A/N—Please read and review. Thank you. I hope you enjoy. I've been getting some pretty helpful reviews. Sorry it took so long to update. I started a new story and kind of forgot about everything else.
Thanks to jenn jenn2 and Rubber Duck for the reviews.
Well, here's another short chapter.
Rahallow, Tortall
On the Great Road North between fiefs Treabond and Mindelan
First day of summer, 458 H.E.
Andera woke up and the first thing she noticed was that her ankle didn't hurt. The second thing was that she had no idea where she was. She lay on a warm cot with the quilt pulled up to her chin. There was a small hearth with a dwindling fire and a window on the other side of the room was open a sliver. Andera felt stiff like she hadn't exercised in weeks and lazy like she hadn't moved in days. She raised herself up on her elbows to get a better look around. There were two doors, one by the window and one near the head of Andera's cot. The room was stuffed with furniture and looked well lived in though it was kept neat.
Andera tossed her quilt aside and swung her legs out so she could sit on the side of the cot. She had somehow acquired a thin cotton nightgown that ended below her knees. She gave her ankle a few test turns and stood up carefully. It didn't hurt but standing upright made her feel even more stiff and out of shape. She bent at the waist to touch her toes then followed that with a series of Yamani stretches that worked every part of the body. She felt much better when she was done. There was a robe on the back of a chair and she put it on, though it was much too large and slipped off her shoulders. She walked slowly to the window and looked out onto a normal Tortallan street in a medium sized town.
"Miss Kelly, she's up." Andera turned when she heard the light, male voice from behind her. He was standing by the other door and looked to be in his late twenties. He was tall and thinly muscled. He was blonder then Andera and had bright blue eyes that laughed at her surprised look. "We thought you'd sleep forever, lass, but it's good to see you up and moving."
"Who are you?" Andera asked. "How did I get here?"
"My name's Evin Larse. I found you out in the woods with a sprained ankle and a fever. I brought you back to Rahallow and my mother-in-law, she's the healer that fixed you up." As he explained a tall, thin woman with masses of thick, purely white hair piled on top of her head, walked in.
"It's a pleasure to see you moving around, little one." She said in a low, kind voice. "Are you hungry?" Andera nodded. "Benni, bring in that tea." She called through the door. "I'm Kellsen Mattis but folks around here call me Miss Kelly. Why don't you come sit down and I'll give you a look over." Another woman came in carrying a cup of steaming liquid. She seemed to be in her mid twenties as well. She had lots of thick, pale blonde hair, which was woven into a rope of braid that she then wound around her head. Her eyes were dark blue and her skin creamy ivory. She set the steaming cup on an end table by the cot as Andera sat down. Miss Kelly ran knowing hands over Andera's ankle then looked in her eyes and mouth and felt her forehead.
"Well, your fever has gone down and your ankle healed nicely. How do you feel?"
"Like I overslept." Andera answered. The adults chuckled.
"Well, you've been in and out for nearly two weeks." Benni replied, her voice also low and kind. "I'll go get you somethin' to eat."
"What's your name, lass?" Evin asked.
"Andera."
"Alright Andera, welcome to Rahallow." Evin said, extending his hand for Andera to take. Benni came back in with a large bowl and plate.
"It'll be chicken and herb broth for you, lass, and that's fresh bread and fruit on the plate." She set the meal on the table by the tea. "Our potatoes are done." She told the others.
"We'll be supping in the other room. If you need anything, just holler." Evin told her as they started to walk out. "Oh, and we left the window open for your ferret. He's out playing now but he's never away from your side more 'n an hour or two." He added with a smile Andera couldn't help but return. The tea, soup, bread and fruit were amazingly good and by the time Andera finished eating her eyelids were feeling heavy. She took off the robe and put it back where she'd found it. Just as she was nodding off Kaji climbed though the open window and scurried across the room to curl up on her pillow.
Andera woke up the next morning feeling very refreshed and in the mood for some exercise. She got out of bed and stretched then pulled the robe on and opened the door by her bed. It led into a kitchen and dining room of sorts where Evin sat at a small, ovular table sipping tea. He looked up when he heard the door open.
"Good morning, Andera."
"Morning."
"Can I help you with something?"
"I'd like some clothes." She said uncertainly.
"Ah, well, your Yamani kimono was really too trashed to be saved and the rest of your pack was involved in an unfortunate incident with a goat. His name's Serge and he's a real picky eater, but we have to watch what we leave on the floor around here because he comes in and chews on things just for their entertainment value." Evin paused and smiled. Andera returned it. "I asked around the tavern, though, and a few people brought some things by that might fit you. I'll go grab the bag. Have yourself a seat and get some breakfast." He gestured to a pot of gruel on the stove then went through another of two doors. He came back a few minuets later carrying a full cloth bag.
Andera swallowed her spoonful of gruel. "Thank you." She said before she took another bite.
"You've got your appetite back. According to the two healers I live with, that's a good sign." Evin said in the light, laughing way he had. "Now I'll explain to you my dilemma. Miss Kelly and Benni had to run off to Treabond. The messenger came in last night."
"But Treabond's miles away."
"Right, but it's one of the fiefs that the Gennature seized and the lord there is Gennature. His wife's Tortallan and pregnant. The messenger came to say she was delivering. She probably had the baby before Miss Kelly and Benni got there but they're the only midwives willing to deliver or treat a half Gennature child."
"That's wrong."
"I agree. It's one of the things that made me fall in love with Benni. Anyway, my problem is I'm not to leave you alone and I need to go in to work today. Mistress Jonesy, who watched you a few times while you were sick, has to stay home because her little ones are ill. So that leaves us with a problem."
"I can go with you, if I won't get in the way." Andera offered.
"You feel well enough?" Evin asked. "It's not anything strenuous—just a short walk then you can sit around."
"I feel fine. I actually feel like I've been sleeping too much. I'm not used to it."
"Alright, I just need to tidy up a bit then I'll be ready. Your boots are under the cot."
"Thanks." Andera gulped down the rest of her breakfast then took the bag of clothes into the other room to change. There was an assortment of skirts, dresses and blouses. Andera, not one fore dresses except in the Yamani style, pulled out a few blouses and skirts that looked like they would fit her. She settled on a shin-length, gray skirt and a cream blouse that was only a little too big. Andera looked at her reflection in the window as she smoothed the rough, hand-me-down cotton and couldn't help but wonder if this was what her life would have been like without the Conquering.
"I'm ready." Andera said, going back into the dining room.
"You look nice. Are you sure you're up to this?"
"I'll be fine." Evin nodded and led her back into her room and out the door. Kaji, who Andera hadn't seen yet that morning, jumped down from a tree just outside the door then climbed up onto Andera's shoulder, where he chattered happily. Evin just glanced and him and kept walking.
The streets of Rahallow were tidy and quiet. The town was nestled in a clearing, but a few houses looked out between trees on the hills that rose on every side. The main road split in the middle of the town, one fork going northwest and the other northeast. "It's the Great Road North." Evin explained. "The west fork becomes the Vassa Road and goes straight to Scanra."
"Where do you work, anyway?"
"The Rider's Own; it's a tavern. I run it. A good friend of mine started it but I've been handling it for almost five years. There's a pretty interesting story behind it, too."
"I'd like to hear it sometime."
"Later, for sure. Where were you running from? If you don't mind my asking."
"A story for a story." Andera proposed.
"As long as yours is interesting—mine is."
"I'm running from Tortall and the Gennature." Andera started. "More directly it was Mindelan. I'm just not cut out to be the Gennature's version of a noble. I was doing find in Yamani but then they asked us to move back here. Now, at least once a month, I just feel like I'm going to explode."
"I thought most of the Mindelan's had hazel eyes."
"They do. I'm not Mindelan by blood, just raising."
"What are you by blood?"
"Lost."
"So you ran off because the family that took you in was stifling you?"
"No!" Andera answered quickly. "I ran off because I got Oranie's horse killed and I felt guilty. Then Iness said things that made me think maybe we'd all be better off if I was somewhere else. I know better now."
"So you do plan on returning home?"
"As soon as I can find Oranie a new horse."
"Well, horses are pretty easy to find around here. We run races through those hills and people come from all over to bet on or enter the races. The winners run pretty high prices but the losers are usually affordable." Evin paused and looked down at Andera. "So you were Yamani raised?" Andera nodded. "You fight?"
Andera smiled. "I know glaive, long bow, shukusen, and some Shang. I had to learn Shang second-hand because they don't let the Gifted ones learn it. Kel would come home and teach me everything she learned."
"You're Gifted?" Andera nodded again. "And you're telling that information to a stranger. It's dangerous to be Gifted these days, lass."
Andera shrugged. "I'd know if I couldn't trust you. I've got good instincts."
"Have you had any training in it?"
"Some in Yamani but none since we moved."
"We're here." They stopped in front of a red brick building. Evin pushed the door open and led Andera inside. Andera had never been in a tavern before but she immediately liked the noisy, bustling room. "Why don't you go out back to the courtyard." Evin had to almost shout in her ear to be heard. "It's a beautiful day and quieter outside. I'll have someone bring you out a chair and some blankets. Do you think you'll be ok?" Andera nodded, guessing her voice wasn't up to being heard. "Alright, I'll come out to check on you later. Osben!" Evin raised his voice to a bellow that could have been heard on a battlefield. A dark-haired and brown-eyed man came forward. "This is Andera. I want you to take care of her—take her outside, chair blankets, liquid, whatever she needs. I've got a meeting to get to."
Osben led her through the room to a small door. The courtyard was cool, shaded by small pines and surrounded by a tall, brick wall. Most of it was carpeted by lush green grass but there was an area of packed dirt in the center. Osben brought out a chair, blankets and, upon her request, a large cup of water, then left. There was a mop leaning against the wall drying. Andera carefully took the top off, making sure she could put it back on, and then took the mop poll to the packed dirt center of the courtyard. She stretched then started a slow glaive pattern dance.