A Simple Darkness (The Young Ancients: Tiera) Read online

  "Let me know where you're planning to be from now on, will you? I'd thought someone had kidnapped you or something." She held up a large hand, as if to explain but then turned her palm over. "Unarmed training then. You have to take your shield off. We can put them on the table over by the pells. No one will touch it without permission." That meant walking, which was harder than it sounded, since her muscles were stiffening up already. She wasn't used to as much work as she was doing after all. Walking and flying, but not running or lifting rocks. Her shoulder ached too, probably from banging a club on half a tree for that long.

  As soon as that happened, and she didn't have a shield, Tiera expected to be beaten for it, to teach her to keep it on, but Karen just ran her through move after move, repeating them until she could do it decently well, explaining things the whole time.

  "Never aim to hit the surface of a thing, always try to move through it. Otherwise your blows will lack power. Normally I'd tell you to attack a person's eyes first, but unless they're a midget that isn't going to work for you. Men protect their groins, so work on attacking the knees first. Even on a small person it will take them off guard. As soon as you can, try to hit sensitive targets. I have a book you can look at for that later."

  Then she hit her. Just once, right in the stomach. Tiera was actually lifted off the ground though, the force of it was so great. She fell back, rolling a bit and clutching herself, not able to breathe.

  "Roll. I'm going to stomp your head if you don't." Then she tried very hard to back that up, making the ground shake a little when her foot landed. "Not bad. Get to your feet. If you fight you're going to get hit, and it will hurt, but you have to get past it. Even if you cry, you have to keep fighting." Then she kicked her in the side, since naturally Tiera was too slow to get up in time.

  It hurt, but it was also a good point. They were teaching her to fight after all, not kiss. That would have been more fun, but she couldn't change the nature of things at that moment.

  She was hit several times before she got up, the force of the blows a little more than she was ready for, and her eyes did water. She was sobbing too, but her face wasn't pained. Tiera didn't think so at least. She got up and tried to hit Karen, who moved back easily and slapped her with a an open palm hard enough to make her head ring and a resounding smack that caused someone behind her to gasp. She didn't have time to look, scrambling back like she was.

  This went on, with her landing nothing and Karen hitting her over and over again for about five minutes. Then Judith got a turn. Tiera hadn't even seen her walk over and she was already in fighting practice armor, so even when Tiera managed to get a lucky blow in a few times it didn't do much at all. The giant girl slapped her instead of punching with a closed fist, making her face sting from the repeated damage. Finally she had to hold her hands to the side of her head to get it to stop, which earned her a very hard punch to the middle, making it hard to breathe again.

  Finally, almost as if the information had been slapped into her head, she remembered to attack the other girl's knees. She didn't really know what to do, so she jumped in and hit her lead leg as fast as she could with her fist, taking Judy off her feet. Then she aimed a rather clumsy kick at her head, which didn't land at all, since a huge arm blocked it, then grabbed and twisted in a very professional seeming way that sent her flying.

  This went on for a longer time than with Karen, but eventually another giant woman took her place. It was a second year girl, she thought, but not anyone she recognized at all. It was a little more even, since the girl wasn't as big as the others, but she was still a lot better than Tiera was. Plus, she was already exhausted. After a few minutes she had her down on the ground and just pounded her in the head, twenty or more times. She went out, only to find herself still fighting when she woke up, the other girl still on top of her.

  "Gods, that's enough, stop. Stop!" She didn't really recognize the voice, but several others chimed in then too, all male and young sounding.

  "Yeah, that's enough. She already apologized. I'm satisfied."

  It took a few seconds but the girl on top of her stood up and moved away, which let her find her feet again. She'd been crying, but managed to hold her hands up again, which had Karen close with her. This time the fight was a lot faster, the blows raining down on her, barely blocked most of the time, even those rocked her, the power behind them being a lot more real now. She did her best, but she couldn't land anything. There were people protesting it the whole time, but that didn't get the woman to slow down at all.

  She ended up passing out after a while, the blows finally taking her again. She was still feebly swinging her hands, but she was aimed at the wrong target, trying to hit someone that wasn't there at all, since Karen had backed away. Blood was running down her face, fouling her vision and it was so hard to get any air. She rubbed her face, smearing blood on her sleeve when Karen was suddenly tackled by a small form. It didn't do a lot, but she didn't move back in.

  After a few seconds she patted the smaller form on the shoulder as he hugged her around the legs.

  "Good enough then?"

  Tiera didn't recognize him at first, not really being able to see, but the boy said yes. With a few more wipes she was able to make out that he was more than a brown blur, and was, in fact, Henry.

  Then she got what was going on. This was the first of her punishment beatings then? She'd kind of hoped that part would have turned out to be more metaphorical in nature. She got up anyway, since she didn't trust them anymore not to suddenly lay into her. Instead one of the other watchers, who wasn't a boy at all, but Farlo Ross, walked over and tried to hand her something. She took it by reflex, her right hand not actually able to open, since she'd managed to break something in her hand at some point. She didn't remember having landed a solid blow that could have done it, but it burned and didn't open very well.

  When the girl hit the sigil she knew what it was. A healing device. It made her hurt worse, but no one laughed about it, just standing there staring at her. As her eyes cleared and the wounds receded she realized that everyone from the school had come to watch her be humbled. Grand.

  They started to leave then at least, as if they could tell the show was over.

  She hoped so. But didn't really count on it. She was starving suddenly, but no one said anything about her being done, in fact as soon as she'd healed completely, Karen took the device and turned it off.

  "May I borrow this miss?" She held it up to show what she meant.

  "Um, alright. I can't make them yet, so I'd like it back, but..."

  Guide stepped forward and handed Karen a different amulet.

  "Here, keep it. I have more. I just figured it out the other day. I'll get some for this section. Really, I think everyone is... happy enough. I've seen people beaten to death that weren't hit that often."

  There was a murmur then, but Sir Kolbrin gestured with large waving motions at the remaining people. "If you haven't come to sign up for extra classes, I suggest you leave. You've had your revenge, now we need to get back to actual work. Unless anyone else wishes to take a turn with Miss Baker here?"

  No one stayed for some reason, except for Tiera. She decided that meant she was stupid, but she felt fine now. Karen jogged over to the table and set the healing device on it, next to the shields. She didn't pick those up however, and as soon as she came back she tossed a very slow punch at Tiera's head, which got her to jump back, fearing the beating would start again.

  "Heh, good. Stand close and block though. Don't counter for now. I'll attack first, going slow, then you'll get a turn. Only blocks right now." They worked on that for a long time, not taking a break. Just as it got boring Karen sped up. It was more interesting for a while and Tiera found herself actually being hit, if not very hard, when she missed.

  Karen made all of her blocks, each time, except one, when Tiera sped up suddenly and punched her in the stomach hard. The woman didn't double over or show any pain at all, even though there had been
a nice meaty sound from it.

  "Oops. I guess I cheated there. Kind of like setting trained people on someone that hasn't even had a full day's training?"

  To her credit Karen just laughed and made the next blocks without comment, until several minutes later, when she called a halt and stepped back, so that nothing would land by mistake.

  "I know it was rough. We don't train like that often, though we honestly do at times, so it will happen again, probably without warning. It reminds everyone to take things seriously. It had to be done though, so that the other kids will see that you don't get special privileges. It was you being beaten, but those others that got the lesson. If Conserina Lairdgren gets that kind of treatment at Lairdgren school, imagine what the rest of them have to look forward to if they step out of line? Of course that isn't really true, because none of them would have gotten this." She grinned and patted Tiera on the back gently. "You wouldn't have, if you would have stopped fighting at any point, or begged for us to stop. We don't keep going if the other person calls a halt you know."

  Tiera shook her head and scowled, but then forced a smile, her voice a little bitter.

  "Why no, Karen, I didn't know that. It seems that someone forgot to teach me about that, didn't they?"

  The giant shrugged her shoulders, turning the move into a rotation, in order to keep limber.

  "I know. Would you have quit anyway? I know you went out at least once and you didn't stop. It wasn't well done and you made a thousand errors, but there was no variance to the fact that you were fighting the whole time. Even while unconscious. That's a good trait, for a fighter. Now, let's do it again. Full force, attack as well as you can and see if you can manage it without crying like a little girl this time." She grinned, and then rushed her, a hard slap taking her off her feet.

  This time it didn't last as long and she managed to do a little better having learned what not to do last time. At least a bit. When they finished she got a lecture about what she'd done wrong, which made her angry, but she tried to fix what she was told to. Then she got sent to luncheon and afternoon classes, which would go later now, even though she only had maths and now it seemed, singing. She hadn't had that one before, so had to ask where the room for it was.

  The girl she spoke to just told her and didn't call her a Doretta at all. Not even under her breath. It made for a nice change.

  She had a bit of class work, a song to practice and some extra problems to solve, but that was all. Since she ate dried meat and more fruit in her room she was done before six, still humming the tune when there was a knock on her door. She checked to make certain her shield was on, and Karen sat up, having been studying a book it seemed, even though she didn't have classes, being an instructor. It wasn't for her, even though she recognized the blonde girls in front of her when she opened the door. They were both taller than she was, but that was the nature of this place. They were both royals after all.

  "Ali, and..." She had to search her memory for the name. "Sherilyn?"

  Both of them nodded, looking a bit tentative.

  Stepping back she waved them in, since it was time to set thing right with Ali too. Probably her friend as well, since the girl had been a bit chilly toward her about things for a bit.

  "Come in, please. I..." You were supposed to offer things to guests. Food and drink. She didn't have anything really proper however. "I'm not really prepared to have people over. I have some dried fruit? Or meat. That's about it right now."

  The sandy colored girl, who was a bit flat-chested and taller than Ali smiled. "We came to see if you wanted to come to dinner with us? I've been cooking all day. We're having several people over and... Well, they all seem to be ready to not cast you out of the school at least."

  Her sister in-law, who was only a year older than she was gave her a small hug.

  "I talked to everyone and it seems that it was all a big misunderstanding? Please tell us that you'll come. You too, Karen? We should get Jerral and Davie as well and then we'll all be here!" She turned to her roommate. "You'll love Jerral, Sheri. He's very nice, and a good kisser."

  There was silence for a moment and the busty girl shrugged.

  "What? He didn't know who I was at the time. So, are you two coming? We're having roast beef."

  Tiera looked at Karen, who nodded somberly. It didn't seem to be all that happy though. Hopefully about her sister having made out with her own brother and not the fact that this sounded an awful lot like a set-up or an ambush. It did though.

  She spoke for them both and agreed instantly, which meant the other two had to scurry off to see to the rest of the meal preparations. Ali had her own house off campus after all, so it made sense to use it.

  When she turned Karen was already changing her clothing around for it, making a nice dress appear.

  Tiera grunted softly and tried to do the same, making a light blue version of what Petra had worn the night before, making it look slightly worn around the edges.

  Then she sighed.

  "Make sure you have a good shield on... Wait." Going to her chest she pulled out some underclothes and put them on, then covered them with the same dress. Just in case any of the Lairdgren group got any ideas.

  "There, ready for almost anything." At least she hoped so. It really wasn't too likely, was it?

  Chapter four

  There were ten other people at her sister-in-law's house when they got there. It had been redecorated to look like a miniature version of Tor's palace in the Capital, so the outside was currently a very nice gold and cream color. It had a funny shape, having four stories, since the land it was on just wasn't all that big. The inside was incredible, of course, since the whole thing was made of magic and could look like absolutely anything. Honestly it was a bit overdone and cheery to Tiera's eye. She liked it, but it needed to be a little less colorful and a bit more subdued.

  It felt like someone was trying far too hard, to tell the truth.

  "This looks wonderful Ali! Did you do it yourself?" Karen sounded as if she really liked it, which was fair enough. It was interesting at least, especially compared to the school dorms they all lived in during the week.

  The words got the larger woman a hug, "yes, I did. Do you really like it? Sheri thinks it's a bit too much, but I wanted to practice some changes for when we go to the Capital later in the term. That way, when Tor comes back I can be a real wife and keep his home properly." She sounded a bit abstract about it, since, as everyone knew, her husband might not be coming back at all.

  No one really believed that though, not even Karen, who was practical most of the time as far as Tiera had seen. She spoke gently, her voice sounding pleased.

  "Good thinking. I doubt it will be too long. I hear that Brown, the Ancient of Austra has something planned to get his assassins under control that he's about to try. If Tor doesn't slaughter them all first." There was enough tension to the words that it was clear she was really worried, but that just made sense. Those creeps were dangerous and Tor, while a great Wizard, was still only one man. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of the Larval.

  It wasn't fair. Then, as she'd come to learn in the last few days, life very often wasn't.

  She kept her mouth shut, but made to hug Ali, who held her as if someone was going to fall down, tight and lingering, with just a slight hint of desperation to it. No one else said anything to her at all at first, though she nodded to each. It was the Lairdgren group, Henry and Judith Kerry. Oddly enough it was Judy that did anything at all, getting up from the very nice sofa she was sitting on and slapping Tiera on the shoulder, having to stoop a little to make it work.

  "There she is. Alive and not even glaring daggers at us. I didn't think she would be. After that little bit of setting right earlier, when you all left? She kept working. Didn't storm off or even demand we all be put in chains. Just kept fighting. True, not as hard, but that will come. Do you think we can put this all behind us now?" She looked across the room at Henry when she said it. As if he'd b
een the driving force behind it all. "We can beat her again day after next if you want, but I don't think she really meant harm."

  The boy shrugged and looked away, which Tiera figured had to do with the fact that he wasn't her friend and didn't wish her well anymore. He'd stopped Karen though, hadn't he?

  "The issue is ended. Let's not talk about it anymore." His voice was a bit sullen, but he didn't look at anyone or make a face at all.

  It was awkward, but she just couldn't keep apologizing, could she? The man just wasn't going to be her friend and she doubted that would ever happen now. Some things couldn't be undone.

  There was an oppressive silence for a long while, but finally Ali started making small talk about the next Queen's day, since she was invited to the party.

  "I was thinking that we could all go to the Capital for it? If we aren't working I mean. Sandra has to go and I think Sam does too. The rest of you should make an appearance and bring a special gift for Connie, since it's her birthday and you're important right now. I know that everyone will want to see you soon. I..." She looked at Sheri and then, oddly, at Tiera and her older sister. "We should do something before that. Maybe invite the royal family over to dinner? In the Capital of course. The Council of Counts starts soon, but before that they might have time?"

  It took a few seconds for Tiera to understand what she was getting at, which was more than a simple gathering, wasn't it? She wanted to get the Lairdgren group to the Capital, and make sure the King and Queen had them on their side. It was... a good idea, really. With Tor gone this group of people, as young as they were, still represented some of the best builders on the planet. They pushed themselves pretty hard to do it, but they were nearly the equal to the best magical manufacturing concern the kingdom had.

  Tiera nodded slowly.

  "I'll... see if I can set that up. My sister and her family will want to come too. We should see if any of our other friends want to join in. I can run down to the Capital tomorrow and see if anyone likes the idea, if you want?" She should probably get in touch with Tim anyway. In case he had work for her. The Council of Counts was a big deal that way, she'd been told, so they'd need to coordinate that. "Judith, Karen and I can go do that, after morning lessons."