Chapter Three
Training
The sun peeked across the trees, spreading a dull gray light over the courts.
"Fans?" Yvenne asked skeptically after being drug out of bed before the sun even rose. "We're going to warm up with fans?"
Kel smiled and shook her head, the Yamani's just stared blankly back though it seemed to Yvenne they had amusement in their eyes, or could she just feel that? She shook away the idea and demanded to know what was funny. Kel jumped back, surprised, but also shook it off and handed Yvenne one of the fans.
She gaped at its weight in her hand, "What makes it so heavy?" she whispered, and Kel took her own embroidered fan and opened it. Yvenne caught the flash of steel tipped ends. She gulped. "What do you do with them?"
"This," Kel threw the fan high into the air, and Yuki caught it gracefully, she then threw it to Shinko who threw it in turn to Thayet, then to Buri, then back to Kel.
"No way," Yvenne shook her head. "I will do a lot, but I will not play this game."
"The ends are weighted, so they almost always land the right way," Kel assured her, but it wasn't much of an assurance.
"Don't thieves fight with knives every day?" Shinko inquired, obviously genuinely curious.
"But that's not a game!" Yvenne shouted, then bowed quickly and apologized.
"But you can't say it is much different, all that throwing knives and such," Buri grinned.
"It's a lot the same, only, other people aren't throwing them at me!" Yvenne wasn't sure she wasn't ready to walk out right now.
"Just give it a try, if you get cut we'll find a Healer and stop," Kel persuaded, and Yvenne didn't want to seem weak in front of the women warriors and nodded her consent.
"If you wish it," she bowed and joined their circle.
The first toss was low and slow, and Yvenne caught it and yelped when it touched her palm, the butt of the fan in her hand. She heaved a sigh, and the others in the circle took a step back and told Yvenne to toss it a little higher.
"Higher?" she whispered but did as they insisted and soon the fan was higher and higher, whirling dangerously with its ends sparkling in the wind.
After half an hour of it, Yvenne's arms were sore, the fan grew heavier and heavier, yet those in the circle didn't seem to notice.
Kel saw her weariness and ordered for them to stop, "Tired?"
"No, My Lady," Yvenne gritted her teeth, if those fragile Yamani's could do this, then she could too.
"Good, then we're going to do something a little harder," Kel smothered the grin with Yvenne's astonished face.
Yuki bowed in Yamani style to Kel as she handed her two practice glaives. Yvenne's jaw dropped with one look at the long blades.
"Now I'm going to show you how to use another traditional weapon for a Yamani woman, this is called a glaive," Kel showed her how to grip it and the smooth movements of a simple warm-up dance. They did that for the remaining time until the sun told them it was time for them to get back to their daily chores and Yvenne back to her lessons.
She climbed up the hill to the palace and was barely able to shove two pieces of toast in her mouth before she had to grab her books and run to her first class.
*
"She did well with both the shukusen and the naginata," Shinko commented when they were alone in her quarters.
"She did," Kel was deep in thought.
"What troubles you?" Yuki asked as she took a seat beside Kel on a silk pillow, smoothing her kimono and then settling to a calm silence.
"I just…a thief," Kel shook her head. "It's never been done before, not even boys that are not nobles are allowed to become knights."
"Well she was a noble," Shinko answered, and Kel nodded in agreement.
"But she's not technically anymore, I just don't know why King Jonathan is doing it," Kel was biting the inside of her cheek as she thought.
"King Jonathan is mysterious," Shinko admitted. "He does nothing that doesn't benefit Tortall. I suppose she has a deeper reason for being here than any of us will know. Or perhaps it is Sakuyo come to play another trick on us."
"Perhaps," Kel smiled at the two and thanked them before dismissing herself to go tend to Tobe, Hoshi and Peachblossom.
*
Bray of Stone Mountain caught her after class, "Not so tough without your girlfriends are you?" he jeered, and she glared and raised her head.
"I don't have to take this from you," she informed him and tried to walk by, but he grabbed her shoulder and pushed her up against the wall. "Take your hands off me."
"This is a warning, I want you gone by the end of the week," he whispered, and she pushed him off of her.
"I won't leave," she told him just as angrily. "You can't do anything to make me."
He raised his hand, and she braced herself for the impact, but something caught his arm.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you not to hit women?" a cold voice asked, and Yvenne opened her eyes to see that her rescuer was Nealan of Queenscove. He threw the boy to the ground and looked at Yvenne. "Find pray elsewhere."
Aiden walked by, and she scowled at him as he shook his head.
"I'll find you when you don't have friends by your side," Bray vowed, and she smiled sourly.
"I'll be looking forward to it," she called after him as he left. It was only then that she realized that Neal was still there.
"My Lord, may I-" she started, but he shoved a small package into her hands. A note was attached.
"From Master Numair, keep it in a secret spot," he ordered, then left without so much as a goodbye.
She looked down at the package before shoving it into her pocket and running to the next class on her agenda.
*
Concentrate your Gift into it and try to look at people while you're doing so. It might help to develop and strengthen your talent.
~Numair
She unwrapped the package and looked at it curiously. It was a small crystal orb. She threw it up, and it landed back in her hand. There didn't seem to be anything special about it. She shrugged and decided to give it a whirl at least.
She walked from her room and watched the people walking down the halls. Closing her eyes and concentrating on her magic, she let a small emerald colored stream into the ball. She kept her mind focused on the stream that swirled around in the ball and then came streaming out the other side. It wrapped around the nearest person, and thoughts streamed into her mind.
A bloodied woman screamed for her husband that lie dying by her side. The man was surely the boy she looked at now, only older.
A cradle made of cedar made him laugh and sneeze at the same time.
The Master of Ceremonies scolded him harshly for dropping a plate.
Then there was a dog, a large dog, black as the night with an equally black nose, panting over top of a small child that it had just rescued.
A knight fought with a mounted man and disarmed him, swinging onto the horse and galloping away.
She let her Gift fade and shuddered, pocketing the orb. She didn't want to see anymore. She was sure what she had just witnessed were events in the boy's life. He was going to die in a raid, not young, but not old either.
The images slowly faded as she walked to dinner. Unfortunately, her gift would only get stronger.
*
"I have reason to suspect you have a certain amount of knives on your person," the Lord Provost scowled down at her. "While that may be acceptable for one of…your stature, it cannot be permitted inside this palace."
"People in here carry swords!" Yvenne protested the injustice.
"Then carry a sword!" he barked back, knowing very well pages carrying swords without strict instructions first could be sent home. She glowered as he called a man forth, "Search her, I want every weapon off of her. She hasn't committed a crime, but I'm not going to give her the opportunity."
She glared hatefully as they took six knives from her; the very best money could buy. She bit back a scream as they stripped away her only defense.
"I'll keep these with me," he whispered, then dismissed her. "And keep an eye on you," she heard it and answered clearly back.
"I already have every eye in the Rogue on you. Are you sure you know where your loyalties lie?" then slipped out, vowing to make the comment true.
*
She looked outside and realized it was just enough time to make her illegal visit into town. She didn't care about the punishment; she had to see the Rogue tonight.
She walked outside her door to find Aiden poised to knock on it. She scowled at him and shut the door softly behind her. "What do you want?"
"To talk to you," he answered quietly; it looked as if he had his anger under control again.
"I don't have time to talk," she responded, and he looked at her curiously.
"Where are you going?"
"None of your concern," she snapped and tried to get by, but he wouldn't let her.
"Listen, I'm sorry Yvenne. I think you can do it, I've always thought you could. It's just, I thought we were friends. Friends trust one another with their secrets. But then you went and blurted it all out to a complete stranger!" he seemed more frustrated than angry.
"Lady Keladry knew my friends before they were killed. She deserved to know how they died," she told him curtly but still couldn't move because he was pinning her to the door. "Now let me by, I have things to do."
"Where are you going?" he asked again.
"Nowhere," she looked around her. She could get kicked out of the palace for this. She needed to see him though, as soon as she could, tonight. "Listen Aiden, you need to get out of my way."
"Go ahead, slit my throat, that's what you want isn't it?" he stepped back and let her pass.
"If you even knew what it was like to not be pampered your whole life you might regret your words. If you knew what they were like you might not be so hasty to judge," she glared but didn't have time to play games with him. She had more important things to do. "And in case you were interested, the Lord Provost got your message. He took my knives, my only way to protect myself."
"What?" he whispered. "I didn't tell him to take your knives. I don't like to even speak to the man. I don't know who did tell him Yvenne, but it wasn't me."
"Sure," she muttered dryly, and then walked out, leaving him behind her and all the troubles that came with him. Somewhere in her heart she didn't want him to be mad at her. She growled at that part to shut up and leave her alone.
*
"Hey, look who we drug out of the palace!" a man from a nearby table shouted as she walked into the Dancing Dove. She grinned and went to sit across from him.
"Your Majesty," she bowed her head, and he smiled warmly at her.
George's eyes narrowed as he came to sit beside Yvenne. She gasped and shook her head, "I'm sorry Baron, I just…they…"
"No need to be sorry lass," he told her quickly. "My Lioness used to sneak out here all the time when she was a page and a squire too."
Yvenne sighed, she should have known he wouldn't tell on her.
"But what does bring you from the palace so quickly?" the Rogue asked with his brows raised. "Somethin' bad I assume."
"They took them away Your Majesty!" she shouted, and he tilted his head. "They took away all my knives!"
"Well that's easily fixed darlin', we'll just get you new ones-"
George was shaking his head.
"What is it George? Knives not civilized enough for you now?" he questioned angrily.
"You know better Merek," George scolded gently enough. "The Rogue still runs deep through me."
"I know George, I know, well then what is it?"
"The Lord Provost will be watching over your shoulder like a hawk now," he turned this to Yvenne.
"Why though?" the Rogue inquired.
"The lass didn't tell you?" George shook his head, "She announced that she was from the House of the Rogue in front of an entire banquet hall full of nobles, not to mention Numair and Their Highness'."
He beamed at her so hard she had to blush and look down, "I did only tell them who my family was."
"Adda girl," he grinned at her from across the table.
"Still, the Lord Provost will have his eyes on her, and we all know that she can't carry knives any longer. He'll do routine checks, wait for you to slip up again," George shook his head. "You're going to have to go to Kel and learn to fight."
"We're starting, sort of," Yvenne launched into a tail of the razor fans and the glaive.
"Sounds like her," George grinned. "Just whatever you do, don't ask Alanna about wrestling."
Yvenne tilted her head, but he merely laughed and waved it off.
*
Aiden took a deep breath and tried not to wince as he crossed the threshold into the Dancing Dove.
All conversation seemed to stop as he walked in, and a big elderly man rushed forward.
"Well My Lord, what a surprise, what can we humble people be doin' for you this fine evenin'?"
*
The three at the table turned to look in the door, the words "My Lord," were never good ones in the Dancing Dove.
Yvenne groaned and sat back as Aiden responded politely that he was looking for a friend.
"Well I'm sure you'll not find them here," the man told him just as politely, wanting him gone from the room.
"I followed her in here, of course I'll find her here," Aiden looked around, and Yvenne shrunk in her seat.
"Over here page," the Rogue spat, and Aiden's eyes widened as he looked at the two older men that surrounded Yvenne.
"Yvenne, if anyone saw you here you'd be kicked out," Aiden told her quickly, knowing very well that everyone in the Dancing Dove was staring at him.
"So what are you doing here? You can't even associate yourself with one member of the Rogue, let alone a whole room of them!" he winced and looked around him carefully, waiting for one of them to jump out and slit his throat or steal his purse.
"You're safe enough in here boy, only if you're one of Yvenne's," the man across the table from her told him roughly. He noticed the man next to her to be the Baron George of Pirate's Swoop, the former King of Thieves himself.
"Who are you?" he asked suspiciously.
"Don't get saucy boy," someone whispered and whipped out a knife, holding it to his throat.
"Blade let him go," the King of Thieves instructed, and he did so, if grudgingly.
Aiden rubbed his throat where the knife had been but looked back to Yvenne stubbornly.
"You're looking at the King of Thieves Aiden, you might want to show respect," she whispered angrily, and his eyes widened and his jaw dropped.
"Are you scared boy?" the Rogue asked calmly, though amusement played on his face.
"I…" Aiden looked around carefully. "Should I be?"
"Not so long as Yvenne here keeps you by her side, but if you anger or hurt her, then yes," his eyes grew serious, and Aiden believed the threat.
"He's not by my side Majesty; he's merely my sponsor," Aiden had never seen her hold her temper through a teasing, but she seemed to be doing just that. By her side? What in the name of Mithros is that supposed to mean? All this thief talk is giving me a headache.
"It's a shame then," one of the serving girls giggled to Yvenne. "You should certainly keep this one by you at all times. It seems he chooses to be there, day and night."
Yvenne turned a bright shade of red and shook her head. She only grew serious when she realized how late it grew, "Majesty, would you keep an eye on the Lord Provost? I told him you were, but I don't want my threats to be hollow. If you wish it, I'll spy inside the palace for you."
The Rogue looked enticed, but George quickly shook his head, "Fine, have it your way," the Rogue sighed at George. "You need not spy, but it will be an honor to watch over the Lord Provost for you."
"Thank you," George let Yvenne out and once she was there, she bowed, and he smiled.
"Now get to bed the both of you. And Yvenne, don't forget your crooked roots!"
"Impossible Majesty!" she called back and waved a goodbye.
"That lass is as wily and as quick as you were when you were a lad. There's never been a Queen of Thieves, but she could be the first if only she'd drop all this turning respectable business," the Rogue sighed as he turned back to George.
He laughed then looked at the table, "She is in more serious danger than even My Lord Provost."
*
"Who's that? Sitting with His Majesty?" he questioned a serving maid quickly, just before she slipped from the seat and walked out. "Her friend wears the uniform of a page."
"Aye," the girl responded and grinned. "Why are you askin'?"
"I feel as if I've seen her before," he responded carefully. He did not want rumors to fly, and they flew in here just as quickly as in the palace.
"You most likely have. She's the girl page in the palace, the one after Lady Keladry of Mindelan," a thief very rarely gave nobles the respect of their titles. He quickly learned Kel was one of them, and for very desirable reasons.
His eyes opened wide, she's beautiful.
"But she seems to have that boy by her side, even if she wasn't. Aren't you a little young to be askin' after a young lady anyway?"
He nodded; he was too young, after all. It just seemed that there was something special about her, something he didn't quite understand. He knew one thing for sure, his magic was screaming at sight of her.
*
"Spy in the palace?" Aiden hissed. "So the cutthroats could steal our purses?"
"Shut up," Yvenne snapped, unleashing all her previous anger on him. "I knew he'd never agree. Not even the Baron used Lady Alanna as a spy when she was a page and he the King of Thieves. He likes me too much to jeopardize my safety. Besides, his foremost duty is to protect his people."
"Duty?" he asked skeptically.
"Just because they don't have money doesn't mean they don't know duty. Just because they don't abide by all our-your codes doesn't mean they-we don't have our own. And a thief keeps his word no matter what. Tell me nobles do that," she was slipping back into a normal society already. She was already moving away from the Rogue, and it felt like she was losing a part of herself.
"I-I am sorry. Everything is just so-new," when she looked into his brown eyes she felt genuine concern and apology.
"I know you are, and I will learn to hold my tongue," she looked down and realized they had stopped walking.
"I rather like your tongue where it is," he grinned, and she glared.
"You like being put in your place then?" she teased.
"Some people need to be put in their place sometimes. Just don't forget to let me return the favor some time," he teased back.
She stuck her tongue out at him but quickly his voice grew more solemn.
"Yvenne, just what is it with you and that man? He's so eager to shower you with gifts and attention. I know you can take care of yourself, but I worry," he confessed.
She giggled softly and patted him on the cheek, "He's old enough to be my father, maybe even my grandfather. He treats me as a daughter."
He tried not to let out a sigh of relief, "Good, because I do believe he would have some trouble on his hands," he reached in to kiss her, and she was half willing. The other half told her he didn't deserve this, getting tangled up with a girl page in the Rogue-it wasn't proper noble behavior. It was this half she listened to as she turned her head.
"Good night Aiden," she whispered as she strode quickly back to the palace and her rooms where she could be alone with her tears that would be only the first of many in her stay at the palace.