Chapter Seven ~ Bloodshed
"If you're going to lounge on the ground all day, at least try to keep the sword in hand; you won't be hurting a fly with your skills."
Alanna scowled. "Let off," she snapped. "I'd like to have seen you at your first sword bout."
Terrin chuckled. "My, my, aren't we in a mood today? But if you really wanted to know, I won my first sword bout--and that was against my teacher."
Alanna refused to reply, but grabbed her sword, which had fallen next to her and flipped herself off the ground. Terrin grinned, "Ready for another beating?" he asked.
Alanna moved into the 'guard' position he had first taught her, determination etched on her face.
Terrin took one look at her and returned his sword to his sheath in one slick movement. "Okay, maybe I went to fast, but didn't you practice the positions at all?
Alanna glared, and sheathed her own sword. "I want to learn, but I'm not desperate."
Terrin flashed another grin. "Seems to me you are." Before she could open her mouth again, Terrin had come up behind her. "Take your sword out," he instructed. She rolled her eyes, but grudgingly obeyed, turning and purposely pointing it near Terrin's neck.
He reached over and took the blade pointed at him by two fingers, pulling it. Alanna, surprised, lost her balance as her sword was pulled from her hand. Terrin swung the sword until he had it by the hilt, moving back behind her. All the time looking as casual and elegant as if he were taking a sweet from a child instead of a razor blade from a deadly assassin.
"You let your guard down," he accused.
True, she had, thus forgetting one of the first things she had ever learned. The sword was offered to her again, hilt first. She took it slowly, keeping her eyes cast down.
"I guess your not that bad for someone just starting out." Startled by the sudden comment, she looked up, straight into gray-green eyes boring into her own violet ones.
She gulped and looked down again. "Do you have to stare at me like that?" she mumbled, unsettled for the moment..
"Maybe."
Alanna quickly recovered her posture and shot him a glare of her own. She raised her sword a little higher again, keeping a tight hold on the hilt. He came around and wrapped his larger hands around hers, holding it in position. "I've already taught you the movements, now try keeping the position while you practice them."
He guided her through the Crescent Moon Swing and the Butterfly Sweep. "Breath in and out slowly, try to get into the rhythm of it. Let the blade show you what to do, and above all; practice." He stepped back and away from her, letting her traverse through the drills by herself.
Alanna followed Terrin's instructions unconsciously. She was only slightly surprised when another sword came up to stop hers. She swung her own around and blocked as the opposing sword descended. She caught her mysterious acquaintance's grin as their swords met with a ring.
Half an hour later, with their little sword fight done, the two sat quietly. Alanna dangled her legs off the edge of the roof, staring thoughtfully at the sunset. Her hand still rested on the sheathed sword beside her. Terrin regarded her as thoughtfully as she watched the sunset. He leaned back against the railing built strictly on one side, his own sword resting across one knee and held in place by a calloused hand.
This strange young woman was something very new. Not many chose the life of an assassin when they could lounge about in pleasure and riches. She was clearly a child from some well-to-do family--a noble, perhaps? Her manner and talk all pointed in this direction, but...
"Terrin?"
He snapped to alert, surprised at her using his name. His hand wrapped around the dark scabbard of his sword. "Yes?" He watched her carefully, still wondering who exactly she was.
Alanna blinked several times, she had surprised herself. She hadn't meant to say anything aloud, but her mind seemed hazy just now. Might as well just ask the question, she decided. "You really do like using the sword, don't you?" It came out all wrong, and she mentally slapped herself.
Terrin raised an eyebrow, this was very curious, indeed. "Yes," he replied, choosing his words carefully. "You could say that. You could also say that it's one of my...expertise."
Alanna shifted from her place, turning so she could see him. "You have others?" she asked dryly.
"Yes. What of you?" he questioned.
Alanna was caught unguarded. "Me? I like...I used to want to--Never mind. I'm perfectly fine with what I am right now. Butt off," she added tartly.
"Oh, really?" he answered in a semi-sarcastic tone. "If you are so content with what you know, then why ask me to teach you sword arms?" The conversation was returning the the type they usually had, and Alanna liked it this way so much better. Just as long as no one asked her any...uncomfortable questions.
"For your information, you asked me if I wanted to learn. And yes, really. You're just twisting my words around."
"Am I? I didn't know."
Alanna snorted, "As if! If you want to play word games with people, go find someone else."
"But you're so much easier to play them on. But in that case, go to bed, Hunter, you need sleep for the trip tomorrow," he replied; an amused smile was once again on his face. Which, of course, just got her so much more annoyed.
"And what makes you think I'm going anywhere tomorrow?" she shot back.
He pointed at the street below, which he had watched all that time. "Because if you haven't noticed; your 'escort's' arrived. In fact, they're right below you."
Alanna glanced sharply at him, but looked down. A group of travelers were just entering the inn a few steps away from the one whose roof they sat on. One of them turned around and looked straight at her, smiling, before following his companions into the building. She had just enough time to see a pair of hazel eyes.
"How'd you know it was them? You've never seen them before!"
"You underestimated me, then." He paused and added, "Look on the bright side. You've underestimated me this time, instead of the other way around."
Alanna scowled at him before readying herself to jump to the lower rooftop of another building. Terrin stood up to watched her until shed descended into the now dark street below and vanished into the other inn.
Alanna tapped her fingers on the side of her chair as she waited for her 'escort' to arrive. She double checked to make sure her sword was still tucked safely under her seat. She wondered what was taking them so long, after all, she had already checked on them that first time, then left to return to her room in the other inn to change into something more presentable and less likely to draw suspicion. Next, she had made sure they were still at the inn before choosing a corner table and waiting for George to find her. They needed to talk.
"You need something there, lass?" the subject of her thought asked.
"What took you so long?" she demanded unveiling her impatience for a moment. Then in a calm and cool voice added, "I was stuck here with an obstinate man for a whole week. And you do know that most people do not like being in the middle of a desert in the middle of summer, right?"
The Rogue chuckled. "Was it really my fault that you tricked me and left by yourself? I cannot ask my men to push themselves and their horsed to the your extent in the middle of the night."
"But you knew."
He laughed again. "I might have known. You are a prickly one, aren't you?" He took the chair across from her and caught the eye of a serving girl. "Bring me an ale, could you?" He turned to her, "Ale? Or maybe some lemonade?"
She looked at him wryly. "None."
George nodded to maid and she scurried off to fetch the drink. "What is it you wanted then, lass. You must have needed something to leave us like that."
Alanna stared at him, unblinking. In her unfeeling voice she said, "We need to talk."
George nodded. "Aye, but what about?"
"I'm heading out of the city tomorrow. To go to Corus," she stated blandly.
"Trying to get rid of us again, are you?" He reached for the tankard of ale which had just arrived and drank deeply.
She cocked an eyebrow at him, then thought of something. "George?"
The man laughed. "Oh no, lass, I've learned from my mistakes. Don't you be sweet-talking me into any more of your ideas."
"I never said you couldn't come. I'm just asking you to be ready to leave tomorrow--at dawn, that's all." Alanna paused, why am I quoting Terrin? she asked herself. She shook the thought away and focused at the conversation at hand.
The Rogue waited a few seconds before replying. "Tomorrow then? You won't be leaving without us again? Corus is pretty big, and I think I've missed out enough of interesting folk. Your 'obstinate man' one of them."
She scowled when remembering Terrin again. "You didn't miss out on anything. I still don't know why I actually waited for you to come." Because you needed an excuse to stay here and learn swordsmanship from Terrin, the sly part of her mind offered. You only joined up with the rogues in the first place because you were bored with the merchant folk.
They talked a while longer about this and that before she stood up to leave.
As she entered her room, she muttered, "I hate myself sometimes." She kicked the door shut behind her and walked over to her chests, which George had arranged to be brought up by his men while they were discussing plans. She pulled out another set of silk black clothing and replaced her ordinary dress with them.
She dug out a couple more daggers and knives to join the ones already assembled on her. She sifted through the various items until she came across a veil and sash which satisfied her. She heisted--like always--before taking her sword and strapping it to her waist. Putting the rest on took no time at all and pretty soon she was out on the street again.
It had been sometime since she'd gone hunting at night. Things were very different in Tortall than in Carthak, she had forgotten how much. For one thing, slaves had been a part of daily life, Tortall seemed foreign to the word. At least the weather hadn't changed much (well, she was in a city in the middle of desert).
Like always, she walked in the darkest side of the street and was careful not to stray out of the shadows. Being bored did not help the fact that she was an assassin who lived to kill. She smiled coldly to herself as she imagined the cold blood of Thom's killer--the one who sent the sweating sickness, and that of the prince's.
Alanna balked and froze in mid-step. Her hands were suddenly clammy and her brow broke out in sweat. Why am I thinking these things? She was an assassin, but she was only because...she frowned. Why did she become an assassin? To kill and to...certainly not to enjoy it. No, never. But that moment, when she imagined the blood and--
"Thinking too much isn't always healthy," an annoyingly familiar voice sounded out, interrupting her thoughts.
"Says you. I'll do what I want," she snapped back. Secretly, she agreed with him. She repeated her over-asked question again. "Why do you still follow me around?"
He flashed her his smile, showing two rows of perfect, straight white teeth. Elegantly, he shrugged. "I talked to our employer today," he informed her, dodging the subject.
"Oh?" now she was curious. Plus, it distracted her from thinking too much.
His nod was almost invisible in the half light. "But here is not the place to talk. Come." He turned around and walked off, expecting her to follow. Alanna glared at his back, and grudgingly fell into step behind him.
They were silent as Terrin led them to wherever he was going. But only for the first few minuets. "I'm curious," he started. "Very curious, about why you became an assassin."
Well, Alanna thought grimly, there goes my chance of not thinking about it. But on the outside, she smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know."
"As a matter of fact, yes. It's very strange why a person of such high status, such as yourself, chose the lowly life of killing--albeit being paid to. I don't think you need the money you receive for such game."
Alanna's lips were suddenly very chapped and her throat dry. She swallowed hard and turned very cold. "What makes you think that?"
He turned into an alley before replying. "One, your speech. Carthakis generally do not speak like Tortallan nobles. Especially not commoners. And I was very curious of why exactly was a Tortallan noblewoman doing at Thak's Gate."
Alanna licked her lips to wet them. "And why, do you talk like a noble, too?" she retorted. She hadn't realized until then that he spoke with the grace and speech of one highly trained in etiquette and manners. His smooth speech and practiced elegance practically screamed it. Her find startled he almost as much as his prying questions had.
He grinned. "Wouldn't you like to know?" he mimicked. He stopped in front of a small doorway. Pulling out a miniature gold key, he fitted it into a crack on the wall beside the entrance. Turning it first to the right in a full circle then left in a half and then right again, the door opened silently on well-oiled hinges.
He stepped to the side and gave her a graceful bow, inviting her to enter. Alanna blinked at the unexpected action, then scowled at him. She didn't go in, but regarded the man and door through narrowed eyes.
Terrin gave a deep chuckle. "You're always suspicious, aren't you. If that's the case, I'll go in first then."
Alanna waited until he was inside before entering the lightless room. The moment she was fully across the threshold, the door closed behind her with a small click. She whirled around quickly, daggers ready to leave her hand at a thought. From somewhere at the other end of the room, she heard a small sound. She released a dagger and it shot through the air, it's blue-gray blade catching and reflecting the tiny fragments of light in the room. She heard it whistle through the air towards the source of the sound. But then it stopped.
"It figures," she said loudly. "Is there a light anywhere in here?" she asked.
She heard the laugh she expected. "There is, but I can't seem to find it just now. Why don't you call up some of your own light, I know you can."
Alanna scowled, but obliged. A small ball of violet flames sprung up, floating a mere inch from her open palm. "Is there somewhere I could send it?"
Terrin nodded even though he knew she couldn't see. "There's a chandelier somewhere around the center of the ceiling," he offered.
She sent the fire hurling up above at the holder he had pointed out. It caught the oil placed in the metal lamps and flared, loosing it's purple sheen. It served it's purpose to light up the rest of the room. It consisted of two large cushions with a low Yamani-styled table between them; Terrin was already propped comfortably in one of them. Otherwise, the room was bare.
"Are you going talk or not? It's really quite soft," he told her, meaning the cushions. "Sit, I don't want crane my neck looking at you too long." The flickering light given by the flames above played shadows across his face.
"I should stand here and make you crane your neck like that," she retorted, but moved to take a seat. True to his word, the cushion was soft. Very soft. She leaned back and took a position not too different to Terrin's. "So..."
"We need to talk."
"Yes, I believe we have that fact down already. But what about?"
He grin good-naturedly. "I thought we settled that fact, too. But since you are unsure, perhaps I should give you the agenda."
"Yes, please do. I just love being made the fool of," she said dryly. "Start with our employer."
The grin was still on his face. "You say 'employer' as if it were bad," he mused aloud.
"If you haven't noticed, you do, too," she informed.
He smiled. "But I have. He is not exactly a man to be respected...actually he is, but...Under the circumstances, we could say he is...evil? What I found strange was that you categorized him in you not-so-good graces before you've even met him, or heard of him."
Alanna sighed. "So far, I have no one placed in 'my good graces'--as you put it. The only one I had there is dead. But let's not brood over that subject, it's been...long gone. Tell me instead, why exactly does he want to assassinate this Prince of his."
"I cannot. But I was going to tell you about what he said earlier. He wants you to make hast to the capital as soon as possible. He does not want you to dawdle in this "sandpit" any longer."
"I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Oh?" he quirked an eyebrow in amusement. "You haven't told me yet."
"I thought you'd have known with all your 'sources'."
"And who told you I have sources?" he countered. "Maybe I work alone; but first, what makes you think I spy in the first place?"
"With everything you know and have told me? Well, you might as well screamed it."
"Hmm," he looked thoughtful. "Tell me something."
She tilted her head at an angle and viewed him cautiously. "It depends on what you want to know."
"Actually, I want to ask several things."
She pursed her lips, "You can ask, but I might not answer."
"I know that."
"Ask."
"But of course." Alanna saw an over bright gleam flash in his eyes. "Are you a noble?"
Alanna paused, then bit her lip. "Must we always return to this? What of you, are you one?"
He gave a barking laugh, his first slip from his elegant mask. It was very unlike him. "Oh wouldn't we all like to know. Yes, people are curious, but we must be the strangest."
"Maybe." She shifted until she was lying on her side and use her hand to prop up her head.
He sat up and stared at her. She shivered under his gaze, but stared back. Finally he stood up, pulling out a dagger--her dagger--from nowhere. He ran his fingers lingeringly across the flat of the blade, then played lightly at it's edge. "I wonder how many have shed blood on this...but now that you know some swordplay--and I expect you'll learn more, even if it's not from me--what of it? Will lives be ended on it, too?"
She dropped her gaze. "Much blood. I expect there will be more on both."
He nodded and flipped it flamboyantly into the air. She watched it fall and had to swerve and dip from the cushion to catch it. When she looked up again, he was staring at her...again.
"You'd better return to the inn, it's getting late. And if you're leaving tomorrow..."
"I'd better, then." She brushed herself off and stood, picking up her sword. "You following?"
He grinned impishly. "Not in your sight, no."
She shook her head and tucked the dagger into her sash, letting the door fall silently shut behind her.
Alanna sat with her arms wrapped cradled around her knees on the window seat of her small suite at the inn. The desert air was clear and cool and this hour of night. The moon was full and it's soft rays fell across the sleeping Bazhir city. Over the thick walls of Persopolis, she saw the black dot which was the Black City. Involuntarily, she shuddered. If all the tales about it were true, then it was a very formidable place. A lot of blood had been shed there. Much Blood.
Strange how little things could make you think about so much, she thought. She dropped her head, letting it rest on he knees. She sat there, deep in thought, for the rest of the night.
Somewhere else, another like her also lost sleep to forbearing thoughts of killing. So strange how the people that were suppose to pass through you life so very quickly made the biggest impressions. Gave you the most thought. Especially toward bloodshed. He had killed, too. And even if he were able to sleep that night, he would have had nightmares about blood. Much Blood...
This did not turn out the way I expected. Yup, I had it all planned out, I mean I had titled the chapter Swordplay for goodness sake! And then just like them to take over and push it their own direction. Well, guess she didn't make it to Corus yet, huh? So I suppose all that and meeting the people will have to wait for the next chapter, too.
*Sigh* If it doesn't go like I planned next time, I'm going to kill myself. Seriously. Okay...maybe not, but, I think you get my point. Questions anyone?
Question: You like to leave us hanging don't you?
Answer: How did you guess? That was my big secret! Actually, no. I don't like to keep people hanging (like I don't like to read cliffys, either) but my chapters just seem to want to end at those places, you know? Maybe not...but still.
Question: Can u make it a bit of Alanna/Terrin?
Answer: What do you think?
Question: I was wondering who A/A was...
Answer: Alanna/Alex ; yup another love/hate couple. I usually like those kind of couples. Don't know why, but I do...not that I don't like other couples, you know I do. ^-^
Question: Who exactly is Terrin?
Answer: *Hits herself on the head* I'm always trying to answer this question in my story, but as you can tell, he just keeps dodging them. Go figure. All my characters disobey me, it's not fair! Damon is a very good example of it.
Question: WHY DON'T U WRITE LONGER CHAPTERS?
Answer: *Whimpers* But they just don't want to be longer! Actually, I like them this length. They're not too long, but not totally short, either. I'm trying to make them longer right now, I'm working on it, kay?
Oh yeah, btw, I organized a fic-writing schedule! Meaning I'll spend one week writing fics (when I'm staying at my house) then the next week (when I go to my best friends house) I no write notin'...okay, maybe something. But you get it, right?
Thankx to everyone who's Reviewed! Whenever I ever get to actually finish this story, I'll write personal thank you notes (and post them here) for everyone! Meaning I'm going to have a very long list! Thankx everyone!
*Remember that you can join my mailing list*