Author Note:
Nothing really to say except that I hope you enjoy.
Review Response:
Me – thanks for the review. I know what you mean about exams. I had mine last week too.
L) – thanks for the compliment.
-6-
South
Inara kept her promise to Yancy in the first few days after the big examinations. During a rare spare minute of free time, the nine were hanging out in Seth's room while the boy packed. Only the day after the examinations, Sir Seaver of Tasride asked Seth to be his squire. Seth was to leave the following morning to accompany his new knight master to the southern desert and the boarder between Tortall and Tyra to do a patrol. The Odocoileus were rumored to be massing in various places along the boarder.
It hadn't taken long for Jasson, who still hadn't been chosen as anyone's squire, to open his mouth and say something negative about Seth's achievement, mainly to make himself feel better. As soon as the words slipped out of his lips, Inara grabbed him around the middle, pinning his royal majesty's arms to his side, so Yancy could smack him upside the head without interference.
"What was that for?" Jasson demanded, rubbing his sore head when Inara let him go.
"It was for being a prat," she told him, crossing her arms over her chest.
"And you're an even bigger one for not knowing it," Yancy added. Jasson frowned and then sighed.
"I guess I have been a jerk lately," he admitted.
"Lately? Jasson, you've been slipping into royal butt head mode since Midwinter," Evan told him.
"I have?" Jasson looked entirely ashamed of himself. His friends nodded. "Well, then you should have hit me sooner. Maybe Dad's right and I have been spending too much time with grandfather." He looked from down at his feet to his year mate. "Seth, I'm sorry for what I just said. Sir Seaver is going to be a great knight master. I just hope I get one as good."
"Of course you will," Seth told his friend. Inara had learned quickly that Seth, just like his father, had no temper at all. And he was nearly impossible to actually make upset. The only thing that seemed to make him even slightly mad was Gilyith tormenting Inara, but he didn't let her know it. Unlike his father, and almost despite the fact that he often goofed around, he wasn't very outspoken. He wasn't born to be a leader. "You're the crown prince."
"That's the problem. I heard dad mention something earlier. Grandfather wants to take me as a squire. He wants to start teaching me to be a proper king. I love him," Jasson paused before adding "I really do," as an afterthought. "It's just well, if spending time with Grandfather is making me into a stuck up royal pain, I don't think it's such a good idea; that and the fact that I really want to be out in the field."
"Well, maybe someone will ask you first," Asten suggested. He lay upside down over the side of Seth's bed, tickling the back of Inara's neck with a string.
"Dad told him he had to wait at least two weeks before he could ask me. I think dad knows I'm reluctant to do it, and that I really want to get my feet out of Corus. I think Grandfather is making sure no one else asks me."
"You really want to do real work, Jase?" Seth asked. He was the only one who called Jasson by his nick name. As far as they knew, only the other fourth year was allowed to. The prince nodded whole heartedly.
"It's no use though. They don't care what I want," he replied.
"I know someone who might," Seth told him. He looked his friend in the eyes. "I should have told you earlier, but I just found out this morning when I went to tell Da about Sir Seaver."
"Spill it, Goldenlake," Jasson grinned. "What is it?"
"Da said King Jonathan sent out a note basically guaranteeing border patrol along the Gallan border to the knight who asked the prince to be his squire," Seth told him.
"The most uneventful place in the whole kingdom," Benton groaned. He was still probably the quietest one of their group, save Sam, but when he spoke, it was usual to say something dramatic.
"And how does this help me?" Jasson asked his friend, eyebrow raised. Seth just smiled.
"Da wanted to ask you to be his squire. Said he'd do it too, if he knew it was what you wanted. He just hoped you wouldn't mind Gallan boarder patrol."
"Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak wants me? He seriously wants me to be his squire?" Jasson croaked out. He was nearly speechless as Seth nodded. "Seth, please! You have to tell him you know I'd accept in a heart beat. Not only would working with your dad be a dream come true, but Lord Raoul is probably the only one, next to Lady Alanna, who could get away with disobeying grandfather."
"I'll tell him tonight at dinner."
"See Jasson, no reason for you to be a prat," Yancy told him.
"I get it," Jasson laughed. "Can you guys forgive me?"
"Only if you promise to control yourself," Inara told him. The others nodded.
"And take this lot out of here so I can actually get some packing done," Seth added, ushering the group out of the room. They complied, laughing and wishing him well, in case they didn't see him before he left.
Two days later was Sunday. Inara and Asten were sparring with swords on one of the outdoor practice courts while Jasson and Sam judged their performance. Inara had finally caught up to Asten in skill, although he still had the advantage of experience. Jasson told him he was lucky, or they wouldn't have declared a draw – Inara would have won. Asten had only laughed and nodded, which definitely calmed Inara's fears that her older friend would be angry with her.
The four were taking a water break, leaning against one of the rails to watch some of the Queen's Rider's practice, when they heard footsteps behind them. Sam and Inara turned around first, spotting a large knight walking towards them. "You have company, Jasson," Sam told the prince, who spun at once. Asten also turned around, curious as to what was going on.
"Good afternoon," Lord Raoul, smiled as he addressed them. "What brings you four out here?"
"Sword practice, my lord," Jasson replied for them. "Did you wish to speak to one of us, sir?"
"You, but your friends can stay," the knight informed them. "I'm hopeful this conversation will result in good news for both of us." Jasson grinned a bit. "I heard from a little bird that you're a little unhappy with your grandfather's – how shall I put this – well, his plan for your future as a squire?"
"Yes my lord," Jasson paused. "I do believe there was a bird present when I was saying so to my friends," he laughed. "But I don't see how I can do anything about it alone."
"You wouldn't do it alone," Lord Raoul told him. "As I see it, you could always tell him no."
"Begging your pardon, my lord, but 'no' isn't a word his majesty takes very kindly to," Jasson replied. His answer caused Lord Raoul to openly laugh along with the new squire. Inara, Sam, and Asten smiled, and turned back to the field to give the other two the privacy to finish their exchange; although they listened to every word of the conversation.
"It may be my job for asking you this, but I feel I need to; not just because you don't want to serve your grandfather, mind you. Jasson, I've been watching you for years now. You're an excellent swordsman and a superb fighter at hand-to-hand. You could even be a great jouster with the right training. You do well with nearly any weapon placed in your hand. Did your father ever tell you the reason why princes go through a knight's training?"
"No, my lord," the boy admitted.
"It's because our enemies may fear a king who's people respect him, but they will fear a king who's people respect him and is also a knight even more. Getting your shield shows you can do combat as well as give orders and make speeches. As king, you won't get much practice, even as next in line to the throne, your father got little fighting experience, but you have your father ahead of you, and two knighted uncles, and even three sisters this day and age who could take the throne if something should befall you; not that anything should," Raoul added quickly when the prince frowned. "All this means that you'll have more freedom to learn. You won't get that chance squiring to the King. His advisors, and even I, won't let him within fifty miles of a battlefield."
"My lord?"
"I guess what I'm saying is that I want to offer you your chance to learn; to exercise a freedom your grandfather and father never had. I want to teach you, Jasson. Like I said, with the right training, you could be a great jouster. You might even be able to unhorse Lady Keladry."
"But my lord, where could I find a teacher who could teach me to unhorse you?" he asked, grinning.
"I believe Lord Wyldon has retired, but you could always ask if he'd like a house boy."
"No, my lord. I'd be honored, if you're asking me."
"I am; We may be riding the Gallan border for some time, but I think it's worth the sacrifice."
"As do I," Jasson replied. He couldn't keep from smiling.
"Good. I haven't had a squire since Sir Alan, and before him, Lady Keladry. You'll have big shoes to fill," he told the boy.
"And I plan to fill them, my lord," Jasson told him. Raoul nodded.
"Very well. I'll tell the servants to ready a room attached to mine. You'll move in two days from now. That should give his majesty time to cool down. Actually, I think maybe I'll ask Alanna to break the news to him, gently." He bowed to the prince who swiftly bowed back. "I'll see you later, squire; Pages Inara, Samuel, Asten; congratulations on passing your examinations. Keep up the good work." They bowed and thanked him as he drifted off.
"That went well," Asten laughed, clapping Jasson on the back. "I knew he'd ask you after Seth told him you'd be thrilled, but still."
"I know," Jasson replied. "I'd no idea he really was interested in me."
"There are probably plenty more out there who wish they could be as brave as he is, though," Inara told the prince. "Aunt Kel always said he was brave; I never would have guessed."
"He did face down a giant, on foot!" Sam told her.
"Grandfather is worse than a giant when he's mad. It's more like a whole legion of giants," Jasson told his friends, as he pulled himself up onto the railing beside Asten who'd taken a seat already. "As happy as I am, Grandfather is going to kill me," he replied shaking his head.
"And why would I kill my grandson," a new voice asked. Jasson's eyes shot open as he jumped off the railing, Asten only a step behind him. All four pages scrabbled into a line to bow.
"Good afternoon, your majesties," they replied, staring at their feet. The three younger pages held their bows a few moments longer than Jasson before coming up to face King Jonathan IV of Conte and Queen Thayet, their sons Prince Roald and Prince Jasson, and Jasson's mother, Princess Shinkokami. The princes, queen, and princess nodded to the four of them. King Jonathan just smiled.
"Tell me, what could you have done?" When Jasson still hesitated he added "Jasson, royal order."
"I – um…" Jasson stammered. He looked at his father, pleading for help. Prince Roald gave him a smile.
"Go ahead, son. We won't allow him to behead you," he laughed. Inara liked his laugh. King Jonathan was a good king, but Inara was pretty sure that Roald would be a good one as well; just different. It wouldn't be horrible to serve either of them.
"Lord Raoul asked me to be his squire, and I accepted," Jasson spat out, ducking his head and looking at his feet. Had he been looking up, like the other three, he would have seen his grandfather's face turn a brilliant shade of red.
"GOLDENLAKE!" The king yelled across the practice courts clearly startling nearly everyone else. Raoul hadn't completely left the practice court, but was at the far end, conversing with Duke Gareth of Naxen, the King's closest advisor, and cousin, who also happened to be one of their year mates. Raoul immediately looked up towards Jonathan and sheepishly grinned before walking over, hands in his pockets, Duke Gareth behind him. When they were within hearing distance of the royals and the four pages, the duke looked between the angry king and the knight who was desperately trying to look innocent.
"What did you do this time?" Duke Gareth demanded as they continued to walk towards them.
"Something I may actually get killed for, Gary," he replied back, quietly. Duke Gareth shook his head, as they stopped before the king. Both men bowed, but it was Lord Raoul who spoke. "You wished to see me, your majesty." He was still grinning. Queen Thayet, Prince Roald, Princess Shinkokami, and Prince Liam were as well. Only the king looked like he might have Raoul beheaded right there. The king looked like he was going to say something, but he glanced at Prince Jasson instead, and sighed. Obviously Jasson wouldn't have agreed if he hadn't wanted to.
"You will take care of my grandson. If anything happens to him while riding with The Own, you will find yourself doing paper work and running errands for Gary, as well as attending every social event I can come up with; and believe me, I can come up with a lot."
"Yes, your majesty," Raoul replied, trying to suppress his laughter. Duke Gareth looked dumbfounded, as the royal family nodded to them and walked away. Prince Roald winked at his son as he passed by. Jasson had the feeling his father had known all along.
"You deliberately disobeyed him?" Gary asked his friend.
"Technically he never said we couldn't ask Jasson to be our squire. He just promised boarder patrol to anyone who did."
"You don't call that forbidden? Or were you betting he actually valued Jasson's wishes over his own."
"Well, there was that and the fact that I've already got a letter ready to be sent to Alanna," Raoul told him, smiling. "Now, I must teach my squire something," he added, turning to Jasson. "First lesson: When I tell you that I'll let the king know something, I mean it."
"It was a royal order!" Jasson protested, smiling. "I couldn't have disobeyed."
"Second lesson: How to disobey a royal order without getting in trouble," Raoul slipped his arm around the Prince's shoulder and began leading him up to the palace.
"Please tell me he didn't just say that," Duke Gareth groaned, covering his eyes with his hand.
"I'm afraid so, your grace," Asten laughed.
"Right; well; I'm going to pretend I didn't hear it," he told the pages, before walking off, leaving Asten, Inara, and Sam to laugh amongst themselves.
A week after the big examinations, Lord Padraig told the pages at lunch that they would have the afternoon and the whole of the next day off to pack. It was time for the pages two week trip. Lord Padraig was taking them south to the lands just outside of Pirate's Swoop. It was to be a four day ride there, a six day stay, and a four day ride back, to get them home in time to help their families with the summer work.
Inara was one of the first pages in the stable the day they were to leave. It was two and a half bells before dawn – they were to be prepared to leave at two bells before dawn - and despite being sleepy and irritable, Inara was awake and saddling Hikari when Evan and Corin came in, Evan covering a yawn with the hand that wasn't holding two books and Corin literally bouncing off the walls.
"Please explain to me how you aren't excited?" Corin asked his cousin from across the stable as he began to get Titan ready for the ride. Inara glared at him over the door of her mount's stall.
"I'm excited… that doesn't mean I'm happy about being awake and supposedly functioning."
"But it's going to be such a great ride. And we'll actually learn outside the walls of the palace."
"Goody," Inara spat back at him. "I'm perfectly content waiting until the sun comes up before climbing into the saddle."
"But-"
"Corin, if I hear one more thing about how glorious it is to be awake come out of your mouth, I will strap it shut myself," she paused, "after I knock all your teeth out."
"Harsh," Asten laughed, coming into the stable. "Really glad I never joined your morning practices. You're one of those lovely morning people aren't you?"
Inara just glared at him and went back to attaching her saddle bags, while doing a fourth check that she hadn't forgotten something.
"She's a grumpy puppy," Evan told Asten, who laughed and nodded.
"Maybe she'll be more receptive to treats?" he offered her a sweet from his pocket. She sighed and smiled, taking it from him and thanking him. Just what she needed; sugar.
Thirty minutes later, Lord Padraig and his own mount appeared in the stable. The pages, down to fourteen since the big examinations, had all finished and assembled before him. The training master finished looking over their mounts by the time Sir Zahir, Eda Bell, and Hakuin Seastone had appeared. They would also be accompanying the pages on the trip. Inara knew from what her aunt had told her that the Shang Wildcat was her chaperone. Without a door to close and lock, Inara was thankful she was on the trip.
"Mount up!" Lord Padraig told the very sleepy group. There was enough light in the sky that they could see the trail in front of them as they rode. Inara fought yawns for the first hour or so, before the sun rising and a cool late spring breeze revived her a bit.
They stopped for breakfast three hours after the sun had risen. It was a bit later than the pages were used to for food, and they ate quickly in attempt to satiate their growling stomachs.
"I thought we were going to starve," Benton exaggerated from his seat beside Sam. Sam, who'd become rather close to his year mate, gave him a slight push so he fell off the log he'd been sitting on. Corin, Asten, and Yancy sat on another log across from them, laughing. Only Evan and Inara remained quiet, sitting on their own log. Evan had pulled out one of his books and had immediately told Inara what it was, what it was about, and assured her he was going to talk to his father as soon as he got home before he started to read. She in turn, leaned against his shoulder, eyes closed, catching a small nap before they had to be off again. She was never a morning person, but for some reason, she had started to feel sleepy about an hour before. Inara hoped she wasn't catching some type of bug.
"Break's over! Mount up," Lord Padraig called. Evan nudged Inara awake and helped her to her feet.
"Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Inara, you always try to help with our problems, but you won't let us help you with yours. That's not fair," Evan told her, when they were back on their horses.
"I'm just sleepy. Really," she told him. "It's nothing."
Evan didn't look like he really believed her, but he accepted her answer anyway. He did, however, promise himself he was going to continue to watch her. Inara rode between Evan and Sam for the remainder of the day. They didn't stop for lunch, but ate in their saddles as they passed by Port Legann, causing some of the boys to complain. Lord Padraig only commented that a knight didn't always get to set his own pace or get three meals a day. The boys who had voiced their opinions immediate shut up. Inara looked around the area as they rode through. Everywhere there were signs of death and ruin. Much of the surrounding forest had been destroyed, and even the road looked more trampled than it should have. The pages could only see the actually town in the distance but it still showed signs of attack. The whole time, Inara felt weaker and more exhausted by the minute, but she couldn't explain it. By the time they all stopped and made camp, Inara felt like she'd spent the whole day fencing with Seth.
"You sure you're alright?" Evan asked her after dinner that night. Inara tried to nod, but it made her dizzy.
"No; If I'm still feeling like this in the morning, I'll talk to Lord Padraig," Inara replied, yawning.
"What exactly are you feeling?" They'd just finished dinner and Lord Padraig had made the Corin, Asten, Martin of Tameran, and their other two year mates do the dishes.
"Exhausted; I shouldn't be; we didn't do anything," she said, struggling against another yawn.
"Alright, Queenscove; you're going to bed. Where did Mistress Bell have you set up your bed rolls?"
"Her hammock is over there," Inara pointed to an area between two trees. The grass was plush underneath, making a perfect bed for the page. Evan guided her to her bed roll. "What about Lord Padraig?"
"I'll tell him you're feeling ill. He wouldn't want you passing out on the road. And neither would I," he told her. Inara nodded and yawned again, as she pulled her shoes off and slipped into the bed roll. Her eyes closed as soon as she lay down, and she was sound asleep immediately, one hand clasped around her jade pendant.
The next morning Inara felt almost completely normal. She could feel a twinge of sleepiness in the back of her mind, but that's all it was. She stretched, retreated inside her bedroll to change and then immediately began putting her bedroll up.
"Queenscove!" Over the past year, Inara had learned to immediately obey the voice of the training master, and she swiftly pulled on her boots and appeared at his side.
"Yes, my lord?" she asked, falling into step beside him as he walked around the pages camp to make sure things were going smoothly. It was the third year boys turn to do the cooking for breakfast, so that meant that first years would do the clean up.
"Jesslaw told me last night that you were feeling sick and had gone to bed straight after supper."
"Yes sir," Inara informed him.
"And how are you feeling this morning?"
"Fine my lord; Yesterday and last night I felt exhausted, but now, I can't explain it."
"You feel up to riding? We're close enough to the palace that I can send you back with Mistress Bell."
Inara didn't like the idea of missing the trip at all, even if it was her health that kept her behind. She knew if she didn't go, the boys would use it as an excuse to accuse her of being weak. Gilyith would even go as far as to say that her foreign blood was at fault. "Yes, my lord. I can ride. Please don't send me back," she begged.
"Alright; but you're to tell me the moment you start feeling ill again."
"Yes, my lord." Relieved, Inara returned to her bedroll, only to see Evan standing beside it, arms crossed over his chest, eyebrow raised. "Yes?"
"Are feeling better?"
"Much," she responded. "Shouldn't you be helping with breakfast?"
"It's done. Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm sure," she told him. "See, no more dizziness, and I'm not yawning," she said, yawning. "Ok, well, it's just past dawn."
"You're still irritable," he told her.
"It's morning; I'm always irritable in the morning," she reminded him. "Really, Evan; I don't know what was going on yesterday, but I'm feeling almost perfect today. I mean, I can feel the last traces of whatever it was in the back of my mind, but it seems like it was so long ago," she told him.
"If you're sure," he began.
"I am, really," she assured him. "Come on, I'm starving; you can show me which ones Yancy made so I don't eat them," she told him, putting the rest of her belongings into the saddle bags. She stood up and motioned for him to lead on. Evan laughed at her and nodded, before showing her the way to breakfast.
The rest of their travels were uneventful. Inara didn't feel anymore waves of sudden or unexplained exhaustion. She was tired when they passed Pirate's Swoop the evening of the fourth day, but that was reasonable. After all, Lord Padraig had set them at a very fast pace. By the time the sun had set on the fourth day of their trip, they'd reached the camp site. Inara fell asleep almost immediately.
Horn calls woke her just before dawn. She sat bolt upright in her bedroll, looking around frantically. The Wildcat wasn't in her hammock beside her. Confused, Inara pushed herself out of her bed and grabbed her sword from inside her bed roll. She ran, shoving her boots onto her stocking clad feet, as she rushed toward the horn calls with the other pages. Twelve of them assembled in front of a cliff overlooking the camp where all four teachers stood, Lord Padraig blowing the horn. Only Martin and Lorrence were missing. The teachers looked them over. Of the twelve pages, ten of them had their weapons ready to go. Asten and Hakim came unprepared.
"For those of you who heard the horn and came with your weapons, prepared for trouble, I commend you. Hollyrose, Ibn Ahbar, you're to report to me for punishment assignment for forgetting your weapons. What did you plan to do? Talk your enemy to death?" Both boys looked at their feet. Inara laid a comforting hand on Asten's shoulder. "As for Tameran and Runnerspring, I will take care of them later." Lord Padraig paused for a moment as if considering what he would say next. "You're dismissed. Go get ready for the day; meet at the cook fire for breakfast. Second years, you're cooking today." That said, the pages disbursed as Lord Padraig came down to talk to Asten and Hakim. Sir Zahir went to rudely wake the still sleeping Martin and Lorrence. Inara didn't envy them.
"You're not on cooking or cleaning duty today?" The Wildcat asked the girl when she arrived. Inara jumped, startled that her teacher had reached their sleeping area first.
"No ma'am," Inara replied, once her nerves had settled.
"Good; get your things. We haven't had a decent bath in four days." She tossed the girl a bar of soap and grinned. Inara smiled back and grabbed her clothing for the day before following her teacher downstream away from the boys, relieved that she wasn't the only one not happy about not being clean.
An hour later, Inara and Eda Bell walked back into the camp, clean, and much happier. Inara joined her friends, and Evan handed her a biscuit. "So, what did I miss?"
"I get to clean all of Lord Pagraig and Sir Zahir's weapons until they shine," Asten told her.
"Ouch."
"It could be worse. Hakim has got to clean and empty out all the horse stalls in the stable," Asten told her, pointing to the large wooden building that was the only structure in the area.
"Any idea what Lorrence and Martin have to do?" Corin asked him.
"Nope; Lord Padraig is still so angry, I don't think he even knows," Asten replied.
The pages did find out the punishment by the end of breakfast. Lorrence and Martin were assigned to wait on the four instructors every meal for the remainder of their trip. They would also be responsible for clean up after every meal, and cleaning the boys' latrine. Inara would remain responsible for the one she and Mistress Bell used. Lord Padraig made sure they didn't forget their mistake.
After breakfast, Lord Padraig set the pages into groups and assigned them each an area to map. Inara was paired with Sam and Yancy. The three walked along the edge of the stream they were assigned until they reached the place Inara had gone to bathe. On the opposite side of the stream, the ground sloped up steeply, forming a cliff.
"We can map from there," she said, pointing. The two boys agreed and followed her across the stream and up. Together, they made a rough sketch of the stream and the woods surrounding it in the dirt with a stick. Only when they were satisfied with their work, did they copy the image onto the parchment Lord Padraig had given them. They waited for the ink to dry before rolling it up and placing it in the tube Yancy carried on his back. Together, they descended the cliff.
Half-way down, Sam paused. "Eww. Gross!" he exclaimed, pulling his hand off the dirt. It was coated in a pale, slimy, sticky substance. "What is it?" he asked Yancy, showing the older boy his hand. Yancy's eyes went wide.
"Weapons out!" he ordered immediately. "That's Spidren webbing."
"What?" Sam yelped and shook his hand frantically trying to get the stuff off his hand as if it alone would kill him. Spidrens were giant spiders with human heads. Their favorite food was human if they could get it. Their webs glowed in the dark.
"Tirragen! Just grab your weapon," Yancy hissed. Sam calmed down and obeyed, pulling his bow off his back and fitting it with an arrow. Yancy clutched a spear in one hand and his sword in the other. Inara copied Sam but double checked that she also had her sword at her hip. They stood still for a few moments.
"Yancy?" Inara asked timidly. She was scared. She was even more scared than she'd been when Gilyith plunged into the icy pond.
"It's fresh," he told her, looking over Sam's hand. The younger boy whimpered. "If we're lucky, it was just passing through and didn't notice us. If we're not… well, I don't want to think about it." He paused and searched the area. "Alright; we're going to go slowly. We don't want to fall. Keep your eyes open." Inara and Sam nodded, and obeyed; Yancy let the two younger pages go ahead of him in case the spidren attacked from behind. They reached the ground, and heaved a sigh of relief. They weren't in the clear, but at least they weren't on the cliff wall anymore. "Inara duck!" Yancy suddenly screamed. She obeyed as a thin web hit the spot she'd been standing in. She balanced on her hands as she looked up, to see two adult Spidrens standing across the stream. Sam loosed an arrow which struck the one who hadn't tossed the web in one of its legs. He was already knocking a second one.
The pages were trapped with the cliff at their backs. Yancy raised their horn to his lips and blew the alarm call. Hopefully the adults would hear.
"I'm beginning to hate that sound," Inara muttered as she pushed herself to her feet and shot her first arrow. Her target was the male Spidren who'd tried to capture her. Her first shot missed and he grinned at her, showing blood caked teeth. Yancy had moved in front of them and was jabbing his spear at the immortals whenever they made an attempt to get close to the pages. Inara's second shot hit the male in the side. He wasn't prepared for her aim. However, she wasn't prepared for his web which shot out and grabbed her around her bow arm. She screamed as he yanked it back, forcing her to drop her bow as she lurched forward. She scrambled to reach her sword, but the Spidren twisted the web so it caught her other arm. She was trapped and helpless. She screamed again, fear gripping her. She didn't want to die like this. Not as a page. Not just after she'd completed her examinations. As she struggled something sharp hit her shoulder like a bee sting.
She felt the cold water of the stream hit her before she really saw it. He eyes were locked in terror on the triumphant Spidren who stared at her hungrily. Shock hit her when she realized she was no longer being towed closer to the immortal; Inara dropped to her knees, quivering as the monster dropped in front of her, a sword through his back and stomach. When he hit the ground, Inara saw Sir Zahir pull his blade from the things body. She tried to turn to see Yancy and Sam and the other Spidren, but someone gripped her head in his hands. It was Evan and he was pleading with her to look at him. She turned her head toward him but she continued to try and find her companions with her eyes. Her ears were ringing, but they slowly filled with Evan's voice.
"Inara! Inara, look at me!" She was still shaking violently, but she finally locked clear eyes with his. "Can you understand me," he asked, bracing her on his body. She nodded. "Come on, you need a healer," he told her. She blinked. A healer? Why would she need a healer? Where were Sam and Yancy? Why was Evan freaking out?
Inara slowly realized the water around her was red. She had sunk to her knees in the middle of the stream. Blood flowed from a deep gash in her shoulder. Blood loss and fear was what made her shake. It was the wound shaped like a spidren claw that made Evan panic. She finally submitted and let him pull her to her feet. "Yancy? Sam? Where are they?"
"Come on," he told her. He refused to answer.
"Where are they Evan?" she asked him again, a little louder, as she fought to find strength. He didn't answer, but allowed her to twist around in his grip. He held her as her knees threatened to give way again. Sam lay on the bank of the far river, a graze across the front of his head, webbing wrapped around his ankle. He'd been caught and when the Spidren pulled back, he'd gone down and slammed his head against the rocks. The Spidren's body was laid only four feet away, a spear through its middle. Yancy leaned against the immortal's body and his left arm lay limp beside him, a gash across his bicep. His right arm clutched the spear. He'd killed it just like Sir Zahir had killed the one that caught had her. Yancy lifted his head slightly and looked at her. His eyes fluttered shut again and his head dropped onto his chest, but he was breathing.
"Inara, come on," Evan was saying to her. He managed to drag her out of the water. Benton was already at Sam's side, helping Hakuin Seastone bring the boy to. The page was alive, but his fall had knocked him unconscious. Asten and Corin each supported Yancy as they pried his hand off the spear and coaxed him onto the far bank. "They're going to need healers too, but you're all going to be fine."
"I thought I was going to die," Inara confessed, breathing slowly, as her eyes threatened to shut.
"I know you did," Evan told her. He wouldn't lie to her. "You're alright now. Close your eyes," he added. She obeyed. She didn't see him start to bandage her arm, nor did she see the pale yellow of his gift circle the wound as she slipped into sleep.
Inara came to in a small infirmary in Pirate's Swoop. Yancy was already sitting up in a bed on her right. Sam was still unconscious on her left. She forced herself to sit up, and winced when she placed weight on her wounded arm. "The healing was only an hour ago," Yancy told her. She looked at him and nodded.
"S- sam?" she asked, her mouth dry. He nodded toward a pitcher of water and mugs on the table between their beds. She filled one and drank, gulping the water as it slid down her throat.
"He hasn't regained consciousness. Not even when Master Seastone held wake flower to his nose," the older boy told her. Inara nodded understanding grimly. She looked at Sam as a tear fell from her eyes. It wasn't good for someone to sleep after receiving a head wound. She knew that.
"What happened?"
"After you were pulled off your feet?" he asked. She nodded. "Sam heard you scream and tried to help. He shot at the spidren, but the female – they were mates – caught his ankle, and pulled him off his feet. The arrow completely missed, and hit me in the arm. The female closed in on Sam. He wasn't moving. I had to save him," Yancy told her as if apologizing for not coming to her rescue. "It shoved you in the shoulder as it passed, forcing you closer to the male. I slipped on a rock when I tried to get closer, and hit my head. Luckily I missed the rocks. I managed to get to my feet and plunge the spear, into the female, but I couldn't reach you. Goddess, I thought you were gone," he muttered. "How did you?"
"Sir Zahir, I think. Your horn calls reached the camp. One minute I'm nearly within his reach, and the next, he's dead, a sword through his middle," she explained.
Yancy nodded. "I wish he'd wake up."
"So do I," Inara replied, closing her eyes again. She was exhausted from struggling and from blood loss. She slowly slipped into darkness again, dreaming of fifty foot tall Spidrens.
The next time she came to, it was dawn. She yawned, feeling much better. Neither boy was awake, and Yancy tossed and turned in his sleep. She pushed herself out of her bed and knelt at his side, clasping his hand in her own.
"Don't die. Inara, Sam, don't die," he muttered.
"Shh… Yancy. We're not dead. We're right here," she told him. He didn't wake up, but he did settle under her touch. The sound of her voice seemed to comfort him.
"Queenscove?" She turned immediately to see Lord Padraig sitting on a chair at the far end of the room. She struggled to her feet and bowed, taking a deep breath. "I was right. It's always one thing after another with you," he told her.
She wanted to argue, but she couldn't find her voice. He was right. She constantly got into fights. She had just about as much punishment work as Asten, one of the biggest trouble makers. She actually managed to break bones while actually falling. She couldn't explain how a boy didn't freeze to death and got seen by a healer in her care when she didn't have a gift. She nearly collapsed from exhaustion on a simple ride south. And now she'd nearly gotten killed in battle with Spidrens. She was only eleven years old; she'd only spent one year at the palace; and yet she'd been one problem after another.
"Yes my lord," she told him.
"Sit down," he commanded her. She took a chair across from him. He pushed a mug of water to her. She drank it gratefully. "I've contacted your father," he replied. She knew what was coming. Her father had been asked to ride to the Swoop to collect her. She would be "encouraged" to give up her right to train for a shield and she would be sent home. "He and your mother have the right to know about your injuries, however, we've told him you've already been seen to and your shoulder will be fine."
"My lord?" she asked him.
"Did you think I'd make you quit?" He shook his head. "You're a girl, yes. But I am a fair man. Yes, you seem to attract trouble, but it's a dangerous life you'll be facing when you get your shield. It wouldn't be training if you didn't face danger," he told her. "However, I do want you to consider what you've been through. Is this still the life for you?"
Inara turned away from him and looked at Yancy and Sam, both lying in their beds. She could see the rise and fall of their chests. If she quit now, she knew Yancy would blame himself. Sam might too, if he recovered. Evan would never talk to his father; Sam would never find his courage to stand up to the taunts of being called a traitor; Jasson might go on believing he wouldn't pass his ordeal. Corin would look at her with pity. Asten would get into too much trouble without her. They needed her. Her friends needed her to be a page and to stay with them. Above all, she needed to be there; not just to fix their problems, but to figure out her own. Why she'd been so exhausted? Why Gilyith had lived? Why she'd made Donalin's opal glow? She didn't tell anyone, but she knew they were all connected. And she knew she'd find the answer if she kept going. Besides, she'd miss the feel of her sword. She'd miss riding Hikari toward a quintain. She'd miss everything.
"Yes, my lord. It is."
"You know this for sure?"
"My lord, I know I'm meant to help people. I know that I've already met some of those people. I know it'd be wrong to turn my back on them now. And I know that I'm meant to get my shield. I can't tell you how I know, it just feels right. Like how a sword feels right when you hold it in your hand and execute a perfect attack or defense. You can't explain it. You just know."
Lord Padraig considered her answer. "I understand, but I won't say I don't wish you'd reconsider. You're going to encounter much worse than that Spidren, Queenscove."
"And she'll face it just as well and better, my lord," Sam's voice reached her ears. She didn't care if she was rude. She pushed herself out of the chair and raced to his side, dropping to her knees beside his bed and grabbing his hand.
"You're awake. Thank Mithros you're awake," Inara replied. She didn't notice Lord Padraig leave the room to give the year mates privacy.
"Come now, pup; one silly blow to the head isn't going to keep me down," he joked, although he knew it had almost. "How long?"
"I think it was yesterday. I could be wrong," she told him. He frowned at her. "I got my shoulder punctured. Yancy saved you," she replied to his silent question. He nodded and looked at the sleeping boy.
"Is he ok?"
"Tired. Your arrow hit his arm. He had a healing too," she informed him.
"I owe him my life."
"We both do," she told her friend. "He blew the horn."
"I didn't think anyone would want to…"
"Stop that," she told him, suddenly, startling him from his thoughts. "You're not a traitor! Just because your stupid great uncle tried to… well, he's not you."
"I have his blood," Sam told her. She shook her head.
"No. You have your blood. You'd be stupid to believe you're like him. Sam, you're going to be a great knight," she told him.
"You seem really sure of that," he replied.
"I am."
He nodded, not wanting to fight her any more. He closed his eyes and squeezed her hand with his own. He slipped into sleep as she fell into her own sleep beside him.
That afternoon, all three pages were deemed well enough to return to camp. Lord Padraig and Eda Bell came to escort them on the two hour ride. By the time they'd returned, supper was ready, and the three were ushered to food by their friends. Evan and Corin wouldn't leave Inara be, making sure she ate enough and that she wasn't going to pass out. She had to threaten them to a duel to prove that she was fine. A bit shaken, but physically, she was fine.
The rest of the trip went smoothly. The Swoop's men at arms dropped in for lunch one afternoon. Baron George had sent them to clear the lands of Spidrens. However, the two Inara and her friends had encountered seemed to be the only ones in the vicinity. Stragglers or loners separated from comrades. Inara was relieved to hear it. She was even happier when Lord Padraig finally announced that it was time to pack up and leave. She had tried to enjoy the rest of the trip, but every sound she heard was another Spidren. Every string or vine or rope she saw was webbing. She wanted to be as far away as possible.
The final day of their ride, Inara began to notice something strange. Port Legann slowly came into view. The buildings looked as battered and troubled as ever. She shuddered as she remembered her own encounter with immortals and tried not to let her mind imagine she'd met Odocoileus instead of the Spidrens. Despite the tragic look of the town, the surrounding area looked untouched. The grass was green and plush, the trees had leaves. Burn marks were gone. She could hear birds singing, and even glimpsed several animals wandering in the distance. Everything looked peaceful, and yet it seemed wrong and out of place beside the stark looking town. Inara suppressed a second shuddered and nudged Hikari to the front of the line. She didn't mention anything to her friends. She didn't understand what it was that was bothering her in the first place.
The next day, Inara wandered around her room, packing the last few things she would need for the summer. Corin, Asten, Benton and Sam had already left for home. Yancy was off in his own room packing his own belongings. He'd be leaving that night to head home. He'd already said goodbye and made her promise to write to him. She agreed before he'd caught her in a giant hug. He always seemed to be hovering over her and Sam, making sure that they really were alive.
Evan was sitting in her window seat. He wasn't leaving for summer, but rather Sir Owen and his family were coming to stay in their town home in Corus. Evan had already moved what he needed there before they left for the south. Now he had nothing to do but provide Inara with company.
"And you're going to talk to him, right?" Inara asked him for the hundredth time.
"I promised, didn't I?" he retorted, looking out her window into the court yard.
"You promised at Midwinter, too," she reminded him.
"Point taken, pup," he told her.
"You haven't outgrown that?"
"I'm never going to outgrow it," he told her as her door burst open further. "What the!" he shouted, jumping up as something flew at Inara and gripped her in a large hug.
"Don't you ever, ever do something like that again," a familiar voice told her sternly. When she could breath, Inara realized she was wrapped in the protective arms of Prince Jasson. "You scared me half to death."
"How'd you know?" she asked him when he released her. He was searching her to make sure she was fine.
"How did I know? Mithros, pup. The whole palace knows. Sir Nealan was at the palace when the Lord Padraig's letter reached him. I've never seen him so upset."
"Papa's already here?" Inara asked, completely ignoring him. Jasson glared at her, and then looked at Evan.
"Don't look at me. I heard you loud and clear," Evan told the older boy.
"Inara," Jasson snapped. "You're really alright?"
"Jasson, I swear by the goddess, I'm fine. I never want to see another Spidren as long as I live, but I am fine."
"What about Sam and Yancy?"
"Sam's fine too. He's already gone home. Yancy's in his room packing. Go hug him," she ordered. Jasson just laughed, as the young girl went back to her packing. "What are you still doing here, anyway?"
"Lord Raoul took us to Port Legann for a week, but we were called back here. Someone saw a tauros in the royal forest."
"You're kidding," Evan stated as Jasson sat down beside him. The prince shook his head.
"I wish I was. We found two!" he exclaimed. "Killed them both, and then got back to the palace just in time to find out Queenscove, Tirragen, and Nond had a run in with Spidrens. You couldn't stay out of trouble, could you?" he asked Inara.
"Never," she confirmed.
"You'll get nowhere trying to protect her boys. Goddess knows I've tried," a new voice spoke. Inara spun around.
"Papa!" she called, running to the door and hugging him. He seemed to be checking her over just like Jasson had done. "I'm fine," she told him, with a laugh. "Really. I spend one day in an infirmary at Pirate's Swoop, and you all act like I almost died," she told him. Neal just looked at her. She gave him a stare to match until he nodded. She was right.
"Are you ready to go?" he asked her. Inara nodded, and went to her bed where her last saddle bag lay open. She pulled the flap shut. Neal leaned against her doorframe and watched.
"You'll write?" Jasson asked her.
"Only if you do," she replied, hugging her friend around the waist. "Evan?"
"I know! I know! I'll talk to him," he laughed.
"Good idea, lad," Neal told him, a grin on his face. "Best not let Lady Keladry get to him. I doubt there'd be much left." Evan laughed and nodded.
"I'll see you in two months," he assured Inara, hugging her and resting his chin on her head. "Try to stay out of trouble until then."
"I make no promises," Inara laughed. She let the boys precede her out of the room, and she shut the door. Jasson and Evan wandered down the hall to go find Yancy, while Inara fell into step beside her father.
"I never thought you'd have so many friends so quickly," Neal told her. Inara shrugged.
"I got lucky," she told him.
"I'm not sure I like all those boys being so friendly with you. They might get the wrong idea," he replied. Inara just laughed.
"Papa, I'm way too young for boys. Besides, I could never fall in love with one of my friends."
"Did I ever tell you about your Aunt Kel and Sir Cleon of Kennen? Or that your Aunt Kel and your Uncle Dom started out as friends. You seem awfully close to Evan."
"He's my sponsor."
Neal looked at her for a moment, and paused in his step as if something came to him. A light kind of triggered behind his gaze. "Oh, Mithros. I am such an idiot," he said to himself, although Inara heard him.
"What?" she asked him, turning around and staring at him. Neal looked incredibly amused.
"Promise not to tell your aunt?"
"Maybe," Inara replied, looking at her father suspiciously.
"Well, than all I'm going to tell you is that you should ask her who her first crush was when she was younger. I bet you won't believe the answer," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets and walking away from her.
"Wait? What? You! No way! Aunt Kel could never have been in love with you."
"I'm guessing she had to be maybe twelve or thirteen," Neal laughed. "I never realized it until now. She was so good at hiding her feelings," he was fully laughing now. He couldn't wait to talk to her. "I wonder if she wrote any poems," he nearly giggled.
"Papa, you're crazy. Aunt Kel could never have fallen in love with someone as crazy as you," she reiterated, and followed her snickering parent out to the stables. If he kept this up, it was going to be a very long ride home.
Author Note:
So, the good news is, chapter 7 is all ready to go… the bad news is, chapter 8 isn't done yet, nor are any that come later. So I really need to get on that. Luckily I'm on Christmas break from college, so I'll have time to write when I'm not at work. I hope you enjoyed. Please send me lots of lovely reviews.
Fateless Wanderer