Post by Trinniss on Sept 9, 2005 19:58:16 GMT -5
Chapter 1
Hertin awoke with a start. She let her eyes wander about the silent room. It was not fancy; it had plain green walls, and a wood roof, but she had grown to love it. She snuggled into her worn out sheets. She knew she would have to get up soon, but she wasn’t sure when.
The sun was not a warm, kind thing on this day; it mocked the hopes of every poor animal living in Paronal. Hertin watched the dust motes float around the room for a moment, and then she let her eyes close. I ought to get up soon she thought. Might as well get up now, better that than having Threni wake me. She climbed out of her warm bed into the chilling air of the room around her. She shivered, and walked to the wardrobe that she and her younger sister Threni shared. She stepped out of her shabby wool nightdress and into the more practical short dress that reached half way down her calves. She sighed. This is going to be me for the rest of my life. I wish I had something better.
She wandered into the kitchen. Her mother, though creased with age, was a strong diligent creature, who was always up by dawn. Hertin smiled fondly at her mother. She had a good heart, and was always ready to stand up for her rights, but she was getting on. “Here, mother, let me get that for you.” Hertin said as the crouched to get a sthingy that had slid under the stove. “There you go,” she said as the handed her mother the sthingy.
“Oh, thank you, dear,” her mother said. She plucked the sthingy from Hertin’s paw and tapped it against her own paw. She seemed strangely preoccupied.
“Mama, is everything alright?” Hertin asked, curiosity playing in her eyes.
Her mother smoothed the wrinkles in her pinafore. “Yes darling, everything is fine.” She said. “Will you go out and get some more celery Hertin? We are running low.” Her mother asked her. Hertin could tell she wanted her out of the house, and pulled her bonnet over her ears.
“Alright, Mama, I’ll be back soon.” She said as her mother dropped a silver coin into her paw. She stuffed the coin into her bonnet. She walked to the door, knowing that there would be an icy wind that would sweep through the house the second she opened the door. Hertin stepped into the bustling streets of Paronal.
Hertin walked for about five minutes, nodding and smiling at people she knew, and looking down respectfully as merchants and others passed. She stopped at the entrance to an alley, and stepped inside. It was dimly lit, but Hertin could see that the market was no place for the faint hearted. The vendors were mostly weasels and rats, with small, shifty eyes, looking for someone to swindle.
Hertin knew where she was going, straight to the other end of the alley, near the wall that distinguished the alley from the more respectable street. She stopped at a simple spice and vegetable stand with no advertising or adornment. She saw the large ears and the long tail resting on the counter. “Excuse me, Mr. Theegle.” She said quietly.
The ears shot up in alarm. A short, graying harvest mouse with an extremely long tail stuck his head above the counter. His face creased into a smile. “Ah Hertin. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. How is your family? Is your mother well?” He asked.
Hertin smiled weakly. “Oh, they are not bad, Mr. Theegle. How is your wife?” She asked, really interested. Mrs. Theegle had cared for Hertin as a small leveret, and Hertin knew her well.
“Oh, you know the wife. She is as spry as a willow branch, and could still put you over her knee, if she had a mind to. Not that you ever need that.” He laughed. Hertin smiled. “But my guess is you didn’t come through the streets of Paronal to talk about family, did you?” the harvest mouse asked. “What can I get you?”
“Oh, just some celery.” Hertin said. “And by any chance, did my mother tell you anything that she might be worried about?” Hertin asked.
“Not that I know of.” Mr. Theegle said. “Sorry.” He placed the celery on the table. “Enjoy the celery!” He called as Hertin walked away.
She walked back to her house, hoping that this puzzle would become unraveled soon. She opened the door, Surprised to see her mother looking up at the door as she entered. “Mama, aren’t you supposed to be at the Fradile’s home, watching their little molebabe?” Hertin asked.
“Oh, I got the day off. I’m sorry Hertin, I was expecting someone else.” Her mother looked worried.
“Mama, who were you expecting? Were you hoping that they would be gone when I got home?” Hertin asked. “And does this have anything to do with the fact that you were a nervous wreck this morning?” Hertin inquired.
“Yes, yes, all of those! Darling, your brother has been drafted into the Paronal Royal army, and I sent for the sergeant, to tell him that Terlik isn’t fit to be in the army. There’s his leg, and his eyes have always been bad...”
“Mama, Terlik’s been drafted? How could you let that happen? You told me you would stop the government from finding Terlik.” Hertin declared. She was shrill with indignation. “Oh, that King of ours. I wish I could give him a piece of my mind.” She said.
“Don’t talk like that dear, the King’s spies are everywhere.” Her mother said. She looked around the room as if they were being watched.
It was common knowledge that King Gretin and his Goodwife Queen Tranillia were said for spying on their subjects. They were a pair of vain beasts, and everyone knew that they were both against women’s rights. Even Queen Tranillia thought, “A woman’s place is in the house. Making food, repairing clothing and such.” They were both pompous old dormice, who had hired guards to enforce their laws.
Terlik is not fit to go into the army Hertin thought. I have to do something! However, what can I do? I’m a lowly female hare. She said to herself. She bit her lip.
“Hertin, Kilarta is here to see you!” Her mother called form the front door. Finally, someone to talk too! Hertin said to herself.
Kilarta was a milky brown fox of about Hertin’s age. She was a strong creature, with a mind of her own. She hated everything about the monarchy, and she didn’t hide it at all.
Hertin’s mother pushed them out the door. “You two have fun, and don’t go to the far side of Paronal!” She warned. “Badbeasts live there!” She yelled after them.
Hertin turned to her friend. “Are you ever going to tell my mother that you do live on the far side?” Hertin asked.
Kilarta shook her head. “Nah, she has the wrong idea of the far side anyway. She wouldn’t understand that only creatures with good reputations could live on this side. Foxes, weasels, ferrets, rats, everything that has the reputation of being evil is forced to live on the far side. All thanks to the king.” She spat out the last sentence with contempt.
“Cheer up. Come on, I’ll buy you a sugar cube.” She said. She pulled a faded silver coin from her cloak pocket.
“Wow, Hertin, where did you get that?” Kilarta exclaimed.
Hertin smiled. “I got it for watching the Fradile’s little molebabe.” She said. “He’s so cute, so innocent, and he comes from a great family, too. Happy, hardworking, and well, wealthy. He will have a good life.” Hertin said ruefully. “Come on, I’ll race you to the candy stand!” she said as she looked over her shoulder at Kilarta.
She was out of breath by the time she got to the stand. Kilarta arrived alongside her. “What can I get for you two ladies?” A short otter asked form behind the counter.
“Two sugar cubes, please.” Hertin said. “Is one silver coin enough?”
“Yes, yes, one silver coin is fine. Here you go!” He said cheerfully.
“Thank you.” Kilarta said. She smiled. Kilarta had beautiful teeth, but she did not smile much anymore.
The otter, whose name was Greyth immediately liked the two girls. He was about their age, maybe a little older. “Hey” he called to the girls, who had just turned away. “The shop closes in a couple of minutes. Can I meet you somewhere?” he asked.
Hertin smiled. “Sure. How about the old church?” The old church was a run down old building that was replaced years before by the King.
“Sure, I will see you there.” Greyth said happily.
A few minutes later, Greyth appeared at the old church. He sat down to wait for the girls, who he had figured would already be there. All of a sudden, two pairs of hands grabbed him and heaved him into the church. “What are you doing? No one is supposed to be in here! What were you thinking?” he asked.
Kilarta shrugged. “This is where we come when we go out together.” She said simply.
Greyth looked around. A part of the altar had been covered with some old strips of wood and was dry. He looked up. He could see the grey evening sky from where he sat. There were still a few pews, but they were termite ridden and mostly rotten. One pew stood under the makeshift awning, and it was still in relatively good condition. Under the awning, he saw some small trinkets that the two girls had picked up around the town. He was in awe of how well they kept up their space.
“Welcome to the real old church” Hertin said as Greyth came under the awning. “We peddle to earn extra money and to buy more trinkets to peddle.” She said as Greyth examined the pile of objects in the center of the room.
“Wow. You two must do a pretty good business to get all of these trinkets.” he said.
“Yeah, we don’t do too bad. Sometimes it is worse than others, but you have to take the good with the bad.” Kilarta said simply.
“So. The reason I brought you to the old church was not to show all of our trinkets. I need help with something.” Hertin said. “Terlik has been drafted, and he is not fit to go into the army. I need to do something, but what can I do? I’m a poor working class hare.” She said.
“Go instead.” Kilarta said. “Disguise yourself, and rise through the ranks as Terlik. I know you are tough, and I think you could be just what this country ordered.” She smiled. Her eyes were like ice. “Maybe then the royal family will respect the people more.”
Greyth nodded. “If anything, that would be best. I don’t know much about you, but I can tell you’re hiding a warrior. I have a short blade that has run in my family for generations. I could show you how to use it. I have a feeling that you will change Paronal forever.”
Chapter 2
It was late the next morning. Hertin’s mother had just woken up, and was headed out to the kitchen to start breakfast. She entered the front room, and was surprised to find a short note from Hertin sitting on the kitchen table.
Hertin awoke with a start. She let her eyes wander about the silent room. It was not fancy; it had plain green walls, and a wood roof, but she had grown to love it. She snuggled into her worn out sheets. She knew she would have to get up soon, but she wasn’t sure when.
The sun was not a warm, kind thing on this day; it mocked the hopes of every poor animal living in Paronal. Hertin watched the dust motes float around the room for a moment, and then she let her eyes close. I ought to get up soon she thought. Might as well get up now, better that than having Threni wake me. She climbed out of her warm bed into the chilling air of the room around her. She shivered, and walked to the wardrobe that she and her younger sister Threni shared. She stepped out of her shabby wool nightdress and into the more practical short dress that reached half way down her calves. She sighed. This is going to be me for the rest of my life. I wish I had something better.
She wandered into the kitchen. Her mother, though creased with age, was a strong diligent creature, who was always up by dawn. Hertin smiled fondly at her mother. She had a good heart, and was always ready to stand up for her rights, but she was getting on. “Here, mother, let me get that for you.” Hertin said as the crouched to get a sthingy that had slid under the stove. “There you go,” she said as the handed her mother the sthingy.
“Oh, thank you, dear,” her mother said. She plucked the sthingy from Hertin’s paw and tapped it against her own paw. She seemed strangely preoccupied.
“Mama, is everything alright?” Hertin asked, curiosity playing in her eyes.
Her mother smoothed the wrinkles in her pinafore. “Yes darling, everything is fine.” She said. “Will you go out and get some more celery Hertin? We are running low.” Her mother asked her. Hertin could tell she wanted her out of the house, and pulled her bonnet over her ears.
“Alright, Mama, I’ll be back soon.” She said as her mother dropped a silver coin into her paw. She stuffed the coin into her bonnet. She walked to the door, knowing that there would be an icy wind that would sweep through the house the second she opened the door. Hertin stepped into the bustling streets of Paronal.
Hertin walked for about five minutes, nodding and smiling at people she knew, and looking down respectfully as merchants and others passed. She stopped at the entrance to an alley, and stepped inside. It was dimly lit, but Hertin could see that the market was no place for the faint hearted. The vendors were mostly weasels and rats, with small, shifty eyes, looking for someone to swindle.
Hertin knew where she was going, straight to the other end of the alley, near the wall that distinguished the alley from the more respectable street. She stopped at a simple spice and vegetable stand with no advertising or adornment. She saw the large ears and the long tail resting on the counter. “Excuse me, Mr. Theegle.” She said quietly.
The ears shot up in alarm. A short, graying harvest mouse with an extremely long tail stuck his head above the counter. His face creased into a smile. “Ah Hertin. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. How is your family? Is your mother well?” He asked.
Hertin smiled weakly. “Oh, they are not bad, Mr. Theegle. How is your wife?” She asked, really interested. Mrs. Theegle had cared for Hertin as a small leveret, and Hertin knew her well.
“Oh, you know the wife. She is as spry as a willow branch, and could still put you over her knee, if she had a mind to. Not that you ever need that.” He laughed. Hertin smiled. “But my guess is you didn’t come through the streets of Paronal to talk about family, did you?” the harvest mouse asked. “What can I get you?”
“Oh, just some celery.” Hertin said. “And by any chance, did my mother tell you anything that she might be worried about?” Hertin asked.
“Not that I know of.” Mr. Theegle said. “Sorry.” He placed the celery on the table. “Enjoy the celery!” He called as Hertin walked away.
She walked back to her house, hoping that this puzzle would become unraveled soon. She opened the door, Surprised to see her mother looking up at the door as she entered. “Mama, aren’t you supposed to be at the Fradile’s home, watching their little molebabe?” Hertin asked.
“Oh, I got the day off. I’m sorry Hertin, I was expecting someone else.” Her mother looked worried.
“Mama, who were you expecting? Were you hoping that they would be gone when I got home?” Hertin asked. “And does this have anything to do with the fact that you were a nervous wreck this morning?” Hertin inquired.
“Yes, yes, all of those! Darling, your brother has been drafted into the Paronal Royal army, and I sent for the sergeant, to tell him that Terlik isn’t fit to be in the army. There’s his leg, and his eyes have always been bad...”
“Mama, Terlik’s been drafted? How could you let that happen? You told me you would stop the government from finding Terlik.” Hertin declared. She was shrill with indignation. “Oh, that King of ours. I wish I could give him a piece of my mind.” She said.
“Don’t talk like that dear, the King’s spies are everywhere.” Her mother said. She looked around the room as if they were being watched.
It was common knowledge that King Gretin and his Goodwife Queen Tranillia were said for spying on their subjects. They were a pair of vain beasts, and everyone knew that they were both against women’s rights. Even Queen Tranillia thought, “A woman’s place is in the house. Making food, repairing clothing and such.” They were both pompous old dormice, who had hired guards to enforce their laws.
Terlik is not fit to go into the army Hertin thought. I have to do something! However, what can I do? I’m a lowly female hare. She said to herself. She bit her lip.
“Hertin, Kilarta is here to see you!” Her mother called form the front door. Finally, someone to talk too! Hertin said to herself.
Kilarta was a milky brown fox of about Hertin’s age. She was a strong creature, with a mind of her own. She hated everything about the monarchy, and she didn’t hide it at all.
Hertin’s mother pushed them out the door. “You two have fun, and don’t go to the far side of Paronal!” She warned. “Badbeasts live there!” She yelled after them.
Hertin turned to her friend. “Are you ever going to tell my mother that you do live on the far side?” Hertin asked.
Kilarta shook her head. “Nah, she has the wrong idea of the far side anyway. She wouldn’t understand that only creatures with good reputations could live on this side. Foxes, weasels, ferrets, rats, everything that has the reputation of being evil is forced to live on the far side. All thanks to the king.” She spat out the last sentence with contempt.
“Cheer up. Come on, I’ll buy you a sugar cube.” She said. She pulled a faded silver coin from her cloak pocket.
“Wow, Hertin, where did you get that?” Kilarta exclaimed.
Hertin smiled. “I got it for watching the Fradile’s little molebabe.” She said. “He’s so cute, so innocent, and he comes from a great family, too. Happy, hardworking, and well, wealthy. He will have a good life.” Hertin said ruefully. “Come on, I’ll race you to the candy stand!” she said as she looked over her shoulder at Kilarta.
She was out of breath by the time she got to the stand. Kilarta arrived alongside her. “What can I get for you two ladies?” A short otter asked form behind the counter.
“Two sugar cubes, please.” Hertin said. “Is one silver coin enough?”
“Yes, yes, one silver coin is fine. Here you go!” He said cheerfully.
“Thank you.” Kilarta said. She smiled. Kilarta had beautiful teeth, but she did not smile much anymore.
The otter, whose name was Greyth immediately liked the two girls. He was about their age, maybe a little older. “Hey” he called to the girls, who had just turned away. “The shop closes in a couple of minutes. Can I meet you somewhere?” he asked.
Hertin smiled. “Sure. How about the old church?” The old church was a run down old building that was replaced years before by the King.
“Sure, I will see you there.” Greyth said happily.
A few minutes later, Greyth appeared at the old church. He sat down to wait for the girls, who he had figured would already be there. All of a sudden, two pairs of hands grabbed him and heaved him into the church. “What are you doing? No one is supposed to be in here! What were you thinking?” he asked.
Kilarta shrugged. “This is where we come when we go out together.” She said simply.
Greyth looked around. A part of the altar had been covered with some old strips of wood and was dry. He looked up. He could see the grey evening sky from where he sat. There were still a few pews, but they were termite ridden and mostly rotten. One pew stood under the makeshift awning, and it was still in relatively good condition. Under the awning, he saw some small trinkets that the two girls had picked up around the town. He was in awe of how well they kept up their space.
“Welcome to the real old church” Hertin said as Greyth came under the awning. “We peddle to earn extra money and to buy more trinkets to peddle.” She said as Greyth examined the pile of objects in the center of the room.
“Wow. You two must do a pretty good business to get all of these trinkets.” he said.
“Yeah, we don’t do too bad. Sometimes it is worse than others, but you have to take the good with the bad.” Kilarta said simply.
“So. The reason I brought you to the old church was not to show all of our trinkets. I need help with something.” Hertin said. “Terlik has been drafted, and he is not fit to go into the army. I need to do something, but what can I do? I’m a poor working class hare.” She said.
“Go instead.” Kilarta said. “Disguise yourself, and rise through the ranks as Terlik. I know you are tough, and I think you could be just what this country ordered.” She smiled. Her eyes were like ice. “Maybe then the royal family will respect the people more.”
Greyth nodded. “If anything, that would be best. I don’t know much about you, but I can tell you’re hiding a warrior. I have a short blade that has run in my family for generations. I could show you how to use it. I have a feeling that you will change Paronal forever.”
Chapter 2
It was late the next morning. Hertin’s mother had just woken up, and was headed out to the kitchen to start breakfast. She entered the front room, and was surprised to find a short note from Hertin sitting on the kitchen table.
