Slowly, as light spilled through an open window nearby, I opened my eyes.  The intensity of the light made me quickly shut them.  It had felt like my eyes were burning white when I had opened them, not a pleasant experience.  They were open long enough for me to glimpse my surroundings.  I deducted that I was definitely in my house, most likely downstairs. 

How did I get here?

I could remember the river… then Chica and the bonding, but everything after that was just a blur.  *Sigh* I have always had bad memory, and it's no surprise that I can't remember what happened.

My thoughts wondered to Chica.  I soon found the bond that connected us.  It was kind of medium sized, and I could see the growing room.  It most likely was so small because of the fact that it was just formed…yesterday?  I just realized that I had no clue how long it had been since the river incident.

:Bondmate, it's been just over a week.  But no worries, you are almost better now; a healer and Herald have been taking care of you.  They will be leaving as soon as you are up.  The villagers have agreed to look after you until you are completely better, that should be in about 3 days at most.  You are most fortunate about all of this, if the Herald had not been here, we might have died.  You should most definitely thank him.:

:Wouldn't dream of it any other way.  Well, better get my 10-year-old but up and out of this house and thank that Herald.:  I swung my legs off of the couch and slowly transferred my weight from my butt to my feet.  I gripped tightly to the couch as I wobbled one way and nearly collapsed while trying to regain my balance.

Man am I unstable

I tried to stand by myself and found this try more stable than the last.  My legs were wobbling, but I wasn't collapsing or anything of that sort.  I loosened my grip of the couch and took my first shaky step in the past week.  Instantly I nearly toppled down-I would have if it weren't for a certain gray Kyree called Chica.

"Thank you Chica."  My voice cracked with disuse and dryness.  It felt like I had run a marathon (26 miles) without any water.  My vision reeled again.

Why can't I just see correctly?  This is really annoying, first the sun, now the dizziness!  I swear my eyesight is cursed!  Well at least right now…Normally w/kyree vision I can see really easily, but that's impractical for day-to-day use.  Oh well, I guess I'll just deal with it.  I'm complaining so much it's sa-

The door creaked open and I was pulled out of my thoughts mid-sentence.  A man dressed in all white opened the door and I immediately guessed he was the Herald.

"Ah, your awake.  I was getting worried about you, did you know you've been asleep for more than a week?"

************************************************

"…And thank you again if you hadn't saved me I would probably be dead right now."  I added as a farewell to the parting Herald.  It had been 2 days since I woke up and met the Herald for the first time.  He was leaving today, continuing on his journey to Haven.  He had explained to me about how this was his last circuit and he was heading back to Haven because he was to become the new History teacher there.  He was one of the few people who I looked up to, not that I didn't respect my elders, simply that I didn't want to be like them.  I watched with sadness as Herald Alter rode away.  Slowly I turned around and faced the villagers.  They had said they'd wanted to discuss something with me.

Someone stepped forward out of the crowd of people that now starred at me.

"Devastation,"  I winced inwardly at the name, they only used my complete name when they deliver bad news.  "we have come to the decision that it is unsafe for you to be living by yourself anymore.  The Innkeeper has graciously decided to take you in if you work for him.  You do not have a choice in this matter.  We have already moved your stuff into one of his extra rooms.  You begin work in the morning."  I had gone into shock.

They did WHAT!!!!!!!!!  How could they, I thought they understood me!  Wait…can they even do this?!

            "What, in Mithros name, possessed you to make a decision like this without even telling me?  I do not see how you have the RIGHT to do this!"  I was very angry at this point, I thought they would be all right with me living by myself for the rest of my life, but it looks like I was wrong.

"You're father gave us your custody, and we will treat you how we feel is right.  Now you will go to the inn, and make arrangements for Flickering Hope to be put in the stable with the rest of the horses, now GO!!"  It was obvious now that he was mad, madder than I had ever seen anyone be before.  I sighed, he was right, the village had custody over me, and thus they could do anything they want with me.

Life sucks

I spun on my heel and headed for the inn, anger and purpose in my every stride.  Smoke was practically blowing out my ears in big foggy clouds.  I was fuming.  How was I supposed to strengthen my bond with Chica if I barely had enough time to sleep?

I had made it to the inn door, and knocked loudly.

"They let you come, the idiots.  I want to speak to you in 5 min.  You have that much time to go upstairs, put your stuff away and come back down."  My blood curdled at the words, he didn't have the right to boss me around.  The nerve of Sevet (the innkeeper)!  I wanted to tear him limb from limb, he who teaches how to become slut.  My anger quickly fought my limited control over it, wanting to burn this man too bits.  Birds around me took to the air, energized by my anger.  The local falconer swore as his prized Gyre viciously attacked him.

:Control Bondmate!:  The voice of Chica entered my head, her reassuring presence making my anger near vanish. 

Stupid Temper

I quickly cut my temper short of anything damaging.  I could tell it was fighting me, but closing my eyes and entering myself (which is the best way to describe it) I found I could put a good reign on it so at least I wouldn't kill him out of rage.  After my temper was firmly in place I glared at him then *Shove* He found himself falling to the ground and me smirking down at him.

I'm surprised he isn't smoking from the ears

I chuckled to myself then proceeded to the attic of the inn.  Up one flight of stairs then past a couple doors up a second flight and face to face with an oak door shoddily made.  I could hear laughter on the other side followed by the most annoying high squeak I had ever heard as an excuse for a voice.

"Don't you just love this red sash I bought at the last harvest?  *giggle, giggle*  I just hope that it will be revealing enough for my customer.  Oh Annika, that color looks wonderful with your eyes!  Could I use some of it?"  The unknown voice was about driving me mad.  Hopefully the next person wouldn't be as annoying.

"Why of course you can use my Peach Bloom Passion.  Does anyone know why we have this horrible filth on the floor?  It looks like a saddle, but, who here has one of those?"

I didn't get my wish.

Oh boy, this will be a long 8 years.  I wonder what these dawdle brains would think of Chica… Oh the possibilities!

Before Lady 1 could answer I shoved open the door and made my brief appearance.  VERY BRIEF.  I opened the door.  Placed my clothes and saddle, which were in a heap on the floor.  Straitened them, place them on the one empty bed and turned tail and hurried downstairs.

He awaited me there, the look he had on made me feel sick and disgusted.  He had a small smirk on his face and his beetle eyes wrinkled sinisterly.  Inwardly I shuddered but outwardly I made no change.

"Good.  Now let us continue your lessons…"

********************************

The man was getting too close for comfort.  His breath was mingling with mine and my heart rate was increasing by leaps and bounds.  I did the only thing that I could *Slap*.  It was audible throughout the back room where we were.

"How are we ever going to get you to take company with the men at night if you wont even get close to me, your master." 

Visibly I cringed at the word.  Concern passed through the bond between Chica and me.  Chica had seen those beatings where he would force me to believe he was the master and I the slave.  Countless beatings and my spirit still remained free, flying with wings that attached to my soul.  He could never defeat the animal sense in me, bend it true, but never break.  It was the unbreakable force that had kept me alive for the past 2 and a half years.  They had been filled with misery and despair, along the road were the pit stops for beatings and bad news.

First had been the news of my father only a week after starting work at the Inn.  He was dead from a raid on his Caravan.  The money he had earned?  Untouchable till I was 18.  Then my dear old friend Flickering Hope had passed away.  Schooling had stopped the instant I moved into the Inn, I was literate and that was all that would be needed if I worked here.  If I thought of getting Chica to attack Sevet the thoughts were driven into the ground as I thought of the concequences.  Chica would be hunted down and killed and I would be driven out of town.  I would have nowhere to go and I could hardly live off of the land.

His cruel laugh jerked me out of thought.

"Yes my Slave, cringe you animal.  You are nothing but a slave and no one cares for you."  He backhanded me out of the chair I was sitting in and into the wall on the opposite side of the room.  "Will you ever learn, Slave?  You will never escape me, you soon to be wench.  The only way for you to survive is in someone else's bed by night and a slave during the day."  His words stung and I tried to block him out.  He was thoroughly beating me now, and the pain was ebbing its way through my shields.  Oh Mithros it hurt like the Seven Hells!

:Do not listen to him bondmate, what he says is not true.  If you let me come I could fix his face to look better than it does now.  Just let me take him down now and-:

:I WILL NOT PUT YOU AT RISK!  Is that clear?:  At least the conversation was taking my mind out of my beating I was getting. 

Wait…he is talking.  Should I listen?  Why not?

"-inside the closet until you learn your lesson.  No food either, water maybe once a day."  He was lifting me up now.  My arm throbbed painfully-another break.

Damn!  But thank god the closet was near the kitchen, the mice can get there with ease.  Thank the little rascals bunches for my life.  The number of times they've filched food from the kitchens to keep me alive is more than I can count.

I could barely see through the blood that was coming from somewhere above my eyes but with Kyree senses I could tell where we were currently and where we were going.  Past the 1st and 2nd rooms and down the 3 corridors at the left we found ourselves outside the kitchens.  A little closet was built on the ground where the Inn kept the spare pillows and blankets.  However normally it had me as an occupant.  He opened the closet door and unceremoniously threw me in.  I cringed as last weeks lashes opened up again and started to bleed freely.

The door was shut and latched and I was left in complete darkness.  I started sobbing silently to myself-if I cried to loudly then I would inflict the wrath of Sevet.  I slowly drifted into a painful sleep with Chica pouring through our bond love, warmth and security.

*****************

"WHERE IS SHE?"  I was quickly jolted awake by a yell filled with concern and anger.  I could vaguely remember the familiar voice, but it wasn't very definite. 

Who are they talking about?

"She's not feeling well.  She's currently up in bed and it could take days for her to feel up to snuff."  The voice was high pitched, and almost a squeak but it was definitely Sevet and he was sure nervous.

"I want to see her now, well or not."  The voice was calmer now but still filled with rage.  Then I realized who it was…

So, how do you like it?

Thanks to these reviewers:

Emerald Flame

Fireblade

Hematite9@aol.com

Silver Magiccraft

I really apreaciate those people who review me and I hope more people do soon.  Cookies for those that guess who the person is and who they are asking for!

I LOVE REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (just thought you ought to know)