Disclaimer: Not only am I penniless (all my money goes to gas and occasionally candy, which makes me happy because gas prices were down this weekend yay!!!!) but I don't own anything from Tortal, that concept is owned by the illustrious Tamora Pierce.
A/N this is my favorite part of writing fics (talking to my wonderful readers, I love you all) but since this is the first chap I won't ramble too much, any way the premise is that this kid shows up right after the whole Jon becoming King thing. Town's in turmoil and George takes an interest in the oddity. More info on why in later chaps anyhow here it be….
Gill stood in a corner of the Dancing Dove and observed the Rogue. Gill had come to Corus just after Prince Jon's coronation. In the aftermath of the upheaval on that day Gill had joined the scum of the city without notice or remark. Now she had insinuated herself into the court of the Rogue.
It was apparent from the poor service, as well as the somber mood that the rumors of the old barkeep being murdered were in fact true. Gill generally liked to check such rumors herself though. She was about to go when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Yer a bit young to be hangin' round hereabouts lassie," a gruff voice told her.
"I ain't," she retorted twisting away from her assailant, "sides, I was jus leavin'."
"The Rogue wants ta speak ter ya," he stated steering her toward his table.
"I don't wanna speak ta 'im!"
"You'd best keep out a matters that don't involve you then hadn't you missy?"
Despite her protests Gill was soon seated across from suave rogue.
"Hello there youngling, can I get you a drink?"
"Yer offerin' me a drink? What's the catch?"
"No catch," he said and then hailed a besieged looking waitress, "A lemonade for the lass," the server nodded and scurried off to fetch his order, "Now then, I haven't seen you about, who are you?"
"What's it to ya?"
"I have a vested interest in knowing who the people in this city are; I also find your sudden appearance very strange in light of recent events. So I ask you civilly once more… who are you?"
"M' name's Gill, and I won't tell you aught else!"
The lemonade arrived and Gill pushed it away scornfully. She stood to leave but the man who had brought her over blocked her escape.
"Th' Rogue asked ya a question lass, I suggest ya answer it."
"Aw! To the underworld with people an' their questions! Ah'm leavin'!"
"Take her upstairs please Vash; I'm sorry girl, but I can't trust coincidences like this if I expect to keep my head firmly attached to my shoulders."
Vash propelled the struggling Gill out of the main room and up some stairs to a well appointed room. Gill tried her best to escape, but it was futile. In the end she was forced to wait for the Rogue in his rooms. She dreaded her private audience with the king of the thieves. He didn't give her much time to work herself into a panic though.
Within moments of Vash bringing her there the Rogue himself entered the room.
"Alright, Gill, where are you from, why are you here and what exactly are you trying to pull?"
"Ah'm from somewhere you've prob'ly never 'eard of, 'm 'ere cause I 'eard a person can live 'is own life hereabouts an' ah'm not tryin' to pull anythin'!"
"Where are you from?"
"Gala."
"What about your family?"
"Dead."
"Are you a thief?"
"Only when I gotsa ta be."
"Alright then, how old are you? And don't lie I'll know it," as he added that a glow surrounded him, he was a magic user, Gill shrunk away from him in fear. She snapped her mouth shut on a lie and stared at him, "Answer the question," he said.
"nine," she growled.
"Who on earth lets a nine-year old travel about on her own?" he fumed
Gill didn't try to answer that, she didn't want to tell a magic user anything about herself, "What're you so afraid of huh? Speak up child; I'm not going to hurt you."
Gill didn't answer. Just because he'd know when she lied didn't mean he couldn't do so himself.
"Alright then, I suppose you want to be let out onto the street?"
Gill nodded warily.
"Well I am not sending a defenseless little kid out there. You got a weapon?"
This question visibly shocked her, "a weapon, me?" she squawked.
"Yes, knifes or the like?"
Gill just stared.
"I'll take that to be a no. Alright then, judging from your reaction you wouldn't know how to use a thing I could give you."
"Yer a magic-man," she muttered numbly.
"You're afraid of magic girl?"
That precipitated a nod.
"Did someone with magic hurt you?"
No response.
"Okay, so you won't talk to a magic man? I barely have the tiniest touch of Sight, not real magic at all … I suppose I should take you some place safe to stay though."
George pondered what he could do with a nine-year-old kid. Letting her go back onto the streets would have been stupid. If she could defend herself then it was a risk she could choose to take, without those skills he might as well kill her himself and keep her from worse harm. He also knew that his rooms weren't safe, just because the conspiracy against the prince had been revealed didn't mean that all the co-conspirators had been apprehended.
"Alright Gilly, I am taking you to my mother. She will take care of you for a while. I don't know why magic should scare you or what you're really in Corus for but I have one more question before we go, and you must answer it; do you intend harm to me or mine?"
Gill shook her head and then added in a very small voice, "no sir."
"Very well then," he went to the door and held a whispered conversation with Vash. The other man left and the glow of magic around the rogue disappeared. Gill came out of her fearful stupor and glared poisonously at George.
"Wha' do ya want wit' me?" she spat.
"Nothing, my interest is in keeping my people safe; as I see it you, dear girl, are either one of mine or a threat to them seeing as you're a street kid and all."
"Yeah right, yer all th' same, sound sweet but yer not…" she snapped her mouth shut as if she had been about to say something and then thought better of it.
"You know, you don't look like any Gallan I've seen, you sure that's where you're from?"
Gill didn't respond to that or anything else he said and shortly Vash returned. George had him bring her downstairs and load her onto his horse then he got up behind her and set out for his mother's house.
Eleni Cooper was awake when her son once more came pounding on her door.
"What've you brought me this time foolhardy boy?"
"A street kid. She hasn't any weapon or the skill to use them and she was snooping about the inn," George guided Gill into the house.
"Hello there, what's your name?" Eleni asked.
Gill stuck out her chin defiantly and refused to answer.
"Her name is Gill mother, she isn't best pleased with me or by extension with you. I've got to tend my horse, take her in hand?"
"Oh, shoo shoo shoo, I know how to take care of a kid, tend to your beast," Eleni shooed him out of the house. Gil started to bolt but a cautionary glare from Eleni stopped her short, "I get the impression you and I are going to be spending a good deal of time together Gill."
Gill glared at her.
"I suppose you must have heard about the king's coronation?"
"I 'eard about it. So what?" Gill asked angrily.
"It casts your sudden appearance into rather dubious light for George. He has many people depending on him and just as many are trying to bring him down. After all this calms down I'm sure he would be more than happy to let you lark off and do whatever you please. In the mean time it isn't safe for you or us to have you running loose."
A/N okay if anyone likes this I will finish it if not then there isn't any point. I hope you do like it though, if so drop me a review and it will be completed, I make it a point to complete everything I post so anyway I will now skip to the part where I once more shamelessly grub for reviews…. PLEASE?