Chapter 4 - with notes

Terrified? Anxious? Excellent. Now you have an inkling of what life has been like under this prophecy. I see the trio are frightened for you. I believe I shall enjoy watching them writhe with worry. I shan't make a move... yet. But this situation may yet need a royal touch, shall we say?

*******

"I can't watch!" Agatha's clucking took on a hysterical tone. Her arms flew wildly about.

Without taking her eyes off the girl, Cece poked Remy in the ribs while whispering, "Do something."

Remy glanced over at Agatha and saw that she had leaned her wooden chair back onto two legs. With a quick sweep of her leg, Remy tilted the chair back onto one leg amidst cries of "OH! OH! OH!" from Agatha, kicked and swung the chair around until it faced away from the field. Then with her foot, she caught the seat of the chair before it fell too far back, and set the chair back down on four feet. "There, Agatha, don't watch."

"Remy, she's in real trouble down there. Damnit, that blow got in!" Cece wrung her hands in frustration. "What are the rules again? Can we stop this carnage?"

"Forget the rules!" Agatha, though heavy for her size, lept over the dais landing on three townsfolk. "Thank you boys." and she got up, brushing herself off. Striding purposefully between the crowds, she got to the fence seperating the field from the throng and turned back with a challengeful look. "Coming girls?"

[Author's Notes] Damnit, I hate it when characters run off with the plot. Oh well, I have no choice but to follow. WOOHOOO!!!! passed the 5000 words mark. only 7500 to go to be at where I'm supposed to be, midnight Sunday. But Ut oh. Just lost about three paragraphs when IE froze up on me. Yeah I know, I shouldn't be creating as I'm going but it's helping me and I don't want to stop.

Above on the dais, the other two shrugged and hopped down into the crowds. Amidst angry shouts from both the slavers and crowd, they shouldered their way to the front when three slavers barred their prorgress.

"A hand, Cece?" Remy was looking past the barrier of slavers.

Cece held out her hand, "Sure, Remy." Remy slipped the end of her always nearby whip into Cece's open palm. Grabbing it, Cece said, "How about two?" and she clasped both hands together in front of her to form a bridge.

Springing onto the clasped hands, Remy used it to propel herself over the heads of the astonished slavers. With a big jerk on the handle of the whip, she yelled out to the slavers, "Behind you!" All three whipped around to see Cece leaping at their heads, and all three ducked. Cece sailed over them with ease following the whip.

"Works every time!" Remy shouted as they sprinted after the huffing Agatha. "Amazing, the human psyche." agreed Cece.

Astonished kids stood still on the field. Slavers screeched at them to stop. Townsfolk murmured in the stands. Agatha reached the far corner, where the girl was still fending off two attackers while laying across what looked like an unconscious child. Apparently, none of the three noticed the intrusion.

"Halt!" Agatha spoke in a clear voice that carried throughout the field and into the stands. The two attackers stopped in mid-blow, then turned around looking at her with bewilderment. She merely asked them to stand aside.

The girl had her back to the unconscious boy on the ground. She leaned back on him and was apparently using her feet to fend off the attackers as well as an almost broken through board. Agatha did a quick assessment. Bleeding from the head, side, thigh and shoulder. Perhaps a broken bone or three from the way she was wincing. Behind her, she could hear the other two catching up with the head slaver not far behind.

"What In Srygo's name do you three think you're doing? You know how much copper I'll lose?" The head slaver was poking at Remy's chest hard, spraying spit all over her face. Without a word, Remy grabbed his hand, bent the finger back and twisted his arm arournd until he was kneeling on the ground.

Agatha knelt down, gently saying to the hurt and scared girl, "It's over now. We're taking you with us." She expected thanks, tears, bewilderment, but not this. The girl was shaking her head vehemently. "No. Tiny goes."

Cece's voice floated over Agatha's head, "Is that Tiny behind you?" and the girl nodded. "The rules say that a school can only take one. You understand that, right?" and the girl nodded, though her shoulders slumped.

Remy whispered in Cece's ear. "You know we all want the girl. She's perfect for us. She uses her head, she's got heart, and she's a fighter." A firm nod told Remy Cece agreed.

Cece leaned over to the yowling man. "Sir, what would make it worth your while for us to take both?" and she beamed a reconciliary smile. A nod of her head and Remy released the man. Cece threw an arm around the shorter man and walked off with him discussing terms.

"There," Agatha said softly to the girl, holding her hand out for the board that was still held firmly in front. "I need to see to your friend. Make sure he's nod badly hurt. I'm a healer." Agatha was relieved to see the girl hand her board over to Remy and move aside just enough to allow Agatha a better view.

Remy beckoned the girl over. "C'mere and let's take a look at what kind of trouble we've gotten ourselves into." A wry smile apparently comforted the child enough that she did come forth. "Bet that hurt." Remy pointed to the wound on the girl's side, aware that any movement towards the girl might send her off. The girl nodded, then glanced behind her to see what Agatha was doing.

Agatha was hunched over the boy, tenderly lifting up his head to see what was causing the blowflood. A large gash near the back plus a lump was oozing. She tore at her sleeve with her teeth and then pulled apart the tear to use as a bandange around the boy's head.

"And she wonders why she doesn't have nice clothes," smirked Remy. She got up to look around some of the fallen, quickly determining all of the rest were dead. Coming upon the boy with the board sticking out of his temple, she grimaced at the memory of the stricken look on the child's face when it happened. She looked back; the girl's gaze had followed her movements and she saw whom Remy was standing over. Partially wondering if she should go comfort the child, Remy turned and walked over to see the two attackers.

Cece finished her negotiations and strode back to the corner. Looking about, she saw Remy talking with two remaining slaves. Agatha was lifting the boy into her arms and the girl? Where was the girl? She finally spotted the girl hunched over a corpse. As she approached, she saw the girl take off her sackcloth covering and lay it on top of the corpse. Cece nodded in approval.

Agatha panted under the weight of the boy but she kept a firm grip. She had the absolute confidence that Cece had managed to somehow procure both children. Clucking, she went over the girl and knelt down beside the child. "He's going to be fine. Just a bad cut and bump on the head. He'll sleep for a while. Okay, this is what I want you to do. See that thread from my sleeve? Tug on it gently. Don't tug the wrong one or I'll be showing these people much more than they paid for." A giggle followed and relief drenched Agatha. Good, the child wasn't in shock - yet. "Okay, now pull off my sleeve and wrap it around yourself. We don't need runny noses on this trip."

[Author's Notes] 6,000 word mark! Woohoo!!!

After Remy left the attackers, she headed right for Agatha and took the boy from her, knowing that Agatha wouldn't last with the burden. She glanced over at Cece's approached and asked, "Well?"

Cece thought her grin would suffice but Remy jabbed her with an elbow.

"Remy's right. Details. What did you give them?" A cluck followed.

"Oh, just a couple of things. We bought the boy. Woodruff is his name but everyone calls him Tiny. We awarded the scholarship to this bleeding child. Her moniker is Tristan." Cece ignored their smirks at the term "moniker". "Plus, we promised never to grace their grusome presence again..." She paused.

"AND?" The other two squawked together and Agatha's arms flailed about, causing Remy to regret taking the boy from her hands.

"And, happy birthday, dear Agatha. I know it's a couple weeks early, but I couldn't resist." Suitably satisfied by the confusion on both their faces, she continued. "I told him in reparations for any financial burdens he may have received from our intrusion, I told him we'd heal any slaves he sent our way, for the next two years."

"Eeeee! Thank you!" Agatha flung herself at Cece ruffling Cece's carefully coifed hair. Remy nodded at Tristan and the two walked off the field amidst cries of "How did you know that's what I wanted?"

As Agatha and Cece followed, she turned back to the remaining children, scanned to make sure the ones remaining weren't ones she'd cry over, then gestured to them, saying "Go on. Continue." and she stalked off.

Chapter 4

Terrified? Anxious? Excellent. Now you have an inkling of what life has been like under this prophecy. I see the trio are frightened for you. I believe I shall enjoy watching them writhe with worry. I shan't make a move... yet. But this situation may yet need a royal touch, shall we say?

*******

"I can't watch!" Agatha's clucking took on a hysterical tone. Her arms flew wildly about.

Without taking her eyes off the girl, Cece poked Remy in the ribs while whispering, "Do something."

Remy glanced over at Agatha and saw that she had leaned her wooden chair back onto two legs. With a quick sweep of her leg, Remy tilted the chair back onto one leg amidst cries of "OH! OH! OH!" from Agatha, kicked and swung the chair around until it faced away from the field. Then with her foot, she caught the seat of the chair before it fell too far back, and set the chair back down on four feet. "There, Agatha, don't watch."

"Remy, she's in real trouble down there. Damnit, that blow got in!" Cece wrung her hands in frustration. "What are the rules again? Can we stop this carnage?"

"Forget the rules!" Agatha, though heavy for her size, lept over the dais landing on three townsfolk. "Thank you boys." and she got up, brushing herself off. Striding purposefully between the crowds, she got to the fence seperating the field from the throng and turned back with a challengeful look. "Coming girls?"

Above on the dais, the other two shrugged and hopped down into the crowds. Amidst angry shouts from both the slavers and crowd, they shouldered their way to the front when three slavers barred their prorgress.

"A hand, Cece?" Remy was looking past the barrier of slavers.

Cece held out her hand, "Sure, Remy." Remy slipped the end of her always nearby whip into Cece's open palm. Grabbing it, Cece said, "How about two?" and she clasped both hands together in front of her to form a bridge.

Springing onto the clasped hands, Remy used it to propel herself over the heads of the astonished slavers. With a big jerk on the handle of the whip, she yelled out to the slavers, "Behind you!" All three whipped around to see Cece leaping at their heads, and all three ducked. Cece sailed over them with ease following the whip.

"Works every time!" Remy shouted as they sprinted after the huffing Agatha. "Amazing, the human psyche." agreed Cece.

Astonished kids stood still on the field. Slavers screeched at them to stop. Townsfolk murmured in the stands. Agatha reached the far corner, where the girl was still fending off two attackers while laying across what looked like an unconscious child. Apparently, none of the three noticed the intrusion.

"Halt!" Agatha spoke in a clear voice that carried throughout the field and into the stands. The two attackers stopped in mid-blow, then turned around looking at her with bewilderment. She merely asked them to stand aside.

The girl had her back to the unconscious boy on the ground. She leaned back on him and was apparently using her feet to fend off the attackers as well as an almost broken through board. Agatha did a quick assessment. Bleeding from the head, side, thigh and shoulder. Perhaps a broken bone or three from the way she was wincing. Behind her, she could hear the other two catching up with the head slaver not far behind.

"What In Srygo's name do you three think you're doing? You know how much copper I'll lose?" The head slaver was poking at Remy's chest hard, spraying spit all over her face. Without a word, Remy grabbed his hand, bent the finger back and twisted his arm arournd until he was kneeling on the ground.

Agatha knelt down, gently saying to the hurt and scared girl, "It's over now. We're taking you with us." She expected thanks, tears, bewilderment, but not this. The girl was shaking her head vehemently. "No. Tiny goes."

Cece's voice floated over Agatha's head, "Is that Tiny behind you?" and the girl nodded. "The rules say that a school can only take one. You understand that, right?" and the girl nodded, though her shoulders slumped.

Remy whispered in Cece's ear. "You know we all want the girl. She's perfect for us. She uses her head, she's got heart, and she's a fighter." A firm nod told Remy Cece agreed.

Cece leaned over to the yowling man. "Sir, what would make it worth your while for us to take both?" and she beamed a reconciliary smile. A nod of her head and Remy released the man. Cece threw an arm around the shorter man and walked off with him discussing terms.

"There," Agatha said softly to the girl, holding her hand out for the board that was still held firmly in front. "I need to see to your friend. Make sure he's nod badly hurt. I'm a healer." Agatha was relieved to see the girl hand her board over to Remy and move aside just enough to allow Agatha a better view.

Remy beckoned the girl over. "C'mere and let's take a look at what kind of trouble we've gotten ourselves into." A wry smile apparently comforted the child enough that she did come forth. "Bet that hurt." Remy pointed to the wound on the girl's side, aware that any movement towards the girl might send her off. The girl nodded, then glanced behind her to see what Agatha was doing.

Agatha was hunched over the boy, tenderly lifting up his head to see what was causing the blowflood. A large gash near the back plus a lump was oozing. She tore at her sleeve with her teeth and then pulled apart the tear to use as a bandange around the boy's head.

"And she wonders why she doesn't have nice clothes," smirked Remy. She got up to look around some of the fallen, quickly determining all of the rest were dead. Coming upon the boy with the board sticking out of his temple, she grimaced at the memory of the stricken look on the child's face when it happened. She looked back; the girl's gaze had followed her movements and she saw whom Remy was standing over. Partially wondering if she should go comfort the child, Remy turned and walked over to see the two attackers.

Cece finished her negotiations and strode back to the corner. Looking about, she saw Remy talking with two remaining slaves. Agatha was lifting the boy into her arms and the girl? Where was the girl? She finally spotted the girl hunched over a corpse. As she approached, she saw the girl take off her sackcloth covering and lay it on top of the corpse. Cece nodded in approval.

Agatha panted under the weight of the boy but she kept a firm grip. She had the absolute confidence that Cece had managed to somehow procure both children. Clucking, she went over the girl and knelt down beside the child. "He's going to be fine. Just a bad cut and bump on the head. He'll sleep for a while. Okay, this is what I want you to do. See that thread from my sleeve? Tug on it gently. Don't tug the wrong one or I'll be showing these people much more than they paid for." A giggle followed and relief drenched Agatha. Good, the child wasn't in shock - yet. "Okay, now pull off my sleeve and wrap it around yourself. We don't need runny noses on this trip."

After Remy left the attackers, she headed right for Agatha and took the boy from her, knowing that Agatha wouldn't last with the burden. She glanced over at Cece's approached and asked, "Well?"

Cece thought her grin would suffice but Remy jabbed her with an elbow.

"Remy's right. Details. What did you give them?" A cluck followed.

"Oh, just a couple of things. We bought the boy. Woodruff is his name but everyone calls him Tiny. We awarded the scholarship to this bleeding child. Her moniker is Tristan." Cece ignored their smirks at the term "moniker". "Plus, we promised never to grace their grusome presence again..." She paused.

"AND?" The other two squawked together and Agatha's arms flailed about, causing Remy to regret taking the boy from her hands.

"And, happy birthday, dear Agatha. I know it's a couple weeks early, but I couldn't resist." Suitably satisfied by the confusion on both their faces, she continued. "I told him in reparations for any financial burdens he may have received from our intrusion, I told him we'd heal any slaves he sent our way, for the next two years."

"Eeeee! Thank you!" Agatha flung herself at Cece ruffling Cece's carefully coifed hair. Remy nodded at Tristan and the two walked off the field amidst cries of "How did you know that's what I wanted?"

As Agatha and Cece followed, she turned back to the remaining children, scanned to make sure the ones remaining weren't ones she'd cry over, then gestured to them, saying "Go on. Continue." and she stalked off.

More Author's Notes

[Author's Notes] Yes, I know, you hate cliffhangers. But I love them, so oh well. Okay, you may notice that the Chapter 3 is posted prior to Part D. That's cause I thought it would make things easier for people who might be checking in daily. Know that Part D was finished and the entirely was published just a few minutes afterwards.

Kat's story is in limbo right now, so bear with me. I know there's not enough to show you what kind of character she really is but I can't wait to write her. But in her adult years. As I said earlier, I don't have much of Kat's background yet.

Hope you're enjoying this as much as I am. I really have to give thanks to my other here. She's out in the hallway painting right now, and she'll be putting in the flooring we had purchased. If it's not for her enthusiasm towards this, I probably would've given up already.

Chapter 3 - Part D

[Author's Notes] Again, I'm repeating that one paragraph so you can follow.

Tiny! Gotta protect Ti - Another blow hit her on her right shoulder. She thrust her arms out in front of her with a hand on each end to block the blows. "ARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!" With no concept that she was yelling, she ran forward with all her might pushing through her legs into the ground and pushed back a couple of slaves into another one. Dashing back to where Tiny was, she swung blindly, and hit Arite square in the nose. Blood squirted and he staggered back. Then, pain exploded in her thigh.

She looked down and her stomach churned in reaction. Nails sticking through a board were imbedded in her thigh! She sensed someone coming at her and she stabbed at the ground with her board. Somehow, her board landed square on an incoming foot and a scream ensued, then someone stumbled back.

"TINY! GET IT OUT!" Her lungs hurt with the effort she put into screaming but next she felt a tug at the board hanging off her thigh, then a wrench. She screamed, then swung with her board, catching someone trying to get at Tiny. Warm liquid was dripping down her leg and it tickled. Looking up, she saw Arite lunging for Tiny, but she was too far away. She flung the board hard and hoped it found its mark.

Hearing a scream of "GET HER!" she ducked but while one attacker missed her, another plowed right into her side. Tumbling over banging into the side of a wall, her breath whooshed out of her. Tiny saw that she was in trouble and chucked the board he was holding over to her, yelling for her to catch it.

She stuck out her hand and caught the board, then swung with all her might. Her jaw fell when she looked to see what happened. It was Burk, a cell-mate. One she had considered friendly. And he looked at her funny, with unseeing eyes. Time seemed to slow then. His mouth was agape, and spittle was flying out as he tried to gasp out a word. Slowly sinking to his knees, he reached out to her and then fell over.

A screeched pierced her paralysis. Arite had gotten to Tiny! Hunching over, she hurled herself at the slaves now surrounding the alarmed boy. A slash ripped her side open but still she scrambled over tumbled kids. Launching herself at Arite, she clawed until she clambered onto his back. Baring her teeth, she took a chunk out of his neck and hopped off as he whirled away in pain. Twisting on her ankle, she stumbled. And took a blow squarely on her back.

Author's Notes

[Author's Notes] Okay, if you've visited this site before, you'll notice a few changes. I added completed chapters, some permanent thoughts, and some links to the sidebar.

There's also a drawing of me there. The picture was done by P. Craig Russell, one of the world's best comic book artists and appeared in a Dark Horse comic called, Elric: Stormbringer (I'm pretty sure this is the one the pictures of me appeared in). Hmm I just looked at the link. Didn't know that Neil Gaiman had a hand in it. LOL Anyway to finish with the credits, Michael Moorcock wrote Elric in prose form and Craig adapted it. One day, if I'm in the mood for it, I'll explain how I came to be within those pages and some other comics as well.

As you can see, Chapter 3 has been kind of hard for me. It's been fits and starts, partially cause of real life, partially cause of my own stupidity. I need to picture myself within the scene the night before I write. That way, it's more like reporting. Chapter 3 has been excruciating for me cause I haven't done the shall-we-say meditation the night before. My bad.

With perseverance, I hope to get on a huge roll. Last night, I was on one, but due to technical difficulties and the cold, I had to stop. Yes, for those of you who read between the lines, that means that I actually create as I'm posting. What you're seeing is fresh spew, folks. Nice imagery, eh? *smirks*

Anyway, back to the tough stuff. The words that actually matter. or not. *laughs at her ownself*

Chapter 3

Blows and fists won't deflate you, but the sight of losers being taken away will? Hmm, useful knowledge indeed. You are the offspring of that weak-willed, jittery changeling, aren't you? If I let you survive this, you will have to go to one of the four schools but which one? Which one will prove least dangerous for me? The Military Arts Specialiaty School, The Watcher Institute for Learned Youth or the Church and University of Life Texts or what's this? It seems the trio from the Three H Foundation has taken a fancy to you. I wonder, will this be taken out of my hands? Oh but I can already see the advantages: with them, you will learn all disciplines, but specialize in none. And that means, you'll be able to fathom exactly how you're failing in your destiny. Ah, child. You are bringing me far too much enjoyment.

*******

They were given a respite of a few hours; after all, the townspeople's appetite for carnage had to be whetted. Screams from dying kids filled the small cell the twenty-four survivors were crammed into. Gagging from the stench of the puke and excrement along the edges, Tristan tried to calm herself. Her left fingers automatically curled up to stroke the gem embedded within her palm. With each stroke, her breathing eased and her gag reflexes stopped its threats.

Tiny flopped down beside her, grinning. "Lookit!" He spread open his hands to show her two pieces of bread. She threw him a grin of gratitude as she snatched them up. "Dit - Hhh!" She gasped as bits of crumbs flew out of her mouth.

Stifling his laugh, Tiny indicated that she should finish eating before attempting another word. "Wait here!" he whispered into her ear. Bounding off, he returned a few seconds later with something behind his back. Grinning even wider now, he produced with as much flourish as he could in that cell, a small leather sac swaying about in his grip.

Realizing what it was, she quickly plucked the sac out of his hand and drank deeply. "Thanks, Tiny." She quickly swiped at her mouth to brush off crumbs and regretted it instantly. Now her face was filthier and her action made the odor that much closer. "How -"

He jabbed a finger at the cell door. A slaver was handing out food to everyone. "Think they want us strong out there."

She agreed with a nod. "Did you get some?" A grin told her he got his fill, not just some. She hugged him and went over plans with him before noticing Arite in the corner. Arite was jabbing his thumb at them while jabbering away at half a dozen kids. Narrowing her eyes at him, she knew with drenching clarity that while she had a plan, so did Arite and his plan bode Tiny harm.

A shifting in the atmosphere and the quieting down of the crowd indicated to her that the second part of the competiton was coming up. This was the one the crowds were waiting for, the one the executions had built up to. A shudder serpentined its way up her spine.

Fresh pungent smells filled the cell as one by one, the slaves realized what was imminent. Passionate prayers to various gods were whispered desperately. Tristan's own breathing quickened but as she subconsciously curled her left fingers to stroke the embedded stone, she felt a serenity descend from her head down through the rest of her body. Glancing about, she saw Arite with a small crowd of young toughs around, laughing and gesturing at her and Tiny.

A weapon! I need something if we're to see this through. She closed her eyes to focus on what she saw on the field. Something had tugged at her memory. Relaxing and focusing, she took a deep breath and pictured things strewn about the field. What were they? Clenching her eyes shut, she saw them. Boards! With nails sticking out of them.

She didn't have to wonder why they were there. All she knew now, was she had to have one. So, then the plan was to grab a board and then maneuver Tiny into a corner to protect him. Gods, what are we waiting for? Let's just get it over with!

As if on command, the cell door clanged open and a burly smelly slaver stepped through. Without a word, she started shoving children one by one out the cell. Ones who showed resistance received a heavy cuff across the back of the head. When the slaver approached, Tristan stood up quickly and yanked Tiny up by his collar, then shoved him out the door. She followed with a glance towards the slaver and was rewarded by a nod.

She followed Tiny and the single file to where the sunlight drenched the hallway. Overtaking Tiny so she could protect him from the front, she stepped out into bright blinding light. The roar of the crowds struck her with an almost physical force; she hadn't expected the noise to be a factor. Her left hand began the stroking of the stone but the clamoring had frightened her deeply.

Forget everything else. Just think about Tiny. Looking behind her, she saw that the noise had pretty much affected everyone the same way. Tiny was paralyzed and blocking the rest of the slaves from entering the field. Oh good, he was providing her with an excuse. She ran back to him, grabbed his hand and pulled him into the middle where the first entrants were gathered.

Pushing past them, she dragged Tiny to the edge of the circle closest to the corner with the least boards. That way, hopefully, less to deal with. The last of the slaves wouldn't come out, so a lumbering slaver jogged over, slugged the kid and threw the unconscious child into the middle and immediately a gong sounded.

Running off with Tiny in tow, she ducked under a blow, yanking Tiny's hand hard enough to bend him over and avoid the same blow. As she ducked, she snatched up a board, saw that it had nails with blood and hair on it, and threw it into the crowd. An angry roar followed. She had caught the crowd's attention without meaning to.

She managed to find a board without nails in it and getting to the corner, she threw Tiny into it then turned around to duck under someone leaping at her. Instinctively, she jabbed upwards with the board as the attacker sailed over her and then thrust with all her might while hanging onto the board. It worked. The attacker flew harmlessly away.

Someone struck her from her left side. She didn't try to swing with the board; there was no room. No room? Arite's sneering voice came from somewhere close. "That's him. In the corner."

Tiny! Gotta protect Ti - Another blow hit her on her right shoulder. She thrust her arms out in front of her with a hand on each end to block the blows. "ARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!" With no concept that she was yelling, she ran forward with all her might pushing through her legs into the ground and pushed back a couple of slaves into another one. Dashing back to where Tiny was, she swung blindly, and hit Arite square in the nose. Blood squirted and he staggered back. Then, pain exploded in her thigh.

She looked down and her stomach churned in reaction. Nails sticking through a board were imbedded in her thigh! She sensed someone coming at her and she stabbed at the ground with her board. Somehow, her board landed square on an incoming foot and a scream ensued, then someone stumbled back.

"TINY! GET IT OUT!" Her lungs hurt with the effort she put into screaming but next she felt a tug at the board hanging off her thigh, then a wrench. She screamed, then swung with her board, catching someone trying to get at Tiny. Warm liquid was dripping down her leg and it tickled. Looking up, she saw Arite lunging for Tiny, but she was too far away. She flung the board hard and hoped it found its mark.

Hearing a scream of "GET HER!" she ducked but while one attacker missed her, another plowed right into her side. Tumbling over banging into the side of a wall, her breath whooshed out of her. Tiny saw that she was in trouble and chucked the board he was holding over to her, yelling for her to catch it.

She stuck out her hand and caught the board, then swung with all her might. Her jaw fell when she looked to see what happened. It was Burk, a cell-mate. One she had considered friendly. And he looked at her funny, with unseeing eyes. Time seemed to slow then. His mouth was agape, and spittle was flying out as he tried to gasp out a word. Slowly sinking to his knees, he reached out to her and then fell over.

A screeched pierced her paralysis. Arite had gotten to Tiny! Hunching over, she hurled herself at the slaves now surrounding the alarmed boy. A slash ripped her side open but still she scrambled over tumbled kids. Launching herself at Arite, she clawed until she clambered onto his back. Baring her teeth, she took a chunk out of his neck and hopped off as he whirled away in pain. Twisting on her ankle, she stumbled. And took a blow squarely on her back.