Disclaimer: Ok, I DO own Secery, Amisha, Paine, Ocea, Einur, Eidur, Aligan the Younger and Older… And Tamora Pierce is a bloody genius, so she owns everything else.
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Sweet music filled the hall that was being used for the banquet- ball, all of which Paine was getting annoyed with. She was standing next to a pillar off to the side of all of the action. She glanced around the room, picking out significant people of Tortall.
"So, the antisocial warrior really is antisocial?" ajoking voice said in her ear. Paine turned, looking drawn.
"Big surprise, right?" Paine quipped. Secery stood in front of her, her hair playfully mussed and a wine glass in her hand. Decorative necklaces supplied by the Crown dangled down her athletic frame. In the candlelight, her prismatic hair glinted several separate colors at once. She blinked sultrily enhanced green eyes at Paine.
"Sure," said Secery, a wicked grin flashing across her pale face. Paine gave a drawn smile, trying to calm her twisted nerves. They glanced over across the room, picking out Ocea, who had surrounded herself with healers, and Amisha, who was hanging out with the squires and pages who were not working.
Amisha had shown diplomatic abilities, and was now keeping peace among the squires and knights of the two different nations. Her easy- going grin and wry laughter made the warring communities at ease.
Ocea had been realized as a somewhat limited healer, only to heal those very near to death. The healers enjoyed her presence, for the most part. She made them slightly edgy. Paine sighed. She, of course, belonged with no certain group, and Secery fitted in with most- even all. Amisha fitted in with the younger groups, of course.
While she had been thinking to herself, Secery had flitted away like the social butterfly she was. Paine glared at the world and downed another glass of wine- her third one. She gazed wistfully at her glass. She looked out at the crowd. Her eye twitched noticeably.
Gazing again at her empty wineglass, she began across the Hall. The table of refreshments was thankfully empty of other people as she walked over. Taking a bottle of wine by the neck, she filled her glass. She gazed at its bubbling solution and turned, about to go back to her corner.
A cough came and the room fell silent. Paine, startled, glanced up, stopping her movements abruptly. The courier at the double doors raised his staff and banged the butt of it against the marble floor. He had thrown both doors open, revealing four esteemed looking gentlemen.
"I present to you the delegates from the country of Emerilian. The gracious Emperor Aligan the Elder, Holder of the Throne of Emerilian, and sole ruler of the land."
An aging man walked stiffly down the staircase, his sullen mouth set in a perpetual snobbish smirk. He gazed over the heads of the nobles of Tortall, his chest puffed out importantly. Murmurs started within the crowd, most of which were extremely distasteful and hateful.
"Crown Prince of Emerilian, the first of three heirs to the throne of Emerilian, Prince Eidur Croncez. He is an educated professor in his gift of Wild Magic." Paine looked up at the familiar face of her friend. He caught her eye and gave a slight wink. She smiled and walked to the front of the group, her wine glass held firmly in one palm. He mouthed to her, "Meet me in the back corner." She nodded, fading into the background.
"Prince Einur of Emerilian, also a mage, has both the gifts of Wild Magic and the Gift." Secery's friend walked down the staircase quickly, his hair fluttering off behind him. Paine looked off to her side, a frown creasing her exotic face. Secery was grinning nearby. Paine's eyes widened as Secery walked over to her. Her wineglass had been full a moment ago and was now empty. Behind Secery stood a young man, who happened to be drenched in wine. Paine raised her eyebrows, but Secery just shrugged. Amisha came walking over, followed by Ocea. Ocea blinked solemnly, her greenish- blue eyes glinting with a hidden light. Both the girls were sultrily dressed, with loads of jewelry draped across their slim frames. For jewelry, Paine wore only some simple chains.
"Prince Aligan the Younger Croncez of Emerilian, a Gifted mage." The last one to come down the staircase was a snobbish young boy, whose red hair and blue eyes stood out. King Jonathon rose, as did Queen Thayet, Prince Roald, and Princess Shinkokami sp?. The monarchs walked down from their thrones to greet the other dictators. Common courtesies were exchanged and the Princes walked in separate directions of their father, who was meeting with the rulers of Tortall. The ball continued, everyone resuming their business as if nothing had occurred.
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Secery, for once, was standing off in the corner with the others. Amisha was off somewhere, animatedly talking a chipmunk- type thing. Secery smiled at the thought of it. Amisha was picking up where Daine had left off.
Paine was actually smiling and talking with the Crown Prince- Eidur. Secery had finally given up, taking a chair from somewhere and was now relaxing with a glass of wine in hand. Einur glanced over from a group of a few squires and young knights. His gaze lingered on Secery for a moment, silent. Secery smiled and waved, oblivious to the way the other men in the group had suddenly blushed and shuffled their feet.
Ocea had long since left for bed- or something like it. Paine chuckled at something Eidur said, startling a wry grin out of him. Paine didn't seem to realize it, but his eyes were rather confused and he blushed sometimes for no reason.
CRKKK!
Something collided with the door painfully. The door had begun to splinter with the first blow.
CRKKK!
The second time something slammed into the large door, mage fire glinted through the cracks. People began either racing towards or away from the door. Secery stood, dropping her glass. Its fragile structure shattered to the ground, sending crystal shards and wine flying. But she wasn't there to care. She ran past Einur and his little group, her skirts flaring out behind her. Einur forgot whatever it was he was doing and bolted after her.
CRRRIKKK
The door was halfway busted open, now. Paine deserted Eidur, who instead of running toward the fight, ran towards the head table. Paine shook her head, thinking they could use that good of a swordsman right about now. She summoned her weapon. Its red stone flared to life as she reached the door. Just in time.
CRCAAKKKK
The door busted open, revealing several soldiers. The soldiers were, surprisingly enough, Scanran. They charged. One man in the front was foaming at the mouth, eyes wild and movements jerky. He, of course, was a berserker.
Secery, at the front of the group, shook her head. "Sloppy…" she murmured under her breath. She summoned a diamond battle axe to her hand. The ladies around Secery gasped. She walked forward; the berserker was merely 10 feet away. He charged at her. His sword jerked down. He hit where her body had been, catching instead the skirts along her side. He glanced up into her eyes. The coldest green he ever hoped to see looked down at him.
"Thank you. I needed free movement…" Her voice was cruel, cold, appraising. Pain flared in his stomach. He stumbled away from her, clutching his bleeding stomach. She held up her axe, revealing a blood- stained blade. She glanced towards the oncoming men. She could see unease in several of their eyes.
She felt the comforting presence of Paine beside her. She glanced down at the glowing stone on Paine's blade's hilt. She met Paine's eyes. Her chilling red eyes glinted mercilessly in the light. She felt a hand fall on her shoulder. She turned, seeing Einur. But, he wasn't looking at her. In his other hand, unsheathed, was a sword. They spread apart, though they found themselves with more allies. Other Emerialian and Tortallian knights had joined them. With them, Amisha came. She remained cheerful, her eyes bright. In her hand, she held a small crossbow. She smiled, joking around with the rest of the younger ones. The charging soldiers shifted uncertainly. Finally, one gathered up his courage and attacked.
Paine stepped forward, bringing her sword forwards slightly. Her eyes were bloodthirsty, revealing her heritage. The brave soldier smirked, licking his lips.
Then, he announced, "You beat 'em you get 'em."
"Doubtful…," Paine said, driving her sword through his stomach while he slobbered. He gasped, keeling over. The members of his little group inched forwards, glances upward revealing there were archers there as well. With a signal from the new leader of the group, they fired down on the crowd, which now mainly consisted of soldiers, knights, squires, and mages. Amisha whipped up her small crossbow and aimed at the men above. She shot rapid-fire, hitting nearly anyone she aimed for. A few men managed to avoid it by ducking, while the others managed to get back up, shooting down at what seemed to be helpless young people rather than veterans of war.
They were in for a surprise.
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It was evident some soldiers were getting past the defenses in the ball room. Ocea, who had gone off to the healer's wing, could hear ruffians clambering about the halls.
She turned, just as the door was smashed open.
"Hey! You can't be in here!" Ocea shouted at them, motioning for them to get out.
They ignored her. "Look, another pretty wench…," one of them commented. The man began to strut forwards.
Ocea looked around. Against a wall on the other side of the room, there was a staff she could use. But it was too far away to use right now…
She looked around, spotting a candle holder nearby. She moved slowly towards it, hand inching out. The soldier was too dumb to take notice. Just as she caught it, he grabbed her around the waist, pulling her snugly against him. She managed to give a sweet smile at him before conking him over the head with the candle holder. He went down.
She turned, racing towards the other end of the room behind her. She grabbed the staff, turning in time to block a sword coming down at her. She pushed back, forcing him to jerk back into his comrades. Another man leaped over a cot, twin swords flashing. She blocked one, but the second got past her defenses, slicing her arm. She ducked his next two swings, but she really didn't fight that often, unlike her companions. She managed to thrown him back, then carefully took out her sais, slicing her skirts carefully.
Sais, knives, self defense, and staff were the only things she had taken the time to learn. The man came charging back, swinging his swords. She managed to block both this time, and while they were braced against each other, she lashed up with her booted foot, catching him in his fleshy knees. He fell back, and was replaced by another soldier. He was coming fast, but she took out a throwing knife, catching him in the chest with the point. Another one down… Only a few more to go…
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Secery stood at the front lines of the group. Around her, several bodies lay. She had several scrapes, bruises and cuts, but was otherwise fine. Her emerald eyes glistened with an adrenaline rush. The fight was dwindling. There were few Scanans left. The remaining leader raised an iron clad fist, shouting for a retreat. Secery didn't press her attack any further, sure that the attack had ended. She did, however, conk one of the young Scanrans on the head, taking him as her prisoner. She glanced over at Paine, only to see Paine doing the same thing.
She turned again, searching for Einur and Amisha. She found them in the same small group, with several bound or otherwise unconscious Scanrans lying around them. Amisha had only the time to master staff-work and the bows. Secery had taken the time to master sword-work… in fact, she had been on her way to mastering several forms of fighting. She had only mastered sword-work and axe-work.
'I'll have to remember to ask about further lessons…,' she thought to herself exhaustedly. She glanced dully down atone variousslice along her abdomen. Her glazed eyes glanced up again. Slowly, and with Paine and Amisha, even Einur all following her up the stairs of the Great Hall. She made her way down to the Healer's Wing, which was suspiciously close to the Page's Wing.
As they drew closer, they heard the sounds of battle. Secery slowly turned into the room, and although the room spun hazily, she felt another push of adrenaline. It was the thing that kept her going and gave her fuel.
Her eyes cleared, allowing her to do the thing she did best. She glanced to the side, meeting Paine's resigned gaze. It was only her blood-kin, which the other demi-goddesses certainly were, that new her afflictions. She turned ever so slowly, calling to her hand the prismatic energies needed. Her blood dripped down it. She glanced up, allowing the shields she kept on the force that kept her going to be momentarily released.
Her emerald eyes glinted, and grew to the golden color she barely kept a lid on. Bloodlust for her was not the red haze that others seemed to see it as. It was a golden filling, a prism of everything, which was essentially what she was. She raced forward, hurrying to her blood-sister's side. The girl was not doing so well, seeing as she was mainly a Healer. It was a surety she could twist death around as well, but the girl rarely grew angry enough to reach that potential. At the moment, the blue girl was pressed against a wall, sword at her throat.
Secery rushed towards this lone man, lopping off his thick head and neck with her diamond sword.
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Ocea was beginning to lose her conscious when the man's grip fell slack. She took one look into Secery's eyes and glanced to the side to Paine.
She watched as Secery's eyes flickered between green and gold for a moment, before settling on a bright gold.
"That must have been some fight out there, eh, Warrior?" Ocea asked the demi-goddess of fighting and trickery. Paine gave a tired smile, glancing down at her few scrapes. After all, it was her element.
"Obviously…," Paine said in her sarcastic manner. Amisha had taken more soldiers with the help of the amiable Einur. They came back, joking around. Amisha looked perturbed. Secery finally returned, her eyes returning to normal. The weariness her energies had kept at bay, along with her wounds, waved her into a hazy darkness.
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Einur turned in time to see Secery, who had seemed odd just a moment before, fall forward mid-step. He stepped forward, catching her before she fell completely. His found her light, and the blood that gently dripped from her various wounds stained his fancy clothes. He glanced at her friends, bewildered. He did not meet a single straight gaze. They all averted their eyes. Ocea met his finally, only to motion for him to follow her.
"Wait," he ordered. Ocea stopped. He noticed her tense shoulders and that she did not turn to face him. He spoke to her back. "What's wrong with her? And where are we taking her?" he demanded. Ocea finally turned to face him.
She brought her aqua eyes up to meet his hazel ones. "We are taking her to our rooms. None but us know how to take care of the poor girl," Ocea said, turning and walking again. This time, he followed. He blinked into the harsh lights.
"We'll get everyone fixed up and brought up to date there," said Paine as she came up to walk on one side, as Amisha came to walk on his other side. He sighed in resignation.
Author's Note: Sorry it took so long. Thank you to every one who commented, gave criticism, and praised. I really appreciated it. Please do so again! ;
