Summary;
A noble, Sierra, finds herself as an escaped slave and mixing with the lower class of Arrenai after her hometown Otorro is downed in a brief feud with neighbouring land Shadur. As she struggles to find sense of the madness ensuing, another threat looms on the horizon as Arrenai and Shadur battle it out for supremacy and power - something which makes the lands petty troubles of war and peace pale in significance. Can the world work together to meet this threat, or will they turn on each other like they have for years?
The summary is a bit loose at the moment as I haven't exactly mapped out all the possible turning points of this story. I also know I need to edit this a lot, but I'm just releasing the rough drafts first in case any one wants a read xD Constructive criticism is appreciated.
Sierra awoke the next morning, eager to learn more about Gareth. She had gone over where she would take him that day last night, and wondered what he really wanted to know about Arrenai. Going downstairs, she found Rachael already in the alehouse, wiping dishes and chattering to a man wearing a black cloak and familiar red sash. Rachael was smiling endlessly, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. Sierra coughed and the two turned to see her walk into the room. “Good morning Sierra,” Gareth smiled at her. Rachael stared at her. “Morning, Gareth, Rachael,” she replied back, feeling a bit out of place. “You two have met?” she asked, slightly thrown off. Sierra nodded and Gareth laughed softly. “Yes, I got her out of a little situation yesterday. Are you ready to go Sierra?” he questioned, looking at her. Sierra nodded and headed for the door. Rachael stared at them as they both made the way for the door. “It was nice meeting you Rachael,” he smiled at her warmly before holding the door open for Sierra. Sierra smothered a laugh as she saw Rachael’s jaw agape.
Gareth walked beside her, and dug in his pockets for some money. “Want something to eat first, Sierra?” Sierra looked up at him, and nodded. “We can get food at the market down there.” As they made their way down to the stalls, they realized they hadn’t started as early as they thought. Already people were shopping around, and most stalls were already open. Stopping by a stall, Gareth bought two fresh sweet buns which Sierra savoured in her mouth. “Thank you for the food,” Sierra said suddenly, half way through eating her bun. “My manners seem to have escaped me as well,” she half joked. Gareth let out a small chuckle. “Well I appreciate you showing me around. I didn’t think you would accept,” he said, finishing his bun. “Why is that?” she asked, gulping down the last bite of her food. He shrugged. “I thought you might have been a bit, well, suspicious of me.” He eyed her carefully, as if hinting for her to say something back. Sierra looked down, but decided not to say anything. “Shall we start the tour?” she said brightly.
Walking through the maze of streets outside the market square was somewhat more complicated than getting there. At every corner there were twists and turns that took a good memory to remember. Sierra brought Gareth around the Northern, Eastern and Western part of Arrenai – where most of the slum dwellers lived. The gangs in the east and west had made a truce with Brian not too long ago, and Sierra was thankful.
She saw sympathy in his eyes as they passed by hungry beggars on the street, and sick children on the side of the road. Once, he even stopped by one of them and placed a hand on a little boy’s forehead. Sierra frowned and stared in wonder as to why he would bother stopping and trying to make a boy feel better. He seemed to feel better after though, and his eyes shone brighter as Gareth stood up. Sierra looked back at the boy. Unless she was mistaken, all Gareth had done was touch the boy’s forehead. Could he be using magic? Magic in Arrenai was strictly prohibited due to the uncertainties of using magic, as well as the risks of using it. Sierra continued to frown at Gareth, who was now walking a bit ahead of her. She hurried to catch up, thoughts swirling through her head. He had touched her yesterday, and instantly felt better after. Sierra tried to shake the feeling of unease off her as they both continued down the street in silence.
“I guess you want to see the underground passages now?” Sierra asked suddenly. Gareth looked at her, his eyes guarded. “If you don’t mind I would love to see it. I went down there a few days ago to deal with some traders, but I didn’t really have a look around.” He laughed a bit then. Sierra nodded. “The passages are strictly secret. I don’t know if I should let you in…” she trailed off, not wanting to upset him. Gareth shrugged. “It doesn’t matter then. I’ll be going down there later anyway; I have one more deal to make.” Sierra looked back at him in surprise. “Just one more? I thought you were staying here a few months?” Gareth stared back at her, a questioning look in his eyes. “Where did you hear that?” “Oh I don’t know, I just heard it from someone…” she gestured with her hands. He raised an eyebrow but didn’t question her further, then sighed. “I am staying here for a few months. My trades here will only take a few weeks and I planned to stay longer to see the Kykaros festival. Though I don’t think that is possible now, as a close friend of mine back in Tamalin is now ill,” he said slowly. Sierra creased her brow. “Oh…I’m sorry. You wanted to see the Kykaros festival? The exhibiton of duels and crafts from the Warrior’s guild?” She shook her head. Typical Tamalin, she thought. They were always obsessed with fighting and combat. Gareth read her face and chuckled. “I’m interested in how you people fight here. It must be much different from us in Tamalin,” he grinned.
Sierra, still shaking her head, led Gareth back to the market square. “I’m sorry I can’t take you underground. And I would show you the South but I really shouldn’t…after yesterday especially.” Gareth nodded his head in agreement and glanced at her. “You’ve shown me a lot today though, especially how the lower classes live.” He said quickly. “I already explored most of the south yesterday anyway,” he said, and smirked at her. Sierra felt her face flush, and she looked away. The sun was already low in the west, and the weather was instantly a few degrees colder. Sierra rubbed her hands on her arms in an attempt to get warmer. Gareth glanced at her, and began taking out a few coins out of his pocket again. Sierra noticed this, and let out a small laugh. “You shouldn’t throw around your money to strangers, especially slum dwellers Gareth,” she said quietly, shaking her head. Gareth looked at her, amused. “And why not?” Sierra looked away. “I haven’t seen anyone like you care so much about people in the lower class,” she said back. “That doesn’t answer my question much, Sierra.” He said back, half smiling. “Get some warmer clothes at least,” he persuaded her, pushing a few coins in her hand. She stared at them, realizing that was how much she could have stolen in maybe two weeks. Sierra looked back up to give it back to him, but he stepped away. “Thanks for the tour today Sierra – it’s shown me a lot about this city,” he said, saluting to her before turning away. Sierra called back “It’s not all like you expected is it?” and gripped the coins tightly in her hands. She didn’t get an answer.
Sierra hurried to find a store selling clothes before they closed for the night. Rushing past surprised people, she went to the nearest tailor to buy more comfortable clothes using the money Gareth had just given her. Quickly choosing a plain coloured shirt, burgundy trousers and a woolen shawl, she paid the shopkeeper then changed in a small room in the store. The shopkeeper looked at Sierra questioningly when the coins came out, but said nothing. The clothes were definitely warmer than her previous ones, and warmer as well. For a slum dweller like Sierra, the clothes allowed her ease of movement and comfort – something which noble girls would hardly experience in winter. Girls were usually expected to dress in dresses and rarely wore trousers, and this proved painful as Sierra remembered when she was a girl in Otorro. She grinned to herself at the thought of wearing trousers underneath her dresses when she was twelve, and when her mother had found out. The shawl wrapped around her head gave people the only indication she was a girl. On the streets, a lot of the girls she met had disguised themselves as boys to avoid the leering advances of strangers. Sierra had tried the tactic once, but found it hadn’t worked out at all. She just acted too much like a girl, from her life before she began living in the slums, and instead drew more attention to her.
After discarding of her old pair of clothes, Sierra wrapped her shawl around her neck, indulging in its warmth. Coming across Edwards alehouse, she stepped through and began surveying the room. There were the regulars in one corner, talking amongst themselves. Rachael was sitting with the same man Sierra had seen her with two days before, and Edward was nowhere in sight. Neither was Gareth, who she expected to find. Sierra shrugged and sat down on an empty chair with a sigh. It had been a long day, and for once in a long time she felt comfortable. After gesturing a maid to bring her a mug of ale, she leant her head in her hands. So much had happened in the past few days it was hard to digest. She felt content though, and somewhat happy. Life definitely was looking better.