Chapter Two
Kassi of Pirate's Swoop
Disclaimer: Duh. I wish. Tara, Mari, Kassi, and Elle are mine. Plus the plot, of course. Gods, Tamora Pierce is brilliant.
A/N: I know no one is reading this other than me,acornandsomtimesbanana and Anonymous, (Thanks for the reviews, guys! Glad ya liked it!) but I'll continue it anyways. Please R&R! This writer's bruised ego needs re- inflating! ~sniffles~ Oh, BTW, there is a little K/D here - but just a little! And only because it hints at the end of Lady Knight that Kel and Dom get together!
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Tara of Goldenlake stared at her father. "You're letting me?" she whispered, not believing it. "You're letting me join the Own?"
Raoul leaned back. "You're old enough to know what you want to do," he said finally.
Before he could start listing why she shouldn't do it and change his mind, Tara hugged him. "Thanks, Da," she said sincerely. Leaving the room, she headed straight to the kitchen.
As she worked her way through the twisting passageways of the Goldenlake estate, she wondered why he had agreed. 'He's never let me do anything so - boyish before, except for letting me stay home from the convent.' Thinking about spending years locked up in the convent, she shuddered. The last thing she wanted was to spend years doing pointless and boring things like embroidering and dancing, then go to Court to marry some old man.
Tara was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't even notice when she bumped into someone. The girl scrambled to pick up the clothes that she had just spilled. Tara hurriedly helped her, apologizing profusely. As Tara handed her a tunic, their eyes met. The servant girl quickly turned away, murmuring something, but not before Tara had seen the fear in her eyes.
Tara frowned. All of the Goldenlake servants were treated well. None of the nobles who visited had any permission to take advantage of anyone in Goldenlake service. Yet this girl was acting frightened.
As she placed the last of the clothes in the basket, the maid turned to leave. Tara caught her arm. She noticed the flinch that came when she touched her. "What's your name?"
The girl looked up. Tara speculated that she was probably only a few years older than Tara herself. "Mari, if it pleases my lady," she answered respectfully, dipping a quick curtsey.
"How long have you been here?"
"Two years, miss." The woman looked away.
But she's old enough to know that none of the nobles will hurt her. Unless it's not a noble, Tara realized. Shaking her head to clear it, she asked, "Has anyone been bothering you, Mari? Anyone at all?"
The girl fidgeted. "Miss, I'm just a servant girl, if you please. I'm not important enough-"
Tara shook her head. "If anyone's abusing you or you're unhappy, it is important," she informed the maid. "We try to treat our servants civilly here."
Mari gasped. "Oh, no, miss, I'm not speaking against any of you nobles!"
Growing impatient, Tara asked, "Then what's bothering you?"
Mari hesitated before answering. "One of the men-at-arms is - is a bit too friendly sometimes," she confessed. "He's always hanging around the servant's wing."
Tara was furious. "How long has he been doing this? And what's his name?" By the Gods, if he's hurt any of the women - She bit her lip to keep from saying anything. Mari was obviously nervous enough.
"He only started it a few weeks ago, miss. He hasn't actually hurt any of us yet," she added. "His name is Fergor Smithson."
Tara managed a smile. "Thank you, Mari. And please, tell someone if you're being bothered again."
Mari curtsied again. "Yes, miss. If I may, I need to go back to the laundry now - "
"Of course." The girl hurried off. Tara continued, glad that she had knocked into Mari. It was unfortunate that she would have to wash again, but at least this Fergor Smithson would be taken care of.
Tara swung the heavy kitchen door open. Inside, she saw her sister, Kassi, working with the head cook, Elle. Kassi's hair hung around her face where it had come out of her bun. The front of her gown was smudged with flour, and there was a smear of icing on her cheek.
Smiling, Tara thought about Kassi. Although she was a very proper young noblewoman - she, at least, would be going to the convent this fall - she still loved to help in the garden and in the kitchen. The two sisters, despite the four-year age difference, were close.
Looking up, Kassi beckoned her over. "What is it, Tara?" She kept her attention on the cake batter she was mixing.
"I'm going, Kass. Next week."
The cake forgotten, Kassi glanced up sharply. "You are? Oh, Tara!" She threw herself at her older sister. Tara hugged her back, the feeling of excitement returning.
Tara noticed Elle watching them. "Where might you be going, Mistress Tara?"
Tara winced - Elle, who had often taken care of the pair when they were younger, insisted on calling her 'Mistress'. "I'm leaving to join the King's Own with Da."
Tara felt something wet drip onto her shoulder. Surprised, she held Kassi away. There were tears rolling down her cheeks. "Kass, what's wrong? I thought you were happy for me!"
Kassi sniffed. "I am. But I'll miss you. And it'll be so dangerous. What if something happens to you?"
Tara hugged her again. "It's risky," she admitted. "But it's what I want to do. Besides, I'll be with Da. He'll keep me safe."
The younger girl wiped most of her tears away. "I know. But I'll miss you all the same."
"Well, we can write. Don't forget that you're going to the convent. You'll be busy."
Kassi managed to smile. "I suppose." Turning back to the cook, she asked, "You don't mind if I go, do you, Elle?"
Elle shook her head. "Of course not. I'll tell you when the cake is done, sweet."
Tara left the kitchen with Kassi. The girls walked in silence for a minute before Tara asked lightly, "So, are you excited about going to the convent?"
She had expected one of Kassi's usual pert answers, but Kassi actually thought about it. "Yes, but I'll miss everyone. Ma, Da, Lidi, Andrew, Elle. You." Looking up - Tara was tall for her age - Kassi added wryly, "I know you think the convent is a waste of time, but I'm not the adventurous one in the family."
They had reached their rooms. Tara shrugged. "Neither am I. Da is." So slipped into her rooms. Some 'family friend,' as her mother had put it, would be stopping by for dinner, so Buri had requested she wear a gown or at least flared pants. Tara chose the flared pants for their comfort. They had been brought into style by Queen Thayet. The pants were soft and full like a dress, only easier to move in. Most progressives had accepted them as proper clothing.
After tying her hair back into a knot (although it was short, it was thick), Tara knocked on Kassi's door. "Nearly done?" she called.
"Coming!" Kassi flung open the door, muttering something about impatient sisters who didn't care about fashion at all.
Together, they made their way to the sitting room. Buri and Raoul sat inside, chatting avidly to someone.
Tara touched Kassi's shoulder, indicating that she should be quiet. Raoul was talking. Carefully, Tara pressed her ear against the wall.
"-and she wants to join the Own." Raoul sighed. "I told her she could, but I'm worried. Gods, this will be hard."
Tara frowned. Why would he be talking about the Own?
She recognized the voice of the visitor. "Raoul, we both know her. She'll do fine."
Nodding to Kassi, Tara led the way into the room. Her parents were sitting opposite Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle of the King's Own. Dom rose, his eyes twinkling, and bowed, then softly brushed his lips to first Tara's hand, then to Kassi's. "Good to see you," he said cheerfully. Then his face turned serious. "Tara, you're joining the Own?"
She nodded. She knew Dom, because he had visited Goldenlake often with his lover, Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan. Kel had been Raoul's squire years ago. "No one's ever said that women weren't allowed," she pointed out.
"True." Dom smiled at her. "You'll do well, Tara."
She blushed. "Thank you, Dom." They had agreed long ago that if she would call him Dom, he would call her Tara instead of Taryn, her real name.
Dom's face became serious again, and he turned back to Raoul. "Jon won't like it."
"I know," Raoul said grimly. "I've already talked to him. This morning, in fact."
"And?" Tara prompted.
Raoul glanced up at her. "He said no."
~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Oh well. I guess that's the end of the story, if Jon says so. ~snickers~ Yeah, whatever. Tara's got an idea. It's too bad I don't, though. Just to let you know, the last chapter was the day before. Raoul decided to wait to tell her. Well, hoped ya liked it. Please review? PLEASE? ~begs~ I love reviews!
me,acornandsomtimesbanana ~ I'm glad you liked that I put Raoul in it. The Lioness won't be in this story a lot, though.
Anonymous ~ Thanks for reviewing! Please WRITE something next time!
Okay, everyone else! Press that little button down there! Thanks!
~Kassi
Kassi of Pirate's Swoop
Disclaimer: Duh. I wish. Tara, Mari, Kassi, and Elle are mine. Plus the plot, of course. Gods, Tamora Pierce is brilliant.
A/N: I know no one is reading this other than me,acornandsomtimesbanana and Anonymous, (Thanks for the reviews, guys! Glad ya liked it!) but I'll continue it anyways. Please R&R! This writer's bruised ego needs re- inflating! ~sniffles~ Oh, BTW, there is a little K/D here - but just a little! And only because it hints at the end of Lady Knight that Kel and Dom get together!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tara of Goldenlake stared at her father. "You're letting me?" she whispered, not believing it. "You're letting me join the Own?"
Raoul leaned back. "You're old enough to know what you want to do," he said finally.
Before he could start listing why she shouldn't do it and change his mind, Tara hugged him. "Thanks, Da," she said sincerely. Leaving the room, she headed straight to the kitchen.
As she worked her way through the twisting passageways of the Goldenlake estate, she wondered why he had agreed. 'He's never let me do anything so - boyish before, except for letting me stay home from the convent.' Thinking about spending years locked up in the convent, she shuddered. The last thing she wanted was to spend years doing pointless and boring things like embroidering and dancing, then go to Court to marry some old man.
Tara was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't even notice when she bumped into someone. The girl scrambled to pick up the clothes that she had just spilled. Tara hurriedly helped her, apologizing profusely. As Tara handed her a tunic, their eyes met. The servant girl quickly turned away, murmuring something, but not before Tara had seen the fear in her eyes.
Tara frowned. All of the Goldenlake servants were treated well. None of the nobles who visited had any permission to take advantage of anyone in Goldenlake service. Yet this girl was acting frightened.
As she placed the last of the clothes in the basket, the maid turned to leave. Tara caught her arm. She noticed the flinch that came when she touched her. "What's your name?"
The girl looked up. Tara speculated that she was probably only a few years older than Tara herself. "Mari, if it pleases my lady," she answered respectfully, dipping a quick curtsey.
"How long have you been here?"
"Two years, miss." The woman looked away.
But she's old enough to know that none of the nobles will hurt her. Unless it's not a noble, Tara realized. Shaking her head to clear it, she asked, "Has anyone been bothering you, Mari? Anyone at all?"
The girl fidgeted. "Miss, I'm just a servant girl, if you please. I'm not important enough-"
Tara shook her head. "If anyone's abusing you or you're unhappy, it is important," she informed the maid. "We try to treat our servants civilly here."
Mari gasped. "Oh, no, miss, I'm not speaking against any of you nobles!"
Growing impatient, Tara asked, "Then what's bothering you?"
Mari hesitated before answering. "One of the men-at-arms is - is a bit too friendly sometimes," she confessed. "He's always hanging around the servant's wing."
Tara was furious. "How long has he been doing this? And what's his name?" By the Gods, if he's hurt any of the women - She bit her lip to keep from saying anything. Mari was obviously nervous enough.
"He only started it a few weeks ago, miss. He hasn't actually hurt any of us yet," she added. "His name is Fergor Smithson."
Tara managed a smile. "Thank you, Mari. And please, tell someone if you're being bothered again."
Mari curtsied again. "Yes, miss. If I may, I need to go back to the laundry now - "
"Of course." The girl hurried off. Tara continued, glad that she had knocked into Mari. It was unfortunate that she would have to wash again, but at least this Fergor Smithson would be taken care of.
Tara swung the heavy kitchen door open. Inside, she saw her sister, Kassi, working with the head cook, Elle. Kassi's hair hung around her face where it had come out of her bun. The front of her gown was smudged with flour, and there was a smear of icing on her cheek.
Smiling, Tara thought about Kassi. Although she was a very proper young noblewoman - she, at least, would be going to the convent this fall - she still loved to help in the garden and in the kitchen. The two sisters, despite the four-year age difference, were close.
Looking up, Kassi beckoned her over. "What is it, Tara?" She kept her attention on the cake batter she was mixing.
"I'm going, Kass. Next week."
The cake forgotten, Kassi glanced up sharply. "You are? Oh, Tara!" She threw herself at her older sister. Tara hugged her back, the feeling of excitement returning.
Tara noticed Elle watching them. "Where might you be going, Mistress Tara?"
Tara winced - Elle, who had often taken care of the pair when they were younger, insisted on calling her 'Mistress'. "I'm leaving to join the King's Own with Da."
Tara felt something wet drip onto her shoulder. Surprised, she held Kassi away. There were tears rolling down her cheeks. "Kass, what's wrong? I thought you were happy for me!"
Kassi sniffed. "I am. But I'll miss you. And it'll be so dangerous. What if something happens to you?"
Tara hugged her again. "It's risky," she admitted. "But it's what I want to do. Besides, I'll be with Da. He'll keep me safe."
The younger girl wiped most of her tears away. "I know. But I'll miss you all the same."
"Well, we can write. Don't forget that you're going to the convent. You'll be busy."
Kassi managed to smile. "I suppose." Turning back to the cook, she asked, "You don't mind if I go, do you, Elle?"
Elle shook her head. "Of course not. I'll tell you when the cake is done, sweet."
Tara left the kitchen with Kassi. The girls walked in silence for a minute before Tara asked lightly, "So, are you excited about going to the convent?"
She had expected one of Kassi's usual pert answers, but Kassi actually thought about it. "Yes, but I'll miss everyone. Ma, Da, Lidi, Andrew, Elle. You." Looking up - Tara was tall for her age - Kassi added wryly, "I know you think the convent is a waste of time, but I'm not the adventurous one in the family."
They had reached their rooms. Tara shrugged. "Neither am I. Da is." So slipped into her rooms. Some 'family friend,' as her mother had put it, would be stopping by for dinner, so Buri had requested she wear a gown or at least flared pants. Tara chose the flared pants for their comfort. They had been brought into style by Queen Thayet. The pants were soft and full like a dress, only easier to move in. Most progressives had accepted them as proper clothing.
After tying her hair back into a knot (although it was short, it was thick), Tara knocked on Kassi's door. "Nearly done?" she called.
"Coming!" Kassi flung open the door, muttering something about impatient sisters who didn't care about fashion at all.
Together, they made their way to the sitting room. Buri and Raoul sat inside, chatting avidly to someone.
Tara touched Kassi's shoulder, indicating that she should be quiet. Raoul was talking. Carefully, Tara pressed her ear against the wall.
"-and she wants to join the Own." Raoul sighed. "I told her she could, but I'm worried. Gods, this will be hard."
Tara frowned. Why would he be talking about the Own?
She recognized the voice of the visitor. "Raoul, we both know her. She'll do fine."
Nodding to Kassi, Tara led the way into the room. Her parents were sitting opposite Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle of the King's Own. Dom rose, his eyes twinkling, and bowed, then softly brushed his lips to first Tara's hand, then to Kassi's. "Good to see you," he said cheerfully. Then his face turned serious. "Tara, you're joining the Own?"
She nodded. She knew Dom, because he had visited Goldenlake often with his lover, Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan. Kel had been Raoul's squire years ago. "No one's ever said that women weren't allowed," she pointed out.
"True." Dom smiled at her. "You'll do well, Tara."
She blushed. "Thank you, Dom." They had agreed long ago that if she would call him Dom, he would call her Tara instead of Taryn, her real name.
Dom's face became serious again, and he turned back to Raoul. "Jon won't like it."
"I know," Raoul said grimly. "I've already talked to him. This morning, in fact."
"And?" Tara prompted.
Raoul glanced up at her. "He said no."
~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Oh well. I guess that's the end of the story, if Jon says so. ~snickers~ Yeah, whatever. Tara's got an idea. It's too bad I don't, though. Just to let you know, the last chapter was the day before. Raoul decided to wait to tell her. Well, hoped ya liked it. Please review? PLEASE? ~begs~ I love reviews!
me,acornandsomtimesbanana ~ I'm glad you liked that I put Raoul in it. The Lioness won't be in this story a lot, though.
Anonymous ~ Thanks for reviewing! Please WRITE something next time!
Okay, everyone else! Press that little button down there! Thanks!
~Kassi