12-10-2017, 10:48 PM
Year 935
It was market day in the sleepy town of Shorclif, and Alstroemeria had just finished picking up fresh vegetables for both her family and the Mercers. Normally she would have Davian to help her, but he was traveling with his father. She was alone, but this task was simple enough However, as she walked through the market and adjacent alleyways, she felt a little nervous. As though someone was watching her. The eight year old peered about the market, but before she could even notice a figure had crept up behind her.
Startled, Alstroe swerved around, looking up at the figure, who appeared to be an unassuming young man. He was well kept, with nicely trimmed hair and pale eyes. He didn’t seem very suspicious at all, though the young girl knew looks could be deceiving.
“Excuse me, I’m sorry to have frightened you, but I was hoping you could help me with something,” the young man said. “You see, I’m looking for a young lady. One about your age. As I hear, until a few years back she had become quite notorious for causing trouble for the locals of the area.”
The young girl froze.
“I don’t know who you’re talking about.” She mumbled, averting her eyes.
The man studied the girl for a few moments, then began to stroke his chin.
“Ah, that’s a shame. I heard she was quite the troublemaker right until an unfortunate mishap left her a scar across her face. It’s interesting though, you’d think a girl like that would be pretty easy to find.”
Alstroe’s hand instinctively brushed her bangs over her face. She looked back up to the man, and noticed his confident smirk and his eyes fixed on the very thing she attempted to hide. She was frightened. What did he want from her? Was he with the army and had come to arrest her for her past mischief? He didn’t seem like one of those types though… Though at the same time, she was extremely curious.
“I guess so,” Alstroe asked the man, clutching her basket and preparing to run, “And what would you want with her if you found her?”
“Curious?” The man said as he chuckled a bit, “Well, nothing much, actually. I just wanted to ask her why the focus on mages- nobles specifically? Growing up here, she should have known how risky that was, even for a child...”
“Well that’s obvious,” Alstroe snapped. “Nobles always doing what they want because they think they’re better than anyone else. Just because they can get away with it, and none of us can do anything about it!”
As Alstroe spoke she could see the man’s smile grow wider, and it was only then that she realized what she had just said. The young girl hastily covered her mouth to stop herself, but it was too late. However, as she cringed and waited for a reaction, she noticed that the man seemed impressed if anything. Which only made her more curious.
“I suppose you’re right,” The man said as he continued to chuckle, “That is obvious. Then I guess my other question pertains to why she stopped. Although, maybe she felt what you just said yourself. Even though she was trying her best, alone she felt like she couldn’t do anything.”
“Why does that matter?” Alstroe blurted out. Though the child was still nervous, her curiosity had reached the point where she had stopped caring. That, and if this man had intended to arrest her… wouldn’t he have done it already?
“Well if that’s the case, then that’s disappointing.” The man knelt down to Alstroe and quieted his tone to a whisper, “Especially since, as it turns out, she’s less alone than she thinks…”
“What do you mean by that?” Alstroe asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Curious, for someone who says she doesn’t know anything, you seem to be very interested. If you’d like, I can take you somewhere where I can answer some questions,” The man said.
This was too far, and Alstroe took a step backwards.
“Both momma and Mr. Mercer tell me never to go anywhere alone with strangers,” Alstroe huffed, “So we’re done.”
“I see,” The man said, with a tinge of disappointment in his voice. “Then I won’t keep you. However, one more thing before you go.” As he spoke, the young man discreetly pulled a book from under his cloak and handed it to her. “It’s a shame what happened to that girl though. I would of thought that given her history, she would want to change this country for the better. So, if ever you happen to run into her, give her this. I’m sure she’d be interested in what this it has to say. And if she is, tell her to meet me in the Brimrad Potter’s field. Under the twisted-oak tree.”
Alstroe hesitantly took the book and looked over it. It was hard-leather-bound and title-less, with it’s only decoration etching of gears.
“Though, I should warn you,” the man whispered, “I wouldn’t let anyone see that book in your hands. Not even your own mother. If you value your life, you’d best keep it hidden.”
Before Alstroe could protest, the man was gone. Disappeared into the crowd as she was examining the curious tome. Alstroe looked at the book, thinking long and hard on his words. She knew it would be best to just throw it away and pretend that this had never happened. That’s what her mother and the Mercers would want. Knowing this, she tucked it below the groceries in her basket.
---
After her mother had gone to bed, Alstroe lit a candle and begin pouring through the pages. And page by page, she drank it in. Stories of resistance. Stories of rebellion. Ways in which the army of mages and their loyalist knights could be defeated. Heros that had been erased from history, yet had left permanent scars on the foundation of her nation. By the time the candle had reached the end of it’s wick, and the sun began peeking its way through her window she had finished the book.
She had to know more.
---
Alstroe had reached the Brimrad potter’s field in the early morning. It looked like this place hadn’t been cared for in years, aside from a few fresh graves. If the place hadn’t been surrounded in an iron fence, one would have assumed this was an empty field. There were many trees growing, but only one twisted and turned in the way that would make her think that this was the meeting place. Dressed in a small cloak to hide herself, it was still a place far too morbid for someone of her age.
Alstroe sighed. What had she gotten herself into? She clutched the book tightly to her chest under her cloak.
They’re probably just stories, after all.
She pondered as she leaned up against the tree and closed her eyes. She must have dozed off, because the next thing she realized was a shadow standing in front of her.
“Well well, if it isn’t you again! Did you manage to find that girl I was looking for?” the familiar voice asked smugly.
Alstroe snapped awake and scrambled to her feet.
“Cut the crap, you know I’m her!” She said, furrowing her brow at the man standing above her.
“Oh really,” the man said, almost laughing. “Then I suppose we can skip the formalities. I assume you’ve read the book, and have come to find me to slate your curiosity.”
“I wanted to know if all that stuff is really true, or is that all just a story?” the young girl asked bluntly. At these words, she could see the man’s grin grow wider.
“I can assure you, it’s very true. But...” the man paused as his tone became much more serious, “There is only so much we can talk about, even out here, you understand. I can only tell you, well… if you come with me.”
Alstroe was uncertain. The curiosity was killing her, and she had already snuck out this far. She had taken necessary precautions, and took this opportunity to check on the gun she had ‘borrowed’ from the Mercers that was hidden under her cloak.
“If you’re lying to me you’ll have an entire band of mercenaries after your head,” she said.
“No tricks,” The man said, resuming his usual smirk. “And I can assure you, you’re safe with me. And for good measure, I can give you a name, if you wish.”
Alstroe nodded.
He said with a short bow, the man crouched down to Alstroe’s height and whispered a single word into her ear.
“And yours?” He said as he stood up again.
“Alstroemeria,” she responded without hesitation.
It was market day in the sleepy town of Shorclif, and Alstroemeria had just finished picking up fresh vegetables for both her family and the Mercers. Normally she would have Davian to help her, but he was traveling with his father. She was alone, but this task was simple enough However, as she walked through the market and adjacent alleyways, she felt a little nervous. As though someone was watching her. The eight year old peered about the market, but before she could even notice a figure had crept up behind her.
Startled, Alstroe swerved around, looking up at the figure, who appeared to be an unassuming young man. He was well kept, with nicely trimmed hair and pale eyes. He didn’t seem very suspicious at all, though the young girl knew looks could be deceiving.
“Excuse me, I’m sorry to have frightened you, but I was hoping you could help me with something,” the young man said. “You see, I’m looking for a young lady. One about your age. As I hear, until a few years back she had become quite notorious for causing trouble for the locals of the area.”
The young girl froze.
“I don’t know who you’re talking about.” She mumbled, averting her eyes.
The man studied the girl for a few moments, then began to stroke his chin.
“Ah, that’s a shame. I heard she was quite the troublemaker right until an unfortunate mishap left her a scar across her face. It’s interesting though, you’d think a girl like that would be pretty easy to find.”
Alstroe’s hand instinctively brushed her bangs over her face. She looked back up to the man, and noticed his confident smirk and his eyes fixed on the very thing she attempted to hide. She was frightened. What did he want from her? Was he with the army and had come to arrest her for her past mischief? He didn’t seem like one of those types though… Though at the same time, she was extremely curious.
“I guess so,” Alstroe asked the man, clutching her basket and preparing to run, “And what would you want with her if you found her?”
“Curious?” The man said as he chuckled a bit, “Well, nothing much, actually. I just wanted to ask her why the focus on mages- nobles specifically? Growing up here, she should have known how risky that was, even for a child...”
“Well that’s obvious,” Alstroe snapped. “Nobles always doing what they want because they think they’re better than anyone else. Just because they can get away with it, and none of us can do anything about it!”
As Alstroe spoke she could see the man’s smile grow wider, and it was only then that she realized what she had just said. The young girl hastily covered her mouth to stop herself, but it was too late. However, as she cringed and waited for a reaction, she noticed that the man seemed impressed if anything. Which only made her more curious.
“I suppose you’re right,” The man said as he continued to chuckle, “That is obvious. Then I guess my other question pertains to why she stopped. Although, maybe she felt what you just said yourself. Even though she was trying her best, alone she felt like she couldn’t do anything.”
“Why does that matter?” Alstroe blurted out. Though the child was still nervous, her curiosity had reached the point where she had stopped caring. That, and if this man had intended to arrest her… wouldn’t he have done it already?
“Well if that’s the case, then that’s disappointing.” The man knelt down to Alstroe and quieted his tone to a whisper, “Especially since, as it turns out, she’s less alone than she thinks…”
“What do you mean by that?” Alstroe asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Curious, for someone who says she doesn’t know anything, you seem to be very interested. If you’d like, I can take you somewhere where I can answer some questions,” The man said.
This was too far, and Alstroe took a step backwards.
“Both momma and Mr. Mercer tell me never to go anywhere alone with strangers,” Alstroe huffed, “So we’re done.”
“I see,” The man said, with a tinge of disappointment in his voice. “Then I won’t keep you. However, one more thing before you go.” As he spoke, the young man discreetly pulled a book from under his cloak and handed it to her. “It’s a shame what happened to that girl though. I would of thought that given her history, she would want to change this country for the better. So, if ever you happen to run into her, give her this. I’m sure she’d be interested in what this it has to say. And if she is, tell her to meet me in the Brimrad Potter’s field. Under the twisted-oak tree.”
Alstroe hesitantly took the book and looked over it. It was hard-leather-bound and title-less, with it’s only decoration etching of gears.
“Though, I should warn you,” the man whispered, “I wouldn’t let anyone see that book in your hands. Not even your own mother. If you value your life, you’d best keep it hidden.”
Before Alstroe could protest, the man was gone. Disappeared into the crowd as she was examining the curious tome. Alstroe looked at the book, thinking long and hard on his words. She knew it would be best to just throw it away and pretend that this had never happened. That’s what her mother and the Mercers would want. Knowing this, she tucked it below the groceries in her basket.
---
After her mother had gone to bed, Alstroe lit a candle and begin pouring through the pages. And page by page, she drank it in. Stories of resistance. Stories of rebellion. Ways in which the army of mages and their loyalist knights could be defeated. Heros that had been erased from history, yet had left permanent scars on the foundation of her nation. By the time the candle had reached the end of it’s wick, and the sun began peeking its way through her window she had finished the book.
She had to know more.
---
Alstroe had reached the Brimrad potter’s field in the early morning. It looked like this place hadn’t been cared for in years, aside from a few fresh graves. If the place hadn’t been surrounded in an iron fence, one would have assumed this was an empty field. There were many trees growing, but only one twisted and turned in the way that would make her think that this was the meeting place. Dressed in a small cloak to hide herself, it was still a place far too morbid for someone of her age.
Alstroe sighed. What had she gotten herself into? She clutched the book tightly to her chest under her cloak.
They’re probably just stories, after all.
She pondered as she leaned up against the tree and closed her eyes. She must have dozed off, because the next thing she realized was a shadow standing in front of her.
“Well well, if it isn’t you again! Did you manage to find that girl I was looking for?” the familiar voice asked smugly.
Alstroe snapped awake and scrambled to her feet.
“Cut the crap, you know I’m her!” She said, furrowing her brow at the man standing above her.
“Oh really,” the man said, almost laughing. “Then I suppose we can skip the formalities. I assume you’ve read the book, and have come to find me to slate your curiosity.”
“I wanted to know if all that stuff is really true, or is that all just a story?” the young girl asked bluntly. At these words, she could see the man’s grin grow wider.
“I can assure you, it’s very true. But...” the man paused as his tone became much more serious, “There is only so much we can talk about, even out here, you understand. I can only tell you, well… if you come with me.”
Alstroe was uncertain. The curiosity was killing her, and she had already snuck out this far. She had taken necessary precautions, and took this opportunity to check on the gun she had ‘borrowed’ from the Mercers that was hidden under her cloak.
“If you’re lying to me you’ll have an entire band of mercenaries after your head,” she said.
“No tricks,” The man said, resuming his usual smirk. “And I can assure you, you’re safe with me. And for good measure, I can give you a name, if you wish.”
Alstroe nodded.
He said with a short bow, the man crouched down to Alstroe’s height and whispered a single word into her ear.
“And yours?” He said as he stood up again.
“Alstroemeria,” she responded without hesitation.