I've split this up into like 3 chapters. This first is still pretty long - over 2500 words! Tell me if you prefer it this length or the usual.
Thanks to xKiagax for helping me.
I am so looking forward to the Welcoming Feast!
--
Reprise:
As we arrived at the gate, Cadvan spoke to the gatekeeper, and he allowed us access, expressing surprise as Cadvan announced that I was from Pellinor.
And thus, I entered a School.
--
Cadvan took me through the gate and we met Malgorn; he and Cadvan embraced and Malgorn shook my hand warmly.
"It is good to meet someone of Pellinor," he said with a welcoming smile. "I thought everyone was killed."
"I wasn't. Almost everyone else was though." By this time we had reached Malgorn's door, and he held it open for Cadvan and I courteously. Showing us into a small, cosy room, he disappeared briefly to find his wife.
Cadvan grinned at me, his eyes twinkling. "It is good to find warmth and friends, is it not? It is a relief to have left the wilds behind."
"It's freezing out there," I agreed, stepping closer to the fire and warming my hands. I turned as Malgorn entered the room, carrying a tray. He handed Cadvan and I glasses of some peach-y clear liquid. I took a long sip and shivered in delight as warmth made its way right down to the tips of my toes. "Lovely," I said, licking my lips.
"I am glad to hear it," Malgorn replied. "It is a speciality of mine."
Footsteps sounded from the corridor, and a slightly plump woman entered the room.
"Cadvan!" she cried, and hurried to embrace him. "How good it is to see you. And I suppose this is Kayla?" she added, turning towards me. "Malgorn tells me you are of Pellinor?"
"Yes. But I was captured during the sacking, along with my mother, and Enkir sold us as slaves." All three jerked to attention at the name.
"Enkir of Norloch?" Cadvan asked sharply.
"I suppose," I replied, trying not to sound fake. "I think he was of Norloch, anyway."
"Kayla, that is a serious accusation," Malgorn said gravely. "What exactly are you saying?"
"Enkir rounded up the survivors, few as we were, and sold them for a pittance to a man called Gilman, as slaves."
"That is where I found her," Cadvan put in. "I have long though Enkir to be rather less than pure, and I am not alone in my suspicions, though few would speak out against him."
"Perhaps we should converse with Nelac more often," Malgorn suggested to Silvia in a whisper. His voice was so quiet I knew he had not meant me to hear.
There was a complatative silence. Then Silvia said, "Come, Kayla, let's get you cleaned up." I remembered the fact that I had not had a wash in ages and refrained from taking offence. "You need feeding up, as well. Aren't you thin!" I grinned, pleased, ignoring the fact that she had not really meant it as a compliment. It may not be a good thing in this time, but I thought it was pretty damned cool.
"Why are you never sympathetic about my thinness?" Cadvan demanded.
"You have always been thin, Cadvan," Silvia replied mildly, guiding me out of the room. "Malgorn, stop talking to the poor man and show him to his room," she instructed over her shoulder.
"How long have you been with Malgorn?" I asked.
"Oh, we were childhood sweethearts," Silvia replied fondly. "We parted for a while when we were in our twenties, because we weren't sure of our feelings, but when we saw each other a few years later we realised how much we loved each other. He proposed to me on my thirtieth Nameday."
"That's really sweet," I said with a smile. "Was it really romantic?"
"He gave me a bouquet of flowers, and inside one of them was a ring." Her voice was slightly shaky with emotion.
"I hope Nathan proposes to me," I said almost to myself.
"You are together?" Silvia asked as she pushed open a door to reveal what I assumed was to be my room for the time being.
"Yeah, I've been with him for just over three years."
"Why did you leave him?" she asked gently.
"What do you mean?"
"Was he not a slave also? I thought you had left without him…"
Cripes, what a mess I've got myself into. "He isn't a slave, he's…a wanderer…" I invented. "He comes to the Cot every full moon and we speak through the fence. Please don't tell anybody, I don't want anybody to find him. He's on the run from Hulls because he stole a child from them."
Silvia looked at me a little blankly for a moment, then visibly shook herself and said, "This is your room. There is a bath through there; you may bathe as you wish. I will send you something to eat in a little while, and I suppose Cadvan will want to speak to you also. I will see you in the morning. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," I echoed as she bustled away down the corridor.
I turned to look at my room and set Maerad's lyre down on the bed. It felt strange to own so little. After living in the 21st Century, I had grown used to having everything on hand. I missed my computer like hell.
After taking a leisurely bath, I returned to find a plate of food, being held by Cadvan, who was examining the lyre closely. He looked up at me as I entered and said, "I have been ordered to make you eat this before you go to bed," he told me cheerfully. "Silvia's orders. I should not refuse; she is rather more forceful than she appears," he added, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
I giggled and picked up an apple, making sure that my towel was securely around me as I bit into it with a crunch.
"I will leave you to get dressed," Cadvan said, standing.
As he made for the door I said, "You can stay I you like, just turn around."
He regarded me carefully for a moment, the shrugged minutely and turned his back to me. As we spoke, I dressed into the knee-length, light-weight beige nightdress that Silvia (I assumed) had laid out for me.
"Now Kayla, I am unsure as to what to do with you. I have a long way to travel, but I do not wish to simply leave you here. To my mind, it was more than simple chance that caused me to find you."
"I'd like to go with you," I said immediately. "It's been kinda fun on the way here. We could have an adventure."
Cadvan gave a soft laugh. "I hardly think 'adventure' is quite the right word, but it would be nice for you to see Norloch. That is where I am headed."
"Nice. You can turn around now," I added as I picked up a brush, fully dressed now. I looked down at the dress dispassionately. "I will get my own clothes back, won't I?" I checked unhappily.
"In due course," Cadvan replied. "I was thinking that I could ask a friend of mine, Indik, to teach you some sword craft. Though you seem to have managed perfectly well on your own," he added ironically.
"Cool. Hey, could you introduce me to some of your friends here? If we're going to be here a while I'd like to meet them." I really meant Dernhil, but I could hardly mention his name.
"If you want," Cadvan agreed. "Silvia tells me there is a Meet tomorrow. It was going to be a few days ago, but many Bards have been delayed due to enormous storms, and it is tomorrow instead. The Welcoming Feast is in the evening, and I shall introduce you to some people then. Dernhil, I know, will be there. It is a long time since I have seen him."
"Thank you," I said sweetly, and hugged Cadvan tightly. He seemed surprised at first, but returned my embrace.
--
I awoke late the next morning in a vague panic at the fact that I was not at home. Looking to the side of my bed, I saw Silvia sat on a chair.
"Good morning, my sweet," she said. "I am glad you have woken up; I was just about to go. I wanted somebody to be here when you woke up. First, I am going to let you get dressed and have something to eat, then I will show you the dress I have found for you for the Welcoming Feast. You have the rest of the day to do as you wish."
True to her word, Silvia first found me a simple white dress and some breakfast, and then took a baby blue dress out of the wardrobe in my room.
"It used to be my daughter's," she said. "I would like you to wear it."
It was Maerad's dress! Except it wasn't really hers of course, because she wasn't here. I grinned at it and ran my hand down the beautiful material. I cocked my head on one side and narrowed my eyes at it thoughtfully.
"Could I change it a little?" I asked Silvia.
"How little?" Silvia questioned apprehensively.
"Well…quite a lot," I admitted.
Silvia thought for a moment, obviously trying to decide if it would really be such a bad thing if her daughter's dress was changed. "Alright then," she said quietly, and I grinned.
"Thanks," I said sincerely. I knew what I was doing; I had taken textiles for A-level, and came out with an A, so I was quite good at modifying dresses. "Could I have some scissors, some thread, and so on?"
"I'll send some up for you," Silvia replied. "But now, I must go. Cadvan is in the garden, should you wish to speak to him."
"Okay, thanks."
I spent the rest of the day cutting and sewing, and by the time Cadvan came up several hours later I realised I had eaten nothing but was buzzing with excitement.
"What are you so pleased about?" he asked, grinning back at me.
"My dress," I replied smugly. "I made a lot of it myself."
"Well, make sure you get dressed into it. I will wait for you outside." He went to wait outside my door and I put on the dress, shaking slightly with excitement. I have made quite a few dresses, but this was my favourite.
After fixing my hair and rummaging through a drawer to find a silver necklace, I went outside to meet Cadvan. As he turned, he looked over the dress, the low neckline, the tight bodice, the skirt which positively bounced and ended just above my knees. I saw him swallow and grinned harder.
"That's…a very nice dress, Kayla," he said haltingly. He paused. "Is it not a little short?"
"We always wore dresses like this in Pellinor," I replied breezily. "Come on, let's go down and join the party."
This was going to be so much fun. I bounced along next to Cadvan and he raised an eyebrow at me. "You look just like a spring lamb," he told me. "It isn't all that exciting; just a feast. I hate them myself, having to put on an act all of the time."
I shrugged cheerfully. "I love food!" Cadvan smiled softly at me and offered his arm, which I took, as we entered the hall. "Oh my God, it looks amazing!" I said excitedly. The hall was a large room with rich red walls and deep blue hangings; hundreds of lights hanging from the ceiling and twinkling like stars; people already milling around the long tables.
"Kayla, this is my good friend Dernhil of Gent," I heard Cadvan say, and tore my eyes away from the beautiful sights to see a gorgeous man with sparkling eyes and dark hair.
"Hello, Kayla," he said, his warm voice settling gently on my ears like rain. "Well met. I hope we may be friends." Just as I was noting the exact way his eyes crinkled up at the corners when he smiled, I realised that he had his hand out for me to shake.
"Hi," I managed weakly, trying to smile without looking like an idiot and somehow coordinate shaking his hand at the same time. I saw his eyes drift appreciatively down my body and blushed.
"We must find our places," Cadvan said, taking my elbow. "Will you sit with us, Dernhil?"
"Of course," Dernhil replied.
By the time we were seated, Saliman had joined us also, and the four of us sat speaking for a short time until Oron stood up and greeted everybody. Cadvan then took to the stage, and his singing was just as beautiful as described in The Gift. When he had finished his song, Cadvan met my eyes and beckoned me onto the stage. To my horror, he met me coming off the stage - he was expecting me to go up there on my own!
"You must sing for everyone," he whispered, and I vowed that I would wipe that grin off of his face the moment I was finished. I climbed up the last step onto the stage and surveyed the faces staring up at me. The biggest audience I'd had before was my shower bottles.
"Oh, crap crap crap…" I muttered. "Um, hi," I said a little louder. Why was my voice so squeaky? I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and began to sing my favourite song.
Spend all your time waiting, for that second chance,
For a break that would make it okay.
There's always some reason, to feel not good enough,
And it's hard at the end of the day.
I need some distraction, oh, beautiful release,
Memories seep from my veins.
Let me be empty, oh, and weightless and maybe,
I'll find some peace tonight…
I continued through the verses, not daring to open my eyes. As I finished the song, a rapturous applause broke out, and I opened my eyes in some surprise. Everybody was clapping. For me. I broke into an embarrassed smile and escaped from the stage as quickly as I could, returning to sit next to Cadvan.
"Even I did not realise how talented you were," Cadvan said, while Dernhil watched me with open admiration in his eyes. "Though you must tell me, what is an angel?"
"Umm…they are a being which takes the souls of the dead to the Gates safely."
"I have not heard of them," Saliman said.
"I think they are unique to Pellinor," I replied. "They were never particularly famous."
The others nodded vaguely, and soon the topic turned.
Several times, I thought Dernhil was watching me, and at the end of the Meet he took my hand and said softly, "I wonder if you would like to have lunch with me tomorrow? Cadvan will show you where to go, if you will accept."
"Not doing anything, am I?" I checked with Cadvan.
"I suppose not. You will have little to do in the mornings, so it would be good if you had somebody to speak with. Indik has agreed to teach you in the afternoons. I will show you to Dernhil's room if you wish."
I thanked him, and Dernhil said goodbye. I watched him go a little sadly.
-
Review please, and tell me while you're at it if you prefer chapters of this length or the usual x
Oh and the song is Angel by Sarah McLachlan.
