(-a/n- A speedy update! (Well speedy-ish)! Compared to normal anyway, -sighs- I update so erratically, it depends I think on how fed up I am with schoolwork. For example at the moment I really should be revising physics for my GCSE but…here I am…writing because I can't stand to read one more line about "decaying nuclei" giving off alpha particles…grr!
I'm still really excited about this story; there are so many things that are going to happen that it makes me wish that it didn't take so long to write it up. I need a super-computer that can read my mind, organise my ideas and write it up for me…-sighs- I wish! Anyway that's enough rambling for today…
As always thanks x a million to the brilliant people out there who find it in their lovely hearts to review, it really inspires me to write more :D 3 more weeks people! And then we shall be back to quick updates :D Although methinks that there will be no update for two weeks as I've got two weeks with tons of exams and then after that only one odd one :( still a lovely review would cheer me up -hint-hint-!)
untamedspiral, Erytha, K.D. Rai, x17SkmBdrchiczxx, the. dead. addict., LadyKnightSusan, BlackWidow12, theknightofkonaha, Waiting To Be Inspired, SavingSaturn, Erynfaer, darkjewelledassassin, Feed The Foxes, Hasamaki, TheWall, Kulash, Elentariel, Pie of Doomeh, killinguwithumbrellas, brezzybrez, Skyline Romance, truffletruffle01, On top of cloud 9, epobbp, Evil Bunny of Death, StonedLorikeet, queenofthehostlers, kaze-tsuki, ella plain and simple, balecka92, JaBoyYa, neverlife & Aly the Spy.
Tsumetai Taiyoukaioh you will find out eventually :D tee hee hee :D I do love mysterious characters :D
OrohippusThanks for that out, I hate that wretched word I always seem to get the wrong one! Lol, and it's not something that really stands out when I read it through…still I shall practise! Lol.
YabberliYeah, I'll definitely write it. Those chapters are gonna be so darn fun to write! But anyway…I've still got a lot of Kel's Scanran escapades to write up first…
I love Fallen! I know, I'm sorry…exams got in the way :( It was half-written for ages, but I didn't have time to finish it…anyway…I hope you enjoy this chapter to make up for the delay :D
oirishgoddessThanks! Are you doing GCSE's too? Grr…they are so annoying…I just want to get them over and done with…Still…yep there is a mysterious plot brewing…wait and see!
Thanks to all reviewers!
Confusedknight xxx
Kel's arm jarred painfully as her sword met Alex's with a resounding clash of blade on blade. Feeling strangely detached from her arm, she twisted her body so that she could perform her own attack. Two sets of hazel eyes were furrowed with concentration, two sets of brows glistening with sweat, two swords engaged in a deadly dance of skill and strength.
After six minutes or so Alex's sword found a way past Kel's –it always did in the end, and the two duellers bowed, breathily heavily.
Fighting in such a confined space made it hard work for both of them, as limited room meant that little ground could be conceded or gained in their duel.
Kel groped for the earthen jug and poured herself a glass of water with fumbling hands. She winced as her left hand came into contact with the glass; the previous day she had acquired a nasty burn when hot sauce had slopped out of the pan and on to her fingers.
Setting the jug down and taking the glass in her uninjured hand, Kel gulped eagerly at the water, letting it slide down her dry throat. Finishing the glass with a grunt of satisfaction Kel turned her tired eyes upon Alex.
'It was your quarter block on the left hand side, it was fractionally too late which allowed me to press my advantage with the crescent sweep and you didn't have a chance to counter.'
Kel nodded, stifling a yawn. Alex looked at his young charge, concern evident in his eyes.
'Are you sure that you want to carry on today? You look exhausted.'
'I'm just a bit tired that's all,' said Kel, reaching for her sword once more.
Kel looked more than tired, but Alex said no more. It had been six weeks since Kel had been instated in Vishnaucht's house and the information she had been passing on was confirming his growing suspicions about Maggur's next move.
Kel however was paying the price for her role as spy and slave. Slaves were allowed little rest time and they worked long, hard days. In addition to her work as kitchen assistant, spent her free time practising swordplay with Alex, going for long runs around the city and even her sleeping hours were interrupted by excursions into Vishnaucht's study, or listening to his meetings that often went on late into the night.
Her eyes looked sunken and out of focus, as though her every effort was set upon just keeping them open. Her hands shook as she lifted her sword again, her scarred hands marked from burns and cuts that she had received in the kitchen.
They begin to practise some feint moves, ones which were designed upon fooling your opponent into blocking prematurely or dodging to protect one side, leaving another unguarded.
It was only when Kel tripped and stumbled that Alex decided enough was enough.
'There is no point me trying to teach you anything today little one, you are simply too exhausted.'
Kel opened her mouth to deny it, but shut it upon seeing Alex, his face set.
'You've got another hour and twenty minutes before you need to be heading back,' said Alex.
Kel looked at him blankly. So he sheathed his sword, and scooped her up, depositing her on the bed. He then removed the sword from her trembling fingers.
'Sleep,' he whispered, pulling the blanket up to her chest and tucking it under her arms.
Alex sat on the bed for a few minutes, watching with brotherly affection as Kel drifted off into sleep. It took barely two minutes before Kel slipped into unconsciousness, her face relaxed and she looked somehow a lot younger when she was sleeping.
Alex didn't know how old Kel was exactly, but he would hazard a guess at about twelve or thirteen. Too young, he thought sadly, she should be at home with a family, enjoying the last of the autumn sunshine that was filtering in through the window.
But circumstances being as they were, although Alex felt guilty for doing so, he privately thanked the gods for Kel's presence. Never before had he been able to keep tabs on so many possible Maggur-collaborators.
Only last week she had stayed up until one bell past midnight listening in to a secret meeting between Vishnaucht and Castrix. Kel had discovered early on that if she sat in the "hatch" in the kitchen then she could quite easily eavesdrop upon any conversations taking place in the study above.
The "hatch" consisted of a tray/platform suspended on two ropes that could be hoisted up the chute, bearing tea and snacks to the study above, without a servant having to interrupt whatever meeting was taking place.
Kel could sit there and listen for hours without anyone any the wiser. If she was found she could simply say that she had come down for a glass of water.
Alex sighed yet again and quietly stood up, deciding that there was some work he could be doing.
All too soon for Kel, Alex was shaking her gently awake.
'You'd better get back now, or there'll be trouble,' said Alex.
Kel stared blearily up at him and then with a groan pushed herself up.
'Kel I want you to take a break for the next couple of days,' said Alex. Kel was about to protest but Alex cut across her, 'you're no good to anyone if you're so exhausted you can't think straight. Instead of coming back here later on for another lesson, I want you to sleep. Sleep tonight as well, no poking around for another two days and that's an order.'
Kel scowled but agreed grudgingly. Picking up her things, she hurried away; cook would be expecting her back any minute.
Panting Kel entered the kitchen five minutes later, having run all the way from the Alex's room to the house.
'There you are, I'd wondered where you'd got to,' said Greta, not looking up from the dough which she was kneading. 'Where do you go everyday?'
'Just about,' Kel shrugged, 'I like getting out of the house, that's all.' This was partly true; Kel did enjoy her hours of relative freedom with Alex. It broke up the monotony of slavery nicely.
No one looked twice at her anymore, despite her obviously un-Scanran looks. And that morning she had discovered why. Kel had caught a glance of her reflection in the window of a shop and for a moment she didn't recognise herself. She had become one of those dirty, grim faced children going about their lives, doing the same job day after day, hardened expressions on their faces.
Kel began to chop large pieces of meat for the pie. The meat was cold and slippery, covering Kel's hands in blood. Wrinkling her nose, Kel continued to chop, trying to ignore the squelching of the meat as her knife seared through the flesh…She shuddered, reminded of the time when her family had been forced to watch the beheading of an entire squad of Yamani soldiers because one had disobeyed an order.
That day was one that Kel would rather have forgotten, alongside many others. She had been horrified to learn the power the Emperor had over his subjects. Some of the soldiers hadn't even done anything, other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It made Kel sick to think of the power the Emperor had at his disposal. Why should he have the right to end the lives of innocents? Kel thought, still angry at the injustice of it. She was also confused. To her the Yamani Isles had always been seen as a "good" country. There was justice, no slavery, no keeping women as possessions and yet a country that was run by a man with absolute control over every life, didn't that seem a bit tyrannical?
Perhaps things weren't always as black and white as her eight-year-old self had previously thought. Perhaps it was human nature to want to domineer and find yourself superior to others; two characteristics which Kel hated in any man or woman. Perhaps there were no "good" countries and "bad" countries. Even Tortall had it's problems –many fiefs had no care for their subjects and the way that Tortallan justice system was run, was based upon the nobles of each fief protecting their peasants.
If only people could see each other for what they were, without being blinded by prejudice…
Kel sighed; I'm getting too philosophical in my old age, thought Kel wryly, Neal will be delighted to have someone to debate with.
Kel's throat constricted painfully as a wave of homesickness overtook her. Don't think of Neal, she told herself sternly, chopping at the meat with more aggression than before.
Eventually the pie was in the oven, ready for the family's lunch. Kel and Greta ate their rolls hungrily; working in a kitchen that smelt deliciously of hot beef pie had certainly given them an appetite.
'Do you mind if I nap for a while?' asked Kel, 'just wake me up when Cook wants me.'
Greta nodded, privately thinking that the younger girl did look as though she needed a rest.
'Where did Lia go?' asked Cook, a slight frown upon her face.
'To take a nap,' said Greta, 'she looked almost at the gate to the Dark god's realm earlier.'
'Let her sleep then, it won't hurt. We'll wake her up before dinner,' said Cook, knowing that Alex wouldn't appreciate returning to find his slave, whoever she might really be, in a state of exhaustion.
Greta got to work washing the plates, mumbling about "lucky-beggars" who got to sleep all afternoon.
When Kel was eventually shaken awake it was late afternoon.
'Cook let you sleep but we've got to do a big meal for dinner, so she needs you.'
Kel got up, splashed her face with water, feeling more awake than she had in days.
…a massive beast, seven feet tall stood in the doorway. He had a bull's broad neck, large eyes and on top of his head were two broad horns. His nose almost resembled a human's but his jaws were large, slathering and his face wore an expression of undeniable triumph…
…the tauros let out a deafening bellow, and lurched forward…
…the sword was too heavy and her arms too weak. Her third swing was too slow and the beast lurched forward twisting the weapon from her grip in one fluid motion…
…she was jerked forward by the unexpected attack, and the beast second horn gouged her. Scarlet blood began to seep from the long wound which extended the full width of her chest, just below her collarbones…
…the force of the blow had tossed her clean off her feet. The ripped material of her dress around the wound was already stained red…
…it was upon her before she had time to think or scream for help, its huge mass bearing down on her. It ripped at her underskirts…
…Kel began to scream as it continued its merciless attack…
'Lia, wake up!' hissed Greta.
Kel awoke with a start and sat bolt upright. She shivered despite the warm evening, the dream always seemed so real.
The evening had flown by in a flurry of chopping, fetching and carrying. When all was tidied away Kel had fallen asleep within minutes of her head hitting her lumpy pillow.
She could see Greta and Mara (the other slave girl) staring at her through the darkness.
'It was just a bad dream,' mumbled Kel.
'You were tossing and whimpering,' said Mara sympathetically, 'are you sure you're okay?'
Kel nodded, trying to get a grip on herself.
'I think I'll go and get myself a drink,' she muttered, getting up unsteadily. Kel could feel two pairs of eyes following her out of the room. She rubbed her eyes furiously, angry at herself.
Why did that memory have to haunt her? And why did it still affect her so badly?
She padded down the servant's staircase and into the kitchen, oddly empty and still as it always was at this late hour. Helping herself to a glass of water, with the intention of going straight back to bed Kel had one foot on the stairs when she heard murmuring.
It was two o'clock in the morning and Kel had thought that besides herself and the two slave girls whom she had woken up, that no one else would be awake at this hour; she was wrong.
Listening hard, Kel crept back across the kitchen and prised open the doors to the hatch. It squeaked slightly, Kel froze, sure that the whole house must've heard it, but no one came. After several tense moments her pulse slowed again and she pulled herself up into the hatch and crouched on the shelf.
From her new position she could hear the conversation above. Feeling slightly guilty; Alex had told her not to spy that evening, Kel listened, intrigued as to who would be meeting with Vishnaucht at this unsociable hour.
Kel's sleepy brain struggled to make sense of the rapid Scanran that was the conversation above. Both men spoke in undertones and often it was impossible to catch what they were saying.
'…Llatimor is getting ever wary. Soon the alliance will be all but non-existent.'
Vishnaucht chuckled, 'I know Stenmun has some tricks up his sleeve where the alliance is concerned.'
'Quite so,' replied the unknown man's voice. 'When the alliance does fall then the army will be increased by thirty percent and I know that Llatimor has many iron mines. It shall become a smithy for the army.'
'Where is the army camped currently?'
'At Rathhausak, where it is shown only to a select few. He's gathering mages too, I know that two powerful Tyran war mages are coming and there are rumours of an offer proposed to a Gallan sorcerer.'
'…Then you will make sure Maggur gets my donation and that he knows who it's from?'
'I will indeed.'
Kel heard the scraping of two chairs.
'It was a pleasure doing business with you,' said Vishnaucht.
'No, the pleasure's all mine,' said the unknown voice silkily.
Kel heard the study door shut and waited, holding her breath. It was silent for a minute or two, and then, to Kel's horror footsteps could be heard coming up the corridor to the kitchen. Kel made a split-second decision, and pulled the door of the hatch shut until it clicked gently.
There wasn't a lot of space inside the hatch; an adult wouldn't have been able to fit. But Kel had just enough room to crouch down. A second later she heard muffled footsteps across the kitchen floor. Whoever had visited Vishnaucht was leaving by the back door.
After what seemed like an age, the house was silent. Kel managed to wiggle herself around until she could stand. Peering up into the darkness above her Kel took hold of one of the ropes that suspended the platform on which she was sitting and bracing her feet on either side of the shaft, on the rough brickwork, she began to climb.
Kel hauled herself up with little difficultly; her arm strengthening exercises paying off and she began to feel the walls of the shaft. On her left hand side, where brick should've been, there was a wooden panel; the door.
Holding on to the rope with one hand she felt for her dagger. Unsheathing it, she slipped the thin blade between the door and the wall and slid it upwards. The catch undid and the door swung slowly open.
Getting out of the hatch proved to be more difficult. She had to haul herself up several more times, until her feet were level with the small opening. Kel then began to manoeuvre herself out of the hatch.
She made it. She was standing on the wooden floor of Vishnaucht's study. She headed for the desk, her eyes ransacking it for any information left over from the meeting. Several sheets seemed to be of no importance; the monthly finances, tranport bills etc. But to the left of that pile, mainly hidden by an ornate tray, was a grubby-looking piece of paper.
On one side was a scribbled message, but Kel's ability to read Scanran was poor, so she wasn't surprised when she couldn't make head nor tale of it. The other side however looked more promising- a sketched diagram marked with crosses and symbols.
Kel looked at the piece of paper, a slight frown upon her face; she knew she couldn't take it, Vishnaucht would then know that someone had been in his study. Suddenly an idea occurred to her, if she made a replica then she could give it to Alex.
Looking back at the desk, Kel saw several Styli that could be dipped in ink –they were no good; too messy. So instead she used one of the small graphite sticks to copy the message and map onto the only material she had available- her shirt.
Eager to be out of Vishnaucht's study, she replaced the crumpled piece of paper and cast one last look around before re-entering the shaft of the hatch, pulling the door shut quietly.
Kel lowered herself easily until her bare feet touched the wooden platform. She was tingling with excitement, perhaps this message and map would be exactly the information Alex was looking for.
She felt wide awake and any thought of returning to bed was quickly banished from her mind. Kel decided that she would make a night-time expedition into the city to find Alex. After all he had said once that anything important should be brought to him immediately.
The city air felt wonderfully cool on her face as Kel jogged through the winding streets. It was still and quiet. In fact the only places showing signs of life were the taverns, some with drunkards sprawled outside, all with muffled noises issuing from them.
Kel was still in her night attire –a simple shirt and loose breeches and the dirty stone cobbles of the street slapped her feet painfully as she ran on. She arrived at Alex's house five minutes later. She was relieved; with the exception of one drunk trying to persuade her to marry him, she hadn't been approached by anyone and therefore hadn't had to explain what she was doing in the middle of Hamrkeng, half dressed with a dagger in hand.
Kel managed to climb up to Alex's room with relatively little difficulty. The iron rungs hidden by foliage made good hand and foot holds. Deciding not to try and break in -she wasn't sure what Alex's reaction would be if he woke up to find someone in the middle of his bedroom uninvited. Knowing Alex it would probably be swift, involving Kel's unfortunate demise by throwing knife, before Alex realised that it was she and not an assassin.
So Kel rapped smartly on the windows, praying that no one else would wake up. She needn't have worried. Alex was a light sleeper and he sprang, catlike out of bed in an instant, naked sword in hand as he strode towards the window.
When he saw who it was, Alex opened the window, allowing Kel to scramble in. He shut the window after her, and lit a lamp, so that he could see Kel properly. Alex sat down on the bed, obviously waiting for an explanation.
'I was in the kitchen an hour ago,' Kel began, 'when I overheard a rather interesting conversation.'
And so Kel related to Alex the details of her nocturnal adventure.
'And you're absolutely sure he said Llatimor and alliance?'
'Yes said Kel,' wondering what on earth was going on.
Alex began to pace, running his hand through his tousled blonde hair. When Kel showed him the message and sketch on her shirt he looked up at her, his eyes filled with wonder.
'Kel…' he said hoarsely. 'This is exactly the kind of breakthrough I've been looking for…for well…for months. We actually know what Maggur is going to do in advance, which gives us a very good chance of being able to delay it.' He broke out into a grin.
'But what does it mean? What is Maggur going to do? What was on that sheet of paper?' Kel couldn't help but ask. It really was infuriating, gathering information without much knowledge of what it meant.
Alex looked at her seriously, then sighed. I suppose you've earned a right to know at least part of the picture.
'Llatimor is so important because he is the clan chief of Rokang and Rokang has always been of friendly terms with Sekholm.'
'So Maggur is trying to destroy the alliance that lies between Sekholm and Rokang?' asked Kel.
'It certainly looks like it. As for this message, it's coded so I can't make head nor tail of it, but I do know someone who can,' said Alex, hurriedly copying it off of Kel's shirt onto a piece of paper, then rubbing the markings off of Kel's shirt.
'No wonder I couldn't read it,' said Kel, 'I just thought my Scanran reading skills were bad.'
Alex smiled again, but this time it was short-lived.
'Kel, I'm going to have to go away for a while.' He said seriously, stopping his pacing to stand directly in front of her. 'I've been planning this trip for a while but with this information it's even more crucial that I go. There really is no time to lose. I know you can take care of yourself, but I'm afraid your fencing lessons are going to have to wait until I return.'
'Can't I come with you?' asked Kel.
'No,' said Alex immediately, looking Kel straight in the eye. 'Look, I could give you all sorts of excuses as to why you shouldn't come; it's too dangerous etc. but that would just be an insult. I know that you can fight and spy and your company would be appreciated…but you're going to be needed here.
We know Vishnaucht is funding Maggur, as I suspected he was. Your presence in that household is going to be more important than ever.'
'But if you're away, then I won't have anyone to report the information to anyway,' pointed out Kel.
'Yes and that's why I want you to be sensible about the amount of spying you do. If you're caught, then I'm not going to be around to help. However if I did take you with me it would mean ending the contract with Vishnaucht and I very much doubt if we would be able to get you back as a slave in that household –it would look too suspicious.'
'But what shall I do if I do stumble across anything?'
Alex lifted up the mattress to his bed, and carefully undid a pocket, pulling out a book.
'Record it in this, in Yamani,' he said. 'You can write in Yamani?'
Kel nodded.
'Because if anyone finds this, I very much doubt that they'll be able to read it.'
'How long will you be away?' asked Kel, seeming to have accepted that she would not be going with Alex.
'About three weeks, but I never can tell. If something important comes up it could be longer. But Kel,' he said seriously, 'if I don't return by Mid-winter, and that's a good ten weeks from now, I want you to go back to Tortall.'
Kel's mouth opened, but Alex held up a hand.
'If I don't return then it'll be because I've been captured or most probably killed. There will be no good you staying in Scanra and life when Maggur starts this war will get very nasty indeed. Promise me Kel.'
Kel nodded dourly as Alex handed her a set of keys to the rooms.
'Well you'd best be getting back and get a few more hours of sleep.' He broke into another grin, remembering the information she had brought. 'You are so gods-cursed lucky! To overhear a secret conversation at two bells past midnight! By Mithros! What were you doing in that kitchen?'
Kel shrugged, shifting awkwardly.
'Come to think of it, what were you even doing awake at that time?'
'I had a…a nightmare.'
Kel didn't need to say anymore; she saw Alex's look of comprehension.
'The same one?'
Kel nodded, her face completely blank, trying to hide the shame she was feeling. Instead of pressing her further, Alex stepped forward, bent down and enfolded Kel in a hug. Kel stiffened, but Alex didn't let go.
After a time, Alex could feel Kel begin to relax and kept holding her there, rubbing his hand in comforting circles on her back.
'Give it time Kel, it'll fade and get better,' he promised her, closing his eyes and thinking of the nightmares that had plagued him for so long.
Eventually he let go, Kel turned away and headed towards the window. She half climbed out of it, and stopped her face hidden by shadow and whispered,
'Take care of yourself, Alex,' before she disappeared into the night.
It was only then when Alex realised that the front of his shirt was wet. Kel had been crying. Looking up to the place where Kel had been moments before he whispered,
'Gods all guide you little one.'
(-a/n- So what did you think? I'm dying to know :D please click on the petit button below and leave me a review :D Thanks…)
Confusedknight xxx