Rabbit: A Talent Mark Novel

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to the bars of her cage. He smelled of onions, soured milk and hors

ords beyond his thick accent. When Mammon had taught her the outlanders tongu

e thought. To her knowledge Ma

s and not all blended together as many of the others. His clothing was different as well, and he smelled of the forest rather than the

er name?" Big

we picked her up. I do no

red at her. She stared back. "Usure she's got da ta

mark on her wrist?" Big-nose d

nothin, "

"Hold your hand out like this, " he told her. He spoke slowly to make sure she understood

"There, " he said. Big nose peered closely at the mark on her wrist. It was the mark of the Gahda and she had

standcha?

slowly and clearly, " Ponyta

man since the raiders sold her to him. Mentally, she counted fifteen nights with ponytail man. She was unsure how long she had been with the raiders. She just remembered many times having her jaws pried apart and a foul concoction poured down h

times a day, once upon waking, once when they stopped for lunch and once when they stopped for the night. A marked impr

of her with stout rope. The rope was scratchy and chafed her wrists. The rope was not tied tight enough to break the skin but after so many days, bands of red, raw skin circled her wrists. She tried not to wince. He le

There was a mocking undertone but no offense was taken. Big-

The cage had prevented her from seeing too much and she took the opportunity to look around as best as she could. The caravan Ponytail man belonged with had started to move

of them paid no attention to her while others openly stared. She ducked her head and rounded her shoulders as if protecting her inner core from the weight of their eyes. As they approached the

uildings seemed to lean over the streets turning the world below into a shadow land. They to

. He increased his pace and took turns purposefully. She had to jog to match his pace and after very

had ever seen. She could not help but goggle at the size and the pointy fingers

appeared to be trying to separate his words for her benefit and had an odd look of concentration as

n more dazzling after the walk in the shadow maze of streets. He slowed his pace to give her a little more time to take it in. Pride was written across his face a

r composed of the same dark stone as the wall. She shivered as they moved through the cool shadows. Light came from torches set at regular intervals aga

didn't stop to chat. All of them ignored her. They took several turns and she tried to count them, but ended up just as confused as she had been on the streets. Finally, th

oor. He stepped inside, pulling her through a

not see who spoke as Big-nose, or rather Grayson blocked her view. The word

down she could see thick carpet beneath her boots. She looked back up as Grayson stepped to the side so

so that the transition between the two looked almost seamless. His shirt was snowy white rather than the brownish homespun Grayson wore. His hair was black but liberally

down when the knock sounded. "The History of the Baronies of Helda

he raiders ever take her. She knew from those same lessons that Heldan was what the outlanders called their home, although she did not know what the

young, "

n sir by ta mark." The sea

doesn't look

ir, but ta ma

your name?" The question was aime

Ranger what brung h

y well, Rabbit it is. Thank you Grayson, excellent work as always

he had managed to count the turns and was reasonably sure she could find her way back to the well dressed man Grayson seemed to respect. She had no idea of what u

ot at the nape of her neck. Her dress was of a dark blue and edged with snowy white lace. When she moved, the tips o

, neither hard nor soft. She had been working with some sort of shuttle attached to stri

he shoulder and then left the room, closing the door behind him. Harmony continued to look her over and she was aware of every s

ng the silence. "I believe we have some of her clothing from that time that is still serv

rough a room lined with shelves filled floor to ceiling with books. The only furniture was a small writing desk w

as they descended and she had the feeling of being underground. There was nothing to soften this passage, just dark gray stone lit by torches set in plain metal brackets

nd the more attractive elements added to the castle. The Baron who built this keep wanted a safe supply of water for his people in time

stone as the walls and floor. Harmony walked over to a room divider. It was made of green cloth stretched over a wooden frame. It had three panels

rl's wrists. "Come then." She walked over to the corner and picked up two buckets. Harmony then walked over to the well and attached one to the chain

second bucket. She poured the water into the bath and returned with the empty just as Harmony unhooked the second bucket from the line. They trade

e box next to the bath, feel free to use as much as you wish." Harmony pulled the screen open

clothing so that it can be taken to be laundered. Do not leave the well room until I come to g

she had ever undressed before, she stripped letting her filthy clothes fall to a pile at her feet. She removed a small leather pouch she had kept hidden under her clothing but left the remainde

water stung the abraded skin on her wrists but she ignored the pain. Instead, she thought of heat; the heat of a warm loaf of bread or a hot mug of tea on a frosty night. She thought of the warmth of the sun as she helped gather kasha frui