jon got back to work, the horses that'd been waiting snorting indignantly for the wait. "Sorry we can always please your majesties but we have other things to do than to wait on you hoof and tail," he retorted to gelding that tried to snap at him.
"Jon, stop arguing with the horses."
"But I wasn't-OWW!" The same gelding that had missed managed to get a hold of his arm, cutting through the skin and making him bleed.
"Striker, let go!" cried Sarah, dropping her brush and rushing to Jon's aide. She managed to pry the horse's jaws open enough for John to get his arm, blood going everywhere from the bite. "Go inside and clean that up," said Sarah, getting some buckets for water to wash away the blood. "I'll have Tanner and Jan (the boy and girl who came up once or twice a week to help) finish the rest tomorrow. That should keep them busy for most of the day."
"I thought you said I wasn't going to get bit by these horses," argued Jon as he washed the blood away by the well.
"So I was wrong, shoot me."
"They don't have guns here, remember?"
"Tough luck."
"Shut up. Just shut up."
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Alyse stood obediently just behind the Princess's right shoulder, a few steps back, showing that she was her personal server. Her dark green outer kimono brought out her eyes slightly, and her dark brown inner kimono did even more. They were standing on the dock and she was listening to the Princess and Queen Thayet make conversation politely as they waited for the carriages to come.
"The Queen says they were not expecting your presence," whispered Lady Haname to her in Yamani, "She asks if you would wish to ride a horse since there would be little room in the carriage."
"That is fine," replied Alyse in Yamani.
"Then you know how to ride?"
"If anything I do remember that," said Alyse, keeping her Yamani 'mask' in place as she continued to pretend she had amnesia.
"She would prefer to ride a horse if you have one available," said Lady Haname to the Queen.
"She may ride mine since it was supposed to run along side us anyways," said Thayet readily. The carriages chose that moment to appear, and they all took their respective positions. The ride went too quickly for Alyse; she had ridden in competitions in America and missed her horse, Dudley Doright.
"You ride very well," observed the Queen when she dismounted at the palace.
"Thank you, your majesty," said Alyse politely in Common, doing the curtsy Lady Haname had showed her on the ship. Inside they met the King and his son Prince Roald, Princess Shinkokami's betrothed. She had the best time taking tours of the palace and seeing her new living quarters. But to the casual observer she was maybe partially pleased and having an Ok time. Yamani masks can be very deceiving.
Her room was right off of Princess Shinko's, the Princess having asked her to call her that, one door leading to the main room that all the bedrooms connected to and another to the privy which she had to herself.
The main room was decorated in all sorts of beautiful Tortallian and Yamani decorations; wall hangings, paintings, weapons, and drapes. It was by far the most richly decorated room Alyse had ever been in and living there was even better!
"What do you think of Prince Roald?" Shinko asked Alyse shyly as a maid combed out her long hair.
"He's well mannered enough, why do you ask me?"
"You don't have a pre-formed opinion about all of this, so I thought maybe you'd see him differently than the others would," sighed Shinko.
"It'll all be fine, Princess," Alyse reassured her. "He'll love you once he gets to know you. You're pretty, smart, you can fight better than I can with a glaive..."
"The match ended in a tie, remember?"
"You're still better at it than I. But that's not the point. You're certainly unique for a princess and he's used to that since his mom is like that too."
"But Prince Eiarto said-"
"That fathead doesn't know what he's talking about," interrupted Alyse, acting very un-Yamanis for a moment. "He just says that because it's his opinion, a very dumb one I might add."
"Alyse, you never fail to surprise me," said Yumiki from the door, standing there dressed in dark blue inner kimono and a cream one over it with blue dolphins on it.
"What can I say? I'm a surprising person."
"Then you still remember nothing?" asked Shinko, all of them having been informed of her 'condition' prior to the trip.
"Not a thing," lied Alyse guiltily. "Not a thing."
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Vixen woke up to the sounds of someone sifting through their bags of loot. She sat up quickly and saw Mouse and Allie sorting the contents of their runs, putting it in pile of coins, jewelry, jewels, and other stuff. She stifled a yawn as she rolled out of bed and pulled on some other clothes.
"What are you two doing up early?" she asked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"You've been out for a day, Vixen," sighed Mouse, "I woke up yesterday around noon and Allie got up a short while after me. You obviously just got up now and we've been sorting this stuff for an hour hoping you'd get up from the noise.
"Has Ratina given you the sacks from cleaning out the taverns in town?"
"Yep," said Allie, holding up a ruby pendent to the light. "Everything's here as it was when we gave it to her."
"We heard about your little 'discussion' with Jeremy from Ratina," sighed Mouse, "What were you thinking? The last thing we need is for you to get us kicked out."
"We are too valuable for him to do that," countered Vixen, putting all her knives in place. "He needs us so much more than we need him. If not for the fact that I opened my mouth on the first day we'd be on our own doing exactly what we're doing now with out having to pay a percentage to him."
"Then explain to me why we're still here?" asked Allie sarcastically.
"Because we can't take on the whole rouge, can we? No thief can just leave the court, you know that. About how much do you think we made in all, counting the Trebond raid?"
"Around three, maybe four hundred gold nobles," estimated Mouse, continuing to work as Vixen joined them at the table. An hour later they had just about sorted everything out when Ratina came in, her eyes worried as she greeted them cheerily.
"What's wrong Rati?" asked Vixen, using her knick name for the Queen of Thieves. "You face is smiling but your eyes aren't."
"A lot." She sat with them and watched Mouse add up all the money before going on. "Something's wrong with Jeremy, he's acting strange and I don't like it."
"How so other than leaving us hanging and demanding a larger share than usual?" asked Allie cruelly.
"Let it go, Allie," sighed Vixen, "Go on, Rati."
"He's asking for a larger share from all the thieves and no one knows where it's going," Ratina growled. "He hasn't paid Bartholomew for rent for all the thieves that live here for two weeks and the assassin we used to take out that rival ringleader hasn't been paid either. If he isn't soon he'll take his pay with some of our lives and the thing is our King no longer cares."
A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. "Can I come in?" called Joe, sounding worried.
"Door's open, Joe," answered Vixen, leaning back in her chair. Joe came in and locked the door behind him, pulling a pouch out of his shirt.
"I've got bad new guys," he said quickly, opening the pouch and handing it to Ratina.
"What is that stuff?" asked Allie, reaching for the red-orange powder that filled the leather bag halfway to the top. Joe slapped her hand away quickly.
"Don't touch it!" he warned apologetically. "It's griffin's bane, and if you touch it, it seeps into your skin."
"Where did you find it?" asked Ratina in horror, "There must be a thousands nobles worth in this pouch alone!"
"It was in Jeremy's room." Ratina
just sat there, mouth open in disbelief as she put everything together.
"No, no that can't be..."
"You knew he'd do it again some day, Ratina," sighed Joe sadly. "You knew as well as I did."
"Ok, what's going on and what's it have to do with the red powder?" asked Mouse as she continued to add up the coins.
"Griffin's bane is the strongest form of a drug that lets you know who's telling the truth and who's lying," explained Joe quietly. "Jeremy started using it when he was 12 to win card games. Unfortunately once you use it you can't stop, and he went crazy trying to get more and more of it. It makes you cocky and forgetful, oblivious to others cares and like any drug as time passes you have to take more to get the same effect."
"I take it you got him to stop for awhile at one time?" asked Vixen, shutting the pouch tightly.
"Yeah, when he was sixteen I found out about it and made him stop. Joe knew because he helped me get him to quit, and we hoped he wouldn't start up again..."replied Ratina, close to tears.
"But he did, didn't he? And now he's using the strongest stuff out there because he feels the need to. That's just great, what are we going to do now?" muttered Allie.
"We'll have to get him to quit again..."
"Snap out of it, Rat, he ain't gonna quit this time if he's using Griffin's bane, it would kill him," cut in Joe harshly. He immediately regretted his words when fresh tears began to flow from Ratina's eyes. "I'm sorry, Rat, but you know I'm right..."
"Which leaves us two options," muttered Mouse, "Leave a maniac in charge and wait for him to kill himself or..."
Vixen could feel everyone's eyes turn to her expectantly, and she knew what she had to do. "Have one of the Rouge challenge his rule..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda stood looking at herself in the mirror, growling softly. It was time for her first session with those two darn matchmakers and she was not looking forward to it.
"Oh, come on Amanda," teased Elizabeth as her 'sister' stalked out of her room to the main one. "You don't have to look like you're about to die you know."
"You find this pretty amusing, don't you?" snapped Amanda, wishing that she could just disappear for awhile.
"Yep."
"You're such a wonderful sister to me," Amanda sighed sarcastically.
"Only the best for you!!"
"Be quiet, you rat."
"Me? A rat?"
"Are you in there Amanda?" asked a voice at the door, interrupting their 'discussion.'
"Coming!" she called back, running over to yank open the door. There stood Queen Thayet.
"They sent me to make sure you didn't try to run from this," she explained as Amanda gave her an odd look.
"Great. Just simply wonderful."
"Then you're looking forward to your three hours with those two?" The King had said that she had to have an hour for all the balls she had already not worn a dress to and she had agreed to take it all at one time.
"If I come out alive it will be a miracle," grumbled Amanda, putting on her cape and hat. It wasn't as warm as it used to be, and the walk to the private building they were going to use was a long one.
"Get going, sis, you wouldn't want to be late," called Elizabeth from her seat on the couch.
"Shut up, Liz." Amanda walked out the door and turned around quickly. "And tell your latest crush, who is hiding in your room, that if I hear about this from anyone he's the one I'm killing." She stalked back out before anyone could reply, and Elizabeth looked after her in amazement.
"How did she do that?" asked the boy who'd been hiding in her room.
"I have no idea..."
Thayet's laughter echoed down the halls after the young woman as she went off to face her death sentence...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Sarah stood there washing dishes after dinner, musing over the conversation she had had with the two cousins the night before. She had told them their story, of how they were from another world and how they were transported here without knowing why.
Neal had talked about some new girls at court, sisters they claimed to be though they were nothing alike. One lured men into her traps and the other fought them to keep them away. He had forgotten their names and so had Dom for some reason, but she assumed it was from being tired. They had left soon after, heading for the palace once more.
[It's funny...] she thought, looking at the sunset, which she could see from the window. [Somehow, I get the feeling that they weren't just forgetting their names...]
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
"#^%$^@*&%*^$%@$*%#*(%*^%#!!!!!" The lady mage was at her curses again with strings of Brazir and Tortallian oaths that would've made Alanna turn red.
"Those stupid cousins!" she raged. "Now I have to keep separate scrying bowls on THEM to keep them from telling those two at the palace or anyone else of importance!! ^%$#*^%$*^%$$@%$#^*%$!!! %$*^%#*%^$&^!!! ^&(^$@#(^$#!!!!" She stopped to take a breath and prepare the other two scrying bowls, glancing at Amanda's to make sure she hadn't missed anything.
At least that was going to be amusing...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
"Sit down over here, dear!" called Lady Cythera when she saw Amanda walk into the building, motioning to a chair to her right. "We'll get started in just a few minutes!" Amanda sighed, but obeyed. She watched Lady Ruth shuffle around some papers and get a quill with some paper ready as Lady Cythera stood up and began to circle around her slowly, like a vulture might before swooping upon its dead prey.
"We'll start this session by going over your characteristics," said Lady Cythera primly, patting Amanda on the shoulder as she nodded towards Lady Ruth.
"Characteristics?" asked Amanda, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"Your attribute, traits, in a way. Things we can use to discern who would be the best match for you," answered Lady Ruth, finishing writing on the top piece of paper. "Shall we begin?"
"We shall. Let's start with the figure, she's built like trunk with all that muscle, but then again no man likes a stick," said Lady Cythera, looking Amanda over with a critical eye. "She has enough of a figure so she can't pass as a boy."
"Her hips are big, certainly good for child bearing," added Lady Ruth, scribbling away furiously. "And she has enough of a chest to feed the children and not have to buy a goat for milk."
"Long legs, a bit too broad shouldered, large feet-"
"You can always just shove them into smaller shoes," cut in Lady Ruth, "That's what my cousin did. What about her hair?"
"Her hair's long enough, a bit ratty from not being cut in awhile, but that can be taken care of. The color's ok, a bit too many colors in there for my liking but she said it's natural and there's nothing that can be done about it." Amanda was sitting there, seething with anger that she hid behind a cool mask, not wanting to give the ladies the benefit of having made her angry.
"You can get dyes for that sort of thing, but it can really ruin your hair if you aren't careful. Complexion?"
"Very tan and leathery, that can be softened up by staying out of the sun and getting some lotion on it from time to time."
"Face?"
"The nose is a bit big, the mouth is plain enough, her ears are fine and already pieced, the eye brows are a bit thick and could stand to be plucked, but then again that's something that can be changed. Her eyes are huge though, and most peculiarly colored: one blue and one green and both with brown centers...it's just not natural."
" Yes, but neither are purple eyes and look who has those. What about her hands?" Lady Cythera took one of Amanda's, looking at it harshly.
"Hmm. Long fingered, not too large but they could be a bit smaller. They are covered with calluses though from working and not taking care of them. Her nails are short; they could be grown out a bit and painted. They do have a large amount of scars, from what I don't know but they'll fade with time."
"Can you dance, Lady Amanda?" Amanda hated her title, but answered anyways.
"Not a bit. That's why you haven't seen me out there yet."
"That's not good, most men like to take their ladies dancing," commented Lady Ruth, tsking as she wrote that down on her paper.
"I'm the exception to almost every rule."
"Then we'll have to make some new ones, won't we?" replied Lady Cythera. "The cynical attitude will hurt her, as will the beating of Squire Joren. Most men do not want a lady who can fight. She refuses to wear dresses, that'll take some points off too since most men want their ladies to look pretty. The sword will hurt as well, most men don't want a lady who carries weapons-"
"Since when have I been like most ladies?" asked Amanda suddenly, sick of them talking about her like she wasn't even there. "God broke the lady's mold when he made me, and I intend to keep it that way."
"Now, now, Lady Amanda," clucked Lady Ruth, "That's no way for the lady of a household to act."
"Especially one who is in charge,"
added Lady Cythera. Amanda thought she was going to go insane. {I don't know
how much more of this I can take...} she thought, rubbing her temples with her
hand.
"She's cracking, Ruth,"
whispered Lady Cythera to her cohort. "It's time to go in for the kill..." She
took a stack of papers from the table and went to stand before Amanda,
shuffling through them slowly. "Here we go!" she said loud enough to get
Amanda's attention.
"Here we go what?" asked Amanda shortly.
"Sir Lance of Nond, Sir Paxton's younger brother who's been looking for a wife for some time now. He's 23, a knight of the kingdom, is right now at court after having returned from the border of Scanra…"
"I know who he is," said Amanda shortly, cutting off whatever the Lady was going to say next. "What are you getting at here?"
"These are all the available men in the kingdom who are within 8 years of your age..."
"8 YEARS??!!" cried Amanda, getting up suddenly.
"Did you prefer to go older? I think we do have a few in here who are 10 and 12 years older than you..."
"WHAT?!"
"Oh! Here's Sir Michael of Malories Peak, Lord Raoul's nephew. He's only 25 and looking for a wife-"
"I think I'm going insane..." muttered Amanda. The two women ignored her, continuing to match her up with every available male, some 20 yrs older than her, in the Court. This lasted for the whole two hours that were left, and Amanda practically ran out of the room the moment the third bell rang and announced her freedom.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
King Jonathan sat in his study, going over some paper work when Amanda burst in the door. "Can I help you, Lady Amanda?" he asked calmly, knowing what this was about.
"You win, King Jonathan," she spat through her teeth. "I'll dress and act like an empty headed noble lady for your benefit, but I swear if you ever try to put me through that torture again..."
"Lady Amanda, you have my word that as long as you dress properly at balls and parties, I'll leave you alone. Now, you are dismissed," said King Jonathan serenely. Amanda knew she'd gotten the short end of the stick this time, but she vowed to somehow get back at the King, she would find a way...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Did you enjoy watching Amanda get tortured? {Because trust me, she didn't like being tortured in the least.} Please review since one of the characters was so kind as to let you laugh at her, and next chapter will be really soon since I have a week with four half days in a row, thanks!!