Disclaimer: I forgot to put this on last chapter! I am here to dispel any strange ideas that that since there was no disclaimer last chapter, I might be Mercedes Lackey, or try to sue me. I am NOT Mercedes Lackey, sadly, but I love reading her works and so I am writing a story set in her world right now, to amuse myself and other readers only.
A/N: Finally, the eighth chapter! I'm sorry for the long time between updates. As I told you in Chapter 7, I was away in Europe, and I had a great time! Unfortunately, although I had a wonderful time, I also had no computer access. I got 2 new reviewers last chapter, Sarah and The Evil Cadet! Thanks to all of my reviewers, you keep me writing! Getting on to the review responses, then the new chapter. I hope you all like it!
Fireblade K'chona: Yes, I do remember that part in the books. I've read that part about 20 times, to make sure I'm staying true to canon…and I will stay true, unfortunately for Jaseen. I've already got that part kind of planned out…but it's not happening quite yet. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Herald Kelsin: Now she has a semi-friend…Autumnblade isn't very comfortable with her yet, as she is an outsider girl, not a Kaled'a'in, and he is very cautious around outsiders…but hopefully he'll loosen up! The Guards are going to end up doing some pretty bad stuff to Jaseen (see above to Fireblade), unfortunately, and I have to write about it. Silly staying true to canon, poor Jaseen. Anyways, hope you like the new chappie, the Guards don't do much in this chap.
Sarah: A new reviewer!!! ::large hug:: You reviewed…twice? I feel loved! Thanks, I'm glad you like it so far. I feel bad for Jaseen too, and there is worse to come, but she will get out. I'm updating now, I hope you like the new chapter!
The Evil Cadet: Another new reviewer! ::gigantic hug:: I'm glad you like it! I loved the Black Gryphon, personally, it was one of my favorite Valdemar stories. For your two requests: I'm updating now! And, I'll try to write longer chapters. For some reason, though, it's difficult for me to write nice long chapters…but I'll try! I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 8: Attempts
"So," Jaseen murmured, taking her lips away from his, "now tell me that information you said you had about the Court. The conversation you overheard? I need to know," she said, rubbing her hand along his leg.
The man did not respond, running his tongue along her cheek and kissing her throat. Jaseen pulled away sensuously, meeting his eyes, and repeated, "I need to know about the Court, Shesmil, for my sake." Disappointed, Shesmil pulled away from Jaseen and looked her in the eyes, as he put his hand on her arm softly.
"I don't know a thing about the Court, or treason, or Larle, princess," Shesmil said.
Jaseen responded, "What? But you said…"
Shesmil interrupted, "I would have said anything to get you in my cell. That was fun, wasn't it, kechara? Hey, don't go…" he said, as Jaseen stood up, turned her back on him, and walked towards the exit. "Come back anytime…" Jaseen exited the cell, slamming the door angrily behind her.
Another prisoner interviewed, another liar who didn't know anything about Ma'ar. Am I ever going to find information for Autumnblade, so he can find information for me and get me out of this horrid place?
Jaseen had a nagging feeling that both Autumnblade's mysterious case of treason, and her case of poisoning, were intertwined. After all, both cases were mixed with the mysterious confusing swirls surrounding the Palace Court, the waves and ripples undecipherable to outsiders. Larle and Ma'ar were deep within those unreadable currents, and it was hard to discover anything about the Court within the palace prison. Jaseen thought that the two prisoners would rise together, or fall together.
Not that I would mind falling anywhere, with him by my side…
As happened almost every time she thought of the Kaled'a'in envoy, Autumnblade, Jaseen's cheeks took on a harsh shade of red, a crimson blush that seemed to be painted upon her cheeks. The red slowly receded, as she was escorted back to her cell, where the door was clanked shut.
Jaseen turned around, looking in her cell, and spotted a man with gorgeous, long black hair, brilliant blue eyes, and sharp, tanned cheekbones sitting down, waiting patiently for her in her cell.
Autumnblade is here.
Happy at the thought of company, especially company with Autumnblade's name, Jaseen sat down, eager to talk to Autumnblade, exchange information, and discuss their dilemma.
Perhaps do more than just talk…
Jaseen looked into his eyes, waiting patiently for him to begin the discussion. After a few moments of silent contemplation, he did.
"Have you discovered anything to help our cases today, Jaseen? Because I, most certainly, have not, unfortunately to say, although I have attempted to," Autumnblade told her ruefully. "At this pace, we are unlikely to discover anything within the next two moons, and after that time, any discoveries will not help my corpse." Jaseen nodded, affirming, and Autumnblade continued into a religious fervor, which Jaseen could not relate with or truly comprehend.
"If the Star-Eyed wishes it, of course, I will die," Autumnblade said easily. "But She is not one to save my life if I do not attempt to salvage my own soul from the hanging noose. Only if I try with all of my will and soul will the Star-Eyed help me, and only then in small ways, as none of our lives are worth very much in the big picture of the world, although I value my own."
With Autumnblade's small speech, Jaseen fully realized the differences between the two of them. The Kaled'a'in man who Jaseen loved truly believed in religion, the Star-Eyed, and a force Jaseen could not yet comprehend. He placed his life, his trust, his heart in his goddess, something which Jaseen did not understand.
He can believe whatever he wants…it's so implausible, and what are the chances of a deity truly existing? If it helps him survive here, however, so be it.
Jaseen said nothing, looking into his star-struck blue eyes, his pupils seeming to tilt upwards, his eyes and thoughts lost amidst the stars. Suddenly, he looked down again, saw Jaseen there, and seemed to remember his train of thought.
"Sorry over the interruption," Autumnblade said. "To continue, I have discovered nothing about the Court. No information on who could have poisoned your old lover, or any reason why a vague comment about Ma'ar could have landed me in the Royal Prison. I take it you have not either…" He continued when Jaseen nodded her head in sad affirmation. "Then we must continue to investigate."
Jaseen looked at him, then placed her hand on his arm and softly stroked it. "We can't do anymore investigating today, Autumnblade, and we still have a little more of our mark together here in your cell," she said. She rose up from where she was sitting, across from him, and moved next to him, laying her head softly upon his shoulder.
Surprised, and shocked, Autumnblade moved away. He said, "Yes, but we must spend every mark possible considering how we can get the two of us out of this horrible prison, and we may do it better if we are separated." He stopped and nodded his head to the Guard, who opened the door and came in to retrieve Jaseen. "I will see you at dinner, I believe, Jaseen." Disappointed, she rose from the floor and walked out of the cell. The Guard quickly slammed the cell door and walked beside her, grabbing her arm.
"You're not going back to your cell for a little while, sweetling," the Guard murmured into her ear. "Come with me." He pulled her arm by force, Jaseen half walking, half dragged behind his strong body. They were heading for the front of the cells. The Guard and Jaseen were very close to the door in the front of the cells, when the Guard took a left turn, pulling Jaseen with him. However, they only took a few steps before the door was noisily opened and banged aside, revealing another Prison Guard.
The new Guard saw Jaseen and the Guard dragging her, and said loudly, "Delped, is that you?" The Guard holding Jaseen's arm nodded roughly, and the other Guard continued. "They want you up at the Court, to discuss the prisoners or something." Delped gestured at Jaseen, who he was still holding, and the Guard said, "Don't worry, Delped, I'll bring her back to her cell. Go, quick!"
Delped gave Jaseen a menacing glare, and said softly, "I'll get you alone with me soon, I promise. Later." He let go of her arm, leaving her with the Guard, and Delped ran up the stairs quickly. The Guard escorted Jaseen to her cell. Jaseen's entire body was shaking, and her mind was terrorized by her very close call.
Too close. How am I ever going to avoid the Guards, for goodness sake? That's nearly impossible, in a Prison!
Jaseen made up her mind to try to avoid Delped from now on. None of the other Guards seemed to have their mind set on her. It was only luck that had saved her from Delped's desperate attempt to get under her robe.
The new Guard nearly threw into her cell, closing the door. "No dinner, tonight, prisoner, you're too late," the Guard said. "Eat a big breakfast tomorrow!" The Guard laughed easily as he walked away from her cell, but the laughter seemed kind compared to Delped's menacing, echoing chuckle.
Jaseen lay down on the floor of her cell. Suddenly, her hunger and thirst rushed into her brain like a flood, since she had nothing to eat since breakfast. Exhausted, Jaseen attempted to fall asleep but couldn't, her mind wandering around in the mysteries surrounding her case, and why neither she nor Autumnblade could discover any clues to help them out.
If it has to do with the Court, though, why does Prtif feel guilty?
Jaseen had not thought of Prtif's mysterious feeling of guilt for a couple of days, but now she remembered and was exceedingly curious.
I need to see him. If I can talk to him, and sense his emotions one more time, I will know what I need to know.
Jaseen called out to the Guard, who was walking away at a very slow pace. "Excuse me, Guard?" The Guard turned around and walked back to the door of her cell, peering at her curiously.
"Could I request a message to one of my friends at the Palace to come visit me? His name is Prtif, he's one of my oldest friends."
"I'll see what I can do. If you're lucky, perhaps he will come visit you," the Guard responded. "No more requests, you're not in a hotel, beautiful. Night, now." The Guard walked away, leaving Jaseen with hope and unanswered questions.
I hope Prtif comes. If he did it…
Jaseen broke off, her brain rebelling at the thought of her longtime friend murdering someone.
Even if he did murder him, wouldn't he at least tell me?
Her thoughts drifted to her other friends. Larlai, and her dear brother Takril. Their faces appeared in her mind, drifting amidst her thoughts. Jaseen felt like she hadn't seen her three closest friends in eternity.
Why haven't they visited me, or tried? Prtif and Takril didn't even come to my trial! Don't they care?
Jaseen, who had been teetering on the edge of an emotional cliff since the trial, broke. Tears poured down her cheeks like a waterfall, as Jaseen put her head in her arms and sobbed. She forgot about her predicament, her crush Autumnblade, and the cruel prison guards-all she wanted at that precise moment was for her friends and brother to rescue her. The moment passed, leaving Jaseen exhausted and spent, but her grief was still there. It had been released for a moment, but some was still pent up inside of her, ready to break.
Jaseen felt better after the release of her tears. She stopped thinking about her grief, and laid down to sleep, although her dreams were not joyful and her sleep was not restful, her hope had been laid into the future. Today's attempts had failed, but tomorrow's may succeed. Jaseen fell into a deep sleep.
A/N: The end of another chapter! Shorter than I would have liked, since I'm trying to make my chapters longer, but that's all you're getting this time. Thanks for reading, I hope you still like my story! Please review, I'll hopefully update within a week!
Wind to thy wings, Breezefire