I'm sorry this took me so long to get out, but I was reading Les Miserables and couldn't put it down. I have spring vacation next week and will update then.
CHAPTER FOUR – November - Nobles
The eleven Goats lined up outside Geoff's room as they had last month. Instead of their usual clothes, they were wearing uniforms. They were all also perfectly clean, being freshly bathed and groomed. Geoff had given the clothes to the Goats for that night's mission, although as of yet, no one knew what it was.
Their uniforms were in the commoners' style and fabric, but nice and new. The girls and boys alike wore deep blue breeches that required no belt and yet were full at the leg. They wore soft cream shirts with long sleeves and high collars. Silk cream stockings were held up by deerskin ties that were hidden by their breeches. Each Goat wore polished boots that reached up to mid-thigh. Each child's uniform had been in individually wrapped packages with their names written on it, indicating that the clothes were specially ordered. They certainly fit each Goat perfectly.
Geoff opened the door before Kiyra even had a chance to knock. He walked out of his room, holding three parcels. He was dressed as a noble, with white silk shirt, scarlet tunic, and spotless hose. His boots came up higher than the Goats, up to his knee. Geoff also had a sword disguised to look as a dress sword.
"Each of you will get one of these." Geoff handed a parcel to Tyrell. Fumbling with the ties, Tyrell brought out a necklace and passed the package on to Finn. Once every pick had brought out one, they put them on. The chain was gold with a loop holding a small, artfully crafted goat figurine on it.
Geoff opened the second parcel. In it were eleven scabbards about a foot long each. They were handed out slightly faster than the necklaces had been. The dirks had inlaid gold wire on the hilt and were shiny silver steel. There was a sharp edge on both sides of the blade that tapered off to a sharp point. On the pommel of the hilt was an engraved goat with each picks' initials on it. For those who didn't have a last name, or wouldn't have liked it being put on in Kiyra's case, a G stood. The sheath was plain black with gold braid around the top. The sheath was hooked to a loose, thin leather belt with a small silver buckle.
"All of you have worked hard to earn these." Geoff praised. "You deserve every bit it cost me." That was all he could say, because eleven bodies were hugging him and stammering thanks. Shoving them away gently, Geoff opened the last package with a smirk.
He drew out an elegant, green gown with silver trim and a low neckline. The sleeves were virtually nonexistent and the gown brushed the floor. It also looked suspiciously like it would fit Kiyra.
"No." Her voice croaked. "That's too pretty for the likes of me. Actually, I just hate it. Oh, please Geoff, no."
Geoff smiled at her bemused. "Relax. No one will see you in it. Put it on over your other clothes." Kiyra held it in her hands, unsure of how to get in it.
Both Geoff and Merci had to help her, as the other Goats slipped into their dirk belts. Kiyra had to take off her shirt and dirk and give them to Tyrell for safekeeping. Geoff also handed her a pair of white lady's gloves.
Once the humiliated Kiyra was in the gown, Geoff finally instructed them in their mission. "We'll all be taking a trip to Court. In other words, Kiyra and I will be presented tonight and we will sneak all of you in. Then, you will charm the nobles for the whole night. Kiyra will tell you how to do that. Don't worry, it's all for a good cause. Follow me." Geoff thumped down the staircase.
"Could he be any more vexing?" Kiyra asked the Goats, who all shook their heads. Tyrell and Merci had to help her down the staircase. Outside the Dove, a coach waited for them. The coachmen watched in something between surprise and disgust as twelve people piled into the small vehicle.
Once inside, Geoff further explained what they had to do. "I am going to ask the King and his council for funds. We are trying to improve the lower city. I want to build houses, schools, and infirmaries for the homeless and impoverished. Of course, nobles wouldn't give a thing unless they think we're deserving of it. I need the Goats to show them that our children are worth something."
"So, in other words, you want us to charm the nobles to get you your funds?" Kiyra tried to make some sense out of what Geoff was telling them.
"Exactly. If any of you steal from anyone, I'll skin you bit by bit. Be polite and use the manners that Myles taught you. Don't get into any trouble, especially not you, Kiyra."
"Aw, he's worried about me." Kiyra told the Goats.
"No, I just know that she's more likely to find trouble than all of you put together." Geoff corrected as Kiyra made a face and the Goats laughed.
"Alright, you will walk behind me and Kiyra. Keep close, but not as close as someone will feel you. You have to trust me on this: no one will see you." Geoff took a deep breath. "I know that I'm no mage, but you have to believe me. If you make no sound and if you touch no one other than a fellow Goat, you'll be unseen."
"Why can't I be unseen, instead of in a dress?" Kiyra complained.
"I need a cover story. You and I are a married couple visiting from Tusaine. Don't hit me! It's the best possible thing. A man traveling alone is likely up to trouble."
The coach came to a smooth stop. Geoff looked to the Goats and placed a finger over his lips in a shushing gesture. They all nodded. The coach door opened and Geoff leaped out. Kiyra nudged the Goats into motion and they leaped out of the coach also. The coachmen seemed not to notice the "invisible" Goats, but Kiyra could see them perfectly. After all the picks had left, Geoff extended his hand to Kiyra and helped her out.
Kiyra looked around the courtyard. Paper lanterns hung from thin cords that led to an entrance way. Geoff offered his arm to Kiyra and she took it delicately. She tried to make her steps light and quick as Myles had taught her. Kiyra didn't pay attention to where they were going, but watched the Goats out of the corner of her eye. She was relieved, not surprised, that the older picks had the younger ones under their wings.
Kiyra was amazed by the finery of the palace. Vases, statues, and paintings adorned every hallway and woven carpets every floor. While she knew that any one of them could have fed a family for a year, Kiyra knew that nobles were nobles and that was that.
They came to a large room where the nobles waited to be announced. Geoff gave his and Kiyra's false names to the servant. The Goats had to sit under tables pressed against the wall to avoid being brushed up against. Kiyra and Geoff waited until it was their turn to be announced. A servant led them through another small corridor where just Geoff, Kiyra, and the invisible Goats waited.
Geoff turned to Kiyra. "It's time. Tyrell, bring her shirt and dirk." Tyrell handed Kiyra the shirt and Kiyra slipped off her gown. She pulled her shirt on as fast as she could, not wanting to be seen without clothes. Merci helped her buckle on her dirk while Geoff bunched up the gown and hid it under a small table that had a cloth hanging.
When the servant came to check that everything was ready, Geoff handed him a slip of paper. "Give this to the one who does the announcing. Have him announce it instead of the other one." The servant looked unconcerned as he left.
From beyond a door in the corner, Kiyra could hear the announcer. "Let's introduce Geoffrey, King of the Rogue and the Rogue's Goats."
"Will we be seen now?" Emma asked nervously.
"Yes, but don't worry. Not every commoner girl gets presented to court." Geoff reassured her. "Look lively, Goats."
Geoff was first down the grand staircase. He stood tall and proud, Kiyra on his right side but slightly behind him. The Goats filed in behind the pair. All twelve of them were perfectly in step with each other. Instead of walking slowly as the nobles did, they trotted quickly. The nobles' reaction to them could only be described as a stunned silence.
Geoff bowed to the monarchs, and after he had done so, the Goats followed in perfect unity. King Jonathon and Queen Thayet also looked startled, but recovered themselves quickly.
"Welcome, cousin." King Jonathon said, using the term that a ruler used to another.
Geoff bowed again and walked into the crowd. The Goats quickly dipped and followed their leader. The nobles shied away from them as if they were distasteful, but the picks kept polite, distant faces on.
"We washed before we came." Kiyra mumbled to Geoff, eyes dancing with mischief. Geoff grinned.
"I'm going to talk to the Baron George." Geoff said. "Myles said that I should." Kiyra nodded and turned around to the Goats.
"Alright, I want you to stick in pairs. If you dance, do it the way that Myles taught us, not the commoners' way. Yes, Rye, I know that our way is more fun, but they won't like it. I want Wren and Dann to stick with me. Go on, get on to charming." The Goats dispersed.
Kiyra really wanted to go back to the Dove where she didn't feel so inferior, but she forced herself to obey her own orders. "C'mon, kids. We'll try our luck over there." Kiyra tried to show confidence as she walked toward a group of nobles. They all looked hostile and unfriendly to her, until she spotted Sir Myles.
"Hello, Kiyra. I can say that I was surprised to see all of you here."
"Well, I'm glad that I'm not the only one." Kiyra laughed. "Look what Geoff bought all of us." Kiyra pulled out her dirk and showed him. "They were gifts for putting up with your lessons for a month."
Myles chuckled. "Oh, here's someone I want you to meet. Kiyra, meet my daughter, Lady Alanna." A short, redheaded woman with violet eyes stopped talking to a burly guardsman and walked over to Myles.
"So you're the one that leads the Goats?" Alanna asked Kiyra.
"Yes, my lady." Kiyra bowed. "These are the two youngest members, Wren and Dann." The picks bowed deeply.
"You're the Lioness?" Wren asked excitedly.
"Yes. Am I shorter than you expected?" Alanna's voice was wry.
"You look tall to me." Dann said. Kiyra, Myles, and Alanna laughed. Alanna was taller than him, but the same size as Kiyra.
"Did you really kill Duke Roger and fight monsters and steal the Jewel and not get in trouble for it?" Wren questioned.
"That was me." Alanna smiled at the young girl. "Who told you about all that?"
"Kiyra told us that. She got in trouble from stealing from Baron George. Kiyra said that it wasn't fair, since you didn't get in trouble for stealing a jewel and she only stole a rock." Wren blurted as Kiyra winced.
Dann continued where Wren had left off. "Kiyra told us that you are a hero and she wanted to be like you. She said that…" Kiyra stepped up behind the pair and covered both their mouths with her hands.
"Don't you love how children make up stories?" Kiyra asked the two laughing adults.
"Would you care to dance?" A bold squire bowed to Kiyra as Wren and Dann giggled. Kiyra looked to Myles for help, but he just looked at her expectantly.
Kiyra curtsied politely in her baggy breeches and smiled up at him. "Of course." Kiyra prayed to all the gods that she knew that she wouldn't make a fool of herself.
The dance was one that Myles had taught her and weapons training had made Kiyra light on her feet. Although Kiyra found even the fastest noble dances slow, she enjoyed it.
After two dances with other squires, Kiyra found herself dancing with Geoff. She smiled up at him. "What did you talk to the Baron George about?"
"Nothing important." Kiyra knew that he was lying, because he automatically assumed his careless attitude.
"Oh, alright, you don't have to tell me." Kiyra grinned cheekily at him. She stopped immediately and ignored Geoff's questions of what was wrong. Something gave her a feeling that one of her Goats was in trouble. Scanning the crowd frantically, Kiyra found the trouble spot almost immediately.
Emma was shrinking away from a shouting nobleman who held a jeweled pendant in his hands. Toady was restrained by another nobleman. Kiyra pushed past Geoff and strode over to them. When she reached Emma, Kiyra rested her hands on the girl's shoulders to reassure her.
"Release him." Kiyra glared levelly up at the taller nobleman who held Toady. Flushing, the noble let Toady go. The boy flew behind Kiyra, arms folded in defiance. The affront was drawing quite a crowd that included the monarchs.
"That girl stole this pendant from me!" The tall noble accused.
"I didn't, Kiyra, please believe me!" Emma sobbed.
"The chain broke and I put it into my pocket." The nobleman hissed. "Next thing I knew, it was in her hands!"
"She didn't either!" Toady yelled. "He's lying!"
The nobleman called a group of soldier's over. "Arrest this thief!"
"You'll have to come through me first!" Kiyra pushed Emma behind her and drew her dirk, shaking her head when Toady reached for his. She didn't want him to get in trouble. She was in enough already, drawing a sword on soldiers and noblemen.
All her efforts to keep the other Goats went in vain when the other eight picks came up behind Kiyra with their dirks out. Toady smirked at Kiyra and drew his. Emma just huddled behind Kiyra.
"Enough!" King Jonathon ordered. His voice was only raised slightly, but it made everyone freeze. "Please, put your weapons away." The Goats reluctantly complied, Kiyra a little slower than the others. "Now, will someone please explain to me what's going on?"
Geoff came up next to Kiyra, silently giving her his support.
"This common thief stole this pendant!" The nobleman snapped, pointing at Emma with a finger that shook.
"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" King Jonathon kindly asked the girl.
Emma came out from behind Kiyra. "I didn't, I swear. He just asked me to hold it while he got some drinks. I did and he started to yell at me."
"It's true." Toady insisted. The nobleman glared at him and Toady gave him a rude gesture which consisted of sticking up only his middle finger. Kiyra smirked, but knocked his hand away.
"The children are telling the truth." Master Numair said. Black magic sparkled around his hands. "Duke Rotre is lying."
"I don't want to see either of you again tonight." King Jonathon told the duke and his friend. Then, he turned to the Goats. "I apologize for his behavior. He did not act like a gentleman."
Kiyra's grip on her dirk's hilt shook, although her dirk was sheathed. Her knuckles were white with rage. When someone threatened her friends, they were in for it. "Both you, I, and Mithros know that he's no gentleman." She snapped.
"If you'll excuse us, your Majesty, I think we'll go outside for some fresh air." Geoff smiled amiably. He kept a firm grip on Kiyra's shoulder and led her outside to a balcony. The Goats followed, watching the nobles mistrustfully.
Once outside, Geoff set Kiyra down on a stone bench. "Kiyra, I thought I told you to keep out of trouble!"
"It was my fault, really." Emma said, fiddling with her braids. "I should have known that something was up." Rye put an arm around his twin's shoulders in a sort of half hug.
"No, it's not your fault!" Kiyra shouted. "It's that flea-bitten, rotted, scabbed…" Sensing that her language was going to become even uglier, Geoff covered her mouth.
"It's alright. C'mon, Goats, it should take a little more than that to get you down." Geoff insisted.
"Enoroflla." Tyrell ran a hand through his black hair. "All of us together can do things that one of us can't. Emma alone, back there, would have been chopped noble feed if we all hadn't helped."
"Is that what 'all for one' means?" Dann asked. "That we all help each other out?"
"Exactly." Kiyra said. "And it also means that whoever messes with us, we kick their butts."
"Only when we can get away with it." Geoff laughed. "And we wouldn't get away with it here."
"It's okay." Emma told Kiyra. "No one got hurt."
"He scared you." Kiyra growled.
"Nothing that a Goat can't take." Emma reassured her.
"C'mon, the nobles are probably thinkin' that we're plannin' revenge." Cole sniggered.
The Goats got up and went back inside to the crowded and somewhat hushed ballroom. Rye almost immediately asked the younger girl Wren to dance. Although both were too young to think about love, Kiyra thought it was cute. Apparently, some of the nobles did too, which was why Rye had asked Wren.
Kiyra would have gotten some wine, but Geoff gave her a look that clearly told her no. Scowling, Kiyra headed back to where Myles had returned to.
"That was brave," Myles told her. "Standing up to a nobleman like that. It's something stupid that Alanna would do." Alanna blushed and tried her best to look indignant.
"Haven't wasted any time getting in trouble, have you?" George lounged on a bench next to his wife.
"It was for her friends." Alanna argued. "She was getting them out of trouble."
"Then, again, she did draw a sword on noblemen and soldiers." George reasoned. "And yell at those lads in front of everyone. They won't like that. You'd best expect some form of revenge."
"The worst they could do is puff some of their perfume at me." Kiyra laughed it off, but she made sure to remember to keep an eye out.
"Noblemen are powerful." Alanna insisted. "George is right, you need to be careful."
"I've got eyes in the back of my head." Kiyra bragged. She jumped when someone poked her in the ribs. Whirling, Kiyra grinned wryly when she saw that it was Geoff.
"Can you use that dirk of yours?" Alanna's eyes were calculating.
"No, lass, I can't let you butcher her." George said kindly.
"She couldn't butcher me." Kiyra's voice was filled with false confidence.
"There's a practice court," Alanna said eagerly, "I'm just ready for a new opponent."
"You won't be so ready once I best you." Kiyra fingered the hilt of her dirk and tried to calculate what it would take to beat the Lioness.
"No," Geoff spoke slowly. "George is right. The Lioness will chop you into pieces because you are too proud to give up."
"And who will mourn my passing?" Kiyra said dramatically.
"I will." said Geoff. "That's before I travel to the Realms of the Dead, bring you back, and kill you." Kiyra made a face as the Lioness and the Baron laughed.
"I won't hurt her." Alanna protested.
"Please?" Kiyra begged Geoff. Sighing, Geoff gave a virtually imperceptible nod that might have been just a slight twitch. Kiyra grabbed it and ran.
"Good then!" Kiyra turned her back on Geoff and faced Alanna. "I'm ready if you are. Let's go before the menfolk worry their britches off."
"There's a practice court this way." Alanna said.
"I think that I'll use the opportunity to speak to their Majesties." Geoff said.
"Mind if I come along?" George asked and he went along with Geoff.
"All that worrying and then they don't even watch us." Alanna shook her head.
The practice court was somewhat of a walk from the ballroom. Alanna told Kiyra that it was one of the pages' courts and they were in their rooms. The two women would not be disturbed. Alanna placed a protection spell on the blades so that they were magically dulled.
Kiyra unsheathed her dirk to meet Alanna's sword. Alanna's probe was slow, and Kiyra blocked every strike easily. Instead of blocking the Lioness' next strike, Kiyra ducked it and swung at Alanna's legs. Alanna hurriedly stepped back and chopped down at Kiyra's head. Kiyra rolled away and leapt up to her feet. This placed her directly behind the Lioness, who was beginning to turn. Kiyra ducked the sword and found it at her neck.
The next six matches went no better. Alanna won every match hands down. Kiyra did find ways to observe Alanna and pick up a couple new tricks. She did know that while her vain self thought her the best pick in Corus, she placed last on the list of swordswomen.
Geoff had to come get Kiyra, who was still shaking off her sweat for yet another round. Kiyra was exhausted and hardly paid attention to how she got home.
It was the next week when Kiyra's sparring was put to good use. She was walking along at night again. Geoff and Cart wouldn't let her or Julie out alone after dark, but what they didn't know couldn't hurt.
Years of thieving and sneaking had taught Kiyra to be observant. She noticed the five men who followed her from the pub where she had spent the evening. She also noticed the gleam of their swords. Kiyra didn't start panicking until her escape route was cut off and she was cornered in an alley. Cursing her stupidity, Kiyra prepared herself for a fight.
The men advanced with leering faces that Kiyra got bad feelings from. They elbowed each other and looked at her with sneers. She knew what they were thinking of and she didn't like it.
Kiyra yanked out her dirk with a hand that trembled. So this was how it would end for her. She would be raped and killed. Kiyra could hear the noisy taverns and fast paced music in the background. She watched them coming towards her without registering the fact. She remembered how just yesterday she had joked with Toady and Rye about death and how she would be the one to die bravely.
That snapped Kiyra out of her shock. Slashing angrily, she cut a man's throat. Blood spurted and flew into her face. Kiyra vomited even as she thrust a sword into a second man's heart. She felt a blaze of pain on her right arm and her hand involuntarily dropped her dirk. She numbly watched a sword being brought up and down.
Although it was past time, Kiyra remembered her lessons with the Shang Rat. With her good left arm, she grabbed at the hilt of the man's sword as she brought her knee up into his crotch. Kiyra's hand slipped on the hilt and she cut her palm on the sharp sword, but the weapon's path was interrupted.
Kiyra felt an arm around her neck that tightened its hold and cut off her air. Kicking and gasping for air, Kiyra's vision glazed and flared in bursts of light. Suddenly she heard the most blessed thing that she ever had heard.
"Enoroflla!" Tyrell screamed as he jumped on one of the three remaining assassins, dirk in hand. Lars buried his dirk in the back of the man who advanced on Tyrell. Finn chopped at the shoulder of the man who had his arm wrapped around Kiyra's neck. When the man let go, Finn promptly stabbed at the older man's chest.
Kiyra knelt on the ground, gulping in the sweet, clean air. Between gasps of air, she satisfied her curiosity. "How…did you…know?"
"We just knew." Lars looked queasily at the man he had killed. "We knew where to come too."
"You're hurt!" Finn's dark face showed alarm.
"I'm fine." Kiyra murmured as Rye, Cole, and Emma flew around the corner.
"Kiyra!" Emma shouted and then burst into tears.
"I'm getting Geoff!" Cole ran back the way he had come.
Rye looked appreciatively at the dead men. "How many did you account for?" He asked Kiyra, earning a slap from Emma.
Merci, Toady, Wren, and Dann arrived then, requiring more explanations. At least they could supply one.
"It was the goat!" Dann held up the goat necklace that each of them wore. "It burned!"
Tyrell ripped off one of the dead man's tunic and pressed it to Kiyra's right arm. Kiyra felt shooting pain and passed out as soon as Geoff arrived.
The last thing she thought of was, 'It was the nobleman, curse his mangy hide.'
REVIEW OR I"LL KILL GEOFF IN MOST GRUESOME WAYS!