16Spoilers (very important): In this chapter there's spoilers from Lioness Rampant, and I think that's it, but in the next chapter there'll probably be spoilers from the three Tortall serieses (is that a word?).
A/N: This was originally meant to start the year after Lady Knight, but the war with Scanra lasted until the end of Summer in Trickster's Choice. oh, stuff it. It doesn't really matter that much.
I hope it's not too confusing. Enjoy.
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Amei
456 HE
The thief crept through the palace at night, slipping past guards like a shadow formed by moonlight. She was little more than an orphan, a street rat, yet she had been fortunate in the opportunities she had been given in her sixteen years of life. To her friends she was known as Mouse, but to those who demanded a proper name, she was Amei. Just Amei.
She heard footsteps, like a giant cat prowling through the night, and froze. Even though the corridor was as dark as pitch, most people could sense movement near them. She knew from experience, and remembered the experience well thanks to one of the most painful broken arms she'd ever had. It was lucky that one of her best friends had a healing Gift, or her arm would now be as useful as a hole in the head.
She carefully probed the incoming human with her Gift, and shrank back into the shadows. The man had the Gift too, and it seemed pretty powerful. If he could sense her, she was done for. There was no inconspicuous reason for a stranger to the castle to be wandering around it at night. The night was the perfect time for murderers and assassins, the enemies of kings and nobles.
The man walked right past her. Amei gently let out a sigh of relief, and stayed frozen until she could no longer hear his footsteps. Then she continued to scurry through the castle.
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A woman, in her late twenties, with shoulder length black hair and eyes the orange of sunset fire set up camp with a young girl, about twelve years old, short and thin with mouse brown hair. They did not speak a word until the campfire had been lit and was producing enough heat for the two of them.
"Amei, have you heard of the Dominion jewel?" the woman finally asked.
"No, Sheiya Sunridge," the girl obediently answered.
"Would you like me to tell you?" Sheiya asked.
"Yes, please. I wouldn't turn down any chance to make the evenings more interesting."
The woman chuckled. "I didn't think you would. You're still little more than a child at heart. Even for a child with parents." She settled back against her pack and began to tell her story.
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Amei found the small storeroom. It looked so ordinary that she doubted for a second that she would find what she was looking for inside. She pulled a piece of shaped wire, a skeleton key, out of her waist pouch. It had been bespelled to open any lock and to withstand all types of anti lock picking spells, a present from the Shang Phoenix.
It took her a few seconds to pick the lock, much less than the time it would take her to open it without magic. The door barely made a noise as she opened it. The inside was empty, except for a pedestal and a large violet blue gemstone. Amei took the gemstone, slipping it into a leather pouch spelled especially for that purpose. She gently closed the door, locked it, and disappeared into the night.
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453 HE
The streets of Port Legann were always crowded around midday, Mouse knew. She had lived there all her life, even before she had lost her home. Today, there were a number of pages from the palace within the crowd. Although the odd page could be a threat to a street rat's health, none would bother her. She was only a girl, someone not worth the effort.
Mouse hadn't eaten for almost a week, and she was searching the streets for an easy target. The food sellers were all wary of the local urchins, and most would warn them away from their shops. It was a hard life, but they had no alternative.
It took a few minutes for Mouse to spot a very confident looking woman, with long black hair and eyes the colour of fire. She had a dagger and a coin pouch hanging off her belt, and Mouse could not pass up the opportunity. Her friends had warned her against stealing from anyone with a weapon, for obvious reasons, but she was a woman. The eleven year old Mouse had never even heard of a woman warrior, save the Lioness. Maybe she was only so confident because of the dagger; that she thought she could fight off anyone with it, even if she hadn't used it before. It looked like a well made dagger, very practical, but not the cheapest thing around.
Mouse went in close, casually, and carefully took the coin pouch and the dagger off the belt. This was the closest to actual pick pocketing she'd ever come, and it was terrifying. Any second she could make a wrong move, use a tiny bit too much pressure and be caught. Any second.
The dagger came free easily, but the coin purse took a little bit more work. Mouse pulled at the strings and it came free.
The woman turned around and grabbed Mouse's wrist. She yelped in fright and tried to pull away. The woman took back her dagger and her coin purse.
"Let me go," Mouse begged. "Please. I'll do anything."
"You want my dagger and coin that badly?" Her comment was restrained anger at its worst, cutting like frostbite. "Fight me. Win, and you can have them with my blessings." She did not look like she would not send her blessings with the street rat if she lost.
Mouse started shaking like an autumn leaf. "And if I refuse?" she asked, trying and failing to look calm. She had heard people who refused such fights were often challenged at a later date, with fatal consequences.
The woman's golden eyes warned her not to refuse.
"You will leave, still able to steal your desired coin from others."
"If I lose?" She could not control her shaking.
"I will decide whether to hand you over to the provost or to let you leave as you wish." Her eyes gave no indication of which option she would view the most favourably.
Mouse tried to push away her fear, but her heart still beat like a sparrow's. She couldn't deny that she feared for her life.
"I accept."
She immediately ducked away from the first blow, which struck a pole holding a canvas up over a market stall. She weaved around the woman's kicks and punches, attacking only when she could afford to. The crowd parted and left the two of them to their fight, not wanting to get involved with such an experienced fighter. Mouse soon became exhausted, slowing down and gasping for breath. The woman noticed her speed and determination, but also her lack of endurance.
Mouse, unable to continue the fight, back up and dropped to ground, too tired to be scared.
"I yield," Mouse panted. "Do what you want with me. I yield."
The woman gave her a hard, cold look.
"Pack your things, farewell your friends and come back her in a quarter of an hour. You better enjoy travelling, girl, because you'll be doing a lot of it from now on."
"Who for?" Mouse panted shyly, polite as her ma had taught her. "If I'm to travel with you, I should at least know your name.
The woman offered her a hand and helped her upright. "Sheiya Sunridge, the Shang Phoenix."
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Please R&R. The next chapter isn't finished yet and I'm not quite sure how I'm going to do it. If you R&R, I'll R&R you back. I promise.