Heyo, I know last chapter was a bit of a fill- in, but I had to put something up...nothing was coming and all my ideas were for later. Thanks for stickin' by me, through great chapters (I know, I know, they're ALL great...aren't they...smiles threateningly as she fiddles with her pocketknife) and through the bad ones (which are few and far, far between)

I've also realized that I've abandoned Keosha's accent. It's gone, off, flown away. Flown ze proverbial coop. Ahahaha, I crack me up...Hmm, serious chapter, writing it on a sugar high isn't good, I'll save it for later.

AAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! I'm sorry, sorry, sorry! sobs hysterically and grabs chrischelle's sleeve I can't believe I abandoned you!!!!! I am ashamed (in voice like that of Jacque [the French Cleaning Crab] from Finding Nemo). Hangs head please accept my humble apologies (or as humble as they get, coming from me). I'm soooooooooooooo(I'm getting tired of this, aren't you?)oooooooooooooooooo sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And that cookie you gave me! How could I have forgotten that unspoken but everlasting vow of responding to your reviews? I do not know, and shall try to remember in the future. I feel stupid. slaps herself There, I believe I am suitably punished. Forgive me.

Ahem: Later is here!

After a warm, light mid- day meal, Abby sat Keosha down on her large, four poster bed and said,

"Now, this had better be good, Keosha, what is wrong with the Green Coterie? Why were you so uncomfortable?" The other girl shifted uncomfortably, all too aware of her friend's keen eyes upon her. Keosha looked down to the bedspread, where her slim fingers were plucking at the embroidery. The red roses were framed and laced around the green leaves. Green leaves, green, green coterie. The girl spoke, her voice trembling only a little.

" The Coteries are groups of people whose life revolves around the help of those whose 'True Essence' is the same colour as theirs. Slaves in Manisanri are taken to all of the Coterie Villas when they are bought. They are then identified as to which Coterie we- they belong to." Keosha continued after her apparent slip- up. "After they had identified the Coterie, the slave spends two years in the villa of the Mother of the coterie's choice. There, they learn how to serve their masters and mistresses in every way. From how to scrub the floors, to how to massage them just so. Massaging was not the least intimate thing that the slaves are taught." Here Keosha reached up and began twining a lock of hair in her hand, a nervous gesture.

"When the slave is deemed ready to serve his or her master, they are given garments in whichever colour coterie their True Essence is. They are tattooed with a symbol that shows their True Essence and then they are given back to their masters. Every four months, slaves are taken to their home villas, where they were trained, and they are allowed to stay for a twenty-hour period. Manisanrins are known to be the worst slave owners in all the Known Lands and the slaves are also said to be the worst treated. But, w-they have the advantage in that every four months, they are allowed a twenty hour rest. In their home villas, they are served, and their wounds, minor or otherwise are treated. This becomes a haven for many, nay, all slaves. W-they, they look forward to their rest period, and having incentive makes them work harder, and they strive to please their owners." She paused and tore her gaze from the bedspread. Looking Abby in the eye, she bravely continued.

"When I made up my mind to flee from my master in Manisanri, I went to my home villa of the Green Coterie. They were surprised to see me, for I was due in three weeks. I stayed only for three hours, and I told Mother Sorano and Father Tomi of my plans." Keosha's lips pursed and she looked away from her friend and avid listener. Her usually gentle eyes grew fierce as she continued.

" They told me that I mustn't, that I owed it to my master to stay. I told them that I had to, that I feared for my safety." The girl's voice broke slightly and before continuing she brushed her eyes with the back of her hand. "I, I had thought that they would be concerned...but they simply asked if I thought that my safety was their main concern. I was shocked; they had not seemed...I didn't think that they were so vicious, so cruel, so, so..." Her face crumpled and after a moment of silence, she sniffed loudly before she resumed her story.

"They continued, saying that they only way to end what I thought was going on, was to end my True Essence...to kill myself." Keosha closed her eyes and saw the horrific scenes of her life, and she narrated them for the young, naïve noblewoman,

"I realized how little my life mattered. No–one depended on me, I depended on them. If I took my life, it wouldn't effect anyone. The thought that Mother Sorano and Father Tomi, the two people that I had thought would care, didn't, it made it easier to make my decision. Mother Sorano asked where I would do the deed and if I...and if I would need rope or a vial of poison. When I inquired after the poison, she informed me that it was painless and quick. And that I needn't worry, they wouldn't charge me, for the rope or the vial." Keosha opened her eyes and blinked out a stream of tears. She then closed her eyes and continued.

"I took the vial and left them. I thanked them for their advice and they smiled politely and said good-bye. I then walked out of my home villa forever. I wandered, not slowly but quickly around, fearing that someone would wonder why I was dawdling. I hoped that they would believe that I was a slave on an errand. So I walked with a purpose, I was thinking of the place that I would like to end it all. A place to end the madness that was my life. I wandered towards the docks and I smelt the scent of brine in the air. I have always loved the smell of the sea. The power... the power of the crash of the waves, the eternal element to it. Forever going in and out, so peaceful, never changing no matter how it changed other's lives. I knew then that the sea would be the thing to take me." Keosha paused and stood. Abby watched her cross to the window and look out over the bleak, wet world.

The ex- slave touched the cold pane of glass, a reminder of the icy slap of the sea. She shuddered and turned her gaze to the dark stone walls of the castle. The guards stood in the rain, their cloaks dripping with rain and their expressions stony. As she watched, there was a toll of a bell, loud and dismal. The guards took a step from the semi- shelter of the walls and marched towards the Guard House as replacements took their places.

One guard was already wet and shivering. His arms shook as he struggled to keep still. Keosha felt warmth close to her. She saw the young noblewoman out of the corner of her eye, watching the young, shivering guard intently. Abby's eyes turned a blue shade of pity and her face tightened at their mistreatment. Keosha turned to her, with the look of one who is haunted by memories in her eyes.

"He shivers, but he is free. I know what he feels. His is free, but enslaved. He must serve your king, and I had to serve my master. That guard is nothing but a boy, practically a child, as I was when I was first taken. He shivers, he can do little else, if he complains he will be punished, and make no mistake, Abby, my young, innocent friend, he will be punished." She turned from the window, intending to continue with her story, but Abby's gasp stopped her.

The guard had fallen, his dark blue cape almost making him blend with the dreary world about him. Abby and Keosha watched as the others guards noticed, but did not move.

"Why do they do nothing? He is unconscious! He could be hurt!" The anger in the girl's voice was evident, her anguish pronounced. Keosha looked down. ' This is the way with all rulers, they want much, but can handle little well. The Captain of the Guards will not care, the other guards know that leaving with post will mean punishment, a whipping, perhaps.' Keosha closed her eyes.

When she opened them, intending to say something to Abby, the noble was gone. Keosha whirled around, looking for her. Her chocolate eyes fell upon the opened trunk on the floor and the hastily strewn aside clothes that surrounded it. Inspecting it further, she realized two of Abby's heavy cloaks were gone. Cursing her friend's impulsiveness, the servant grabbed her own cloak and swept out the door, knowing full well where her friend had gone.