Not Beaten Yet

Writers: AL
Date Posted: 2nd April 2011

Characters: Kaya, Yarovan
Description: Kaya's father explains her duty and Kaya contemplates her options.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 11 of Turn 6
Notes: Takes place after 'A Plan Upset'.
Mentions Wirnan

Yarovan shoved Kaya into her quarters, causing her to stumble, then go sprawling upon the floor. She scrambled to her feet, facing the man who had sired her, his expression dark with anger.

"What did you think you were doing!?" Yarovan shouted, voice ringing harshly in his daughter's ears. "You had the _entire_ hold in an uproar, attempting to find you! And there you are, in the caves, dressed like a man, trying to run away!?" His hand darted out and grabbed her arm, twisting painfully. Kaya couldn't stop the cry and almost went to her knees. "You will be watched and watched thoroughly. You will marry Favinar. You will be his wife." He threw her onto the floor, then his hand came down hard upon her side. Kaya doubled over, hands over her head as if she might protect herself. "You will _not_ shirk your duty." He reached down, grabbing her hair and forcing her head back to look up at her. Kaya's eyes were bright with defiance which only made his grip go tighter. "I should punish you thoroughly, but I will leave that up to your new husband. In three days time you will marry. Then he will be the one to deal with you."

He threw her down on the floor and Kaya reached up to rub the back of her head that throbbed from where he had pulled so viciously. He turned and left, slamming the door, leaving Kaya to tremble upon the floor. Three days...three days and she would forced to marry that that...egotistical maniac. That...that monster.

And he was a monster. The look in his eyes, the sinister curl of his lip. The way he had taken her by the throught. Kaya's hands went to her neck. She could still feel that touch, still see the gleam that had been in his eyes, the way he had drawn close to her and the cold, dark promises it had made. She shivered and crossed her arms over her body as if to ward off the chill. No. No, she couldn't marry him. She was more afraid of him than she was of her father. That single time, that darkness she had seen in that brief moment in the hallway after dinner. It had been enough to know what kind of life she would leave.

Damn Wirnan! Tears sprang to her eyes as she threw herself on her bed, clutching tightly at her pillows. It was all his fault. He should have walked away, let her go. He didn't understand, not at all and because of him, her plans were ruined. And while she knew there would be ways of getting past whatever guard her father put on her, all of her supplies would be gone. She had seen them toting them from the cave. By the time she gathered more together, the snows would have come and she would be unable to travel. Not to mention to do so from _his_ hold would mean she'd have to figure out a whole other route. SHAFFIT!

The girl stood and paced the floor, unable to keep still. Her hands worked at one another and worry tightened her chest. Her skirt swirled around her, echoing the distress that twisted her delicate features. So what was she going to do? Kaya couldn't stand the thought of marrying Favinar. She wouldn't survive. He'd try to break her and she would refuse. He'd kill her. She shivered. Yes, she knew that much. If he couldn't break her, he'd kill her. She had to do something.

Sharding man of a Steward! She picked up a vase that had held flowers and threw it across the room, and it shattered against the mantle of the fireplace. If he hadn't come everything would have been fine! She would have left in a couple of days once they stopped searching so hard for her! She would have been on her way to freedom! FREEDOM! She needed it. She couldn't stay there. But what could she do? Running away was no good. It was all Wirnan's fault!

Kaya sat up, teeth grinding. The anger swelled and filled her breast. It was all his fault. His fault! And somehow he was going to help her out of this mess. But how? She held on so tightly to the pillow it might have burst. Yes. She'd find a way. She'd make him help him. He got her into this mess, he would get her out. She would make sure of it! In the darkness of her room, Kaya sat alone, the shadows playing over her. Her original plan was ruined. But another was taking. Her thoughts whirled and her mind went over the options. It was tricky, but it might work. It might.

She jumped to her feet. She had three days, so it would have to be done quickly. She turned on the lights to the room and rummaged around the small desk in there. Then she breathed a sigh of relief when she found what she needed. An inkwell, with ink still fresh enough to use and several pieces of parchment and a quill. She took them out then sat down and began to write. The first was to Wirnan. Then she etched out in a careful penmenship that wasn't quite like her own. Should an expert be consulted in the matter, she would surely be found out, but this wouldn't be necessary. She only needed him to believe briefly. Her hand glided across the page as she drafted out the note, urgent in its voice. Yes. Perfect. Perfect.

She put it aside, letting the ink dry while she took out another parchment. This one...this would have to be sent soon after. She would need help. There was that one drudge. She was gullible, she could tell. She had been assigned to their quarters and their needs. What was her name? Yisa. Yes. Yisa would do well. She was competent enough to do what Kaya needed to do, but slow enough that she wouldn't ask questions. That was exactly what Kaya needed.

Kaya paid more attention to the penmenship in her next note. Her father was more familiar with her hand and she was careful to masque it more thoroughly. He couldn't know it was from her. He had to think it was frome someone else. The letters were blocky, much unlike her own style of writing and that suited her, so she kept going in that hand. A few moments later, she finished. Both were set aside to dry, both unsigned. It would work. It _had_ to work!

The girl moved back over to her bed and drew a pillow into her embrace once more, this time clinging it more for comfort than in anger. Yes. It would work. It had to work.

She wasn't beaten yet.

Last updated on the April 27th 2011

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Not Beaten Yet