A/N Yay I got more reviews! You guys are great! I'm really sorry for the longwait. I was visiting someone and couldn't download anything. Here it is!
Lovenotknown: Yeah, sorry about the cliffy! Its fun to write them but not so fun to read. Well here it is!
Yasminai: I'm glad you liked it!
Yazmari: Thanks for reviewing mine! I really happy you liked it.
Magewhisperer: Thanks for reviewing! Duani was their grandmother and their mother is Kyprish and she nicknamed her. She's not Aly. Good idea though! They lived in a small Tortallan village by the coast, but now they are on the pirate ship.
CoPpErFyRmAgE: Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you like it. And don't worry cheesy is good sometimes; like now.
Irish Violinist: Thank you so much! That makes me so happy that you like it a lot. I was a little afraid at first that people wouldn't like it.
Gaerwen: Thanks for the review. Sorry about all the confusion. They were in Tortall when they were captured but now they are on the ship. I hope more things are cleared up!
Disclaimer: Okay…I don't own Tortall or anything familiar. I'm not Tamora Pierce! And that's just too bad. She's awesome! Just don't sue me! I also don't own the quote that a character says. I found it on the internet and it was said by Henry Wadsworth Longsfellow.
Chapter 3
She watched as the pirates' healer bent over her mother. He stayed like that for some time, pouring his magic into her but nothing was working.
Suddenly the ship shifted and the healer started to change. His face became grotesque and his body large and inhuman. The atmosphere became dark and suffocating and it made it hard to breathe.
Zeki stood behind the healer, a look of terror and fear on his face that he tried to hide from her. But she knew what he was feeling because she was feeling it herself.
The former healer stood and turned his horrible gaze toward her and made a formidable noise. Kazendi was frozen with terror but his bellow restored the movement of her limbs and she jumped away from his advancing form.
The monster suddenly stopped and to Kazendi it seemed that his mouth curved upward into a malicious grin. His teeth showed white and long and promised a painful end; but his attention was no longer focused on her. His gaze moved to her mother's barely conscious form; lying helplessly on the floor. He slowly advanced to where she lay and Kazendi was helpless to do anything--
Kazendi bolted upright from her sleeping position in the stocks of the ship breathing heavily. Cold sweat soaked her clothes making her shiver. They'd been on the ship for a week now with meager provisions and poor care.
Her stomach was rumbling but that's not what woke her up. She'd had a horrible nightmare.
Thinking of her mother, Kazendi looked over to where she lay on her makeshift bed of rags. She was sleeping fretfully and tossing and turning. She knew her mother was sick. She had been ever since a few days on the ship. No one had thought it life threatening.
The dream flashed back into Kazendi's mind. It was so scary and had seemed so real . . .
No. It was just a dream. Dreams weren't real, that's why they are called dreams, right?
And besides, Kazendi thought, I'm probably the least likely person in the world to get any kind of vision. My feet are firmly planted on the earth; happy with being on the ground.
Kazendi looked around the room. There were many other people here other than her family and the people from her village. She did not want to become like them. Resigned to her fate and accepting it. She would not. She would change her future and it would not include slavery.
Kazendi knelt beside her mother, dabbing her forehead with a wet cloth trying to get the fever down. Aderyn was sleeping fretfully in a corner and Zeki paced, trying to think of something. Those damned pirates wouldn't lift a pinky to help.
"The dirty, Gods' cursed rats," Kazendi grumbled to herself. At that moment Taraneh cracked open her brown eyes to meet her daughter's anxious ones.
"Daughter," she croaked, throat dry. Kazendi hurriedly gave her the water that she had saved earlier. "There are things you must know about me, about yourself. Fetch Zeki and Aderyn."
Kazendi called softly to Zeki and he woke up Aderyn. Kazendi and Zeki exchanged a worried glance. Taraneh shouldn't be talking and using her strength, but she wouldn't listen to what they said.
"Is anyone else listening?" she asked, trying to look around. Zeki checked.
"No, Mother," he said. And so she began.
"Do you children know from which country I was born?" they all nodded yes, of course they knew she was Kyprish. "I met your father there when he came as a servant for a noble Tortallan man. He was very handsome with his green eyes and blonde hair, very tall too. At first I could only watch him; I was too shy to approach. But eventually I did and he thought I was a very amusing creature, very curious he said," she took a deep breath but before she could go on Aderyn interrupted her.
"I don't understand Mama. Creature? You make it sound like you were an animal or something," she stated, confused.
Zeki and Kazendi nodded in agreement.
Taraneh smiled inwardly, Aderyn was always so sharp for her age. "This is where my secret begins," she whispered. All three of the siblings looked at each other, thoroughly curious. They hadn't expected her to tell them anything like this.
"One day I realized that he would leave and I was in love with him. So I prayed to Dawn Crow and his mate to give me courage and I transformed," as she paused for another breath they opened their mouths to speak but Taraneh cut them off, her voice raspy, "Don't speak, you will understand when I am finished."
Kazendi nodded her head and the others followed suit.
"I am raka, yes. But I am descended from a different line. My brethren are the oldest cousin's to the raka; the crows. I was born a crow but I am human now and have accepted the ways and my form. I think of myself as human, have been since before you were born," Taraneh continued although her voice was getting weaker.
Each of them was speechless. Crow? How could their mother be a crow; or been a crow? Does that mean...yes! Me, Zeki, and Aderyn are half crow, Kazendi thought. But she had one more question.
"Mum?" she asked, curious to know but not wanting to tax her strength. Her mother looked so pale. "Can you... can you transform back? And can we change to crows too?" she was eager to know if she could.
Taraneh nodded and chuckled, or attempted to. It came out as a raspy cough that racked her throat. Zeki hurriedly gave her some more water. "But mother," Zeki started, unsure," you talk like you, like you're..." he trailed off, not wanting to say it.
"Dying," Kazendi stated softly, but bluntly. Zeki glared at her and Kazendi stared back. He knew the truth and so did their mother. No use in hiding it.
Taraneh looked sad but nodded. "At first I thought I would recover. But I just got weaker. Have the pirates not at healer to spare?" she asked, her voice a whisper.
It was Aderyn who answered, with an anger that was odd for her. "They have them, I know. I asked for one and they refused, saying they wouldn't waste a healer on a slave," she spat out the word slave like it was scalding her mouth. They all looked at her like she had two heads.
"Aderyn," Zeki whispered surprised to hear her use a tone like that. His sister was almost never angry.
Taraneh looked at her daughter with sad eyes. "Daughter, do not let these men consume you with hatred. Learn to forgive," her mother spoke to Aderyn but Kazendi looked down, ashamed. She had felt a similar anger as well. She tried to take her mother's words to heart.
They stood up as someone came down to give them their meager meal of bread and water.
Everyone stood up and began to move toward the door. Only Zeki stopped and grabbed Kazendi to hold her back. She turned to him with a look. "You know," she began dryly, "I have to get my food to eat it."
"Kazendi," he said exasperated. "Ask the pirate for a healer. Tell them she might not make it. Maybe if they think she's dying they'll help."
"You go. I don't want to socialize with people who don't bathe."
"Just go. I think they'll listen to a woman more than a man," he said, getting a little annoyed.
"Do you really think so?" she said sarcastically.
"They are pirates; and men. Maybe if they realize they will lose one of their- cargo," he said distastefully, "then they will be more willing. Just go and try before he leaves," he knew his sister would do it.
Kazendi walked up to the man, sashaying her hips. He looked at her when she stopped in front of him. What he saw was a little demure slave girl; the complete opposite of what she was.
"Excuse me, sir," she began, pretending to be shy, "my mother is very ill. Could you fetch a healer? I think she is . . . dying," she finished and looked down, then looked up and gave him a pleading look.
The pirate glared at her at first but eventually gave in. Apparently he has a soft spot for women, figures, Kazendi thought.
"Fine girl, but she better be real sick," and with that he left to get a healer after one lingering look. When he turned his head, Kazendi scowled and cursed him under her breath.
She turned around to Zeki and nodded. His plan had worked. He grinned, and then mockingly walked up to her sashaying his hips. Kazendi scowled, although her eyes were smiling.
"Oh, mister pirate, sir," Zeki said in a high girly voice, "I am a helpless little girl. Will you please help me," he continued his mocking impression of Kazendi until she pushed him.
"Shut up Zeki. I got the healer. You should be praising me, not mocking me," she told him. He opened his mouth again but then the pirate came, towing a healer. They could tell he was a captive as well by the slave collar around his neck.
Kazendi immediately adopted her former façade and told him, "Oh thank you sir. My mother is this way, follow me if you please." She turned and walked to where her mother lay. Zeki followed after the pirate, scowling. He did not like the way the he was looking at Kazendi. He got protective over his sisters.
The healer saw and gave a small smile. He put a hand on Zeki's shoulder and said, "Boy, how sick is the woman? How long has she been like this?"
Without looking at him Zeki replied, "She's been like this ever since a couple of days on the ship. They wouldn't let us a healer 'till now."
They came to their mother and Aderyn, who was sitting with her, widened her eyes in surprise. She didn't think the pirates would ever help them! Kazendi knelt by Taraneh and said, "Mother we got you a healer. You should be alright now. . . Mother?" Taraneh wasn't responding. It was then that Kazendi realized how shallow her breathing was. She felt her forehead; it was burning hot!
Kazendi's chest constricted in fear; what was wrong? The healer, who had just come up, immediately saw her and pushed Kazendi aside. From the moment he saw Taraneh he knew she was dying. Her life force was draining from her body.
The healer bent over Taraneh, pouring his magic into her as he tried to fight the darkness that was taking over. As a healer he could see the sickness and knew it was a losing battle. But he had to try.
He stayed like that for a while, trying to keep the sickness at bay. He soon realized that all he was doing was barely keeping her alive and even that wouldn't last for long. The sickness was too strong and he knew she was at the threshold of the Black God's realm. So he let her go.
He knew the boy behind him was counting on him to save her; as were the two girls. But he couldn't. He stood up, his face sad.
As he turned around, Kazendi could tell there was no happy ending here. Before he even spoke she knew. It was in his posture and face. Her mother was dead. Next to her on the floor, Aderyn was tring to hold back tears. Kazendi pulled her into a hug.
The healer spoke. "I'm sorry. But, she is dead.
Zeki stumbled to Taraneh's side and clutched her hand. How could she be dead! He bowed his head, not wanting his sisters to see his tears. He took a deep, shuddering breath.
I have to be strong, Zeki thought. I have to be the leader now; I have to keep us together. And with those thought s he dried his tears and went to Kazendi and grabbed her and Aderyn into a fierce hug.
"It'll be alright, you'll see," he told them, trying to comfort them. Aderyn was outright bawling but Kazendi was silent. Tears leaked from her eyes but she said not a word.
Dead. Dead.The word echoed through her head like an endless chant. How could she be dead,Kazendi thought furiously. She was our anchor, our guide! She kept us together after Papa died and after the raid. How could she leave us? Just a few moments ago Zeki and I were joking while she lay there . . . dying. I-I knew, but I always thought she would make it somehow! Maybe if I had been more diligenther thoughts drifted off as she realized someone was speaking. It was the pirate.
". . . Need to get rid of her," he said. Kazendi's eyes widened and she stood up. Get rid of her? "We'll be back down with a tarp to throw her over," and with that he turned and walked away. The healer was already gone.
Zeki stood too and Aderyn wiped her eyes, sniffling. "We need to say our goodbyes before he gets back, don't we?" asked Aderyn. Zeki nodded in affirmation. Aderyn went first.
"I love you Mama. You know that already though. I know you said Papa was still with us when he died and I know you would say the same about this, but it is still hard to believe when the person you love isn't there to say it to you anymore. I miss you . . . good-bye," Aderyn half whispered, crying tears anew. She got up and let Zeki have his turn.
"I know you never said I had to be the leader or be the strong one. That you were always here. But you aren't here anymore. So I have to be strong now, not some silly boy with no responsibilities. I am a man now. I can't be a kid anymore. But it's okay Mother, I want to do it. If you are watching us I want you to know that you don't have to be sad for me. Love you," and with that Zeki stood up from his kneeling position and went to Aderyn. Kazendi was the only one left.
For a couple moments she just stood there, staring at Taraneh. Then she slowly knelt by her bed. To Kazendi it felt like she was watching from far away. Like this wasn't her life, just some other girls. But she knew that wasn't true. But, oh how she wished it was. Kazendi couldn't think of anything to say. So she just decided to speak.
"Mama, I wish you were here. I know that you aren't truly gone, that you are still here in spirit. But that's hard to believe when you have no confirmation. I hope you are happy in the realm of the dead. I hope you are with Papa. You shouldn't worry too much about us; we always manage to pull through," Kazendi paused not sure if she should say another thought out loud. She decided to. "But—why did you have to leave? Why couldn't you have beat it? You just left us here; you said you would never leave us! I don't know where to go now. I wish I had your courage," she whispered the last part; head bowed, and tears forming in her eyes. "Goodbye Mother, I love you. Gods all bless you in your passing," and with that she stood up too and the pirate came down a moment later with the tarp.
The pirates hadn't allowed them to come up on deck to witness their mother's pathetic funeral. All they could do was stand near the bars of the stocks and try to listen for sounds from above deck. They hadn't heard anything when suddenly they heard a splash and they all knew it for what it was.
Kazendi looked away and headed back to the other end of the room. She needed to be alone and think. So much had happened in so little of time. It reminded her of something her father said before he died: "Noble souls, through dust and heat, rise from disaster and defeat the stronger". He had said that when a huge storm had destroyed part of their house and crops. She thought of that now.
She sat with her back against the wall and drew her knees up and rested her chin on them. What would happen now? Would they be able to stay together through this? She heard her siblings come seat themselves near her but did not acknowledge them. The last thing she remembered thinking before she fell asleep was her mother's trusting smile.
Kazendi was once again jolted out of her sleep, but this time from noise surrounding her. She opened her eyes blearily not knowing what was going on. People were scrambling about and she heard the sound of a key grating against a lock. She looked up again to find Zeki standing over her.
"Kaze, get up!" he said urgently. "Something's going on. I don't think it is anything good either." Zeki's green eyes looked worried and Kazendi felt that the monster from her dream was to strike again.
People scrambled out of his way as formidable looking pirate walked to the center of the room. There was no doubt in anyones mind that he bode ill news.
"Slaves! We will be sorting out some of you to different pens. Men in one and women and children in the other. Men,single file to the other pen.There will be complete silence or you will not like the consequences," he growled looking around the room.
No! Zeki! Kazendi thought turning frantically to look at Zeki with tear filled eyes. Zeki stood up slowly knowing he had no choice. To Kazendi it seemed that time itself slowed. Zeki turned one last time to look upon their faces. He gave a hopefull smile but Kazendi could see the fear and sadness he tried to hide. She knew him too well. She imprinted his face in her mind for it might be the last time she ever saw him. And with that he slowly walked out the door.
A/N Once again I'm really sorry for the wait. School started again and I had to figure out where the story was going for the most part. I still am not sure. So I would bereally thankfull if anyone who had ideas would drop me an e-mail or tell me in a review. Thank you. Oh and please review okay? It makes me feel really nice : )