Winter, 1352 AOP
“Arav? Arav? Glacial Netherworld, where the bloody- Oh! Arav, where have you been?” the short blonde woman demanded. Arav, who was as tall as the woman was short, looked around uncomfortably.
“I apologize,” he said at last. “It was difficult to get the supplies you requested, m’Lady.” The woman scowled.
“And you probably spent every last ora, didn’t you? Admit it!” Arav shook his head earnestly.
“No! I did as you said! I argued and bartered with the merchants. I think the prices were cheaper than they would be in Cividina! Especially at this time of year. Jelena-”
“What have I said about using my name?” the woman, Jelena, asked sharply. Arav flinched.
“I apologize, Mistress,” he said, bowing his head. Jelena sniffed.
“Now, did you get everything I requested? If we are to spend the entire winter out there in the Holtwoods all alone, I want to be well prepared! And Adrijana’s said we might spend several years! The woman is insane… But never mind that. Did you get everything?” Arav muttered something. “What was that?”
“Er… Well, I didn’t get a new cloak for you… I couldn’t get the cloth merchant to agree, and knowing how tight you are with money…”
“Arav, if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a hundred times! You are tall, Cra take you! Use your height! Be bloody intimidating, Canih infest it! Gah! Come here!” Jelena then turned on her heel and headed down the cold street, glaring furiously at the civilians.
They stopped on a street filled with fabric sellers and needle-workers and seamstresses and the like.
“Now, which shop did you go into?” Jelena asked. Arav pointed out one dingy little shop displaying a mannequin in a bright red dress in the window. “Alright! Come!” Jelena ordered, pulling Arav inside.
“Hello?” the man at the counter said. “How might I serve you?” Jelena glared.
“It seems that you are asking for ridiculous prices? And you tried to cheat my husband?” Arav looked rather surprised. Jelena rarely seemed to remember that they were married.
“This man is your husband?” the man at the counter asked. “Then you can tell him that-”
“He didn’t do a very good job,” Jelena finished for the man. “Now, I need a new cloak. Good wool, mind; I won’t have anything cheap.” The man nodded.
“Of course, Good Mistress. I have just the thing.” He pulled out a fleece-lined pink cloak. “Now, this-”
“Is a disgusting colour and should be banned.”
“Ah… Of course, Good Mistress. What colour would you say you’d like?”
“Green. Dark green, mind; I won’t have any silly bright colours. They don’t blend properly.” The man looked nervous.
“You… You are an adventurer of some type, then?” he asked. Jelena nodded.
“Yeah. I’m a mercenary. Now, the cloak?”
“Well… Just a moment…” The man hurried into the back room. Jelena rolled her eyes.
“What colour were you going to get, anyway?” she asked.
“There was a green cloak earlier,” Arav assured her. Jelena just sighed.
“I apologize, Good Mistress,” the man said, returning, “but I’m afraid we don’t have any more green cloaks. Our last was sold less than an hour ago. Now, if you would be so kind-”
“Lowell!” a man called, stepping inside. “There you are! Now come deal with my buggy; I want to be on my way! It’s damn cold out there!”
“I’m busy with a customer… But you won’t mind, correct?” the man from the counter, Lowell, asked. Jelena didn’t answer. “Ah. Right. Just a moment, then.” Lowell hurried out.
“Jelena?” Arav asked, sounding concerned. “Are you alright?” Jelena was looking at the newcomer with a mixture of intense hatred and even more intense fear.
“Ah… Come!” Jelena ordered, her voice higher than normal. “We’re going!” The newcomer looked over at her.
“Letting a woman order you around?” he asked Arav. “Not good business, that. Really, you should try hitting her; then she’d see reason!” Jelena’s eyes grew wide. Arav frowned.
“Thank you for your suggestion, Sir, but no. I don’t think so. Now, if you’ll excuse us.” Arav strode over to the door and pulled it open, waiting for Jelena to leave.
“Hmph!” The man rolled his eyes. “Fine! I suppose… Hmm…” He had taken another look at Jelena. “Hang on… I know you from somewhere… What line of work are you in?” He leered. Jelena flinched. Arav, looking quite concerned- Jelena! Flinching!- hurried over to her.
“My wife and I are mercenaries,” Arav said. “Now, I really think we ought to be going…”
“Mercenaries… I don’t know that I’ve ever hired you… I’ve got my own guards, you see. I’m Myron Marchand, by the way,” the man added. “A merchant.” Arav nodded slightly.
“That’s nice. And we’re going.” He pulled on Jelena’s arm. Surprisingly, she let him. Myron Marchand grinned.
“Now, I don’t know how she can call herself a mercenary! Scared of an old man like me!” Myron Marchand did have a point. He was about sixty years of age, with very little of his grey hair left and a pot-belly. And he reeked of alcohol. “Now, you can’t leave! I must know how I know your wife… What did you say your names were?”
“I am Arav Vemulakonda,” Arav replied. “My wife is Jelena Vancura.” Myron Marchand snickered.
“Didn’t want to take your last name, eh? Ah, well, women these days… Oh, where do I know you from! This is gonna bug me…” Suddenly, he frowned. “Hang on a moment! Do you recognize me?” Slowly, Jelena nodded. “Excellent! Where do I know you from?” Jelena mumbled something. “Sorry. Didn’t catch that.” Jelena mumbled something again. This time, Arav leaned down to hear.
“Er… Hmm? Could you repeat that?” he asked. Jelena did. “Right. She just said her name was Calanthia… I have no idea what she’s talking about. She’s a bit shaken right now, Master Marchand; she must have caught something and- What is it?” Myron Marchand was staring at Jelena with a look of revulsion and disbelief.
“Calanthia? Calanthia?! That’s not possible! You’re dead!” Arav frowned slightly.
“I beg you pardon, Master Marchand?” Myron looked at Arav and laughed.
“Oh, Canih, you don’t know! Ha ha ha… But…” He turned back to Jelena, sneering. “So, you survived. How… delightful. Well, that explains the mystery. Although I swear you should look a bit older… But of course, knowing your mother… Tell me, Daughter, how are you doing?” Arav stared.
“What?! Daughter… Oh! You’re her…”
“Father,” Myron Marchand confirmed. “Regrettably. I should have killed her when I had the chance…” It was like everything finally made sense to Arav.
“Oh! Of course! So that’s why… Jelena, we’re going,” Arav said, a bit sharper than he normally would. Jelena didn’t seem to need any urging. But her father grabbed her by the arm. Jelena’s face held terror, now.
“Wait! You can’t just walk out on me, Whore!” Myron Marchand yelled. “Now, see here! We aren’t finished yet! There’s a lot I’ve got to say!”
“What is this?” Arav looked very relieved. So did Jelena. The woman with the three beaded and feathered beads of a tribeswoman coolly surveyed the room. “What is happening, Arav? I thought you and Jelena… Jelena?! What on Thrae…?”
“Adrijana! Thank Cra… We were just going to leave,” Arav said, giving Myron Marchand a strong look. “However, this man doesn’t seem to want to let us.” Adrijana looked over at the merchant.
“Whyever not?”
“Calanthia can’t leave yet! We’ve unfinished business!” Adrijana looked questioningly at Arav.
“Apparently Jelena is a pseudonym. Her name is actually Calanthia…” Adrijana nodded.
“I know. Why does this man know that?”
“Because she’s my Cra-cursed daughter, damn it all!” Myron roared. Adrijana looked surprised.
“Really? How… lovely. This certainly explains something. But we are going. Now.”
“You can’t leave!” Myron insisted. “I mean, I’ve just found out the whore got married, for Canih’s sake! And from the look of her, she’s pregnant, too!” Adrijana and Arav stared at Jelena. Jelena had turned ghostly pale.
“Right…” Adrijana said slowly. “Jelena… Jelena, I order you to come with me. Now.” Jelena looked exceedingly grateful. Then she hurried after Adrijana, shoving past her father without seeming to mean to. Arav followed closely without a backwards glance at Myron Marchand.”
~
“Now, Jelena, what on Thrae was that about?” Adrijana asked. Jelena muttered something. “Pardon? I didn’t hear that.”
“Just a family reunion... Nothing to be excited about...” Jelena replied sullenly.
“Nothing...?” Arav looked quite upset himself. “Jelena... Dearest... That was your father?!” Jelena nodded.
“Yeah. That was my father. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d rather not talk about it, ok?” Jelena was looking very comfortable. Probably because she never told anyone anything about herself if she could help it.
“Alright,” Adrijana agreed. “No more about your parents. But I have another question. When did you become pregnant?” Arav’s eyes near popped out of his head.
“I’m not-” Jelena began, but Adrijana cut her off.
“I suppose you were going to see if you could kill the child before it was born. However, I will not let you.” Jelena looked like a two-year-old who had been told she couldn’t have a new doll. “Now, when did you become pregnant?” Jelena didn’t answer.
“Indeed!” Arav exclaimed. “And how did you manage it without my knowledge?” Jelena made a face.
“Bright Lady, you two... Hey, Arav, remember the night we were married? Yeah. That’s when. Happy now? Now, if you two will excuse me, I’d really like to leave this place!”
“Not so fast!” Adrijana ordered. “Sit back down.” Jelena obeyed, of course.
“What?!” she snapped.
“You are going to stay here. And you are going to talk to Arav.” Arav looked rather surprised. “You two clearly don’t share enough with each other. If you need me, I’ll be in my room.” Adrijana left.
Arav looked at Jelena. Jelena looked at Arav. After a moment, Jelena sat down on the bed. Arav cautiously sat down on the chair. After a glare from Jelena, he stood back up.
“Well?” Jelena asked finally. “Aren’t you going to say anything?!”
“Er... No?” Jelena glared at him even harder.
“We’ll have to talk about something,” she said. “Adrijana decreed it.” Jelena sounded less than thrilled.
“Right. Er... So, uh... Have you decided on a name yet?” Jelena looked confused.
“For what?”
“For, uh... For our child.”
“Your child,” Jelena corrected. Arav looked positively baffled.
“But... Uh... I really think-”
“You asked me to marry you. Therefore, the child is entirely your fault.”
“Ah... Right. Then have you thought of a name for my child?” Jelena shook her head.
“It wasn’t supposed to live long enough to be born. Therefore, it does not matter. Since it’s your child, you can choose a name for it.” Jelena stood up. “I think we’ve talked long enough. I’m going out. I’ll be back later.”
“But... Wait! Jelena-” Jelena whirled around.
“And what have I said about calling me Jelena?!” she asked fiercely. Arav flinched. “That’s what I thought. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really want to leave. Now. I just... Let me go, Arav.” Nodding, Arav backed away. Even he wasn’t stupid enough to try to stop Jelena when she wanted to do something.
“Alright,” he said, subdued. “Where are you going? In case Adrijana asks.”
“I don’t know. Away from you morons!” Jelena whirled out the door.
She walked quietly, using all the stealth she’d gained when a thief in this very city, while passing Adrijana’s door. Inside, Jelena could hear Adrijana talking to her husband, Elsdon. Stopping to listen at the door, Jelena heard what it was Adrijana was talking about, and hurriedly continued on. She was not in the mood for this!
“Ah! Gentle Lady, how can I-” Jelena marched right on past the innkeeper without a backwards glance. She then walked out into the street.
This just totally was not fair! Completely and utterly unfair! It was all Arav’s fault! And Adrijana’s. If it hadn’t been for Adrijana, Jelena never would have met Arav. So hmph! And now Jelena would have to suffer because of something that was Arav’s fault, and Adrijana wouldn’t let Jelena end said problem...
But then it got worse! Jelena’s father was here! This was beyond worse; this was catastrophic! He was here! And he would probably try to do something to Jelena. Like kill her. Of course, that would get rid of the problem of being pregnant, but Jelena wasn’t in any rush to die. If she was in a proper battle, now, and somebody ran her through, then that was just fine by her, but to be beaten to death by him...
Jelena suddenly became aware of footsteps. So quiet, none but a thief would ever hear them. But Jelena hadn’t completely forgotten her life twenty years ago, when she herself had shadowed people like this person was shadowing her.
Jelena continued along, not increasing her steps by a hair. Her eyes darted around, looking for a good place to do what needed doing. Finally, she settled on a small alcove, probably the home of a cart or something. Stepping into it, Jelena pretended to lean against the wall. The thief stepped forward almost immediately. After all, Jelena was in the perfect place to be mugged.
“Hello,” Jelena said calmly. The thief stopped. Jelena took a moment to take a good look at her opponent. Small, in his preteens, he was exceedingly slim, but more because of puberty than malnourishment. So he was part of a gang, then. Cra take it! He might have an accomplice nearby... Then Jelena smiled. That meant two people to take her anger out on, instead of just one.
“What are ya doin’ ‘ere?” the boy asked, drawing himself up, trying to appear brave. Jelena snorted.
“I wanted a place where I could dispose of you without catching the Pinchers’ attention,” she responded calmly. The boy’s eyes grew wide. Smiling slightly, Jelena lunged.
“Hey!” Someone came out of nowhere to knock Jelena out of the way. Here was the accomplice. The accomplice was about Jelena’s age, old to be in the thieving business. However, there was no time to worry about that now; the older thief had a knife in each hand. Grinning wickedly, Jelena pulled out a few knives of her own.
It was a fairly short scuffle. Stab. Jump back. Swipe. Duck. Finally, both fighters stopped, exhausted.
“Not bad,” the other woman gasped. “Not bad at all. You been in this business, once. I can tell.” Jelena nodded.
“Yeah. A long time ago. Truce?” The other woman nodded, and they both put away their weapons. The little thief-boy looked quite surprised.
“So, ‘oo are ya?” the other woman asked.
“Jelena Vancura,” Jelena responded. It was only polite to tell your adversary who you were.
“Wow... I’m Glitzy,” the other woman said. “And that there shrimp is Neddy. What is’t?” Jelena’s eyes had grown wide on the woman’s name.
“Glitzy? You... You’re the leader of the Fangs?” Jelena asked. Glitzy nodded.
“Yeah, that’s me. Why’d’ya wanna know?”
“’Cause... Wow! You’re still alive?!” Glitzy looked surprised.
“Do I know ya?” Jelena nodded.
“Yeah. Well, sorta. Jelena’s a pseudonym, ya see.” Glitzy nodded, unsurprised. Glitzy was probably a pseudonym, too. “I used to be called Calanthia Marchand, near twenty years ago,” Jelena continued. Now it was Glitzy’s turn to be shocked.
“Calanthia?! But... You’re dead! The Pinchers pinched ya!” Jelena shrugged.
“Yeah, well, I escaped.”
“But... Why didn’t ya come back?”
“Death warrants ain’t my favourite things,” Jelena answered. “I went over to the big cities in the north.”
“Wow... You were a thief there, too?” Glitzy asked. Jelena shook her head.
“Nah. I was a cut-throat for a while. Then those three idiot cities decided they didn’t like me, so I got some more pretty death warrants. Now I’m a mercenary.” Glitzy looked shocked.
“You? A mercenary? I’m impressed! Hey! Neddy!”
“Yes’m?” he asked.
“Come on! We’re gonna go back to the den. Hey, Calanthia, you wanna come?”
“Sure. Still the same old den?” Glitzy shook her head.
“No. That old thing got burnt up ‘bout ten years back. We’d gotten some cash together, though, so we bought a nice little place. The neighbours don’t know who lives there. They think it’s just me, some batty lady with a bunch o’ cats. I’m the only one who ever uses the front door.” Jelena nodded.
“Nice. How’s the gang doing?”
“Um... They’re a nice group. Eleven of us, now. And we live pretty nice. We’ve picked up on the better markets to nab from. But what ‘bout you? I hear mercenaries don’t live that bad.”
“Not at all. I do the Dark Forest route with some of my friends, and everybody thinks the place is haunted or something, so we can charge pretty damn good prices. And there’s lots of business; most mercenaries don’t want to go through that mess of woods, either.”
“Very nice. Ah, here we are! Ya can still climb?” Glitzy asked. Jelena nodded.
“Of course!” Glitzy then led Jelena up the side of the house and in through a window.
Inside the room were three girls and two boys. Neddy ran over to them, looking quite scared. Jelena was a scary sight.
“Ah! Here we are!” Glitzy smiled at her protégés. “Let’s see, ‘oo are we missin’? Right. Those five. They still out?” One of the girls nodded.
“Yeah. Tyen an’ Ger were gonna try an’ nab somethin’ from a Pincher, though. I told ‘em not to, but they wouldn’t listen.” Glitzy rolled her eyes.
“Idiots. Ah, well, it looks like we’re down t’ nine! Now, everybody, this ‘ere is Calanthia. She used to be my boss. She’s been out of the thievin’ business. But she used t’ be one o’ the best.” The little thieves did not look convinced. It was understandable. Jelena was in excellent physical condition, but she had a plump body type, and if you ignored her scars, she was quite pretty. And she was ridiculously short.
“She looks too fat to be a thief,” the littlest thief, who was about eight, said. The other children giggled. Jelena rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, well, nobody would suspect me, now would they?” she asked.
“She has a funny accent,” another kid said. Jelena smiled toothily.
“That’s what happens when you live in the north.”
“Are there really monsters in the north?” one of the boys asked. Jelena grinned wickedly.
“Yeah. Me.” Glitzy snorted.
“Ok, Kids, it’s getting’ late. Get t’ bed, ‘k?”
“Yes, Glitzy,” they said, running off. Glitzy sat down in a chair and motioned for Jelena to take another.
“So, what brings you way out ‘ere? I doubt them Pinchers ‘ave forgotten ‘bout you.” Jelena nodded.
“True. But I figure they won’t recognize me. I mean, I’m an adult now, not some scrawny teenager. And I go by Jelena, so my name isn’t a giveaway.”
“Yeah. I guess. But why ‘ere? I don’t think ya came way down south just t’ see me.” Jelena grinned.
“Ya know, it’s not that far to the ‘north’. They have the same bloody climate! But as to you question, I got dragged down here by a friend of mine.”
“Why’d your friend wanna come down ‘ere?”
“Well, we’re from this group of mercenaries, right, and then this one idiot, Rajasthan, decided that he wanted to be in charge. And he decided this while we were visiting some of my friend’s family. So then we went back, and Rajasthan had us arrested by the New Pizcreans for a trivial thing, and then we escaped and dealt with him. Of course, we wanted to get away from the New Pizcreans for a while, so we decided we’d wander down here.” Glitzy nodded to herself.
“Ok. Sounds reasonable. But... I have another question.”
“Yeah?”
“Er... How should I put this... When Kisa said you looked ‘fat’...” Jelena suddenly understood.
“Oh. Right. Dammit! Yeah, er... Well, I sorta found myself a husband...” Glitzy nodded carefully.
“Ah. I was wondering about that. I’m very happy for you.”
“I’m not,” Jelena said gloomily. Glitzy laughed.
“Well, you will be happy eventually. Just wait. Kids are awesome. Everybody loves ‘em!”
~
“How dare you talk to be like that, Whore!” There was a thud inside the house. Jelena winced. She knew what was happening, even though she couldn’t see inside. Jelena moved closer to hear better.
“But... Myron...” a woman’s voice said. There was a slapping sound, followed by a soft groan.
“Don’t talk to me like that! You know the little runt doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near here! She should be dead, dammit!” The voice was slightly slurred, but still unmistakeably that of Jelena’s father.
“No... Myron... Perhaps you should reconsider...” She recognized that voice, too. Her mother.
“Stop talking, Whore! I can’t believe it! How did she damn well survive? I thought she’d died years ago. She should have frozen that first winter! And even if not, the street guard should’ve gotten her. How did you she do it? What’s she doing now?! Oh, and by the way...” There was another slapping sound.
“What... Why...?”
“The wretch looks nothing like me, Anna! Not a bit! She looks more like an ipah than like me!” There was a soft sniffle.
“Myron... You’ve always known there was a chance... Isn’t it better this way? Then you can just wash your hands of her...” Jelena stared at the door in shocked disbelief. She’d always sort of half-wondered, but...
“Yeah, but damn... I wanted a son, and you bloody-well knew it! A son to carry on the family name. My son! You bloody whore!”
“Yes, Myron, that’s what I- OW!” There was a sound like breaking glass. That was more than Jelena could take. She flung open the door.
Inside, a woman of an age with Jelena’s father cowered on the floor. She might have been pretty once. Her hair, which hung in lank, greasy tendrils, was a blondish colour. She looked like she had once been shapely. Her dirty grey dress had once been of the finest cut. It had possibly even once had a pattern and edging. But now she was older. Her body was no longer young. Her hair was going grey. And there were her injuries. Many scars criss-crossing every available surface of her skin. Blood streamed from a number of cuts on her face. The broken remains of an alcohol bottle surrounded her.
“What is this?!” Myron roared. Jelena flinched. She was starting to have second thoughts about this...
“Calanthia...?” the woman asked timidly.. Jelena nodded. The woman’s face softened. “You... You came back! I was so worried... I thought you were dead...” Myron slapped Jelena’s mother.
“Shut up!” he yelled. Jelena frowned slightly. He seemed so terrifying once, but now...
“You’re drunk,” she said slowly.
“No, I’m not... I haven’t drunk near enough for that... Just a little tipsy! Adds extra strength!” Anna slowly got to her feet.
“Calanthia... Why didn’t you come back earlier? You could have lived here. I would have-”
“Shut UP!” Myron repeated, again hitting his wife. Jelena frowned more. This wasn’t how she remembered him.
“You shouldn’t hit her,” Jelena said ever so softly. Myron sneered.
“And what if I do? I can hit you, too!” He lunged forward. Years of mercenary training took over. Jelena sidestepped. “Hey! Stop moving!” Now it was Jelena’s turn to sneer, slightly surprised by the turn of events..
“And why? So you can boost your self esteem by hitting innocent women?!” Anna gave a soft gasp.
“Calanthia... You can protect me...” Jelena turned.
“No,” she said simply. “I can’t. This is your own damn fault. If you want to be protected, leave. But as long as you stay here, you deserve what you get.”
“But...”
“You didn’t protect me when you were stronger than I. Now why should I protect you?” Anna didn’t answer. But her eyes brimmed with tears. Myron snarled. And lunged again. Jelena sidestepped, then punched him hard in the jaw. He winced, and swung a nearby bottle at Jelena. She ducked, and the bottle hit the wall, exploding a shower of glass-shards.
“Whore!” he began. What was this?! He was some old fat drunk guy! He had once been so different... No. Jelena had once been so different. She cut him off.
“Now, see here! Firstly, I am not a whore! I never have been, and I never will be! I’m a mercenary! Deal with it! Secondly, stop trying to annoy me. I was a serial killer once, and I might go back to that.” Myron’s eyes widened. Jelena gave a twisted little smile. “Yeah, that’s right. Thirdly, stop trying to act all powerful! You’re pathetic, you know that? Yeah, you probably do. Else you wouldn’t be trying to beat the crud out of me!” She turned towards the door. “I’m leaving!”
“Running back to your lovely little husband?” Myron asked. Jelena turned around, face emotionless.
“No. Going to see a friend of mine. My trainer, in fact. You saw her earlier. Her name is Adrijana. She was a tribesperson. She and I recently tortured a man to death. Don’t believe me? Next time you get out of this city, ask about. You’ll probably hear about me. I mean, breaking out of that prison... My name is Jelena Vancura, now. Really. Just ask.”
“I will! You just wait! I’ll get you! And your so-called tribeswoman friend! And that runt you’re carrying in your belly!” Anna gave a soft gasp, but both Jelena and Myron ignored her.
“Go ahead. I’d like to see you try.” Jelena then turned and walked out without a backwards glance.
“You just wait!” Myron called after her. “I’ll get you! You aren’t my daughter!”
“You’ve already disowned me!” Jelena called back. “Not that you really have any right to, seeing as apparently we’re not even related!” Myron didn’t have a come-back for that. Instead, he turned on his wife, and began to complain both verbally and physically. Jelena didn’t care. The two morons could have each other. They deserved each other.
Jelena walked away from the house, surprised. This was not how she remembered her parents...
“Jelena?” Jelena looked up to see Arav walking towards her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. Arav looked slightly surprised- he had, after all, used her name- but answered after a moment.
“I was wondering where you were.”
“How did you find me?” Jelena hadn’t forgotten all she knew about stealth.
“I asked Adrijana,” Arav answered. “She tracked you with the oath.”
“But… the bloody thing isn’t that exact! She only knows my general direction!” Arav nodded.
“I… I heard shouting.” Jelena began to mutter to herself. “Is… Is there anything you want to tell me?”
“No! Go away!”
“Adrijana wanted me to bring you-“
“Go!” Arav bowed his head.
“Yes, Mistress,” he said, hurriedly backing away.
That idiot! Calling me by name! As if we were on a first-name basis! Jerk. And what do I care what Adrijana wants? Stupid, bossy, know-it-all, bloodthirsty tribeswoman!
Has she gotten over Rajasthan yet? I mean, I sure a Canih don’t want to end up like him…
I’ve got nothing else to do anyway. I might as well go back to the inn. It’s my choice, though! Not Adrijana’s! It’s cold out. And dark. Yes; dark means cutthroats. Not that I couldn’t defeat one if I wanted to, of course. But I’m too lazy.
Right. So, go back to the inn, yell at Arav, ignore Elsdon, avoid Adrijana, and find some way to get rid of this thing inside me that doesn’t violate the oath.
Stupid bloody Cra-forsaken oath!
~
“Ah! Jelena.” Jelena scowled. So much for avoiding Adrijana.
“What is it?” Jelena asked shortly.
“Arav said you spoke with your parents.”
“He what?! That little-”
“You will not do anything to him,” Adrijana ordered.
“Then I can’t speak with him or spar with him or-”
“You will not retaliate against Arav,” Adrijana corrected. “You may, of course, speak, spar, et cetera with him.”
“Fine! What do you want?”
“I want to know what precisely you did to your father.”
“Nothing he didn’t deserve.” Adrijana frowned slightly.
“Did you kill…?” Jelena snorted.
“Of course not! Death is too good for that bloody idiot.” Adrijana nodded slowly.
“I see… It’s late. Go to bed, Jelena.”
“But…”
“No buts! In your present condition, you need plenty of sleep.”
“Present…? Oh! Cra forsake me, I-“
“She already has. Now bed!” Jelena obeyed, of course. She didn’t really have a choice.
“Jelena?” Arav was already in their room. “I… I’m sorry! But Adrijana demanded… Please don’t hurt me!” Jelena truly wanted to smack him, but she couldn’t.
“Goodnight,” she said instead, taking off her boots, sword, and various other things she couldn’t where while sleeping. She then crawled into bed and turned to face the way.
“Goodnight,” Arav replied, sounding surprised. After a moment, he followed suit.
~
Jelena glared at the pathetic patch of grass. Why couldn’t she be in bed? Why couldn’t it be later? The hour was positively unholy! Kicking the offending bit of grass, Jelena turned to Adrijana.
“Why are we awake? Why aren’t we in bed?”
“Because the sun has risen and we want an early start,” Adrijana replied without looking at the short woman. Jelena snarled.
“But... In my ‘condition’ as you put it, I should get lots of sleep, right?” Adrijana looked over at Jelena.
“You haven’t appeared to have started feeling the affects of pregnancy yet. Don’t worry. You’ll get plenty of sleep once we reach our destination.”
“What destination? Do you know something I don’t?” Adrijana didn’t answer. Jelena turned to Elsdon. “Hey, you! What is Adrijana talking about? Do you know?”
“Yes,” he answered simply.
“Will you tell me? No, you won’t. You’re an awful person, you know that?!” Elsdon looked a bit baffled. “I hate you all.”
“That’s nice. Come,” Adrijana said, striding off into the gloomy forest that was the Holtwoods. Jelena took one last look back at Sha’il di Veryn. It was quiet, this unCraly early in the morning. There was someone standing near the gate, though. A woman with unkempt light hair...
“Coming!”