Through his eyes – a fan fiction by Sheyana
Disclaimer – Sherwood Smith owns everything in this, I'm just borrowing it for a (regrettably) short time.
A/N – Sheyana hangs head in shame…soooorrry! Oh yeah, this version has not been beta'd, I'm sending it to ShannonLynn at the same time as I upload it…so another version will be substituted soon, but I thought you should all get it now.
Dedicated to rubic-cube, I've been meaning to give you one for a while and this seemed like a good spot! Especially since you've been looking forward to this one almost since I started!
Reviews –
Rubic-cube – Here ya go, what you've been waiting for all along!
FyAnnwn – Cool name! Thanks for the compliment; I think you'll like this chapter!
Crystaltambaia – See, it is impossible to resist the temptation! Thanks for the crit, here's the chapter you've been anticipation for at least a month now!
Felsong – you didn't get on my back enough, so I'll blame you for the lateness! P
Racetrack's Goil – Another great name glad you like my charries, hope you keep liking them (Danric especially!)
Justcallmebubba – I actually rather like Tamara, she has so many dimensions, but I can see why you don't. Don't worry, she won't appear for another chapter at least.
Kit – Here's the next one – late though it may be!
Abby – Glad you like my Galdran, I was waiting for someone to comment! Hopefully I'll do a few more…but we'll have to wait and see – Galdran's sooo fun!
Falling Envy – Glad you like it, sorry this one's so late!
Selenes Song – Here's the update, sorry it took ages, glad you're liking it so far!
Phaerie – LOL! Here's your crack – take it, please!
Mew Cupcake – I update kinda sporadically, although I'm working on getting it more regular…and, well, when I said Mel turns up in Ch 7…I lied!
Chapter 6 – Red-headed spy… (UPDATED VERSION)
Vidanric strode through the gardens quickly, not bothering to maintain his usual mask. He did not even realize it had slipped as his hands played with the folded and sealed parchment in his hands. It contained his appointment as commander of Galdran's army and Danric was worried about what it could mean. It seemed his plan was going a little too well, and since receiving the orders a candle ago, Danric hadn't spoken to anyone, mulling over what could be going wrong.
As he brushed by some bushes to enter a little grotto, he was surprised by the sound of fast footsteps and a familiar voice calling his name. He swung around with a smile to greet Russav, he should have known the man would turn up soon; it wasn't often no one saw the famous Marquis of Shevreath for more than half a candle. The dark-haired man caught up with Danric, panting slightly.
"What's wrong Danric? I haven't seen you this preoccupied since we were twelve!"
Danric smiled slightly, saying, "I got my orders, Russav, and something has to be going wrong – this is all happening too easily!"
Russav laughed heartily. "You always were a doubter weren't you, can't you just accept that your plans are so well laid that everything is going well?"
"You know I always find it hard to believe things like that, and I probably always will."
Russav sighed. "Well, there is no point worrying. When do you leave?"
"Two days, far too soon if you ask me!"
"Why are you sitting around here then? C'mon man, you have to pack and work out what you are going to do with these Tlanthis, get going now!"
Finally, Danric laughed. "Right you are Russav, I'd better be going. Thanks for the help!"
He bowed to his friend before turning and striding quickly towards the palace, his orders still clutched tightly in his hands.
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Danric nodded to the surrounding crowd before swinging himself easily up onto his grey. He bowed from his saddle with a flourish and nodded once more to Russav before calling out in a firm voice,
"RIDE!"
He dug his heels into the horse and they started off at a gallop, lancers following behind in their columns. Once they were out of the palace grounds, Danric held up his hand in the gesture to slow and brought his horse down to a walk. The fast pace was impractical to keep up for the long trip to Tlanth.
Motioning the wing commander forward, Danric enquired about stopping places for the journey ahead, nodded at the reply and dismissed the man with a careless wave of his hand. He sighed under his breath; it was going to be a lonely ride, as he would not be able to shed the foppish mask until he was alone with the few commanders he trusted. He settled back into the saddle, looking around him with an air of interest, he would have to find something to amuse himself with apart from planning, without time to relax, he was in danger of revealing himself.
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The cavalcade thundered into Debegri's camp and slowed, with Danric continuing until he pulled up in front of the command tent. Dismounting, he looked around critically. The camp was a mess, fires anywhere and a rushed look, like the camp had recently been set up. Strange, according to reports Debegri's forces had been here a fortnight at least.
Shrugging mentally, Danric swept into the command tent and handed the orders to Debegri without so much as a bow. The Baron flushed indignantly before noting the seal on the parchment and opening it hurriedly. His face darkened in anger as he read what it contained, before he grudgingly stood and pulled the white plumes from his helmet, handing them to Danric. Danric pulled off his own helmet, affixing the plumes to it with a flourish before bowing to Debegri and motioning with his arm to the tent flap. Debegri growled slightly before walking out the flap in front of Danric.
Once outside, Danric nodded to Nessaren, one of his commanders, who let out a piercing whistle which caught the attention on the whole camp. They looked towards the command tent and registered shock at the sight of Danric with the plumes in his helmet. After giving them a short time to adjust to the change, Danric spoke loudly.
"You can't really expect me to live in a place like this can you? I want all the tents moved into orderly lines, with the fires also moved to in front of this tent here, as well as the cook tents and in the main area. Move along, it is disgraceful how this looks!"
Again, shock registered before the soldiers finally responded to the command in his voice and set about carrying out his orders. Within candles, the place was looking much more respectable and Danric relaxed slightly with a sigh, completely ignoring the malice in Debegri's eyes.
He stretched out his legs underneath the desk in his tent before kneeling properly, and beginning to plan for the next day. He did not think for a minute that the Tlanthi's would hold off and let him settle in. Calling his commanders to the tent, they had a quick discussion about their orders for the next day before Danric dismissed them and fell onto his bed.
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The next week was terrible, not because Danric was loosing, for he was not. It was terrible because they fought in the open each day and Danric hated to see the Tlanthi peoples retreat, battered after a day's fighting. It was not that he wanted to harm them, but what choice did he have at this point?
He could not deny that the Tlanthi's fought back bravely. Over the short week nine of his people fell to the deadly traps placed by the rebels, while many others died in the fierce fighting, although not so many fell as on the Tlanthi side. At the end of the week, Danric tried to relax and console himself with the fact that it was unlikely the rebels had much left to strike him with. He was just dropping off to a much-needed sleep when he was woken by one of the men running into the room.
"We have one, caught in their own trap!"
Danric started up as he tried to decode the cryptic message. When he finally worked out what was being said he lurched to his feet and pulled in his clothing hurriedly. He ran out of the tent and was joined by Debegri, who looked ready for blood. They raced together after the soldier and arrived panting outside one of the healer's tents. Entering softly, Danric surveyed the captive critically. Attired in worn clothes, the captive was obviously female and her body was far too thin for his liking. It seemed the rebels hadn't been eating well. As his gaze traveled up to her face, Danric was struck by the vivid, leaf-covered hair. It was red; there was no other word for it.
He came out of his reverie in time to see a healer forcing a potion down the captive's throat. The captive choked slightly and her eyelids fluttered open. The healer nodded in satisfaction, turning to Danric and Debegri.
"That's it," she said with satisfaction. "Here y'are, m'lord. She's awake."
"Bran?" the captive croaked softly
"What was that?" Danric murmured, moving to one side of the girl.
"Your trap," She said, her voice hardly strong enough to be called a whisper. She blinked, as if to focus her eyes before going on. "I knew…this would happen…to one of us."
"Fair enough," Danric drawled, slightly amused. "It's happened to nine of us."
Debegri laughed harshly, feeling the need to speak, the captive winced slightly. "Take this fool out and hang her," he grated. "And the trap with her. Let the slinking rebels find that."
"Softly Baron, softly" Danric spoke softly.
As the girl slipped back out of consciousness, Danric stood and spoke harshly, "Now Baron, we need to get information out of her, hanging won't achieve anything." He left the tent, making sure Debegri was following, and strode back to the command tent.
Once there he swung around to face Debegri impatiently. "I must ask you to hold your tongue in the presence of the captive, we must not disturb her too much or she will tell us nothing at all. I do not like to resort to torture, it is so…messy!"
Debegri thought for what seemed like candles before finally bowing grudgingly and exiting the tent. Danric collapsed again with a sigh, trying to clear his mind and finally get some sleep.
Okay, I know it's short but that was a good place to stop!
The stuff in bold is from the book, changed slightly to make it Danrics POV…
Now REVIEW, or no more Mel for you!