Post by Thereza de Soigneux on Sept 13, 2011 14:01:49 GMT -5
I was a trained soldier, had gone through war, killed in the name of Terre d'Ange and served in times of peace as second in command to Captain de Etalon. I'd trained other cadets and told them the sometimes unpleasant truths of life and death. Every story the older soldiers had told I'd listened to, some of horrible times before I'd even been born. In childhood I'd even read accounts of wars that no one living could claim to remember with any reasonably sanity.
This was worse though, and harder. I was a slave, and I couldn't even be myself, not without giving everything away. All that I'd been appraised of what could happen, and it had, and it pushed my limits. I found peace only in thinking of the good I was doing, the information I was gaining and that those I called friends and cared for were far away from this place.
At least it kept me sane, and helped me keep my sense of perspective.
And the information kept coming. I'd overheard a good deal, some of which stuck out particularly well for the clarity they provided. Since they didn't know I spoke Skaldi their tongues were far more free, and as I went about the chores that had set to me I honed in on one in particular. Some of the other women were speaking of the last time they'd seen Terre d'Ange and the last information they'd had. I couldn't ever speak freely lest I let slip something that an average citizen wouldn't know, so I sat silently and wrung out a shirt as the others conversed.
They spoke of the Queen, and her poisoning, and that made me glance over more intently, only to see one of the few Skaldi men who understood us come over with his derisive laughter. "Stupid women, we didn't kill your Queen, what good would that do us? Word is that.."
He was young, and stupid, and could have been good for hearing many things, but he was quickly silenced by an older man. Even still though- if it were true-
So I started searching, listening more closely. It didn't take more than being careful to overhear what I needed, to keep from being noticed any more than the other slaves and hostages were. Stay out of sight, don't make waves, stay alive to serve Queen and country. Find out the truth, verify it, and if it is truth escape and make it known. There would be another enemy approaching quickly enough, one we wouldn't be ready for.
It was true, so I slipped out into the night. And was stopped, and questioned, and warned and beaten, and I felt my spirits drop, but I waited to heal well enough to walk, and left again. Nothing could stop me. I had to get home, to take this knowledge to those who would need it for the sake of Terre d'Ange. Shemhazai make it so, let me get back safely enough to see Casanova again, and the Captain, and Jacques. Let something of benefit come from this as well, but mostly save me from ever doing this again.
This was worse though, and harder. I was a slave, and I couldn't even be myself, not without giving everything away. All that I'd been appraised of what could happen, and it had, and it pushed my limits. I found peace only in thinking of the good I was doing, the information I was gaining and that those I called friends and cared for were far away from this place.
At least it kept me sane, and helped me keep my sense of perspective.
And the information kept coming. I'd overheard a good deal, some of which stuck out particularly well for the clarity they provided. Since they didn't know I spoke Skaldi their tongues were far more free, and as I went about the chores that had set to me I honed in on one in particular. Some of the other women were speaking of the last time they'd seen Terre d'Ange and the last information they'd had. I couldn't ever speak freely lest I let slip something that an average citizen wouldn't know, so I sat silently and wrung out a shirt as the others conversed.
They spoke of the Queen, and her poisoning, and that made me glance over more intently, only to see one of the few Skaldi men who understood us come over with his derisive laughter. "Stupid women, we didn't kill your Queen, what good would that do us? Word is that.."
He was young, and stupid, and could have been good for hearing many things, but he was quickly silenced by an older man. Even still though- if it were true-
So I started searching, listening more closely. It didn't take more than being careful to overhear what I needed, to keep from being noticed any more than the other slaves and hostages were. Stay out of sight, don't make waves, stay alive to serve Queen and country. Find out the truth, verify it, and if it is truth escape and make it known. There would be another enemy approaching quickly enough, one we wouldn't be ready for.
It was true, so I slipped out into the night. And was stopped, and questioned, and warned and beaten, and I felt my spirits drop, but I waited to heal well enough to walk, and left again. Nothing could stop me. I had to get home, to take this knowledge to those who would need it for the sake of Terre d'Ange. Shemhazai make it so, let me get back safely enough to see Casanova again, and the Captain, and Jacques. Let something of benefit come from this as well, but mostly save me from ever doing this again.