Fan Fiction ❯ Vailla ❯ A begining ( Chapter 1 )
Vailla woke up to a heavy banging at her door. She stretched her arms and yawned, "My head hurts." She mumbled to herself, she didn't remember too much from the night before but she did however remember what she had drunk. BANG, BANG, BANG came at the knocking at the door once more, she groaned as she grabbed the small dagger she kept by the side of the bed. "Alright already, I'm coming." She shouted to her unwelcome visitor as she sleepily walked to the door. It was not long past sunrise, the sky was still orange and the breeze escaping from the cracks in her ceiling was cool and she welcomed it. Once she reached the door she creaked the door open and peeped through the tiny gap. He was an official figure of that Vailla was sure, but how had he survived to far as to get to her house? In Wrendore anyone who remotely resembled a policeman or nobleman had his throat cut almost as soon as the stepped off the ship. This man wore a long navy blue robe with gold trimmings and fine black boots. He had thick black hair and a very snotty face that looked down at the girl peeping through the door, her blue stone pendent dangling in between her eyes. "What do you want? Quickly explain I have a dagger here." She snapped at the overdressed fool on her doorstep.
"Is this the residence of Hillan O'Dell?" He asked in a rather posh accent that almost sounded as though he kept a button on his tongue.
"And what if it is?"
"Are you or are you not Miss O'Dell?" The man asked once again but this time in a more stern voice.
"This is Miss O'Dell but not Hillan, I am her daughter Vailla. Whatever beef you have with her take it out on me." She replied hotly.
"I have no `beef' with your mother only to remind her that her exile will end in six months and that she is ordered return to Laces where she will stand trial once more before the council."
"My mother is dead." She said in a cold voice. "You have completed your little task now return home while you still got your head and your fancy clothes."
"Then you must take her place at the trial instead, when your mother was banished so were you therefore you must go to Laces."
"How am I going to get there? Fly?" She asked in an amused tone of voice.
"A ship will be waiting for you to take you to the mainland and then you walk to Laces." He looked inside her robe, pulled out a scroll and the handed it to Vailla. "Here. This is a map that will show you where to go. If you do not reach Laces within six months your case will be dismissed and you will be forced to stay in Wrendore forever." Vailla looked at the map and then looked at the man.
"Anything else?" She asked rudely.
"That will be all for now." Then he bowed at disappeared in a puff of smoke. He probably translocated himself to the dock Laces would be too far. Vailla laughed an ironic little laugh.
"That will explain why his throat wasn't sliced. Well at least magic is permitted in Laces now." She sighed at looked at the map. "Well this is it mother, I'm finally going back to Laces like you wanted. I wonder if it's as good as you always said is was." She waited for an answer, but like always there was nothing but silence. She slammed the door shut and the loud noise sent a shooting pain in her head and she groaned. She collapsed on her bed at looked up at the ceiling that seemed to be moving slightly. "I'll never drink again, I promise!"
She woke up a few hours later, it was hotter now and that cool breeze from earlier had gone. She sat up slowly and fumbled for her skirt on the floor, grabbed it and pulled it up her legs. It was a green skirt that was a little too big for her but so was her dark green top that had a tendency to hang off one shoulder. She ran her fingers through her tangled red hair and then absently reached for the brush that was on her bedside locker. As she brushed her fiery red hair she thought about Laces, she had only six mouths to get there. She should set off as soon as possible, and since she had no friends here in Wrendore she wouldn't have to waste her time saying goodbye. Her head still hurt but the room had stopped spinning and she even felt well enough to eat. "Hayley, come here girl." She whistled a few times before her sleepy pet wimber-woki walked up to her. She had fuzzy blue fur and big black cat-like eyes. Her ears were very much like a cat's but her tail was more like a rabbit's. She looked cock-eyed at her master and meowed along high-pitched sound. "I guess you want fed. Well we got a journey to make and there is no time like the present, so you have your breakfast while I gather up the some supplies and we'll leave this evening." She said cheerily to her little animal and smiled. "Come on then, lets get you fed."
Her supplies were not really very hard to get so they were ready to leave within the hour. Before leaving she quickly grabbed her dagger and put it in her boot, then she knelt by her bed and pulled out a long wooden case from underneath. She plopped the case on the bed and opened it. It blazed in all it's glory and blinding gold, which reflected off the walls of her little hut. "Stop that!" She told the Staff sternly, and it obediently obeyed. She lifted it out of the case with great care. It was a long golden staff with an upside-down crescent on the top, and inside that crescent a glowing red marble hovered without being attached to any of the rest of the Staff. "Now you behave yourself, its beginning to get dark and you stick out like a sore thumb when you're excited." The marble flicked grudgingly and then dimmed. "Thank you."
They reached the port just in time, and as the man had said the ship had been expecting her and she didn't have to pay. She sat up on deck; it was night now and was a lot cooler than the day. She was going to miss Wrendore; it may have been a desert wasteland that had no laws and where criminals were sent during exile but it was her home and had been her home since she was four years old. She felt Hayley brush up against her leg and a fait purring, she bent over and picked her pet up and held her in her arms for a while. "I'm going to miss this place, I hear it is illegal to drink alcohol at age fourteen but it's where mother wants me to go." She absently stroked wimber-woki as she looked out to see the faint glimmer of Wrendore's lights. Then she seen a jealous green flicker from the side of her eye, it was her Staff. "I wouldn't forget you." She apologised and then she put Hayley back on the deck and stroked the marble on her Staff, like Hayley it almost seemed to purr.
It was an early morning seven days since Vailla had left when they finally reached the mainland, the captain told Vailla that he had been ordered to drop her off at the beach instead of Portsmith and so she was rowed to shore by a rowing boat and a pimply-faced boy. She stepped out of the boat once they reached the shore. "Thank you for bringing me here. You may go now." She dismissed the boy.
"That's okay me girl but you sure you're going to safe and sound like? Snake Forest has a few robbers and the like lurking behind those trees."
"Thank you for your concern but I can take care of myself." She smiled and waved goodbye then walked up the beech without turning round. Once she reached the top of the beach she could see a thick layer of trees spread in front of her. They were tall trees with rich golden leaves and tiny shrubs growing by their feet. There wasn't many trees like these in Wrendore and Vailla found herself overwhelmed by the cool shade and mossy smelling air as she walked deeper and deep into the forest. She kept to the path only stopping now and again to eat and look for Hayley who seemed to enjoy hiding from her in the forest. Before long the night had crept up on them and Vailla decided to make camp. She collected up some firewood and used a spell to set them on fire then she rolled out her blanket and fell into a silent slumber with Hayley and the Staff huddled close to her.
She woke up to the sound of a snapping twig, there had been many sounds during the night but this one made her become very alert. The fire had dimmed down to a dusty glow but the moon was bright as were the stars so she could see well enough. Vailla slowly sat up and grabbed the dagger from her boot. A shadow crept past the fire and another twig snapped. Vailla locked on her target and pounced like a tiger pouncing on her prey. She quickly held her dagger up to her midnight visitor's neck "What are you doing here?" She growled.
"Damn, was I too loud? Well since you ask I was coming to steal that pretty gold stick of yours but you caught me, so I guess we'll just be friends. Now could you please remove the dagger from my neck and we can talk about this?" It was a humours young boy probably about a year older then Vailla.
"Do I look stupid to you?" She demanded.
"Not really but appearances can be deceiving." He laughed a little weakly. "I'm sorry, but please let me get up I am laying on a rather big rock. I give you my honour as a thief that I won't try to hurt you."
"As if you could." She pulled the dagger slowly away from his neck and stood up. "Okay, lets talk. Sit by the fire and you can tell me why you want my Staff." The young thief walked slowly towards the fire and sat down while Vailla sat opposite him reminding him that her dagger was ready for any tricks by playing with it.
"Well my name is Trigger. I come into the forest for about two months a year to rob innocent people and when I'm not doing that I'm a pick-pocket in my home town, Send." He quickly explained. "I wanted that pretty gold stick because it was just that, pretty, and it looks valuable. Not many girls can protect themselves very well so you seemed to be an easy target but I guest I was wrong." He smiled at her.
"So you think just because I'm girl I can't protect myself? Ha! Let me tell you about myself. I've been living in Wrendore for the past ten years. At night I drink myself under the table stabbing those people who tries to steal from me. I can throw this dagger just as well as I punch. So far five people has died trying to steal my Staff, you're welcome to make it six." She grinned wickedly and held the staff in her hand. "You can have it if you can get it." She offered.
"I don't think I want it no more. Wrendore uh? A pretty rough place no wonder you're tough. Where're you heading? I can be your guide."
"I don't need a travelling companion. Just go while you still got the chance." She replied coldly, while holding the dagger closer to the fire.
"Just `till we get out of the forest then, I know where the thieves' hotspots are so I can warn you."
"Well I suppose sneak attacks would get tiresome. Okay, but only until we get out of the woods. Deal?"
"Deal." They clasp hands and shook.
She had planned to stay awake for the rest of the night to keep watch over her companion but instead she had drifted to sleep. She woke up to the smell of porridge and toast. She stirred slightly, and enjoyed the smell of a cook breakfast before she got up. She hadn't had a cook breakfast since her mother died and the smell that filled the air this morning reminded her of all those happy mornings of when she was a child. She stood up and then walked over to the fire where the boy from last night was cooking breakfast. It was lighter now and Vailla could see him better. He had a thick mop of tangled sandy colour hair and huge blue eyes. He wore a pair of tatted trousers and an equally tattered top and he owned a bow and arrow. "Good morning. I've made breakfast sort of like a peace offering and to say sorry about last night. The porridge is nice but the toast a little burnt." He smiled pleasantly and handed her a wooden bowl full of porridge. He eyed the slabs of black bread warily before handing her a few pieces of toast. "If you don't want your toast I'll feed it to the birds." He offered but Vailla did not answer, she was too busy stuffing her face with that delicious porridge. After she had finished and licked the bowl clean then she put the bowl to one side and took a piece of the toast.
"Thanks, that was yummy. You don't mind if I feed this toast to Hayley do you?" She asked nicely while already whistling for her pet wimber-woki to come to her side. The small creature appeared from under the covers and galloped over to Vailla where she greedily snatched the toast out of her owner's hand and ate it.
"What's that?" Trigger demanded.
"It's a wimber-woki, her name is Hayley. I wouldn't get too close while she is eating though. So how long will it take to get out of this forest?" She asked casually.
"Round about early evening, maybe a little earlier than that. Then there is an inn where you can sleep for the night." He replied.
"Good, its noisy in this place at night and you don't know who will pop into your camp next." She said acidly. Her tone of voice had changed from a grateful, soft voice to a viscous annoyed voice.
"I'm sorry about last night, but if I didn't try and snatch that stick of your someone else would of spotted it. And between you and me there are some men in here who does wicked things to the women folk."
"I can take of myself." She said loftily.
"I know. So where are you heading after the forest?"
"Laces. What's it to you?"
"Laces? What a coincidence I'm heading there too. My father lives in Laces, my mother wanted me to look for him after I've finished in the forest. Why don't we…" He left it hanging.
"I travel alone." She snapped then she swung round and began to roll up her blanket.
"Why?" Trigger asked while clearing breakfast. "Why do you want to be alone on a journey as long as Laces? You're bound to get lonely."
"And you're bond to get annoying. Look, the deal we made last night was that you guide me through the woods then we go our separate ways. I've been on my own before."
"Well at least until we get to Sends and I'll buy you a horse." He offered hopefully.
"Isn't Lin closer?" She asked curiously while sticking her rolled-up blanket into her bag.
"They're about the same." He shrugged. "We can go to Lin if you want, either town I'll buy you a horse. It's a way to say sorry about last night." She turned round and gave him a long look.
"What are you afraid of?" She asked finally. "Why don't you want to be alone?"
"I hate to be alone. I've lived in the City of Send all my life, so I'm used to at least one person being around if you really want to know. I get lonely. Why do you want to be alone?"
"Alright, you can come with me to Laces if you really want but as soon as we're in town we will go our separate ways okay? Seez, you happy now?"
"Thank you, I promise not to get into trouble or steal…" He looked at her and thought. "At least too much trouble, and I won't steal from you. Right then, shall we go?"
They had been travelling for about four hours and the sun had risen to it's highest but the air was still cool and damp. Trigger had tried to strike up conversations more then once, and at first Vailla appeared to be a right chatterbox but when the topic of her past showed up she became very irritated and he had decided to leave that part of her life out of their conversations for now. "So why are you going to Laces?" Trigger asked casually.
"I need to see some people there. What about you? Is your father really living in Laces?"
"No. I'm an orphan and I go wherever the money is. I heard that Laces would be a profitable trip." He admitted.
"Well if you ever need a few tips about thieving just come and find me. Back in Wrendore it's more of less essential that you know how to steal, but so if the skill to kill. Did you know you could kill a man with just about anything?"
"Really?" He laughed a little nervously. "I nearly became another one our your victims last night didn't I? When I tried to steal that stick."
"Not really, I hate to kill when its not needed. If you tried to grab my Staff it would have killed you, it will only let me touch it and Hayley of course. This one bloke tried to nick it back at Wrendore about two years back and now he only got one hand. At least he is still alive." She laughed a wicked laugh. "He won't be stealing any more." She smiled and patted Trigger on the back. "You're alright, I could have worse company." She laughed again but her laughter was quickly cut short when a soaring arrow hit her arm. She screeched in pain as she clutched her arm.
"Vailla!" He looked around sharply only to see the archer aiming another arrow at Vailla. Trigger quickly put himself between Vailla and the archer. But before the archer could fire again Trigger saw an anger red flicker, he turned round to see Vailla standing there holding that big golden stick of hers in her hand. It was the marble that flickered the angry red. Before Trigger could say anything a bolt of lightening shot at the tree, which the archer was hid in. He tumbled from the tree and scrambled to his feet.
"Witch! Witch!" He cried as he ran deeper and deeper into the forest. Trigger stood staring at Vailla, stupefied and unable to speak. Then the glow from the marble dimmed to a concerned blue glow as Vailla dropped the staff to clutch her arm in pain.
"Vailla? Are you alright?" He asked almost as soon as she winced.
"Ouch." She smiled and looked at the arrow sticking out of her arm. "He made a hole in my top!" Then she carried on what she was doing before the arrow hit her and laughed. "I always hate being stabbed don't you? But luckily it was only my arm. I got a bandage in my bag, would you get it out for me?" She asked sweetly. Without speaking Trigger quickly did as he was told and got the bandage from her bag. "Thank you." She said as Trigger handed her the bandage. Then she closed her eyes, grabbed hold of the arrow and quickly jabbed the arrow out of her arm. Then she pulled the sleeve of her top up so that she could tightly wrap the bandage around her arm. She flexed her hand a bit before she pulled her sleeve back down.
"What? How? You are so brave!" Trigger exclaimed.
"Not really, I've been stabbed a few times now. I'll stitch the wound later but lets walk a bit first."
"How did that happen with the stick?" He demanded, still a little shaken by what he had seen.
"Its called magic. I can spell that word out if you want, M…A…G…I…C. As long as I'm holding it my Staff will protect me like you did. I saw what you did, that was very brave of you. Thank you." Trigger blushed.
"You're welcome. Are you a witch? Like what that man was saying?" He asked carefully.
"No not really. I'm a sorceress if you really want to know. So now you know my secret, do you suppose we can get out of this forest?"
"Sure." He replied a little dubiously.
They had reached the end of Snake Forest without any trouble not long after lunch and they were both pleased to get out of the forest and out into the open. Trigger had been very confused about what had happened earlier but at the same time very concerned. Vailla took the arrow into her arm and judging by how much arrow she had pulled out, it had gone in pretty deep but she dismissed it to be no more then a minor annoyance and seemed more upset about the hole in her top then anything else. "What? You've been looking at me like some kind of sick freak since that happened. If you got something to say, say it!" Vailla almost screamed after he caught him ogling at her for the tenth time.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to stare. Its just I've met a sorceress before." Then he looked at her arm, the blood had soaked through the bandage and was now starting to show on her top. "Is your arm alright?"
"Nah, don't worry about it. I'll stitch it when we find that inn, it's only a little scratch anyway." She smiled at him. This is a very weird girl Trigger thought to himself. One minute she was nasty to him and the next she was smiling at him. "How far is Laits anyway?"
"About a mile north from here and there is a inn there. You just have to be careful when you walk through the bar. As well as drink women go there to…well… you know what I mean. That means there are going to be some randy men in there."
"And after that little display in the woods you think I'm going to have trouble protecting myself? I need a room to myself so how much do you think that's going to cost?" She asked while the walked across a meadow with lush green grass and a gentle cool breeze.
"About 10 copper pieces, I think but you got to watch your bag. It's a favourite spot for pick pockets." Trigger warned. Vailla just tapped her staff and Trigger got what she meant almost instantly. Just then Hayley came running up to them, she had a piece of meat in her mouth and no sooner had Hayley came running to them an old man came stumbling after her waving a big wooden stick.
"Stop! That thief has stolen my food!" Hayley ran behind her owner for protection.
"I'm ever so sorry sir, please tell me how much I owe you for the food she stole." Vailla quickly apologised. The old man's eyes brightened. "But don't try to scam me because I'm not easily fooled. Would three copper pieces do?"
"That would be just dandy my little flower. Thank you ever so much!" It was now clear that this old man was drunk and he swung his arms around her friendly. She tried to escape his grasp but this man was stronger then he looked. "You're so much like my daughter! She was always so kind." He started to pat her fondly on the back.
"Excuse me mister but you're crushing me." Vailla tried to say as politely as she could but the man was hardly giving her any room to breathe. She looked pleadingly at Trigger but he was too busy laughing.
"I got a present for a nice little girl like you, just let me get it." He let go of her and then began to fumble in his pockets. "Ah, here it is. Now close your eyes and I'll give it to you."
"But sir it isn't really necessary. All I doing is paying you for the food my pet stole." Vailla protested but the man just shook his head.
"Pretty please? Close your eyes and I'll let you have it." He looked up at her with drunken puppy-dog eyes. She sighed in defeat and closed her eyes. "Here you go." His voice had suddenly sounded sober and serious.
"Watch out!" Trigger screamed. She opened her eyes just in time to see the cold blade of a dagger narrowly miss her heart as she quickly ducked. She quickly kicked the feet from under him then jumped him and wrestled the dagger from him. The old man saw that it was escape was impossible and so as soon as he scrambled to his feet he reached for a small bottle from inside his tunic and swallowed it's contents. He choked on it for a while before collapsed on the floor. Vailla rush over to him with hatred in her eyes only to discover that he had taken a deadly poison,
"Shit!" She screamed in frustration and kicked him repeatedly in the face. Trigger had to pull her away from the dead man to stop her from kicking. "Get off you fool!" She elbowed him in the stomach, picked up her stuff and Hayley and ran out of sight.