Hey… *looks around suspiciously* where'd Kalasin go?
Hmm… *looks through document*. Kalasin has disappeared and slunk off to wait for Chapter 15. Geez, that's a long time before she comes back.
Does Danel constantly make new moon discs to replace the ones he uses?
Yes.
Will there be fluff in the near future?
Near future? *looks through document again* Well, not for another handful of chapters, no. But there will be fluff and feathers eventually.
Will you ever publish anything? When you get famous will you dedicate your first book to us loyal readers?
I do have some original pieces that I've had my computer for a long time and that I haven't touched since I started to write fanfiction. With writing fanfics and school, I find it hard to also write original novel-length works. But, who knows, maybe I'll take a break from fanfic writing and decide to continue my original stories. And maybe somehow get them published. *writes a note to herself: dedicate first published work to readers from ff.net)
Will we see the girl again? And were they giving away money at the end? And does it matter that the others will find out she's a girl? And will they from the lullaby she sang last chapter?
The girl may make an appearance towards the end of the fic. Since I haven't gotten there yet, I'm not sure. And yes, they were giving away money. And I suppose it doesn't really matter, but knowing that Nobles' Bane is a group of two men and one female will make it easier for them to be found (since the nobles have been looking for a group of three men). And no, it will not get around that Vistra is female. (the little girl is very fond of secrets, don't you know…)
Why don't the nobles execute slaves until they catch NB? And does NB have to be so mean to the soldiers? I mean, they're only following orders…
A trap, eh? Well, the trap is set… in this very chapter.
Are you going to kill Danel?
Shh… that's a secret… Well actually, I do know that someone will die. I haven't decided who.
Author's Note: Yes, well after using eight chapters to set up a background and setting, we're heading in for the real thing. The start of the plot. *the 'seatbelt' sign attached to the ceiling (like in airplanes) starts to blink on and off* Oh yes, and we get to meet Lady Clarine (whose hubby is Nathan) and another new noble in this chapter.
9. A Puzzling Circumstance
Nobles' Bane: Chapter 7
"I'll juggle one more if you reward me with a kiss."
Vistra smiled indulgently as she finished off her soup. "I highly doubt that the cook will appreciate your dropping his cups."
The servant girl with whom Danel was flirting with giggled. "It's all right. Those cups have been dropped lots of times." She looked at Danel coyly. "Are you sure you can juggle one more?"
Danel was juggling three cups leisurely as he sat on his stool. "I'm willing to try," he said.
Vistra shook her head. The rake. She knew as well as he that he could easily juggle six objects.
The servant girl, a pink blush spreading over her pale cheeks, handed Danel another cup. But instead of taking it, Danel stopped juggling. He caught the three cups one by one while they were still in mid-air and placed them lightly on the table before him. And then he took the girl's hand and brought it up to his lips.
Before Vistra could make an amused comment, she saw some motion by the kitchen doorway. Axe stood there, pointing first at her, then over his shoulder.
Vistra slipped off her stool and joined Axe outside. "What's the matter?"
"I've heard that there's to be a beheading."
"Oh? Here?"
"No," Axe said quietly. "In Corus."
Vistra's breath caught. "When?"
"Two days hence."
They were hardly a day's ride from the capital; they could make it. If they wanted to go.
"We've just left there. I will understand if you decide not to go. But I just thought I'd let you know."
Vistra smiled up at the older man, seeing his concern for her in his brown eyes. Axe had always supported Vistra; he was her silent defender. "It's not like we've never turned back in such situations before. Let's go."
"Are you sure?" he asked her steadily.
Vistra glanced over her shoulder at Danel and the giggling servant girl. She laughed quietly. "That rogue, seducing every bar maid we meet." She turned to glance at Axe, raising an eyebrow. "He hasn't quite finished his fun here, but I'm going to enjoy telling him we've got to leave."
~*~*~
The young woman was a pretty little thing, with bouncy light brown curls and soft green eyes. Her cream colored skirt extended fully from her curved waist, a crimson ribbon decorated her pale throat. A small basket hung from the crook of her elbow, and her lady's gait was almost too steady to be called dainty.
A man sudden lurched out from behind a corner and grabbed the woman's wrist with a thick hand.
The woman cried out and almost stumbled. Her basket dropped to the street.
The drunken man leered at the frightened young woman. "What's a pretty young lady doing out by herself so late? Perhaps I should accompany you." He started to pull her closer towards him, his other hand reaching out to capture her free one.
"It's not that late, jerk," a new voice cut in from behind. "Now let her go unless you can still 'accompany' the young lady with a slit throat." Vistra pressed her knife blade tighter against the man's neck.
He loosened his grip around his victim, and she quickly stumbled out of reach.
Vistra took a short step back and then tapped the man in the temple with her knife hilt. The man dropped like a stone, and Vistra returned her weapon to its proper place within her boot.
There was a short moment of silence.
"Well, thank you--"
"Lady Clarine, you disappoint me. I surely thought that you had more sense that to wander the city streets alone at any time of the night. Or day."
The lady glanced at Vistra in surprise. "How did you know my--"
Vistra's mouth quirked into a crooked smile. "You wound me, lady. Am I so easily forgotten?"
The lady's green eyes studied her for a long, quiet moment.
"My apologies. I did not recognize you with your red hair, Lady Vis--"
"Do not insult me by referring to me as a lady, Lady Clarine."
Lady Clarine did not flinch in the face of Vistra's cold snap. "My apologies once again. And thank you for interfering--"
"Do not thank me," Vistra interrupted. Lady Clarine looked very calm and collected. As if she hadn't almost been assaulted. Her steadiness annoyed Vistra. "I did not do it for you. And I did not do it for Nathan, to whom you are priceless. I did it for me. Because you see, Lady Clarine, you are now indebted to me. You and, more importantly, Nathan." Vistra smiled a cold smile. "And I will call in the favor."
Clarine's eyes were big and inscrutable. "I understand," she said steadily.
"Out of curiosity, lady, what do you know about the man who is to be beheaded tomorrow?"
Clarine looked at her sharply. "Are you already calling in the favor?"
"No," Vistra said smoothly. "It was merely a question, you need not answer it if you don't wish too."
Clarine hesitated. "In all honesty, I do not know much about the man at all. I've heard that he was some slave or another--"
Vistra snorted. "Why am I not surprised. I should have known better than to waste my breath and ask a lady a question concerning a lower classman."
The lady did flinch then, obviously offended by Vistra's brush off. "You have asked a question of me. Perhaps I may ask one of you in return?"
Vistra shrugged. "Go ahead. But I will not promise to answer it."
"I understand why you… hate," she faltered over the strong word, "me. And I understand that something in your past has caused you to hate nobles in general. But why don't you just let the past go?" Clarine asked earnestly. "Why not just forgive the past and move on, instead of causing yourself pain by its remembrance?"
Vistra's glare in response to the question was sharp and angry. "The past is all I have. And I will honor it in the only way I know how." She started to turn away, but glanced back. "Make sure Nathan knows about his debt." It wasn't a request.
Clarine inclined her head in acknowledgement.
Vistra looked away from Clarine's serene expression. Gods, that woman annoyed her.
~*~*~
"So we've been able to learn absolutely nothing," Vistra stated.
Axe shrugged. "Danel has not returned yet. Perhaps he will have been able to garner something from those barmaids he is so fond of."
If anyone was able to find information about the soon to be beheaded slave, it was Danel. Not just because of the barmaids who were always charmed by his engaging ways, but because he had a special talent for sneaking about and eavesdropping. Vistra could not do such sneaking about comparable to his ability, she was too impatient, too temperamental. And Axe could not either. His big, muscular frame was not made for sneaking like Danel's slender, lanky one was.
"When will he be back?"
"Soon, unless he's found a distraction…"
Vistra had to sigh and shake her head. Danel and his distractions. Female distractions, to be more specific.
"I'll be in my room if you need me," Vistra nodded to Axe and left the room he was sharing with Danel, heading down the hallway to her own. It had been a long day, and all she wanted now was a bed and some sleep.
Just as she had settled herself into a bed, she heard the slightest of noises outside of her window. Drawing a knife from a sheathe, she headed towards it.
Danel's face grinned at her from the other side of the glass.
"Boo," he said.
She glared at him. "Go to your own room," she hissed.
He made a face. "But don't you want to hear about the information I've learned?"
She sighed and pushed the window open. He smoothly pulled himself into her room, landing nimbly on his feet with grace she envied. She had always suspected that he had been part of a traveling entertainment band. His agility and acrobatics only further supported her conjecture.
"Well?" she finally demanded when he didn't say anything. "Have you learned anything?"
He smiled. "Yes."
Her eyes narrowed. "Well, are you going to elaborate or do I have to beat every word out of you?"
He held out his hands, palms up. "I've learned that the other slaves and servants know nothing about the man to be killed tomorrow."
"What?" she said flatly. "You've learned that the others know nothing. In other words, you've learned nothing."
"No, that would be incorrect," Axe said softly from behind her. He had let himself into her room and was quietly contemplating Danel's words. "He has learned something. He's learned that the others know nothing."
"That tells us nothing," she said with frustration. "And I refuse to rescue a man in the middle of Corus when we know absolutely nothing about him."
"But why don't the castle workers know anything about him?" Axe mused aloud, as if she hadn't spoken.
"Perhaps he's doesn't work in the castle," Danel replied.
"A commoner?"
"If he is a commoner, he isn't from Corus. Nobody I've talked to knows about him."
"How mysterious," Axe commented.
Danel mused, "Poor man. Getting dragged out of his home, getting taken to a city such as this one, and then being sentenced to death."
Vistra was unamused. "Fine. You two stay in here and ponder on this all night long. I'm going to your room and getting some sleep." She went over to the bed and grabbed an extra shirt, pulling it on over her bed clothes.
Danel just shook her head. "She's cranky," he muttered to Axe. "It must be that special time of the month--"
Danel was swiftly silenced by an air-borne pillow. He regained his dignity by the time Vistra slammed the door behind her.
Axe coughed into his hand; Danel immediately recognized it as a tactic to cover a smile. Or a laugh.
"Don't mind her. Being in Corus puts her in a bad mood."
Danel made a face. "Well, at least she had only thrown a pillow," he grumbled.
~*~*~
General Aleyn of Ra'kaul
"I am Lord Provost here. Not you, Raven's Claw. Now step aside and let me do my job."
It took all of his self control to keep himself from reaching out and swatting the infuriating young man.
"Lord Travion," General Aleyn growled, "my full title is General Aleyn of Ra'kaul. Address me as such, and not 'Raven's Claw.'"
"My apologies." The young lord shrugged, not looking in the least bit apologetic. "But Ra'kaul translates into Raven's Claw, so why should it matter if I call you--"
"I prefer to use my formal name, Lord Travion," Aleyn glared.
He shrugged again. "As you wish, General. Now move aside."
The two men stared at each other, both unwilling to step aside for the other. The crowd that had gathered to watch the beheading muttered among themselves, watching the two men uncertainly.
The young bastard is ruining my moment!
Aleyn shifted his footing, one hand inching toward the sword hilt at his waist.
"General Aleyn," Lord Travion said coldly, "your duty lies with the king and his well-being. Mine lies with the capture and punishment of criminals."
"Then why haven't you captured Nobles' Bane yet?" Aleyn pointed out.
Travion looked coldly amused, his blue eyes glittering like angry sapphires. "May I remind you that I have just newly come into my office? I have not had the time to do much else than settle in." He let his eyes roam over the spectators. Then, in a quieter voice that could only be heard by Aleyn, said, "When I get serious, I will not have to resort to such desperate trickery."
So. He knows then.
Aleyn's eyes narrowed. He studied the young man before him with calculating eyes. Aleyn knew Lord Travion was young, in his earlier twenties at best, although his cold exterior and indifferent attitude made him seem older. Rich blonde hair fell over his forehead in a manner that Aleyn knew females found attractive. He half suspected that the female spectators to the beheading were only there to get a glimpse of the harshly handsome Lord Provost.
"Fine," Aleyn uttered. "Carry out the façade as you wish." He stepped off the platform, not allowing Travion time to respond. He silently reminded himself that it did not matter if he was not on the platform to hand out the orders of the supposed beheading. All that mattered was that Nobles' Bane would come.
Would come and attempt to rescue the helpless victim who was to be executed.
The helpless victim who was really one of Aleyn's soldiers dressed in a slave's attire.