Kessa, early beginnings

[BattlePixie]

A Begining

Kessa ran into the one story sandstone house; here bare feet drumming off the stone floors.

“Mommy, mommy, look’it what I found!” Kessa said as she brandished a small horned lizard. Setting down her book Kessa’s mother, a fair young elf, picked up the excited child.

“Well that is quite the desert creature you have found there my dear. I am sure in many years to come it will grow into a ferocious dragon or a basilisk!” She tousled Kessa’s Raven coloured hair.

“Do you really think so mommy?” Kessa said as her eyes opened wide at the prospect of holding such a beast in her hands.

“Aye, it is true dear,” she teased with a wink, “but it will never grow up if you keep holding onto it.” With a nod Kessa jumped off her mother’s lap and ran for the atrium to release her new pet.

Kessa’s mother was about to pick up her book again when there was a sharp rap at the front door. Like a dancer, she gracefully floated out of the den and across the foyer to the heavy Iron bound oak door. With a gentle pull Kessa’s mother opened the door and stepped back in astonishment.

“Good evening ma’am.” Said a gaunt man with deep-set eyes as he tipped his hat. “I am sorry to bother you on this fine day, but I have this letter to deliver. I will wait as you read it.” The man tipped his hat again as he handed over an envelope stamped with the Mayor’s official seal. Carefully breaking the seal Kessa’s mother opened the envelope and with shaky hands read the letter inside.

“No, no… you can’t. She is my only child!”

“Regardless ma’am, I am to collect her straight off.” said the gaunt man as he eased his hands out of his leather gloves as if it was a painful undertaking.

“Mommy, mommy, I let the lizard go like you said, you should have seen it…” Kessa trailed off as she ran into the foyer and saw the man. Swiftly Kessa’s mother scooped her only daughter behind the protection of her legs. Hiding her face Kessa spied on the strange man. His eyes were sunken deep within his face and were as black as coal. He wore a long black coat that seemed to swirl around his feet as he shuffled them and his hat cloaked his face is shadows.Turning around and dropping to one knee, Kessa’s mother began to nervously straighten her daughter’s hair.

“It’s ok honey, you have to go on a little trip with this man here.” She said as she tried to hold back her tears.

“But mommy I don’t want to go on a trip, I want to stay here with you.” Spoke a confused Kessa, her face etched in determination.

“I know honey, but we don’t have a choice here. It won’t be so bad, soon you will get to come back.” Said Kessa’s mother as she ushered her daughter up a set of sweeping stairs. “Now let’s get you packed, you will need a few things huh?” Kessa simply nodded with a weak smile as she took her mother’s hand and followed her up the stairs.

[BattlePixie]

Isobrend

The wagon ground to a halt with a sharp bump as the large wrought iron gates of the compound slammed shut behind. Kessa looked up at the other faces of those in the wagon with her. All about her relative age as they were human, the children had down trodden faces with streaks of tears scarring their dusty cheeks. Most held onto what meagre possessions of their childhood their parents decided they would need.

A ragged and gruff man stepped to the back of the wagon and lowered the gate. “Right. All ye sods git out. Line up by the fountain and do it on the double!” He barked. Slowly the children jumped out of the back of the wagon, clutching their treasures close to their chests. For the first time they laid their eyes on their new home.

The courtyard was quite large, more of an arena actually with a large stone fountain in the middle. The fountain held an aging bronze statue of a well-armoured knight on horseback, his vision cast back to his troops and his sword pointed to the enemy giving the order to charge. The ground was hard packed sand as was the rest of the town and the courtyard was ringed on three sides by towering purple hued sandstone walls. The fourth side was a mass of long single story adobe buildings all containing covered verandas and behind them could be seen the only two story building within the complex. It was made from the same purple sandstone as the walls though the upper balconies all had railings of twisted iron giving the pale pink building the look of a demon with a gnarled and pointed maw.

Kessa’s attention was brought back to the courtyard by a sharp pain in her side. “Common, I said on the double!” spat the ragged man as he jammed the end of a stubby baton into her ribs once again, pushing her roughly forward. The small group of children were herded over to the fountain and formed into an irregular formation of three rows. A small cadre of unkempt men in ragged uniforms patrolled the formation and with their batons ensured all the children stood up straight quietly with their hands at their sides and shoulder-to-shoulder with the child next to them. They stood there in silence, the wind played lightly with the loose sand in the courtyard, creating small dervishes. The sound of quiet whimpering floated to the forward ranks, Kessa began to turn her head to see where the sound came from when a baton was thrust into the side of her cheek snapping her head forward.

“What ye lookin’ at girly. Ye keep yer bleeding eyes front, ye hear me?” snapped one of the unkempt men. Out of the corner of her eye Kessa saw the shape of a man move into the formation.

“Ye little sod, ye stand up here an’ shut it ye hear?” The man roughly grabbed a small boy by the hair, snapping the boy’s face around to look up at him. “Ye quite yer bleedin’cryin’now you retch. Yer in the army so act like it!” Shouted the man as he cruelly shook the boys head, almost pulling him off his feet.

“Let go of him Corporal.” Said a deep velvet voice. The unkempt man shook the boy one last time before throwing him to the ground in disgust.

“He will have to learn to deal with his isolation, his pain. He alone will have to come to grips with it before he can become a member of our family.” Kessa strained her eyes see the source of the voice on the edge of her peripheral vision.

With the sound of creaking armour a slim middle-aged man marched in front of the rough looking formation of children. The man was of average height and wore midnight blue plate armour intricately etched with designs and symbols. His hair was shoulder length jet black with the odd wisp of grey; his skin was tanned from his time in the desert and his face was well defined most notably his nose which was large and hooked. Atop his left shoulder perched a raven, its glassy eyes peered over the children as he cocked his head and squawked. Framing the middle-aged man were two others, cloaked in midnight blue robes their faces hidden deep within the hoods, arms crossed in front of them and hands hidden within their sleeves. They did not speak but merely followed their armoured companion.

“Welcome to Isobrend, or more affectionately named The Pits.” said the middle-aged man with a chuckle. Locking his hands behind his back he began to walk up and down the formation. “This has been my home and now it is yours. You have been brought to me so you can learn how to fight.” The man paused and looked down at one of the children before continuing. “More importantly you will be taught how to kill and how to survive on the battle field.” He continued to walk along the line. “My name is Cagen Al’Badid and I am your new father.” Cagen came to a stop and faced the children again. “Your first lesson begins this afternoon. Sergeant!” he barked.

“Sah!” Was the immediate response from one of the unkempt men as he stiffened his body.

“Teach these children the lesson of perseverance and show them their limits.”

“Aye Sah!” Barked the Sergeant again. As Cagen and his entourage began to walk away the Sergeant turned toward the children. “Around the arena at the run, MOVE!” he shouted. Initially the collection of children just stood there dumbfounded, confused at what they were suppose to do, then came the order.

“Corporals, move these retches, drive their idle bodies!” With the shout from their Sergeant, the remaining unkempt men quickly descended upon the children shouting and jabbing with their stubby batons.

[BattlePixie]

The Lesson
It was a hot midday sun that beat down on Kessa as she brandished her wooden scimitar and circled her opponent. Kessa sneered as she thrust her sword toward her foe, testing his defences; his shield easily deflected them. The crowd of classmates cheered the two combatants as they tested each other. Rushing in, Kessa met her opponent’s sword with a dull thud, the two mock weapons danced against each other briefly before the combatants jumped back. Kessa eyed her foe, his eyes were hungry for victory as he followed her every move. Quickly Kessa lunged forward in an attempt to beat his defences, but his reaction was to quick and the two swords slapped together once again. Pivoting on her forward foot Kessa spun around to the outside allowing her off hand to catch him on the back of the head. Off balance he stumbled trying to clear his senses, he didn’t even notice the wooden blade sneak in from behind until it landed firmly under his chin. Leaning in Kessa confidently whispered into her opponent’s ear.

“You’re dead Theijn. What is that? Two you owe me now?”

“Awe you cheated Kessa.” Theijn sneered as he stepped away from her hold slightly embarrassed. “If it was a fair fight I would have killed you.”

“Sit down Theijn!” Barked the Sergeant. “Ye have all improved on yer weapon skills, that is plain ta see.” The Sergeant walked in front of the assembled recruits. “But ye have not learned.” He trailed off. “Kessa, yer a capable swordswoman, I have a new challenger for ye. Jeredric!” Barked the Sergeant.

The assembled recruits all looked at each other confused not recognising the name. A slim man walked passed them, he was dressed in a thick midnight blue robe that hid his face and fell passed his hands. Stopping in front of Kessa, Jeredric loosened the cord at his waist allowing the robe to fall around him. He was about Kessa’s height with short brown hair, tanned skin and well muscled. He only wore only loose fitting pants that ended just below the knee. Kessa eyed Jeredric with contempt.

“Your weapon sir?” Kessa questioned. Silently Jeredric stood there only watching.

“He won’t need one dear.” said the Sergeant.

“Well then he won’t mind if I use one for each of us.” Kessa teased as she reached behind her right thigh and drew a long knife that was holstered there, the crowd of recruits chuckled and oo’d in mock fear.

Stepping cautiously, Kessa closed the distance to her new foe who made no attempt to ready himself. With Chuckling to herself, kessa feigned a thrust with her scimitar only to bring her long knife around in a downward chop. Jeredric moved like lightning, unfazed by the feign he stepped in and grabbed her wrist. With a sharp twist Kessa’s arm exploded in pain, Jeredric’s other hand snaked out and grabbed her by the throat and pivoting his body he sent Kessa tumbling to the ground. Dropping her weapons Kessa struggled against his iron grip that pinned her to the ground and prevented her from breathing.

“When yer in combat, ye must strike quickly an’ calculated. Ye must strike ta kill.” Said the Sergeant to the rest of the recruits. Kessa continued to struggle as her vision started to blur from lack of oxygen. “When ye do strike,” continued the Sergeant, “ye must show no mercy, for yer enemy will not show ye any.” Kessa’s last vision was of Jeredric’s free arm pull back like the loading of a crossbow, his fist clenched. She didn’t even see the blow land.

Kessa stirred slightly, her body ached. Opening her eyes the vision of an armoured man on horseback came into view, the gentle running of water could be heard. Mustering her strength Kessa sat up and grimaced as her body protested. Using the fountain for support she slowly gained her feet, shaking her head lightly, to try and clear the fog. Kessa stumbled toward the barracks on unsteady lergs when the sound of mumbled prayer caught her keen Elven ears.

Using a training staff for support Kessa walked uneasily around the adobe barracks to find a brown haired boy in the depths of prayer. Startled by Kessa’s presence he quickly gained his feet.

“Forgive me; I thought you were one of them.” Said the boy in relief.

“One of whom?” Kessa took a seat against the building wall.

“The priests of the keep. They have been watching me and have tried to catch me paying homage to the one. Oh please forgive me; I am Nathar Hold, at your service miss.” He smiled he bowed deeply.

Smiling slightly Kessa nodded at Nathar. “Pleased to meet you, I am Kessa. You spoke of the one?”

“Aye, he comes to me as the sun lifts from the horizon. I do not know his name but the rays of the morning sun carry his words to me. You look tired, are you alright?”

“I am sure I will survive.” Kessa contorted her face as she tried to straighten her arm.

“Perhaps I can help?” Nathar reached out and firmly grasped her shoulder. Closing his eyes he quietly mumbled a few words and Kessa felt her shoulder begin to heat up as if Nathar had pressed hot metal against her skin. She was about to cry out when he released his grip.

“There, the Sun Lord has seen fit to ease your pain.” Kessa looked at him in disbelief as she painlessly stretched out her arm.

“There you are boy; I knew I would eventually catch you.” Said a hooded man as he stepped out from behind an adjacent building. Kessa sprang to her feet in surprise, brandishing her staff in front of her. “Easy child I have no quarrel with you, only the boy there.” From under his midnight blue robes the man produced a multi tailed whip, “I will teach you to sneak from my temple and pray to the Morning Lord you little retch!”

Holding her staff with both hands Kessa stepped in between the two and swung low aiming for the priest’s knee. The staff connected with a sharp snap as it shattered against the plate guard the priest wore under his robes.

With a contemptuous sneer, he grabbed Kessa by her hair and tossed her roughly into the wall of the barracks. “You little wench; I will deal with you in a moment.” He continued to walk toward Nathar.

“When you strike, strike quickly, and to kill.” Kessa growled. The priest halted his advance abruptly to glance back at her. She held the last three feet of the shattered staff in her hand as she sprang toward him. Kessa thrust the shattered end of her staff into the back of the priest’s knee where the plate guard did not protect. Howling in pain the he collapsed, clutching the section of wood protruding out of the back of his knee.

“Show no mercy for the enemy will show you none.” Snarled Kessa as she picked up the whip and wrapped one of the tails around the priest’s neck. “Make your prayers elsewhere this morning Nathar.” She ordered as she tightened the whip. With a nod Nathar scrambled away.

Easing open a swollen eye Kessa spied Cagen squatting over her, his pet raven squawked as if to announce their presence. Kessa lay on the stone floor of her cell, one arm chained to the wall; the other lay limp at her side dislocated at the shoulder.

“You murdered one of my priests missy. Unfortunately I cannot kill you for your crime as I should. I cannot afford to lose the daughter of such a prominent member of this town.” Cagen stood up and began to pace the small cell while he talked. “This leaves me in a difficult position.” He tapped his lower lip with his forefinger as he pondered his dilemma. “When you are well enough you will take the place of the priest you killed. Perhaps in your service there you will better serve my needs.” Cagen smirked at the thought of his plan, his raven squawked in approval. “Heal up my little lamb; you have quite a journey ahead of you.”