Post by samantha on Mar 20, 2009 23:16:43 GMT 10
Title: Two Years Ago Today
Summary: In some countries, such as the Copper Isles Slaves were a sign of wealth. In other countries such as Carthak and Maren they were a necessity for the upkeep of the vast farms. In Tortall, slavery was not thought well of. What does Alianne think of them? Piercefic entry.
Spoilers for DOTL.
Rating: PG
Slavery is something I've thought about a lot in the past year. This is one of the results of it.
I have to say, I was shocked to see your letter waiting for me when I returned home to Pirates Swoop. Our delegation party had only left The Copper Isles three weeks ago and you were never one to write to me when you were younger.
But to answer your question – no. You never forgot days like those. Whenever your brain finds the time to wander those days will haunt you, plague your thoughts. From time to time someone will say something. It’ll be the most insignificant of comments, but it’ll trigger the memories.
You asked if there were significant days like those in my life and to tell you the truth there are a great many. Some of these days, however, will change your life to a greater degree than others. It is on occasions like these that you know your life will never be the same again. Change is thrust upon you, and you have no choice but to accept it. I’ve experienced far too many of those days than I would have liked; when Duke Roger exposed me as a woman, when your uncle Thom died, when you were taken by Pirates. The only thing you can do is try to make the most of the experiences. Try to find a little good in the vast array of bad and passionately cling to that. Even if that means supporting a girl in her quest for Knighthood against the wishes of your King and Realm.
The Great Mother Goddess once spoke to me of crossroads in time, when not even the gods themselves can predict what the future will hold. The future can be such a tentative thing, and yet at other times so certain.
Remember that Aly and never forget to find that good in the bad.
From a private letter from Alanna of Pirates Swoop and Olau to her daughter, the Spy Mistress, Alianne Crow.
The Palace of her Majesty, Lady Dovasary Balitang
Kypring Island, Copper Isles
3 May 644 HE
“Aly?” The way in which Dove had said her name indicated that it was not the first time she had said it in the past minute.
“Sorry, my mind was elsewhere,” Aly apologized.
“I realized, yes,” Dove said. “It’s nice to have you back in the present, though. I sort of need your help. You know that I haven’t given up my daily walks through Rajmaut and yesterday I was walking near the docks and…”
Aly didn’t hear much more of what was said and if she had, her brain certainly hadn’t processed it. Was it not nearly exactly two years ago that Aly had been a slave down at those very docks, bruising and starving herself so to not be a sold as a bed warmer? Two years ago that she had been casually thrown into a sale with pots and pans for the Balitang family. If only she had known the great significance of that day all those years ago. That she would not escape her new masters as she had planned to. That she would instead become caught up in a feud of the gods to fulfill an ancient prophecy and resulting in her staying in the Copper Isles as Spy Mistress of the nation. But there was no way that Aly could have known that then.
“Aly, are you alright?” Dove asked.
Once again Aly found herself being brought back to reality. “Yes, quite fine,” Aly replied. She massaged her temples with her thumb and forefinger for a moment and took in a deep breath of air. “Sorry, you have my full attention now, I promise.”
Aly couldn’t understand this. She hadn’t thought of her time in the slave pens for at least a year. She had had too much to do, there had been too much occupying her mind – there still was.
“Well as I was saying…” Dove paused.
“Honestly, Your Majesty, I’m fine. Please continue.”
“No you’re not,” Dove said firmly. “You have a vague look in your eyes, Aly. You’re physically sitting in your study, but I’ll wager that your mind is miles from here.”
Aly was slightly embarrassed at having been caught out.“Yes, I’ll admit my thoughts are not where they should be. Not on task.”
“If it’s Nawat you’re thinking of, I’m sure he’s safe. His clan has been on many more dangerous trips than the one they are-“
“It’s not Nawat,” Aly interjected with a slight smile. “I promised myself years ago that I wouldn’t let romance interfere with my work and I’ve stayed true to that.”
Dove rested a hand on Aly’s shoulder. “Well whatever it is, take the afternoon to ponder it,” Dove said, “but not too much longer. I need my Spy Mistress. So does the realm.” Aly nodded and Dove left the room. Aly then quickly scrambled to find a calendar; she frantically searched through its pages until she was quite certain.
Tomorrow it would be two years ago today.
Rajmaut Dock
Kypriang Island, the Copper Isles
4 May 464 HE
Aly awoke bright and early that day. Something her mother had written to her kept reoccurring in her dream that night. Try to find a little good in the vast array of bad and passionately cling to that. Aly had resolved to do just that.
She was very knowledgeable in the area of slavery. In some countries, such as the Copper Isles it was a sign of wealth. In other countries such as Carthak and Maren they were a necessity for the upkeep of the vast farms. In Tortall, slavery was not thought well of. Servants were one thing, but slavery was not acceptable. Aly knew Jon and Thayet tried to buy as many Tortallan slaves as was possible, but locating them often proved to be difficult. Aly thought she knew where they would be today.
Sure enough when Aly reached the docks there were the slave pens, all set up exactly as they had been when they had contained Aly inside them two years ago. One young girl in particular caught Aly’s attention. She was a fighter; there was no doubt about it. The scars and bruises all over her body was proof enough. Her hair was cut in a bob and she had a stocky frame. She wouldn’t have been considered by many buyers, but Aly guessed that even those who may be willing to consider her would change their minds when they saw the mischievous glint in the girl’s eyes. That fact alone convinced Aly to purchase her.
“Her? Wadda ya wan’ that one for?” The owner asked Aly. He was suprised. “Not meanin’ ya any disrespect, milady, but she’s sure trouble.”
“What business do you have in selling her or anyone else for that matter?” Aly asked lightly. The man kept his mouth shut after that. The capturing, selling and trading of lives was risky business. He took the coins that he was given and shoved the girl towards Aly.
“Your name?” Aly demanded.
“Satsu,” the girl said, looking Aly in the eye. She jerked her head back in the direction of the slave seller. “I agree with him, what does someone like you want with the likes of a trouble maker like me?”
“You Satsu, now work for the realm.”
The girl laughed at Aly, but she turned out to be one of the best spies Aly had ever trained. Satsu, with her fiery personality, did not take no for an answer. She pushed boundaries and sometimes furiated Aly. Even Aly couldn't deny that this helped Satsu find information others spies didn't. Satsu always strove to impress Aly. She never forgot that it was Aly who had taken her out of slavery and given her a new life. Aly had later learnt that previous to her, Satsu had had a total of seven different owners. Some of the things they had done to her horrified Aly and neither of the girls liked to think of it.
Every year following that one, on the fourth day of the fifth month, Aly would make a trip down to the docks. Every year she bought back the life of a new slave and trained that person for the work of a spy. Aly was no fool – she gave them the option to work with her or leave. Either way all had to swear in blood that they would not mention this to another soul. As everyone knew, any oath taken in blood that was broken resulted in an instant death.
Aly was happy to know that the former slaves had produced some of her best field agents. Not all, of course, but most.
What haunted Aly then on was the truth that rung out in her mother’s words. Aly had found a little good in the bad and it had eased her thoughts. She had always taken Alanna’s wise words for granted in her youth. Of course back then, Aly hadn’t thought them wise at all then.
Now she knew better.
Summary: In some countries, such as the Copper Isles Slaves were a sign of wealth. In other countries such as Carthak and Maren they were a necessity for the upkeep of the vast farms. In Tortall, slavery was not thought well of. What does Alianne think of them? Piercefic entry.
Spoilers for DOTL.
Rating: PG
Slavery is something I've thought about a lot in the past year. This is one of the results of it.
I have to say, I was shocked to see your letter waiting for me when I returned home to Pirates Swoop. Our delegation party had only left The Copper Isles three weeks ago and you were never one to write to me when you were younger.
But to answer your question – no. You never forgot days like those. Whenever your brain finds the time to wander those days will haunt you, plague your thoughts. From time to time someone will say something. It’ll be the most insignificant of comments, but it’ll trigger the memories.
You asked if there were significant days like those in my life and to tell you the truth there are a great many. Some of these days, however, will change your life to a greater degree than others. It is on occasions like these that you know your life will never be the same again. Change is thrust upon you, and you have no choice but to accept it. I’ve experienced far too many of those days than I would have liked; when Duke Roger exposed me as a woman, when your uncle Thom died, when you were taken by Pirates. The only thing you can do is try to make the most of the experiences. Try to find a little good in the vast array of bad and passionately cling to that. Even if that means supporting a girl in her quest for Knighthood against the wishes of your King and Realm.
The Great Mother Goddess once spoke to me of crossroads in time, when not even the gods themselves can predict what the future will hold. The future can be such a tentative thing, and yet at other times so certain.
Remember that Aly and never forget to find that good in the bad.
From a private letter from Alanna of Pirates Swoop and Olau to her daughter, the Spy Mistress, Alianne Crow.
The Palace of her Majesty, Lady Dovasary Balitang
Kypring Island, Copper Isles
3 May 644 HE
“Aly?” The way in which Dove had said her name indicated that it was not the first time she had said it in the past minute.
“Sorry, my mind was elsewhere,” Aly apologized.
“I realized, yes,” Dove said. “It’s nice to have you back in the present, though. I sort of need your help. You know that I haven’t given up my daily walks through Rajmaut and yesterday I was walking near the docks and…”
Aly didn’t hear much more of what was said and if she had, her brain certainly hadn’t processed it. Was it not nearly exactly two years ago that Aly had been a slave down at those very docks, bruising and starving herself so to not be a sold as a bed warmer? Two years ago that she had been casually thrown into a sale with pots and pans for the Balitang family. If only she had known the great significance of that day all those years ago. That she would not escape her new masters as she had planned to. That she would instead become caught up in a feud of the gods to fulfill an ancient prophecy and resulting in her staying in the Copper Isles as Spy Mistress of the nation. But there was no way that Aly could have known that then.
“Aly, are you alright?” Dove asked.
Once again Aly found herself being brought back to reality. “Yes, quite fine,” Aly replied. She massaged her temples with her thumb and forefinger for a moment and took in a deep breath of air. “Sorry, you have my full attention now, I promise.”
Aly couldn’t understand this. She hadn’t thought of her time in the slave pens for at least a year. She had had too much to do, there had been too much occupying her mind – there still was.
“Well as I was saying…” Dove paused.
“Honestly, Your Majesty, I’m fine. Please continue.”
“No you’re not,” Dove said firmly. “You have a vague look in your eyes, Aly. You’re physically sitting in your study, but I’ll wager that your mind is miles from here.”
Aly was slightly embarrassed at having been caught out.“Yes, I’ll admit my thoughts are not where they should be. Not on task.”
“If it’s Nawat you’re thinking of, I’m sure he’s safe. His clan has been on many more dangerous trips than the one they are-“
“It’s not Nawat,” Aly interjected with a slight smile. “I promised myself years ago that I wouldn’t let romance interfere with my work and I’ve stayed true to that.”
Dove rested a hand on Aly’s shoulder. “Well whatever it is, take the afternoon to ponder it,” Dove said, “but not too much longer. I need my Spy Mistress. So does the realm.” Aly nodded and Dove left the room. Aly then quickly scrambled to find a calendar; she frantically searched through its pages until she was quite certain.
Tomorrow it would be two years ago today.
Rajmaut Dock
Kypriang Island, the Copper Isles
4 May 464 HE
Aly awoke bright and early that day. Something her mother had written to her kept reoccurring in her dream that night. Try to find a little good in the vast array of bad and passionately cling to that. Aly had resolved to do just that.
She was very knowledgeable in the area of slavery. In some countries, such as the Copper Isles it was a sign of wealth. In other countries such as Carthak and Maren they were a necessity for the upkeep of the vast farms. In Tortall, slavery was not thought well of. Servants were one thing, but slavery was not acceptable. Aly knew Jon and Thayet tried to buy as many Tortallan slaves as was possible, but locating them often proved to be difficult. Aly thought she knew where they would be today.
Sure enough when Aly reached the docks there were the slave pens, all set up exactly as they had been when they had contained Aly inside them two years ago. One young girl in particular caught Aly’s attention. She was a fighter; there was no doubt about it. The scars and bruises all over her body was proof enough. Her hair was cut in a bob and she had a stocky frame. She wouldn’t have been considered by many buyers, but Aly guessed that even those who may be willing to consider her would change their minds when they saw the mischievous glint in the girl’s eyes. That fact alone convinced Aly to purchase her.
“Her? Wadda ya wan’ that one for?” The owner asked Aly. He was suprised. “Not meanin’ ya any disrespect, milady, but she’s sure trouble.”
“What business do you have in selling her or anyone else for that matter?” Aly asked lightly. The man kept his mouth shut after that. The capturing, selling and trading of lives was risky business. He took the coins that he was given and shoved the girl towards Aly.
“Your name?” Aly demanded.
“Satsu,” the girl said, looking Aly in the eye. She jerked her head back in the direction of the slave seller. “I agree with him, what does someone like you want with the likes of a trouble maker like me?”
“You Satsu, now work for the realm.”
The girl laughed at Aly, but she turned out to be one of the best spies Aly had ever trained. Satsu, with her fiery personality, did not take no for an answer. She pushed boundaries and sometimes furiated Aly. Even Aly couldn't deny that this helped Satsu find information others spies didn't. Satsu always strove to impress Aly. She never forgot that it was Aly who had taken her out of slavery and given her a new life. Aly had later learnt that previous to her, Satsu had had a total of seven different owners. Some of the things they had done to her horrified Aly and neither of the girls liked to think of it.
Every year following that one, on the fourth day of the fifth month, Aly would make a trip down to the docks. Every year she bought back the life of a new slave and trained that person for the work of a spy. Aly was no fool – she gave them the option to work with her or leave. Either way all had to swear in blood that they would not mention this to another soul. As everyone knew, any oath taken in blood that was broken resulted in an instant death.
Aly was happy to know that the former slaves had produced some of her best field agents. Not all, of course, but most.
What haunted Aly then on was the truth that rung out in her mother’s words. Aly had found a little good in the bad and it had eased her thoughts. She had always taken Alanna’s wise words for granted in her youth. Of course back then, Aly hadn’t thought them wise at all then.
Now she knew better.
Maybe once we'd have seen it during Smackdown!