The Last Avalon
By Angelic Princess
Disclaimer: Sorry for the long wait guys, please keep on reading and review!! I don't own CCS or the plot.
Chapter 6: Tomoyo
SAKURA had seen the blaze of desire in his eyes, followed by his contempt of her. If only she could get past the disdain. With an effort, she lowered the volume of her voice and continued with a calm she did not feel.
'By the terms of our surrender you men are to respect our property and our people. Your men have been well disciplined for the most part, but they grow restless'
'This is a poor excuse for a victory, no victory feast, no rights of conquest--'
'Debauchery.'
'Rights of conquest.'
'I won't argue!' Sakura reined in her temper with difficulty.
Syaoran smiled. It was as close as losing her composure that he had seen her come. It pleased him. He wanted to see her lose control, to plead. He had to goad her.
'What do you call this?'
Sakura sent him a look which said that she knew what he was trying to do, and that it wouldn't succeed.
'I am only here on behalf of my people and yours. Your men need activity, we all need grain. Let them bring in the harvest. With your army, it can be done in half the time. When we hold the Harvest Feast, let this be your victory feast--'
A girl screamed as she ran into the courtyard, her black hair all messed up, a cut on her cheek, and her dress was shredded in places. Blind fear filled her face. Several soldiers lurched after her.
They were in no hurry to catch her, and were enjoying the chase. With a moan of despair she staggered towards the General and the Lady Avalon, falling at Sakura's feet.
'Lady Avalon, save me. I am bound until the harvest feast.' She gasped as Sakura impatiently pulled her to her feet.
'Don't plead. Stand tall. You will be safe with me.' Sakura's eyes sought out the General's with an unspoken challenge. 'According to the people's religious beliefs, they must abstain from...pleasures of the flesh while the harvest is on.' She did not add that the abstinence ended by the peasants taking part in ritual intercourse as a way of giving thanks and ensuring the fertility of the fields the next year. Theirs was an old religion, a religion of the earth.
Instead, she held his eyes and nodded towards his men who had come to a sheepish, resentful halt. She was sure he could read her unspoken words--What had their Elite Guard been reduced to?
'Explain!' he snapped, and the men blinked, swaying slightly.
It was obvious they'd been drinking. They were nothing but barbarians. Rage flowed like fire through Sakura's veins. Let them try to argue their way out of this one, Sakura thought with satisfaction. She thought she should slip away, thinking that maybe the General wouldn't want to tell off his men in front of her. As though the outcome of this exchange did not concern her, Sakura led the girl away to look after the wound.
As she entered the doorway, she heard the General's bellow. A smile escaped her. They were rough men who needed rough treatment. It was only as Sakura escorted the girl back to her chamber that she realized that the General spoke her tongue. That meant that he was fluent in at least two languages--he was not an uneducated man, though privately Sakura thought that he acted like one. If her guess was right, it suggested a cold, calculating mind, and a determination to succeed that made her shudder.
Pushing her troubles aside, she took the reluctant girl to her chambers. After summoning a servant to bring fresh water, she turned to the girl. 'What's your name?'
'Tomoyo, but please don't.'
Sakura hesitated. Tomoyo had long black hair and violet colored eyes. At the moment, she seemed highly embarrassed that one of the royals was taking care of her.
'Nonsense.' Sakura snapped. 'You are in need. It is my duty to serve the needs of the people. 'As she worked, it occurred to her that though she had been learning the healing arts from Nadeshiko since she was little, she had only learnt a little of the old woman's knowledge. She gently brushed a finger over the Libra Card, known for its healing powers.
'If I had a knife, I would've gutted them, one by one.' Tomoyo muttered.
'If you'd had a knife, you'd have been dead. The General's men are battle-hardened veterans, not farm boys out for fun!'
The girl sniffed, as though unconvinced. Sakura smiled. Tomoyo seemed to be around her age, and she could sympathize with her.
Rising, she found one of her knives, and returned, offering it to the girl.
She swallowed eagerly and rose, deft fingers closing around the handle. Sakura gripped Tomoyo's wrist, and tilted her hand so that the blade angled up. She positioned it below her own ribs.
'There, like that. Strike for the heart.' Sakura advised. 'You'll probably have only one chance. Make it count.'
The girl's eyes widened, but she nodded.
'And wear it like this.' Sakura shifted her brocade panel on her skirt-like tabard to reveal her own knife, strapped to the front of her thigh. 'For quick access. Speed may mean the difference between life and death.'
Tomoyo's violet eyes shimmered with understanding.
Sakura turned around to clean up the healing things. She felt the girl's eyes on her and looked up. Tomoyo caught Sakura's free hand in hers.
'Lady Avalon, you gave me back my pride.' she whispered.
A little while later, Sakura heard the General's voice in the courtyard below, ordering his men to prepare to move out. So he had taken her advice to heart.
Nadeshiko sent Sakura a speaking glance. Sakura felt dizzy with relief. Their gamble had paid off. They had distracted him from their execution, relieved tension in the Palace, occupied his men with something to do, and secured food for the winter.
It was quite a small victory, in perspective, but Sakura was determined that it would be the first in many.
All she had to do now was to remain in the background for as much as possible.
Unfortunately, that was not to be.
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Well, that's all for now, please review, and also read my other fics…or…or…I won't update this one! :P