AA Part 4

Alternate Adventures
Volume One:
Part Four
By: The CRWS

"Cass!" Rhyssa cried as their friend was escorted into the room with them. The five girls ran over to her and hugged her, happy to see that she was all right.
"What happened to all of you?" she asked. They sighed and sat back down again.
"Various things. We mostly got knocked unconscious, met people or animals, in Corey's case, and wound up together, locked up for a crime we didn't commit. Or, at least I think we didn't. We're not quite sure what the crime is," Liz explained.
"Oh. That's about what happened to me... except I found out that I can communicate telepathically," Cass replied a tad happily. The others blinked.
"WHAT?!" they exclaimed. She shrugged.
"When I came to this weird place, everyone was talking, even when they didn't move their mouths. I ended up discovering that I have telepathic powers," she said.
"I wonder if we all have hidden powers too," Willow pondered.
"That would be cool!!" Vallen said excitedly. Liz nodded.
"I would like that too. So long as it wasn't something stupid such as, you can talk to grass or turn into a hairy creature," she said.
"It would be interesting if I could have the power to see dead people whenever I wanted to," Rhyssa pondered. The others looked at her strangely.
"What? It would...." she said in response to their looks.
They continued talking about what mystical powers they would like to possess when the door opened loudly. All six girls turned to the open door, where several guards stood.
"We're here to take you to see the King," one said.

"Have her ready in three days," he said.
She glared down at him, eyes burning an almost neon green in her fury. The words she would have spat with venom in his face were withheld by the metal gag applied to her mouth. The dangerous blows she would have delivered to his body were hindered by the rusty, though strong chains and hard leather harnesses strategically placed to keep her immobile. She was bound to the wall with a good half yard between her feet and the floor, so as to make it less likely for her to touch the workers.
“Yes, lordship,” said her keeper. He kept his eyes carefully sighted on the floor, respectful of his master. He was ugly, as many of his race were, but he was kinder than her last two trainers and smarter in some ways.
“Mind that you do... or you will suffer most severely.” And with that the lord turned to leave, servants at his heels. He stopped at the door and looked back at the teenager chained in the cage. “Don’t do anything stupid, catari,” he warned.
She screamed into her gag and writhed furiously in her bonds, using what little energy she had left to express her rage. Immediately, a collar about her neck sent a fire-like shock through her body. She ceased struggling and gasped in pain. The lord merely laughed, for he found the struggles of the catari girl most entertaining in the vainness of their effort. Then, he left.
When he was gone, her keeper sighed with relief. He stepped inside the open cage, occupying the same place just below the bound teen that his lord had just quit. He looked up at her anxiously, not over her condition, but over the little time left for him to force her into submission.
She stared back vacantly, her eyes made dull with pain, almost black now. She knew the keeper was there, but couldn’t quite focus her gaze enough to see him. She didn’t even have the strength to growl.
Finally, the keeper walked out of the cage, locking it behind him. It was suppertime and he was going to be late as it was, what with the Lord Yhil’s inspection visit and all.
“Catari, you have made life difficult for me,” he said through the complex network of crisscrossing metal bars. “I will not allow you to defeat me as you did my predecessors.... I’ll be back in a quarter hour.” As he left the torture cell office, his gaze fell upon the racks on the wall behind his desk. Various instruments of torment were hung there. He would have need of them soon.
Upon looking at her, one would think she was hardly worth torturing at first glance. She was appallingly undernourished, her ribs and cheekbones easily visible under her well-tanned, but scarred and dirty skin. Her scant clothing, a loincloth-style skirt and shirt, resembling a halter-top, made of animal hides, were torn and tattered. Bruises marked her body and the cris-cross cuts of whip-lashings scored her back, legs, and arms. She was limp in the chains and harnesses.
She had been held in this terrible captivity for nearly two months. When she’d first been brought there, she’d been strong enough to break a man’s leg with her hands; her eyes had still been bright and vibrant. But since then, her captors had dissolved her into this pitiful wretch, unable even to lift her chin anymore.
The reason for all this?
Her ability.
She was a shape-shifter. Born into the catari race nearly 16 years before, she was the fifth and final child born to her family. Her four brothers, mother, father, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and the many members of other families in her tribe. The catari were a woods people and she had been raised in the name Freedom Chancy in honor of catari liberty.
Many other members of her family had been shape-shifters and it wasn't abnormal amidst catari. But it was one little detail that made all the difference in Chance's case. She was a friend of Prince Bryant... and she'd touched him and his father.... She could shift into their shape.... And that made her valuable.
So, these strangers had attacked her village. They'd killed most of the tribe, all of Chance's family, and then taken her prisoner. They were trying to break her spirit. In the process, they'd broken all of her fingers and nearly broken her arms. She'd managed to kill off her first two keepers. The first had died beneath the bite of her venomous willing fangs, a catari trait. The second had died because she'd made him look bad in the eyes of his Lord Yhil, who'd had him executed....
But soon, she would be broken... and they would win.
But no catari wanted to die indoors, and Chance knew she would die before breaking.
In a final, desperate effort, she screamed mentally, throwing all her pain and suffering into the sound, hoping there would be a mind mage nearby, maybe even a song weaver. She screamed in the catari language, but if a mind mage heard her, that would make no difference. ~PLEASE, ANYONE... DON'T LET ME DIE HERE!!!~
And then she collapsed.

Aeri frowned. She didn’t recognize the two strangely clad young women perched on the dragons back. *I wonder who they are and where they’re from. Guess I’ll find out later.* "Guards," she muttered under her breath.
The four guards were startled by the young dragon and surprised to see a pixie, who fled behind the dragon. The four guards pointed their weapons at them and arrested them.
After studying them closely, the two guards decided the girls were probably harmless, but insisted on taking Aeri’s weapon. "Just in case," one said. Two guards led them into the castle while the other two chased the dragon away. One in front and one behind.
Not paying attention to the other two young women, Aeri glared at the soldier’s back. "Where are you taking us?" Aeri asked coolly.
"The guest suite," He said coldly.
*The Great Hall?* she frowned and followed the guard glancing occasionally at the other two girls. *They look lost and confused and maybe annoyed.* She sighed and wished she were better at reading people. The guard led them through a myriad of winding halls before they arrived at a door with two guards standing outside.

Gady was mad. Mostly at herself. She had let the guards take her friends. She had been too scared, she hadn't known what to do and had run away. What a great protector she turned out to be.
There was only one thing to do. Run right back to the castle and get her new friends back.
Gady turned and headed for the castle. She stopped after about 5 paces.
She was still young. She couldn't even fly well yet. How was she supposed to storm a castle? And those in the castle were supposed to be the people her mother had been protecting.
The world of adults was complicated. Gady sat down. She would have to come up with a better plan... or get some help.

The child sighed as she stared absently out of the window, he mind drifting far from her studies out towards the beautiful day that lay ahead. "Melfice!" She called to her guardian who was busy in the kitchen. "Isn't it a wonderful day! Far too wonderful to spend studying!"
The tall blue-haired man that had taken the elf-child in as a baby looked at her sternly. "On this beautiful day hundreds of soldiers are fighting. Many will die. It is best for you to continue your studying and not let this 'wonderful' day distract you."
She frowned and turned back towards the manuscript in front of her. Perhaps she should worry more about her world that was at war, but sometimes it just all seemed so meaningless. Two powers would fight until one fell. The victor would become the ruler until another power rose up to oppose them. Such was the way the cycle would run.
She continued drawing the meaningless circles on the page until her attention was distracted yet again. The wind blew into the open window, calling to her, but it wasn't calling as it had been before. This time the wind seemed sad. "Mel..."
"Dee..." he replied sternly.
The elf-child turned around and looked at him with pleading eyes that always seemed to get her out of anything. "The wind is disturbed, Melfice."
"Is a storm coming?"
Dee shook her head. "The balance has been disturbed. There are strangers here, Melfice.”
He walked slowly towards her, "Strangers?" Melfice looked into those dark orbs trying to figure out if she was being serious or just trying to get out of schoolwork. Finally he just sighed, he knew that something was wrong, but she couldn't keep slacking off like this. "All right... we'll continue our lesson tomorrow. I have to go into town for some bread, are you coming?"
"Can we see the castle?" Dee asked as she bounced up from her chair and grabbed her cloak.
Melfice nodded, "However, when we return home, I'm doubling the length of your swordplay lesson."

Dee let out a long whistle and only had to wait a moment until her black steed appeared before her. After bowing to her horse, she skillfully jumped into the saddle. Moments later Melfice was beside her on his own brown horse.
Dee took off like the wind she was so close to. Her guardian sighed and tried the best he could to keep her in his sight. "Dee!" He called after her. "Make sure to take the eastern route in order to avoid the battlefield!" They may have lived out in a rural community, however Melfice always kept himself abreast of the latest events.
Up ahead Dee could see a small green dot zooming towards her. No doubt a forest fairly, a species very closely related to her own. She stopped her horse in order to catch a word with the small flying creature. "Have you heard?" the fairy asked her quickly. Dee shook her head, she hadn't been to town in over a week and was eager to hear the latest happenings. "Strangers have appeared!" the fairy squeaked. "Ten very queer looking girls that fell from the sky like rain! I must hurry though, be cautious!" And no sooner had the green spot come into view, it was gone, leaving Dee to wonder just how strange these strangers were. With renewed vigor, Dee took off again towards the ever-nearing village.

Slowly the girls stepped out from their "cell" and behind the ranks of the guards. The trip to the king’s reception room was silent as everyone’s minds turned through the sudden occurrences of the day.
“This way ladies.” The guard opened the door and ushered them into the large room on the other side. Moments later, they were standing before King Lawrence.
“I see my son was speaking truthfully when he spoke of strange girls in my land.” He sat forward in his throne and looked intently at the girls.
“A little odd, but charming!” Willow piped up, a nervous smile on her face.
“So also I’ve been told. Please, enlighten me on how you came here.” His deep blue eyes were intent on each girl present. Liz and Cass exchanged glances, Corey coughed loudly and Rhyssa shifted uneasily. Finally Vallen stepped forward.
“Well, your majesty,” she executed an awkward bow. “We can’t quite tell you that.”
“Oh?” His voice was surprisingly calm.
“What she means is we don’t exactly know.” Liz amended.
“Sure we know.” Corey muttered. “We fell from the sky, were captured and brought here.”
“Get your hands off me,” A harsh growl was heard from other side of the door. The doors opened and three guards ushered three figures into the room.
“Drew! Rain!!” Willow’s eyes widened in recognition. Drew rushed to the group and Seraphim strolled over, her eyes narrowed dangerously at the guards. The third woman hung back watching them.
“Well, nice to know everyone’s alright. Now, where the hell are we?” She demanded.
“I take it you ladies are part of this gathering.” The king spoke directly to Seraphim and Drew.
“I should hope so! I never thought I’d see you guys again,” Drew directed her last phrase at her friends.
“Very well. Shall we continue with the questioning? Hopefully some answers can be found soon.” King Lawrence smiled kindly at the growing group of girls.

Before anyone got to say a word more, Cass doubled over, hands clutching her temples. Paul was less shaken, holding a hand to the side of his head and swaying slightly. Corey held Cass to support her.
"Are you okay? Cass? What happened?" Liz asked.
Cass groaned. "I don't... know.... What was...?"
"A scream. A very loud, very desperate, anguished scream...." Paul answered, looking slightly ill. "A plea for help...."
"Help?" Vallen asked, looking concerned. "Who? And where?"
Romis, Paul's old master, spoke up. "A girl about the age of you young ladies. She's in terrible trouble. About five miles west of here."
"So much pain...." Cass murmured. "We have to help her."
"I'm afraid I cannot let any of you leave, this is immensely important...." King Lawrence said.
"Let me go, then. I'll bring her back here to be healed," said Paul, and Cass could sense a sort of eagerness about him.
"Paul," Master Romis said, "Do you think you can do it on your own? You've never done anything like this without your brother...."
"I'll be fine without him. I can do this, master, let me prove myself," Paul asked.
"Very well. Go, and be quick, for much is about to take place," Romis said.
Paul stood very straight and was obviously trying not to grin. "I shall, master." He bowed to the king and the other occupants of the room. "Your Majesty, ladies... I shall return before you know it."
"Be careful, Paul...." Cass said quietly, still weary from the stress of the scream.
"Miss Cassiopeia, I always do." He bowed once more and left on his mission.Rainbow snickered, and Cass turned. "What?"
"You're blushing," she said, and snickered again. Her friends all giggled and she felt her face turning redder.
King Lawrence cleared his throat. "Ladies... shall we get on with the questions?"

"You say you fell from the sky?" asked King Lawrence.
"Yes, Your Majesty," answered Vallen.
"From where exactly do you come? I've never seen clothes quite like yours in any of these regions."
"That's because we're not from around here," Seraphim snorted.
"What my friend here meant to say, Sir, is that we came from a different realm," said Corey. "Possibly from the future or from a different world entirely." Lawrence raised an eyebrow at that but seemed to accept it. Corey looked at Vallen hopefully, wondering how far they could all get before they actually were met with a question they couldn't answer. Corey's fingers tightened in Aram's fur. She looked around the throne room, at the small window slits in the stone that wouldn't allow for an easy target. And sighed.
The doors opened behind them; some of the girls jumped as the trumpets sounded to life.
"Prince Bryant!" one of the trumpeters announced. The youth strode into the throne room purposefully, nodding to the group of girls as he passed before kneeling at his father's throne.
"Father, the Masters request your attendance in the War Chamber."
"The War Chamber?" The king's eyes narrowed. "Do they suspect another attack so soon? Their warriors, surely...." He seemed to be thinking, his brow furrowed intensely. Bryant said nothing to disturb the king's thought, waiting patiently for his answer. Lawrence finally looked up at the girls again and managed a tight smile. "Please, consider yourselves guests here in my palace. Rooms are already prepared for you, as well as baths, clothes and a hot meal if you wish it so. Glycl will show you to your chambers."
"Thank you, Majesty," said Vallen, accompanying her words with another bow, this one slightly less faltering than the first.
"We're sorry we couldn't be of more help," said Willow softly.
"It's all right, ladies. Now, if you'll excuse my son and me, we'll take our leave. Perhaps the Masters will help us to find something," he told them in a reassuring tone. The man rose and left, his son following him out of the room. Glycl motioned for the girls to follow him out. They looked at each other, saw no other alternative and did so. After all, they hadn't been treated badly so far. Why would things start now?

Kevranan leaned against the rough bark of the tree and sighed. He looked aimlessly at the piece of parchment in his hand, covered with ink blotches, then looked back at his harp. This was getting nowhere fast...without any inspiration, he couldn't write any ballads. What he needed was some scandal, some adventure, something interesting to write about.
Then he felt it. There was a tug in his heart, something that urged him to stand and look out across the fields. *There,* he thought. *There lies adventure....* he remembered his old teacher telling him again and again the tale of how he had been found. Kevranan had been told of the time when he would experience the same binding feelings when a new Song Weaver emerged, and how he would have to find them before the ache would recede. This was it. A new Song Weaver had emerged, and now it was he who would become the teacher. He quickly shouldered his harp and stuffed the paper into his pocket.
With long steps he started out across the fields in the direction his heart pulled him. *The Birth of a Song Weaver will make an excellent ballad. Let this song begin.* Kevranan grinned and began to hum merrily. It looked as though he would finally get a chance to be useful to someone.