Birds Breath

Chapter TWO!!!!

A/N: Aren't you all proud! I have gone farther than my usual one chapter! Well I'm proud of myself and am currently rewarding myself with imaginary cheese (read my bio if you don't understand). I really like this fanfic so far, and have taken a lot of time to discover where I want this next chapter to lead. Hopefully it will be nice and long or at least moderately long.
I received some very kind e-mails about my last chapter and it has greatly encouraged me! Thank you to all seven of my reviewers, I will do you all proud *wipes away imaginary tear with monogrammed hanky*.

On with the story!

Alianne sighed, and then she sighed again. Her gaze straying out the small kitchen window, the edges cluttered with leaves and remnants of bird dinners. Birds. Her eyes immediately flew towards Nawat's usual work bench, just hidden from view by a large tree and several houses. As much as Aly wished to avoid their encounter she couldn't help but feel somehow lacking in company.
The unusual kitchen staff and Raka maids were bustling around. Some women were working on a large pot of stew, the smell an unusual mixture of lime and bird feathers. Which made perfect sense as the main ingredient was a large gaming bird resembling a falcon. Being slow flyers and a rather delicious treat they were a family favourite with the Balitangs.
Aly herself had once heartily enjoyed the dish with the best of them but now she despised the smell, appearance and taste of the stew. She supposed Nawat was to blame, being such an animal activist himself. He had proved that birds were more then food or possible gaming pets. The could be(come) people as well. She could only imagine what he would say if were to see the recipe. She smiled dryly at the thought. There was a chuckle from somewhere beside her, Aly turned to look at the cheeky whelp.
It was Dove. She must have sneaked in, or bribed some of the maids Aly thought with a dry smile.

"Hello, Mistress Dove," said Alianne leaning lazily back on the counter, the picture of relaxation. "Is there anything you be a wantin'?"

She exaggerated a southerner's drawl. Aly knew it sounded terrible and unrealistic, but Dove would appreciate her attempts at humour.

"Nothin' at all lil' missy," Dove smiled her eyes winking merrily back at Aly. If Alianne wanted to play, then Dove could play as just as well.

"That's whets the entire hullabaloo about yearn' arrival?" Aly grinned and raked her calloused fingers through her short curls. Her tan arms standing out against the creamy white of her sauce stained smock.

"Down to business Alianne, we need to talk immediately, and in private." Dove said seriously her eyes letting on too how worried she really was.

"Why? About what? Am I in some sort of trouble? Is anyone in trouble?" Aly asked feverishly already untying her smock and quickly rolling it up and stashing it away into a shelf space. Her hands trembled slightly, but with shock or nerves Dove couldn't tell.

Together they rushed out of the kitchens quietly as to not arouse the suspicions of the other maids, cooks, and slaves in the humid rooms. The help had a history of rebellious behavior, a maid having helped a rather evil group of assassins earlier in the year. The maid had been executed by seemingly the vengeful murderers. Even though the prospect of death was a dreadful one there were some women that would do anything for money, or a warm bed partner. Some people are so pathetic and needy!
Slipping past armored guards that had experienced their fair share of the maids, Dove and Aly bustled through the hallways. As the area became more decorated and important the walkways became wider. Dove took the lead through the carpeted halls, lush flowers sat peacefully and artfully decorated on expensive tables. Aly, ever the picture of innocence and humble quietude didn't notice these things of course. But in her plotting mind she took in every detail, every petal and swirl of color on the imported rugs. A spy must take not of details, and she was to be the best spy ever known in Tortallian courts!
Alianne suspected Dove was leading her somewhere to meet somebody, but when Dove pulled the door to a small sewing room open and shut the door softly behind her Aly saw no one. She slowly walked the circumference of the small sparsely furnished circular room. Needles and pins stuck carefully into little scraps of cloth that served as pincushions. When Aly was satisfied there was only her and Dove in the room she turned to face Dove again.

"Where are they?" Aly's face screwed up in concentration as she studied the windows. All of the small dingy windows were covered in thick glass with small handles to open them. None of the windows were large enough to fit a person through, not even a small child.

Doves eyes looked questioningly up at Aly's her teeth worrying her lower lip.

"Where are who Aly? Are you expecting someone to be here?" Dove looked at Aly questioningly, waiting for an answer.

"What? Oh, I had simply assumed that someone was coming, or was already here waiting." Aly smiled uncertainly in Dove's direction. Her eyes now focused on a needles point that looked odd somehow. Oddly enough very life like.

"Dove...." Aly peered at the large rug closer, seeing all the small details the person had included. She was awed by amazing work someone must have done.

"My mother made that shortly before she died." Said Dove quietly peering out the window.

"Is it concealing something, or ... someone?" Aly's face was screwed up in a grimace as she thought of a whole crew of soliders listening on their conversation.

"OHH!" Dove yelped and pulled herself away from the window. She bustled over to the needlepoint.

"This is why I brought you here! I had almost forgot." She grinned triumphantly.

"Is there something behind here, or a secret letter or something?" Aliannes eyes brightened at the thought of age old secrets concealed where people sewed more garments than they needed. Sewing was a skill, but never something thoroughly enjoyable to Aly. Her father, George of Pirates Swoop, had made certain she knew 'useful everyday skills'. Once her father had sent her a letter concerning women's sewing

"No one expects a women busy at her sewing to pay attention to what's being said around her. Never mind if a mans mother an sisters showed them they heard everything while they stitched, he'll still think a woman plies her needle saves all her brains for the work. You're a far better spy hemming sheets than if you clank with daggers." Page 284.

Being only fourteen at the time the letter was sent Alianne hadn't paid much heed but it made sense now.

Dove hesitated, and then sighed loudly. The air swirling visbly in the cold of the small room. She COULD and she WOULD tell Aly about the secret. It was too much weight for her shoulders alone, and Sarai wouldn't pay any attention to her ramblings as there was a new duke, or lord or something at the manor for the weekends time.

"Indeed. There is something hidden. But you musn't speak a word of it to anyone, not even Nawat or another maid." Dove worried her lip and contined, beginning with how she learned of the marvelous secret.

"I had been listening in on another one of the Duchess's meetings. It was with the latest noblemen come to visit. Sarai had taken an interest to him and wanted me to find out more. Winnamine and Duke Wakier, or something like that, had already had a few drinks. It was a few hours after dinner had been served and they were relaxing by the fireplace in the sitting room. I believe the Duke had had a few too many strong drinks and he was starting to slur his words together.
As their conversation continued he spoke of the reason for his trip. He related that Brochanu had spoken of some secret passageway or some form of secret room that Papa had hidden. Rumours had started that all the family's heirlooms and such from Mamma had been stowed away in secret and were waiting to be found and claimed.
Apparently the Duchess had heard enough and had him thrown out of the house entirely. Can't say I blame her though, how rude of him to be thinking of money when Papa is newly deceased."

Alys mind was whirring with ideas and plans for the secret place the Duke Wakier had described. Dove must think it was here, or had already have found it to bring her here. But where was it?

"Sarai always chooses the bad ones!" Alianne said lightly.

"Indeed but this time, her loss was OUR gain."

And with that Dove drew the exquisite needlepoint to the side to reveal a set of winding stone stairs. Where they led no one knew.

It is DONNNNEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Thank you for reading!