Disclaimer: You know I don't own! Quit bugging me about it!
Ah...I LOVE you guys! Your reviews boost my day up 250%! *huggles all reviewers and gives cookies*
Silvervine: Yay! I am happy!
Cerulean Sky: Ew! Her and Wendell? Bleh. Aw! I love your review! I'm in a happy mood, can you tell?
Vreader: OK, you get Banana Cream Pie cause you're special.
Kasiebee: Good night!
Snowfire the Kitsune: I really doubt anyone in the Misty section would choose "a"...I mean, look at Van and Stef! (And of course, everyone loves Firesong...)
Darkfyre: Dead in the black-that's exactly what they are. Meep! I haven't been reviewing? I've been reading...I'll go review.
Kierseth: You never know...
LeopardDance: Here's your update! Not the Puppy Eyes of Doom!
Hawk-sister: Thankees!
Announcement! Liluye is officially shay'a'chern! Anyone who flames me will have Shi'na'in proverbs recited at them till 4 in the morning! By Rrissa! And I know from experience that you'll wish you were dead!
Muse responsible: Rrissa!
Onto the story! Several days later.
-----------------------------------------------------------
I whirled my twin axes in my hands and lunged at my opponent, who slid to the side and jabbed at me with a knife.
It was a hot, dry day in the practice yard, and I was already panting from the effort. My trainer barked a harsh laugh. "Tired already, girl? You wouldn't last long on a battlefield."
This trainer, Sabre, was known for her sharp knives and sharper tongue. No longer suited to a battlefield, she kept her skills and tongue well- sharpened on the recruits.
"Put some back into it, farmgirl!"
Axes moving furiously, I executed a tumble-roll desperation counter I hadn't known I'd remembered-and disarmed Sabre.
Sabre looked at her knifeless hand, shrugged, and delivered a half-strength right hook to my chin before I saw it.
"If you'd been in a fight, you would've gone down right there," said Sabre.
"Right, now, stay there Liluye. Helia, Leon-try the three-on-one move again."
Helia and Leon obediently moved forward. Helia unsheathed her long, slender rapier and Leon took his short-sword and dagger combination.
Raising my axes, I moved to take "point."
Sabre took her own practice-sword and attacked.
I dodged forward, then to the side as Leon and Helia moved in to try the pincer move.
Sabre reversed and headed for Helia with a barked, "Use your imaginations, hillbillies!"
I had an idea. :Featherhead! C'mere and do a play-fight blow on trainer!:
Moments later, in which I was "killed" and Leon was "wounded", Kree came stooping out of the sky with a battle-screech and did a mock-blow at Sabre's head.
Helia "killed" Sabre as she tried to fend off Kree.
Sabre glared at me. "Well, you said use my imagination!" I said innocently, letting Kree land on my arm and scratching his crest.
Sabre granted me a bare nod, then barked at Leon, "Watch your lower guard!" and laid into him.
Yawning, I launched Kree back into the sky, said, :Thanks featherhead...: and sat on one of the benches.
--------------Two candlemarks later------------------
Having bathed and changed my clothes, I decided to go look around Wandersrest, having never actually seen the town itself. Picking up my money pouch, I belted it on, then, hesitating, added a long knife. [Haven't been training with this...ah well, I'll be all right.]
Making a mental note to tell Sabre that I needed drilling in kinfe- fighting, I meandered through the main base and through the training yards into the town itself.
I could tell at a moments glance that many of the people who walked along the streets were Wanderers or former Wanderers-the latter because they were often missing eyes or limbs, and the former by the way they moved.
I noted the merc's way of moving. Watching one man walk down the street, I could even tell that he had been trained by Sabre.
[Huh. I'm getting better at eyeballing and giving a surface judgement.]
Looking up at one of the inns with the Wanderer's banner over it-I was right, those were owned by former Wanderers-I decided to enter.
The inn was very clean and well-kept, with brightly burning lamps around the walls at regular intervals, not to mention windows. The atmosphere around here was relaxed and cheerful. Looking around, I saw people-again, mainly Wanderers-sitting at what seemed to be informally designated spots.
Obviously, this inn had been here a while.
A server came up to me and said in a slightly squeaky voice, "Welcome to the Lone Hawk inn, founded 15 years ago right when the Wanderers created their base. Would you care for a drink?"
"Sure," I said, still looking around.
This seemed to be a very popular spot for Wanderers. [Well, it would be, as the first inn here...and it's well-kept, too.]
The server handed me a beer, and I gave her three coppers, now scanning the crowd for familiar faces.
Necia was sitting at the end of one of the tables near the hearth, plowing her way through a meat pie. Looking up, she waved and called through a mouthful of pastry, "Liluye! Sit!"
I strolled over and sat. "Good inn?"
"Very good," said Necia, swallowing her pie. "I discovered this place a few weeks ago, before you came around...it's expensive compared to other places, but the food and beer is well worth it, and it's always peaceful. The innkeeper used to be a Wanderer, and the lack of one eye doesn't hinder her if she has to toss folks out the door."
I laughed and took a swallow of my beer.
It was surprisingly good-far better than in most taverns. I instantly decided that this would be one of my frequent stops.
Necia had another bite of her pie, then said, "This is actually my second pie...maybe I shouldn't have ordered two, but I'm full. Want it?"
In answer, I reached over and stole the remaining quarter of meat pie away from her and started to eat. The pie was rabbit, perfectly cooked and spiced a bit oddly, but that only complemented the flavor.
Necia laughed.
After watching me eat for a few minutes, she said, "I'll never forget the look on Sabre's face when you said she had told you to use your imagination..."
I laughed through a bite of pie.
Swallowing, I said, "So, where are you from?"
Necia replied, "I'm a city girl...I was born in Throne City in the lowest parts of town. My father owned an inn...I realized the life wasn't for me after being bored out of my mind serving beer, so I left and joined the Wanderers. You?"
I washed down a bit of pie with beer and said, "Well, I was born on a farm. The farm is officially owned by my grandfather, though it'll pass to my father eventually, but my two uncles live there as well. It's quite a large farm-all of us work the fields, but I'm one of the youngest. A few years ago, there was that blizzard early in the fall-remember?" Necia nodded. "Anyway, we had practically no food left, and I realized that if it happened again, there'd hardly be enough to feed us all."
"A few of my other siblings and cousins have left over the years-mostly to the army, but Kendra went to White Winds and Jemmy went to be Healer- trained. To compress a few years into one sentence, I realized I was really bored, farming wasn't for me, and I left."
Necia replied, "Most of the mercs I know want land-sounds like you want to get away from farming."
I snorted. "I never said that-though I have had about enough of it, come to think about it-if I survive being a merc, what I'd like to do is start an inn."
Necia looked around. "Well, you'll have competition if you try in Wandersrest...this inn has settled quite firmly into its niche."
"This is now, that's later," I remarked.
"Too true," Necia agreed, "Now, to change the subject.."
The gleam in her eye gave her away. "What's the first thing you notice in a man?" asked Necia.
I heaved an inward sigh, concealing it by taking a sip of beer. "That they're men." (AN: Actual answer from my friend!)
Necia frowned at me. "No, I mean-well, I always fall for eyes," she sighed.
I raised an eyebrow. "And this relates to inns...how?"
Necia kicked me. "So, what do you notice?"
"Other than that they're men? No, don't answer that. Um...the way they move. Whether or not they're mercs. Who trained them, if they're Wanderers."
"The ones trained by Sabre do move a certain way, don't they?" agreed Necia.
She frowned again. "Quit changing the subject! Are you completely unromantic?"
Unbidden, the image of Helia's laughing face when I told her one of Kree's blunt comments about people-a fat merchant, this time-came to mind.
"No, I wouldn't say that," I replied slowly.
"Good. I won't have to orate long speeches about romantic gestures at you until you beg for mercy, then," said Necia, mischief in her eyes.
"Noooo...anything but that..." I groaned.
Just then, Leon meandered to our table and sat down. "Hey, ladies."
Both Necia and I aimed blows at him.
All three of us cracked up as Leon squeaked, but I was wondering what was wrong with me.
--------------------------------------------------
Poor Liluye...
~Fireblade K'Chona
Ah...I LOVE you guys! Your reviews boost my day up 250%! *huggles all reviewers and gives cookies*
Silvervine: Yay! I am happy!
Cerulean Sky: Ew! Her and Wendell? Bleh. Aw! I love your review! I'm in a happy mood, can you tell?
Vreader: OK, you get Banana Cream Pie cause you're special.
Kasiebee: Good night!
Snowfire the Kitsune: I really doubt anyone in the Misty section would choose "a"...I mean, look at Van and Stef! (And of course, everyone loves Firesong...)
Darkfyre: Dead in the black-that's exactly what they are. Meep! I haven't been reviewing? I've been reading...I'll go review.
Kierseth: You never know...
LeopardDance: Here's your update! Not the Puppy Eyes of Doom!
Hawk-sister: Thankees!
Announcement! Liluye is officially shay'a'chern! Anyone who flames me will have Shi'na'in proverbs recited at them till 4 in the morning! By Rrissa! And I know from experience that you'll wish you were dead!
Muse responsible: Rrissa!
Onto the story! Several days later.
-----------------------------------------------------------
I whirled my twin axes in my hands and lunged at my opponent, who slid to the side and jabbed at me with a knife.
It was a hot, dry day in the practice yard, and I was already panting from the effort. My trainer barked a harsh laugh. "Tired already, girl? You wouldn't last long on a battlefield."
This trainer, Sabre, was known for her sharp knives and sharper tongue. No longer suited to a battlefield, she kept her skills and tongue well- sharpened on the recruits.
"Put some back into it, farmgirl!"
Axes moving furiously, I executed a tumble-roll desperation counter I hadn't known I'd remembered-and disarmed Sabre.
Sabre looked at her knifeless hand, shrugged, and delivered a half-strength right hook to my chin before I saw it.
"If you'd been in a fight, you would've gone down right there," said Sabre.
"Right, now, stay there Liluye. Helia, Leon-try the three-on-one move again."
Helia and Leon obediently moved forward. Helia unsheathed her long, slender rapier and Leon took his short-sword and dagger combination.
Raising my axes, I moved to take "point."
Sabre took her own practice-sword and attacked.
I dodged forward, then to the side as Leon and Helia moved in to try the pincer move.
Sabre reversed and headed for Helia with a barked, "Use your imaginations, hillbillies!"
I had an idea. :Featherhead! C'mere and do a play-fight blow on trainer!:
Moments later, in which I was "killed" and Leon was "wounded", Kree came stooping out of the sky with a battle-screech and did a mock-blow at Sabre's head.
Helia "killed" Sabre as she tried to fend off Kree.
Sabre glared at me. "Well, you said use my imagination!" I said innocently, letting Kree land on my arm and scratching his crest.
Sabre granted me a bare nod, then barked at Leon, "Watch your lower guard!" and laid into him.
Yawning, I launched Kree back into the sky, said, :Thanks featherhead...: and sat on one of the benches.
--------------Two candlemarks later------------------
Having bathed and changed my clothes, I decided to go look around Wandersrest, having never actually seen the town itself. Picking up my money pouch, I belted it on, then, hesitating, added a long knife. [Haven't been training with this...ah well, I'll be all right.]
Making a mental note to tell Sabre that I needed drilling in kinfe- fighting, I meandered through the main base and through the training yards into the town itself.
I could tell at a moments glance that many of the people who walked along the streets were Wanderers or former Wanderers-the latter because they were often missing eyes or limbs, and the former by the way they moved.
I noted the merc's way of moving. Watching one man walk down the street, I could even tell that he had been trained by Sabre.
[Huh. I'm getting better at eyeballing and giving a surface judgement.]
Looking up at one of the inns with the Wanderer's banner over it-I was right, those were owned by former Wanderers-I decided to enter.
The inn was very clean and well-kept, with brightly burning lamps around the walls at regular intervals, not to mention windows. The atmosphere around here was relaxed and cheerful. Looking around, I saw people-again, mainly Wanderers-sitting at what seemed to be informally designated spots.
Obviously, this inn had been here a while.
A server came up to me and said in a slightly squeaky voice, "Welcome to the Lone Hawk inn, founded 15 years ago right when the Wanderers created their base. Would you care for a drink?"
"Sure," I said, still looking around.
This seemed to be a very popular spot for Wanderers. [Well, it would be, as the first inn here...and it's well-kept, too.]
The server handed me a beer, and I gave her three coppers, now scanning the crowd for familiar faces.
Necia was sitting at the end of one of the tables near the hearth, plowing her way through a meat pie. Looking up, she waved and called through a mouthful of pastry, "Liluye! Sit!"
I strolled over and sat. "Good inn?"
"Very good," said Necia, swallowing her pie. "I discovered this place a few weeks ago, before you came around...it's expensive compared to other places, but the food and beer is well worth it, and it's always peaceful. The innkeeper used to be a Wanderer, and the lack of one eye doesn't hinder her if she has to toss folks out the door."
I laughed and took a swallow of my beer.
It was surprisingly good-far better than in most taverns. I instantly decided that this would be one of my frequent stops.
Necia had another bite of her pie, then said, "This is actually my second pie...maybe I shouldn't have ordered two, but I'm full. Want it?"
In answer, I reached over and stole the remaining quarter of meat pie away from her and started to eat. The pie was rabbit, perfectly cooked and spiced a bit oddly, but that only complemented the flavor.
Necia laughed.
After watching me eat for a few minutes, she said, "I'll never forget the look on Sabre's face when you said she had told you to use your imagination..."
I laughed through a bite of pie.
Swallowing, I said, "So, where are you from?"
Necia replied, "I'm a city girl...I was born in Throne City in the lowest parts of town. My father owned an inn...I realized the life wasn't for me after being bored out of my mind serving beer, so I left and joined the Wanderers. You?"
I washed down a bit of pie with beer and said, "Well, I was born on a farm. The farm is officially owned by my grandfather, though it'll pass to my father eventually, but my two uncles live there as well. It's quite a large farm-all of us work the fields, but I'm one of the youngest. A few years ago, there was that blizzard early in the fall-remember?" Necia nodded. "Anyway, we had practically no food left, and I realized that if it happened again, there'd hardly be enough to feed us all."
"A few of my other siblings and cousins have left over the years-mostly to the army, but Kendra went to White Winds and Jemmy went to be Healer- trained. To compress a few years into one sentence, I realized I was really bored, farming wasn't for me, and I left."
Necia replied, "Most of the mercs I know want land-sounds like you want to get away from farming."
I snorted. "I never said that-though I have had about enough of it, come to think about it-if I survive being a merc, what I'd like to do is start an inn."
Necia looked around. "Well, you'll have competition if you try in Wandersrest...this inn has settled quite firmly into its niche."
"This is now, that's later," I remarked.
"Too true," Necia agreed, "Now, to change the subject.."
The gleam in her eye gave her away. "What's the first thing you notice in a man?" asked Necia.
I heaved an inward sigh, concealing it by taking a sip of beer. "That they're men." (AN: Actual answer from my friend!)
Necia frowned at me. "No, I mean-well, I always fall for eyes," she sighed.
I raised an eyebrow. "And this relates to inns...how?"
Necia kicked me. "So, what do you notice?"
"Other than that they're men? No, don't answer that. Um...the way they move. Whether or not they're mercs. Who trained them, if they're Wanderers."
"The ones trained by Sabre do move a certain way, don't they?" agreed Necia.
She frowned again. "Quit changing the subject! Are you completely unromantic?"
Unbidden, the image of Helia's laughing face when I told her one of Kree's blunt comments about people-a fat merchant, this time-came to mind.
"No, I wouldn't say that," I replied slowly.
"Good. I won't have to orate long speeches about romantic gestures at you until you beg for mercy, then," said Necia, mischief in her eyes.
"Noooo...anything but that..." I groaned.
Just then, Leon meandered to our table and sat down. "Hey, ladies."
Both Necia and I aimed blows at him.
All three of us cracked up as Leon squeaked, but I was wondering what was wrong with me.
--------------------------------------------------
Poor Liluye...
~Fireblade K'Chona