“Jackanwyn! I found the ship and our man! He needs our confirmation by tonight or –
“Shh. Dirkanus and his Watchdogs are prowling for scraps of metal meat. Their eyes are on us now. Let’s not give them any excuses. We’ll meet at The Widow’s Web at six.
“And our man? What do I say?”
“Give him the bag. That’ll convince him, until I can do so myself.”
Laisani heard a chair scrape back and twisted in her seat. The edge of a brown cloak disappeared as the door swung shut. The second man – Jackanwyn? – was setting coins on the table. He looked up and caught her widened eyes. His head cocked slightly, curiosity in his smile. He pulled back the left breast of his jacket and tapped the crest hidden there. He winked, tossed down another coin, and left The Maiden’s Song. Laisani turned back to her father who was still hunched busily over his bowl of stew, oblivious to her excitement.
“Father, the crest with the sunburst and sword – Who does it belong to?”
“Why, that sounds like The Adventurer’s Guild – a noble lot. Strange question. Why do you ask?”
“So they just have adventures all the time!? How do you become one of them?”
“Thinking of joining, are you my little rabbit? Well, you have to grow up a bit first I reckon, practice your adventuring skills, study hard - help out in the shop more! - and then maybe...”
“Then that’s what I’ll do!”
Asrik laughed. “Come. It’s time we get to the Market. It’ll be a busy day. I want an empty wagon before the sun sets. And your mother is expecting our pockets full.”
That day Laisani helped her father unload pelts and smoked meat from their wagon and set up their table. This was their fifth year (Laisani’s second) travelling from Bream to Seapoint to attend the annual event that brought tradesmen from all over the near countryside as well as the furthest reaches of Batira. They had arrived the night before to ensure they could claim their spot. Many were turned away as the sun rose and no space remained – in the market or in the inns. Luckily, Laisani’s father was a member of the Butcher’s Guild and could call on his colleagues for help. But there was talk that in upcoming years the festival would be by invitation only, and Laisani’s father suspected he could never afford to buy an invitation for himself.
They left at sunset, with indeed an empty wagon and full pockets. And under moonlight, an hour outside Seapoint, they were attacked by brigands. Asrik could not resist the four men who surrounded him with pointed steel and handed over his winnings from the day. Laisani whimpered, “No!”, but her father hushed her with a hand on the shoulder. He asked the men not to hurt them, but they knocked him down anyway. Laisani ran at the men with tiny fists, and they sneered with amusement. When her father passed out, the men abandoned them there on the dirt road, and Laisani cried. She tugged at her father’s still form, but he didn’t budge. He awoke an hour later and painfully pulled himself into the wagon. He directed Laisani to drive to the next town and find a doctor. She followed his instructions.
Asrik nor his business recovered from this incident. The ongoing pain in his chest and sides made it difficult for him to breathe or exert himself physically. He slept half the day. The losses to their income were substantial. Laisani’s older brother Fan assumed Asrik’s responsibilities, but lacked his natural ability as a butcher. The Guild refused membership to the boy until he could prove himself, and many of their patrons grew impatient and went elsewhere.
Laisani did her part to carry the family burden. She pushed brooms in the shop to clear away blood, and she delivered packages to houses. But as her anger grew at the brigands and what they had done to her father, she snuck into the shop at night more often and practised throwing knives at the hanging carcasses. On her way to school, she strayed into the woods and flung knives at knots in the trees. Her aim was very good. She remembered her father’s words...She grew up, practised her adventuring skills, studied, helped in the shop – blushed when she remembered Jackanwyn – and plotted how she would soon return to Seapoint and join the Adventurer’s Guild.
When Laisani turned thirteen, she overheard her mother pressing her father to marry Laisani off to a local farmer. Her father eventually relented, and Laisani decided it was time to escape. She could help her family best by becoming an Adventurer and sending them the money and treasure she would certainly earn. She felt guilt for taking money and two knives from the shop, but she promised to make repayment. As she snuck away, she heard a faint scratch, and found her father peering at her from the doorway. He put his finger to his lips, and held out his arms. When he released her from his massive hold, he slipped a package into her pocket.
Laisani hid on a merchant’s cart amidst bags of potatoes and flour. She opened up her father’s package and found his prized butcher’s knife in a leather belt, shaved down and sharp on both edges.
Her first night in Seapoint, she slept in an alley. But the next day she made her first friend, a boy named Baju, who offered to lead her to the Adventurer’s Guild. She was grateful – and hungry. Baju took her to The Wolf’s Revenge and spoke with the owner. The man brought them big bowls of steaming stew, and a half loaf of bread each. Naskin sat down with Laisani and asked her all sorts of questions about where she was from, her family, and what brought her to Seapoint. He was interested in her knives. She proudly told him of her skill. He brought them a flagon of wine each. Laisani drank and was glad of her new company. Soon she felt sleepy. She yawned and put her head on the table.
When Laisani awoke, she was lying on a bed in a small windowless room. The little furniture was of a fine quality, the floors were intricate tile, and the bedding was edged in lace. This was not The Wolf’s Revenge. Her clothes had been removed and her knives were gone. Her right wrist itched and when she looked down she saw a purple flower etched into her skin. Laisani pounded on the locked door and screamed. Later that night, a woman and two large men visited her. The woman explained that Laisani now belonged to The Garden, a place filled with pretty things to pick and put on display and play with. It was Laisani’s duty to be grateful for her new home and now grow – by adhering to her training and becoming the perfect prize. If she was lucky, Laisani might one day be presented to the Duke himself.
Laisani tried to run, and for that she was caught and beat. As Laisini bled onto the colorful tile, the woman explained that she was the Caretaker, and it was not in their interests to damage Laisani, but if she failed to be a valuable product, she was of no use to them. Laisani ran once more, and this time was bed ridden for two weeks. She stopped running, and the lessons began. For six months she grit her teeth and succumbed to her imprisonment. She allowed herself to be shown how to walk, hold trays, serve food, dress herself, and speak. She met other young men and girls who were being held captive just like her, all from good homes and upbringings – proper accessories for nobility.
All the while, Laisani searched for an escape, and she searched for her father’s knife. She was told by others that their former belongings were collected and distributed either to the garbage or to be sold. However, Laisani was sure she spotted her father’s knife hanging from the hip of one of the guards. From that day on, she spent all her free time watching them. She was correct! She saw him again, and it was definitely her father’s knife in his possession! She watched the guard obsessively, became familiar with his schedule and his usual posts. She would get her knife back.
It was only by chance that the opportunity came. A fire starting in one of the many sitting rooms spread quickly to the rest of the compound. Laisani knew that at this hour, her guard would be in the dorms, off duty. She went there and watched as he and others ran towards the growing fire. Laisani snuck inside, quickly and quietly. She was alone and searched the beds and the belongings near them. Her knife was there and she greedily took it! She also grabbed a coat, other clothes, some coins, food, enough to fill a bag, and with this she ran back out into the darkness. The grounds were empty; everyone had flocked to the fire. Laisani passed the empty guardhouse and slipped through the gates. The Garden’s grounds were not within the city. She could see the glow of city lights in the distance and walked towards them.
The next day, Laisani Galvani cut her hair and smudged her face with make up. She found her way to the Adventure’s Guild. She introduced herself as Chen Kai and asked to join.
“Shh. Dirkanus and his Watchdogs are prowling for scraps of metal meat. Their eyes are on us now. Let’s not give them any excuses. We’ll meet at The Widow’s Web at six.
“And our man? What do I say?”
“Give him the bag. That’ll convince him, until I can do so myself.”
Laisani heard a chair scrape back and twisted in her seat. The edge of a brown cloak disappeared as the door swung shut. The second man – Jackanwyn? – was setting coins on the table. He looked up and caught her widened eyes. His head cocked slightly, curiosity in his smile. He pulled back the left breast of his jacket and tapped the crest hidden there. He winked, tossed down another coin, and left The Maiden’s Song. Laisani turned back to her father who was still hunched busily over his bowl of stew, oblivious to her excitement.
“Father, the crest with the sunburst and sword – Who does it belong to?”
“Why, that sounds like The Adventurer’s Guild – a noble lot. Strange question. Why do you ask?”
“So they just have adventures all the time!? How do you become one of them?”
“Thinking of joining, are you my little rabbit? Well, you have to grow up a bit first I reckon, practice your adventuring skills, study hard - help out in the shop more! - and then maybe...”
“Then that’s what I’ll do!”
Asrik laughed. “Come. It’s time we get to the Market. It’ll be a busy day. I want an empty wagon before the sun sets. And your mother is expecting our pockets full.”
That day Laisani helped her father unload pelts and smoked meat from their wagon and set up their table. This was their fifth year (Laisani’s second) travelling from Bream to Seapoint to attend the annual event that brought tradesmen from all over the near countryside as well as the furthest reaches of Batira. They had arrived the night before to ensure they could claim their spot. Many were turned away as the sun rose and no space remained – in the market or in the inns. Luckily, Laisani’s father was a member of the Butcher’s Guild and could call on his colleagues for help. But there was talk that in upcoming years the festival would be by invitation only, and Laisani’s father suspected he could never afford to buy an invitation for himself.
They left at sunset, with indeed an empty wagon and full pockets. And under moonlight, an hour outside Seapoint, they were attacked by brigands. Asrik could not resist the four men who surrounded him with pointed steel and handed over his winnings from the day. Laisani whimpered, “No!”, but her father hushed her with a hand on the shoulder. He asked the men not to hurt them, but they knocked him down anyway. Laisani ran at the men with tiny fists, and they sneered with amusement. When her father passed out, the men abandoned them there on the dirt road, and Laisani cried. She tugged at her father’s still form, but he didn’t budge. He awoke an hour later and painfully pulled himself into the wagon. He directed Laisani to drive to the next town and find a doctor. She followed his instructions.
Asrik nor his business recovered from this incident. The ongoing pain in his chest and sides made it difficult for him to breathe or exert himself physically. He slept half the day. The losses to their income were substantial. Laisani’s older brother Fan assumed Asrik’s responsibilities, but lacked his natural ability as a butcher. The Guild refused membership to the boy until he could prove himself, and many of their patrons grew impatient and went elsewhere.
Laisani did her part to carry the family burden. She pushed brooms in the shop to clear away blood, and she delivered packages to houses. But as her anger grew at the brigands and what they had done to her father, she snuck into the shop at night more often and practised throwing knives at the hanging carcasses. On her way to school, she strayed into the woods and flung knives at knots in the trees. Her aim was very good. She remembered her father’s words...She grew up, practised her adventuring skills, studied, helped in the shop – blushed when she remembered Jackanwyn – and plotted how she would soon return to Seapoint and join the Adventurer’s Guild.
When Laisani turned thirteen, she overheard her mother pressing her father to marry Laisani off to a local farmer. Her father eventually relented, and Laisani decided it was time to escape. She could help her family best by becoming an Adventurer and sending them the money and treasure she would certainly earn. She felt guilt for taking money and two knives from the shop, but she promised to make repayment. As she snuck away, she heard a faint scratch, and found her father peering at her from the doorway. He put his finger to his lips, and held out his arms. When he released her from his massive hold, he slipped a package into her pocket.
Laisani hid on a merchant’s cart amidst bags of potatoes and flour. She opened up her father’s package and found his prized butcher’s knife in a leather belt, shaved down and sharp on both edges.
Her first night in Seapoint, she slept in an alley. But the next day she made her first friend, a boy named Baju, who offered to lead her to the Adventurer’s Guild. She was grateful – and hungry. Baju took her to The Wolf’s Revenge and spoke with the owner. The man brought them big bowls of steaming stew, and a half loaf of bread each. Naskin sat down with Laisani and asked her all sorts of questions about where she was from, her family, and what brought her to Seapoint. He was interested in her knives. She proudly told him of her skill. He brought them a flagon of wine each. Laisani drank and was glad of her new company. Soon she felt sleepy. She yawned and put her head on the table.
When Laisani awoke, she was lying on a bed in a small windowless room. The little furniture was of a fine quality, the floors were intricate tile, and the bedding was edged in lace. This was not The Wolf’s Revenge. Her clothes had been removed and her knives were gone. Her right wrist itched and when she looked down she saw a purple flower etched into her skin. Laisani pounded on the locked door and screamed. Later that night, a woman and two large men visited her. The woman explained that Laisani now belonged to The Garden, a place filled with pretty things to pick and put on display and play with. It was Laisani’s duty to be grateful for her new home and now grow – by adhering to her training and becoming the perfect prize. If she was lucky, Laisani might one day be presented to the Duke himself.
Laisani tried to run, and for that she was caught and beat. As Laisini bled onto the colorful tile, the woman explained that she was the Caretaker, and it was not in their interests to damage Laisani, but if she failed to be a valuable product, she was of no use to them. Laisani ran once more, and this time was bed ridden for two weeks. She stopped running, and the lessons began. For six months she grit her teeth and succumbed to her imprisonment. She allowed herself to be shown how to walk, hold trays, serve food, dress herself, and speak. She met other young men and girls who were being held captive just like her, all from good homes and upbringings – proper accessories for nobility.
All the while, Laisani searched for an escape, and she searched for her father’s knife. She was told by others that their former belongings were collected and distributed either to the garbage or to be sold. However, Laisani was sure she spotted her father’s knife hanging from the hip of one of the guards. From that day on, she spent all her free time watching them. She was correct! She saw him again, and it was definitely her father’s knife in his possession! She watched the guard obsessively, became familiar with his schedule and his usual posts. She would get her knife back.
It was only by chance that the opportunity came. A fire starting in one of the many sitting rooms spread quickly to the rest of the compound. Laisani knew that at this hour, her guard would be in the dorms, off duty. She went there and watched as he and others ran towards the growing fire. Laisani snuck inside, quickly and quietly. She was alone and searched the beds and the belongings near them. Her knife was there and she greedily took it! She also grabbed a coat, other clothes, some coins, food, enough to fill a bag, and with this she ran back out into the darkness. The grounds were empty; everyone had flocked to the fire. Laisani passed the empty guardhouse and slipped through the gates. The Garden’s grounds were not within the city. She could see the glow of city lights in the distance and walked towards them.
The next day, Laisani Galvani cut her hair and smudged her face with make up. She found her way to the Adventure’s Guild. She introduced herself as Chen Kai and asked to join.