(-a/n- Okay…so my plan of updating sooner didn't happen, I'm sorry –sighs-. On a more positive note, my exams have now finished! Whoo! And therefore I have more time on my hands, which should equal faster updates ;D As always thanks for the wonderful reviews you guys leave, because without you there would be no story. I value every single review and just want to let you know how much I appreciate them :D –hands out large, chocolate-covered cookies- :P
Tsumetai Taiyoukai, Yabberli, Rycr, ella plain and simple, K.D. Rai, JennyvreMoss, Waiting To Be Inspired, epobbp, SavingSaturn, Eclipsa, mangolady, elf warrior princess, x17SkmBdrchiczxx, Misery DeSoul, darkjewelledassassin, Pie of Doomeh, Orohippus, theknightofkonaha, truffletruffle01, SarahE7191, Evil Bunny of Death, Feed The Foxes, Lives for Fantasy, rootless californian, BlackWidow12, SOPROL, Arid Tundra, Uncertian Destiny, Stoned Lorikeet, Forget Me Not Blue, Kaze, Miss Violet Purple, kulash, I love Fallen!, brezzybrez, lynn, killing u with umbrellas, untamedspiral, .yashamew, LadyKnightSusan, insane-i don't think so, hyperbookworm, Enno Vy, Nyleve, Elentariel, rosie, neverlife, sheko, On top of cloud 9, Golden23, Devouring Sarcasm Phantasm, charity, Ayswen, tygerliilly, 42 Eternal Snow 42, phoenix, Serilia, bookworm-4-ever2012, amatsemper, Moonprincess202, Moema, Aly the Spy, Kiki, manicpony24, Firgof Raina, tigerlilly, Macko, Ingrid. & ThJaFl.
softly descending No she was actually raped :(
JaBoyYa When I reach the place of the prologue I think I'm going to continue for a bit longer, because I have a cool plot line which will become apparent in time :D
Right or Ryn I have a plot line mapped out, but not events allocated to chapters. This is a new way of writing for me because normally I plan each chapter, but this has given me freedom…I reckon probably at least 40 chapters, but hopefully updates will be more frequent now that I'm on school holidays.
Grace of Masbolle She will eventually, but I'm going to make you guys all wait a little longer :P
Erynfaer Nope, not even a whiff of a clue! Lol.
Hunchbook Yep, Kel is twelve and a few months. Which is quite young when I consider it, but she has had to grow up fast…
Erytha Alex is in his early twenties…
oirishgoddess I did (yippee! Past tense) English, English lit, Maths, Statistics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Latin, French, P.E, Music and R.E short-course :D
queenofthehostlers don't you dare! Lol. Not that you'd understand my random notes anyway they are sorta odd words here and there which prompt my thoughts! Lol. Still I hope your D of E is going okay, so far the weather has been good for you…well not good but it hasn't rained (yet!)
yada yada that what people ...Yeah they're good! I've read Maximum Ride too:P You'll have to wait for any romance because Kel is only twelve :D
Alezadi Lol, thanks for the lovely long review. The plot is unfolding slightly slower because I have to include small details for the end to make sense…Anyway thanks for the encouragement, and yes at some point they will definitely tell each other about their pasts.
katiebug123 hehe! Thanks! I agree, being put in a slave collar would be so…degrading. Thanks for reading (and reviewing) all those chapters, I did wonder where you'd gone…lol :D Still I hope you continue to enjoy xx
Confusedknight xxx
Kel stared out at the dense grey cloud which hovered ominously over the city and sighed. The weather had been deteriorating ever since Alex had left and Kel wasn't looking forward to her first Scanran winter. The other slaves told tales of freezing bitter winds, blizzards and short, dark days. Last winter at the Convent had been bad enough, but here, many leagues north and without a room complete with roaring hearth, heated bathwater or goose-feather quilts it was going to be a miserable couple of months.
'Lia…Lia!' called the hearty voice of Cook.
Sighing, Kel picked up her stained apron and hurried down to the kitchen, her leather-covered feet padding softly on the wooden floor.
'Hurry child, hurry!' exclaimed the portly woman, 'that dough needs to be kneaded and shaped and Mithros help you if you let those potatoes burn! ...Oh Greta, you aren't chopping those marrows right, I need rings not strips…'
By now Kel had learnt to ignore Cook's almost constant commentary as she worked. The woman was friendly enough, but when it came down to cooking she expected perfection. She achieved this mainly by instructing Kel and Greta to do all of the ground work, like chopping, peeling, kneading and busied herself with the task of flavouring the food until the kitchen was full of rich, divine smells.
Kel rolled up her sleeves and set her small, scarred hands to work kneading and pummelling the pastry. She worked vigorously, giving some exercise to her arms. Kel didn't mind doing the more strenuous jobs, as they helped to build up her arm muscles. Some days she stood for hours sweaty and sooty from the open fire, turning heavy spits upon which a small pig roasted. Other days she simply shifted large bags of flour, something which she has become quite proficient at, after all the hours working in Gothar's mill.
Despite Alex's continued absence, Kel continued to spend her free hours holed up in his room, practising endless sword drills. As Kel worked the dough she analysed the morning's practice and decided that she would continue to work on the "snake bite" a particularly complex drill which if performed at speed should effectively disarm or knock an opponent off balance.
When the pie had been baked and the vegetables steamed, Cook finally dismissed her two young charges. Kel immediately pulled off her apron and headed straight for the back door.
Outside there was an icy wind blowing and Kel gasped as it whipped at her clothing ferociously. Her teeth chattering slightly, Kel began to run. Each breath of cold air shocked her lungs, making it hard to breathe and her eyes watered with the pain of the stinging wind. She leapt and dodged the puddles of dirty water as she ran and very soon Kel stood outside the lodging house.
Her fingers frozen, Kel fumbled as she tried to fit the key into the lock. After several attempts there was a click and Kel stepped inside into the merciful shelter of the building. Once in Alex's room, she lit a brazier and coaxed a fire into the hearth.
Kel's immediate desire was to do nothing more than gather a thick blanket off of the bed and huddle beneath it next to the fire. However Kel knew that she had more important things to do.
Having checked that the door was firmly locked, Kel stripped off her skirt, revealing a pair of breeches beneath. She also took off her soggy shoes and set them before the fire to dry. Before she started to practise Kel went over to Alex's cupboard and pulled out a small jar. Dipping two fingers into the jar, she then soothed the cream into her neck. The slave collar which she was forced to wear chafed and rubbed her neck raw and Alex's healing salve helped to repair the skin.
Then Kel began her practice. She started by a thorough stretching routine, her joints now limber and supple from almost five months of daily stretching. After she was warmed up then she began the muscle strengthening drills. Kel performed endless press ups, sit ups and other exercises finding them easy at first but then progressively harder as her muscles tired and protested.
Kel forced her screaming muscles into performing one more press up and then collapsed onto the floor panting slightly, but feeling pleased with herself that she had managed to complete all of them.
Without Alex there to teach her, Kel hadn't learnt anything new for the past five weeks. Instead she had practised every single thing that Alex had taught her. She wasn't a stranger to training alone; Kel had had to do it for months when staying with the Weir's and at least Alex's training had taught her new things to practise.
Now a proficient fighter with both of her right and left hands Kel had to perform twice; once with each hand. As she had decided earlier, Kel began to practise the "snake bite". She started slowly, her limbs remembering the movement as she worked on the precise angle of the blade. Gradually she speeded up until the blade was a blur.
Making a mistake, Kel stopped and started again, every fibre of her being intent upon completing the drill. When she got it wrong, she started all over again and continued to do so until she had completed it ten times in a row without putting a toe wrong.
The exercise and the small fire kept Kel warm, but when she returned outside to the harsh weather she felt like she had plummeted head first into a bucket of cold ice. Gasping slightly and clamping her hands in her armpits Kel began to jog doggedly back up the street.
Despite the roar of the wind Kel heard a faint crying as she passed a street corner. Looking down into an alleyway she saw movement, and the plaintive weeping grew even louder. Making a split second decision, Kel ducked into the alley.
'Who goes there?' called a throaty voice.
'Tora,' Kel said, saying the first name that popped into her head. As Kel grew closer to the group she could see a small boy, not much younger than herself, curled up on the ground sobbing loudly.
'Let him go,' she said, keeping her distance.
The biggest boy guffawed,
'Why would we want to do that? We're just teaching this runt a lesson...it's not as though he's important. Besides what's it to you, slave.'
Kel's blood boiled, despite the freezing wind, how dare they think that boy was insignificant and unimportant enough for it to not matter if they hurt him or not.
'I said let him go.'
'You can't order me around slave.'
Without another word, adrenalin singing in her blood, Kel leapt forward, her leg snapping out to catch the boy in the gut and sending him flying. She pulled the small boy roughly to his feet and shoved him forwards. The boy saw his chance and fled, leaving Kel with three angry youths.
They flung themselves upon her, but Kel, who was born to be a fighter shook them off easily and blocked their attacks. Not having been taught hand-to-hand combat for quite some time, Kel was a little rusty. But her arms were strong and her joints supple, so she managed to perform the basic punches, kicks and Yamani self-defence manoeuvres. It was enough, they fled down the alley leaving Kel alone, breathing hard and little worse for wear.
'Are you mad?' hissed a voice behind her.
Kel spun around to see a woman with crooked teeth and a wide pallid face watching her from a shadowed doorway.
'If the Watch catches you, you'll be flogged!'
'But those boys were beating up-'
'You're a slave,' interrupted the woman, giving her a funny look. 'You didn't have any right to do what you just did.'
'But-'
'Don't argue with me lass, I didn't make the laws and I ain't sayin' they're fair, but you gotta run else you'll be in trouble mark my words.'
Kel didn't need telling twice, she turned and ran, sprinting away into the growing gloom and she didn't stop running until she was safely inside Vishnaucht's house.
'Is that you Lia? Ah good it is, come here child, come here. Mithros girl what happened to you?'
A firm hand was placed under her chin, forcing her to look up at Cook, who surveyed her face critically. Then, without saying anything, Cook reached for Kel's hands. Turning her hands over, she looked at Kel's bruised knuckles and raised her eyebrows. Kel stared defiantly back at her.
'I don't know what you do for Alexei,' whispered Cook, 'nor do I even want to know. But it's dangerous being involved with him, perhaps even more than you know.' She gave Kel an appraising look, 'You're a good kid, so be careful, remember if you get into trouble Alexei isn't here to get you out and the laws do not favour slaves.'
She released Kel and walked away, not giving an outward sign that the conversation had taken place.
'Oh yes,' she called over her shoulder, 'you'll be waiting upon the family at dinner tonight so you'd better go and get yourself cleaned up.'
Kel stood, rooted to the spot, her mind abuzz. In the eleven weeks that she'd been working in the Vishnaucht household, Cook hadn't even so much as mentioned Alex. Besides what was it about Alex that Cook knew and Kel didn't?
Shaking herself mentally she jolted out of thoughts.
'You want me to what?' she called after Cook.
'To wait on the Master and his family as they dine this evening,' said Cook not even bothering to turn around.
'Why?' asked Kel, 'doesn't Haina normally do that?'
'Haina is ill and unable to. You must go and get yourself cleaned up. I'm sure I can rustle up a fresh shirt and skirt from somewhere, but you'd better was the mud and blood off of your face.'
Kel hurried upstairs, her fingers gently probing her face.
'Aah,' she exhaled when her fingers touched her bruised lip and face.
Hurrying in to the small bathroom she filled the sink with cold water from a large urn and undressed down to her underclothes. Then with a cloth and the aid of a cracked and tarnished mirror, she gently cleaned her face.
Kel surveyed her injuries; one split lip, bruised knuckles and a bruise which spread from her cheekbone to the side of her eye. Fortunately once cleaned up, none of her injuries were very noticeable.
Kel sponged her arms, legs and neck clean and attempted to wash her hair, wincing as cold droplets of water ran down the back of her neck. Just as she was wringing out her hair, Cook barged in, a pile of clothes in her arms.
'I managed to dig out a shirt and dress, here you go and a clean pair of slippers-' as Kel straightened up Cook gasped, catching sight of Kel's massive scar that ran across her chest.
'Thank you,' said Kel shortly, taking the clothes and refusing to meet Cook's eye. She quickly pulled on the shirt, lacing it up high so that her scar was hidden from sight. Then she pulled on the brown, plain dress and laced that up too. It was only then that she looked up at Cook, her hazel eyes stony, almost as though daring Cook to ask what had happened. Cook didn't dare and instead left hurriedly, talking distractedly to herself.
Kel then pulled on the leather indoor slippers and picked up her dirty clothes. In her "room" she found her headscarf, which she used to tie back her long wet locks.
When Kel returned to the kitchen she was assaulted by a tirade of delicious smells.
'Lia, come over here and finish off marinating this pork, but don't you even think about spilling a drop down that dress…Put on your apron first, there's a girl.'
As Kel began to spread the viscous sauce upon the half-cooked meat, Cook bustled away to sort out the potatoes. Kel sniffed at the sauce and decided that it was a mixture of Rosemary and apples with just a hint of sweet cinnamon. Weeks of cooking under the guidance of a true connoisseur such as Cook had vastly improved Kel's knowledge of food and recipes. If she ever needed to, Kel could cook a six course meal within the space of four hours and the results wouldn't be bad either.
Adding just a dash more of the marinate to the underside of the leg of pork, she fetched the thick oven gloves and carried the pork back to the red-hot oven. Stoking up the coals so that even more heat was produced Kel then placed the tray inside and shut the door.
As she did so a rather severe looking man entered the Kitchen. It was Vishnaucht's butler.
'Where is the slave?' he asked haughtily.
Cook motioned to Kel, who gulped, pretending to be intimidated by the balding man.
'Sir?' she asked hesitantly.
'You're to come with me.'
Kel followed him out of the steamy kitchen and into the main house. Kel didn't often go out into the main house and therefore made a great show of looking around at the décor and ornaments. Of course compared with the Yamani Imperial Palace, where she had lived for six years, this house was relatively shabby. Everything was kept clean, but all of the furniture had a slightly 'out-of-date' look, not quite antique, certainly nothing impressive.
The butler led her into the dining room where the table was laid, ready for the family's evening meal.
'Have you ever served a meal before?' asked the butler, looking down his nose at her.
'Not in a house like this, Sir,' Kel replied meekly.
It was truthful enough. She'd served at a pub before and even in the Royal Palace at Corus, but never in a Scanran Merchant's house.
The Butler then proceeded to explain the exact order in which to serve the food. First to Vishnaucht's mother, as the lady of the household, secondly to Torrianna, Vishnaucht's wife and then to Vishnaucht himself. After that, their three children were served, oldest first and youngest last.
There were so many different rules and Scanran customs pertaining to just one family meal that by the time Kel was allowed to return to the kitchen, her head was buzzing. After helping with a few last minute preparations, all was in place. Dinner was ready to serve.
The first course comprised of tureens of soup, piping hot and deliciously thick. Kel had to take care not to spill a drop as she served the family, feeling self-conscious of her split lip and bruised hands. She needn't have worried. No one paid her a second glance. Kel doubted whether they'd even noticed that she wasn't the slave who normally served them.
Dinner continued in a rather uneventful manner right up until pudding. The main pudding was a rich looking gateaux that made Kel's mouth water, but there were several side dishes to accompany it and it therefore took Kel several minutes to completely lay the table.
It was during these few minutes that Kel overheard Vishnaucht's conversation.
'No my dear,' he said to his wife, 'you know that it's important. We need to gradually gain respect and hopefully in a few years time when he comes to power then we'll be in a powerful position.'
'But it's so much,' protested Torrianna, 'surely he'll be grateful for any amount and settle for something less.'
'Keep your voice down,' Vishnaucht instructed, 'or the children will hear. Don't worry, we'll find the money somewhere, amongst all our assets. Besides any money paid now will be reaped thrice over in years to come, we'll just ask for more time to raise the money.'
'Go to someone, tell them what's going on,' pleaded his wife, 'Maggur can't threaten you in this way.'
'Tell who?' asked Vishnaucht bitterly, 'half of this country is feeding out of the palm of Maggur's hand, and the other half is too scared to do anything. We've got in too deep Rianna. Supplying Maggur at first was one thing, he got me many good contacts for the business, but he demands ever more…' he sighed, 'I'm sure it will all work out for the best in the end, Gods be willing.'
He raised his glass in a mock toast and drained it, smacking his lips afterwards and sending fine droplets of wine dribbling into his beard.
Kel was intrigued, would Maggur's man be returning later that evening? What was Maggur up to that needed a substantial amount of funding? For how long had Maggur been demanding money off of Vishnaucht? It was these questions that kept her mind occupied for the remainder of the evening. Whilst she was clearing the table, washing up and eating her own dinner, her mind was full of conspiracy theories and images of a great and terrible army rose unbidden in her imagination.
When she finally crept up to bed, slipping silently onto her pallet so as not to wake the ill Haina, she did not sleep. Instead Kel lay listening, waiting for Greta to fall into slumber. As she waited the images of war rose again in her mind and this time she could see her friends; Neal, Merric, Seaver and Cleon, all standing on a battle field, unprepared for war against Maggur. They were scarcely more than first-year squires, without battle experience or knowledge of the harsh world.
I won't let it happen, thought Kel savagely. If we can delay this war then they'll have a chance, all of them, a chance to be more prepared.
It was this flare of determination more than anything else which spurred Kel into leaving the meager warmth of her blanket and tiptoe down to the kitchen.
Over the weeks that Alex had been away, Kel had made several night-time excursions, but with few results. Sometimes she could hear Vishnaucht finishing up his paper work or talking to his manservant, but mostly the study was as silent as the Black God's realm.
This evening as she took up her regular position, sitting in the hatch, she could hear Vishnaucht shuffling around upstairs. Yawning silently and shivering in the cold, Kel peered around at the familiar kitchen. It was lit by the embers of the dying fire and somehow seemed strangely ethereal in the gloom. She was mesmerized by the glowing coals and allowed her mind to drift.
She wondered vaguely what Alex was doing. In the short space of time that she had known him for, Alex had somehow filled part of the hole inside of her. He had shown her not only kindness but respect. Despite everything, his superior swordsmanship skills, her inexperience in life and her continued nightmares he respected her.
This may not seem like an amazing thing. But to Kel who had suffered the degradation of being kicked out of Page training, abandoned at the Convent, raped and left to beg on the streets of Tortall, respect meant a great deal.
After leaving Corus she had, despite her repression, kept fighting solely because she believed in herself, believed that she could change her fortunes and make a difference. After the Tauros attack, she had lost her self respect and so lost her fighting spirit.
However under Fanche's care she had recovered and begun again. Since meeting Alex his support and confidence in her had helped considerably and Kel had never felt more in control of her life. She worked for Alex; she was actively making a difference to the world, whether it be by saving one small boy or delaying the imminent war.
Suddenly a noise jerked her out of her reverie; someone was entering the kitchen through the back door. Once again shutting the doors behind her, Kel crouched in the hatch, her heart hammering in her chest.
After the footsteps died away, she heard the man enter Vishnaucht's study. They began to converse rapidly in Scanran. Kel whose understanding of the Scanran language was nearing fluency, understood far more of the conversation that she overheard than she did a month ago.
They were discussing several places that Kel had never heard of and there was a great deal of discussion about mining.
'…I'm sure you understand that in his position he constantly needs more financial support…'
'…Well, be that as it may my income cannot allow…'
'…You made a deal with Maggur, now you must honour you side.'
'…but I don't have the money,' said Vishnaucht tiredly, 'that is to say I don't have it yet, just give me a little more time. One of my ships went down last week in the Emerald Ocean, and I have to reimburse my customers…'
'…and our Lord has a country to prepare for war. Which is more important?' interrupted Maggur's associate.
'Of course the war must take precedence, but if I lose these customers, then my business will suffer. All I ask is that you give me ten days to find the money that I owe you. That's all, ten days. '
'What I can't understand is why you plead for extra time, when you already have the required money here in the city.'
Vishnaucht said nothing.
'Oh yes, we know all about those private bank accounts. Their balance should be more than enough to cover…'
'But I need that money for maintaining our house and servants. We need to keep up a respectable image you know…'
'I see,' said the stranger, his voice taking on a dangerous tone, 'you need that money to run your house and the other money for the business.'
'Yes, yes,' said Vishnaucht, relief evident in his voice.
'I have specific instructions from Maggur himself concerning the collection of money,' said the other man. Kel heard the scraping of a chair as the two men got up. 'If you no longer have a house or a business then there will be no use for the money,' the man said conversationally.
'What?' asked Vishnaucht.
There was a sudden movement above and Kel heard a gasp.
'Tell me the security codes for the accounts,' hissed Maggur's associate.
'Don't hurt me,' whimpered Vishnaucht, 'please don't hurt me.'
'The codes,' demanded the stranger, 'now.'
Kel sat rooted to the spot, it sounded like Vishnaucht was being threatened, presumably at weapon-point, what should she do? Should she get help and then have to explain why she had overheard the conversation in the first place? Or should she stay put?
Above Kel could hear Vishnaucht hurriedly telling the man the codes to his accounts.
'That's all, that's all,' sniveled Vishnaucht, 'let me go.'
'It was a pleasure doing business with you, but I'm under instructions to make an example of those who are unwilling to obey Maggur. Long live King Maggur,' sneered the stranger.
After that came a terrible stomach-churning, throttling rasping and a thump as a body fell to the floor.
(-a/n- So what say you? Was it worth the wait? I found the first half of this chapter difficult to get into after such a prolonged absence from fan fiction, but once I got into it, it began to flow again. Hopefully I will update again tomorrow as this is an evil cliff-hanger.)
Please review,
Confusedknight xxx