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1. [DL-J] A Figment of the Imagination
From: "Barbara Matthews" <carolyn@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 10:47:51 +0600
From: "Barbara Matthews" <carolyn@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-J] A Figment of the Imagination
Fig
(evening, day 20)
A lone figure sat hiding high up in the cliffs above the Warren. Her
eyes were
trained on one office. The office her informant had told her the woman
worked
out of.
For four days now she laid in wait. Four days with her back pressed
tightly
against the rock facing. The dusty, wrinkled, hooked wrap she wore
was the
same dark colors of the walls her back was now pressed against. The
gray colors
blended in so well, anyone looking up from the bowl of the warren
would have
passed her by without a second though.
"I expected you before now," she said softly, without turning her head
to look
at the man sliding in beside her. "What took you so long?"
"Had to wait to talk to the person I needed to see," he replied
reaching out
to hand her a sac filled with bread and cheese. "Thought you might be
hungry."
She took it from him and reached inside. "Thanks."
"Any movement?"
"The Seadragon's have been prepping for something all day, and others
have been
moving quite a bit. Looks like they're expecting trouble," the girl
told him.
"She's been all over the place, but never alone," the woman told him
before
popping a hunk of cheese into her mouth. "Someone is always around
her, or
following closely behind. She's being well protected. But she's
beginning to
hate the attention. I'll lay odds she's going to try something stupid,
and that's
when she'll be the most vulnerable ."
"So when do you plan to go in." The man asked, accepting the empty bag
she had
thrust his way.
"No time like the present," the girl shrugged indifferently. "She just
went
over to the dining hall, so I can get inside before she comes back."
"Just remember she's not to be hurt in any way," the man warned her.
Something
in the tone of his voice set off a trigger in the woman's mind. It
wasn't a
*love* thing, but the man had feelings for the woman she was about to
... visit.
He never once in the time since they met explained the connection,
except to
say that he *owed* her.
"What is it between the two of you," the girl finally dared to ask. "I
never
asked before because I figured it wasn't any of my business, but if
I'm going
to be risking my life. I'd like to know it's for a good reason."
She had her own reason's. Reason's she won't. No couldn't go into with
anyone.
No one would believe her anyway and she might end up locked up as a
crazy person
if she tried to explain.
He looked at her, dark brown eyes searching hers for a few seconds
where she
though he would ignore her question, but then he said, " She's my
niece."
His niece.. Then that would me he was her ...
She had to fight hard not to let the shock she was feeling show in her
expression.
"That's good enough for me." She gave an indifferent shrug. "So we're
going
to pass me off as her long lost cousin huh?"
He gave a snort. "Yea.. something like that. Are you all set? Sure you
can do
this."
"Have faith in your student. I am ready."
For she owed him her life and would do anything he asked of her to
repay him
for the chance he was giving her. A chance he was not fully aware that
he was
giving her. The man knew of only part of her past. They'd talk about
it in the
months it had taken her to recover her strength back. He didn't
understand
any better then she *how* she came to be there. She'd come to trust
him enough
in that time to tell him about her life before meeting him. But she
had kept
back one im****tant fact. One she was not sure he would believe. The
one thing
that might have kept him from letting her get anywhere near the Lady.
She did
not tell him of her own connection to the woman she'd been watching.
"Believe me," the girl turned slowly to look at the man. "After all
you have
told me about her and the things going on in this place.... Her safety
is my
top most concern. I will not let you down my teacher. You have taught
me well,
and I will use the skills you taught me to protect her. Even if my own
life
must be forfeited in the process."
She did not want to die, but it was one possibility. There was nothing
perfect
and absolute in this life. Only what one made of what they had to work
with
in the time they had.
But the Lady.. The Lady had to live. Every breath she took kept her
world alive
that much longer. There were things she knew that she hadn't shared
with the
man. Things she could not at this time tell him, but when the time was
right..
she would. Until then as long as their goals concerning the Lady were
the same,
she would do as he asked.
"I did not teach you to be foolish young Fig," he snapped, giving her
a fierce
look. "Do not take chances that could ruin everything."
"My teacher," she reached out slowly and place her hand on his arm to
get his
attention. "Do not worry. I do not plan to be foolish or take chance
with her
life." She then turned her eyes back toward the Warren and the
building the
Lady had entered a short time ago. "I just wanted you to know that I
am in this
with you. We both want the Lady to live. "
'Live for the children she will one day give life too,' the woman
thought, but
did not say the words aloud.
"Good luck," he said softly and slipped away without leaving a trace
of his
being there. The girl didn't even turn to look, her eyes were still
focused
on the doors of the dining hall.
"The time has come," she muttered to herself, and then she too was
gone. Gone
to meet the woman who would prove to be her destiny.
*****
///
/She froze, her eyes scanning the dimly lit room. Her gaze focused on
one corner,
where she saw a shadow that should not have been there. She slowly
moved a
hand to grasp the heavy stone paperweight, ready to hurl it in
self-defense
if necessary. "Who's there?" she demanded in a soft voice.
///
"Do not be afraid my lady," the voice of a young woman came from out
of a dark
corner of the office. "I am not here to harm you. I was sent by
friends we both
know to watch over and protect you from things to come."
She gave the Lady high marks for standing her ground and not turning
tail to
yelling out for those in the other room. She could see the woman was
wary but
alert, her eye had quickly scanned her desk for something to use as a
weapon.
"You will not need that rock on your desk to use against me, my Lady,"
the young
woman said as she stepped out into the light. "Your Uncle would have
my hide
if I allowed so much as a *wisp* of a scratch to harm you. This is no
*Trap*
my lady. I have been sent here to serve you and keep you safe.
She could see the Lady's body relax slightly as understanding came
from the
words the intruder spoke. "Wisp has heard something concerning me?"
She eyed
the younger woman, noting the dark wavy hair and fair complexion. She
noted
the light blue eyes that met her own glaze and felt a strange
familiarity, but
could not name the source. She noted the girl was slightly taller then
herself,
and possessed legs that did not seam to quit. The way she moved, told
Tara
something else.
The other woman nodded and motioned with her hand towards a chair in
front of
the desk. "May I?"
"Only if you plan on telling me why my Uncle feels it necessary to
send me a
body guard when he knows how I feel about that," Tara, Warrenlady of
Jasra commented
as she nodded her consent.
"What do I call you," she asked as she seated herself behind her desk.
"Or is
that a * need to know* topic?"
The woman gave a short chuckle. Light twinkled in the light blue eyes.
"He pulls
that on you too huh? I think he does it to frustrate me sometimes. My
name..
is not one anyone around here will know.. but Wisp calls me Fig. So
may you."
"Fig huh?" The Warrenlady scowled. "As in Figment of the imagination?"
Fig's lips turned up in a slight smile as her head nodded.
"And what name did he come up for your dragon? Flash. As in Flash of
light?"
Tara quipped, then grinned to herself for scoring a point off the
girl seated
across the desk.
"My dragon?" Fig tired to look confused.
"Don't even pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," the
Warrenlady wigged
a finger at the girl. "I've been a rider long enough, and a Queen's
rider at
that, not to recognize the signs."
"He said you would figure it out. Kasha, my Lady. My dragon's name is
Kasha."
Fig had seen no need to change the name of her dark blue dragon, as no
one around
Jasra would recognize the name. "You will be meeting her on the morrow
when
we arrive in the Warren. At that time I will ask to be taken to you
with a message.
One for your eyes only."
"And what will be in this message?"
"An introduction from Lord Darden, asking that you take me in and
allow me to
live here in Jasra." The girl told her. "It will give me the in I need
to hang
around without anyone thinking it strange."
"And why should I agree to take you in... " Tara wanted to know. "You
know about
the troubles we've had around here. Why should I take in one lone
rider without
asking questions and checking out your past."
Fig snorted. "One. You wouldn't find out anything about me even if you
sent
riders to the new Dragonlands... Two, your *Uncle* will be asking you
for a
*Family* favor. You see I've become a bit wild here lately growing up
without
a mother to guide me you know.. I've been slipping away
from my teachers, those you Uncle found to teach me when I
inadvertently joined
with Kasha on one of my jaunts away from my foster family. He thinks
you and
this warren will be able to take me in hand and teach me to be a
useful member
of society. I will play the part of the younger cousin who knows my
*father*
is upset with me and will try to behave so my new Cousin the
Warrenlady will
not think bad of me... "
"Wait a moment...." Tara interrupted, her pail blue eyes open wide in
shock.
"Did you say your father??"
Fig smiled, scoring a point of her own. She hated that she would have
to lie
to the woman, but she must not learn of the girls past life. To many
complications
would arise from even a little of the information she possessed. No..
better
to lie about why she was here now and save everyone the trouble.
"So I'm told anyway... For reasons of my safety, and that of my
mother's.. Father
hid us away from those who would do us harm if they found out about
us... But
when mother died when I was still young.. he put me into with a foster
family
until I ran away and joined with Kasha... Now... for reason's of his
own he
wants me to come here and try to learn from you... and to watch your
back at
the same time.. Hello cousin."
Fig held Tara's eyes, fearful that she might see behind the lie and
guess at
the truth. For now it was better if she believed Wisp to be her
father.. The
truth... when it came out.. might not be so easy to take....
"Am I to have no choice in the matter?" Tara sighed. "What if I do not
want
a body guard. And how do I know you are trained for such an endeavor?"
"I'm my father's daughter," Fig shrugged. "He has been training me in
one way
or another since I was born. I'm trained in all forms of weapons use,
and can
come and go like a like a wisp of smoke.. . Do not fear my Lady.. I
will protect
you without anyone being the wiser, or without you feeling crowded by
my being
around all the time.. Please.. If Wisp did not feel it imperative that
I be
here at this time.. He would not have sent me here to you. Do this for
him..
Let me stay and keep you safe.. More then you know depends on you
living.."
(Tag John... will he left her come stay in the warren?)
Bio to follow soon
*****
Submitted by:
Fig & Kasha
Aka: Barbara
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