Chapter 5
The trio jumped in a tad too early for my tastes. I would much prefer that you had suffered a tich more. Ah, but some good may yet come out of this. Since you're coherent, perhaps you'd be willing to share about your past giving me the tools I'll need to defeat the prophecy. See, the more I pay attention to you child, the more convinced I am that you cannot be the instrument of my downfall. Therefore, you must be the catalyst. And there are ways to neutralyze catalysts.
*****
What have I gotten myself into? Tristan stared at the strong one's back, then looked behind where the tall one and the plump one were conversing. She had felt guilty about giggling earlier, but the relief it provided offset the guilt. For the first time in a long time, since before she got to the slave camp, Tristan felt safe. She had seen with her own eyes the ease with which the strong one had stopped the head slaver. Tiny's face had changed from one in pain to one of peace. All thanks to the plump one's efforts. And the tall one. She had managed to give everyone what they wanted. Who were these three? And why did they choose her?
The strong one led the way out of the encampment. At the entrance, Tristan paused to look back. So that's what the outside of it looks like. It doesn't seem as scary out here. She spat on the ground then threw an apologetic look towards the approaching two. Neither of them acknowledged her or her actions. She hurried past them to get near Tiny again.
By the time the strong one stopped, Tristan could barely walk. Her side ached badly, she was dizzy from loss of blood, the pain in her thigh throbbed and her head pounded with every footstep. She had half expected the plump one to offer help but her own stubbornness prevented her from asking for it. Senseless stubborn She smiled at the half-remembered retort. Where did that phrase come from?
The strong one set Tiny down on some furs and the plump one hurried over to check on Tiny. The tall one went to the fire in the middle of their campground and lit it, then beckoned Tristan over. As Tristan approached, the warmth of the fire enveloped her so quickly that she shivered violently, as if to shed the cold that she hadn't noticed. She plopped down on the spot where the tall one had indicated she should but as she did, the dizziness overtook her and she half-blacked out.
Looking over at Tiny, she saw that he was resting fairly comfortably and that the plump one was coming towards her. The gentle smile on her face relaxed Tristan enough that she didn't flinch when the plump one sat down next to her. "Trust us enough that you'll let me take a look at those wounds yet?" Tristan gulped. Were her actions so apparent? "Tristan. Tiny is resting and he should wake up in a day or two. If I don't clean your wounds, you're not going to be awake when he wakes up. In fact, there's a good chance you won't be alive. But, understand this. We are not going to force help on you. Help is here if you want. Your choice."
Tristan managed to nod a yes before letting the pain totally wash out her consciousness.
The first thing she was aware of was how sore she was. She tried lifting her head; no, her neck hurt too much. She could hear voices nearby, not hushed per se but more like mindful. That's strange. Why did she hurt so badly? What caused - "TINY!" She didn't care about how hurt she was anymore. Jumping up, she looked around to see where Tiny was. She was greeted with frowned "shhhh's" and fingers pointed in one direction. Following their indication, she could see Tiny still among the furs, and the sigh of relief was audible.
Her knees gave out and she collapsed back on the spot where she had lain for how long? The strong one walked over with a bowl in her hands, "Drink this, it'll help bring some strength back in those legs." Tristan took the bowl without taking her eyes off the strong one and only when the strong one and rejoined the others on the other side of the fire did she look at the other two. All three of them were looking at her with undisguised amusement. Why amusement?
After the first two sips of the hot soup, the warmth and satiation was so immediate that she gulped the rest down. Laughs of approval told her the three were still observing her. After finishing the last drops, she took in her surroundings. One large tent apparently housed the three women with another smaller tent nearby. Four horses, tethered to a large tree were close to a wagon. Everything seemed clean and tidy but worn. No cages, nothing that should really alarm her but that whip hanging off that strong one's belt.
"Feel better?" The plump one's voice carried over the fire; an obvious smile could be heard as well. Tristan nodded. "Want more? There's more than enough to go around. Once Agatha gets going, she's likely to feed an army." This came from the strong one. What's the catch? As if sensing her hesitation, the tall one added, "Won't cost anything. Well, maybe a smile."
Getting up gingerly, Tristan tested out her strength. The soup had done wonders. It had cleared up most of her dizziness and gave her the strength to stand, albeit a bit wobbly. She looked around the ground and saw a stick, just about her size, apparently whittled down from a stout branch nearby. She glanced up at the big tree where the horses were and sure enough, a wound on the trunk showed her where the stick came from. Without forgetting her bowl, she picked up the stick gratefully and used it as a crutch to hobble over to where the other three sat waiting for her.
The three sat in a half circle and all three turned as one towards her. Of all sights, it was that which unnerved Tristan the most, this act of synchronicity. Tristan noticed a small heap of furs nearby and a nod from the strong one told her, that's where she was supposed to sit.. Too sore and tired to put up any resistance, Tristan flopped down on the furs immediately grateful for the softness and comfort. She leaned forward with her bowl in her hand. "I'd like some more please." and again, nods of approval came from all three. She couldn't help herself, she was pleased.
Instead of gulping, she took her time this time and tasted how good the soup was. Her enjoyment grew with each sip and a smile erupted on her face. "There you go, Cece! Ask and you shall receive." The plump one thumped Cece on the back resulting in a cough. "And thank you, Tristan for the compliment you just paid my cooking. I'm Agatha. S'not fair that we should have your name and you don't have ours, eh?" Agatha winked at her.
Tristan glanced over at the stout one. "Remy" was her reply. Tristan repeated to herself, Cece, Agatha and Remy before nodding. She kept up her slow enjoyment of the soup. Cece leaned forward asking, "So, Tristan. Know why you're here?" Tristan shook her head slowly.
"Hmm, know anything about the Three H Foundation?" Remy looked at her with an aloof curiositiy. Again, Tristan shook her head.
Agatha said to the two adults "Maybe we should ask something more basic." "Like?" the other two queried. Turning to Tristan, Agatha asked, "Do you know what the competiton was about?" Tristan shrugged, still staring at the three fairly intently.
The silence that followed was punctuated by the sounds of Tristan's slurping. Tristan finished her soup, wiped her mouth with the hem of the sleeve that was still wrapped around her, and said tentatively, "I know only four was supposed to live." "Anything else?"
Tristan's shoulders slumped. "Some said the four were taken away to use as food for royal families. Guess that made sense cause usually only the strongest wins." She looked at them with a tilt of her head. "You gonna eat me?" Roars of laughter told her the answer was no. She smiled a little now, hearted by the laughs. "Some said the four got to go to schools. I think that's hogsnot. Why would schools want to get beat up slaves?" This time, the responses were wry amusement which only made her look at them more intently. "Some say the four will get gladiator training. I think that's the likeliest. Otherwise, why would the tests be running and fighting?" Again, wry amusement greeted her.
"Do I get to ask questions?" Tristan crossed her arms as she asked. "Of course" and all three heads nodded in unison. "Are you the Three H Foundation?"
Cece straightened her back and said proudly, "I'm the Head of it." Remy piped up and said, "I'm the Hand" and Agatha said with a smile, "That leaves me with the Heart and may I say, Welcome." and again, all three heads nodded. Cece added, "But, again, as before, it is your choice. You are no longer a slave now, Tristan. That means should you find our teachings to be insufficient, you can always depart."
"What about Tiny?" Tristan glanced over to see Tiny stir a little, then settle back into a restful slumber.
Remy took the place of answerer this time. "He's free too. But I've a feeling where you go, he'll go." Remy's eyes twinkled in the firelight.
Tristan looked directly at Remy. "You going to teach me how to fight like you?" Remy's response delighted her. "As soon as you heal up." Tristan then looked at Agatha and asked, "You going to teach me how to heal people?" Agatha smiled and said, "Among other things, but yes." Tristan then stared at Cece intently before saying anything.
"And what will I teach you, Tristan?" Cece's smile held no judgement but rather, exuded warmth. Tristan thought about what she saw. It was obvious what the other two did, but Cece? She looked back into Cece's eyes and asked hesitantly, "To figure out what people want so you can get what you want?" The resulting laughter came from Remy and Agatha only; Cece looked amused but peeved at the other two. "Got you pegged, Cece!" Remy was almost crying she was laughing so hard. Cece said, "Ignore those two. Yes, I'll teach you the art of persuation - " "Persuasion she calls it!" and howls followed. " - as well as ways to observe, to sift your thoughts and deduce, in other words, to think. Do these things sound amenable to you?"
Despite her initial reluctance, Tristan now nodded with enthusiasm. Agatha got up and took Tristan by the hand. "First off, let's dress those wounds and put you in cleaner clothes, shall we?" The two disappeared into the smaller tent.
What have I gotten myself into? Tristan stared at the strong one's back, then looked behind where the tall one and the plump one were conversing. She had felt guilty about giggling earlier, but the relief it provided offset the guilt. For the first time in a long time, since before she got to the slave camp, Tristan felt safe. She had seen with her own eyes the ease with which the strong one had stopped the head slaver. Tiny's face had changed from one in pain to one of peace. All thanks to the plump one's efforts. And the tall one. She had managed to give everyone what they wanted. Who were these three? And why did they choose her?
The strong one led the way out of the encampment. At the entrance, Tristan paused to look back. So that's what the outside of it looks like. It doesn't seem as scary out here. She spat on the ground then threw an apologetic look towards the approaching two. Neither of them acknowledged her or her actions. She hurried past them to get near Tiny again.
By the time the strong one stopped, Tristan could barely walk. Her side ached badly, she was dizzy from loss of blood, the pain in her thigh throbbed and her head pounded with every footstep. She had half expected the plump one to offer help but her own stubbornness prevented her from asking for it. Senseless stubborn She smiled at the half-remembered retort. Where did that phrase come from?
The strong one set Tiny down on some furs and the plump one hurried over to check on Tiny. The tall one went to the fire in the middle of their campground and lit it, then beckoned Tristan over. As Tristan approached, the warmth of the fire enveloped her so quickly that she shivered violently, as if to shed the cold that she hadn't noticed. She plopped down on the spot where the tall one had indicated she should but as she did, the dizziness overtook her and she half-blacked out.
Looking over at Tiny, she saw that he was resting fairly comfortably and that the plump one was coming towards her. The gentle smile on her face relaxed Tristan enough that she didn't flinch when the plump one sat down next to her. "Trust us enough that you'll let me take a look at those wounds yet?" Tristan gulped. Were her actions so apparent? "Tristan. Tiny is resting and he should wake up in a day or two. If I don't clean your wounds, you're not going to be awake when he wakes up. In fact, there's a good chance you won't be alive. But, understand this. We are not going to force help on you. Help is here if you want. Your choice."
Tristan managed to nod a yes before letting the pain totally wash out her consciousness.
The first thing she was aware of was how sore she was. She tried lifting her head; no, her neck hurt too much. She could hear voices nearby, not hushed per se but more like mindful. That's strange. Why did she hurt so badly? What caused - "TINY!" She didn't care about how hurt she was anymore. Jumping up, she looked around to see where Tiny was. She was greeted with frowned "shhhh's" and fingers pointed in one direction. Following their indication, she could see Tiny still among the furs, and the sigh of relief was audible.
Her knees gave out and she collapsed back on the spot where she had lain for how long? The strong one walked over with a bowl in her hands, "Drink this, it'll help bring some strength back in those legs." Tristan took the bowl without taking her eyes off the strong one and only when the strong one and rejoined the others on the other side of the fire did she look at the other two. All three of them were looking at her with undisguised amusement. Why amusement?
After the first two sips of the hot soup, the warmth and satiation was so immediate that she gulped the rest down. Laughs of approval told her the three were still observing her. After finishing the last drops, she took in her surroundings. One large tent apparently housed the three women with another smaller tent nearby. Four horses, tethered to a large tree were close to a wagon. Everything seemed clean and tidy but worn. No cages, nothing that should really alarm her but that whip hanging off that strong one's belt.
"Feel better?" The plump one's voice carried over the fire; an obvious smile could be heard as well. Tristan nodded. "Want more? There's more than enough to go around. Once Agatha gets going, she's likely to feed an army." This came from the strong one. What's the catch? As if sensing her hesitation, the tall one added, "Won't cost anything. Well, maybe a smile."
Getting up gingerly, Tristan tested out her strength. The soup had done wonders. It had cleared up most of her dizziness and gave her the strength to stand, albeit a bit wobbly. She looked around the ground and saw a stick, just about her size, apparently whittled down from a stout branch nearby. She glanced up at the big tree where the horses were and sure enough, a wound on the trunk showed her where the stick came from. Without forgetting her bowl, she picked up the stick gratefully and used it as a crutch to hobble over to where the other three sat waiting for her.
The three sat in a half circle and all three turned as one towards her. Of all sights, it was that which unnerved Tristan the most, this act of synchronicity. Tristan noticed a small heap of furs nearby and a nod from the strong one told her, that's where she was supposed to sit.. Too sore and tired to put up any resistance, Tristan flopped down on the furs immediately grateful for the softness and comfort. She leaned forward with her bowl in her hand. "I'd like some more please." and again, nods of approval came from all three. She couldn't help herself, she was pleased.
Instead of gulping, she took her time this time and tasted how good the soup was. Her enjoyment grew with each sip and a smile erupted on her face. "There you go, Cece! Ask and you shall receive." The plump one thumped Cece on the back resulting in a cough. "And thank you, Tristan for the compliment you just paid my cooking. I'm Agatha. S'not fair that we should have your name and you don't have ours, eh?" Agatha winked at her.
Tristan glanced over at the stout one. "Remy" was her reply. Tristan repeated to herself, Cece, Agatha and Remy before nodding. She kept up her slow enjoyment of the soup. Cece leaned forward asking, "So, Tristan. Know why you're here?" Tristan shook her head slowly.
"Hmm, know anything about the Three H Foundation?" Remy looked at her with an aloof curiositiy. Again, Tristan shook her head.
Agatha said to the two adults "Maybe we should ask something more basic." "Like?" the other two queried. Turning to Tristan, Agatha asked, "Do you know what the competiton was about?" Tristan shrugged, still staring at the three fairly intently.
The silence that followed was punctuated by the sounds of Tristan's slurping. Tristan finished her soup, wiped her mouth with the hem of the sleeve that was still wrapped around her, and said tentatively, "I know only four was supposed to live." "Anything else?"
Tristan's shoulders slumped. "Some said the four were taken away to use as food for royal families. Guess that made sense cause usually only the strongest wins." She looked at them with a tilt of her head. "You gonna eat me?" Roars of laughter told her the answer was no. She smiled a little now, hearted by the laughs. "Some said the four got to go to schools. I think that's hogsnot. Why would schools want to get beat up slaves?" This time, the responses were wry amusement which only made her look at them more intently. "Some say the four will get gladiator training. I think that's the likeliest. Otherwise, why would the tests be running and fighting?" Again, wry amusement greeted her.
"Do I get to ask questions?" Tristan crossed her arms as she asked. "Of course" and all three heads nodded in unison. "Are you the Three H Foundation?"
Cece straightened her back and said proudly, "I'm the Head of it." Remy piped up and said, "I'm the Hand" and Agatha said with a smile, "That leaves me with the Heart and may I say, Welcome." and again, all three heads nodded. Cece added, "But, again, as before, it is your choice. You are no longer a slave now, Tristan. That means should you find our teachings to be insufficient, you can always depart."
"What about Tiny?" Tristan glanced over to see Tiny stir a little, then settle back into a restful slumber.
Remy took the place of answerer this time. "He's free too. But I've a feeling where you go, he'll go." Remy's eyes twinkled in the firelight.
Tristan looked directly at Remy. "You going to teach me how to fight like you?" Remy's response delighted her. "As soon as you heal up." Tristan then looked at Agatha and asked, "You going to teach me how to heal people?" Agatha smiled and said, "Among other things, but yes." Tristan then stared at Cece intently before saying anything.
"And what will I teach you, Tristan?" Cece's smile held no judgement but rather, exuded warmth. Tristan thought about what she saw. It was obvious what the other two did, but Cece? She looked back into Cece's eyes and asked hesitantly, "To figure out what people want so you can get what you want?" The resulting laughter came from Remy and Agatha only; Cece looked amused but peeved at the other two. "Got you pegged, Cece!" Remy was almost crying she was laughing so hard. Cece said, "Ignore those two. Yes, I'll teach you the art of persuation - " "Persuasion she calls it!" and howls followed. " - as well as ways to observe, to sift your thoughts and deduce, in other words, to think. Do these things sound amenable to you?"
Despite her initial reluctance, Tristan now nodded with enthusiasm. Agatha got up and took Tristan by the hand. "First off, let's dress those wounds and put you in cleaner clothes, shall we?" The two disappeared into the smaller tent.
posted by resigned idealist @ 11/07/2004 04:16:00 PM
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