Chapter three:
The Old One's: Pale Magic
Alanna heard a knock on her door, and opened it wide. Shimmy stood there, one hand rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. The girl sat on the chair, and looked up at Alanna with her big, dark purple eyes. Alanna knelt by her, and the girl reached out with tentative hands. She placed them on the stone by Alanna's throught, and the two of them were instantly plunged in to blinding white light. Alanna opened her eyes, and looked around. The white light was still there, surrounding her and the girl. There was nothing else to be seen, but that wasn't for long. Suddenly, green light swirled around the two of them, and they found themselves in a great hall. Mithros sat on one throne, the Goddess on another.
"My daughter, we meet again." Alanna bowed. She hadn't seen the goddess since her last battle with Duke Roger of Conte.
"But, why now? I am not fit for many more battles." The goddess nodded.
"We know of that. That is why we've called you here. That girl is to be our saviour, whether we like it or not." She glared at the young girl, who looked up at her with a question of her face.
"Come." The Goddess beckoned to the girl, who made her way falteringly towards the Great Goddess. The girl knelt, and the Goddess placed her milky white hand on her forehead. White light flared, and the girl stepped back.
"There. Now you can communicate with her, yet she retains her knowledge of her own language." Alanna mumbled a thank you, and bowed; the girl curtsied. The Goddess glared at the girl once more, and the girl trembled in fear.
"The Gods are not to be bothered with your trivial human needs! I hope that the next time you call on us, you will not be alive, or by Mithros, I shall kill you myself!" The Goddess shrieked, her perfect face marred by her anger. Mithros stepped off the dais, and knelt by the trembling girl.
"Do not worry, my child. She was the only one against bringing you here. We have faith in your abilities. But, alas, she is right. There are many things happening, and just because you can, you should not summon us all the time. You have to live your life, not us." The girl nodded, and closed her eyes. The room lurched and swirled, causing Alanna to fall to her knees. She was suddenly ill, and retched upon the stones in her own parlour room. The girl was laying on her face, but slowly stirred, and sat up. She rubbed her head, where a multicoloured bruise showed where she had struck the floor. Alanna groaned and sat up, eying her mess with her rumbling stomach.
"I need to get out of here." Alanna stood, and clutched her stomach. It rolled in protest, but heard the mumbling of the girl behind her.
"What was that?" Alanna asked the girl sharply.
"You don't have to be rude about it. I am human you know, and I'd rather come along as well!" Alanna stared at her, and groaned.
"Please, I can't argue right now. Come along!" After Alanna got a cup of strong tea to settle her stomach, and some ice for the girl's head.
"Now, what is your name again? Please, a nickname. I have a headache." Alanna leaned back in to her chair, a hand on her forehead.
"My name is Shimoyo." Alanna nodded.
"Alright then, where are you from? Tusaine, Maren, Scanra?" Shimoyo shook her head.
"I do not know these names. Where are they?" Alanna stared at the young girl, trying to figure her out. Alanna dragged open a desk drawer, and pulled out a map of her area.
"Here's Tortall, where I live. To the north is Scanra, where our last two current battles were fought. To the east of Scanra is Galla, below that Maren and Tusaine." Alanna pointed to the appropriate parts of the map, grinning at Shimoyo's wide eyed stares.
"Below Tusaine is Tyra. Across the great Inland Sea is Carthak, where our princess's home, the Yamani islands, are located. Where are you from?" Shimoyo shrugged.
"I do not know. These 'maps' as you call them, are quite small. How could I live on this piece of parchment?" Alanna groaned once more, her headache coming back in full force as she struggled to explain how maps worked. "Stop it! What are you doing? Argghhhh!!!" Shimoyo screamed at the indignity of a large bucketful of water being thrown on her head.
"You're dirty, you need to be clean!" Alanna shouted over the thrashing of Shimoyo's attempts to get out of the public baths.
"I don't want to be clean! Water's evil!" Alanna stared at the girl in utter shock.
"Water, evil? We're talking about the same substance, aren't we?" Shimoyo nodded, her tears coming fast and freely.
"Don't worry, nothing's going to happen to you. I promise." Shimoyo gulped, and nodded.
"Now, hold your breath." Alanna ducked Shimoyo under the water, and scrubbed until all the dirt was out of her hair. Aliane walked in to the baths, and saw her mother struggling with the new girl that her father and mother had picked up that afternoon. She watched, a small grin playing across her face. Finally, the girl's struggles subsided, and she began to swim the length of the large pool. Alanna finally noticed her daughter, and swam over to meet her.
"What is her story mother? Are you raising her so she won't be on the streets? That's very noble of you." Aliane said sourly, and plunged in to the pool.
"I don't know her story. She doesn't know simple things, like where she's from, or how to read a map. When we first met her, she talked in a strange language. Now, she can communicate just as well as anyone that was raised in Tortall. She's a mystery, and with me due at the palace in a few days, she has nowhere to go." Aliane nodded, and smiled at her mother.
"Well, you could just bring her to me. She's welcome at the rogue." Alanna rolled her eyes, and sighed.
"I need someone who's able to take care of her, to help her with her needs. I cannot do this at this time. You never come here for a visit. What's on your mind?" Alanna asked her daughter sharply.
"Well....Marriage."
"What?!" Alanna was shocked, "Marriage? You're finally turning respectful! Wait, you are talking about a noble, are you not?" Aliane laughed.
"If he wasn't mother, would it make any difference? You married George, and he was also King of the Rogue. But, yes, mother, he is a noble." Alanna was silent, and helped Shimoyo dry off.
"So, just who is this lucky man? Do I know him?" Alanna asked, but Aliane shook her head.
"He's no one that you would know, but you do know of his aunt. Keladry of mindelan, the 'Protector of the Small'?" Alanna stared at her daughter.
"Are you serious? You want to marry Alex of Mindelan, the heir of Mindelan? Isn't he already spoken for?" Alanna asked. Aliane shook her head once again.
"Well, he was, but his 'fiancee' died when the Scanrans attacked her fief four years ago. He hasn't been spoken for since. Kel had no problem with it, and neither did his mother and father. Father said he thought it was a good thing, me settling down, and I only need your approval, mother. I can't be the king anymore, but I'm still going to try my best to help those less fortunate." Alanna hugged her daughter.
"Will you have a grand wedding? I always wanted one, but the wars kept on coming, and, you know... I was pregnant with Thom, and it just wouldn't be right..." Alanna stared at her daughter, and caught her by the shoulder.
"You're not marrying him because you're pregnant, are you?" "Oh mother, are you worried?" Aliane asked, a grin on her face. "And what if I was?" "Would you please be quiet? I'm really tired!" The two of them both looked down at Shimoyo, who looked as if she was sleeping on her feet.
"We'll talk later." Alanna said, and picked up Shimoyo. Alanna threw a shift on the bed, followed by some socks.
"It gets cold here, and I don't want you to freeze." Shimoyo sleepily obliged, and was finally dressed for bed. Alanna brushed out her long hair, and tightly braided it.
"There. The only thing I ever learned to do that was womanly had to do with a horse." But Shimoyo was asleep, and could only sigh in answer.
"Sleep well." * Keladry of Mindelan, otherwise known as the protector of the small, stood on a small bluff overlooking the main city of Corus. It was a sunny day, but too cold for her taste, and those of her companions. Two men rode up to her, and put a smile on her face.
"Hello Dom. How's the First doing?" Dom recited out exactly what had happened in the last four days, in a matter of seconds.
"Snow, sleet, rain and mud. A jolly old time. Sir Meathead was complaining the whole time, especially when he dropped all his instruments in the mud, and had to ask Numair to help him locate them. He's been in a sour mood since the big exams, when Kiku passed and became a squire. She has to stay at the school, working under Myles of Olau. Kel, are you sure that you can't take her on? I can't take Sir Meathead's whining for much longer! The next time he start complaining, I'll..." Domitan amused himself by loudly talking about ways to kill Sir Nealan. Kel looked towards her other visitor, and her grin became even larger.
"Lady Alanna! Why did you drag yourself all the way out here?" Kel asked. Lady Alanna said something, but Kel couldn't hear. Alanna's face was covered with a large wooly scarf, and she had a tiny figure with the same wrappings on in front of her.
"Who's the little one? You didn't have another child, did you?" Keladry asked. Alanna shook her head, and Kel grinned.
"I'll tak to you once we get to the palace, okay?" Alanna nodded, and they urged their horses towards the palace. Keladry walked through the halls of the palace, her feet clearly ringing through the halls. No one intercepted her, all were in their rooms, waiting for dawn to break. She saw Alanna waiting for her in the library, and sat down beside her. The girl had been unbundled, and Keladry stared with an open mouth. Shimoyo, with her gleaming white hair, pale skin, and dark purple eyes, looked like someone unnatural.
"Who's this?" Keladry asked.
"My name is Shimoyo. I don't know where I'm from." Shimoyo said cheerfully.
"Are you from the Yamani islands? You don't look it, but your name sounds like it." Shimoyo shrugged.
"I don't know. What does my name mean?" Shimoyo asked Kel.
"It means 'frosted knight'. It's quite fitting, isn't it?" The bells chimed, and Kel grinned.
"You look hungry. Why don't you go down to the hall, and get some breakfast? I need to talk to Alanna." Shimoyo nodded, and slid off her seat
Alanna heard a knock on her door, and opened it wide. Shimmy stood there, one hand rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. The girl sat on the chair, and looked up at Alanna with her big, dark purple eyes. Alanna knelt by her, and the girl reached out with tentative hands. She placed them on the stone by Alanna's throught, and the two of them were instantly plunged in to blinding white light. Alanna opened her eyes, and looked around. The white light was still there, surrounding her and the girl. There was nothing else to be seen, but that wasn't for long. Suddenly, green light swirled around the two of them, and they found themselves in a great hall. Mithros sat on one throne, the Goddess on another.
"My daughter, we meet again." Alanna bowed. She hadn't seen the goddess since her last battle with Duke Roger of Conte.
"But, why now? I am not fit for many more battles." The goddess nodded.
"We know of that. That is why we've called you here. That girl is to be our saviour, whether we like it or not." She glared at the young girl, who looked up at her with a question of her face.
"Come." The Goddess beckoned to the girl, who made her way falteringly towards the Great Goddess. The girl knelt, and the Goddess placed her milky white hand on her forehead. White light flared, and the girl stepped back.
"There. Now you can communicate with her, yet she retains her knowledge of her own language." Alanna mumbled a thank you, and bowed; the girl curtsied. The Goddess glared at the girl once more, and the girl trembled in fear.
"The Gods are not to be bothered with your trivial human needs! I hope that the next time you call on us, you will not be alive, or by Mithros, I shall kill you myself!" The Goddess shrieked, her perfect face marred by her anger. Mithros stepped off the dais, and knelt by the trembling girl.
"Do not worry, my child. She was the only one against bringing you here. We have faith in your abilities. But, alas, she is right. There are many things happening, and just because you can, you should not summon us all the time. You have to live your life, not us." The girl nodded, and closed her eyes. The room lurched and swirled, causing Alanna to fall to her knees. She was suddenly ill, and retched upon the stones in her own parlour room. The girl was laying on her face, but slowly stirred, and sat up. She rubbed her head, where a multicoloured bruise showed where she had struck the floor. Alanna groaned and sat up, eying her mess with her rumbling stomach.
"I need to get out of here." Alanna stood, and clutched her stomach. It rolled in protest, but heard the mumbling of the girl behind her.
"What was that?" Alanna asked the girl sharply.
"You don't have to be rude about it. I am human you know, and I'd rather come along as well!" Alanna stared at her, and groaned.
"Please, I can't argue right now. Come along!" After Alanna got a cup of strong tea to settle her stomach, and some ice for the girl's head.
"Now, what is your name again? Please, a nickname. I have a headache." Alanna leaned back in to her chair, a hand on her forehead.
"My name is Shimoyo." Alanna nodded.
"Alright then, where are you from? Tusaine, Maren, Scanra?" Shimoyo shook her head.
"I do not know these names. Where are they?" Alanna stared at the young girl, trying to figure her out. Alanna dragged open a desk drawer, and pulled out a map of her area.
"Here's Tortall, where I live. To the north is Scanra, where our last two current battles were fought. To the east of Scanra is Galla, below that Maren and Tusaine." Alanna pointed to the appropriate parts of the map, grinning at Shimoyo's wide eyed stares.
"Below Tusaine is Tyra. Across the great Inland Sea is Carthak, where our princess's home, the Yamani islands, are located. Where are you from?" Shimoyo shrugged.
"I do not know. These 'maps' as you call them, are quite small. How could I live on this piece of parchment?" Alanna groaned once more, her headache coming back in full force as she struggled to explain how maps worked. "Stop it! What are you doing? Argghhhh!!!" Shimoyo screamed at the indignity of a large bucketful of water being thrown on her head.
"You're dirty, you need to be clean!" Alanna shouted over the thrashing of Shimoyo's attempts to get out of the public baths.
"I don't want to be clean! Water's evil!" Alanna stared at the girl in utter shock.
"Water, evil? We're talking about the same substance, aren't we?" Shimoyo nodded, her tears coming fast and freely.
"Don't worry, nothing's going to happen to you. I promise." Shimoyo gulped, and nodded.
"Now, hold your breath." Alanna ducked Shimoyo under the water, and scrubbed until all the dirt was out of her hair. Aliane walked in to the baths, and saw her mother struggling with the new girl that her father and mother had picked up that afternoon. She watched, a small grin playing across her face. Finally, the girl's struggles subsided, and she began to swim the length of the large pool. Alanna finally noticed her daughter, and swam over to meet her.
"What is her story mother? Are you raising her so she won't be on the streets? That's very noble of you." Aliane said sourly, and plunged in to the pool.
"I don't know her story. She doesn't know simple things, like where she's from, or how to read a map. When we first met her, she talked in a strange language. Now, she can communicate just as well as anyone that was raised in Tortall. She's a mystery, and with me due at the palace in a few days, she has nowhere to go." Aliane nodded, and smiled at her mother.
"Well, you could just bring her to me. She's welcome at the rogue." Alanna rolled her eyes, and sighed.
"I need someone who's able to take care of her, to help her with her needs. I cannot do this at this time. You never come here for a visit. What's on your mind?" Alanna asked her daughter sharply.
"Well....Marriage."
"What?!" Alanna was shocked, "Marriage? You're finally turning respectful! Wait, you are talking about a noble, are you not?" Aliane laughed.
"If he wasn't mother, would it make any difference? You married George, and he was also King of the Rogue. But, yes, mother, he is a noble." Alanna was silent, and helped Shimoyo dry off.
"So, just who is this lucky man? Do I know him?" Alanna asked, but Aliane shook her head.
"He's no one that you would know, but you do know of his aunt. Keladry of mindelan, the 'Protector of the Small'?" Alanna stared at her daughter.
"Are you serious? You want to marry Alex of Mindelan, the heir of Mindelan? Isn't he already spoken for?" Alanna asked. Aliane shook her head once again.
"Well, he was, but his 'fiancee' died when the Scanrans attacked her fief four years ago. He hasn't been spoken for since. Kel had no problem with it, and neither did his mother and father. Father said he thought it was a good thing, me settling down, and I only need your approval, mother. I can't be the king anymore, but I'm still going to try my best to help those less fortunate." Alanna hugged her daughter.
"Will you have a grand wedding? I always wanted one, but the wars kept on coming, and, you know... I was pregnant with Thom, and it just wouldn't be right..." Alanna stared at her daughter, and caught her by the shoulder.
"You're not marrying him because you're pregnant, are you?" "Oh mother, are you worried?" Aliane asked, a grin on her face. "And what if I was?" "Would you please be quiet? I'm really tired!" The two of them both looked down at Shimoyo, who looked as if she was sleeping on her feet.
"We'll talk later." Alanna said, and picked up Shimoyo. Alanna threw a shift on the bed, followed by some socks.
"It gets cold here, and I don't want you to freeze." Shimoyo sleepily obliged, and was finally dressed for bed. Alanna brushed out her long hair, and tightly braided it.
"There. The only thing I ever learned to do that was womanly had to do with a horse." But Shimoyo was asleep, and could only sigh in answer.
"Sleep well." * Keladry of Mindelan, otherwise known as the protector of the small, stood on a small bluff overlooking the main city of Corus. It was a sunny day, but too cold for her taste, and those of her companions. Two men rode up to her, and put a smile on her face.
"Hello Dom. How's the First doing?" Dom recited out exactly what had happened in the last four days, in a matter of seconds.
"Snow, sleet, rain and mud. A jolly old time. Sir Meathead was complaining the whole time, especially when he dropped all his instruments in the mud, and had to ask Numair to help him locate them. He's been in a sour mood since the big exams, when Kiku passed and became a squire. She has to stay at the school, working under Myles of Olau. Kel, are you sure that you can't take her on? I can't take Sir Meathead's whining for much longer! The next time he start complaining, I'll..." Domitan amused himself by loudly talking about ways to kill Sir Nealan. Kel looked towards her other visitor, and her grin became even larger.
"Lady Alanna! Why did you drag yourself all the way out here?" Kel asked. Lady Alanna said something, but Kel couldn't hear. Alanna's face was covered with a large wooly scarf, and she had a tiny figure with the same wrappings on in front of her.
"Who's the little one? You didn't have another child, did you?" Keladry asked. Alanna shook her head, and Kel grinned.
"I'll tak to you once we get to the palace, okay?" Alanna nodded, and they urged their horses towards the palace. Keladry walked through the halls of the palace, her feet clearly ringing through the halls. No one intercepted her, all were in their rooms, waiting for dawn to break. She saw Alanna waiting for her in the library, and sat down beside her. The girl had been unbundled, and Keladry stared with an open mouth. Shimoyo, with her gleaming white hair, pale skin, and dark purple eyes, looked like someone unnatural.
"Who's this?" Keladry asked.
"My name is Shimoyo. I don't know where I'm from." Shimoyo said cheerfully.
"Are you from the Yamani islands? You don't look it, but your name sounds like it." Shimoyo shrugged.
"I don't know. What does my name mean?" Shimoyo asked Kel.
"It means 'frosted knight'. It's quite fitting, isn't it?" The bells chimed, and Kel grinned.
"You look hungry. Why don't you go down to the hall, and get some breakfast? I need to talk to Alanna." Shimoyo nodded, and slid off her seat