FAQ
Why did Roger think Gareth was a threat?
Ok, Gareth is Lianne's older brother; older brothers are very over protective. If Gareth caught wind of what Roger was doing, he could be very dangerous. Gareth is a very respected noble, not to mention the king's brother in law, people respect his judgments, thats what's making him so dangerous.
How is Duke Baraid dangerous?
He isn't, but he could be. The chief healer is very powerful, so he could be a threat. Roger is just watching him to make sure.
What is the thing with the mirror?
Roger basically trapped Gareth in the glass, or tried to. He actually pushed Gareth into another world on the other side of the mirror.
A/N: I got tired of people continuously asking me the same questions, so there are the answers. IMPORTANT AUTHORS NOTE AT THE BOTTOM, PLEASE READ IT!
Disclaimer: Yo no poseo anyhting. Ellos todo pertenece a Tamora Pierce. No me demande. (If you want a proper disclaimer go to chapter one) *walks away muttering about people who need disclaimers for every chapter*
One Small Slip in Time
*Why me? What did I ever do to Roger?*
Gareth shook his head, trying to figure out what Roger wanted.
*What could he possibly gain from trapping me in a damn mirror? Is he trying to get me out of the way or something? I sensed that he was up to something, but this! I can't believe life used to be simple.*
Gareth haled himself to his feet with a groan; he had been sleeping in that position and was stiff, and took a few steps. Part of him wanted to stay next to the mirror, in hopes that someone would come and help. Gareth frowned as he looked at the hallways; something was stirring in his memory, something that he felt was vital. He shrugged and started to walk down the twisting hallways.
*These hallways seem familiar, but where have I seen them before? It feels like I'm walking around in a dream; the kind of dream that seems pointless but actually has a meaning or information behind it. I wonder what this dream is hiding. *
Gareth stopped as it hit him faster than a crossbow arrow: these hallways were exactly the same as the ones at the palace. The same wall hangings were in there same spots, and there were stairs where there was supposed to be.
*How could that be? How in the name of all things good did Roger get the hallways to be like this? It's almost like he pushed me into our world, minus the color. He trapped me in the mirror, not another universe! Or did he? I've read that there are some kinds of portals that allow you to see into another world. Is that mirror one of them? I wonder if other people are trapped in here.*
Gareth quickened his pace, he had to find out if there people here. He had to find out if there were other people trapped in this void. The Duke turned right at the first hallway, and left onto the second. He darted down three flights of stairs and turned into the room that should have been the throne room.
Hesitantly, Gareth opened the door. He normally wouldn't be this nervous, but he was afraid of what he might find. Every time he passed a room on the way here he looked inside. So far, they all have been empty. The throne room looked almost the same as it did in his world. There were the same decorations, same benches, the same twin thrones on the dais. There were only two things wrong: there were no people and there was no color other than the blank ones that were everywhere.
Gareth spun as a flicker of movement caught his eye. A small form was crawling out from under a bench. It got up and stared at him. Gareth stared right back at it, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. There was a perfectly normal boy in size and shape, but that was where the similarities ended.
The boy could be no older than thirteen. His skin was pale, almost white, but there was a tint of pink and peach in so places. His hair looked like it was once a sandy color, though it now seemed grey. Gareth noticed that there was an occasional golden strand in that unruly mop of grey. The grey dots on his cheeks must have once been freckles, and his eyes were a washed out blue. His clothes looked as though someone had washed all the colors out of them.
The boy broke the silence first. He could barely stop staring at Gareth. "Who are you? How did you get here? Did the Duke of Conté put you in here too? What year is it? Where did you get so much color?"
Gareth shook his head and replied "It's 442 H.E. (A/N: I just made that up, I have no idea what the real year is.) I'm Duke Gareth of Naxen, yes, Roger put me here. Now that I've told you what you wanted to know, you have to tell me something. First, what is your name? Secondly, are you the only one here?
The boy smiled, and hit his head, "I'm Jethro of Silver Walk. I think I'm sixteen, though I don't know for sure. I was thirteen when I first came here; Roger put me here when he found out how good I was. I was training to be a sorcerer; I was one of the best. I even rivaled the Duke himself! He found out and came to see if the rumors were true, and he found out they were. He panicked and put me in here so he wouldn't have any competition. I'm not the only one here; I found out that there were several other people here, about twenty of them. They were all put here by numerous sorcerers, so not only Roger knows the spell. It's a favorite way to get rid of enemies."
Gareth nodded and smiled, at least he had some hope. Jethro seemed to have a lot to say, because he opened his mouth again to talk.
"I noticed that you have a lot of color. You're lucky if you ask me, very few people here have color, it's like it drains away or something. At first you have color, and then it's gone. There are some people here that completely blend into the back round, others look like ghosts. You can even see through them, sometimes! So, do you want to meet everyone else?"
Without waiting for an answer, Jethro trotted off. Gareth followed, shaking his head at the eagerness of youth. At least there was some life in this world.
**~*~**
Alanna smiled as she opened the door to the Dove, the walk through the city had been enjoyable. She just hoped that her meeting with George would be just as enjoyable. Lately he had been making her slightly uncomfortable, she knew he didn't mean to, but he did. She had been feeling a bit more comfortable with him, though she knew she could never be at ease with him.
*I have a lot of questions that need answers. I don't need the love of some man messing up my life!*
Alanna walked into the Dove, Faithful was now purring contently in her arms. She nodded, smiled, and waved at people as she passed them. Many of them shouted for her to join them. Alanna signaled for George to join her, and she moved over to the stairs to meet George. Without a word, they walked up the stairs and into George's room.
"What brings you here lass?" was the first thing out of George's mouth.
"What, I can't come here to see one of my best friends?" Alanna said meeting his eyes, and immediately regretting it. The look in his eyes made her stomach summersault.
"I know you have somethin' on your mind, somethin' important."
"It's about Roger; I think he's up to something."
"You mean the business of sendin' tha' Duke a' Naxen away, so tha' there's no one protectin' the Queen, the business of Jon getting' sick, that business?"
"So you agree with me," Alanna whispered, "So you think Roger would kill his only family just to were a crown on his head and sit on a throne."
"You actin' like this is new t' you. You've been suspectin' the Duke fer years. Now lets change the subject, I'm getting all depressed."
"Alright, how are you doing? You look wan." Alanna asked, her eyes searching his face.
"I've been doin' my best, I had some trouble wit some wayward thieves, but I got it under control now."
George was smiling oddly at her again. Alanna frowned and avoided his eyes. *I had got to get out of here, he's making me uncomfortable again.*
"I have got to go," Alanna murmured "It was nice seeing you." With that she climbed out the window and started on the long jog back to the palace. George watched her go from his window, smiling as he watched the small figure run through the streets on a moonlit night.
*~**~*
"Are you sure you know what you're doing? This is a very risky business."
"I'm certain that this will work. Besides, I'm placing a spell on the woman, so if she try's to tell anyone anything, she will die instantly."
"Why are you doing this again?"
"I need to know if all my plans are falling into place. I need to know who I have to kill and dispose of to have my plans succeed."
Roger eyed Alex, who seemed that he had more to say. They were both waiting for the seer they called in to arrive. They were both in a small hut that Roger had put the mirror containing Gareth in.
"Why can't you do this yourself?" Alex asked angrily. "You're certainly powerful enough to see into the future. This is a waste of good silver."
"My dear boy, even though I hate to admit it, the process of trapping Gareth in the mirror has left me quite drained. I find it hard to light a candle. I should be like that for a couple more days."
"Then how are you going to cast the spell on the cursed seer woman?"
"That's easy; I stored the spell in this vial beforehand. All I have to do is say the words and remove the cork and the spell shall cast itself."
Roger walked over to the mirror and smiled at it. Roughly, he rapped the glass with his knuckles. He frowned when nothing happened. He rapped again, harder and louder than this time.
"Come out Gareth" He snapped, obviously getting annoyed, "I know that you're in there." He glared at the mirror and turned away remarking to Alex, "He is acting like a sullen child. Now, where is that seer woman?"
As if she could here them, there was a quiet knock on the door. Alex hastened over to open it, revealing a middle aged woman in a worn traveling cloak. She stepped inside and curtsied deeply to them.
"I'm Cloey O'Dea. I believe you called fer me." She whispered, slightly nervous. Roger nodded, his eyes taking in the frizzy blue-black hair, the coca colored skin, the pale blue eyes and the tall wiry frame.
"I s'pose I should set up the equipment, sah." She remarked as a long, uncomfortable silence formed. Wordlessly, Roger gestured toward the small table in the center of the room. Cloey moved expertly, as she set up a scrying bowl and filled it with water. She arranged the chairs around the table and added some final touches. She pulled out some herbs and sprinkled them into the water.
"Tell me what you wish to see."
"I want to see if my plans are working out. I want to know you should live and who shall die."
"You shall see," Cloey murmured as she stared into the water. "You shall see."
*~**~*
Authors Note: This is my longest chapter, five pages to be exact. Sorry that it took me so long to post it! Listen up, I want seven reviews before I update. Do you hear me? Seven! You know the number before eight and after six. I got two reviews for the last chapter.
ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
I need characters, so if you review, give me your name and you will, hopefully, get a part. I need boy and girl names. First come first serve, so the faster you review, the bigger part you get. Yes, I'm bribing you for reviews, so please review!
Why did Roger think Gareth was a threat?
Ok, Gareth is Lianne's older brother; older brothers are very over protective. If Gareth caught wind of what Roger was doing, he could be very dangerous. Gareth is a very respected noble, not to mention the king's brother in law, people respect his judgments, thats what's making him so dangerous.
How is Duke Baraid dangerous?
He isn't, but he could be. The chief healer is very powerful, so he could be a threat. Roger is just watching him to make sure.
What is the thing with the mirror?
Roger basically trapped Gareth in the glass, or tried to. He actually pushed Gareth into another world on the other side of the mirror.
A/N: I got tired of people continuously asking me the same questions, so there are the answers. IMPORTANT AUTHORS NOTE AT THE BOTTOM, PLEASE READ IT!
Disclaimer: Yo no poseo anyhting. Ellos todo pertenece a Tamora Pierce. No me demande. (If you want a proper disclaimer go to chapter one) *walks away muttering about people who need disclaimers for every chapter*
One Small Slip in Time
*Why me? What did I ever do to Roger?*
Gareth shook his head, trying to figure out what Roger wanted.
*What could he possibly gain from trapping me in a damn mirror? Is he trying to get me out of the way or something? I sensed that he was up to something, but this! I can't believe life used to be simple.*
Gareth haled himself to his feet with a groan; he had been sleeping in that position and was stiff, and took a few steps. Part of him wanted to stay next to the mirror, in hopes that someone would come and help. Gareth frowned as he looked at the hallways; something was stirring in his memory, something that he felt was vital. He shrugged and started to walk down the twisting hallways.
*These hallways seem familiar, but where have I seen them before? It feels like I'm walking around in a dream; the kind of dream that seems pointless but actually has a meaning or information behind it. I wonder what this dream is hiding. *
Gareth stopped as it hit him faster than a crossbow arrow: these hallways were exactly the same as the ones at the palace. The same wall hangings were in there same spots, and there were stairs where there was supposed to be.
*How could that be? How in the name of all things good did Roger get the hallways to be like this? It's almost like he pushed me into our world, minus the color. He trapped me in the mirror, not another universe! Or did he? I've read that there are some kinds of portals that allow you to see into another world. Is that mirror one of them? I wonder if other people are trapped in here.*
Gareth quickened his pace, he had to find out if there people here. He had to find out if there were other people trapped in this void. The Duke turned right at the first hallway, and left onto the second. He darted down three flights of stairs and turned into the room that should have been the throne room.
Hesitantly, Gareth opened the door. He normally wouldn't be this nervous, but he was afraid of what he might find. Every time he passed a room on the way here he looked inside. So far, they all have been empty. The throne room looked almost the same as it did in his world. There were the same decorations, same benches, the same twin thrones on the dais. There were only two things wrong: there were no people and there was no color other than the blank ones that were everywhere.
Gareth spun as a flicker of movement caught his eye. A small form was crawling out from under a bench. It got up and stared at him. Gareth stared right back at it, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. There was a perfectly normal boy in size and shape, but that was where the similarities ended.
The boy could be no older than thirteen. His skin was pale, almost white, but there was a tint of pink and peach in so places. His hair looked like it was once a sandy color, though it now seemed grey. Gareth noticed that there was an occasional golden strand in that unruly mop of grey. The grey dots on his cheeks must have once been freckles, and his eyes were a washed out blue. His clothes looked as though someone had washed all the colors out of them.
The boy broke the silence first. He could barely stop staring at Gareth. "Who are you? How did you get here? Did the Duke of Conté put you in here too? What year is it? Where did you get so much color?"
Gareth shook his head and replied "It's 442 H.E. (A/N: I just made that up, I have no idea what the real year is.) I'm Duke Gareth of Naxen, yes, Roger put me here. Now that I've told you what you wanted to know, you have to tell me something. First, what is your name? Secondly, are you the only one here?
The boy smiled, and hit his head, "I'm Jethro of Silver Walk. I think I'm sixteen, though I don't know for sure. I was thirteen when I first came here; Roger put me here when he found out how good I was. I was training to be a sorcerer; I was one of the best. I even rivaled the Duke himself! He found out and came to see if the rumors were true, and he found out they were. He panicked and put me in here so he wouldn't have any competition. I'm not the only one here; I found out that there were several other people here, about twenty of them. They were all put here by numerous sorcerers, so not only Roger knows the spell. It's a favorite way to get rid of enemies."
Gareth nodded and smiled, at least he had some hope. Jethro seemed to have a lot to say, because he opened his mouth again to talk.
"I noticed that you have a lot of color. You're lucky if you ask me, very few people here have color, it's like it drains away or something. At first you have color, and then it's gone. There are some people here that completely blend into the back round, others look like ghosts. You can even see through them, sometimes! So, do you want to meet everyone else?"
Without waiting for an answer, Jethro trotted off. Gareth followed, shaking his head at the eagerness of youth. At least there was some life in this world.
**~*~**
Alanna smiled as she opened the door to the Dove, the walk through the city had been enjoyable. She just hoped that her meeting with George would be just as enjoyable. Lately he had been making her slightly uncomfortable, she knew he didn't mean to, but he did. She had been feeling a bit more comfortable with him, though she knew she could never be at ease with him.
*I have a lot of questions that need answers. I don't need the love of some man messing up my life!*
Alanna walked into the Dove, Faithful was now purring contently in her arms. She nodded, smiled, and waved at people as she passed them. Many of them shouted for her to join them. Alanna signaled for George to join her, and she moved over to the stairs to meet George. Without a word, they walked up the stairs and into George's room.
"What brings you here lass?" was the first thing out of George's mouth.
"What, I can't come here to see one of my best friends?" Alanna said meeting his eyes, and immediately regretting it. The look in his eyes made her stomach summersault.
"I know you have somethin' on your mind, somethin' important."
"It's about Roger; I think he's up to something."
"You mean the business of sendin' tha' Duke a' Naxen away, so tha' there's no one protectin' the Queen, the business of Jon getting' sick, that business?"
"So you agree with me," Alanna whispered, "So you think Roger would kill his only family just to were a crown on his head and sit on a throne."
"You actin' like this is new t' you. You've been suspectin' the Duke fer years. Now lets change the subject, I'm getting all depressed."
"Alright, how are you doing? You look wan." Alanna asked, her eyes searching his face.
"I've been doin' my best, I had some trouble wit some wayward thieves, but I got it under control now."
George was smiling oddly at her again. Alanna frowned and avoided his eyes. *I had got to get out of here, he's making me uncomfortable again.*
"I have got to go," Alanna murmured "It was nice seeing you." With that she climbed out the window and started on the long jog back to the palace. George watched her go from his window, smiling as he watched the small figure run through the streets on a moonlit night.
*~**~*
"Are you sure you know what you're doing? This is a very risky business."
"I'm certain that this will work. Besides, I'm placing a spell on the woman, so if she try's to tell anyone anything, she will die instantly."
"Why are you doing this again?"
"I need to know if all my plans are falling into place. I need to know who I have to kill and dispose of to have my plans succeed."
Roger eyed Alex, who seemed that he had more to say. They were both waiting for the seer they called in to arrive. They were both in a small hut that Roger had put the mirror containing Gareth in.
"Why can't you do this yourself?" Alex asked angrily. "You're certainly powerful enough to see into the future. This is a waste of good silver."
"My dear boy, even though I hate to admit it, the process of trapping Gareth in the mirror has left me quite drained. I find it hard to light a candle. I should be like that for a couple more days."
"Then how are you going to cast the spell on the cursed seer woman?"
"That's easy; I stored the spell in this vial beforehand. All I have to do is say the words and remove the cork and the spell shall cast itself."
Roger walked over to the mirror and smiled at it. Roughly, he rapped the glass with his knuckles. He frowned when nothing happened. He rapped again, harder and louder than this time.
"Come out Gareth" He snapped, obviously getting annoyed, "I know that you're in there." He glared at the mirror and turned away remarking to Alex, "He is acting like a sullen child. Now, where is that seer woman?"
As if she could here them, there was a quiet knock on the door. Alex hastened over to open it, revealing a middle aged woman in a worn traveling cloak. She stepped inside and curtsied deeply to them.
"I'm Cloey O'Dea. I believe you called fer me." She whispered, slightly nervous. Roger nodded, his eyes taking in the frizzy blue-black hair, the coca colored skin, the pale blue eyes and the tall wiry frame.
"I s'pose I should set up the equipment, sah." She remarked as a long, uncomfortable silence formed. Wordlessly, Roger gestured toward the small table in the center of the room. Cloey moved expertly, as she set up a scrying bowl and filled it with water. She arranged the chairs around the table and added some final touches. She pulled out some herbs and sprinkled them into the water.
"Tell me what you wish to see."
"I want to see if my plans are working out. I want to know you should live and who shall die."
"You shall see," Cloey murmured as she stared into the water. "You shall see."
*~**~*
Authors Note: This is my longest chapter, five pages to be exact. Sorry that it took me so long to post it! Listen up, I want seven reviews before I update. Do you hear me? Seven! You know the number before eight and after six. I got two reviews for the last chapter.
ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
I need characters, so if you review, give me your name and you will, hopefully, get a part. I need boy and girl names. First come first serve, so the faster you review, the bigger part you get. Yes, I'm bribing you for reviews, so please review!