"What is the matter, Lerwick?" Radulfus stood up straight after leaning over the large map of Prydain laid out on the table before him.
"Nothing, it's fine," Lerwick Cornelius huffed as he stood a little further back in the room.
Radulfus was not convinced.
"Ulfarr tells me you've been brooding all over the estate. Soon our House will be the only House; an imperial dynasty will begin. We can't have you being moody. Everything is within our power; what do you wish for my son?"
Lerwick sighed, "I want that Oonskat girl."
Radulfus knew well of what he was speaking of. "The filthy little pig from the Guilty Lady?The one that caused you to make a scene and embarrass this House?"
There was reproach in the question.
"I was so close to having her," Lerwick licked his lips, "then those others burst in and dared interrupt me!"
"And then they stumbled here to the Garden and almost ruined everything," Radulfus did not hide his own contempt. "But, they won't get away a second time."
"When they find them, make sure they don't touch the one with the amber eyes."
"Whatever for? All those Oonskat deserve to be put to the sword for blundering into our plan. Years, seventeen years of careful work almost undone in a moment."
"I want her," Lerwick was still sure of that, "I want to finish what I couldn't before."
"You have so many playthings," Radulfus had procured them for his son, "why don't you go satisfy yourself with one of them, or a few of them."
"I want the amber eyes," Lerwick was seeing it in his mind, "I want them to look up at me as I control her. I want to see them as I kill her friends in front of her, and after we're done celebrating I'll serve those eyes up on a platter and enjoy the taste of all they had been forced to witness."
Radulfus just sighed and went back to looking at the map before him.
"Very well. If they can avoid killing the one I'll give her to you. Consider it a gift celebrating our ruling of Prydain."
"Thank you father," Lerwick liked the idea of having absolute power over the entire country, "is there anything you want me to do? I have no plans this morning."
"Pay a visit to some of the Houses we control."
"The ones that still think they can ride our coattails to greater power or the ones we hold the strings to, like Benham?"
Lerwick did not think much of the lesser Houses allied to his own.
The name 'Benham' always made Radulfus chuckle a little. "We were very cruel to them and enjoyed every moment making them bow at my feet. But yes, the Houses like that one. Make sure the last of their supplies are sent here, take everything from them. Leave them with nothing. We are only one or two Landskyp votes away from abolishing the Houses entirely, the fools don't even realize it, and they won't until it's too late. They'll happy vote for anything we want, they'll vote themselves out of power, blinded as they are with what we've dangled before them,"
"What if the Watchers begin to take an active interest suddenly?"
Radulfus did not think much of the venerated pillar of Prydianin society.
"Ulfarr is making sure they stay content with being fed the information we give them. By the time they see what's going on we'll be firmly in charge and we can do away with the whole lot."
"Stupid fools," Lerwick laughed at how much they had fooled the Watchers so far, "their noses are so far stuck into books, they won't know what's happening until it's too late."
"I haven't heard from the Winnowing Chamber since yesterday, what is going on over there?"
Lerwick was reluctant to deliver the bad news to his father that had been reported to him. "Still nothing. Ulfarr's been over there but they still can't get under the building to see how the machinery works."
"Send a message to hurry, when we seize power I want to hold all the cards. We'll crush any opposition quickly and make the commoners realize we are their rulers, as we will be forever."
She felt sore all over, again.
Alexandra blinked awake, her eyes even hurting. She slowly sat up and tried to bring the world into focus. She did not recognize the room she was in, and she was lying on some kind of table. Her tunic sat in shreds, draped in a bloody mess on a nearby chair. She ran her fingers across the bandages that wrapped around her top.
"I have to stop waking up like this," she tried to laugh but it only hurt to do so.
As the room came further into focus, she saw her friends were also present, albeit all asleep. Sophia was sitting in a chair next to the table, Luca in another chair against the far right wall, and Zooey was sleeping across the doorway. Her sword was drawn and lying at her side. Zooey was snoring lightly and it brought a smile to Alexandra's face, it was just like when they all huddled in their little shack in the slums.
"I'm glad you're awake," a man was standing just outside the doorway.
Zooey's eyes flashed open and her hand was at her sword in a moment. Upon seeing who it was though, she took her hand away from her blade and started to sit up. Luca snorted awake and Sophia began rubbing her eyes.
"I'm Hughes, the city healer," he introduced himself, "I'm quite relieved you've pulled through."
"Alexandra," she turned to see Sophia beaming at her.
"Hey," Alexandra replied weakly, her throat still sore, "what happened exactly?"
"You stopped some Cornelius soldiers from whipping a local girl," Luca was bursting with pride for her.
"Yeah, I remember that, but it all goes blank, it's all fuzzy."
"Long story short," Hughes stepped into the room as Zooey vacated the doorway, "after the horrible ordeal was over we carried you back here and tended to your injuries. You were in rough shape but it looks like the Red Sand did what it was supposed to."
"You gave me Red Sand?!" Alexandra's eyes grew wide.
"It's okay," Luca said quickly, coming over to the side of the table, "Hughes used it like a medicine or something."
"It helped stop your infection and now you're back with us," Hughes explained his dangerous choice. "I am relieved it worked so well and quickly."
"Yeah, we taught those soldiers a thing or two," Zooey was doing her best to hide her guilt, "they'll be smarting for a while."
"I remember," Alexandra tried to think back, "I remember hearing swords; I remember hearing you two acting crazy to save me." She laughed and threw her arms around them, pulling them close into a hug.
"Crazy? What about what you did?" Luca was laughing now too.
"Zooey'll say it was stupidity," Alexandra giggled.
"Yeah, well," Zooey forced a smile, "yeah."
"We're just glad you're sticking around," Sophia put her arms around the entire group.
Hughes also had to smile, the resilience of this group of youngsters before him amazed him and made him proud of them. They seemed brave, selfless, and loving of each other. He wondered where these amazing people came from, Alexandra especially was unlike anyone he had ever met.
Something about her, it nagged in the corners of his mind. He almost thought he had known her before, but he knew he did not.
"Um, I should warn you," he allowed them a moment of silence all close together, "there is quite a crowd gathering outside."
"Oh yeah," Zooey sighed, leaning back up, "I'd almost forgotten."
"There are more?" Luca could not believe it.
Alexandra was confused, "what? What's going on?"
"Ever since we brought you here," Sophia clued her in, "people have been showing up outside, to wait, and to try to catch a glimpse of you."
"But, why?" Alexandra was still completely confused.
"What you did," Hughes laid it out, "the news has spread all over Alloa, I'd be surprised if there was one person who did not know what you did for Torpha. Her brother has been around every day, checking in and asking about you. It's a fantastic story: a stranger arrives with the caravan and alone from a crowd of hundreds steps out and takes a punishment meant for someone else, someone you didn't even know."
"They were doing it to show their superiority," Alexandra had some small insight by now into the methods of House Cornelius, "someone had to do something. If everyone just stands by and watch then people like that can just do as they please."
"Doesn't always have to be you that does something," Zooey turned away to go back to leaning against the wall.
"You're a hero," Hughes told her.
Alexandra shook her head. "I'm not looking to become famous or have notoriety, that has just brought us trouble so far on this trip. I just helped someone in need. I'm not a hero."
"You are," Sophia agreed with Hughes.
"When you're feeling up," Hughes remembered the message he was supposed to give you, "the Lederan would like to see in the city hall."
"Huh?" Alexandra was wary, their last encounter with a Lederan did not turn out so well.
"To thank you for what you did, of course. You have done a great service for Alloa. He wants to meet you and thank you in person."
"But..." Alexandra did not want the attention.
"We're looking for something here," Sophia reminded her, Alexandra's brain still a little fuzzy, "who better to ask what we might be looking for then the Lederan? And he already likes you because of this."
"Yeah," nodded Alexandra, "you're right, great thinking. I hope we can help. I don't even know what I'm looking for."
"No one better to ask, he is a very wise and kind man."
"Okay," Alexandra swung her legs over the side of the bed, "let's go meet him then."
Her muscles suddenly stung and she gripped the edge of the table.
"Maybe you should wait a bit," Hughes saw the grimace on her face, "your body's still recovering."
A new knock on the door from outside.
It was one that was familiar by now to Hughes.
"I'm going to go answer that, excuse me, I'll be right back. Please, just try to relax."
"Yeah," Alexandra laid back down, "maybe just a little bit more rest, then we go see the Lederan."
Sophia looked at her and tapped her finger on the bandages. "Just as long as you promise that you'll stop doing things like this that make me worry."
She was right. In the Winnowing Chamber, in Gylesmoore, and now, Alexandra had made a pattern of pushing her body to the breaking point.
"Okay," Alexandra gave her the thumbs up, "I'll find what I'm looking for up here and all the crazy stuff will be over with."
Resting sounded very good to her as she ached all over.
Hughes was peeking back into the room, "you have a visitor."
Alexandra squinted and looked past him.
A boy, probably her age, was standing nervously behind him. He had light brown hair that had a slight curl too it, but almost unnoticeable. Equally brown eyes, they lit up they saw her, but he looked away, blushing slightly. He rubbed his hands together anxiously.
Alexandra thought he was pretty good looking. She recognized him though, he was Torpha's brother! She remembered seeing him in the crowd, struggling to be let go so he could protect his sister. She had seen his eyes: they were kind, it had struck her at the time, but back then she had other concerns. Now, trapped in bed for the moment, she didn't have any.
"Oh, him again," Zooey had leaned forward in her chair to see who it was, "well, I'm going to go get a snack, be back later."
"Me too, Luca bounded up after her, saying hello to Patrik as they passed him in the door frame.
"In you go boy," the doctor shoved Patrik into the room, "don't be a scared tree squirrel."
"Hey Patrik," Sophia greeted him, "good to see you again today."
"Uh, hey, hi Sophia," he stammered a little.
"Well, I'm going to go as well," Sophia stood up and headed for the door, "I just remembered something I had to do."
Maybe it was because she was hurt, but Alexandra finally figured out that she had been strategically left alone.
He turned nervously to face her. He opened his mouth several times to start saying something, but each time clammed up again a moment later. Alexandra waited patiently, she could tell he was sweating and kept on biting his tongue. Was that because of her? She was flattered, she thought it was cute.
"I... I wanted to say thanks... thank you," he finally got out. "For helping my sister... you... I'm sorry you got hurt... I should have..."
She knew he shouldn't go down that road, it wasn't his fault.
"It's okay," she assured him, "I saw you, kicking and fighting for your sister when no one else would. You were just overpowered, that was it."
She knew very well how it felt to be powerless in the face of cruelty.
"You helped us even though you don't know us," he blurted, still a brilliant shade of red, "I wish I could do something to thank you."
His concern and nervousness was touching. She felt a little warm at his kindness; back in the slums there simply was no options other than people wanting to rip you off or just use you for some cheap thrills. Those were not people Alexandra wanted to be associated with.
When she looked at Patrik, she couldn't help but smile. The last boy she felt any kind of feelings for was Garth. He was an Oonskat too, but he hadn't lasted long. She thought things had started off good, but turned surprisingly sour.
She had been alone in that regard ever since. But, at least she had her friends, her real family.
"I heard Hughes say you've come around every day to check on me," she watched as he turned an even brighter red, she had to keep from giggling.
"I... I...uh," he searched quickly for something to say.
"That's sweet," she smiled at him, "and it means a lot."
"It is? It does?" his heart almost jumped into his throat.
"Yeah," she replied, "that's really nice of you."
Patrik gulped, "well, I... I just wanted to make sure you were okay... and... well, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you and... um... I think you're pretty and I was wondering if you want to maybe get something to drink me sometime?"
The last part came out in a flood, the words almost tripping over themselves as he exited his mouth.
Alexandra paused and considered for a moment, "Patrik, are you asking a girl while she's still on her sick bed?"
"I... uh.... oh," he realized it may not have been the best time.
Every day he had come to check on her though, he had been thinking about what to say, practice the words in front of a mirror. He had been trying to work up the courage to say them to the red-haired stranger that had occupied his thoughts so much of later.
"I would love to," she finally giggled after letting him squirm for a moment.
"You would?" Patrik couldn't believe his ears.
"Yeah," she couldn't believe she was saying it either.
With so much going on, them being fugitives, her trying to find out who her father was, what was she doing flirting a little with Patrik? It was nice; he was nice, something in his smile made her feel just a little better.
"I'd love to," she added.
"Yes!" Patrik announced before becoming embarrassed by that outburst, "I mean, awesome. We'll do that as soon as you're better."
"I'll try faster."
Patrik stood there for a moment, unable to figure out what to say yes. Alexandra didn't really know what she was doing either, she only knew that she liked this person in some way. He was still someone new, but she could always tell a lot about a person and looking at Patrik, she knew he was a good young man. Those had been absent for most of her life.
Sure there were some good people in the slums, some who tried to maintain their dignity, civility, and honor despite their lowly positions. Her last 'boyfriend', Garth, she hadn't thought about him in a long time.
It had been two years before, Alexandra had met him while beginning in the market district. He was getting paid to haul heavy sacks for a merchant. She had never been in love before, but when she saw Garth, sweat on his brow and rippling muscles, she felt faint. Of course he had noticed her, her features did really stand up. He had set down the sacks and struck up a conversation with her. At first, Alexandra thought they had so much in common: both Oonskat, both poor, both trying to survive.
Zooey didn't like him, but that wasn't unexpected; Sophia also had her doubts about him. Usually, Alexandra heeded Sophia's advice, but she was so taken with Garth that she ignored her friends. She spent every moment she could with her white-knight, holding hands, taking long walks, sitting on the roofs of buildings and watching the sun-set, Alexandra had been convinced she had found happiness despite the odds. They always did what he wanted though, and Alexandra let that happen, enamored by him; her emotions overruling her head for once.
Then came the night where Garth wanted to go further. Alexandra had refused, not feeling ready for it. Garth had laughed, he told her that Oonskat never lasted long, so what was the point?
She denied him again. He got angry then, yelling about all the time he had 'wasted' with her. Garth said that after all the time they had spent together, Alexandra owed him something. She realized what kind of man Garth was, no different from the other degenerates in the slums.
She pulled away and went for the door of the little hovel; he grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. Slapping her face so hard she hit the door behind her, Garth jammed his hand into her tunic pocket, withdrawing whatever small amount of coins she had in there. He said it was payment for his time.
Alexandra had never felt so humiliated or stupid in her life. She couldn't believe that she had let herself get tricked like this. Scrambling outside while Garth still hurled obscenities at her, she had run back home, tears falling from her eyes the whole way. She startled her friends as she ran into their shack and collapsed in the corner.
Sophia had instantly come over to her side and held her close, guessing what had happened. Luca was caught off guard, he felt so helpless just watching Alexandra; she never appeared so vulnerable.
Zooey didn't say anything, just strapped her belt on and headed out. She returned later that night, the coins that Garth had taken from Alexandra in her hand. She said that she had 'talked' with him and he now understood that it was bad to have hurt her.
With time, Alexandra had gotten over Garth, she hadn't even thought about him in years. She had learned a lot too, and was shown once again the loyalty of her friends. She had sworn to never let her heart get fooled like that again and locked away any romantic feelings deep down inside. Looking at Patrik though, she didn't think she was being fooled or that he was that type of person.
Out of everything, she had never expected to find this in the north.
"I... uh," Patrik blushed when he noticed she was looking directly at him, "well, I mean... I should get home... Torpha's feeling a lot better but I should make sure."
"Okay," Alexandra gave him a smile as he slowly backed up towards the door, "you'll be back tomorrow though right?"
Patrik finally smiled, it was a warm one, "if it's okay?"
"You've been coming around everyday Hughes said. You'd better not stop now that I've woken up."
"I won't. It was a promise.
She believed him.
Once he had gone, Zooey, Luca, and Sophia slipped back into the room.
"So?" Sophia was giddy, she wanted to hear all the gossip.
"So what?" laughed Alexandra.
"He asked you out right?"
"Yeah," Alexandra confirmed.
"And?" Sophia was relentless.
"And I said sure. We're going to do drinks as soon as I get better."
"That's great!" Sophia gave her a hug, "he's good. I like him. He's really sweet, been by every day, always asks about you."
"Just make sure I don't have to go have a talk with him later," Zooey mumbled from the corner.
"He's cool," Luca chimed in, "I went and saw him and Torpha yesterday. He's actually not a bad sword-fighter, just inexperienced."
"I wish we weren't so experienced," Alexandra sighed.
"He's an apprentice to a blacksmith here in town," Luca elaborated, "he's pretty good too. I've seen some of the swords and breastplates he's made."
Alexandra still had doubts.
"But,we're on the run, who knows how long we'll even be here."
Sophia had an answer for that. "I think that's something you don't need to care about. There's too many other things to take up your worry right now, just let this be whatever it is and whatever it may become. Okay?"
"Okay," Alexandra relented, learning a long time ago to heed Sophia's advice.