(Sep 22, 2011) Author's note: I know it's been a while. My apologies. All my stories on here and Fictionpress are delayed. However, I was skimming through Incarceron the other night, and had some ispiration, for some amazing ideas. So I edited this chapter and am half way through the next chapter. Happy reading! Hope to hear from ya'll.

Chapter –TWO-

In front of Attia stood a withered women, identical to her. The deep coffee eyes on her were desolate and held so much pent up rage, practically no emotion at all. Beneath those wounded eyes were dark arcs of purple, that gave proof of her lack of sleep. The blemishes across her skin was rough, red and dry. Across the throat were the exact welts the dog slave had on hers. Once Attia brought her hand to the scars on her neckline, the lady in front of her mirrored her action. When she blinked, the other women did so. As Attia's hand went up to touch the young lady, her hand copied her action and the wrist had the same marks as hers. Quickly, Attia pulled her hand back and felt the burning in her eyes, Before her, stood her own reflection. This tired and worn young women was her. This is what Incarceron had done to her.

Attia had every intention to smash the looking glass in front of her. She hated what Incarceron had done to her. The years of inattention couldn't be helped but since being on the Outside things slowly improved. The tanned skin she had was becoming whitish again, her hair was growing slowly, her thin feeble figure was rounding out with the healthy curves she once had, but the thing she missed most was feeling beautiful. Next to Claudia, Attia knew she was mediocre, plain. It was obvious she wasn't nearly as beautiful as Claudia but she was comfortable with that. What bothered her most was that she hadn't felt confident about her looks since she was a teenager.

"You really designed this yourself?" Alys wondered, admiring the fashion.

Attia nodded with the faintest smile.

Her past hadn't been all bad. When Incarceron was healthy, stable and giving, things were content. Her family lived in a prosperous commune. Her parents ran a tailor shop in Incarceron. She, her three brother's as well as her three sisters helped. None of them cell born. Attia though, handled a majority of the brunt work, whereas her siblings handled the counters with cash handling and serving the clientele. It was common for Attia to take the most responsibility. She helped her family out, by sketching designs, cutting patterns, stitching inseams and as her mother called it, finishing the details. Everything was well until Incarceron cut off their resources for living. It started producing metal filled animals, bad weather and sickly children but everyone has heard that story. From that point their commune had to move, they then became a nomadic clan. Travelling, bartering, stealing only when necessary and fighting off every raider became their life. Then everything changed…

Behind Attia, Alys interrupted her thoughts by forcefully lacing up the corset stating, "It's a beautiful design."

The forced from being laced in jerked her around, so much so that she almost lost her balance on the foot stool she was standing on. She responded, "Thank you Alys." Although, a thank you for commenting her on her fashionable work, it was more for breaking her mind from bad memories. It made no sense for the girl to think of her broken past and there was no purpose to hope for a future. As far as Attia was concerned, without Finn she had no future. He was the one who gave her life after all.

As Attia continued to be fastened in her dress, she took in her surroundings. It was her first time being inside Claudia's dressing room. It was decorated in both post era and era décor but it was just as gaudy as the rest of the rest of the wardendry. Through the long length gold framed three way mirror, Attia's eyes observed the room. The height was aweing, at the top was extravagant crown molding, the walls had beautiful carved wainscotings and across the haring bone wood flooring was a luxurious blood red rug Persian rug with perenniaI's bordering. Seating was scattered about the cherry pink room and a giant crystal chandelier hung but the one thing that stuck out most to Attia was the black box resting upon the commode. It was made of a shiny candy appearing substance with buttons and knobs. From the box was the sound of the underground post era music, it had been so long since she heard songs with lyrics. Attia scowled at the odd piece of electronic.

Electronic, Attia repeated the new word she learned weeks ago internally.

Again, Attia began to feel irritation stir in her chest, but for now Attia ignored the flamboyancy of the room and the new technology she knew nothing about to focus on her mirror image. The sight made her want to cry. She once had the smoothest pale toned skin that everyone envied. Once upon a time her lips were luscious and full now they are shriveled and dry. Not even the dress she was being fitted for made her feel beautiful or womanly. Nothing made her feel content anymore.

"That will be all Alys." The voice tolled like a bell, haunting and reverberant in the mind. At times she could tolerate Claudia but usually she had the desire to ball her hand into a fist and harm that pretty little face of hers. For now she didn't act on usual thoughts, she watched Alys leave the room and Claudiaturn the volume on the candy box down. Attia unconsciously stood taller, more confident, on the pedestal.

"Step down," Claudia ordered wanting to finishing lacing the dress.

Silently huffing, Attia did as she was told. Claudia silently tugged and pulled so the corset around Attia's waist cinched her in good.

Through the mirror Claudia's blue eyes met Attia's dark hazels. The blonde said, "Don't look so surly Attia. "

"I'm not," Attia gasped at the tightness of her corset, "my head aches and I cannot catch my breath with this thing suffocating my damn lungs. I haven't worn a corset in ages."

Claudia fastened the lacing tightly one last time, causing Attia to jolt back. Once she finished the blonde queried, "Lying is simple for people like you snd Keiro isn't it?"

Spinning around, Attia glared at the blue eyed women, angry that she would make such accusations. "I don't lie."

"We all lie," she countered with a smug smirk, " That's how it was in Incarceron, was it not? And that is how it is here in the Realm." Sadly, Claudia's grin fell and she shook her head slowly left to right. "It's still a game apparently,"

"It doesn't have to be that way."

"I know," Claudia agreed, "I wish it wasn't that way. Does it fit right?"

Attia spun on her heals to look at the dress in the looking glass. "Yes," she said, proud of her work.

"It's as you told Giles, Protocol cannot be abolished suddenly. It will take time and patience."

Stiffening at Claudia's statement, the brunette went wide eyed and looked at the blue eyed beauty.

"Yes I heard you speaking with him. That idea is quite clever, but until Protocol has vanished, the game must continue to be played. For appearance sake at the least," Claudia chatted as if her comment didn't put tension in the air of the audacious room. She smoothed down the wrinkles of the gown at her back and observed gown. It was so unlike anything in she's seen in the Realm. It was a navy blue silk, so dark it appeared black with a stomacher covered in gray and black metal thread needlework. The neck was lined with black gauze along and the matching gauzy shear sleeves stopped below her elbows. The mesh attractively draped the skirts and a gray petticoat peeked from beneath them.

Claudia thought the dress fit her beautifully and showed her figure well. Suddenly, green-eyed of Attia's design and work, Claudia frowned and looked over to her wedding dress. She may have been intelligent in the math, science and histories but art wasn't her forte. Over these few weeks Claudia had found out Attia was so talented in the arts. There were several things she was good at; things like equestrianism, painting, drawing, hunting and now in sewing. Claudia envied these talents, she seemed to be good at everything she did. Even when she caught Attia singing to herself, she thought she never heard a more beautiful voice. However, no one was ever to know that she envied that scum. She was to be queen and the queen was not to be envious of people, they were meant to turn green with envy of her.

In silence, both girls were peering at the wedding dress that was upon a mannequin. Claudia wondered if maybe she should have had Attia design her gown then she thought of becoming a married women. Was she ready for that? Was she ready to become queen? In all honesty, Claudia wasn't even sure if she wanted to be the queen and she was unsure as to whether or not the marriage would be a successful one. Although, that was not the purpose for her becoming queen she thought. Love has very little to do with it, power was what she needed. Even more, she needed was Jared back, and if becoming queen would help that, she'd marry, become queen and order the court and sapients to figure out how to bring him back.

The girls averted their eyes from the wedding gown that was adorn in gold threading and crystals, and met one another's gaze. Claudia knew what Attia was thinking. She had questions about the wedding and she would answer.

" I'm only doing what I was born to do. Or what I was adopted for."

"Do you love him?"

"I guess so," she replied beginning to unlace Attia's corset, "He's kind and gentle. Handsome too. He'll be a marvelous king."

"And you the ideal queen," Attia muttered under her breath, not intending for the future queen to hear.

"Attia, I understand your animosity," she acknowledged the whisper, "I truly do but we do not live in Incarceron. There's no need to be a bitch."

Tightening her jaw, Attia held back from lashing out. She inhaled slowly and exhaled while rolling her eyes.

"You're jealous are you not?"

"Of you becoming queen?" Attia asked and truthfully answered, "No."

"I was talking about my marriage, about my relationship with Giles."

"If you are implying I love Prince Giles, I don't." And she spoke the truth. She did not love Giles, she loved Finn.

"Again, you lie," Claudia said, continuing to remove the last bit of chord from corset.

Becoming serious, Attia declared, "This is a new life for me Lady Claudia, a new beginning and I wish to live life honestly and happily. I've lied enough, as little as that is, but I never intend to lie again. I guess you wouldn't understand since you continue to play this stupid game."

"As you said, we cannot remove Protocol immediately there would be shock."

"Among the people, you do not need to lie still! Here! Now!"

"Don't shout at me," she snapped, now finished with unlacing the dress.

Holding the bodice tight to her chest so it wouldn't fall, Attia rotated and looked to Claudia with a death glare. The look threatened Claudia but she acted as if she feared nothing.

Digging deep into her sympathetic side, Attia halfheartedly apologized. "My apologies. I hate being in this corset."

"It's a price to pay. I know your life has been hard, and I would never dream of you leaving the palace to live in peasantry. You helped Giles out of Incarceron and because of that I did not have to marry Caspar. For that I thank you, but you will do as I say and treat me with respect."

Claudia shoved a pile of fabric in her arms. "Here put this on."

Attia took the clothing and disappeared behind the changing screen. She put on the lace chemise followed by the cotton dress almost unconsciously. Once she had all her clothes on she wondered, Where is my clothing?

When she came from behind the Rococo styled screen, Attia glanced at Claudia who was in brown breeches, a cream tunic stopping at her hipbones and a red waistcoat with layers of ruffled engageantes. It was almost as if Claudia didn't want Attia to dress similar to her. Taking a look at herself in the mirror, the dress was of lower class almost peasantry like. The ex-dog slave wanted her breeches and riding boots.

"Where's your panniers?" Claudia probed, maddened that she didn't put the era undergarment on.

"I'm not wearing that metal cage. It's more constricting than a corset."

While Claudia exasperatedly laced up Attia's dress, she lectured her. " Leave the court be, and it's decisions. I have ideas for this kingdom and you're concepts do not need to spoil them. You can live out your life here, comfortably. To live here you need a title, Giles suggested you become a lady in waiting."

All breath left her lungs. "A servant?"

A counter came from behind. "Not necessarily. I will only need you for formal events, like I said it's about keeping up appearances."

"Oh, so I'll be your servant?"

"That title guarantees your place here in the palace. Staying here without a title could be disastrous. You only need to-"

Cutting Claudia's words short, Attia interrupted, "And Giles advocated this decision?"

"Yes, he suggested it."

Nodding, Attia didn't say another word. She couldn't. A part of her wanted to collapse, but instead she felt her soul died the slightest. A soul that was no longer hers. Attia still considered herself to be Finn's. However, the entirety of what was Finn had vanished. He was completely gone. If this was Finn, there was no way he would bound her to become a servant to Claudia or to anyone else. He couldn't even force her to be bounded to him and that was what she wanted. But it was clear that Giles did not care whether Attia was alive or dead, bound or free. Keiro was right, the dog slave was a naught, only a meager being in the way. She was an unwanted responsibility that the prince had.

This comprehension sparked an idea. Finn's spirit fully departed from the gorgeous body and she was only obligated to him. With Giles here now, she was free. No longer would she stick around to be ignored. She was done.

With no real emotional ties here at the wardendry, she settled on the decision to leave and start anew. No one except Andrew would even care that she would part ways, but he was busy falling in love with the postmaster's daughter.

Sitting upon a small velvet ottoman, Attia rolled thin silk stockings upon her legs.

"Will you band Protocol?" she pleaded as she slid the garters on to hold the stockings in place, "For the people?"

This was one thing Attia wanted to know would be done before she left.

"That is not only Giles' plan but mine likewise. Perhaps I could find something to help Jared be separated from that glove. I miss him."

"That's impossible," she murmured slipping the pointed toed, flat wool shoes on her feet.

"No it's not!" Claudia exclaimed loudly kicking a small chair. The crash of the piece falling over caused Attia to jump, "If I learned anything from Jared it's that anything is possible."

Feeling slightly defeated and mildly embarrassed, Attia came to her feet, stating, " I'm going to go."

Starting to make her way from the room, she paused. Attia could tell Claudia needed to feel important, to feel she was in power. With both her father and Jared in Incarceron, control was all the girl had in this world and Attia decided to give the future queen what she starved for. Control.

She requested, "Claudia may I go riding? Maybe the fresh air and sunshine with cure this head ache."

Huffing, with deep breaths Claudia hurriedly collected herself and picked the chair up. Ashamed that her temper got away from her but at the mention of Jared, she got touchy. She missed her master, and felt no one should ever doubt his word.

Claudia kept her head lowered as she informed, "Feel free Attia, you live here. You may use the horses anytime you please."

Raising her brows, the blonde teased, "I know the Equerry has taken a fancy to you."

Right as Attia came to the threshold of the dressing room, she saw a large vase full of flowers. Those damn flowers.

Scowling at the arrangement, she rolled her eyes over to Claudia. "He's much older than I."

"There's nothing wrong with being attracted to an older gentlemen,"

Just before she left the room she said, "He's courting the postmaster's daughter."

Hastily, Attia travelled through the corridor, down the stairwell and through down hallways, to her room. She collected the things she felt she needed most, like a firelock, a few articles of clothing but anything else she decided to not bring. It would only hold the memories of Giles, of Finn and of unrequited love.

}*{

Stocking through the servant's corridors and down the stairs, she ran across several servants. All of whom, frowned upon her. It mostly hurt her feelings, these people did not even attempt to get to know Attia. Sure, she knew she looked ridiculous charging through the wardendry clasping a pile of clothing and a gun in her arms but she did not care. They saw both she and Keiro as leeches, living in a privileged life with absolutely no efforts. The help didn't believe the dregs of Incarceron deserved to be here, with the exception of the female staff, whom all had taking a liking to the attractive halfman.

Now inside the kitchen, Attia plopped her clothes on the black and white marble tiles and rummaged through the pantries. With the gun still in her clutches, she collected a loaf of bread and dried meat wrapping them in a large cloth napkin. She searched for an empty wine bottle. Once she spotted an almost empty one, she downed the remaining liquid and filled the empty bottle with water from the faucets. The faucets angered her just as much if not more than the flowers, as well as the electricity. Protocol has ended at the wardendry for sure.

The dog slave chuckled at the last grimace she received from the chef. She gathered her clothing from the floor, with the bread, meat and a wine bottle full of water as well as pistol in her hands. The chef scoffed at her for invading his territory but he knew better than to scold her. She was the dreg of from the prison, Prince Giles' aid for escaping Incarceron.

"Thank you," she said on her way out the

However, she would no longer have to deal with anyone looking down on her.

Outside in the stables, Attia called out to the Equerry. Frantically, she jogged through stables searching for Andrew. Stopping in the tack room she collected a large saddle from the wall and called out, "Andrew! Are you here?"

Hastily, she pulled down saddle bags and shoved the clothes she was cradling into the leather bags. On the other side she put her food inside and slipped the slippers from her feet and placed them inside. She hunted for a pair of riding boots that were her size and placed them on her feet. Lifting the saddle with one hand and the saddle bags in the other, she walked down the isle and stopped in front of her horse, Mentone. She was a beautiful black horse, with white along the muzzle. Just as she placed the saddle down to pet her horse, Andrew came in guiding a horse into a stall.

"What are you hollering about?" he asked locking the stall.

"Andrew can I take this horse?" she asked.

"Yes, where will you be heading today?"

"I'm leaving."

Andrew's hazel eyes looked down at the side saddles. "Leaving?"

Sighing Attia petted the horse again."I can't stay here. I feel so lost and unwanted."

Andrew knew how she felt about Finn, and he wouldn't question her further after he statement. But surprisingly, he said, "I want you here."

"I know but you might be marrying Lily soon, there will be no reason for me to stick around. You'll have no need for me."

Nodding, the chestnut haired man picked up Attia's things and walked away.

"Hey!" she exclaimed following him, "My horse is over here."

"Your horse is mainly for show. Where are you going?" he asked.

"I have not a clue but if I survived Incarceron, I should be able to survive anything."

He stopped in front of a stall that held a big gray horse. "Take Gideon, he's much stronger than Mentone. His type is tough and he'll be able to handle long travel."

Smiling she opened the stable. "Thank you Andrew."

He smiled back and placed the saddles on Gideon's back and positioned the saddle bags on as well. He disappeared for a short while, collecting a canteen which was much more usable than her uncorked bottle full of water. After placing the reins on the horse Attia and Andrew wandered through the isle and outside. They walked in silence all the way to the water trough.

While the horse lapped up water, Andrew notified, "I have a cousin, in the village of Yucaipa South of here. She owns a bed and breakfast, she'll take you in. Let me write the necessary letters, so she knows I sent you to her."

She nodded and he walked back to the stables.

Waiting, she gawked up at the blue skies she had yet to become accustomed to. The clouds rolled by carelessly and birds flew overhead. The scent of honeysuckles carried through the afternoon breeze.

"You're leaving."

Attia looked away from the sky and at Keiro. "Nothing gets past you," she said.

Andrew then appeared with the letters and an address. The nearly identical people hugged long embrace as Keiro gazed on almost jealous.

"Thank you Andrew."

"Will you write?" he wondered, pulling out of their encirclement.

Shaking her head, she replied as honestly with a shrug. "I don't know?"

He placed a lingering kiss on her forehead forgetting that Keiro was standing nearby. He was truly saddened by her leaving, he had no living family and even though it had only been two months since they met, he saw her as a little sister.

"Be safe Attia."

She grinned this time, with her teeth showing. "Be happy Andrew. Be confident with Lillian, she'll fall for you, I promise."

Andrew reached for her cheek. "You're free from this now."

They hugged again. Once they were content with their goodbye, Andrew walked away leaving Attia alone with Keiro.

"Did I ruin that moment for you?"

Attia ignored the cell born's comment and asked, "Do you have a knife?"

Keiro pulled a small knife from his boot and carefully handed her the blade. She retrieved it and cut a slit at the waist of her dress, where she could place the firelock.

"I'm keeping this," she informed, slipping the knife into her boot.

Keiro didn't know what to say, but after catching a glimpse of her stockings he stupidly said, "Claudia wears breeches under her skirts, maybe you should too."

"I don't care what she does," Attia snapped, shoving the gun into the small slit.

Leading the horse from the trough, Keiro followed her like a lost puppy. "When will you be back?"

"I'm not coming back," she stopped. Biting her lip she petted Gideon.

The half man knew the truth and he wanted the onus to be sure he knew. "You're leaving because of Finn."

"This has nothing to do with him," she answered unable to look Keiro in the eyes. He could tell when she was fibbing. Her head bobbed back and forth in annoyance as she tightened the saddle. Instantly Attia felt guilty for lying, she swore she'd never lie to a soul again. Although, she wasn't lying, Finn was not her reason to leave, he was her reason to stay.

"Then you're leaving because of the wedding."

Flicking her head up, Attia's gaze knew Keiro hit her reason dead on and so did he. Not wanting to lie, Attia wiped that ignorant smirk of his face by saying, "It's only another lie, a game Claudia still thinks should be played. She doesn't love him and he doesn't love her."

His eyebrows pressed together and with that grimace he sneered, "And you think he loves you, a dog?"

Attia snarled.

"He doesn't, he has his beautiful Claudia. She educated, her silk skin and gold hair shine so bright that you are but a shadow in her presence, unseen and forgotten beneath her."

"Shut up!"

Did he have to poke at her? To repeat things she already knew. No she wasn't beautiful but she still had lookers. Her skin scared, scabbed and still recovering from the years of neglect and her hair not gold but chestnut, her eyes the darkest shade of hazel not a jaw dropping blue, her nose not slopped but curved under with a slight bump. Unintentionally, she was comparing herself to Claudia.

As she climbed the horse, Keiro affirmed knowing his words would hurt Finn's slave's feelings. "He can't love a thing as you, Onus."

She would not sit back and be ridiculed, so she bit back at Keiro. "How could he love a rogue as a brother, a halfman as family?"

"Bitch, you better bite your tongue," he retorted, tugging at her arm, "Now get down, we're going back to the Estate."

"You better let me go," she barked, yanking her firelock from the opening in her waist. Pulling the hammercock back, she held the gun to Keiro's forehead. "I will not hesitate to kill you."

The man did not let go of her arm as he sneered like the arrogant bastard he was. "Kill me and earn the hatred of Finn."

With no emotion she looked down at Keiro's hand grasping at her wrist. His metal finger nail shimmered in the sunlight. Glaring blankly back at her silent oath brother, with the pistol still pointed to his forehead, she corrected him. "Finn doesn't exist in my life."

Confused, Keiro let her wrist free and she galloped away on her horse.

Wanting to chase her, Keiro stepped forward to do so. However, he was not one to chase women, they chased him. He yelled out, "Onus! Where are you going?"

Attia pulled back on the reins, stopped the horse. Turning, she had the horse trott back nearer to Keiro.

She could not say what possesed her, but she told him.

"South," she pondered, "Andrew has a cousin in Yucaipa I can shack with. Or maybe…Maybe, I shall go back to Incarceron, to be Rix's apprentice and I could find my family. Hopefully, none of them died during Incarceron's storms or during the migrations"

"You don't want to go back there."

"With Jared things should be improved, it should be, almost perfect."

"Attia, you'd be senseless to leave me," he stopped noticing what he said. Quickly recovering he added, "and Finn, to go back there. After all, it took to get the glove, to find our escape. You want to leave?"

"Keiro, I was a slave in Incarceron and I will not be one here."

"Who said anything about you being a slave? Finn wouldn't do that to you. He didn't want you as a servant in that hell and he wouldn't want you here."

"But Giles would, in fact he suggested it. Claudia said that I'd have the title of Lady in Waiting. Which is basically her maid and if I had to anyone's slave I'd be Finn's but he's gone and I'm no one's servant. Goodbye Keiro."

The halfman's jaw hit the ground.

Galloping away, the horses hooves kicked up dirt. Pushing the horse harder and faster, Attia hoped it would aid to her sense of relief. The more distance she put between herself and the warderndry, was what she thought she needed but she was still depressed.

This women that Keiro had grown accustomed to, had left because of Claudia. He hated Claudia even more than before.

And that bitch left him, alone with the haughty future queen and his absent minded oath brother.

}*{

Drawing nearer was two stone pillars. They Greek Revival colomns stood tall, at least eight or night feet. It was old deteriorating stone covered in morning glories. The girl slowed the horse, and took one last look at the wardendry over her shoulder.

The land was beautiful, lush and colorful. Color was something Attia was never sure she would get used to. The fresh air was odd too. Too pure with lingering scent of ket or stench. For once, she missed opaque atmosphere of Incarceron. It was all she'd ever known.

Rotating her head, she decided to never look back. Then she came to the pillars. She halted wanting to look back. She closed her eyes, searching for a voice. A voice she knew wouldn't be there. She imagined and wished Finn would be trailing her, begging for her to stay with him.

When the breese licked her face, she pressed forward. Passing between two stone pillars, she whispered to herself, "I'm free."

Author's Note: I both love and hate this chapter. The dynamics of Claudia and Attia were fun and I hope I made it clear that they are what you call "frenemies" Attia and Andrew had a friendly loving goodbye, then she and Keiro had a rather harsh farewell. If you guys have any questions about the vocabulary just ask or google it. I will reply and give the definitions of the word and a link to some the picture of said item.

Also there is links to pictures on my profile of Attia's gown and the wardendry.

Thanks to: OrchidI007711, Countess of Western March and you anon reviewer. Please leave a name so I can thank you and if you sign in I will send you previews to the next chapters. I greatly appreciate your support and reviews.