Hey everyone! Sorry this chapter took so long! I've had trouble writing it.
I know what's gonna happen next, but this in-between chapter was a tough
one to get out. Tell me if it's kinda... blah. And remember Read&Review!
***
Daine woke well after noon the next day. It wouldn't have surprised her if
she had slept longer, she was so tired. The only thing that had woken her
up at all was a giant rumble that had come from her stomach. Gamal had been
kind to her last night, sending her wonderful dreams of her home. She lay
in bed, trying to fall back into those wonderful dreams for a time, before
finally giving in to the daylight.
She sat up carefully, trying not to disturb a monkey who had mischievously found its way into her covers. After slipping on a pair of un-dyed breeches and a blue shirt, Daine made her way downstairs for breakfast.
She found the common room empty and welcomed the silence, still groggy from sleep.
"Someone was a bit sleepy en', wasn't she?" the plump innkeeper asked as Daine sat down at a table by the window. Daine blushed and replied, "I've hade a fair long journey mum'."
"Haven't we all." She shook her head, eyes unreadable. "Will you be wanting some early supper? You've just missed the noon-day meal."
"Sounds good to me, but could you hold off the spices this time, Ms..." Daine paused in question.
"Oh dearie me, I haven't rightfully introduced myself. I'm Miss Sadinga!" then remembering Daine's other question, she continued, "What, you didn't like my cooking?" She stepped back as if offended.
"No, no mum, I meant no offense, it was delicious, all I could hope for after the dreadful stuff I've been eating for the past few weeks (Ms. Sadinga smiled at the praise). I'm just not sure my mouth can handle it. People back home aren't as friendly with their peppers. I'm Sarra." Daine said quickly to calm the woman.
"Oh, good then Sarra, I'll go easy on you poor tongue. Be back in a jiff!" she bustled away.
"You know, here it's an insult to question a woman's cooking," an amused voice said from behind Daine.
She turned quickly and found herself looking into a pair of deep brown eyes. These she soon discovered belonged to a young raka woman who standing by the door behind her. She had been so quiet that Daine hadn't even noticed her there.
"I wasn't aware," Daine said coolly, hating to seem ignorant, especially in front of strangers. The girl was tall and solidly built, looking a couple of years younger than Daine. She sported short black hair which was tied back neatly in a horsetail. A smile played on her full lips as she shook her head at Daine. Her nose looked as if it had seen better days and a thin, noticeable scar, trailed above her right eyebrow.
"Didn't mean to anger you, just wanted to let you know," she said, sensing the defensive tone in Daine's voice, "Portshe Sadinga's an old friend of mine. She's very sensitive of about her food, you see."
Daine nodded, and turned away, not letting her guard down. She knew nothing about this girl. One slip of the tongue could give everything away. Ms. Sadinga quickly returned and placed a steaming bowl of soup in front of Daine.
"There you are, just like you asked. I'll be right over there if you need me," she said gesturing to a room right past the stairs leading to Daine's room. She turned to leave and ran right into the girl standing in the doorway.
"Pardon me," she began before her breath caught in her throat. She stared in open disbelief at the girl who stood before her with a grin showing through the calm look on her face.
"How?" was the only word the woman could muster in her shock.
Now the girl was grinning out right. "Hello Aunty, why don't we go talk?" she asked and led the stammering innkeeper to the back room she had indicated before.
Who was this strange girl that said she was the innkeeper's niece? Daine would have to keep an eye on her if she stayed around here. Something told her that those deep eyes didn't miss much. She began to slowly slurp her soup. Folks were strange around here. Looking out the window, she watched as people scurried here and there. Every so often, a carriage would fly by, barely giving the unsuspecting people in the streets enough warning to dive out of the way and avoid being crushed. Then they would get up, brush themselves off and continue on their way as if nothing had happened at all. City folk were definitely an entirely different breed of two legers.
***
Before Daine knew it, the sky out side was beginning to darken. Leaving money behind for her room and food for that day, Daine set out once again for the palace to meet Nightwhisker. She made her way quickly through the rapidly emptying streets. As she neared the place where she had met the energetic cat yesterday, she could easily sense him, tense with anticipation.
I thought you would never come! He said jumping up into her arms, demanding to be scratched. So how are you going to come with me through the palace? Surely someone will notice a big two legger like you!
I just have to not be a two legger then, she said, ducking under the sheltering leaves of the willow tree where they had talked yesterday.
Hahahaha, you are as silly as a kitten. How do you plan to not be a human? Nightwhisker asked amused.
Daine grinned. I'm not silly! You'll see what I mean, just wait.
Quickly she began to remove her clothes as she prepared to shape shift. The only complication of this incredible talent was that if she were wearing clothes when she changed forms, they would not reappear when she returned to human shape. This had caused many embarrassing moments in the past and the last thing she wanted was to have to run through the streets of Rajamaut naked in a mad dash back to the inn. By removing her clothes first, she could just change back into them after.
Taking a deep breath, she emptied her mind of everything except a memory she had of a cat from back at the palace. As she concentrated she could feel her body begin to change. The fur sprouted first, shooting out of her skin as though it had been there all along. Next her ears grew and changed into those of a cat. Her hearing increased by a ten-fold. She could hear Nightwhisker anxiously twitching his tail next to her, the wind slightly stirring the top leaves of the tree, the marching feet of soldiers, yards and yards away. Quickly, the rest of the changes occurred and Daine stood finally on all fours, a cat.
I like you much better this way, Nightwhisker commented, coming over to her. Daine had turned into a slender brown and black feline. Humans are funny looking.
Daine laughed as her incredible night vision allowed her to see him give her a good sniff over.
Come on, let's go! He finally said, hurrying out of the shelter of the tree and into the streets. The two cats quickly made their way to the Palace.
***
The guard captain yawned loudly before quieting down to listen to the bells that were chiming. He eagerly counted the chimes to himself in hopes that they would relieve him and his men from guard duty. One, two, three, ... They had been on duty since one bell past dawn and already he was seeing some of the newer men asleep on their feet. It had been a long boring day...Four, Five, Six. He swore vividly upon discovering that his shift would not be over for another hour. Several men farther down along the wall could be heard doing the same. The King was crazy to have them work such long shifts. Shoulda been a carpenter like ma said, he thought, closing his eyes for a moment picturing the quiet life that he might have if only he hadn't run off and joined the palace guards when he was sixteen. He was so caught up in his daydream that he didn't notice the pair of cats that skipped stealthy through the gates and onto the palace grounds.
*** Please review!!! I know a lot didn't happen in this chapter, but the next chapter shall prove to be very interesting...
She sat up carefully, trying not to disturb a monkey who had mischievously found its way into her covers. After slipping on a pair of un-dyed breeches and a blue shirt, Daine made her way downstairs for breakfast.
She found the common room empty and welcomed the silence, still groggy from sleep.
"Someone was a bit sleepy en', wasn't she?" the plump innkeeper asked as Daine sat down at a table by the window. Daine blushed and replied, "I've hade a fair long journey mum'."
"Haven't we all." She shook her head, eyes unreadable. "Will you be wanting some early supper? You've just missed the noon-day meal."
"Sounds good to me, but could you hold off the spices this time, Ms..." Daine paused in question.
"Oh dearie me, I haven't rightfully introduced myself. I'm Miss Sadinga!" then remembering Daine's other question, she continued, "What, you didn't like my cooking?" She stepped back as if offended.
"No, no mum, I meant no offense, it was delicious, all I could hope for after the dreadful stuff I've been eating for the past few weeks (Ms. Sadinga smiled at the praise). I'm just not sure my mouth can handle it. People back home aren't as friendly with their peppers. I'm Sarra." Daine said quickly to calm the woman.
"Oh, good then Sarra, I'll go easy on you poor tongue. Be back in a jiff!" she bustled away.
"You know, here it's an insult to question a woman's cooking," an amused voice said from behind Daine.
She turned quickly and found herself looking into a pair of deep brown eyes. These she soon discovered belonged to a young raka woman who standing by the door behind her. She had been so quiet that Daine hadn't even noticed her there.
"I wasn't aware," Daine said coolly, hating to seem ignorant, especially in front of strangers. The girl was tall and solidly built, looking a couple of years younger than Daine. She sported short black hair which was tied back neatly in a horsetail. A smile played on her full lips as she shook her head at Daine. Her nose looked as if it had seen better days and a thin, noticeable scar, trailed above her right eyebrow.
"Didn't mean to anger you, just wanted to let you know," she said, sensing the defensive tone in Daine's voice, "Portshe Sadinga's an old friend of mine. She's very sensitive of about her food, you see."
Daine nodded, and turned away, not letting her guard down. She knew nothing about this girl. One slip of the tongue could give everything away. Ms. Sadinga quickly returned and placed a steaming bowl of soup in front of Daine.
"There you are, just like you asked. I'll be right over there if you need me," she said gesturing to a room right past the stairs leading to Daine's room. She turned to leave and ran right into the girl standing in the doorway.
"Pardon me," she began before her breath caught in her throat. She stared in open disbelief at the girl who stood before her with a grin showing through the calm look on her face.
"How?" was the only word the woman could muster in her shock.
Now the girl was grinning out right. "Hello Aunty, why don't we go talk?" she asked and led the stammering innkeeper to the back room she had indicated before.
Who was this strange girl that said she was the innkeeper's niece? Daine would have to keep an eye on her if she stayed around here. Something told her that those deep eyes didn't miss much. She began to slowly slurp her soup. Folks were strange around here. Looking out the window, she watched as people scurried here and there. Every so often, a carriage would fly by, barely giving the unsuspecting people in the streets enough warning to dive out of the way and avoid being crushed. Then they would get up, brush themselves off and continue on their way as if nothing had happened at all. City folk were definitely an entirely different breed of two legers.
***
Before Daine knew it, the sky out side was beginning to darken. Leaving money behind for her room and food for that day, Daine set out once again for the palace to meet Nightwhisker. She made her way quickly through the rapidly emptying streets. As she neared the place where she had met the energetic cat yesterday, she could easily sense him, tense with anticipation.
I thought you would never come! He said jumping up into her arms, demanding to be scratched. So how are you going to come with me through the palace? Surely someone will notice a big two legger like you!
I just have to not be a two legger then, she said, ducking under the sheltering leaves of the willow tree where they had talked yesterday.
Hahahaha, you are as silly as a kitten. How do you plan to not be a human? Nightwhisker asked amused.
Daine grinned. I'm not silly! You'll see what I mean, just wait.
Quickly she began to remove her clothes as she prepared to shape shift. The only complication of this incredible talent was that if she were wearing clothes when she changed forms, they would not reappear when she returned to human shape. This had caused many embarrassing moments in the past and the last thing she wanted was to have to run through the streets of Rajamaut naked in a mad dash back to the inn. By removing her clothes first, she could just change back into them after.
Taking a deep breath, she emptied her mind of everything except a memory she had of a cat from back at the palace. As she concentrated she could feel her body begin to change. The fur sprouted first, shooting out of her skin as though it had been there all along. Next her ears grew and changed into those of a cat. Her hearing increased by a ten-fold. She could hear Nightwhisker anxiously twitching his tail next to her, the wind slightly stirring the top leaves of the tree, the marching feet of soldiers, yards and yards away. Quickly, the rest of the changes occurred and Daine stood finally on all fours, a cat.
I like you much better this way, Nightwhisker commented, coming over to her. Daine had turned into a slender brown and black feline. Humans are funny looking.
Daine laughed as her incredible night vision allowed her to see him give her a good sniff over.
Come on, let's go! He finally said, hurrying out of the shelter of the tree and into the streets. The two cats quickly made their way to the Palace.
***
The guard captain yawned loudly before quieting down to listen to the bells that were chiming. He eagerly counted the chimes to himself in hopes that they would relieve him and his men from guard duty. One, two, three, ... They had been on duty since one bell past dawn and already he was seeing some of the newer men asleep on their feet. It had been a long boring day...Four, Five, Six. He swore vividly upon discovering that his shift would not be over for another hour. Several men farther down along the wall could be heard doing the same. The King was crazy to have them work such long shifts. Shoulda been a carpenter like ma said, he thought, closing his eyes for a moment picturing the quiet life that he might have if only he hadn't run off and joined the palace guards when he was sixteen. He was so caught up in his daydream that he didn't notice the pair of cats that skipped stealthy through the gates and onto the palace grounds.
*** Please review!!! I know a lot didn't happen in this chapter, but the next chapter shall prove to be very interesting...