Sooooo…I did NaNoWriMo again. And won, except it turns out that my story wasn't done at 50,000 words. I have been frantically trying to finish it, but it's been rather too long since I updated this, and I feel bad. So…I'm sorry, I grovel before you all, and here's some story!
Oh, yes. Name change. I go by Fireblade K'Chona on the NaNoWriMo website as well, but the trouble is that a lot of my friends joined it this year and I don't want them to read my fanfiction until the rewrites are done. So I went incognito here! Sorry for the confusion.
"So you're actually going to start your own classes after the rather abortive attempt to follow me to mine?" said Kamaria to Lani over the table, over breakfast. "It did seem that every time I tried to take you to classes, someone would come summon you-or me- away."
"P'rhaps it'wsh a c'nsprcy," said Vera through a mouthful of her breakfast potatoes, and swallowed. "Sorry. Perhaps it was a conspiracy to keep one or the other of you two in the devious hands of…um…Dean Nessa!" she repeated, and twiddled her fingers in the air in what was possibly supposed to be an ominous manner.
Lani laughed. "You've got a point," she said, with a grin, "It was really very strange. I didn't even get to see one of Kamaria's classes."
Kamaria took a long swallow of cider and set it down. The table was all-girls again, since Lani was still avoiding the boys, but she didn't seem nearly as tense about having them in the same room even after a few days. "What classes do you have, then?" she asked.
"Um…my History really isn't any good, so I'll be working a lot on that for a while," said Lani, thinking it over, "I'm from way out in the middle of nowhere; there wasn't much education. I can read and do basic maths. Speaking of which, I also have mathematics. I'm in Equitation, but one of the Healers discovered that I had a problem with my wrist, which makes sense because I broke it a few years ago, so I'm out of Weapons until they get it in working order."
She went off to list a few other classes, including Orientation and Religions, and Kamaria had to admire the Dean's careful schedule-shuffling so she had the minimum of male teachers. This train of thought reminded her of a Religions essay she was only half-done with, and that in turn led to another thought until the conversation around her paused for too long. She blinked. "Mm?" she asked, focusing again on Lani, "I'm sorry, I lost track."
Lani tilted her head. "That boring, am I?" she teased, "Maybe I should go in for teaching."
This, predictably, got a laugh from the other Trainees at the table. Lani grinned, and said, "My question was, I'm free for half a candlemark after breakfast and the Dean told me you and your year-mates have a candlemark before your Weapons class. Could I meet Alain today?"
"Ah-certainly, as long as he's not busy. I don't think he is," said Kamaria, thrown slightly off-balance by this. She frowned slightly in concentration. :Alain, are you free for our free candlemark? Lani wants to meet you.: This was sent with a bundle of her own slight confusion, for background.
Alain thought it over for a moment, and replied, :I'm free; I did all my research for History last night. What brought on this change?
:I don't know, but maybe we should meet in Companion's Field. Summer's only just ending, it shouldn't be too cold, and if her Companion's there it might smooth things over if things go horribly wrong.:
:I'll be there.:
"Companion's Field, right after breakfast," said Kamaria aloud, breaking the connection with Alain.
Lani nodded, and turned to answer a question about her opinion of some sort of animal trap from Tara.
Kamaria and Lani went out before most of the other Trainees, which gave Kamaria time to ask Sitara to fetch Ramya and Meira as they came over to the fence.
Lani watched with interest as the three mares raced one another to the border of the Field. Predictably enough, Sitara won-but Meira, upon nearing the fence, tossed her head and leaped over it, apparently with about as much effort as stepping over a twig.
Kamaria applauded, and Lani grinned with pride as Meira slowed down and circled back. "We don't talk well yet, but Meira's told me she's as good at jumping as your Sitara is at running," Lani said.
Kamaria shrugged and went to greet Sitara, opening the gate so Meira could get back into the Field without having to jump again.
As Meira went back through the gate, Alain emerged from the building and waved at Kamaria, so she continued acting as a doorstop until he too had entered Companion's Field.
"Lani, this is Alain, my lifebonded," she said, turning to the younger Trainee. "Alain, this is Lani."
Alain made no attempt to touch Lani and instead gave her a formal Court bow. "Enchanted," he said airily, "Simply enchanted to be in your company."
Kamaria invoked her Farsight so she could watch Lani without turning to look at her. The younger girl was tense, but her Companion's presence just behind her was clearly keeping her calm.
"Stop being fatuous," said Kamaria, doing her best to break the tension and poking Alain in the shoulder. He stuck his tongue out at her.
"Um…it's nice to meet you too," mumbled Lani, and would have said more if a sudden series of terrified, bloodcurdling shrieks hadn't interrupted what little conversation there was.
When Kamaria next became aware of herself, she was clinging tightly to Sitara's back as her Companion bolted straight towards the sounds of distress. Behind her she could see Meira and Ramya, since she hadn't turned her Farsight off, but Kamaria, with a twist of her mind, directed it so she could see what they were running towards.
:It's Blues! she Broadsent, although probably the only ones who could hear her were the Companions and Alain, :It looks like they tried building a bridge or something, and it collapsed-:
Just then, Sitara reached the Terilee and without pause jumped straight in. Kamaria gave her own shriek as she was dunked in the cold water, but as soon as the shock wore off started swimming for the nearest person she could see in the water.
Alain and Lani arrived moments later. Alain took one look and dove straight to the bottom of the river, searching for anyone who might be trapped by debris, as Kamaria hauled the unconscious weight of a Blue she knew only by sight to the shore.
She managed to pull him onto the bank and left him in the care of a Herald who had been drawn to the commotion, turning straight back into the river without bothering to do more than take a few deep breaths.
The Trainee passed Sitara, dragging a short girl out of the water by the back of her tunic. :Anyone get swept downriver? Kamaria asked curtly, scanning the bottom of the river with her Farsight.
:Only four or five, and some Companions caught them, but they can't really drag them up on the bank at that part of the river, replied Sitara, nudging the girl's face with her nose before returning to the river, :Apparently they were testing a new bridge design for how much stress it would take. There were twenty-two people jumping up and down on it. It snapped, and only eight or so got out on their own.:
Kamaria bit back her instant remark on what she thought of people being that stupid, and struck for the center of the river instead. :I'm going to go lend the ones downriver a hand, she Sent instead, :There might be a place where I can climb up and they can't.:
With that, Kamaria let the current sweep her downriver, scanning the water for other possible unconscious people. There were numerous Companions in the water, however, with their Heralds on the bank, and they seemed to have things well in hand, so Kamaria continued swimming until she reached the tricky bit of the river.
"Oh, damn," she muttered, swimming out of the current and treading water for a few moments.
This particular section of the river flowed through the Palace gardens, splitting off occasionally into small streams, but on the whole the banks were two or three feet higher than the water level. It had been landscaped so the Terilee would not flood during the spring melt and ruin the gardens, but as it was summer, this gave Kamaria some obvious problems.
She looked at the Companions just a little downriver from where she was, all but two of them holding teenagers in varying states of consciousness. "Just hold on for a second," Kamaria yelled down at them, "I'm going to try and climb up."
"Why, Lady Chantrea," drawled a somewhat familiar voice from the other side of the river from where Kamaria was attempting to scale the bank, "We do seem to meet in unexpected situations."
Kamaria bit back a few interesting swearwords in Alain's Clan-tongue and turned in the water, holding the bank and giving her best bland smile. "Baron Radan," she said pleasantly, effect only slightly spoiled by being mostly underwater, "Pardon me for not engaging in some light conversation, but as you can see, I am a bit busy."
"You are indeed," said the Baron blandly, scanning the river, "May I inquire what, precisely, this busyness entails?"
Kamaria gave up on her bit of bank and lunged quickly across the river, winding up only a little downriver from where she had been by thrashing wildly through the central current.
"Well, currently it involves saving these unconscious Unaffiliated Trainees from an untimely, watery death," she panted, part of her completely unable to believe that she was bothering to exchange witty banter with this Council twit.
"Mm. Do tell me what led to this curious incident at some point," said the Baron blandly, coming to stand just above where Kamaria was struggling up the bank.
Kamaria ignored the comment, being far too busy maintaining her precarious grip on the bank and trying to find a foothold in what seemed to be a sculpt-rock channel through the gardens.
I suppose this explains why the river doesn't change its course through the gardens, she thought crossly, numb feet scrabbling for a foothold and finding only smooth rock, Putting rock siding in the river would certainly take care of pesky problems like flooding. Or, I don't know, trying to save drowning people.
Occupied as she was by mentally calling whoever designed the gardens every insulting name she could think of, Kamaria didn't notice that the Baron had dropped to one knee and was offering a hand until he gave an impatient sigh, seized one of her wrists, and hauled her bodily from the water.
Kamaria lay gasping like a stranded fish for at least ten seconds before she remembered that she was supposed to be pulling people from the water. Jerking upright, she whirled around and dropped to her knees on the bank.
"Right, bring them over here!" she called to the Companions, who had watched the conversation with interest, "The most injured ones first, if you can tell which is which-er-"
She remembered the Baron suddenly as he took a position beside her. "Uh, thank you," she said, "Sorry, um-"
"Apologize not, my fair lady," said the Baron, leaning down as one of the Companions brought their victim to the bank, "All I ask is that you hold onto my ankles as I draw these esteemed young people from the water so that I may refrain from pitching in headfirst and ruining the embroidery on my sleeves."
Kamaria gaped at him for a moment, trying to articulate a way to point out the inherent contradictions in the entire statement, before she realized he had asked her to do something, and scrambled to take up a position bracing his legs.
As it turned out, her support was barely needed; the Baron drew each victim from the water without a great deal of effort. Despite his comment about his sleeves, Kamaria couldn't help noticing that Baron Radan was soon soaked up to the shoulder as he reached into the river to claim each person from the Companions.
At long last, the final victim had been pulled from the water, spluttering weakly until Kamaria told her not to speak. She was just checking the breathing of one of the still immobile Blues when the Baron said, in a low voice, "My darling, I do believe we have an audience."
Kamaria didn't lift her head from where she was crouched over her 'patient', but checked behind her with Farsight. As soon as she saw who was behind her, she screwed her eyes shut, remembered that this didn't do any good with Farsight, and took refuge in a few well-placed swear words.
She seemed to be using a lot of them today. However, this time it had justification; the people who had just arrived on the scene were none other than King Rathay, King's Own Meriel, Herald Jasen, and the Rethwellan and Hardornen ambassadors, all of whom looked rather shocked.
Kamaria did her best to pretend she was unaware of them and tried to find a pulse in the Blue's neck, but she saw Baron Radan stand with rather more dignity than soaked sleeves and grass-stained breeches should allow.
"Your Majesties," he said, putting on a charming smile and sweeping a bow. Kamaria expanded her Farsight so she could watch both the Councilor and the other nobles, all the while keeping the outward appearance of tending only to her patient.
He was breathing, which was a good sign, so Kamaria began a quick check for broken bones.
"What is the meaning of this, Councilor Radan?" asked the King, raising one eyebrow slightly.
The Baron sighed and made an expansive gesture. "Ah, your lordship, I was taking a solitary constitutional when who should I find in the river but Trainee Kamaria Chantrea, several Companions, and some Unaffiliated Trainees, in varying states of distress? Although the fair Lady Chantrea seemed to have things well in hand, I took the liberty of lending her aid in that trifling manner of climbing from the channel in its deepest, trickiest section and, as I am nothing if not a gentleman, rendered assistance in tugging these others from an untimely, watery grave."
"Word-stealer," muttered Kamaria under her breath, tapping one of the girls on the shoulder to see if she was conscious.
"And what, pray, led to this incident?" asked Herald Jasen, lips twitching.
The Baron bowed again. "Alas, my good sir, I am afraid that I am not at liberty to relate the unfortunate circumstances which led to this most inopportune interruption of my daily promenade, as in providing my own humble assistance to the most capable Lady Kamaria, the embroidery on my sleeves has been disrupted by the liberal application of river-water. With your permission, Majesties, I shall return when I am once again presentable."
With that, Baron Radan swept another flamboyant bow and did his vanishing trick again, whisking off through the rose walk as quickly as a hummingbird flitting from stem to stem.
Kamaria slowly sat up from her latest victim, composed her face into a serene expression, and turned to face her King and the ambassadors. "Your Majesty," she said, offering a kneeling bow, "Please excuse my, er, unpresentableness."
She was saved from having to make further comment by a sudden stampede of Companions bearing Healers. Dimly, Kamaria noted that the Herald Meriel gracefully guided the ambassadors away before one of the Healers pulled her off the ground, wrapped a blanket around her, and sent her with a calculated shove towards Herald Kenan, who was one of the few dry Heralds present.
"How on earth did you haul them out of the water by yourself?" asked Kenan with frank amazement, ushering Kamaria away, "The Healers have it in hand now, the Companions are out of the water, and you need dry clothes," he added quickly as Kamaria tried to turn back.
"I didn't," said Kamaria, submitting to being pulled along, "Baron Radan, er, lent me a hand."
"Oh, really?" said Kenan, quirking one eyebrow as he held open a door for her.
"Found me trying to climb up the bank and pulled me out," Kamaria elaborated, "Oh, and yesterday when I ran into him in the gardens he asked me to…er…send you in my place if I couldn't return." She shrugged as Kenan's other eyebrow joined the first. "I really have no idea what he was on about."
"Most people don't," said Kenan, opening the door to the girl's side of the Herald Collegium, "Go. Take a bath. I'll pass the word that you'll be late for History."
Kamaria nodded and went through the door, heading up towards the baths. Kenan, once she was out of sight, went in the other direction with a slightly puzzled frown on his face.
So in other news, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released on July 21. This is both good news and bad news for me. It's good because finally the 7th book will be out, but on the other hand, I have to finish my epic Harry Potter fic before then or I probably won't be able to finish at all! Also, this year is the year of incredibly epic schoolwork, so although it saddens me, fanfiction cannot exactly be my top priority right now.
I shall write and post as often as I can, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Oh, yes. There are two comments I have had in one or two reviews which I would like to address.
One: The muses.
This one's pretty easy to answer: when I was a young, foolish fic writer, I thought that muses lent some sort of integrity and polish to my writing. Now I realize it's all me and that having random original characters chattering before the story begins is Bad Fanfiction Etiquette, not to mention Very Annoying.
So they're gone. Except in occasional, random stories like 'Arguments' during which all my characters turn up in my basement and yell at me and the muses also turn up to rescue me. Then do some yelling of their own. But those are not meant to be taken seriously. At all.
Two: The plot.
I have been asked many, many times where in Velgarth the plot is going or, in fact, what the plot is. This, like a toccata or an impromptu, has many variations, such as 'all these side stories are boring!' or 'you have too many #$&ing characters!' or 'WTF is going on in your head, wench?!?'
My answer to these, in no particular order: This is one of those stories which is character-driven, rather than plot-driven. So things will wander off onto tangents, and loose ends will be left, and people will meander in and out of the story depending on who I'm in the mood for that day, and strange, random things which seem to have no purpose will happen.
This is because the story is about Kamaria's (and, by conjunction, Alain's) life. Life does not always have a point. Loose ends? In life, there are loose ends all the time. I am, however, attempting to fix some of them via rewriting the first half of the story, which should make it considerably better.
In short: Although I have a few events in mind, and Kamaria's Circuit and a few other incidents to cover, there really isn't a particular point I have in mind.
If you don't like this, hey, I'm sorry. I try and have fun writing this story and hope that you guys have fun with it too. If you genuinely have a problem with me having a sprawling, rambling story…well…I don't know what to tell you, because it already is a sprawling, rambling story.
I just hope you enjoy the ride as much as I do.
Toodles for now!