ACH: Empty Cradles (4): A Good Plan

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 17th April 2005

Characters: Kirine, Kirbali
Description: Kirine and Kirbali escape from Amethyst Cliff with Anaia and Enrizial's children.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 4, day 28 of Turn 3

Shifting the infant in her arms, Kirine glanced at her sister out of the corner of her eye. "I think the older girl finally fell asleep," she whispered, cautious of the people traveling around them.

Kirbali nodded her understanding. She turned her head slightly to look down at the child resting in the back of the cart. Her hair was drying nicely, revealing a new reddish-brown color. It was much shorter as they had cut it to look more like a boy's. They also had dressed the child to desguise her gender. Kirbali too was dressed in male clothing. Things were going well. Perhaps a little too well.

They had come a long way in the short candlemarks since they had taken the children, but Kirine couldn't seem to relax. It _had_ gone too easily. Everything according to her careful plan. But she couldn't keep from asking questions of her sister, talking to hide her nervousness. "How far do you think until we find the cot you chose?"

"Only about a candlemark or so. I didn't want to go too far tonight. The alarm must have been raised by now. I knew we would have to get off the road a bit early tonight, before they start searching wagons." Kirbali glanced at her sister out of the corner of her eye. She could tell she was on edge. "If we are stopped before we get there, remember to let me do the talking."

"You remember what we talked about?" Kirine asked, then felt bad. Her sister was anything but stupid. "I'm sorry. I know you do. I'm just..." Her voice dropped as someone passed their wagon on a runner. "I'm just worried."

"I know you are. You just remember what we talked about. We have made a good plan. The only thing we can do to mess this is up is to start doubting the plan we've made. Trust me." Kirbali reached over and gave her sister's hand a squeeze. Of course she knew a thousand things could still go wrong, but they couldn't think about those things. Their future was dark and murky and the only ray of light she could see came from that plan. It had to work. "Just rememind yourself what will happen if this doesn't work, Kirine. It _must_ work."

"It must work," Kirine repeated, shifting the infant again when the girl started fussing. "It will."

Rolling along in silence, Kirbali reviewed the events of the evening, trying to remember if there was anything they had missed. Everything had gone so well. She was proud of Kirine for her quick thinking. If she had not had that flash of brilliance, the would never have gotten the nurse to sleep.

Kirine had made a habit of bringing tea to the nurse in the afternoons, blatantly flattering the woman by talking of her desire to aspire to the same post some day. She'd only meant to get to know the layout of the nursery and become famliar with the girls, but when it had become clear that the nurse wasn't going to be easily distracted, Kirine had slipped something in the tea to put her to sleep.

Kirbali always envied her sister's quick thinking ability. The older of the two was very good at plotting and planning. She was the one who found all their stops. It was also she who stole the horse and cart from an elderly cot holder, far and isolated enough from the Hold it would take him a while to raise the alarm. But when it came to quick thinking, it was the younger sister that proved invaluable.

Kirbali's estimate was good, and another candlemark found the sisters pulling their cart off the road. The cot was in poorer repair than Kirine had remembered it, but it was blessedly empty, and if nothing else, had a solid roof and study enough walls. Looking at the thick dust covering over everything, Kirine made a face. "I suppose I'll get the broom. We can't sleep in here--we'll make ourselves sick."

The older sister busied herself preparing a fire and bringing some light to their surroundings. She then went out and pulled the wagon in behind the cot and took care of the runner beast. The guards must have been alerted by _now_. She brought fresh water into the cot and washed herself while her sister swept the room. As she changed into her own clothes again, she heard the beating of galloping runner beasts on the road.

Kirine froze in the act of reaching for the door to sweep the dirt outside. She looked at Kirbali, too scared to say anything until the runners had passed well by them. "Do you think those were guards looking for us?" she asked softly.

"I'm sure of it." Kirbali nodded. "But I doubt they know who or what they are looking for. Open the door and finish your sweeping. The more of normal life they see in this cot, the less likely they are to be suspicious of it." Even as she said the words the elder sister was not entirely sure if what she said was true, but she could not have Kirine lose her nerve now.

Opening the door, Kirine swept the dirt out, trying to look like it was any other day. Trying to look like she hadn't just kidnapped the children of a Lord Holder.

Last updated on the July 10th 2006

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ACH: Empty Cradles (4): A Good Plan