Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters created by Tamora Pierce. But some characters are mine as is the plot. Please do not use them/it without permission.
AN: Again for people who do not read what they should at the end of my other chapter I am now calling Tatiana Tanya because that is who she is for the rest of the story. This takes place around the beginning of Squire. Thank you to everyone who reviewed. If you would like me to email you when I update just give me your email and I'll tell you when I've updated my story. Please review. If you have any story that you wrote that you want me to read just tell me. I review most of the story's I read and I hope you would do the same. Thank you again.
Death-by-moonlight- Thank you very much for reviewing. I am updating now. Lol. So no pouting. I am glad that you like it. And if I get more reviews I will update sooner. (hint, hint to anyone reading this.)
Arcander- Thank you too. I'm telling you in this chapter. Yes, I agree, updating is good. So are reviews. So thank you for them. I like shiny things too. ^_^
silversunemily- Thank you for the suggestions. I am going to bump up the rating. I could have sworn that I did make it PG-13 but I guess I was wrong. Sorry. And ok I will make her older. (If you re-read the first chapter the ages are changed.) But she could have gone hunting with her father. My friend did at that age. But anyway ya I maintain that the button is Lavender and therefore purple not blue so ha. Sorry. Anyway thanks again.
zella - Thank you for reviewing. If you re-read the first chapter the ages are changed. I am glad you think my work is good. I love positive reviews. I don't mind constructive cristism but I hate just plain mean people.
AN: Ok here it is: Chapter Two. (Any long segments in italics are something that happened in the past.)
Tanya woke up to the smell of fresh bacon sizzling over the fire. She yawed widely and tumbled out of her bedroll. Master Palani was no where to be seen and Griffith was cooking. She looked around and saw Kylaia dressed in lavender silk, practicing her punches. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes she winced. Her hands were still smeared in dried blood and covered in cuts. Warm hands grabbed hers. She looked up into the Griffins yellow eyes. He had a small tube of paste and began methodically rubbing it over her hands. Tanya looked at them amazed as the cuts became smaller and less painful.
When he was done he wrapped the right one in bandage. "I don't want you to get any infection in the large cut in the palm," he explained. She nodded and her continued. He fastened the bandage and she pulled her hand back. Tanya moved it seeing what she could do with it wrapped up. She smiled. "Thank you." When she stood up she cried out in pain. Her feet were so torn and bloody she could barely stand. He came back with more paste and gauze. The Griffin slathered it over her feet and wrapped the bandage around it. Then he slipped a loose pair of leather boots over it. "Try standing now," he ordered. She stood up and smiled. Tanya could stand. It was still a little painful but nothing like it had been. Her grin widened. Then she frowned. "Where's the privy?" He pointed to a small clearing 50 yards away. She nodded and set out in that direction. "If you see anything that shouldn't be there just scream and yell for us," he called after her. Tanya waved at him and kept walking.
The trip was uneventful and when she returned breakfast was ready. Kylaia had stopped her exercises and was wolfing down sausages and pheasant eggs. Master Palani had returned from wherever he had disappeared to and was eating slowly. "Here," the Griffin handed her a plate of food. "Thank you." Tanya had some much trouble with her fork she switched to her left hand. She blushed. "Could you please cut it up?" she asked. "I can't hold a fork and knife at the same time," she explained; pointing to her bandaged hand. Kylaia laughed. "Here youngling, I'll do that for you." They finished eating in silence as Tanya recalled her argument with her parents.
"Absolutely no," raged her mother. "I forbid you to do any such thing." This had been right after another argument about Tatiana going to learn Shang or to the palace to be a knight. "Those stupid Mindelins, letting their daughter do that. Now all the girls want to. One female warrior was bad enough but now we have two in this be-damned country," her mother had screamed at her. "I will not let my daughter be the third. You are a daughter of the house haMinch. You will grow up a lady and marry a good husband. And none of this Shang nonsense. They are all peasants who have learned how to fight." At this point Tatiana had cried and said she would run away. She was locked in her room, with nothing but a plate of food. "I will be Shang," she told her self desperately. "I will." That night she made a rope out of her sheets and climbed out through the window. She had been running through the forest to the nearest town when she had found her cave and the bandits had found her.
Tanya shivered as she recalled her parents rage at the life she had wanted. "I will be," she muttered fiercely. "I will."
Kylaia raised her eyebrows. "What's that little one?" Tanya gave her an imploring look. "Please teach me," she begged. "I'll do anything you ask. Anything."
Kylaia sighed and looked at Griffith. He shrugged. Kylaia groaned. "Why do these things always happen to me?" she muttered. She looked at Tanya her face serious. "If I decide to teach you it's not going to be easy. And if you slack off at all then I'll drop you off at the first town we get to."
Tanya jumped up and hugged her. "Thank you, thank you," she shouted. Shrugging Tanya off Kylaia stood up. "If we are going to do this we might as well start now." For the next hour and a half Kylaia taught Tanya how to punch. It was very different from what her father and brothers had taught her. She had to hit with her first two knuckles. The Unicorn made her spend the whole time practicing one punch properly. When they were done they packed up and began walking. When Tanya groaned Kylaia gave her a warning look. "Any comments or complaints besides groans and you're gone," she warned. Tanya immediately shut up and stood straighter. As they walked Tanya listened to the birds singing. She walked faster to catch up to Griffith. "Why are there birds out already? It's only just past Midwinter." He looked startled and shrugged. "No idea. But it may be because they are traveling south. I've never heard of them traveling this late in the year but it's a possibility."
Around noon they came to a deserted camp. Tarak Palani searched the nearest woods searching for their privy. It was a good indication of how long it had been since they had been here. Kylaia went to the fire and sifted the ashes with her hand. She yelped. "It's still hot at the bottom. They must have left this morning."
"Look," Griffith pointed to two hastily thrown carcases of hares. "They must have left in a hurry not to dispose of these." Looking at Tanya he said, "They were probably the ones who attacked you. After Kylaia dealt with them they must have wanted a quick getaway." Tanya paled and stumbled. "That's okay, right?" she asked weakly. "They left and we can just keep on going." Kylaia shook her head sympathetically. "No, I'm sorry Tanya but we must follow them." When Tanya started crying Kylaia hugged her. "What would you do if they got another young girl and I wasn't there to save her? If we follow them now we can stop them from hurting any more women."
Tanya nodded dumbly and Kylaia nodded to Tarak and Griffith who began tracking the bandits. By dusk they had reached a rocky ridge. Stepping around the sharp granite they lay on their stomachs to look at the scene below them. The bandits had stopped barely a half a mile outside a small town. They kept their cooking fires small so as not to attract the attention of the villages and their horse's hooves were wrapped in linen to mask any sound on the rocky ground. "They mean to attack tomorrow," Tarak said in rough tones. Tanya looked at him, startled. It was the first time she had heard him speak. His voice sounded as if he did not use it much. Griffith nodded. "Probably at dawn before the village is awake. It's so small they could hit quickly and silently and finish their killing and looting before they can send any message out." Kylaia looked determined. "Then we will stop them." Standing the Unicorn brushed the rock dust off of her tunic. "We go around them and get to the village before dawn. Even walking that shouldn't take long." When Tarak started to protest she held a hand up. "There are too many to take on by ourselves. And besides," she added," what would happen to Tanya if we were to be killed?" Tarak nodded but looked as if he didn't care what happened to Tanya one way or another. They led the horses down a rocky path on the opposite side of the ridge than the bandits.
By the time they reached the town Tanya was asleep on her feet. They were led to an inn where Tarak and Griffith immediately started a conversation with the towns Mayor. Kylaia led Tanya to a small room they were to share. Inside was a small table, a small closet and two small beds. Tanya sat on one and gasped when the mattress sagged down. Kylaia laughed. "I haven't gotten your story out of you yet youngling, but if you're not accustomed to a saggy mattress you must have been higher caste than I thought." Pausing for a second she added an afterthought, "Though by the condition of the clothes you had at first and those stupid shoes I should have guessed you were a higher caste." Tanya gave her a stubborn look that said she wasn't going to tell the Unicorn anything.
Kylaia laughed when she saw Tanya's face. "All right, you don't have to tell me now. I can wait." In a more serious voice she added, "stay here. I have to go talk with the Mayor and Tarak and Griffith. Don't leave this inn or even this room except to go to the privy unless we say so or the place is on fire." Tanya gave a small nod before she drifted off to sleep.
A few hours later she was awoken by Griffith. "Come on Tanya," he said. "The bandits have attacked. The village was lucky they had our warning and had time to prepare but they still need our help. It's a very small place," he added. She nodded and got up, following him. When they reached the street she saw the bustle and action. People were hurrying in one direction or another. She stayed close to Griffith glad for his tall figure that hid her from the sight of most.
He took her up onto the outer wall of the small town and they looked out at the scene that lay before them. The bandits, not expecting any attack, had hastily built a small shelter to protect them from the arrows and sling stones being flung at them. Every once in a while one of them would come out quickly and run back to avoid the ammunition being flung at him. The Griffin pointed to a longbow. "Can you use that?" he asked. Picking it up she tested its weight and balance. "Yes."
"Okay then, you have a weapon. Stay up here and fire at any of them stupid enough to come out." Nodding she grabbed a quiver and notched an arrow. He patted her back and ran down the stairs. She stood watching the hut for any movement. When she saw the man she recognized as Jayden she shot at him with all the anger that she had retained from a couple nights ago. Her arrow found its target in his arm and he fell screaming in pain. Laughing she notched another arrow. So intent on her goal she didn't notice that they had gotten a battering ram to the front gate and had almost broken through. When she heard screams coming from that direction she turned her head.
She began screaming when she saw bandits pouring through the gate. Forgetting her bow –and the Shang warriors- she ran towards the southern gate, the only escape she could see. As she ran she tripped over loose chickens and broken childrens toys. Suddenly Tanya was knocked over and pushed into a deserted cart. The sharp, broken wood cut deep into her leg and she screamed in pain. Tears streaming down her face, she ripped a piece of her tunic off and hastily bandaged it to stop the bleeding. Clutching her leg she continued to run. Looking behind her she could see the boss that had tried to rape her forcing himself on a child's mother while the child looked on in horror. While the bandit leader worked the woman she yelled at her child to run. Tanya ran back and grabbed the child, running with her while the woman shrieked in pain. But in her haste to save the child she hadn't realized that some of them had come around behind her. They grabbed her and the child and the last thing she remembered before she plunged into unconsciousness was the child's agonized screams.
~*~
Kylaia ran through the street to the wall where Griffith had left Tanya. When she got there she saw only a deserted bow and a few men still shooting desperately at the few bandits that remained in the fields. Yelling her frustration she heard a scream not unlike the one she had heard two nights ago before rescuing Tanya. She raced off in the direction of the screams. Hearing her name being yelled behind her she stopped and turned. Griffith caught up with her. "We must help Tanya," she told him. He nodded and they ran off. When they got closer to the screams they saw a woman lying on the ground with her skirt halfway up and blood all over her dress. Feeling the woman's neck Kylaia felt no pulse. Cursing softly she looked up and saw a circle of the men standing not far away. Nodding to Griffith they circled them and began to do their thing. Man after man fell to their blows. She heard a large man mutter, "not 'er again," before her kick sent him sprawling. Most of the men were lying on the ground, dead or unconscious, before the rest of them ran. What they didn't realize was that Tarak was waiting for them. His broadsword spinning madly he chopped them down as swiftly as he could.
Knowing he could deal with it himself she ran into the middle of the circle of men. A young girl lay there along with Tanya. Tanya's leg was trickling blood through the hastily wrapped bandage and luckily for her the cut on her head wasn't too bad. Griffith came over and picked her up. She stirred slightly in his arms and opened her eyes. Tanya, seeing who held her, smiled. "I knew you would save me."
Griffith grinned back. "That we did youngling." She looked around and her stomach heaved when she saw the hacked up remains of some of the men Tarak had dealt with. Tanya leapt out of his arms and began barfing. His hands patted her back reassuringly. "It's all right little one. If we hadn't they would have gotten you."
Tanya nodded. "I know. I know. It's just… so much blood."
"Can you walk?" Testing her legs she nodded. "Alright then. I'm going to carry that poor girl over there and we can walk to that house over there, understand?"
"Yes."
"Ok start walking because you might be a little slow. And," he added as and afterthought, "if you see any more bandits drop to the ground before they see you and pretend you are dead. If that doesn't work scream and yell like you're mad."
"I can do that."
"Good, now go," Griffith told her." He went back and retrieved the child. Following the direction Tanya had taken he saw her lying on the ground doing what he had said while some bandits torched houses. Getting a better grip on the young child he ran back to where Kylaia and Tarak were piling the dead men's bodies. "Kylaia they are coming back," he told her before as he gave her the child. "I have to go and get Tanya." He ran back to where she had lain and silently picked his way through the debris towards her. "Child wake up. It's me Griffith." She looked up, still wary. "Let's go," he whispered. Picking her up again they made there way as quickly as they could without attracting any attention.
When they reached the spot where Griffith had left Kylaia Tarak took Tanya from Griffith. They hurried off as quickly as they could towards the south gate. When they reached the woods Griffith took out more of his healers balm and rubbed it on her leg and head. He also put some more on feet. She had forgotten her feet had ever been hurt. When he had the last of the bandage off her eyes widened. Whatever healer made this balm knew what they were doing. Only the deepest cuts still remained and her feet were completely unscarred. He smiled. "They have healed nicely." Calling to Kylaia he said, "remind me to thank Alanna again for her wonderful balm." Waving a hand to acknowledge what he had said Kylaia kept on with her work. Tanya gaped at him. "Alanna the Lioness? You've met the Kings Champion? That Alanna?"
Grinning at her amazement he said, "yes that Alanna. We have met many times."
"How?"
"Well you have heard the story of Liam Ironarm the last Shang Dragon correct?" When she nodded he continued. "Well when he died I had just been made the Shang Griffin. I was only 15 or so. Kylaia had just been made the youngest Unicorn ever. She was only 14. When we heard of his death and how he got there we decided we had to meet this Lioness for ourselves." Laughing at her open-mouthed stare he resumed his story. "Any way we met her and have been friends ever since." Looking thoughtful he added, "and for learning our fighting at 20 she is quite good at it."
Now she looked thoughtful. "Then you're almost 34," she exclaimed. "And Kylaia is almost 33." He laughed. "Yes youngling, we are ancient."
She blushed. "That's not what I meant."
"I know youngling, I know." When he finished bandaging her head and legs she stood up testing them. "Thanks again," she told him. "Your welcome."
Kylaia came over. "Come on you two. We are going back to see what's left." Tanya turned whiter, if possible but nodded. "Brave young thing aren't you?" the Unicorn remarked. Tanya nodded. They through the forest back in the direction of the town with Kylaia leading and Tarak bringing up the rear. They had reached the main street when they heard the sound of hoof beats. "Wait here," Kylaia ordered as she walked off.
Tanya stood and looked around. The hoof beats got louder and she turned in the direction of them when she saw a large black gelding rearing in front of her. Its hooves were dangerously close to her head and she screamed before she was plunged into darkness.
~*~
AN: Ok there you have it. Chapter two. It's a cliffy. Hehe. Hopefully it won't take me too long to get Ch. 3 up. (more reviews mean faster updates, hint hint) Thank you for reading. Please review. (Just press the little Lavender "go" button.) If you want me to email you when I update then give me your email in your review or tell me you want me to and I'll get it from your stats. Thanks.
Saharian
Today is all you have,
Live life while you can,
For tomorrow is a mirage that
may never become a reality.