Anaith Quatr
- Day One
___I had found a corner whee I had thought Savino couldn't find me, but in the end, he did. Curled up in a nook in the hold, clutching the file with two hands, forcing ever last word of the information into my head until I couldn't think any more. I heard him pace towards me, recognised his footsteps. It had been years since I had learnt them, but I would never forget them. I scrambled to my feet, pressing my back against the rough wood of the hold. You're a grown woman and you're still afraid of him. Isn't it time you grew up? Even though I told myself that, it was impossible. I couldn't forget, so I couldn't get rid of my fear. Unless I lost my memory one day, or if he died, I would always be afraid of him. The shadows concealed his face, the only slivers of light which touched his face were from the few candles littering the hold, and the one I had been using to read. He loomed over me, leaning an arm against the wall so I was trapped.
___"Who am I?" He asked curtly. I knew this game of his, knew how to escaped it unscathed. I didn't think he would draw his dagger on me only a few hours before a mission started, but there were other ways of causing pain that didn't leave any marks at all.
___"Savino, my uncle on my mother's side who lives near the castle. I know where you live, but also that you're a drunkard who is more often than not in the taverns. I have only met you a few times, and the last was... eight years ago. I was 17. I barely remember what you look like, but you remember me. I will visit you from time to time, because you're my only family who lives close now. Of course, that's just a front for giving a report."
___"And who are you?"
___"Anaith Quatr, a 25 year old from the very edge of the city. My father, Zelit, runs a tavern. My mother, Elia died when I was a child. I have two friends... Kanel, and Falice. They're both happily married to men who I hardly ever meet. I'm bored with living there, and I've moved to the center to find work and live a more exciting life." I was tense, waiting for his reaction.
___"Passable." I relaxed very slightly, then tensed as he reached down. The pressure point on my calf was the one that gave the most pain, and he knew it. I whimpered, trying to squirm away from his grasp, though I knew better. "You hesitate too much, and you don't know enough details. It's all in the details. Rectify it." He suddenly let go and left, leaving me nursing my leg.
***
I hurried around the corner, looking out for the door the woman had told me to find. It wasn't as if I didn't know the floorplans of this place by heart by now, but seeming lost at first was authentic. As I rounded the corner, I walked straight into someone and took a few hurried steps back, bowing my head.
___"I'm very sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." I sounded sufficiently apologetic and embarrassed for it to accompany the blush I made creep up my cheeks.
___He looked down at me, frowning slightly. "Evidently." His fingers creeped up to the collar of his shirt as he narrowed his eyes a bit. "I don't remember seeing you before."
___Assuming he was probably important around the castle, I curtsied, putting on an awkward smile that fitted with the newcomer act. "I started working here today, sir. My name is Anaith."
___He didn't drop the frown, observing me for a while as if trying to read something from my face. "I see. Are you lost? The castle can be quite confusing when one's not used to it."
___I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, looking up at him. "I'm not sure... I'm meant to find the storeroom, sir, but I'm not entirely certain of where it is..." I chewed the edge of my lip as I spoke. "The most important is in the details." Savino's voice flashed through my mind, but I hid the shiver.
___"It's over.." He smiled a bit. "In fact, I'm going in the same direction. Would you mind a guide?"
___"That would be very kind of you, sir," I replied with a smile, all the while wondering who he was. "Would it be presumptuous of me to ask your name, sir?"
___"Somewhat," he muttered. "Ezreal Vesperi. I'm the King's..advisor, even though you haven't asked about that yet." He smirked. "Have you worked anywhere before coming to work here?"
___"I worked in an inn on the outskirts of the city, sir." I dredged up the information from my backstory. "But it was drab. I'm sure the castle will be more interesting." Or rather, I'll find more information here.
___He nodded slowly, turning to glance at some man who passed us by before looking back at me. "More interesting.. I imagine you won't be disappointed. Life here is rather... colourful."
___I didn't drop the smile. Becoming acquaintances with the King's advisor wasn't something that I could pass over, and I knew that if I missed the chance, Savino would have a lot to say about it. That was to avoid at all costs. "I imagine that being the King's advisor must be very time consuming. You must meet all sorts of people."
___"It's what I do...if it wasn't time consuming, I'd say it'd mean I'm not very good at it." He played with one of his necklaces. "I do meet all sorts of people. And if by that you only mean humans, then not just people. I'm pretty sure you'll see soon enough what I mean too."
___"I hope so!" I also hope I can learn about your military. That would be a lot more interesting than your mutant elves. Unless they're in the army... "If you don't mind me asking, how long have you worked here?" I hesitated a second, not long enough for him to reply, then gushed, "I'm sorry... My friends always say I ask too many questions... You don't have to reply."
___He was silent for a while. "I've been in and around the castle for most of my life," he said then. "Assuming you're asking about my current position, it's been a few years. Are those friends of yours somewhere around as well?"
___"Oh, no. They prefer the lifeless outskirts and the forest. Though nature's nice, there isn't much adventure." My words grated on my ears. I thought exactly the opposite of what I just said, and would rather live in the trees than surrounded by stone. Animals couldn't hurt you the way humans did.
___"Mm.. well if you wanted a life of adventure, perhaps you should've gone traveling instead of settling down in the castle," he said casually. "Your job seems more suiting for a spy, buzzing around and seeing everything, yet never being seen.. no? What's so adventurous about working in the castle?"
___I counted off my fingers as I spoke, ignoring the twinge of panic at his words. "I'd thought of traveling, but it costs money. The castle pays better than an inn. I may also be able to meet people who have travelled and make friends who are interested in more than just getting married and having children. There are a lot of much more interesting things at the castle. And interest often leads to adventure."
___"Oh, interesting things?" He seemed curious. "Like what?" He smiled a bit apologetically. "I'm afraid my life in here might have made me ignorant of many little interesting things."
___"The pace of life is faster here, so you pay attention a lot more. It makes everything interesting." I smiled back. "But I've only been here for a short while. I'll be able to tell you a lot more of what's interesting after a little more time."
___"I'll be looking forward to hear those things, then." He stopped and pointed at a door. "Here you are, your storeroom is right through there." He didn't seem particularly eager to leave.
___I blinked slightly at him. "Thank you... I won't keep you any longer." The door opened easily as I pushed it, opening to shelves of cloth and belts and brushes, and everything that could be needed to clothe staff and keep a castle working. I turned back to thank him, and wasn't at all surprised to see that he had disappeared. Picking up what I needed, I hurried back to find the room I had been given.
***
- Day Two
___I stepped out of the hovel where Savino had elected residence, my heart in my throat. I could feel it thumping in my fingertips, and when I looked down my fists were shaking. I breathed deeply like Stavina had taught me, shoving back down the fear that he managed to stir up inside me every time. It wasn't allowed. I couldn't give in to it. A few more deep breaths had me moving down the street back to the castle, untrembling. As I approached, I was swept along amongst a group of people, happily chatting to each other and not paying attention to the fact that they had dragged me along.
___As they stopped, they deposited me in front of a temple-like building. The courtyard in front was milling with people. Wondering what was going on, I walked a few steps, then purposefully sprawled to the floor, acting like the clumsy person my brief said I was.
___"Can I help?"
This can be anyone in Codo, seriously, I don't mind who it is.
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