Oracles' Sight

Chapter One

The streets were far less friendly than she could have ever thought possible, although she really did look the part of the beggar no one would stop and give the poor girl the light of day. As another cold wind kicked up, Cashel curled down deep into her thin little blanket; it was a pathetic sheet of fabric, all holes and no protection from the elements. She shivered for the umpteenth time and finally forced the fact she was cold from the fore front of her mind. Instead she concentrated on her shoes, or rather lack there of, of shoes. Wiggling her toes she noticed to her astonishment that even her toes looked thinner.
Ha, that's what you get for going nearly a whole week without food or sleep, silly, stupid, silly girl; letting a few nightmares drive you to the point of insomnia. Stupid, silly girl.

She looked up as a shadow caught her attention, but to her disappointment it was but another beggar looking for the same thing she wanted, money, warmth, and most of all food.

If only there weren't people who used begging to get money for the wrong reason, She though sourly, If only!

Cashel was an interesting girl, she wasn't plain for a girl born in a back water part of Valdemar, oh no, she was a jewel among dirt there. Her hair was full and long, a deep wood brown that was glossy at the best of times and tumbled down her back like rich brown velvet, her eyes were emerald green; sharp as the jewel they were colored after and expressive. Her face was round and full with plump checks and a decided nose; her lips were also full, to die for by some women's standards. And by time she hit puberty her whoring mother had decided that she would allow her darling, little daughter to join the ranks of the honorable profession of prostitution.

And hence why she ended up on the street, after the near freak thing of her getting pregnant at twelve she made a run for it. She hated it every time she had to play the role of a toy for some man who couldn't get any at home, she hated her mother and she hated the men even more. Her skin set to crawling every time a man so much as looked at her funny. She wasn't very trusting for that matter either; she always questioned people until she was crystal clear of their motives.

She sighed again and let her head roll over to where it rested on her shoulder; she yawned and tried with out success to keep back the little squeak that emitted from her throat. She shivered again and the next thing she knew darkness.

--

There was the smell of burnt flesh every where, and the ground was scattered with scorch marks and small flames that were slowly dieing for lack of things to burn. Her eyes wandered over this barren landscape and suddenly a girl appeared to her left, she looked paler than normal.
"We were too late," she said softly, her voice like a soft flute, yet for all the elegance, was laced with sorrow.

"If only I had gotten word to move out sooner, we could have saved them."

"Come on Cashel, let's get back to Kiress and Morgan, they'll be worried."

"I know."

They turned and she followed the other girl with soft corn silk hair towards two snow white horses. They stood out against the battle scared land and whickered softly as they approached. As she reached for the nose of one the horses an arrow came out of no where and struck him in the neck. She shrieked in fear, he reared and with a noise akin to a battle cry her lovely stead charged the marksmen off to his left; she pulled her own arrows forth and began her own attack calling for him to come back. The other girl stood behind her and she could hear the girl fighting back tears. The other white horse whinnied with what could only be worried.

Eventually the lovely white horse she knew as a dear friend fell to the ground arrow sticking out of what seamed every inch of his soft white hide.

"Gods no, Cashel, we're surrounded!"

She looked up and saw the other girl was right, "Bright Lady."

One man stepped forward, his face hidden from their eyes by his heavy mask, and his baritone voice chimed, "Are you The Oracle?"

She narrowed her eyes, "Who wants to know?"

"You will answer me!" he demanded his hand raised and the three looked around seeing every marksman turn their arrow towards them. The horse put her self between those sharp arrows at the other's girls back and glared darkly at the man standing before them, and that was the only movement until she turned her face to him with defiance; "What if I am?"

"Then you'll be coming with us!"

"I'll do no such thing!" She spat in his face and stance protectively in front of the other girl. He back handed Cashel and grabbed the other girl's for arm. Before the white horse could think to move or she to attack back, he pulled his sword forth and ran the girl through.

--

She sat up screaming in pain and in loss, tears were running down her face and sobs wracked her body; it was then she realized it was but a dream and woman looking at her from the seat at the bed's edge was just as terrified of her scream.

"Dear! What's wrong? It's but a dream! A dream!"

Cashel's chest heaved as she fought down the surge of pain that was lancing through her chest; she felt the girl's death as if it had been her own. With the back of her hand she scrubbed at her eyes trying to keep the tears at bay.

"Sorry," her voice cracked. The woman pulled Cashel to her bosom and petted her head, muttering soothing noises and reassuring phrases. Had Cashel been strong enough she would have fought off the woman's cooing.

"I'm all right," she gave a wan smile, "Really."

Finally the woman let Cashel go and handed her a handkerchief, "There, there girl, it's all alright."

As Cashel took a deep breath and got her emotions under control, "Th-thank you, I appreciate your concern."

"One of my girls found you huddled up asleep and looking like death, she brought you to me and said we just had to feed your poor blessed soul."

"Where am I?" Cashel suddenly wanted to know, her suspicion of the place growing with each passing moment.

"In the Tender Oak, why?" the woman asked her elder face, still graced with beauty that time would not take, etched with concern.

"The Tender Oak as in the brothel?"

"If you must use that term; yes…"

Cashel sent up a silent curse to the gods; but she kept her anger hidden under tired eyes and a pale malnourished face, "Sorry if I offended you ma'am."

The woman gave a gentle smile, "You rest I'll tell the cook to send up some food for you, you look like you could eat a horse, but that would be bad. How's some bread and cheese sound?"

When Cashel didn't respond immediately the woman laughed, "There's no charge dearly. You're too young to be starving."

And before Cashel could resist the woman more or less glided from the room and left Cashel to look about the room that was housing her.

The room was painted in a rich hunter green with what looked like details scrawled on the wall in a green just a shade darker, the windows were covered with a heavy red velvet fabric that gave the room an air of elegance. To make the room even warmer, woods stained in a rich chocolate brown wound around the chair rail on the wall and the desk in the corner along with the two chairs in the room were stained the same. The bed was no doubt goose down and satin sheets covered Cashel's bare form. She felt dirty under the clean and smooth covers; maybe she would be allowed a bath.

When she thought to take a closer look at the candle holder next to the bed was when the door opened again letting in yet another girl. Cashel flinched back as the girl walked over and place the try of food over Cashel's lap; "I'm so glad you awake! I was so worried about you!"

"Oh, so you're the one who found me?"

"Heavens yes, I'm Azure, and what's you're name?"

"Cashel."

"That's a lovely name!" and in one elegant sweeping motion Azure sat down in the chair beside Cashel's bed and began to ramble on, "I hope Lady Blue didn't scare you too much, she's such a doll, but is rather over protective of people in poor conditions."

"She seemed nice enough," Cashel replied with a bit of bread on its way to her mouth.

"Yeah, but like every one she has her quirks, listen I'm due to be with a client, so if you need anything, just give this cord a tug and Indy will attend to you," and after Azure showed the cord to Cashel she darted out the door with a wink and smile. Again Cashel was left feeling awkward. The girl that had set before her was much like another girl she had known, she had the same out going personality that hid deeper more sensuous secrets. Except for the fact that Azure was a gorgeous blonde haired girl and the other girl was a divine red head, there was no difference between the two. And although Cashel did not know Azure well, she still felt like she could trust the girl; and trusting did not come easy for Cashel.

The brunet ate slowly savoring the taste of the food that had been given to her; it was a reprieve from the dried meat she stole and the rotten fruit she found. The bread was even still warm, and the cheese was mild and it almost melted in her mouth. Even the water she was given to drink was good, it was clear, clean and clear. She almost felt as if she'd dropped off her world and into a very nice dream indeed.

So when she finished her meal, she pulled the cord and as she clean up her little mess on her tray an older woman in her early thirties came in, she scoped the tray off Cashel's lap and gave her an even look, "Anything else?"

"Um, might I have a bath?"

The woman smiled, and Cashel didn't feel so much like a burden to the woman, "Of course, let me go heat up some water and I'll pour you a bath. You just wait right here."

Cashel nodded and did as told, it didn't seem that long of a wait, when Indy, as Azure had called her came back in and handed Cashel a robe and ushered her off to a quaint little bath room.

"I've left some of Azure's clothes on the dresser there, they should fit you seeing as she's about your height."

"Thank you Indy."

"It's Indigo dear; it's bad enough with Azure calling me 'Indy'."

"Forgive me, Indigo."

"It's alright, now to the tub with you."

The door closed softly behind Cashel as a silent squeal of delight managed to find its way to the surface. She was tempted to jump into the tub, but the steam rising from the surface of the water told her that would be a bad idea, so she stripped back down to her skin and sunk below the warm waters slowly. It was so lovely to feel the filth and grime of her past months wash away, even better to scrub away that which wouldn't be budged by soaking. After about a candlemark she was clean and fresh, she stepped into a towel and dried before she slipped into Azure's night gown. It was indeed the right height, but Cashel had lost so much weight the gown seemed to swallow her whole.

She stepped from the bath room to find not just Indigo, Azure and Lady Blue there waiting for her but some five other girls. After introductions were over was when Cashel realized that each girl was a different color blue, their name and their dress. Feeling very conspicuous she tried to find a place to hide, but Azure caught her and pulled her into the group of girls. They giggled and talked about all sorts of things, occasionally asking Cashel her opinion, and as they talked they worked like most girls mending their dresses and accessories.

But eventually Lady Blue sent them all scattering to bed.

As Cashel lay down, sleep, dreamless and restful, over took her and insomnia stood at bay.

--

A fortnight had passed since Azure had found her out on the streets and brought her in, and in that fortnight she'd found out that they desperately needed a laundress, so she struck up a deal, she'd do their laundry and any little odd job around the bower in exchange for food and a place to sleep.

Lady Blue accepted the offer and so far Cashel was benefiting from the job and the girls were glad, for once they could pay attention to their clients more than fretting about the dresses that needed tending. Not to mention Cashel found her self less bothered by her nightmares, and felt at peace. Unlike the business her mother had helped run, these girls not only dealt with sexual tension, but emotional frustration. They relaxed the body and mind to help their clients work through problems. Lady Blue claimed that their job was very much like the ancient kestra'chern's job; they gave the clients what the needed, which might not exactly be what they want, but it still gave the clients peace. What shocked Cashel more was that they didn't just serve male clients they also served female clients, how they served the female clients, well, she wasn't inclined to find out at this moment.

It was late one evening, as Cashel was working on mending a torn glove that belonged to Sapphire, when Azure dropped down in a chair quite bonelessly, and sighed, "Cashel, I am so tired I think I could go into a drug induced slumber with out the drugs."

She chuckled, "You always over exacerbate things."

"No, I'm dead serious!" the young woman exclaimed, "I feel like I just ran around Haven three times."

"Have you run three times around Haven before?" Cashel asked.

"Well no…"

"Then you don't know what it feels like to run three times around Haven."

"Oh hush."

"Then get some rest," Cashel replied to her earlier statement, "You do look tired."

"I have one more client, and well, while he pays well, I swear he only comes here for the sex, I get so tired of him."

"Then tell him to go some where else if all he seeks is a bed partner."

"I can't, he tells me all his problems after the sex. He's so peculiar, he comes in a nettle mess of sexual tension and then when that's all gone he spills all his worries to me and I give him advice and when he leaves he looks like time just gave him ten years back."

Cashel whistled and shook her head, "You have your work cut out for you."

"Don't I!"

Cashel was about to say something else when a bell to the front door tinkled and Azure sighed, "That would be him…"

She stood, straightened her gown and put on a pleasant smile, "I'll see you in a bit Cash."

Cashel chuckled and waved, watching her friend go off, and she returned to mending; it was so methodical that before she knew it she had nodded off.

--

"Come on Cashel, let's get back to Kiress and Morgan, they'll be worried."

"I know."

They turned and she followed the other girl with soft corn silk hair towards two snow white horses. They stood out against the battle scared land and whickered softly as they approached. As she reached for the nose of the horse an arrow came out of no where and struck him in the neck. She shrieked in fear, he reared and with a noise akin to a battle cry her lovely stead charged the marksmen off to his left; she pulled her own arrows forth and began her own attack calling for him to come back. The other girl stood behind her and she could hear the girl fighting back tears. The other white horse whinnied with what could only be worried.

Eventually the lovely white horse she knew as a dear friend fell to the ground arrows sticking out of what seamed every inch of his soft white hide.

"Gods no, Cashel, we're surrounded!"

She looked up and saw the other girl was right, "Bright Lady."

One man stepped forward, his face hidden from their eyes by his heavy mask, and his baritone voice chimed, "Are you The Oracle?"

She narrowed her eyes, "Who wants to know?"

"You will answer me!" he demanded his hand raised and the three looked around seeing every marksman turn their arrow towards them. The horse put her self between those at the other's girls back and glared darkly at the man standing before them, and that was the only movement until she turned her face to him with defiance; "What if I am?"

"Then you'll be coming with us!"

"I'll do no such thing!" She spat in his face and stance protectively in front of the other girl. He back handed Cashel and grabbed the other girl's for arm. Before the white horse could think to move or she to attack back, he pulled his sword forth and ran the girl through.

She tried to scream, but all that emitted forth was a whimper of pure and utter sorrow. She reached for the crumpled body and pulled it close, the woman as beautiful as she was gentle lay in Cashel's arms, she barely registered as the other snow white horse reared and charged forth at the sword barer; all she concentrated on was the pure aqua eyes that danced at her in tears.

"I'm sorry I got in the way… Can you forgive me?"

"Always, always, please just hush, you've got to heal your self!"

"I used up my last reserves healing that warrior on the cross roads…I can't."

"Please, you can't leave me!" her eyes clouded with tears and a knot formed in her throat. A delicate hand brushed away the tears and smiled, "You do your job, do it for me, don't let him get you. I'll always be with you."

"No, no, no, no, you have to stay! Hold on, please… please." But she knew that all was lost, all was lost…

--

"Cashel!" It was Aqua this time shaking her out of her dream, "Wake up!"

She blinked awake and crumpled into the other's arms with out knowing why she felt the need to cry.

"Cash! It was just a dream! It's alright!" The girl's voice was soothing, running her hand over the other's hair, "Everything's fine!"

"I-I'm sorry, I just can't stop crying."

The other rocked her and let her cry till her tears ran dry.

"Want to tell me what that was about?"

And when Cashel went to explain her dream, she could only remember the aqua eyes and that was it. Aqua found that funny, but it wasn't a mocking laugh, just a laugh of irony, "Dear heart, you need sleep, stop your mending, the glove can wait, go sleep. You'll be thankful when you're in a comfortable bed with warm blankets I'll bring you up some tea to help you ease into an easy slumber."

"Sounds like a plan," Cashel admitted.

"Good, now shu!"

Cashel hurried up to 'her room' and striped down and climbed into bed, Aqua brought her the tea and after sipping the warm liquid away she fell into a dreamless sleep.