Servant Kari
Chapter One: Running Away
FanFic from Tortall
(My first FanFic, it is more like behind the scenes of Palace life. From a Servants point of view….only if may not end that way, I'm not real sure were it will end, but I would love to hear from anybody with comments or suggestions.)
(I love Tamora's books so much, so using her characters and her land is a great honor for me. I hope you enjoy.)
The bells in the Pages' Wing rang, calling them to their first classes. Kari sighed as she picked up her basket and made her way to gather what laundry they boys left out side their doors. She was most grateful to be given a job in the Palace but what she really wanted was to be a personal servant, for only one person to look after, not thirty ungrateful nobles still learning respect.
"How can they stand to get so smelly?" she said aloud to herself as she piled filth covered shirts into the basket.
"You would be surprised what they go through to get that filthy, I can assure you that it isn't fun," said a cool and calm voice behind her.
"And how would you know?" she snapped. Kari was always being pestered by the young male servants for talking aloud to herself, so she didn't bother to find out who spoke.
"Perhaps because I lived through it," said the man in a very amused tone.
She stood up, spinning around on her feet, hands on hips ready to give this man a piece of her mind for lying. However, when she came face to face with her opponent's handsome grin she dropped to her knees, bowing her head low as fear began to overwhelm her body.
"Don't tell me you give up all ready," the man said, trying to hide is own fun but sound disappointed at the same time.
"Sire, I…I…forgive me, I di..i..idn't know," she stumbled with her words, not daring to take her eyes from the floor.
King Jonathan chuckled in spite of himself. He often took his servants by surprise, as he was so often sneaking up behind them and talking as if he were just another face in the crowd.
However, just another face in the crowd would be an exaggeration, for he as his queen where considered the finest couple in terms of looks. Jonathan, with is blazing sapphire eyes, coal black hair streaked with small strands of sliver and commanding presence, would stand out in even the most diverse crowds.
"Forgive me, child," he said with a smile as he motioned for her to stand. "I shouldn't have been ease dropping." She stood at his command but kept her head bent, studding her shoes.
"Is…is there something Your Majesty wishes for?" she asks in a soft barley audible voice.
"Hmm, well I was on my way to the Weapons Master's office and remember I needed this to be taken to a friend so I thought I would find a Page nearby," he paused to look around at the deserted hall with only piles of laundry outside the doors. "But the Palace seems to have a shortage of Pages, would you care to run the errand for me…umm…"
When the King stopped, she knew what he was waiting for. "Kari, Sire," she gave her name, curtsying. "Nice name," he said and hid his amusement at her blush. "Well, Kari? Would you run an errand for me?" he asked.
"Of course, sire," she said quickly, not really sure if she was even aloud to say no to a king.
"Wonderful," she said pulling out a sealed letter from his tunic and handed it to her. "Take this to Sir Myles, do you know where his rooms are? Good, please wait for a reply, when he does take that message to Sir Gar..Garth in the Main Library. Think you can handle?"
She nodded slowly trying to remember it all. "Yes, Sire, letter to Sir Myles reply to Sir Garth in the Library."
He smiled, reaching at his belt purse he brought out a coin and handed it to her. His hands here like ice as they touched hers, sending a child up her spine.
"Tha…thank you, sire," she managed to squeak.
"No, Kari, thank you." She just stood here dumbfounded before the King cleared his throat and she curtsied once more before taking off down the hall.
Wow, she thought as she descended from a flight of stairs, she had always wanted to run important errands not the ones to Marina, the Head Page Servant that the laundry soap was low but important ones. How much more important could you get then running for the King himself!
When she came to Sir Myles door she found it ajar and people where inside talking. She didn't want to make it like she was ease dropping so she made it very clear that she was there by coughing. She then knocked loudly on the door.
A short and stocky woman opened the door and looked down at her with bright amethyst eyes. Her hair was fire read and she had a sword attached to her belt.
"Yes?" Lady Alanna asked.
Kari curtsied to the Lady and spoke a little calmer than with the King but still very much so nervous. "I…I have a letter for Sir Myles, Milady. From the King," she held up the letter for her to see.
"You may come in then," she said as she stepped aside. Kari entered to find the room cluttered with dusty old books and maps.
At the far end of the room was a very short and scruffy looking knight, he was bent over a book when Lady Alanna cleared her throat.
"Hmm, did you say something, daughter?" he asked looking up surprised to find a new face. "Oh, welcome, please come in, dear. Tell me, what brings you here?" he asked cheerfully.
"I have a message from His Majesty, Sir," she said handing him the sealed letter.
The knight took the letter shaking his head, "That boy, I swear. You would think he could come by himself, seeing he is always roaming about instead of sending a Page when he knows they have exams today."
"Oh, I am not a Page, Sir. I work in the laundry room. The King was looking for a Page, but they left for classes so he asked me to deliver it," explained Kari.
"The Exams are today?" Alanna asked jumping from the seat she had just taken. "Oh man, I totally forgot! My son is taking it first Exam today to be a Squire." She hurried over to her father and kissed his check.
"Let me know how it goes," he called after has she raced out of the rooms. "Now, back to this," he gave Kari a smile before taking out a pen and paper. "Take a seat, dear, have some grapes," he said pointing to the bowl of fresh fruit. "This may be a few minuets."
She did as she was told; taking a seat on the opposite side of his desk and even helped herself to some grapes.
After she delivered Sir Myles's letter to Sir Garth the younger in the Main Library she hurried back to the Pages' Wing eager to tell her mother what she just did, but instead came face to face with a hall of dirty clothing that was being expected in the wash room twenty minutes ago.
She quickly hurried gathering the clothes, knowing that nothing was going to keep her from a punishment. When she brought the clothes down to the wash level of the Palace her mother was awaiting by the door tapping a foot.
"Where have you been, young lady?" she demanded snatching the basket from the girl's arms.
"I was on an errand, mama. The King was looking for a Pa…" she was interrupted by her mother's laughter.
"The King? The King? What do you take me for, Child?" she yelled in anger. "Its time you got that head of yours out of the clouds!"
"Mama, it isn't a lie. He really did ask me to run an errand for him!" she cried out, but her mother would not listen.
"Enough!" her mother demanded throwing the basket of clothes to the ground. "Now, you will finish the wash yourself, as punishment for being late, making up wild stories and lying to your mother."
"Mama, I said…"
"I want these washed, dried and folded before I return after the supper bell," she interrupted and stalked out of the room.
Kari folded her arm in a huff and screamed at the top of her lungs. "It isn't fair!" she yelled to the Goddess. Felling betrayed from a life she deserved, Kari decided that she would run away, anything had to be better than doing laundry for the rest of her life.
She slipped back up to the Servant's Wing and into her room. She quickly packed a small bundle of clothing and the few personal items she owned.
Down in the Servant's Mess Hall it was lunch time, making her way to the back where the cooks worked she asked for some extra bread, some cheese and a flask of grape fruit juice.
The cooks never minded giving Kari extra, often times she watched their children while they were pulled for a replacement for banquette feasts.
It was the time of the year that the sun set earlier than normal, it was a good sign that Winter was on its way and so the Palace was more crowded than ever with Knights returning home from patrol or holiday. I was also beginning to get quite chilly in the afternoon, so nights would be freezing.
Lucky for Kari, the money that she earned from the King and the two knights for running their errands was more than enough to buy herself a coat and still have some left over.
"I wonder if any of the keepers will still be open," she asked
herself as she walked down Palace Way, past the many Temples of Tortall and to the Market Place.