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Chapter 5 – Undermining Leck
It had been a week since Blaire and Kaide returned from their eventful trip to Sunder. Leck had cheered up since their return, but his threats to Queen Ashen and Bitterblue increased as they remained barricaded in their rooms. Kaide knew that at any moment, Leck would send herself and Blaire to the Middluns. A mission in such a nation would bring only trouble.
"Kaide, stop dawdling! This is an urgent meeting that Leck has invited us to!" Blaire exclaimed impatiently as she stood at Kaide's room door. Kaide was staring out of the window, watching the clouds move.
"Fine. Sheesh with the nagging," Kaide replied, following Blaire out of the door.
It was with a sense of déjà vu that Kaide and Blaire entered Leck's dining room, a place for royal feasts, and meetings with his hired assassins/spies. Everything had been replaced since Leck's anger tantrum, with chandeliers now hanging merrily from the ceiling, statues and ceramic vases replaced with ones even more expensive that its predecessors. Even the entire dining room had been repainted, making the walls that once were covered in a pale yellow colour into a more vibrant sunny colour.
"Blaire. Kaide. We meet again. I have another mission of extreme importance, not just to me, but to my kingdom. This mission could be the one that changes how the seven kingdoms are run," Leck announced, lacing each word heavily with the power of his Grace on the off chance that Blaire and Kaide would fall under it. Kaide's sensitivity to Leck's Grace, an ability that formed part of her well-hidden Grace, made each word a deafening blow. Blaire withstood Leck's Grace with sheer willpower, as she was more than aware of how Leck ran his kingdom, this knowledge protecting her from Leck's Grace.
If Leck keeps talking like this I'm going to need to leave, Kaide thought. I won't be able to handle it.
"You will go to Randa's City in the Middluns. Find out where Tealiff is and, if possible, bring him back directly to Monsea. I do not want any interference from second parties that can't even do what they were paid to do. And see what Lady Katsa's purpose was in stealing Tealiff away from me. I wonder if I could make her work for me..."
"You do know Katsa's reputation right? Do you want us to get killed? Maybe me, more accurately, eh?" Kaide added, much to Leck's anger.
"Kaide, I have tolerated you only because of Blaire. I could do things to you that would make you scream," Leck hissed, as Blaire began to look uncomfortable.
"You don't scare me, you big bully," Kaide snapped back, as Leck began to turn red.
"King Leck, what exactly are the details for this mission?" Blaire added in hopefully, trying to defuse the dangerous situation before her.
"No details. Find Tealiff. Interrogate Katsa. Bring Tealiff back if possible," Leck replied in an offhand manner, turning to stare back at Kaide. "And you, Kaide – you little ingrate! I give you shelter, money, and what do you do? Throw it back! You could take a leaf out of Blaire's book and be obedient!"
Kaide had had enough. Her ears were ringing so badly that she could barely stand. His damn Grace kills my ears, Kaide thought, extremely annoyed.
"Yeah. Whatever," Kaide replied, and relying on the extra balance her Grace gave her, Kaide stomped out of the dining hall, resisting the urge to rub her ears. Leck knew that his voice hurt her ears, and sometimes she believed that Leck suspected she was Graced. It was one of the reasons why she never told Blaire she was Graced. Blaire was too close to Leck, and if he ever found out she was Graced, Leck would definitely do what it took to get her killed. Defying him was one thing. To have a Grace that prevents you from falling under his Grace was another one.
Kaide didn't even care about leaving Blaire in the same room as Leck. For once, thoughts that Blaire could fall under Leck's Grace had left her. Blaire made her so angry sometimes, especially when she tried to suck up to Leck and be his perfect little servant.
"It's just as bad as being under Leck's Grace," Kaide thought out loud, once clear from the dining hall. Kaide looked to her left and right, and after checking that the corridor that she was walking through was empty, slunk over to an opposite staircase. This small staircase was hidden in a shadowy corner, and from what Kaide knew, Leck had no idea of its existence. This hidden staircase led directly to the rooms that Queen Ashen, and her daughter Princess Bitterblue were barricading themselves into.
After slipping into the darkness of the staircase, Kaide waited for a few minutes to let her eyes adjust to the darkness. During this time, Kaide felt out for a large bag that she had left hidden in the staircase earlier, intending to give it to Ashen and Bitterblue. Once Kaide found the bag, she hoisted it onto her back, and began climbing the stairs, listening hard for any sign of noise that would signal someone else using the stairs.
Upon reaching the top of the staircase, Kaide saw a young servant girl, no older than ten, walk past. What disgusted Kaide was the fact that her face was bruised and covered in bleeding cuts, and Kaide was sure that if she asked the young servant girl how she got those injuries, she would have no idea. Leck again, Kaide thought, her hatred for the king increasing in levels that even Kaide didn't think was possible.
Once the young servant turned the corner, Kaide stepped out from her hidden position in the staircase and walked towards the barricaded room of Ashen and Bitterblue.
"Queen Ashen? Princess Bitterblue? Have you considered my earlier offer?" Kaide whispered, crossing her fingers. "I've also got some items and food for you. I know that Leck doesn't feed you much." Kaide took the bag off her back, and left it in front of the door, waiting for a response.
"How can we know to trust you? As far as we know, Leck could've hired you to get us out of here," Ashen replied, her Lienid accent reminding Kaide of Prince Po.
"Because – there is a secret that I am willing to reveal that would put me in danger if Leck ever found out," Kaide replied. "I can get you out of here."
Kaide heard the soft murmuring of a mother to her daughter, as they discussed her new preposition.
"How do we know that you aren't lying? I'm sorry, I can't trust you, Kaide," Ashen replied.
"That's fine," Kaide said, turning around in disappointment. The only thing Kaide now knew that would come out of this visit was the fact she knew they would take the bag she left outside of the door. Ashen had done so several times. And all Kaide could do was hope that, one day, Ashen would trust her before it was too late – anything that went against what Leck wanted was fine by Kaide.
Kaide left and found her hidden staircase and carefully snuck back down into it. Kaide had never minded the darkness, but this time as she descended, she took a left turn and exited just before the point that she had entered through when she climbed up.
The sun was bright and bit into Kaide's eyes. Just as she had hoped, the surrounding area was empty. Kaide hopped out of the darkness of the staircase and into the sunlight, and ran swiftly through the short corridor that led to a small, stone door that looked as if it were firmly embedded into the stone wall of the castle itself. The two small windows next to the door showed that there was a lush area filled with grass that led to a decent, well made shed in the distance. This clearing was surrounded by the dark green of the forests that surrounded Leck's City, the mountains visible over the canopy of the forest.
Kaide pulled hard on the bolt that was keeping the stone door closed from the outside, and with a surprisingly smooth motion, the bolt slid backwards, the stone door opening without a noise. Despite the appearance of the door, Kaide kept all the metal on the door such as the hinges and bolts well oiled – it was a door that Kaide constantly used for entering and exiting the castle without Leck knowing.
The shed that stood about five hundred metres from the castle wall was Kaide's destination. It was huge, looking as if it took up at least half of the large grassy meadow, and looked big enough to be a large hotel. Of course, it wasn't. To the rest of Monsea, under Leck's Grace, this shelter was the home of hundreds of injured animals, animals that were lovingly nursed back to health and released into the forest surrounding the shed. The few that were not under Leck's Grace knew better – it wasn't an animal hospital but torture house. Leck had some trouble torturing humans, even with the power of his Grace, mainly because of Blaire and Kaide, but animals? No one would ever question it.
Even from several hundred metres away, Kaide could still hear the pain coming from the shed. The meadow clearing was a silent place, not counting the wind that whistled through the nearby forest, meaning that Kaide could stretch her hearing and hear things she rather wouldn't.
Just as it seemed that Kaide would enter the shed through a small red door, she instead slid into the cover of the forest, just as an armour-clad guard circled around to the front of the shed, standing in front of Kaide's hiding place. The guard looked around the forest and surrounding meadow area, bored, as he continued walking around the large shed. Kaide took this chance to sneak up behind the guard and knock him out by roughly slamming the hilt of her drawn sword into the back of his head. The guard fell limply onto the grass, unconscious.
Kaide hesitated in front of the shed door. And opened it. Inside were cages and cages of wailing and bleeding animals, ranging from birds, to squirrels, cats and dogs. Any animal seen within the castle grounds was captured and placed in the shed to be tortured by Leck during his leisure time. Kaide hated looking weak in front of people, but she couldn't help coming to the shed to release some of the animals every now and then. Sure, Leck suspected her each time some animals 'escaped', but Kaide had never cared – if Leck was angry, then she was happy.
"Well, time to get out of here," Kaide whispered to the multitude of animals surrounding her, bringing her sword forward and cutting through the rusted metal of the cages. Cage doors opened, and injured animals ran out, limping, unable to fly, but still escaping. They all ran in the same direction – to the forest, dark, shadowy, but the only place filled with hope. Kaide only stopped releasing the animals when her gut told her that the loud noises of animals escaping from the shed would've attracted the attention of Leck's guards. Kaide followed the escaping animals to the shelter of the forest, just as a small legion of ten guards arrived at the shed only to find it in utter chaos.
Let them deal with Leck, Kaide thought as she ran further into the forest, running non-stop for several minutes. She stopped at the trunk of a medium sized tree, and tugged hard at her belt. After a short tug, a long metal spike covered in pieces of sharp metal shrapnel appeared, unfolding from the secure leather sheath built into her belt. The end of the long spike was attached to a rope that Kaide wore cleverly hidden under her layers of clothing. Fully extended, the rope was nearly fifteen metres long, but was designed to be flexible, yet strong, so Kaide could still move around properly while wearing the rope underneath. It was this rope that Kaide had worn underneath her dress in Sunder, causing the weird patterns under her dress. The rope wasn't really a weapon, but Kaide always carried it around with her, mainly because it was excellent for escaping. And, in this case, climbing up trees.
Kaide held the rope one metre from the spiked end and swinging it around like a lasso, aimed it at a thick branch on the tree. The weight of the spiked end caused the rope to wrap around the branch several times before Kaide pulled the rope at her end, causing the rope on the branch to tighten. Satisfied that the rope was secured, Kaide pulled on some leather gloves from one of her pockets and began climbing up the tree, using the rope as an aid.
Once Kaide reached the safety of her chosen branch, about seven metres in the air, she tied both ends of her rope together on the branch so they wouldn't hang down and be seen from the ground, and began climbing further up into the tree. Kaide was at the canopy of the tree before stopping.
What am I going to do? Kaide thought, the sun shining on her face as she looked at the clear sky. I have no future with Leck, but if I leave without Blaire, I will have nobody.
"What am I going to do?" Kaide repeated to the sky, as if someone would lend a hand and give her the future that she so desperately wanted. "Even though I want to deny it, I have always been alone. Even with Blaire. I mean, I am with Blaire and I am still alone. What is my purpose in life?"
Two squirrels fled the moment they had climbed to their tree only to find Kaide sulking at the canopy. Even squirrels had each other. But who do I have? Kaide thought in despair. Would it have been different if I never met Blaire? Never saved her life? Kaide cried, her soft sobs frightening any animals that came near the vicinity.
Ten years ago, Suncliff, Sunder
"Mummy, I'm hungry," the girl moaned, her dirt stained face, and matted hair immediately showing anyone who saw her that she was homeless, that she was another one of those children that would try and break into their homes and steal their food.
"I'll do my best, Amy. You know I will," Kaide murmured, hugging Amy, her mismatched blue and amber eyes twinkling. Kaide was surrounded by about ten young, starving children, all like her, orphans, unwanted, the dregs of society. It was only because they banded together that they survived. Kaide may not have been the eldest of the homeless children, being merely ten, but she was the only one Graced with an ability that could help them survive. So Kaide became the mother, the leader, who helped keep everyone as far as possible from the starvation border.
"So, Kaide, are you going or what?" Damon asked impatiently. It had been Damon that had found Kaide when he was five, abandoned in the middle of Murgon Road just before the entry to Suncliff. Damon was also the eldest, the one who helped Kaide with feeding everyone.
"Yes. Damon and I will break into one of those selfish nobles' homes and we'll bring food for a feast tonight!" Kaide announced, as Damon cracked into one of his glittering smiles. The children cheered, their faces lit up with hope.
Kaide's and Damon's journey to the central markets was uneventful until Kaide's Grace picked up the rumbling of carriages.
"Noble incoming," Kaide sneered, her eyes looking with utter disdain towards Murgon Road.
"Hide your eyes then," Damon replied, looking anxiously around the market. If Kaide was seen as a Graceling, she could be carted off to Murgon, to be used for his pleasure, and maybe never seen again.
"Done." Kaide closed her eyes and concentrated, using the sensitivity granted through her Grace to change the pigments in her left eye, and turning it the same amber colour as her right eye. It wasn't a permanent solution to hiding her Grace, because Kaide's control of the colour could slip, but it was better than nothing.
"Then lets grab some fresh fruit before the nobles ride through," Damon hissed.
Kaide and Damon slid through the maze that was the market, eager to steal, before a loud squeal of terror attracted their attention.
An out-of-control horse was riding straight towards them, market stalls crumbling in its wake, as Damon stood frozen in that horse's path. A young blacked hair noble was on the horse, eyes wide with fear. She looked no older than Kaide.
"DAMON!" Kaide screamed the same time Damon yelled "KAIDE!"
Kaide couldn't remember what happened in the next five seconds. All she knew was that the horse missed her entirely, and instead crashed right into Damon. The noble girl riding the horse was thrown off its' back and landed right into the horse's path. Kaide never knew what prompted her to save the life of one of the nobles that she hated, but she ran right into the path of the charging horse, pushing the frightened noble out of the way. The horse instead barrelled into Kaide, and as she screamed, Kaide felt herself get pulled back into the crumbling ruins of a market stall.
As Kaide saw black spots dancing in her line of vision, she heard a soft but frightened voice whisper "Thank you."
Kaide looked into the brown eyes of the young noble girl. Just before Kaide lost consciousness, Kaide asked the noble, "What's your name?"
"Blaire, from Sunport," the noble whispered. A single tear dripped down her now dirty cheek as Kaide's eyes closed.
I know there are many questions unanswered at the moment, but do not fear, they shall be answered in time. And please, leave a review (I'll update faster with encouragement ^_^). I hope this story makes an interesting read...