From the journal of Rosto the Piper, King of the Rogue
Resident of the Lower City, Corus, Tortall
December 16, 247
Before Court
For once, I don't think I'm looking forward to going downstairs for Court. But I still have to go tonight. I have a challenger to take care of: one of my own district chiefs has a problem with the way I'm running things. Turpan of Patten District doesn't like the fact that I've made laws in the Rogue about not having doxies, gambling, and gin in the same room. But, I'll start with last night and this morning and explain how the challenge occurred…
After I was done writing last night, Beka brought me some tea that she said would help me sleep without nightmares. As much as I hate to admit it, I was a bit worried about it for a few minutes. Would Beka have the brass to poison me? I mean, what if the nightmares aren't just my own fear getting the better of me, and she really is just biding her time? I tried to say that I could sleep on my own, but she pulled the "you was shocked out of your sleep by 'nothing,' which just so happened to be a nightmare of me killing you" card. I swear, that mot could get anything out of me if she wanted to.
It worked extremely well, acos, after we'd gone to sleep I was out in a dreamless but light sleep until the door to the Dove banged open the morning. The first thing I did was turn Beka towards the wall – because it was most likely that it was one of my rushers – and whisper in her ear to keep her head down. Within a moment or two, someone was banging on my door, just as I had expected. With a groan I hauled myself out of bed to answer my door. I opened it to see Bold Brian standing right outside, waiting for me to get there.
"What?" I asked. He winced slightly and moved back a pace, trying to keep a serious face.
"Jerom and Dulan never came back from Patten District last night. You sent them to make sure Turpan was following your instructions about having doxies, gambling and gin in the same room," he told me. I paused for a moment, figuring out how long it had been since I had sent them. It had been near the end of Court, after I had gotten back from throwing Brian in the river.
"They haven't come back? You've checked, then?" I questioned him in a low voice. He nodded, as if he was trying to make point that he could actually do his job without me having to tell him exactly what to do. My thoughts jumped straight through what had happened. Turpan, my Patten District chief, has been nothing but trouble in the last few weeks. He hates my laws about gambling, doxies, and gin in the same room. He's been rather offensive, to be honest.
If they never came back, then he was undoubtably up to something. Something I needed to know about, and something that needed to be taken care of now. "Fine. We'll have to go to Patten and confront Turpan about this. Yes, you are going with me," I told him before he had even opened his mouth. He frowned.
"Why? I don't want to get thrown in the river again, Boss," he asked, giving me a pleading look.
"Because I said so. I need decent rushers with me, and you know it. Now go downstairs. I'll be down in a few moments," I said, about to close the door again. That was when he shifted and saw past me to where Beka was lying in bed. He let out a wolf-whistle, and practically started jumping up and down with excitement. Had he learned nothing from last night?
"Boss, ain't you going to tell us who that pretty thing is?" He asked, trying to get a better look. I moved in front of him so he couldn't see and put my hand on his chest, pushing him away from the door and closing it behind me.
"Leave her alone, Brian. She's a respectable lady who you have no business talking to. I haven't introduced her to the Court yet because I don't want her to get involved in it and end up either dead because she's the Rogue's mot, or challenging Aniki acos she wants to be my Queen. You remember what happened last time that happened," I said. He paled when I mentioned that. He remembers all too well what happened with Kassie.
"But-" He started, but I cut him off by holding a finger up.
"We'll talk about this later, after I've dealt with Turpan. Not now," I said. I turned to let myself back into my room so I could change but Brian made a move to try to get another look at Beka so he could try to figure out who she was. "Stay out there, Brian. Can't a man get dressed in some privacy? You want sommat to do, go wake Kora and Aniki. I'll need them both," I told him as I shut the door behind me. That cove needs to learn some manners, or at least get some sense knocked into that thick head of his.
After just a moment, I walked over to the bed and sat down next to Beka. I knew Brian was listening just outside the door – I hadn't heard his footsteps walking away. "Love, I need to deal with this. Wait till I'm gone, before you head out. Talk to Corcoran when you go down and go visit your Da." I kept my voice low, though I know how good Brian's hearing is. Finally, the sound of his boot-heels clicking away from my door reached my ears, just as I finished speaking to Beka. I put a soft kiss on her cheek then moved to her lips. When I pulled away, she propped herself up on her elbow, tilting her head slightly.
"Remember what I said about the Rogue ruining the Dove's good floors?" I nodded, frowning slightly. "Sending Brian to wake Kora won't just ruin the floors, it'll ruin the walls, the doors, and everything between the foundations and the attic. Wood's flammable, you know. To top it all off, you'll get Brian killed." Good grief, I thought, she's right!
I kissed her on the cheek again before getting to my feet. Then I grabbed my shirt, boots, and the strap that kept all of my sheaths and daggers on, thanking Kyprioth that I'd slept in my breeches instead of the shorts I usually sleep in. I raced out the door, pulling my boots on as I went, muttering things under my breath all the while. I don't remember exactly what most of them were, at this point, but they were all directed at the Bold Bugnob himself.
I got to him just in time, and slammed into him with my shoulder, throwing both of us to the ground, right as the door exploded into burnt splinters and charred chunks of wood. I muttered obscenities under my breath as I hauled myself off the ground, brushed myself off and pulled my shirt on.
"What just happened?" Brian asked me rather timidly. I sighed and offered him my hand to help him to his feet.
"You woke Kora out of a sound sleep. She's mighty good at those fire spells, as you can tell. I think she put a tad too much power into it this time," I responded, flicking my eyes at Kora while I was talking. She flushed, panting ever so slightly. Brian nodded wordlessly and disappeared (loudly, I might add) up the stairs to wake Aniki.
"Mind telling us what that was about?" Kora asked. Ersken had his eyebrows raised as he watched me.
"There's sommat going on over in Patten. I told Brian to wake you and Aniki because I need you to go with me. I neglected to tell him to stand clear of the door as I forgot that he didn't know that," I told her. She raised an eyebrow in a good imitation of one of Beka's looks – the one where it's as if she's asking me 'did you, now?' I shrugged. "He didn't get hurt, so it isn't a problem." Kora rolled her eyes at me. "And now I have to replace the door. Nice job on the spell; I only wish that you hadn't used it on the door," I said matter-of-factly. She flushed a brighter red. "I'll see you downstairs in a few minutes." She nodded and I walked off.
I was downstairs, leaning against the counter and talking to Corcoran when Brian came thundering down the steps with Aniki close behind. Kora followed just a moment later, stopping halfway down the steps to turn and say something to Ersken, who, I assume, was at the top of the stairway. As soon as she reached the bottom, I turned back to Corcoran (after very subtly making sure that a certain rusher was listening).
"When Beka comes down for breakfast, would you ask her to escort Lady Dove back to her home in Patten?" I asked. He nodded.
"'Course I will, sir." I thanked him and finished placing my daggers, looping the leather strap around my wrist when I was done.
"Let's go," I said, taking a deep breath and moving towards the door. The others followed me as I set a decent pace towards Turpan's headquarters in Patten District. The trip there was entirely uneventful aside from some of the looks we (me in particular) got.
Turpan's headquarters is an inn and tavern on the far end of the district, opposite of the Lord Provost's house. It's kept by a cousin of the mot who owns the Red Rose, Mistress Turner. I had only visited it once, with Ulsa when I was on duty one night before I became the Rogue. He lives at the inn, too. As we neared the building, I carefully let the Rogue off of his chain, letting him take care of the matter. I entered the inn with Kora, Aniki, and Brian flanking me. The owner, a cove who's several inches shorter than me, scurried over to us. Obviously, he didn't recognize the King of the Rogue when he saw me.
"We ain't open yet," he said fiercely. I turned my gaze on him, and he flinched ever so slightly.
"I'm not here about your business. Get Turpan down here, now," I said. My tone was harsh and cold, callous and dark, the Rogue's voice. The cove scampered up the stairs and returned a moment later, stammering apologies and telling me that Turpan would be down in just a moment. So we waited. He took his sweet time making his way down from his room, on the second floor. I had turned partially around to speak with Aniki to pass the time until Turpan decided to grace us with his presence.
"Why, if it isn't Rosuto the Pilferer." His voice resounded from the bottom of the stairs, where he was finally standing. Turpan is a tall cove, just over six feet, and heavily muscled. He has short, dark brown hair and dark grey eyes, a slightly hawked nose, and a scar running down the side of his face. I turned just barely to glare at him.
"My name is Rosto the Piper, and you are to address me as Your Majesty," I hissed. I somehow managed to keep my voice calm and my face clear. Then I let the Rogue have his way.
"As the high and mighty Rat commands," Turpan returned in a mocking tone, adding an exaggerated half-bow.
"Enough," I said, narrowing my eyes slightly. I was not in the mood to be mocked. "Now, what had you done with my rushers, my little lopovlu? The ones I sent to you last night never made it back…" I left the sentence hanging as I started to pace, hands behind me, fingering the knife at the small of my back. Turpan's gaze followed me while as I moved closer, then away. Closer, then away.
"What rushers?" He asked politely. I could see it in his eyes that he knew exactly what I was talking about.
"Jerom and Dulan, the two rushers I sent to check up on you. They seem to have disappeared. They never returned home. You know exactly what I mean, Turpan." A silence stretched between us, until Turpan broke it, moving towards me swiftly. Aniki and Brian had their weapons out in an instant and moved in behind me. Kora called up her Gift, making it glitter around her fingertips. I don't fancy being on the receiving end of that again.
"Of course I know what you're talking about, Scanran savage. Why wouldn't I? It isn't like I don't dislike your laws or anything like that," he said sarcastically, looming over me. He's only about three inches taller, but he's still quiet a bit larger than I am. I wasn't scared of him, though.
"That's what I thought," I said frostily. Turpan backed up a little, a bit surprised that I didn't react when he was in my face. "Now, will you tell me what you did to them, or will we have to settle this at my Court tonight?" His eyes lit up at that.
"The latter would be…acceptable," he muttered.
"Ah. A challenge, then?" I paused, waiting for a nod, which he gave. "So be it. Be at the Dancing Dove at the beginning of Court. Bring a dagger and the bodies of my men," I said menacingly. He nodded curtly, never taking his eyes off me.
I snapped my fingers and pointed – my signal for my rushers to make my point. Kora hit the floor directly in front of him with a spell before taking aim at his chest once more. Aniki and Brian dumped him unceremoniously on the ground. I smirked at him before leaving the building, flipping two copper nobles at the owner for the damage of his inn. There was silence as I led the others back through the city.
"Rosto, wait up!" Aniki called behind me. I turned around the see that they were far behind me. I sighed and walked back towards them. I just raised an eyebrow and glanced between the three of them. That was when I noticed that all of them were wearing coats and I wasn't. It's not cold enough to bother me.
"You're walking too fast," Aniki told me. I just shrugged. "And that is not how I would have dealt with Turpan," she added in an undertone. I nodded, trying to push my Rogue mind completely away.
"I know," I returned softly, "but that is how the Rogue wanted to handle it." Aniki nodded in turn. "Why don't all of you go ahead? I have a couple of things I want to do," I said in a louder voice. Kora and Brian nodded in agreement, heading off. Aniki put her hand on my shoulder and squeezed before disappearing into the crowd as well. I took a deep breath, watching the mist disappear in front of me when I breathed out.
I glanced at the merchant's stalls as I walked slowly past them. I have yet to figure out exactly what I'm going to give Beka for Midwinter. I have a couple of ideas, one in particular that I like, but nothing solid. It has to be special, though. It's our first Midwinter together and that's very important. Well, it is to me, at least.
It occurred to me while I was walking exactly how long it has been since I last saw my sister. It's been over three years since I saw Angelina face to face, and nearly two since I got that letter from her before I left Scanra. Maybe I should go visit her. No, then I would have to leave my throne in the care of someone else, and I'd be away for a good two months. That is far too long for me to be away from my Court, and from Beka. Well, I thought, the least I can do is to send her a Midwinter gift. I haven't done that in a long time. Besides, it's the least I can do to let her know that I still think about her, and that I'm alright.
I scanned some of the stalls until I saw something I knew Angelina would like. It was a simply carved bracelet made of koa wood from the Copper Isles and inlaid with silver. The starting price for the bracelet was four silver nobles, but I managed to haggle the price down to two and a half, plus two copper nobles. All in all, a decent price, considering that the wood is from the Copper Isles and that it's rare enough there that it's hardly ever imported to Tortall and sold for a reasonable price. After paying for the bracelet, I started back to the Dove, already writing my letter to Angelina in my head. I didn't even realize I was at Palace Way, I was so intent on the letter and watching the people around me. That is, until I felt a cold splat on the back of my head. I whirled, dropping into a fighting stance, minus the daggers. Beka was standing a few feet behind me shaking with silent laughter once again. Her ghost-eyes glittered with mirth as I shifted back out of my fighting stance. I gave her a slightly displeased look, brushing slush off of the back of my neck.
"What was that for?" I asked her. She shook her head, her laughter becoming audible. I waited for a few minutes until she stopped and looked at her expectantly.
"You weren't paying attention, Rosto. Attention unpaid-"
"Is a grave half-made. I know. I was paying attention, Beka, I just have a few things on my mind," I told her. She tilted her head slightly, as if asking what it was that had me. So, I told her, in a low voice.
"I have a challenge tonight. I have to duel Turpan." She frowned slightly, and opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again. I was about to continue when I noticed that several people had stopped to stare at us, the Rogue and a Dog standing together during a cold winter day.
"I suppose I should be glad that runty Dogs prefer to play with slush instead of throwing daggers," I said, subtly drawing her attention to our audience. She narrowed her eyes to hide the mischievous glitter that had appeared in them, and picked up the mannerisms of Guardswoman Cooper. Only the look in her eyes told me that she was acting, and, at that, I'm not so sure that it was just an act.
"So, Rat. This district ain't your usual haunt. Planning on turning the good honest Dogs from the reserve Watch onto their ears and tails?" She asked gruffly. My response was a razor thin smile.
"Oh, maybe, or maybe not. It all depends on who else I run into. But, that is for me to know, and for you not to find out," I responded. She raised an eyebrow. I shrugged. Our audience seemed to get bored with the Rogue and the Bloodhound when all we were doing was staring each other down. I would have to show her my gift for Angelina later on, in private, I decided.
Keeping a careful eye on my 'enemy,' I carefully strode off, seeking out the nearest pile of slush. In a single smooth motion, I scooped it up, turned, and flung it at her. It made a satisfying splatter when it hit her (despite the fact that I actually hit her in the face). She gave me a look that told me that I was going to have to watch my back later for slushballs. I couldn't help but laugh at that as I walked away. I know she's going to get me back, somehow, but at least I can savor my victory, for however long it lasts
After Court
Not only do I hurt all over, but I'm lucky to be alive. I shouldn't be alive. I lost to Turpan. I would be dead if it wasn't for an amazing set of circumstances. In all reality, I should be dead, but I'm not.
Because today was an off day for the Dogs, Beka had the opportunity to be present for the challenge, as well. And for once, it wouldn't be on Happy Bag night. Why people think Happy Bag night is a good night to challenge the Rogue is beyond me. I'd already told Beka about the challenge earlier, but I wasn't totally sure she was going to come. She disappeared off to do something after we talked.
It was the first time she's come to my Court on one of her days off or a court day since before Kassie died in August. I think that was because of what happened with Kassie – that it was because of what she saw. And though she won't admit it, I think it scared her more than she's willing to show. She was completely uneasy around me for several days after that, and I know she was thinking about what would happen if I ever stopped loving her and got tired of her. That will never happen, but the idea is the scary part. Just like my nightmares haunt me now, it haunted her then.
Anyway, since I knew about the challenge tonight, I pulled one of the simple black shirts from the box under my bed. I slipped it on before pulling the midnight blue silk shirt I had chosen for the night on over it. My plans were to take off the blue one just before the challenge, to avoid damaging it. I carefully placed each of my daggers until I was practically bristling with knives. I was going to need them if thing were going to go the way I thought they were. After making sure each of them were perfectly placed, I made sure that I was otherwise presentable (fixing my horsetail, making sure that my shirt was straight, etc.). That done, I let myself out of my room and headed downstairs.
Beka was sitting at the counter, much like the last time she had been to my Court, eating from a plate Corcoran had put in front of her. She glanced up at me, but kept eating without saying a word. I didn't say anything either as I moved over to the counter. I gave Beka a quick peck on the cheek and a grin before settling down to eat the bowl of stew Corcoran had put in front of me. The stew was gone in a few moments while we ate in silence and Corcoran went about his business. I gave Corcoran the signal to open the door as soon as I was done.
"Are you worried about the challenge?" Beka asked. I shrugged, though I moved just a little bit closer to her while the door was still closed. I also placed my hand on hers.
"A little," I admitted in a low voice. "Turpan is a bit taller – and stronger – than I am, but I'm faster than him, and marginally more skilled with daggers than he is. From those facts, I think we're evenly matched," I told her. She nodded and I gave her hand a squeeze before moving over to my throne.
A few minutes after the door had been unlocked and propped open just a little, Brian and Katie walked in with a group of their friends, talking loudly. From the looks they shot me, I knew Brian had been blabbering about going with me to Patten and the challenge. Just what I wanted. Aniki took her seat next to me a moment later, offering me a weak smile. She was worried about the impending duel as much as or more than – probably the latter – I was. My eyes flicked around the room, resting on Beka for just the barest second. Our eyes met briefly and she gave me a look that said 'be careful.' I inclined my head ever so slightly, just enough that she would notice, and moved my eyes away. I glanced at Brian, who – for once – wasn't paying the least bit of attention to me.
Then the door to the inn opened with a bang. Turpan and his rushers entered the Dancing Dove, demanding respect just with the air about them. The rushers dispersed among the growing crowd, finding their friends and chatting, though everyone was on edge. Turpan himself walked with measured steps toward my throne, keeping his eyes on me the whole time.
"A challenge for your throne, Your Majesty," he hissed.
"Accepted. As challenged, my choice of weapons is hand-to-hand and daggers," I returned in a calm voice. He nodded and moved back while the floor was cleared. I moved fluidly to my feet, shedding the silk shirt as I did so. Moving from the platform, I stretched slowly, flicking my eyes around the room again as I let the Rogue take over. In that instant, things were different, and not just because the Rogue sees things differently than Rosto does. Something in the air was different…
Strangely enough, as I was doing so, Beka's Dog – no – partner, Mattes Tunstall, walked in. He met my eyes, quickly looking away, and made a B-line for Beka, who had moved back to a table in the corner, where no one would cast her more than a passing glance. With Tunstall there, too, I wasn't so sure she would remain obscure for long. He talked with her for a moment, then joined her at the table. They talked quietly until none other than Clary Goodwin appeared by the table. Mithros, what were all of those Dogs doing in my Court? At a duel for the throne – and on their day off – no less! Beka I could excuse, because she lived at the Dove and all, but Tunstall and Goodwin? Why?
By that time, I was done stretching, and could not watch to see what happened over there. Shifting into a solid stance, I drew a dagger from my belt and waited for Turpan to attack. Tension filled the room as everyone waited for one of us to initiate the duel. Suddenly, Turpan surged forward, almost catching me off guard. I dropped into spinning kick, knocking his legs from under him as he charged. He went flying and hit the ground with a grunt.
I turned so that he didn't have a chance to throw a dagger at my back. Turpan got to his feet, glaring at me. We moved, circling each other until he ducked in again, slashing at my stomach. I evaded the blade, moving back before lunging back in and sinking my knife to the hilt into his shoulder. With a yell, he stumbled back, jerking the dagger from my hand. It hit the floor with a clang, making an overly loud sound in the suddenly silent inn.
We stared at each other for a moment, both panting lightly. I pulled another dagger from my boot without taking my eyes off my challenger. In an instant, he was surging towards me again, though, this time with a bloodstain where he was wounded.
Instead of throwing his dagger up and trying to find a weak spot in my defenses, he jerked his knee up between my legs and jammed it into my groin.
Stars exploded in my vision and I doubled over in pain. That was low.
I spouted a number of curses (in Scanran, for the most part) a little too loudly between gasping and trying to clear my vision so that I didn't get myself killed.
Before I could do anything, another starburst exploded in front of my left eye and I went staggering backwards. Right into Bold Brian, which knocked him, and a number of others who were standing around him, down. Catcalls issued from some of my rushers, mostly directed at Turpan as I struggled to get to my feet. I hate it, absolutely hate it, when my opponent resorts to fighting dirty. So uncivilized. That's where most of them get me. If I can, I fight fair, which do not include hitting your opponent such as Turpan did to me.
I pulled a dagger from one of my wrist sheaths and hurled it at him. It clipped by his eye, drawing blood, only to bury itself in the wall six feet behind him. He snarled furiously and moved toward me again. I slid past and scored my dagger blade down his arm, drawing more blood. He, in turn, whirled, driving his knife toward me, slicing my arm straight across.
Turpan caught my wrist and twisted, making me drop my dagger and bite back a yell. I turned and elbowed him in the side. He let go and backed up, rubbing where I'd elbowed him. I pulled my other wrist dagger out and brought it up under his guard, only to have it knocked away and out of my hand as well. I pulled the dagger at the small of my back out and spun, bringing that one up against Turpan's blade. He shifted, putting his weight on the dagger, pushing me down.
While I was focused on trying to get out of that problem situation, staying on my feet, and not getting myself cut up, Turpan very carefully removed one hand from the blade he was pushing towards me and slipped it down to the hilt of another dagger. I hadn't noticed by then. I did, however, notice when he sank the dagger into my side. I let out a half-gasp, half-yelp, and tried to pull away from the duel to recover just for a moment, but Turpan took that opportunity to hook his foot around my ankle and pull. I went toppling to the ground.
Fighting the dizziness that was overtaking me, I tried to clear my head. That in itself was hard enough, but it was even harder in the heat of battle. When Turpan suddenly seemed to come crashing down towards me, I rolled, gasping when my side screamed at me. I looked back at where I had been seconds before to see a knife buried deep in the hardwood floor.
I took a calm breath, pushing my mind back into gear despite the blood loss I had already suffered. In an almost smooth motion, I lashed out and knocked Turpan off his feet again. Seconds after that, I was flying through the air – he'd used my weight and the momentum of his fall against me and flung me.
I landed hard on top of one of the tables close to the wall (close to Beka, too, I might point out). Two very audible cracks filled the Dove, which had once again fallen to almost complete silence. The table gave way beneath me at the same time fire surged up my leg from just above my knee. Though dizzy from pain and loss of blood, I struggled to get back up, but couldn't. My leg wouldn't hold my weight, and my head spun when I tried. I fell back to the ground in complete and utter pain. I couldn't move, and I was quickly loosing blood. I was done for. Sometime in that moment of realization, the Rogue slipped away and let me be just Rosto again. My nightmare had come true, just not in the way I had expected it.
I turned my head towards Corcoran, who was watching the duel with his mouth slightly open and a look of near-horror in his eyes. I nodded to him, and with some hesitation, he acknowledged it. He knew what I wanted him to do: he had the will I had prepared months before. The Dancing Dove would belong to Aniki. I didn't want anyone else's (meaning whoever defeated me) dirty hands on my inn.
Then I glanced towards my throne, where both Kora and Aniki were. The looks on their faces was enough for me to tell that neither of them could believe their eyes. I tried to give them a look that said 'thank you for all that you have done,' but I can't say if it conveyed that or not. Then, I steeled myself for what was coming, pulling my Rogue face back on. As Turpan drew closer with the knife in his hand, I completely resigned myself to my fate. I was really going to die. Only a few regrets flashed through my mind. I pushed them away, clearing my mind as best I could.
Finally, I turned my head, tilting it slightly, baring my neck for his knife. I had lost. Nothing would change that. If I had to die, I was going to die with dignity.
The way I had my head turned, I was looking straight at Beka, but only she, Goodwin, and Tunstall could see that I was actually doing just that. They were the only ones who could actually see my face. Even with my Rogue face on, I was all Rosto. With my eyes only, I gave her that look I reserved only for her. She watched me sadly, her hands clinched on top of the table. We had both known that this day would come, but it was far too soon.
I shifted just slightly, taking my eyes from the mot I love, and glanced back at Turpan. He was standing over me, looking down at me with loathing. He reached down with the knife – and never got there.
Glittering flames of dark gold burst into existence around his head and shoulders. I jerked my arm up to shield my eyes from the brilliance. Turpan swatted at the flames, trying to extinguish them. Then he began to claw at his throat, his eyes bulging slightly.
"If you kill him, I can't talk to him," a voice said behind him. I knew that voice. But if couldn't be. Could it?
Seconds ticked by, then a minute. Then Turpan dropped and lay absolutely motionless. The whole room was staring at his unmoving form on the ground for several very tense moments. I looked up from his body to see a mot I hadn't seen in several years.
Silence swallowed the room, and all eyes slowly turned toward the door. Silhouetted against the street-lights and the white shock of snow, was the tall mage-woman who had just killed Turpan. She was decked out in a dress of deep forest green, and had a thick black cloak over it, the hood lined with a dark gray fur, probably wolverine. Contrasting the dark gray of her hood was a porcelain white face, with golden hair falling softly past her shoulders, and bright blue eyes that glittered dangerously. A pouty pink mouth was turned up in a smirk.
Fire the color of old gold sparkled at the fingertips of one hand, her other was covered by a thick woolen glove. She looked like a statue of the Hunting Goddess, down to the shiny and well lined leather boots.
Lorena Aurisra.
I can't even begin to describe the relief I felt at that moment. Turpan was gone, and I was still alive. That feeling vanished as my head began to spin again. I groan softly. Lorena looked back at me, looking slightly worried. I could feel Beka's eyes watching me, as well. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the wreckage of the table, trying to make it stop spinning long enough to think straight. I heard light footsteps come closer, than stop.
"Will someone please get this piece of pig scummer out of my way?" Lorena's commanding voice echoed in the all too silent air of my inn. I opened my eyes to see several of my rushers scurrying to obey her. I hadn't known that she spoke Tortallan so well. While she waited for them to move the body, she glanced around impatiently, her eyes resting on the Dogs for just a moment. She knelt down next to me and surveyed the wounds I had accumulated as soon as she could reach me.
"Lorena." I murmured as she glanced at my face and gave me a severe look.
"What did I tell you about fighting fair?" She chastised, speaking in Scanran. I laughed, or, more accurately, tried to, because I had seen that coming. Instead, I gasped violently and my hand flew to the wound in my side.
"It doesn't win fights. I know," I responded, also in Scanran, though it was a little awkward on my tongue. "It's just a habit that I apparently need to break." She shook her head at me, carefully moving my hand away from my side. She proceeded to pull my bloody shirt up and run glittering fingers over the wound. Her fingers were freezing cold. I winced slightly, just enough for her to notice.
"What's wrong?" She asked. I settled into the idea that our conversation was going to take place in Scanran, since she had addressed me only as such.
"Your hands are bloody freezing," I told her matter-of-factly. I got another look for that.
"It's cold outside. What did you expect? Hold still, Rikkisram." I opened my mouth to say something only to turn the words into a grunt as she poked my leg to make me shut up.
"Ow! Not so hard. That's still broken, you know," I snapped. She gave me another sharp look, then reached up and cuffed me on the back of the head. Almost everyone gasped. It takes a lot of brass to hit the Rogue upside the head, right in front of his own Court.
"Stop being such a baby, Rosto," she told me. With a sigh, I relaxed and let her get to healing my arm and leg when she was done with my side. Tension was crackling in the air; everyone had their eyes on me and Lorena.
I once again tilted my head back and just a little to the side, trying to look bored. While only the Dogs and Lorena (who was focused on the healing) could see what I was really doing – looking at Beka. She was holding on to a table and watching me, just a hint of annoyance accompanying the worry in her eyes, and…jealousy? Was she jealous of the trust I was displaying with Lorena when I was so obviously having trouble trusting her these last few days?
When our eyes met, she looked away, starting a quiet conversation with Tunstall and Goodwin, who had both somehow managed to keep a low profile. If Beka's upset with me, I know I'm in trouble. She has yet to speak to me at this point…
"Rosto." I glanced back at Lorena to see that she had tugged my shirt (blood-covered as it was) back down, and was brushing her hands off. "I've done the best I could, but your leg will still be a bit tender for a few days, and you'll likely be dizzy, as well, from the blood loss," she said, still speaking in Scanran. Like I said, I had already figured that our conversations would continue to be in Scanran – it offered far more privacy to do so. Only Aniki and Kora were fluent in Scanran, and I know that Beka understands more than she lets on.
Once she was completely done, she very unceremoniously hauled me up from the floor, which, in my opinion, isn't really the right treatment for a person who's just gotten healed. My head spun wildly for a moment, making me stagger just a little. I steadied myself against an empty table.
"Listen, Rosto, there are a number of reasons I've traversed all of Scanra in the past few weeks, in the freezing winter, and it has nothing to do with your inability to fight." I flushed as she said that. I'm not that bad a fighter. I wouldn't have become the Rogue, or managed to keep my throne if I wasn't good. In all honesty, I'm quiet a bit better than I was the last time Lorena and I had seen each other. "Though, if I knew this was how you handled challengers in your Court, I'd call the Patsov. I have a delivery."
"Long way to come for a delivery. Did you bring me something for Midwinter?" I teased her, still wincing because of my leg. I winced harder when she punched me lightly in the shoulder. Lorena was about to answer when a loud meow broke the silence. Pounce hissed loudly and a small caped body flew out from underneath one of the coat racks near the door, hurtling into Lorena's arms.
"Not what, Rikkisram, but who." She knelt down and murmured sweet words to the small, cloaked body. From the responses, I could gather that it was a child she was talking to. "It's just a kitty, darling," she assured the frightened youngster. She looked up at Pounce, who strolled over like he owned every inch of the inn. My inn. "See, maleni, it's just the Cat." I noticed the addition. Lorena didn't say 'a cat,' but 'the Cat.' Did she know that Pounce was a constellation?
"It's got funny eyes," sniffled the small voice from beneath the cloak. Its Scanran sounded like the yips of a little puppy. Lorena picked up the child, placing it on her hip.
"I know. It means he's special. Come on, maleni, you have to speak Tortalli now." She kissed the child on the cheek and turned to face me. I saw her glance at me, then put the child down.
I could feel a shiver of unease working its way up my spine. It couldn't be.
The child took the hood down from around its face and I heard a collective gasp work its way around the room. Blond. White-blond hair in a boy's cut covered a pudgy child's face, and big ebony-brown eyes looked at me from behind soft gold lashes.
Maleni. It means 'little one' or 'baby.' Could this blond little boy be…
The child came up to me. "Hello, Patsov Rosto." And then he put his arms around my waist, hugging me like I was his only blood-kin. I looked up at Lorena with a look of disbelief on my face.
"Sweet Mithros, you're kidding me." That slipped out of my mouth in Tortallan, causing a twitter among the crowd. I had to reach out and steady myself against the table again for fear of passing out then and there. She smirked and I felt my blood run cold.
"Relax, Rikkisram, I'll explain." I couldn't help but put a hand over my pounding heart. I would much rather she explained it right there and then, is he or isn't he. Yes or no. Simple question, simple answer.
Then it hit me. We were still in front of the entire court, and the little boy was still hugging me. I placed my hand on his head and the child looked up at me. I imagined that Lorena had told him to play on my affections and act as innocent as possible. But I couldn't help it: here was this small child, holding onto me, big doe-brown eyes waiting for me to acknowledge him. He blinked at me, just one slow blink and my icy rogue heart melted. Oh, here's trouble.
"Stay." The words left my mouth before my sensible self could hold them in check. "You can stay. Both of you." I knelt down on my good knee, and looked at the little boy in front of me. "Gavarishli puno Tortalli?" I asked the little blond in Scanran, trying very hard not to sound like I was growling at him. He shook his head. He didn't speak a lot of Tortallan, and the gesture said more than if he'd spoken.
A hand descended lightly on the boy's shoulder: Kora. She asked him, quietly and in Scanran, if he was tired or hungry. He looked back and Lorena and then nodded fervently. "I'll take them to a room, have one of Corcoran's girls bring them a bite," she said to me. As I nodded my approval Kora extended her hand to the boy and he shook his head, waiting for Lorena. He squeaked when he saw Laddybuck and Fuzzball sitting next to the stairs, and pointed at them. Lorena nudged him along, turning to look at me for another second.
"Good night, Rosto," she said. And with that, she and the lad were gone.
People were far too intrigued to leave, so instead of making them go away, I disappeared. I slowly made my way upstairs after putting Aniki in charge for the rest of the night. It has been a long day.
Through it all, Beka has neither spoken to me, nor looked at me. I think I'm in trouble.
Lady Wolf's Scanran-English Dictionary
Maleni- Literally, "Little One," though colloquially it can mean "baby" or "child." It's usage is determined by context, more often the literal meaning is used when referring to the young of someone else, or to animal young. The Colloquial is used in more privatized and possessive contexts.
Gavarishli puno Tortalli? - An interrogative, Literally, "Do you speak a lot of Tortallan?" As a singular word, "Tortalli" can mean the Tortallan Language, or the Tortallan People. In this instance, it is talking about the language.
Rikkisram- a nickname given to Rosto, whose meaning we will soon interpret for you. Meanwhile, you must agonize over its meaning.
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--Lioness's Heart and Lady Wolf--