Disclaimer: No, Breezefire is not Mercedes Lackey, and sadly does not own the world of Valdemar, etc., etc… haven't you gotten the picture by now?
A/N: Another chapter! The plot should really get going here, I think. My reviewers are decreasing every chapter, so review, and make Breezefire a happy, happy fanfiction writer. Sorry for the delay, and if there are any typos, but I had to go to sleep and didn't have much time to edit. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Herald Kelsin: Thanks! Glad you think the description is all right, but I've been trying to add more. I love Greens so far, especially Treet, hopefully he'll gain some confidence! Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Fireblade: Thanks for reviewing. Yeah, I noticed my description slowing down… I'll try to keep it going this time. See if there's more, hope you like the new chapter!
Chapter 4- Poison
A blonde beauty was walking down the rugged cobblestone, dirt streets of the Lower City. Used to being spoiled at the Palace, the woman carefully avoided stepping in the gutters and alleys, and attempted to stubbornly remove herself from her surroundings, as she always did when she walked to her new home. Jaseen continued walking, distracting herself from her neighborhood by thinking of the fun she had that day.
Takril will help me with Larle, I'll go to Court every day to visit my old friends, and everything will turn out alright.
After navigating the alleyways of the slums, she found her tiny, but well-kept house. Jaseen walked around to the front, and halted suddenly, shocked at what she saw.
Her house had been taken apart; her wooden, stiff door had deep gauges in the wood, seemingly made by a knife. The lock on the door had been pried off, and the door was hanging off its hinges, half open. Inscribed permanently into the door were the words, "YOU WILL BE MINE."
Jaseen fearfully entered her small living space, searching urgently for her vindictive lover. When he was not there, she examined the room, and started, shocked. All of her possessions had been torn through, some taken, some just mauled. Her mattress had been ripped, old dirty rags scattered across the floor, and all of her nice robes were ruined. There were deep scratches from a dagger across her stone floor and her mattress, ripping across the furniture in her room.
My good possessions, everything: ruined! What if he comes back at night? Oh Star Eyed, what could happen?
Jaseen's mind collapsed, into an incoherent babbling mess. What if he comes back and Oh, I'm so scared! cycled around repetitively in her mind. When Jaseen was in terror, she always lapsed back to her support, her rock hard column of comfort.
Takril.
Jaseen scurried out of her room, her common sense lost amidst the fear scurrying around her skull. She sprinted through the small alleyways of her neighborhood, ignoring the pickpockets and thieves ripping fractions of her robe away. All that she was worried about was seeing her brother, and asking him for help. Her fear overcame all rational thinking.
Jaseen reached the Palace, after what seemed like an eternity. She barely got past the Guard, who was suspicious of her tattered robes. Jaseen had to prove her identity before she was permitted to enter the palace. Nearly sprinting now, and sick with terror, Jaseen ran up the stairs, and collapsed into her brother's room.
-- --
Takril was in his room, thinking about his dear sister's problem with Larle.
It hasn't escalated to a large problem, yet, but he could be dangerous for my sister. And another member of my family will never be hurt again! Jaseen should avoid him for a while. If he doesn't calm down, I will think about the problem again later.
Confident in his newfound solution, Takril relaxed, thinking about Ma'ar and his "solutions" for repairing the economy of the country. Ma'ar believed, and told the King, that the foreigners were at fault for all of the nation's problems.
The Kaled'a'in, especially, were guilty, for some reason unbeknownst to the rest of the nation. Takril's job that day was to copy out the orders to round up all Kaled'a'in and place them in small "holding camps" across the country.
What could be so bad about them? They are also people, after all.
Takril continued musing, until Jaseen barged into his room. She looked like she had seen a ghost, her skin even more pale than normally, and her eyes dilated with shock. "Takril, Takril, Larle broke into my house!" Jaseen gasped. "He took off my lock, and rummaged through all of my stuff, and I'm scared, Takril!"
Takril stared, dumbfounded. He had not expected Larle to go to these insane lengths to regain Jaseen. "Don't worry, kechara," Takril murmured. Takril was trying to fake being calm, to comfort his sister, but it never fooled Jaseen.
Jaseen could see that he was trying to pretend, but she could also feel his true emotions, as she always could. She could not spend more than an hour around people, and at parties she always had to leave and spend time alone. More than three or four people, especially angry or annoyed people, drove Jaseen mad. She had even considered becoming a hermit, but flirting with men at Court was her only occupation.
People always do this to me when they feel strongly about something. I feel like I am the one feeling the emotions… Oh, stop whimpering, listen to what your brother has to say! He can solve this mess, and maybe his anger will help.
Takril was burning inside. If someone had dared to threaten his sister, breaking into her house- he needed to be eliminated, and quickly.
I need to get rid of him. I will find a way to remove him from the Palace! He will never do this to my sister again!
"I will find a way to keep you safe, Jaseen," Takril murmured, barely quenching his fury. "Just stay here tonight, and tomorrow, and I'll find a way to make sure he never, ever does this again!"
Takril was not even bothering to hide his anger, now, his eyes almost glowing red with it. Jaseen could feel it emanating inside her skull, even stronger than before, so she backed away, approaching the crimson embroidered pillows on her brother's bed.
"Just stay here, sis. Don't leave. That is very important," Takril growled. "Understand?"
"Yes, yes," Jaseen murmured. "Don't be so angry, I'm sorry."
Takril felt guilty again. He knew his sister always had a keen knack for other people's emotions, and it grew stronger every year. "Sorry, kechara, I just don't like it when people threaten you. But, don't worry, I'll fix it."
Once again optimistic and confident, Jaseen laid on the bed. She barely heard the door closing on Takril's departing figure, because she was so lost amidst her own thoughts, and she slowly fell asleep, till past mid-day on the morrow.
-- --
Three sharp raps came quickly in succession on the door. "Open up! This is the Palace Guard, open up in there immediately!"
Jaseen slowly roused from her slumber. "Whaat?" Jaseen groggily murmured. "Who's there?" She glanced around. The windows revealed the outdoors, the midnight blue color of dusk, before true darkness. The sun was completely lowered under the horizon, but the moon and stars had not yet surfaced- complete black.
"Palace Guard, and open up immediately or risk serious consequences!"
Jaseen quickly ran to the door and propped it open, looking outside with curious fear. Three fully armed guards, with swords and clubs, were standing in front of the door. All three were tan, muscular and looked ready for a battle. They had short cropped hair, and cruel smirks appeared frozen upon their faces.
As if they were expecting a fight, they looked at her, scanning her quickly over from head to toe. Their faces sneered with contempt as they examined her ripped, decrepit robe and her scraggly appearance, and they laughed to themselves as they scrutinized their newest victim.
"Hello, Jaseen," the Guard uttered her name with the lowest contempt. "We have been searching for you at your home, but you have not been there all day, and we thought we may find you here." A guard sniggered under his breath as he looked at how much of her legs were visible under the ripped robe, but the leader elbowed him quickly and continued.
"You are being placed under arrest for the poisoning of your former lover, Larle. You dared to poison the assistant to Ma'ar. The assistant to the advisor to the King, may he live a long reign!" The Guard paused for a second, catching his breath, and then continued. "We know that you broke up with Larle, and he reacted badly, so you are our chief suspect for this matter." The Guard broke off for a moment, expecting a rejoinder from Jaseen, and he got one.
"What? There's no way!" Jaseen uttered shyly, scared of repercussions for her behavior. Her shy, timid nature contradicted her large figure, and the guards were whispering to each other with obscene comments about her. Jaseen ignored it and continued. "I've been sleeping in this room ever since I saw Larle this morning!"
The Guard's annoyance, cruelty, and lust entered Jaseen's mind, and she flinched away from the Guard's in disgust. She could feel the lust, and longing for bloodshed, pulsing inside her mind, and the urge to injure and kill. The Guard then answered her rejoinder with a triumphant response.
"Do you have any witnesses or other alibis, miss, because there is no proof of that," the Guard proudly responded. "There is absolutely no proof that you have not left the room, slipped poison into Larle's food, and returned!" The Guard grinned with arrogant pride at Jaseen, believing soundly that Jaseen had a rope around her neck, a collar from which she could never escape.
Oh, curses! I have no witnesses, I haven't seen anyone for the entire day, other than Takril. And they won't believe him, because he's my brother. And even he doesn't know if I've been wondering around the complex!
When Jaseen didn't respond, the Guards looked at each other and smiled, a triumphant smirk. "Then you will have to come with us, now. You will have a," the Guards smiled, "trial, tomorrow, but that probably won't be necessary to prove your guilt or innocence." The three sniggered at their own joke. "You will have to stay in the prison overnight, to make sure you can't escape. Enjoy your stay!" the Guard laughed, a low cruel chuckle, and grabbed Jaseen's arms, pulling her forward bodily. Jaseen was forced to follow, heading to a night in prison.
A/N: Sorry about the partial cliffhanger, but this seemed like a natural place to end. If you got here, please review. It would make me so happy! Hope you liked this chapter, sorry for the delay. Keep reading!
Wind to thy wings, Breezefire