Battle Song

Abby Ebon

When Mama found that Brat didn't know how to spell or read or write, Brat endured lessons with Suzy. In the inn Suzy helped serve during the day and mornings, and Mama and Brat at evening and nights.

The inn was simple and only had a gathering room- and five extra bedrooms, so occasionally there were Bards and Story-Tellers so the girls didn't lack for entertainment when they weren't busy.

Mama knew of Firecats, and had seen the one following Nëd -and knew the sword Nëd had wasn't just a sword.

Sometimes Nëd, sword in hand, would go off without a word, and she worried, but more for the girls soul then if she got hurt. Orphans did not survive long if they did not know how to fight.

Five years passed in such a way, Nëd's birthday was celebrated on when she came to the inn, as she had confessed to now knowing it. Mama knew that Nëd would not stay with her forever, and yet it came as a surprise when she left.

Nëd was cooking, the sword leaning against the stove, and yet itself cool to the touch. It was to be the new Son of the Sun was chosen, and a hum of excitement filled the air. Since her orphan days, Ned had not lost her wariness of Sun Priests or the Sun Lord that was to change that day.

Her spine all at once tensed up, as she felt the pull of a woman in need, Nëd glanced to the sword, and turned the oven off. She knew better then to think she would be "right back" – the kinds of missions Need sent her on now were vastly different then those of five years past.

She touched the blue gem on Need's hilt, and it seemed to sing to her – the blue swelling, swirling about with in as if a pulse. Nëd smiled slightly, for she always felt right – felt as if she had a duty to do, whenever the sword felt a woman in need.

Without pause she left the inn, Mama merely raising a hand in acknowledgement as she left. Suzy waved a bit more enthusiastically – the girl was eleven now – or perhaps twelve, for though taught, Nëd had never lost the habits Brat had brought to her families door step.

Though she passed market on her way to where Need led her, she glanced only once at her reflection. Dark brown eyes greeted her, gleaming in earnest excitement, and cropped close brown hair fell barely below her ears. Many made the mistake of thinking her a boy – and she found she didn't care. Her chest was flat, being starved in youth, and finding life hard otherwise had toned her body into a weapon – and her magic, well, that she let Need control.

It was not often someone came into market with a sword so boldly showing – but no one questioned it, trusting military to deal with it. Nëd paid no attention to military – they couldn't catch her, not so long as Need was with her, and she intended never to be without the sword.

:Climb that ladder there.: Need suggested, it took a moment to spot it, it was along one of the buildings – Nëd found herself obeying without question. Need often pointed out things she would miss – it was why they were such a great team; she was a tool – as much as Need was one. A tool for the greater good, a tool with a purpose most orphans never thought to achieve.

She scrambled up the ladder, and paused, warily peeking her head over the top of the roof.

:There he is – he threatens a woman. : Need whispered to her, and though she could not see the woman in danger – she trusted Needs instincts.

Staying low, Nëd crawled onto the roof top, staying just out of the line of sight. She saw almost immediately he was a assassin – and one skilled in magic.

:Better then you, surprise him with a physical attack – he is guarded well against a magical one. If there is a magical opening, I will take it.: Need suggested, and biting her reply back from being spoken, she did as Need had wanted. She was directly behind him – if she managed to get on top of him, there was a chance she could crack his skull or snap his spine before adrenaline would lend him strength against her.

Just before she jumped, Nëd thought she saw a cat – the cat she remembered from childhood that she caught glimpses once in a while. It was as if the cat watched her – protected her.

Then she flung her weight onto the man, wrapped her forearms around his neck, and held on as he bucked and arched in hopes of throwing her off before she strangled him to death.

"Look – up on that building, an assassin!" It was easy to tell what the man was – he wore black, or dark colors, and she only light brown pants and cream top – no shoes, she had never liked them.

In one last effort he flung them off the building – Nëd couldn't help but screech as she fell. She heard the assassin yell – and the crunch of bone against ground as he met the earth. She squeezed her eyes shut sure that she was about to meet the same fate.

"Oh, Sun Lord, that poor brave soul is going to die." Nëd feared that was so, for she felt Need try to reach her, but it seemed as if her panic and fear would be her death.

: I do not think so; I will not loose you so easily. : It was muscular, musical – and her body flushed as if she had stayed out in the sun.

To her amazement – and to the crowd bellow, she found herself floating down, as if on a gentle summer wind. When her feet met the ground – she found herself the center of the crowd's attention – for she had survived the fall without a scrape – the assassin was not so lucky.

"It's a miracle, praise Vkandis, he saved the girl!"

Nëd swallowed harshly, for she noticed what she had not before. There was a carriage – drawn by men, it was decorated in the Sun Lords colors – even she, who was a mere street-rat, knew what that meant. It was the carriage of the Son of the Sun, Nëd felt herself grow chilled. Her heart beat aloud in her ears.

"Bring my rescuer to me." Demanded a voice that could not be denied, Nëd went without the prompting of soldiers, or crowd.

The woman who met her gaze wore rich clothing, though no unneeded excess. Her mere presence was enough for Nëd to know this woman was her countries religious leader.

"You are very young, but blessed by Vkandis. Come, sit with me." The woman asked, and Nëd found she could do nothing else but what was asked – or, rather, demanded. The cat that Nëd had thought she saw all her life, either in the corner of her eye, or just a flicker of tail, sat beside the woman.

"I am Lorkia, Son of the Sun. He has told me of you, little hidden dagger – and what he has not said, Sheba has said plenty." The Son of the Sun told her in a husky whisper. Her hand petted the cat who regarded Nëd with familiar, if oddly intent, blue eyes. The cat was as big as a dog, standing as tall as the knee, or a little taller.

"Sheba…He…I do not understand…" Nëd spoke, rather baffled, and cat and priestess seemed amused. Need seemed more annoyed, but then – sense the fall, the sword had not spoken to her. She supposed it was because the sword was angry with her for panicking so, and wished to apologize – though she could only do that when Need spoke first.

"Do not fret so; I can see that they have not told you what you should know. He, of course, is the Sun Lord, Vkandis – and Sheba, well, Sheba is your firecat. She has been watching you all your life." Lorkia smiled to see Nëd surprised, the Son of the Sun had the feeling it was something rare.

"As for what I mean by hidden dagger, I believe the nobles in the army are plotting against my priests – when I preyed to Vkandis for a answer – he told me to wait, and gave me you." Lorkia continued, more sternly, for she saw that Nëd had tensed up with surprise.

"You will help me, and go into the army as an assassin, won't you?" Lorkia asked then, hopeful. For a moment Nëd saw a woman much like herself, newly introduced to a destiny where she was unsure of in.

Nëd also considered what she knew of Vkandis, he was a god of the people – her god, and if not an overly kind god, he was at least fair – giving life to their people and waiting until all those deeds had been done in life only to judge them in death.

If it had been Vkandis who had saved her…the cats blue eyes caught and held hers :How can you think it was any other: the firecat, Sheba, asked her.

Then just as easily as Vkandis had saved her, he could kill her for denying his Son of the Sun.

"I… I will need to think about this." Nëd said, her grip on Need whitened her knuckles. Lorkia nodded, she likely had expected such a response – by some sign that Nëd did not see or understand, the carriage halted.

"Very well, when you make your choice, fair hidden dagger, prey to Vkandis, and I will know your answer and Sheba will likely come fetch you." Lorkia told her serenely – if she was upset at not having a quick answer, it did not show.

Nëd nodded her head in reverence and left the carriage, solemnly, it left leaving a baffled crowd behind.

"What could the Son of the Sun want with a mere girl?"

Nëd tapped her fingers along Need's hilt and it silenced the crowd until she was gone. She did not turn as they started to murmur behind her, finding a lack of peace in being this visible.

:Brat, let me ask you something…: Need started, and she tilted her head dark curls framing her oval face. :If you choose Vkandis, would you cut ties to me: Nëd shook her head, her heart fluttered wildly at the thought.

"No, Need, I'd never do such a thing – I have been a child, a woman, and a warrior with you by my side, you are my friend." Nëd exclaimed aloud, ignoring the looks in her direction or the odd comments.

: Then, whatever your decision, you and I shall still answer the call of a woman in need.: Need stated, as if to be sure. Nëd couldn't help her smile.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Nëd murmured more softly as she walked home, choice already made – now all that was left was to tell Mama and Suzy – and prey to Vkandis.

Note; I'm so very sorry for the long wait, I've decided to finish this (should be done in two more chapters anyway). My original plan to make Brat another Son of the Sun has shifted into something a little more believable. Or, rather, something I can see happening. I don't have a timeline for this – merely that it's before Valdemar. So I think it's entirely possible that what I want to happen could have happened.