(This took way too long to write...oh well...I like it, the end is SO cute! Please R/R. I know the plot is moving slowly, I'm trying to cover everything before I move into the juicy parts)
Lys rubbed her eyes as she sat up, then she spotted a shadow standing in the doorway. At first she thought it was that man again, George, the one who wanted her to call him Da. She scowled and rolled over so she couldn't see him. She lay there in silence waiting for his footsteps to signal him walking away. When the sound didn't come, she looked up again and saw Alan.
"Alan…" She stood slowly and saw a dress draped over her little chair and cursed loudly. "Why do I always gotta wear dresses when some folk be comin' o'er? They ain't e'en comfy!"
Alan grinned at his little sister.
"Just put it on, you can take up the grievance with Ma or Da later."
He turned and walked down the hall. The dress was dark blue and silky, Lys hated the way it felt as she pulled it on over her trousers. Maybe she could convince Ma to let her just wear trousers.
"Morning, Lys, ready for lessons?"
It was Thom this time. He held the board and charcoal they had been using for the last few months. She followed him happily out of her small room and outside into the morning air.
"What're you gonna learn me today, Thom?"
"It's reading today. Just watch out for that-"
With a splash, Lys tripped and fell face first into a mud puddle. Her other brother, Alan, walked over leading his destrier.
"You alright there, Lyssie?"
"'M fine. But I don' think the dress can be sayin' t'same."
Alan looked her over carefully.
"We're all doomed, that's Aly's. She'll be far from happy when she sees it."
Thom gulped and grabbed Lys by the hand.
"Lets go get you cleaned off. Alan, got any spare trousers she can wear for today?"
"I think so…check the bottom of the trunk."
"Yeah…that helps."
Alan smiled.
"Good to be of service, good mage."
Aly walked in the front gate of the Swoop, glad to be home and yet glad her mother was away. Suddenly, something running across the grounds caught her eye. It was a small girl, sword in hand. As she got closer, Aly could see the girl's eyes were bright purple.
"Who're you!"
"I could be asking the same of you."
"Lys!" Thom came running over, panting heavily. "What're you-? Aly! When'd you get back?"
"About five seconds ago. Where'd she come from?"
"I camed from Scanra."
"So Ma went to Scanra and all she brought us back was a stupid little sister? I would've preferred a new dress…"
Lys stared up at Aly, looking as though she might cry.
"Lys, she doesn't mean it. You don't, do you?"
"Of course I don't. Shall I assume that since we got this new present, Ma is home?"
"Nope, she ain't. She left me here with Thom 'n Alan 'n…..'n George."
Thom shook his head when Aly opened her mouth to reply.
"Lys, run inside and get your charcoal, alright?"
"A'ight, Thom."
Lys ran off towards the fief happily.
"She doesn't remember Da, Aly. She won't even call him Da and whenever someone tries to make her she starts yelling about how her Da is in Scanra and gets all…sullen."
"What do you mean, she doesn't remember Da?"
"I mean she doesn't think he's her da. I listened to her talking in her sleep the other night. She was talking about someone, telling him to run. Something about a mage and…the man she was talking to, she called him Da."
"But-"
"I getted my charcoals, Thom."
"Alright then, Lys, lets get to your letters."
Dan bowed slowly before the Tortallan nobles. The man regarded him with disdain, looked upon him with a face most people reserved for that which came out of their horses.
"Milord o' Stonemountain, s'there anythin' I can do for you?"
"Yes, tell your master I request a different servant. One who doesn't look like they might steal the clothes off my back."
"Yessir."
Dan bowed again and turned to walk out, his mind whirling. Would George be mad? This guy had been his mark. As he walked back to George's office, he fingered his blonde hair that had curled slightly since he'd bathed. He did need a hair cut pretty badly. He grimaced as he realized his hair fell well below his ears. He'd always liked it better short, the way commoners had theirs.
His hand grasped the hilt of the dagger carefully and he held it against the back of his ponytail. The blade slowly cut through strand by strand as he drew it along. The blonde hair fell around his feet and he grinned. He sheathed his dagger and shook out his head. The last of the hair that that had been severed fell loose and he ran his hands through his now ear length hair. Something creaked behind him and he turned. The door was opening.
"Daniel?"
"Papa! I…uh…"
"Daniel! What in all the realms were you thinking? You look like some kind of commoner! You're the heir to this fief, to the title of warlord. You can't be going about looking like a common thief!"
Dan cringed as the he remembered. He was at the door to George's office.
"George, sir?"
"Lad, come on in. What happened?"
"The Lord of Stone Mountain requests a new servant, 'parently I look like a thief. And I request a hair cut...I be seein' what he means."
George laughed a little and then started talking quickly.
"We'll cut your hair short then get you a new mark…I wanted you on Stone Mountain, the old fool, but I suppose…there are some Islanders coming. A Rittevon…what's his name? Bronau…odd name, typical for the islands I suppose though. He'll be arriving after the noon bell. Gather his things, take him to his room, don't let him out of your Sight. Rittevon's can't be trusted as far as they can be thrown."
"Yessir."
"Enough with callin' me sir!"
Dan grinned as he walked out the door.
"Yessir."
Lys undid her belt slowly, fumbling with the clasp. She placed it and the scabbard attached to it on the chest in the corner of the room. Faithful stretched out on one of the pillows and then sat up regarding Lys. Lys was untying the front of her shirt as she changed for bed.
"Haven't you finished yet? You're so slow!"
"Shuttup, Fai'ful."
"You could be nicer, you know."
"I be nice when you be nice."
"I'll be nice when you use grammar."
Lys cursed at the cat in Scanran, pulled an oversized shirt on over her head and then lay down on her bed.
"Move, Fai'ful. I be tryin' to go sleep."
"So you move, I was here first."
"Stupid cat…"
Lys rolled over, shoving the cat to the floor as she did.
"Hmph…I'll just go hunt then…silly girl."
"I ain't silly."
As darkness took the room slowly, Lys fiddled with the stone at her neck. It glowed softly in the fading light. Finally, she nodded off to sleep, the stone gripped tightly in her fist.
"Blessed be, my daughter."
"Hello, little one."
"'lo. Goddess, ma'am, I been wonderin', why's e'eryone here say this fellow called George be my da? Da's my da."
Adarian sighed, placing his hand on Lys' shoulder.
"He is your father, little one."
"What he says is true, Lys. George Cooper is your real father."
"But…but…Da?"
"Don't call me that, little one, I don't deserve it." He looked into Lys' eyes and then looked away. "I kidnapped you, under orders from Maggur. You were two at the time. Your ma was away. I remember the day as if it was just yesterday, little one. You were cryin' out for your da…I was so mad at myself for goin' along with the plan…"
Lys stared up at the man she had so long thought to be her father and cried. The Goddess placed a hand on her shoulder and then disappeared. Lys awoke to find tears streaming down her cheeks and Aly standing in the doorway.
"Lyssie?"
"He lied. E'erythin' he sayed, he were lyin'. He weren't my da…"
Aly walked over and sat down on the end of the bed.
"Tell me. Slowly, please."
"Da…no, Adarian, he lied. Telled me he were my da all my life cept he weren't tellin' true…You was all right, George be my da…'n I ain't ne'er called him Da…" Lys sniffed back her tears. "Adarian sayed he took me when I were li'l, s'that true?"
Aly nodded, hugging her little sister.
"It is, but you're back now. Everything's right again."
Lys wiped her tears on her sleeve and smiled a little.
"Thanks, Aly."
