Disclaimer: Since this is a new fic I am rewording the disclaimer but it's still here 'cause unfortunately I still don't own any of the below ideas that can be found in the 'real' Valdemar *sigh*.
A/N okay here's the new chapter. (Wow!!!! what a short author's note that is for me J )
I wandered through the winding streets of Haven haphazardly. I wondered if anyone would notice I was missing. Despite a strong desire to fuel my self-pity with the idea that no one would care I knew that Eben would tell someone, likely my parents, that I hadn't returned to the room. Then they would undoubtedly come looking for me and try to make me go back.
"I'm not going back!" I growled to myself. A lady walking in the opposite direction gave me an odd look which I pointedly ignored, but I decided to keep all further outbursts silent. If I wasn't going back I needed a place to go where they wouldn't find me. That was no easy task, I knew most of the city quite well, but so did my family and just about everyone they could enlist to aid them … but most of the city did not include the area around Exile's gate. I smiled to myself. That was the perfect place to hole up. They would never look for me there, I could get thoroughly lost in the crowds, and I felt that the name of the gate fit me quite nicely.
It took a while but I finally reached my target area. I regretted the choice as I looked around. Part of me wanted to turn around and run home before anyone noticed I was gone. I might have except as I turn I realized I was totally lost. Savannah could probably guide me out though. The thought struck me like a two-by-four. The companions could find me. Quick a thought I slammed up every shield I had learned. I'm not going back, I thought sullenly.
So I continued through the narrow filthy streets feeling very conspicuous in my pristine rust red trainee clothing. If news got out that someone was looking for a bardic trainee, especially if a reward was offered, I could easily be brought in. Unfortunately, I could see no plausible way of getting rid of my clothes.
I shivered nervously as I wandered past rows of dimly lit smoky taverns. The signs over the doors proclaimed absurd and even lewd names. I found one that looked tame and slipped in. The acrid tang of smoke made my eyes water, but I ignored that and found an unoccupied corner to sit in. I wanted to watch the other patrons, see what they did, but the smoke and warmth of the room combined with the emotional turmoil of the day to put me to sleep.
I woke up sometime later with one of the girls who worked at the tavern shaking me by the shoulder.
"Ya' planin' on payin' t'stay 'ere?" The girl asked briskly.
"Wha- no …" I said intelligently, "I don't have any money."
The girl looked me over and smirked, "Git yer purse snatched did ya?"
"No, I never had one."
"Sure, if ya say so laddy," she nodded exaggeratedly as she patronized me.
"Honest, I didn't," I replied petulantly.
"Right, well, if yer not payin' ya need ta clear outta 'ere."
"Okay," I replied glumly. I got up and left without a backward glance. This might not be as easy as I had thought, at least not unless I got some money. A job; that was what I needed. Wouldn't it be something if I could pass myself off as a bard, but they would know my outfit was that of a mere trainee. Then again, the taverns weren't so well lit that the color of my clothes would be readily apparent.
As long as it was good music what would they care whether I was a full bard. I resolved to try this new plan out as soon as I found another open tavern.
Unfortunately the hour was late enough that the only establishments open were those that I wouldn't have dared to enter. My plan would have to wait for tomorrow. I didn't really mind, I was too tired to perform well anyway. It was a shame that I didn't have my harp. It couldn't be helped though. I found a likely looking alley and curled up near the front of it. I was too tired to worry about anything as petty as my safety.
I once more woke up with someone shaking me.
"What are you doing out here all alone kid?" a gruff voice asked near my ear.
I looked groggily at the speaker. Whoever it was looked fierce in the darkness of the alley. He or she was swathed in black, even the face that loomed out of the darkness was smeared in the dark color. I woke up a bit more as I realized that this could easily be a cutthroat of some sort. I doubted that he would believe that I had no purse either.
"I'm running away," I said defiantly I was scared, but I didn't care to let the other know it.
"From what?" there was a hint of laughter in the rich voice.
"From them," I said vaguely, but with disdain.
"Them huh? Oh well that certainly explains things quite well."
"My family," I snapped.
"Well, that is certainly interesting. What would a young bard run away from his family for?"
"None of your business," I shrilled.
"Of course, you're entitled to your little secrets, now are you enjoying sleeping here or would you rather have a safe place to stay?" this with obvious amusement.
"You're offering me a safe place to stay?" I asked suspiciously.
"Yes, well, safer than here."
"I don't believe you." I accused.
The figure shrugged, "If you'd rather stay here you can," it turned to go.
"No, I want to come with you."
"I thought so, follow me."
I followed the shadowy figure through the streets, not caring that I would never find my way back since I was already so thoroughly lost. We stopped outside of an unmarked little building.
"It's a tenant house. Now then are you a discreet kid?"
"I can keep my mouth shut … you're a thief aren't you?"
"I wouldn't mention that to just anyone, even if it's true most people wouldn't appreciate it."
"Oh."
"What's your name kid?" the person asked after knocking on the door.
"Cymon," I said simply, "Who're you?"
"A thief," my own words were thrown back at me slyly.
"I meant a name…"
"Ashton," well that certainly didn't tell me whether this thief was male or female. The door cracked open, and two faces poked out.
"Ash! You're back," one of the boys exclaimed.
"We were getting worried you'd been caught," the other explained.
"Who's that?" the first one asked startled at seeing me.
"Cymon, I found him in an alley way, I couldn't just leave him there defenseless and all…"
"Leave it to a girl to get all sentimental…" the second boy muttered.
"If you've got something to say about it then you can leave Seph," Ashton hissed.
"No, I just don't know whether this is a good idea, what if he squeals on us?"
"He won't, will you boy?"
"No!" I rushed to assure them.
"See, now let us in!" Ashton forced her way through the door and I followed her. Seph and the other boy led us to a room at the back of the building.
"Alright, that's Sephora and this is Griff. Ginger's my little sister and she'll be inside here, if you're going to stay with us you'll need to pull your weight around here, but I suppose you can sing for your supper huh?"
"Yes," I agreed tentatively.
"Fine," Ashton said as we entered a large spacious room. The only furnishings were a scattering of pallets and a low rickety table. One of the pallets was occupied by a little girl, Ginger. Seph and Griff took two of the other pallets and when Ashton took another there was one left near the door, "Sleep there," Ashton said pointing at it.
I obliged. The others discussed me as I drifted off to sleep, Ashton defending me and the two boys bringing up every possible negative outcome.
I woke up on my pallet late the next morning. Sephora was the only one in the room.
"You're finally up," Sephora said flatly as I got off my pallet.
"Yeah," I responded, not sure how Sephora would react to me without Ashton around to defend my presence.
"Ashton pays the rent on this place so she decides who gets to stay, in case you're wondering."
"Oh."
"She went to buy some food and Ginger and Griff went to trade in the stuff she brought back last night."
"How long can I stay with you guys for?"
"Ashton says she'll keep you around indefinitely, she's quite fond of music."
"I wish I had my harp…" I said unhappily.
"So you play harp? We can probably get one for your use, if you plan to use it to get us our supper…"
"Yeah, I have no other real need of money, and if you'll keep me here then it's the least I can do."
"Good," Sephora seemed content with what he had heard and he promptly went back to reading at the low table. I looked around the sparsely furnished room and then joined him at the table.
"What are you doing?" I asked idly.
He glared up at me, "Nothing."
"You've got to be doing something!" I protested.
"No it's nothing," he assured me.
I looked at what he was examining, "Those are blueprints!" I said triumphantly.
He glared at me acidly, "I am trying to work out a mode of propulsion, it'll be faster than even a companion," he explained tersely.
"Wow, that's amazing!" I responded surprised at the academic nature of his pursuit.
"Yeah, except I'll never be able to build it even if I work out the whole thing …"
"Can't you go to the palace … the blues build all sorts of things like that!"
He looked at me flatly, "I don't have money to throw away on fancy schooling. And don't you tell Ashton about this; she'll want to send me and then the rest of them will half-starve to pay for it, or she'll do something equally stupid."
"I won't," I promised surprised at his vehement self-denial. Glumly I realized that I would have gladly taken advantage of Ashton's kindness in his place. As always I proved to be of inferior moral quality … and I wondered why I didn't get chosen.
He leveled an appraising glare at me, "All right then," he said reluctantly, and allowed me to look over his plans.
"I bet they'd take you on a scholarship if you showed these to one of the blue's instructors…" I said idly.
"That or steal the credit," he growled.
"Not an instructor!" I replied firmly, "A student might, but not an instructor."
"I've got some other plans too," Seph said grudgingly accepting me. He went over to his pallet and returned with a sheath of papers, "see this one is light a mage light only anyone can use it and it's much more practical for commoners …" he warmed up to me as he explained all of the plans he had made.
"You really should go see one of the blues about these!" I replied as he finished explaining.
"Some of them are Griff's too," he admitted.
"You could both get in then, and Ashton would have more money to provide for herself and Ginger."
"And no one to protect her!"
"I'll be here," I responded quickly.
Sephora raised an eyebrow, "That's supposed to comfort me? I wouldn't trust a bard to take care of my dog, let alone Ashton and Ginger."
"You don't have a dog," I pointed out.
"And I still wouldn't trust you with it!" He said triumphantly. I was saved a response because Ashton returned.
"How did you get in?" I asked quizzically remembering that the door had been locked the previous night.
"It's only locked at night," she replied setting an aromatic parcel on the table. Sephora quickly cleared away his papers and stuffed them back into his pallet.
"I got some more ink for you Seph, I noticed you were running low," Ashton remarked as she put some brightly colored ribbons on Ginger's pallet and a little novelty toy on Griff's.
"Thanks," Sephora replied picking the ink pot out of its packing and placing it carefully beside his pallet with his other writing implements, "You were right about Cymon, Ash, he does play harp."
"Oh, I just knew it!" she replied happily, "I got you something too," she added to me.
"What? Why?"
"Well, I got things for everyone else, besides a bard needs an instrument, you'll bring in a better profit with an instrument."
"You bought me and instrument?"
"A harp," she replied gleefully.
"You spent your hard earned money on a harp for me?"
"Well, no exactly, more like hard earned skills…"
"She stole it," Seph supplied when I didn't seem to understand what was meant.
"Oh," I replied blankly. I had been saying that a great deal recently.
"It's not as if it's a big deal Cymon, here, try it out," she offered me a bulky package.
"Why's it wrapped if you stole it?"
"It's easier to sneak it out of a store that way," Ashton replied with a shrug.
I silently unwrapped the paper to reveal a finely tool wooden harp. It was better than my own I realized slightly shocked. Gilded wood with blue enameled tooling and the finest strings I had ever seen. It was definitely out of tune though. I set to work tuning it and then strummed and experimental chord.
Ashton clapped her hand happily at the noise the harp produced.
"I can't accept this," I said looking up at her, "This is worth too much …"
"It isn't a problem, I know for a fact that the one who had it didn't get it honestly, play a tune?"
I couldn't resist the request. The harp seemed to call my name. My reluctance over accepting the gift evaporated as I started in on the first song that came to mind, Kerowyn's Ride. Sephora even enjoyed the tune. Both he and Ashton sang along with me. Ginger and Griff joined us at some point, probably during the third verse.
"Play another!" Ginger cried excitedly when I had finished.
"Let him eat first Ging," Ashton rebuked the little girl gently. With that the stupor the harp had cast over me was dispersed and we all ate heartily.
"We got a good price on that stuff you brought in last night Ash," Ginger babbled happily through a mouth full of food.
"Don't talk with your mouth full," Griff said taking a sip of water.
"I'm glad that it fetched a good price," Ashton said after swallowing, "tonight we'll find a nice tavern to set Cymon up in okay?"
"Sounds fine to me," Seph replied. I nodded my consent and the rest agreed as well. We spent the rest of the afternoon in the room. Griff and Seph were bent over their plans and Ashton was helping Ginger to put her hair up in elaborate patterns with her new ribbons. I set about reviewing my harp skills and trying to reconcile my good luck.
I had run away because I felt worthless, yet now I was being accepted by these people. What did companions know anyway? I still respected the big white ponies, but maybe their acceptance didn't determine my value. Savannah could like me and not chose me. She had still been my friend when she returned. The twins hadn't tried to hurt me with being chosen, but they were reasonably excited, as excited as I had been at becoming a bard.
Suddenly what I had done struck home. I had done to my family exactly what I felt they had done to me. I had rejected them, looked at all they were and said it was beneath me. I might still be a rotten kid, but they still loved me. I looked at the other kid's in the room. They had obviously acquired all that they had through theft, and yet I felt nothing but compassion toward them. Either it was another sign of my depravity or they mattered more than what they did… an interesting thought.
All my philosophizing made me uncomfortable, it was leading dangerously close to making me want to go home. I thrust my thoughts to the back of my mind and focused all of my attention on the harp.
It was finally time to start looking for a place to play. We split up to find a place. Ashton led me from tavern to tavern while Griff and Ginger were looking elsewhere together, and Seph was looking on his own.
Finally Seph caught up with us and told us he had found a likely looking place. We went with him, collecting Griff and Ginger along the way. Ashton went in and spoke to the tavern owner while I waited with the others near the doorway. Finally the impassive tavern owner nodded and Ashton rejoined us.
"Okay, Seph, stay with Cymon so he can find his way home safely when he's done. The rest of us are going home now. We get whatever the patrons chose to give us, and a small cut from the owner, Seph you'll collect … don't be cutting purses either," she scolded.
"I won't, we'll be fine," Seph and I set up and the others left.
A/N okay change in plans I have to work in 2 hours so I'm done for now… new chapter later. Bye… oh right I am now adding more to this A/n but that's okay. I got to go to youth group, I was a bit late but I got there! Which is unusual because Scott said we would be working until halfway through it but we got done early and I'll stop rambling at you now, right after I mention this important note that actually *gasp* pertains to the story: The fact that this is in 1st person bothers me. Why you ask? Because I always write in third person, and my favorite part about third person is head hopping by the chapter, not the paragraph because that drives me crazy, but by the chapter. Thus unless I get some serious complaints I am probably going to do some chapters in the future from Azori's point of view. I will clearly mark these for convenience sake, if you have a strong objection to that then use your voice by clicking the little blue review button ;-)