Disclaimer- ha. Hahahahahah. You aren't serious are you? Hahahahahahah.
A.N. I AM SO SORRY! I know! I'm a horrible writer! I had the biggest case of writers block ever. I just moved. I just got horses. My room's a mess. I went to Scotland for three weeks. School ended. My computer went to computer heaven. I promise not to procrastinate anymore. So…er…where did we leave off? Oh yeah! Ok, here we go…
Chapter 3- A Run in With Thieves
Bianca forcefully smiled politely at the young man who offered to escort her to dinner. 'Do I look three? I think I can manage my way to dinner by myself, thank you' she inwardly seethed. But she steadied her face into a polite mask and agreed.
"Of course, I would be honored, Sir Joel." She said. The burly nineteen years old smiled.
"Please, call me Joel, Lady Bianca." Joel said with a flirtatious smile. Willing herself not to strangle the blonde man in front of her, she lowered her eyelashes and smiled back.
"Only if you refrain from calling me Lady, Joel." There. Everything her parents, mentors have ever taught her about being a lady. Lowered eyelashes, flirtatious smiles, polite agreements to being escorted everywhere, the pure image of a modest noble lady. Mithros, she hated it.
"Bianca it is. See you at dinner, then." Joel bowed and left Bianca smiling after him, then shut the door of her rooms behind him, the smile frozen in place.
"Oh, of course, Sir Knight, escort me to dinner. Sir Knight, let me hold our hand. Oh, Sir Knight, I would adore coming to your jousting match! Oh, Sir Knight, please, let me undo your breeches!" Bianca mocked in a high pitched girlish voice. Rosie, her servant from when she was a little girl, looked reprovingly from the bed where she unpacked clothes.
"Lady, your poor mother would have had a heart attack if she had heard what you just said." Rosie scolded. Bianca rolled her eyes. Her mother would go into a dead faint if she heard half of the stuff that came out of her mouth. Flopping down on the bed, she sighed.
"I just wish that the men here would just leave me alone."
Rosie yanked a shift out from under her, tutting, but in a more sympathetic way. She understood Bianca's predicament, and instead of suppressing the way Bianca felt, she regularly ignored it. 'If the Goddess made you liking women, hell, I'm not one to argue with her intentions.' She once told the upset girl. Now, she just looked at the girl on the bed with small pity in her eyes.
"Well, sorry, love, but you are pretty lass, well formed, and they won't just leave you alone." Rosie flicked a dress from the trunk. "Now, will you help me please?" Bianca idly flicked her fingers at the trunk. Clothes zipped from the trunk to various drawers and closets, going in neatly folded or hung up. Rosie shoved the trunk into the closet and then flopped down on the huge bed next to Bianca.
The two women sighed. Bianca turned to the older woman.
"I saw a girl today." Rosie rolled her eyes.
"So? I saw four chickens and a pig. What of it?" the older woman goaded Bianca, knowing that she had more to say then that.
"She had the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. Like cats, gold-green. She was pretty too, looked like some kind of royal. Had a tiara." Rosie stiffened at this. She glanced quickly at Bianca.
"I think I know who you mean…the woman with the man in the street today, yes?" her eyes grew sharp. "Aye, we all know her. You'd be best put staying away from that girl." Rosie stood and went to the closet. "Which dress will you be wearing tonight, love?" changing the subject abruptly.
Bianca was puzzled. "Why should I stay away from her?" Rosie didn't answer, but to ask her ask her again for the dress. Bianca rolled her eyes. She hated it when Rosie withheld stuff from her.
"The green one; Rosie, why should I stay away from the girl?" she persisted. Rosie sighed in defeat. She laid out the green dress, a shift, petticoats and a corset, and turned back to Bianca.
"Because…," she moved towards her adjoining room. She stood in the doorframe and turned to face Bianca again. "Because...she's the Queen of Thieves." She shut the door, leaving Bianca staring after her.
Puck
Puck laid haphazardly on her bed in the Dancing Dove. Half of her body was flopped on the bed, the other half hanging off, a bottle of rum hanging in her hand. It should be noted that she was dead to the world. But not for long.
"AUNT PUCKY!!!!!" a child, a young boy of four, followed the yell into the room, banging on a bin lid with a wooden sword. Puck awoke with a start, snorting in surprise, and fell off the bed.
"BLOODY HE-"
"PUCK! If you say what I think you're going to say you better swallow it RIGHT NOW."
"-llo, Miriam; Callan." Puck winced as Callan banged on the metal lid again, her hangover, ripping through her skull. "'Ey, kid, try not making so much noise." Miriam looked triumphant.
"Oh, no, Puck. This should teach you to drink so much. Now, I seem to remember you agreeing to teach your nephew how to swordfight." Puck looked horrified, her eyes widening and her skin paled. Noticing this, Callan looked downcast, obviously thinking that his aunt would refrain from teaching him. Then Puck broke out in a huge grin, tossed the surprised boy over her shoulder and walked, albeit a bit wavering, to the door. Miriam looked pleased.
"'Ey, Miriam, when exactly did I agree to this?" Miriam smirked.
"Last night when you were piss drunk," Puck winced again, and nodded. This would teach her from ever, ever, getting drunk again while her sister was around. She shrugged and brought Callan down to the street.
"Now, kid-"
"My name is Callan." Puck frowned at him.
"I know that. Now, listen up kid,-"
"My name is Callan. Not kid." Callan insisted. Puck gave an exasperated sigh.
"ALRIGHT! Callan.This is how you hold the sword,"
Bianca
She just barely got through dinner the night before without strangling her dinner mate. Tonight she would take dinner in her room. She shuddered at the memory of the dinner before. The women on her right chattered endlessly about nothing, while Joel prattled on about his many battles and fights and women he's had thrown at his feet. However, she thought her teeth might brake from smiling so hard. Joel obviously believed in the 'women should be seen, not heard.' Bianca positively hated that saying. She flopped back onto her bed, mulling over her thoughts.
The girl with the cat's eyes would not get off her mind. The girl was beautiful, in a pixy, mischievous way. The Queen of Thieves. She wondered what her name was.
It must be great, to be queen of your own self. To do what you want, say what you please, wear what you care. It must be absolute freedom.
A/N.!
I know very short interlude for Bianca, but it was important. I have noticed that I'm getting a very Jack Sparrow vibe from Puck, dontcha think? Wink wink.
Puck
"Ow! Little Blighter! That hurt! No sneaking up Auntie Puck while she isn't looking!" cried Puck, nursing a bruised wrist. Callan looked perfectly innocent.
"But, Auntie, didn't you just teach me about stealth and how to attack people from the behind when they aren't looking?" Puck looked at him. The blasted kid was right. But she found away around getting beaten by a four year old.
"Aye, but I didn't mean me. Especially while Auntie is talking with someone, ok? Now, that ends the lesson today. Go tell your mother that I will never drink again."
Callan nodded obediently and set off to find his mother.
"Now, George, when exactly am I going to see the rest of your lovely family? It's been years since I've seen Alanna. I've met Ali about twice since she's come back from the Copper Isles with her new husband, Thom barely sees the light of day, and Alan is busy on the border. Why won't you let me see them?" Puck pouted. George grinned.
"As you know, I live a very busy life. I'm the Spy Master. My wife is the Realm's Protector. My daughter is busy trying to have a family. Alan is working at the border. Thom is working with Master Numair. I'm sorry, but you are just not important enough to be visited." Puck smacked him lightly.
"How's the fancy-shamncy shit going on up at the Palace?" she asked. She liked knowing what the nobles were up too. Especially the Provest. ( a/n. is that right?)
"Everything's fine, I suppose. Sasha, Master Numair and Lady Daine's daughter, is turning three, the King and Queen are proposing a law that states commoners have as many rights as nobles in court. It was originally proposed by Lady Kel, but its taken six years to compromise with everyone. The new noblewoman celebrity is Lady Bianca of ForestStead (the red-haired woman you saw yesterday), who is being currently courted by Sir Joel of Harper's Spear. Does that sooth your craving for gossip?" Puck rolled her eyes, and nodded. George suddenly frowned, and glanced at his pocket watch.
"Sweet Trickster, look at the time, I'd best be going. Stay out of trouble, Puck." She rolled her eyes, and saw him off.
As soon as he had left, Puck wished he hadn't. Now, she was bored.
Bianca
Bianca moved silently through the near empty halls. Most people were at lunch, or out in the training grounds. Hopefully, no one would notice her, thought Bianca. She wore a simple brown maid's dress over a plain shift with an apron. Her hair was wrapped up in a white scarf, wound so that no hair was shown. She used this disguise often, whenever she wanted to ride alone, or go into the town without being caught as a noble.
Once she had safely made it to the stables, she saddled RainStorm and mounted up. She moved quickly and quietly out of the palace, through the gates and to the city.
Reaching the loud, disorganized, marketplace she smiled. She rode through the people, being cautious of the children that played in the streets.
Bianca loved this sort of freedom that she got. Once in a while, she would just leave as a maid and explore. Dismounting, she led her horse through the streets, observing and exclaiming over stands and shops. Reaching a glassblowers shop, she smiled as she examined the beautiful colored glass.
Yes, what a wonderful lie it was.
several hours later
Bianca nearly shrieked when she noticed the time. It was steadily growing dark, past dinner. Rosie would be furious. 'Damn it! Damn my stupidity!' she thought angrily. She should have noticed. There weren't many people out, all leaving before dark. Stupid, silly girl! She thought to herself. Spending time fantasizing in shop after shop, what a stupid girl I am, she thought.
Quickly exiting the book shop she was in, Bianca ran to the glassblower's shop, where she had asked a boy to look after Rain. She found him easily, throwing him a few coins and mounting up. However, she didn't stay on for very long.
"Hello, me darlin'. Why don' ye come o'er 'ere an' give us yer money, tha's a good lass." A voice hissed in her ear as she was dragged off her horse. Another man grabbed Rain while the man holding her threw her into another mans arms. Glancing around her, Bianca confirmed her fears. She was surrounded by thieves.
A/N. Whoopee. Now I can get my foot to wake up and go riding with my brother. Does this satisfy everyone? Ok, well, I'll work on The Apprentice tomorrow. Ahhhhhhh! Foot! Tingly! Pins and Needles! Owwwwww! Ok, gtg now, I love you. And remember, if you review, you get a Numair plushie! Yay! So review! And the first person to review gets a cookie! So, once again, Review!