Dedicated to Sammy, her baby horse, and her new dog! Toothy smiles!!
Chapter 13: Beneath My Mask
Kel stood in the shadows at the back of the courtyard, hidden behind a large stone pillar. Her shukusen was tucked discretely away, but within reach. Touching her mask carefully one last time to make sure it covered her face properly, she moved out from behind the pillar, into the courtyard.
The masks came as part of the costume, Ralph had gone for a traditional bird costume. She had to admit, the dress she wore was quite beautiful, it was brown and looked quite plain at first, but it's deep folds stirred as she moved, sparkling with a hundred shades of red, brown and gold when it caught the light. The embroidery on the bodice was subtle, but eye-catching. The mask was also brown, and framed with three large feathers on either side, which rose upwards.
Joren hadn't turned up last night, so she had been able to send a maid to fetch the costume in the morning without having to answer lots of questions from him. There had been a note pinned to it saying something about the costume symbolising the hidden beauty of one who looked plain on the outside. Kel hadn't known whether to blush or raise her eyebrows. Ralph hadn't exactly seen her face much, she had been wearing her mask the entire time, so he couldn't exactly know whether she was plain or beautiful. He hadn't talked to her for more than five minutes either, although she did feel like she knew him quite well. Surprising really, she hadn't clicked with someone like that for ages.
A hand touched her shoulder and she whirled around, a hand automatically going to the knife hidden at the back of her neck, underneath her dress. She couldn't be too cautious with Stevan looking out for her, in another attempt to embarrass and humiliate her.
It was Ralph, he too was wearing his mask. He grinned widely, and spread his arms in welcome.
"What, no hello?" He asked. Kel grinned and accepted the arm he offered.
"Hello good sir." She said, examining his costume. "You look…shiny." She added. He laughed.
"I feel shiny." He smiled wryly at her, and she raised an eyebrow. Shiny was an understatement, he could probably be spotted fifty yards away in this crowd. His costume was covered with sequins, feathers, thread of gold, nothing had been spared. When you got closer though, his costume just looked gaudy, the gold looked out of place, and slightly tacky.
Ralph saw her mouth twist in amusement.
"You don't have to be polite." He said flatly. "The costumes are a set, they're meant to symbolise something about too much flashiness being gaudy, and the inner beauty of those with humility. Kel pondered on this for a minute.
"So I'm the one with the inner beauty, and you're the flashy one who just looks stupid." She grinned at this as Ralph groaned.
"It's just a costume remember, it doesn't show our real personalities." He smiled dryly. "Personally, I think I'm quite beautiful inside."
"I'm sure you are." Kel said, hiding a smile.
"I know you mean that really. I know that deep down, you truly aren't a sarcastic person after all." Ralph replied.
Kel looked at what she could see of his face as they continued to saunter through the streets, bantering lightly. The carnival involved the entire city, and for just one day the palace gates were open for anyone, and they walked through the streets of the rich areas surrounding the palace.
Wearing this mask gave her a strange sense of liberation. It was as though whilst she was wearing it, she could do whatever she liked, be whomever she wanted, because no one would know.
That didn't mean that she would forget what she was here to do though. However charming this man, she was meant to be getting information, so that was exactly what she'd do.
*****
Keita stared down at the couple from the rooftop upon which she was perched. Slowly, she broke off another piece of bread, and popped it into her mouth, crunching it slowly, round and round as Rat watched her uneasily. Today he had black hair, and grubby, dark skin, average height and build - suitable for an inconspicuous servant. She swallowed with a gulp, and began to repeat the procedure, never taking her eyes from the woman in the beautiful brown dress, and the man in the gaudy costume who walked next to her, as they talked and laughed. Her face remained expressionless. Rat finally grew fed up.
"Keita!" He snapped. She looked up, started. "Will you stop watching those two like a hungry vulture. Kel knows how to handle herself. She will be fine."
Keita had the decency to look slightly abashed. She and Rat had been working as attendants at the ball the previous day, they had managed to get jobs serving the guests. After Stevan's announcement, they had both firmly agreed that they needed to be here today, to provide Kel with some extra backup, should Stevan...try anything. Of course, if Kel had known, she would have protested, wanting them to enjoy the day, not wanting to be a burden. Well, what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her conscience.
"Sorry", Keita mumbled, placing the bread down on a folded piece of cloth by her side. "I'm just nervous." She looked him in the eye. "You are too, no - don't pretend you aren't" she added when Rat shook his head. He sighed.
"I am anxious for them. You, my dear girl, are terrified. They are knights. That's why they were risked on this mission, because they can take care of themselves, and us. I mean," he snorted "it's not like they're brilliant at…spying, for lack of a better word."
"Why?" Keita asked, "What would you call it?"
He considered.
"Subtly-trying-to-stab-people-in-the-back-whilst-grovelling-on-hands-and-knees" Rat replied finally. Keita smiled wistfully.
"We certainly have done our fair share of stabbing and grovelling in our time, haven't we?" They shared a moment of silence, before returning their gazes to Kel and Joren, walking down below.
Rat's eyes widened as he saw Joren reach out and take Kel's hand. She smiled up at him and they continued to walk. Rat turned back to Keita. Her face was a blank mask, devoid of emotion, but when she spoke her voice cracked.
"They look like they're having fun, don't they."
Rat reached his hand out to squeeze Keita's.
"They'd have more fun if we were there." He said, trying to get her to smile. She gave a choked laugh. There was a pause.
"I wonder why he did it." Rat said finally. Keita raised her eyebrows questioningly, telling him to elaborate. "Why he asked her to come here. I mean, Joren doesn't know that he's with Kel, and Kel doesn't know that she's holding hands with Joren. And Joren doesn't exactly seem the type to just ask a stranger. Not unless he really liked her or something"
"Maybe he just wants a whore." Keita suggested. She was smiling again. They both knew that if all Joren wanted was someone to sleep with, Kel would leave him as a broken pulp by morning. Keita had taught her a lot in those gruelling lessons. Rat shook his head, grinning.
"He doesn't seem like that. Maybe if he were just bored, or if he just happened to be in an inn with a very suggestive girl, but, he actually asked Kel. And all they've done for the past-" He glanced at the large pocket watch laid in the dust between them, " four hours, is talk."
Keita opened her mouth to reply, but no sound came out. She pointed at the road a little way behind Kel and Joren. Rat leaned forward to get a better look. Two men were quietly following them down the street, being careful to remain hidden.
Silently Rat and Keita trailed them, creeping to the next rooftop.
*****
*thwack*
"Ow"
*thwack*
"Ow"
*thwack*
"Ow"
*thwack*
"O-"
"Hey mister!"
I looked up to see a street urchin with a disgustingly bright face staring at me. He walked forward cautiously.
"You drunk mister? cos, I've got some hangover cures" He indicated the inside of his tattered, to-small jacket. "Very reasonable prices." He looked at me hopefully.
I straightened, and glared down at him as well as I could in my bleary-eyed state.
"I'm punishing myself by hitting my head against a wall." I pointed out. He nodded.
"Yeh gets all sorts a freaks round here mister." He shrugged "Figured yeh was one a them Nobles."
I grunted.
"Cheatin on 'is wife" he prodded. "Probly runnin from the law, chasin afta your bel-oved mistress."
I raised my eyebrows, and focused on him, so that his image slowly became clearer. I groaned and slumped down again against the stone pillar. He reminded me of Owen of Jesslaw. Getting carried away on wild fancies about things which don't exist. Like romance.
Slowly, I delved through my purse, bringing out a single silver coin, which I held up. It glittered in the pale light, I swear, the kid drooled.
"Now you remember this child." I said slowly. "Remember that when your father's a bastard, and your sister's dead, and you've pushed away all your true friends." I paused. He was watching me as if I were talking about the weather. "Remember that when you haven't felt anything for months except for cold, remember not to invite out a girl from the largest and most powerful Scanran family, who would probably have your hide if they knew that you were really a spy trying to get quick information about people so that your country can defeat theirs with a minimum amount of blood spilt."
He nodded, still watching me, and comprehending nothing except that a shiny coin was being waved under his nose. I held the coin out to him, he reached for it and I snatched it away, disgusting myself with a small burst of malicious pleasure from inside me. That's what I've been reduced to, a man stealing candy from a baby and taking pleasure in it.
"Hangover cure first." I nodded at his jacket, "Then money."
He fumbled in his eagerness to get the bottle out of his jacket. Slowly, he handed it to me. I glugged it down as he watched, slowly, gulp after gulp. Then, I stood up and walked away, flipping the coin at him with a suitable amount of aloofness from a young noble.
He scampered away, and I continues walking, trying to get out of the labyrinth of streets which made up the Scanran slums.
The truth was, Ella had just been there at the right moment. She had been interesting. You don't get many girls who will simply allow you to come and sit down next to them whilst they're dangling their bare legs into a stream, and clearly doing some private thinking.
And I thought that maybe I could use her for something. Or failing that just have some fun if I'm in the mood later.
I knew that I wouldn't be in the mood, but it was nice to pretend.
As I walked on, I began to hear the familiar sounds of city life. I strode quickly, to get this day over with, so I could go back to my comfortable hating, and wallowing in self-pity.
*****
The bell chimed, jarring my still aching head, and announcing the carnival. A group of girls stopped to giggle and stare at my costume, I grimaced and walked away. Sequins and feathers really aren't my thing.
I scanned the crowd, shading my eyes with one hand, before spotting Ella. From a distance she looked dull, but as I got closer I saw that the colours suited her. She was wearing the mask, as so many other people were. That was good, if she took it off then I would be obliged to take mine off, and she may recognise me. Everyone was tempted by the reward Lord Stevan of Cranmoor had offered. His name echoed mockingly in my head.
I walked up to her, and put a hand on her shoulder. She whirled around, and reached for the back of her neck. I saw a glint of steel, which disappeared when she recognised me. A girl with knives. You don't get many of those around here. Suddenly my interest in Ella of Kishuvanderk grew. Assuming that was her real name of course; I couldn't see the Kishuvanderk family allowing one of their children to roam around with knives.
"What, no hello?" I asked, all charm.
"Hello good sir." she replied after surveying my costume carefully, her eyes lingering for slightly too long on certain parts of my body. I raised my eyebrows, but she couldn't see beneath my mask.
"You look…shiny" She added. Normally I would have laughed, but...I felt numb. My laugh was fake, but not obviously so.
"I feel shiny." I replied. If it had been anyone else I'd have snapped at them, but obviously, under this mask, I wasn't me. I was Ralph of Reynolds Hill, an upstanding, fine young gentleman, who most definitely didn't snap at young ladies.
Her mouth twisted in sheer amusement, and I noticed that she was wearing no face paint. Again, I couldn't see a Kishuvanderk girl meeting a man with no face paint. They were renowned for being the oldest, fustiest traditionalists, who believed that a women's sole purpose in life was to catch a man. I used to believe that too, until Allison came back to me. Her lips were a very nice colour though. Dark pink.
We continued to banter. I felt strangely comfortable with her. I don't mean that I liked her in that way or anything, it's just that she was treating me like a normal person, and I was acting like one. It's incredible what you can do when you've put on a mask. I was making funny jokes and laughing at them.
We walked along, stopping occasionally to talk to shopkeepers, look over wares. She didn't take her mask off, thankfully.
We were turning a corner, when I caught sight of two men following us. I picked up my pace, forcing Ella to follow.
I managed to manoeuvre our path so that we were walking into darker and smaller roads, which turned into alleyways, littered with couples holding hands and kissing. There were other people too, completely ignoring everyone else.
I noticed Ella blush at one particularly ardent couple who were leaning against a wall, completely engaged in their own activities. So, a naïve girl with knives. Or if not naïve then certainly not too experienced in the amorous arts. Definitely not a Kishuvanderk then. So what was her real name?
We were still walking, when I heard heavy footfalls a way behind us. She tugged my arm and we ran forward. It appeared that she had noticed the men too. We dodged around various people, who shook their fists after us. They parted for the men though, and then went back to their activities. It was okay to yell at two young nobles, but not to oppose big men with pointy sticks.
Ella and I stared around, there was no way we could get out of this maze of streets on time.
I strained my ears as she tugged my arm again. I could hear horses hooves. I turned and scanned the alleyway before me. Couples kissing, a few other people, a wagon waiting outside a tumbled down shop. But no horses.
Whumph
I felt an arm from behind me drag me up onto a horse. We kept galloping, as I clutched the woman's waist. Ella had been dragged onto a horse a little way behind me, sitting behind a man, and trying not to splutter.
The woman's dark hair streamed out beside my face. Keita, I realised. What the hell she was doing here I didn't know, but I didn't say anything, partly because I wouldn't be heard over the sounds of the horses, and partly because it may not be such a good idea to let 'Ella' know that I was familiar with out rescuers. I still wasn't sure who she was.
We reached a fork in the road, and as we paused we could hear horses chasing us. Rat, (whom I assumed the other man was. He was blond and very muscled. Being able to change your appearance at will must come in useful like that sometimes) and Keita glanced at each other.
"Split." Ella spluttered. I frowned as Keita whirled the horse to the left and kicked it into a gallop, Rat went the other way. Ella's voice had sounded different, familiar somehow.
The thought had no time to develop, as we reached a dead end. Our horse reared up, and whirled around. Keita and I dismounted hurriedly. There was a narrow opening covered by a strung cloth between two houses, and a ladder leading up to a series of balconies on the other side of the alleyway. I turned to Keita.
"We've got to split again." I said. She nodded. We heard the horse's hooves behind us again, and there was no time for talk. I ducked under the cloth, and started down the narrow path at a run. The men would just dismount and come after us. Sure enough, I heard pounding footsteps following me a few seconds later.
We ran through the web of streets. I started up a narrow, rickety flight of stairs, cut crudely into the side of a building, in an attempt to lose them.
It didn't work. I heard them coming after me as I leaped across the balconies, dodging around startled people. I continued running, until I noticed the ground beneath the balconies beginning to level out. Quickly, I scampered down the nearest ladder.
I kept running, thankful for my harsh Knight's training. Most people would have given up by now. I don't mean that in a vain way, I'm just stating a fact.
Gradually, the sounds of footsteps faded. I carried on running until they were completely out of earshot. Finally I stopped to lean against a post at the end of a dark lane, filled with kissing couples. I bent over and clasped my knees, breathing hard.
After a while I straightened, allowing my eyes to sweep over the kissing couples. Then I froze, and stared.
Kel was standing covered in feathers of all things, her back against the wall, her mouth pressed against Rat's, her hands in his hair. I felt my mouth actually drop open, and I just stood there, watching. Kel and Rat kissing. Kissing. And I couldn't look away, I just kept watching.
Watching as Steven's men came up, and grabbed me by the arms. Watching as Steven's men recognised them, and broke them apart, jeering. Watching as Kel was carried past me, her face flushed, her breathing heavy.
Then someone hit me hard on the back of my head, and my world went black, and I could watch no more.
*****
I just want to point something out. Joren still doesn't know that Kel is Ella and Ella is Kel.
Now, I'd like to start my usual overly-long note by saying that the next few updates will either be very close together, or very far apart. See, I have an Arabic GCSE in three months, which I'm going to fail, and in order not to fail too badly, I have to REVISE. *shudder*. Yeah, so all the revision I'm meant to be doing means NO FANFICTION for a while. But I should be back to at least one chapter a month by summer.
Now, I have a question. Do I put Kel's point of view at the beginning of the next chapter, or go straight to the next bit. I mean, do any of you want to know why Kel was covered with feathers? Why she was kissing Rat? Well, it's up to you.
Stee Parker: Heh, the evils of homework. Dragging us innocents away from out fanfiction. Thank you for the brilliant review.
Nawat Crow TIMES FOUR: Hey honey!! Happy valentines my friend!!!! La la la. Anyhoo. My stupid bold italic thing isn't working!! Hopefully it'll work on this chapter. And of course, if I ever in some alternate universe find a publishing company so desperate that they would actually publish my work, and let me have some money, you'd be the first person I'd send a free copy to. But I don't think that's ever going to happen *sigh* oh well!!
Siren Porter: Ner ner ne ner neer, I updated before you!! I'm sure your next chapter will be much better than mine, but what the hey. Wolfy is nice. I should make him blonde. With grey eyes. *drools*
Angel Street: I know the feeling. But I've learned now that whacking my computer with an axe is not the solution. It took me five times before I learned that. Anyway, thanks for the review. Heh, well done, now can you guess Keita's secret? Actually, scrap that, everyone already knows. Oh well. Hope you enjoyed!
Imperfectionist ;D :lol, go ahead and yell at them, they both deserve it, for making this chapter so hard to write. I must have rewritten Joren's bit about five times, and Kel's bit about three times.
La dame noire: lol, thank you. I'm glad you forgave me or I'd have had to grovel again.
SaNgUiNe SiStaR : I'm still laughing, your review was brilliant. Heh, love-hate relationships, they're all around us. Just look at me and my parrot.
Jess131346: You are forgiven my dear. And don't forget to bring the suicidal bunny book in next Monday!!! Or else I'll set my flying blue monkeys on you. Oh yeah, have you found out yet when the next book after Eragon is coming out. I've been looking, but I can't find a date anywhere! Jessie, you're always tired. And poo to you too.
Let me rest in peacke/SWELLIEEEE!!! : *sigh* but YAY!! The Cuckoo song rules!!!
Thank you especially to Mystic_Moon_Empress, liliannajane, erialis, Crowdove, momo, duck, lana, and rokjai. You all sent me reviews that were interesting, funny, flattering, and...original. Thank you!!
~Rowana Silvakisma~