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The Finding of Lokan, The Owl Heath
Somehow Lilly had managed to gain two travelling companions, and stately, richly equipped companions at that. I eyed the knives they carried at their hips, and in the confidence of which they strode. These two would slit my throat if I so much as let up my act for a second. Fortunately Lilly hadn't quite realized this after the incident in the market, and played along with her story.
"My Lady," Terr asked, "Perhaps you would like to dine at M'Lady's manor tonight, if it so suits you. We have business there, but I would not want to miss an evening of your company."
Lilly hesitated, her eyes round and wide. "Well, I..."
Terr smiled brightly, linking his arm through hers. "If it is your father you are worried about, then we shall write to him of your safe return to Freya's manor. Do not worry so, Lady."
She glanced at me, her eyes dancing with uncertainty. But in that moment I knew she had made up her mind. She said, her voice hard and resolute, "Yes, that should be fine. And, please," she added, blushing fiercely. "Call me Lilly."
I rolled my eyes but kept walking, trying to keep a discrete profile. I had the slight fear that perhaps my Master would find me, the cursed man had eyes everywhere. But by now we were entering into the wealthier districts of Este, and no pauper would last long on these streets. Noble guards proudly bearing family crests strutted arrogantly down side streets, barren of anything but brightly colored shops and finely dressed people. The only poorly dressed folk here
were the slaves. Anyone who saw me would assume much the same of me, and so I was relatively safe.
Freya, as I learned the small, dark girl was called, eyed me tentatively, her pretty face pulled into a puzzled frown. "And what of you, boy?"
I gritted my teeth at such a flippant remark. These damned peopled would find out soon enough anyways. "I am accompanying the Lady." was all I said.
"No you're not," was Lilly's cold reply. With every step she walked at Terr's side, she gained bolder. "He tried to kidnap me for ransom money!" she accused.
Freya and Terr stopped walking, both trying to sort out what they'd just heard. I had only one chance, and I leapt for it. I reached for Lilly, wrapping my arms around her body.
I yanked her close to me, my arms possessively encircling her narrow waist. She was strong, but I was stronger, having grown up in the city slums. I twisted her arms behind her back and pulled out my knife. "Move and she dies," I hissed.
Freya whipped a dagger from her belt, pointing it threateningly in my direction. "Unhand the Lady!"
I laughed. "Fools, all of you! Take one more step and she dies. Now, put down your weapons!"
"Why you..." Terr growled, unsheathing his long sword. He walked briskly towards me, put I pressed the knife closer to her delicate throat. Lilly breathed raggedly under my grip, but I took no notice of the girl. She had brought this upon herself.
"Can you take the risk?" I taunted.
Terr let loose a strangled cry and lunged for me. Freya reached for him moments before Lilly would have been nothing but a bloody heap of bones. I yanked her backwards. In her mad struggle to get free she cut herself on the lacquered steel of my blade. She shrieked, her hands flying to her throat.
"No," Freya cried. "Please, don't hurt her!" carefully she laid her weapons down at her feet. After a time Terr did the same, his eyes blazing angrily.
"You'll pay for this you filthy bastard," he spat.
I smiled. "It seems you are in position to be making idle threats. Now, we will all travel to the manor, and when we get there you shall speak nothing of this incident. And you will find me a place among your court, Freya. Something high ranking," I mused. "Something that pays well."
"If you dare lay a hand on her!" Terr said.
"Tell me, if this child had been borne an orphaned beggar, would you still care?"
There was a great silence after that, in which Freya's scrutinizing gaze softened into understanding and pity. Terr seemed quite taken aback, but most of the anger vanished from his eyes.
Freya turned her eyes to me. "Yes," she whispered.
I nodded. "Then you will help me. Because I am nothing more than an orphaned beggar. I only want enough money to look after myself, and possibly a family. I will not sit idly, I assure you. I can work, and I will."
Terr sighed, releasing the tension he had been holding in his body since I had taken Lilly prisoner. "Fine. I can't speak for Freya, but if she will not have you, I will. We are in great need of a guide, and I'm sure you know the city better than either of us."
"Give me your word."
He sighed again, but nodded. "Yes, I give you my word. Now, let the girl go."
I obliged, drawing my knife slowing from her throat. With a stifled cry she escaped from my grasp and flung herself at Terr. I shrugged. My past was behind me now.
Rụnệ ur Atum
I listened with disgust at Rayth's ignorance. A slave's name? Why? Just because I had been a slave? No, Rune was a fine name from my homeland across the seas. I let my dislike of Kall Rayth settle, for now I had good reason to dislike him. He was ignorant and arrogant, assuming that all cultures considered such names as Rune to be a slave's name.
And he didn't consider my help to be worth anything. I was nothing more than a slave to him. My aggravation rose, but I let it go with the reminder that he was a noble. His thoughts and actions, they were all typical.
'It would be easiest to simply leave this rich lady's house and forget about Kall and make your own way within the city,' I thought to myself. Yes, it would be, but there was something urging me to stay and discover what these people were searching for and why.
There had been a long silence after Lyea left, while I had concentrated on my food and thoughts. I broke the silence by saying, "What jobs do you have for me?"
"Freya is looking for a new slop boy. You can clean out her stables," Rayth replied promptly, seeming to disregard Lyea's demand and warning. It hardly surprised me, and had I been in Rayth's place, I would have done the same.
"Wages?"
"Five quel, twenty-five kelmars a week."
My eyes narrowed in contemplation. I could tell simply from the look on Hithla Taln's face that Rayth was trying to underpay me. I understood from my wandering through the market places in Este that five quel would possibly be enough for a week's worth of food, but I would need more than just food.
I tried haggling the wages with Rayth, but he stayed put on his offer. He obviously would have preferred me to simply walk away. I finally managed to gain the use of the shack Lyea had been captive in before. It was agreed.
"Good, five quel, twenty-five kelmar a week and the old hut. With Mistress Qyr's permission, I will accept the job," I said, finishing up the last of my food. "And I'll find food elsewhere."
I stood, took my pack and went out of the dining room, telling Rayth that I'd be back later in the evening to see Freya Qyr. Then I went to find Lyea. Finding her, I held out my hand to her. She raised an eyebrow, but shook it nonetheless.
"Fine hunting," I told her, then left.
I returned to the shack I had found Lyea in and decided that until I found a more suitable place to live I would make this place my home. After surveying the decrepit shack for awhile and settling myself into it, as well as noticing an owl had made its nest in the rafters, I left and headed into the city of Este.
Freya Qyr
We started back home; it seemed like such a long way away, though really it was not far from the district we were in. Tiger Lilly was hanging onto to Terr's arm, trying bravely not to appear as shaken as she was. I shot a glance at the sullen young man walking by my side.
"So you want a place in my household?"
"If you'd be so kind."
I glanced up and could see the contempt glittering in his eyes. I laughed.
"You are Gyan? You have an accent. Can you speak the Three Tongues?"
He hesitated. "Well, two of them."
"Fine. I have some fluency in Gyan, but most of my household do not. Would you be willing to be an interpreter?"
Heath tried to suppress a triumphant smile. With the many languages spoken in Arya, interpreters were not only held in high respect, they were also paid extremely well.
Ahead of us, Terr turned down a street. We were nearing my home.
Hithla Taln
After the rather disastrous meal, I strolled through the garden's of Freya's mansion. My head still pounded from what had occurred earlier that day. I still had no appetite; now I just wanted to focus on trying to find out Lokan's intentions.
Looking down at my attire, I scowled. During my bath, a servant had taken my clothes, presumably to be washed. Although I had desired only to wear my simple cloth breeches and my blue tunic, my clothing had been replaced with a dress of crimson lace. It was absurd, the great lengths people went for fashion these days.
Why had Lokan wished us to know that he had purchased the heart of a plia? Was that what he had even wanted us to know? Everything that was happening felt wrong. I decided that I would slip away the next day and return to the apothecary to search the shop and question Keenan further.
I bumped into the boy…what was his name? Ah, yes, Rune.
With an apologetic smile, I said, "There is nothing to justify the way that Kall acted back there Rune. He's very good at making people feel inferior, and if you only learn to ignore him, you get along with him fine." I frowned. "Well, most of the time anyway. And about your wages…collect the offered pay from Kall, but there's always extra jobs I need to have completed that I'd be willing to give to you." I smiled once more. I believed by Rune's expression that he realized I was trying to offer him money without insulting him at the same time.
"Thank you, but I don't need anyone's charity," Rune growled back at me. I watched his back as he stalked off to some place.
"My offer still stands!" I yelled at his retreating figure. I wasn't sure if he'd heard me or not. Shrugging, I turned to walk to my temporary room in Freya's residence. As I turned, I bumped into Kall's frame. His features had a dark look cast over them and his arms were crossed.
"What special offer exactly where you giving to that slave?"
Looking at him coldly, I retorted, "It was a business matter, and I feel no need to discuss my commerce information with you. And he isn't a slave." I started to walk away, but Kall reached out an arm and latched it onto my elbow.
"Look Hithla, we've been friends since we were children. There's something I don't trust about Rune. An escaped slave can be a dangerous companion. There is nothing a liberated slave wouldn't do to retain his freedom after he's tasted it."
"Yes, and I would give my life to be free as well if I were in his situation, as I'm sure you would too," I whispered fiercely, trying shaking his hand off of my arm.
Kall wouldn't let go, and I slapped his cheek. His look of surprise and hurt caused his hand to release me.
Tears stung my eyes as I murmured, "I'm sorry Kall." Picking up the ridiculous folds of material that swirled around my body in the form of a dress, I ran through the gardens and back to my room.
Freya Qyr
Terr fell back a step and turned to Heath.
"Will you guide us through Este tomorrow? We especially need someone to take us to the Gyan districts."
"Will it result in more money?"
Terr's eyes flashed for a moment, but I laughed.
"Yes, it will," I said. "Set your mind at rest. You will receive your full wages."
Heath gave an unexpected grin. "A necessary consideration, little girl."
"My lady," interrupted Terr. "If you have any manners at all, you might call address her as 'Fhaine feyt'."
"My throat and head hurt," murmured Tiger Lilly, as my manor came into view. "Kindly hold your tongues for a little while."
Lyea of the Magoria
They sun was just beginning to touch the horizon, staining the sky a deep scarlet, when I hurried to my quarters. My room was flooded with a pale violet light, and with an anguished cry, I thought desperately of home. Yes, I needed fresh air, not the stale air of the city, that smelled of rot and death and starvation. I needed to be away from all of this. I needed freedom.
I stared down contemptuously at the frothy dress they'd dressed me in tonight. It was opal colored, adorned with so many ribbons, lace and ruffles that I could barely see my way over the mound of cloth. My hair they had curled into ringlets, in which had I had lost a handful of singed hair to. It was piled atop my head in some popular fashion, dressed with jewels and pins. I would have preferred my hunting clothes, but those were nowhere to be found. I rummaged through my wardrobe, cursed the damn thing, and found only dress after disgusting, frilly dress.
With a strangled cry I escaped to my private gardens that were backed onto my suite. I stumbled outside into the cool night air, sucking in deep breaths and clutching my waist. But even here I was separated from freedom by a thick wall of brick, something Freya's father had paid dearly to have imported. With a savage cry I threw myself at the wall, vaulting myself over.
When I was safely on the ground I took off at a sprint, yanking my skirts up around my thighs. I lost my shoes somewhere in the grass, but kept running. The air was cool in my hair, the grass soft and comforting on my bare feet. There was nothing but open sky and an endless stretch of green for miles.
I ran until my legs wobbled and I collapsed in a exhausted heap. I was panting hard after such a long run. My hair had escaped, and flew freely against the darkening sky, a trail of glittering pins and combs winking in the last fading light. I sighed. I was free.
But then I was not. Freya's manor was set far back on a large plot of land that stretched for acres, and I had only been running towards the front gates of her house. I saw with a small flutter on anxiety as four weary travelers silhouetted in the distance trudged towards me.
I let out mangled scream. I could not even find my way off the property; how did I expect to find my way home? And then I let loose all the conflicting, raging emotions that had built inside me since I had left my tribes. I let out one wavering sob, then lay down in the soft grass, unable to stop the tears. And when I had cried myself to exhaustion and there was nothing left but a hollow emptiness, I faded away into a dreamless sleep.
Kall Rayth
Kall stood morosely, staring at the small fountain in the back gardens of the manor. A small frog opened his mouth and water splurged out, creating the fountain. For some reason, he felt a foreboding feeling envelope him. He didn't know why; but something somewhere seemed to be warning him that there was danger ahead.
He knew one thing for sure; the heart of a plia meant absolutely nothing. Lokan had not meant for them to ask about the heart of a plia. Then what? he wondered.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rune. The boy was -- what was he doing, anyway?
Kall turned to face him. It startled him to see the slave boy sitting on the grass, arms around his knees, staring at the sky above. His eyes reflected no emotion, his face betrayed no feelings.
"What are you doing here?"
"I am allowed to stay here," Rune replied coolly. "Unless, of course, it bothers you."
Kall detected the sarcastic edge and didn't like it. "It bothers me. Go."
"If it bothers you, then I hope you don't mind if I stay here," Rune replied. A hint of a smile tugged at his lips.
Kall gritted his teeth and said nothing. There was a long, uncomfortable silence.
Then he stood up, brushed himself off and stormed away.
"Why do you hate him?" Hithla's voice came from behind him.
Kall ignored her and walked on.
"Kall; why -- "
He wrenched the door of his room open and slammed it in her face.
Once inside, he threw himself on the bed and stared darkly at the pillow.
A memory stirred faintly in him. Slowly, he reached over to a small sack and undid the rough rope enclosing the contents inside.
Kall drew them out, one by one, and laid them down. He proceeded to dust them all off and stared at the only things he had that were painfully special to him.
The first ... a boat. His hands traced all the curves and cuts on the wood-crafted object. It was the first thing that he and Terr had made, almost in a way to seal their friendship.
The second was a small pincushion. A smile quivered on his lips for half a moment when he thought of Hithla presenting it to him when they were oh so young.
"I made it for you, Kall, specially," she said, her face radiating joy all over.
Kall had picked it up and examined it incredulously. "What IS this?!"
"A pin cushion," Hithla explained. "See, when you're not using pins for sewing, you can stick them here. Isn't it pretty?"
Kall had stared at it. "But -- but, Hithla!" And he shouted with laughter. "Only a girl would want this! Men don't sew," he added proudly, "that's a woman's work. We hunt."
Hithla stood in a moment of shocked silence. Then her face began to crumple up, her lips began to wobble, and tears spilled out of her eyes.
"But -- but I made it -- " she had moaned.
Kall thought of it now, and smiled wryly. He had comforted her, and then taken it and stashed it away in the darkest possible corner of his room, only bringing it out when one asked for it.
The third was perhaps the most valuable in money's terms. It was a glowing crystal, and his memories faded back again to that incident.
Lokan. He was a tall young man, with unruly dark hair, emerald-green eyes and something that no one else, even Hithla, seemed to possess -- the very joy of living. He found something to smile about in everything, and tried to poke a smile out of everyone. His first friend was Kall -- their parents had formed allies.
During the days he had met Lokan, Kall had forgotten about everyone else. He had ignored Hithla, for she'd been too shy to meet Lokan until well after she had become a young woman. Lokan was fascinating, and they were as good friends as mud sticks to a young boy's features. They had exchanged many things, but one day Lokan crowned it all with the most beautiful present he had ever given.
It was a small sphere, glowing all the hues of a rainbow, and even more. Lokan explained that he had actually made it -- this was his first task as a Graylon.
"And if I were to give it to a friend," he said, smiling lopsidedly, "it would be you. Have you ever realized that you're my only friend in the kingdom?"
Kall hadn't. But it made them all the better of friends.
And finally, what was, to him, the most precious of all ...
Memories stirred thicker than a swarm of flies after a dead animal.
A slender girl. Blue eyes and dark hair. An innocent smile, lights dancing in her eyes and hair. Understanding, comforting features that would stay with him forever.
The only one he deeply treasured, the only one whose friendship passed farther than friends, whose friendship passed on to a deep, never-ending love. A brilliant girl who understood him in a way that no one else understood him, who took care of him as tenderly as any mother.
She had flown away -- goodness knew where. The Civil War had finished her parents, like Lokan's. Her parents and family were Suptarrs, a totally different group of people. Ones who were hated -- just like Gyans hated Graylons and Iuns hated Gyans.
Belina had come to him, as they were leaving.
"We -- we must go. Donald" -- her brother --"said we must leave before we're all killed off." Tears filled her eyes. "Kall, I'm so sorry ... "
He had understood. They'd always understood each other.
With one swift motion, he hugged her tightly, and she sobbed as if her heart would break -- or as if it had already broken. But she found comfort in his presence, as he had found comfort in hers.
"Here, Kall," she whispered, pressing something in his hand. "Take this to remember me by, even though you'll never need it. I love you, Kall, I always will."
And then she was gone.
He clutched it tightly, the only reminder of her. As if he needed one. But it was beautiful; a scarf of woven gold. He remembered telling her how ladies always gave their favourite knight a scarf to remember them by.
So I was her knight, Kall thought. If only the knight could return to his lady.
The Owl
Watching those people hunt that boar was fascinating . . . and scary. Why did they kill him, I wonder? Maybe they were mean people, like Master. He was mean. He made me do silly tricks like speaking to his friends--just to show them how great he was. He wasn't so great. He never gave me treats or anything, he just yelled at me when I messed up on accident. Mean.
Or maybe these people were nice . . . like that girl who fed me every day. She spoke softly and kindly to me, and brought me treats. Real yummy things like bits of fish or other meat, and sometimes fruits. She was nice. I miss her, I think.
Oh yeah, those people. Nice or mean? I didn't know. I decided to find out. I followed them to find out what they did with the boar. If they just ate him up, maybe they weren't mean, just hungry. Well, I'd see.
Or maybe not. I was hungry myself, and sleepy. I followed those people a little way, out of the woods, but they walked a long way. I was too tired to keep up.
Instead, I went to find a place to sleep. There was a little shack near the woods. It looked pretty dry and empty. I went there. There was lots of hay all over, from an old, messed up mattress. I took some up to a corner of the rafters and made a quick nest. Pretty comfy really. Time for sleep now, Good night!
Lyea of the Magorians
I woke to the early morning sun warming my back, bathing the carefully manicured lawns of the Qyr estate in a bright, golden light. I unfurled my body to the light, soaking in the warm rays, trying to restore some of what I had lost last night. I wasn't sure, really, only the a great part of my soul was lost, and I was no longer the proud shaman of the Magoria. I was simply Lyea, lost and uncertain and desperately seeking something to hold onto.
I sat up, straightening my wind blown hair and my rumpled dress. I collected some nearby pins and tucked them into the deep folds of my dress before stumbling to my feet. I was quickly learning that jewels were valuable among the city peoples, and they would fetch a fair price.
Silver was highly valued among my peoples, for the silver we found had not been raped of the earth, but fallen from the moon and found one day on the plains. Anyone who possessed silver was sacred among the tribes, and I had seen the glittering silver of the kelmars the wealthy lords and ladies carried with them in fine purses.
Wearily I trudged along, picking out the path that led to Rune's cottage. I raged at the thought of him being treated so. He had honored Kall and his title by offering the boar he had caught, if not unknowingly. It seemed Kall didn't think it of any honor, either, just something to be expected. These city people were so foreign and unpractical in their practices. It seemed I would never understand them.
Even in Freya's leafy green haven it seemed I could not escape the sun. I had walked nearly an hour and already the sun was an angry, blazing ball of fire. My cheeks were flushed red, and my whole body irritated and overheated by the time I reached Rune's small cottage. I stumbled to his door, grasping the door frame with both palms to stay standing.
"Rune," I wheezed, weakly banging on the door.
There came some rummaging noises, a few stumbled steps, and something muttered in an unfamiliar tongue. Then the door was flung open, nearly ripped of its hinges, by Rune. He was angry, I could tell for once, but then his anger melted away when he saw who it was. His face took on that dark, impassive look again. Another thing about these damned city peoples, they were always hiding things from one another. It was something that had irked me ever since I had arrived here.
"Lyea," he said blankly, "Come in."
I shifted my skirts so not to tear than on the uneven doorframe, then slid inside his small shack. It was cooler in here, shaded, though so filmy rays of light managed to filter through. It was stuffy in here, thick with a hot smoke that came from the small cooking hearth where Rune was roasting a rabbit.
"So you have had little success with that hunting knife," I smiled. I suddenly thought of the jeweled pins in my pocket. They would purchase a fine hunting knife and long bow, and Rune desperately needed them. But I couldn't think of a way to give them to him without insulting his pride.
So I was blunt. "Rune, you need money."
Rune tossed me a crooked smile then turned back to the rabbit he was tending. "You don't play games, do you?"
"No I certainly do not. Now listen to me, Rune. You won't survive on the wages Kall's paying you. You will never save enough money to buy proper things, like clothing and house supplies and the odds and ends required in running a household." I said, trying not to sound insulting. But I had feeling Rune didn't really care, but I wasn't certain. You could never be certain with this boy.
I took a seat farthest away from the fire, folding neatly into an old, withered rocker tucked into a corner. "I have some jeweled pins with me, and I'm sure the cloth from this dress would sell for a fine price. Why don't you come to the market with me this afternoon, and perhaps we could put the wages I make from them to good use?"
I was interrupted by a light cooing from the rafters. I looked up and so an owl, staring at me with unnaturally round eyes as he fluffed its feathers.
Rune laughed at my startled expression. "It talks," he said, then turned back to the fire.
"Of course it talks!" I blurted. "Look at it! Only a blind fool wouldn't see that!"
"So you see it, don't you? You see the magic!" cooed the owl from the rafters. It was a mixture of colors, its feathers ranging from a snowy white to a earthy brown.
"Of course I do," I said extending my arm. The owl landed on my arm obligingly, cooeing and fluffing its feathers.
I smiled and ran a hand down the length of its frail body. Poor thing had probably been starving for weeks. "Where did you find it?" I asked Rune, who was gazing at me in open mouthed shock.
"Oh don't look so surprised," I smiled. "Where I come from all my peoples speak with animals, and animals like this, who talk back, are worshiped. Now, if you will, about the market."
Hithla Taln
The following day at dawn, I arose from my bed with a groan. My head still ached from the previous day. I washed my face and ate some fruit from Freya's orchard, sharing it with a small dog that was following me around. The mutt's matted expanse of fur was mostly brown…although it had white forelegs speckled with black spots. And its two hind feet were white, so that it appeared to have little white satin shoes. With its floppy ears and comical face,
I couldn't help but laugh.
Muffling my giggles, I remembered I was out on business. After leaving Freya's estate, I headed back into the main city, into the poorer section. Tracing my way along the dim streets, I made my way back to the apothecary's shop. The sky was beginning to light up, and there were more people coming out to start the day. Tentatively, I knocked on the door. My arms were covered in goose bumps as I hopped from foot to foot to stay warm. I noticed that the dog was still with me and I quietly told it to shoo.
I knew that Keenan had a manservant who slept by the door in case someone came in an emergency and needed medicine badly. The servant always rushed to Keenan's apartment that was above the shop to retrieve his master. I heard footsteps, and a few minutes later the door opened to reveal a sleep-deprived apothecary. The dog growled in a menacing tone, and soon started a frenzied barking. But it was barking away from the opened door.
"My dear Hithla!" he claimed in surprise. "Please, come in. Who is your little furry friend you seem to have brought with you? But do come in! The air carries quite a chill this mor-"
Keenan never completed his sentence. I was besieged on both sides by armed forces, both giving off foul smells. They were Luroc demons, two of them.
Luroc demons always gave off a putrid stench, but these ones gave a whole new meaning to the gag reflex.
I reached around to my back to pull out an arrow, and realized with fear that I had left my weapons at the manor. The Luroc demons lunged for me as I attempted to scrabble away. Looking to my left I saw that Keenan was lying in the dirt, his withered wrinkly face running with blood.
My situation was futile, I realized, as I backed into the wall of a moldy cottage. A villager screamed, probably at the sight of the beasts. As the demons drew closer, I saw their claws extend and I shut my eyes to wait for it all to be over.
Ajay Rajul
Keenan's heavy footsteps were heard thumping down the wooden steps as he went to attend to a customer. What time was it? The middle of the night? No, just early morning. I groaned and rubbed my tired eyes with a fist.
Yawning, I stretched out an arm and elbowed Adrienne in the mouth. She hit my chin with her palm in return. Although Adrienne had her own room in Keenan's residence, she often had nightmares of her past experiences and crawled into my bed for comfort. We would both sleep easily, pressing our backs to each other and having the warmth of our bodies soothe each other to sleep. I had never had a friend that I trusted more than her.
I was awaken from my thoughts by screams from downstairs. Leaping out of my bed, I grabbed my sword that was leaning against the doorframe. The master who had taught me had given it to me as a gift.
Racing outside into freezing temperatures, a loathsome smell greeted my nose. I yelped in disgust, and then saw Keenan lying in the dust with blood soaking his shirt.
"Keenan! Are you alright? Here, take my arm, let me get you inside!" I shouted.
The old man protested and murmured, "The girl…Hithla..help her.." He shut his eyes, and I when I looked up I saw Adrienne coming out of the shop, with a dazed look on her face. She gasped when she saw Keenan and rushed to his aid.
I got up, and looked down the street. Cowering by a run down cottage was a beautiful young woman with blazing red hair. Apparently this was Hithla, and she stood with her eyes squeezed shut, and a arms raised to protect her face. Two Luroc demons stood over her, about to puncture her body with their claws.
Sprinting over, I felt the adrenaline pump through my veins. I caught the demons by surprise as I skewered the nearest one to me. However, the next was not overcome so easily. We circled each other warily, all the while glaring. Before I sensed movement, I was aware that my undershirt that I slept in had a huge rip from where the demon had attempted to claw my body. I tried to corner it, just as it had done to Hithla.
The beast brought down a claw to decapitate me, but at the last moment I ducked and rolled. As it turned to see where I had gone, I leapt onto its back, and brought the pommel of my sword upon its head. With a grunt, the Luroc demon sank to its knees. I got off of it, and pointed my sword at its throat, just daring it to move.
Although fearful moments before, this Hithla now boldly strode up to the demon.
"Who are you?" she said in a demanding voice. When silence ensued, she nodded at me. I pushed the tip of the sword into its fleshy neck, causing green blood to ooze out a little.
With a startled whine, the demon growled, "It is of no consequence to you." I took the sword and slashed open one of the boils customarily found on Luroc demons. Pus dripped out, and the demon shrieked in pain. I almost fled from the stench.
"Alright! I bring a message…from who I cannot tell, because I myself do not know. Cease your search for Lokan, or else face death."
Hithla looked momentarily startled, but regained her cool demeanor. "What does your employer look like?"
The demon appear to think for a few seconds before replying, "I did not see him. He wore a black cloak covering his face and body."
I heard Hithla muttering something, and I tried to listen more closely as she whispered to herself. "Groth! It was that man in the black cloak I saw right before my vision…it was he that sent the vision, not Lokan! How could I have been so dense? He wanted me to go to the apothecary just to ambush me and warn me off of this silly quest. I should have listened to my instincts and never have gotten involved…"
With a start, the demon jumped up, surprising me. It brushed off my attack as if it was swatting a fly, and ran to attack the strange woman. With a startled gurgle, it fell to the ground, for the last time. Adrienne looked calmly at it, as she retrieved her sword from its back.
Although Hithla looked as though she was normally composed, the she currently appeared as though she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Walking over to the woman, I offered her my hand, "Please. Come into the shop, and calm your nerves. You've had a hell of a morning."
Adrienne Chandani
While Ajay helped the girl into the house, I ran over towards where Keenan was laying on the ground, his eyes turned up towards the sky and blood covering his face. It was an altogether unnerving sight, but keeping myself collected, I knelt down beside him in the dust and felt for a pulse. Although faint, it was there, and knowing I couldn't lift the huge man myself, I hurried inside to get Ajay.
He was standing beside one of the chairs, which was now occupied by the girl we'd rescued as she drank something out of a tin mug.
When I entered, they both glanced up, and with a grim tone, I declared, "Ajay, Keenan isn't doing well at all, and I can't lift him myself to carry him inside. Can youlend your assistance?"
He nodded, sprinting past me and out to the front where Keenan still lay. He was moaning now and begging for water, which I went to get for him as Ajay made it clear that he was capable of handling the situation alone.
Bringing Keenan in, Ajay laid him down on a settee in the living room, and since he had far more knowledge in medicine then I did, I let him work while I watched and went to grab the things he told me he needed.
Finally, after tending to all of the older man's wounds, Ajay leaned back and took a deep breath. "All done."
"Will he be alright?" I asked, staring down at the pale features of the older man.
Ajay nodded. "He should be alright with a little rest. The only thing he need to worry about is his wounds getting infected."
The girl, who had been standing off to the side as well, now came forward. "I'd like to thank you for saving my life," she murmured. "I was so scared when those demons came at me." I could see her visibly shudder.
With a non-committal shrug, I stated, "It was the least we could do."
"Do you do this all the time? Save people from vicious demons? You seem so calm about the idea," she replied with a small smile.
"No sense in elaborating an event that was easily put to rest," I responded, casually. "Besides, I try not to let my head get too big."
Almost as if he didn't hear me, Ajay asked, "I don't believe I've gotten your name."
"Hiltha Taln," she answered him. Extending her hand, she smiled at him charmingly. "I'm pleased to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine," he replied, accepting the offered hand in a small shake. The handshake seemed to last forever as they stared at each other, each wearing a small smile.
I lifted my eyes skyward in a silent gesture of annoyance, and catching sight of me for what seemed like the first time, Ajay slid an arm around my waist, bringing me forward since I'd been standing a couple feet behind him. "This is Adrienne Chandani, our housekeeper. And I'm this man's," he motioned towards the almost-lifeless form of Keenan, "apprentice."
"Oh, an apothecary's apprentice?" she asked, seeming genuinely interested. "Do you enjoy it?"
"Very much so," he replied.
"I'm going to go fix us something to eat," I declared, feeling like a third wheel in the room. "You can join us for breakfast if you wish, Hiltha."
"If you dare," Ajay remarked, sending a teasing grin in my direction.
"I only poison your food," I responded with an angelic smile.
Hiltha laughed briefly. "I'd enjoy something to eat, thank you."
I could hear Ajay mumbling something about being better off starving, and I hit him in the arm. "Watch it, or I really will taint your food."
With that, I hurried off in the direction of the kitchen to fix breakfast, as Hiltha and Ajay picked up their conversation once more.
The Owl
That man from yesterday lives in the cottage I slept in! How funny. I didn't need to follow them after all.
In the beginning of the night-time, when I was just waking up again, hungry, he came. He seemed sort of angry, but it was hard to tell. He looked all around the cottage, then at me. I had fluffed my feathers out, trying to look big, just in case he thought I was scared. I'm not scared of peoples! Unless he was mean . . .
But it wasn't, that was good. He just looked at me, all puffed up, and laughed.
"You are a big frightening thing, aren't you?" He had said jokingly. Then he got himself settled and ready for bed. He probably didn't think I understood him. Well, I'd show him!
"I am big and scary, an' I'm not a'scaired 'a you! So there!" I laughed my cooey owl laugh when I saw his face. His eyes were so big! It was very funny. He hid his funny face pretty quick, though, under a more serious face.
After that, we talked a lot, all about ourselves and each other. Then he went to sleep, and I went to find some food. All I got was a scrawny little mouse, but it was enough for the moment. I was still tired, since I hadn't really been asleep for very long, so I went back to the cottage and went back to sleep.
The next day, that same lady came that was with the man. (His name is Rune.) She was nice too. She even knew I could talk! Before I even said anything!
She said she could see my magic. I wonder what it looks like?
We all talked some more, and I found out that the lady was called Lyea, and she was very nice. She rubbed my tummy – it tickled! – and she told me she would get me a treat after they went shopping! Goody! I can't wait! |
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