Of Nightshade and Woodsmoke

by LadyDaybreaker

Summary:

To be a Courtesan of the Eliosian empire can be seen as a blessing. You are treated as a noble, as a confidant, given mostly anything your heart desires...

It's an absolute nightmare for Uzi.

But, due to the mistakes her homeland had done, she has no choice in the matter. Now brought into a world of politics and romance, the free-spirited woman is up to her neck in new experiences...and some of them, like any good poison, can be deadly.

Notes:

• For InspiredDragonWriter.

Chapter 1: 1

Notes:

So this was a challenge issued by InspiredDragonWriter and I got curious. I'll put some neat little info about things at the bottom which'll explain the kind of direction I'm taking this fic.

1

Long ago, the Kingdom of Aenea was known as the most vibrant and wealthy nation on the continent. Exporting precious gemstones and metals along its many ports and trade routes…it was a prize that anyone would be a madman not to have. And unfortunately for the Kingdom, the Emperor of the Eliosian Empire was not a madman. 

A bloody and brutal war ensued, the Aenean Kingdom using it’s great wealth and allies to fight back against the Empire that threatened it…but as wealth does, it dried up. And so did the will of the Aeneans’ allies to help. Left alone and abandoned, the once proud Aeneans submitted to the Eliosians…and so their kingdom was absorbed. 

As punishment for the great amount of loss suffered by both sides, an exchange was created. Every 18 years, the shattered remnant of the Aenean Kingdom would offer up a son or daughter to be made into a courtesan of the Imperial palace. 

And this year was no exception.

A small home, more mudbrick and straw lean-to than house, was alit with candlelight in the waning hours of the night. The stars above were beginning to hide their faces under oncoming clouds…the very land seeming to weep for the coming loss of one of its children. 

By the firepit of the small hovel, bare toes curling into the dust and cracked mud floor beneath her, sat a young woman of eighteen. Her long, raven-feathered hair catching glints of violet and blue in the crackling flames that amethyst eyes stared into. A cauldron of iron bubbled morosely over the coals, heating up water for a bath that she knew she needed and yet hated all the same. She scratched at the caked mud and dirt on her cheek, dimly wondering if she should just…run to the woods and hide in the many caves she knew were there. 

She immediately doused that ember of thought before it could catch. Her mother knew all her hiding spots. So did her father. 

But that was what one got when your mother was an apothecary and your father was a huntsman that treated the woods as a sacred cathedral in which they worshiped the gods of sun, sky, and earth.

She also knew that if she ran…they would likely kill her parents. She was on the registry, she was known to be of age. 

The sound of bare and calloused feet tapping quietly against the earth of their home caught her attention. She felt the warm, thorn torn hands of her mother on her shoulders and she gave a small, dogwood crooked smile up at her.

“Good morning, kiddo,” her mother’s birdsong and whisperwind voice murmured, “Is the water warm?”

“...Yeah…I got it on the firepit not long ago. It…should be warm enough now.” 

Her mother’s hands trembled as she gave her shoulders a light squeeze. But she said nothing as she walked over to the cauldron and lifted it off the flames. A twilight gaze lingered on her daughter’s face for a moment and the younger mirror got to her feet to fetch the bathing basin.

The worn, dirtied linen shift was taken off as her mother poured the water into the basin. The older woman bustled over to a basket full of sweet smelling oils drained from flower’s lifeblood while the younger put up tattered sheets to preserve modesty should her father come home from his early morning hunt. The scent of lilac and lavender and honeysuckle filled the air as her mother’s deft hands dropped the precious phials of liquid into the water. Lye soap was grabbed next as the younger woman slowly edged herself into the warm water. A soft sigh left her as the aching joints from previous days’ work were soothed and her mother gave a soft chuckle as she began to wash her hair.

“Start scrubbing yourself down, kiddo,” came the gentle reminder as her mother’s fingers tangled in the mass of ravens’ feathers that was her daughter’s hair.

“If I don’t they’re less likely to pick me though…” came the reminder.

“ Susannah ,” her mother warned, getting her daughter to pull a face at the mention of her full name, “Uzi, you know that’s not how it works,”

“Worth a shot,” Uzi shrugged, getting her mother to chuckle again.

“If you are chosen…it’ll be a better life for you than here,” her mother’s voice was soft, “As much as I’d…really, really hate it.”

“Better life for you and Dad too,” Uzi grumbled, “Won’t be stuck in this place…freezing to death over winter. I know Dad lost a couple toes last time…”

“That sweet idiot,” her mother chuckled, “Using his own body heat to protect us…it’s my fault, I should have made sure that the house was sealed,”

“I could have made better  sealant,” Uzi admitted, “The furs that Dad got from hunting were fine but…well…”

“Not much to do against a blizzard,”

“Yeah…”

The two women fell into silence, the only sounds being the sound of lye soap being scrunched into hair and skin and the gentle splash of water as the body within the liquid shifted to get clean. It was a solemn ritual, one that had been passed down from mother to daughter for centuries. Once a wedding celebration hymn…now a funeral mourning dirge.

After a while, Uzi was deemed clean enough by her mother. The smell of lilac and lavender, honeysuckle and spiced herbs followed her as she was redressed in a clean linen shift. Her mother returned with a bundle, tied in twine with old crackled paper to keep the bugs away and dirt from it. 

“...I wore this for mine,” her mother told her, “I didn’t get chosen so…maybe it’ll have the same luck for you,”

Uzi took the bundle, undoing the twine with shaking fingers and revealing a dress of deep violet. A silver clasp lovingly held the waistline together under silken fabric, swirling stars and moons arching over the metal. It was a simple thing, a beautiful thing. One of creek eddies and stardust on an aspen grove, one of whispering willow branches and dancing woodsmoke. 

Her mother helped her put it on, the silken folds flutter-rippling down her hips and arms like butterflies on a spring wind. For a moment…she felt like a goddess come to Earth.

As they quietly talked, her mother working on braiding and combing her mane of raven feathers until the black tangled mass had become smooth and silken waves, the door opened and Uzi saw her father come inside. Her father was a tall, sturdy man. Rugged and ragged as the hills that he wandered through on the daily. His tanned skin was leathery and cracked from the Sun that blessed his cheeks with a copper kiss, but his eyes remained falcon sharp and belonged to the silver Moon as her color twinkled icily from the warm irises that looked upon his wife and daughter.

“You look gorgeous, kiddo,” her father smiled as he shrugged his longbow off his shoulder and hung the quiver of owl-fletched feathers on its hook by the door, “Just like your mother did,”

“Khan, you’re a flirt,” her mother rolled her eyes.

“And you still love me, Nori,” he winked back as he put his hands on his daughter’s shoulders, “I’d hug you, kiddo…but I’m a mess. I caught a buck and just got back from dressing it. We’ll have a grand feast tonight when you come home!”

“Thanks, Dad,” Uzi smiled as her mother gave him a loving whack on the shoulder.

“Go get cleaned up…we have to get leaving soon!” her mother chuckled, “We can’t be late,”

“Yes, dear,” he grinned, grabbing the towel she threw at his face…only to wind it up and swat her with it.

“KHAN!” Nori gasped, whirling on him as the sting-crack of the towel met her.

“Can you two not ?” Uzi huffed, pulling a face as her father shot her mother that wry grin that he had passed down to her, “I know you both are old but…like…you’re old …”

“You’ll understand one day,” Khan told her as he drew his wife into a kiss, “Maybe it’ll be sooner than you think,”

---

The clouds above weren’t promising good things as the iron bell tolled over the ruins of the town center. Aenea had once been beautiful, carven pillars and flagstones of the streets were common throughout its city. While it had not been a large kingdom…there had been no doubt about its might. 

As Uzi and her parents made their way to the square and past the massive white-granite walls that Khan’s forefathers had built…or so she’d been told by her father before…she couldn’t help but marvel at the decaying beauty. Ivy vines wept from statues, like the Earth Goddess’ tears mourning the loss of this kingdom. The carved cobblestone streets were broken, ragged in some places…the kingdom’s demise reflected in that of its city. She could see others gathered. Boys and girls, people she had known as classmates and fellow wards. 

Emily, the small and slight girl who was more will-o-the-wisp than girl stood with trembling frame as she held her ever present book in her hands. Her long brown hair had been swept into two braids of chestnut, pale morning glories that mimicked her eyes woven between them. Her parents were archivists, scholars…she would make a good courtesan if she could get over her stutter. Uzi knew she was a tad agoraphobic as well, preferring the warm and cluttered interior of a book riddled study than the open sky and fields. 

Braiden, a fiery redhead who looked bored if not a little on edge about the entire display. Dressed in clinking golds and coppers, his parents must have pulled every string they could to get him to be picked. Uzi knew he wouldn’t…it was too brazen and not to mention the fact that Braiden wouldn’t be able to provide whatever companionship the Empire wanted them for.

Then there was Patricia. Uzi very much hated her. Patricia was the daughter of the old Royal Family. Last of the Lords that survived the collapse of the kingdom…and oh… oh did she let everyone know it. The black haired girl was tall and slender in every way Uzi was not. She certainly looked the part of a courtesan if anything. Her flowing black gown was incredibly detailed, embroidered with silvery scales encrusted with various gemstones that glittered and shimmered and showed her family’s wealth…as fallen from grace as they were. She was as mean as the snake her dress made her look. Arrogant and cold…Uzi hoped they took Patricia just so that she’d never have to deal with her ever again.

Innocence. Flamboyancy. Wealth.

Three things she was not.

Three things a courtesan should have or at least be able to have.

And that was why Uzi was very sure she would not get chosen.

She turned to face her parents, her mother immediately bringing her into a tight embrace for a long while. Uzi hugged her back, knowing that potentially this was going to be the last time. She did the same with her father, who whispered a few soft reassurances as he let go and kissed her forehead. 

“I’m proud of you,” he told her, “we both are…and we always will be.”

She gave a smile as her mother gave a nod towards the others, grabbing at the silver triskelion marking her as a trained Apothecary. Uzi had one similar…though the vined tines of the tri-pronged pendant were copper rather than silver. 

“Go on…love you, kiddo…now and always,” Nori smiled, though her eyes were still hollow inside.

“Love you too, Mom, Dad,” Uzi took a deep breath as she started towards the other candidates. The misty violet of her gown fluttered around her like wings, reassuring her as she strode forwards. Her worn leather boots, molded to her after years of wearing and stretching, making nary a sound as she walked across the courtyard.

Emily looked up at seeing her, giving a watery smile. Braiden didn’t look up from where he was picking at his nails. Patricia looked at Uzi and gave a scoff.

“Oh, look what the cat dragged in,” she sneered, “The wild girl of the woods. I thought you’d run to some little backwoods cave and make them drag you in for an execution.”

“Wow, I didn’t know this was a costume party,” Uzi snarked, “Otherwise I would have dressed up…but I don’t think I could outdo yours. I can’t pull off snake very well, but you do it perfectly .”

“Watch it, peasant trash,” Patricia sniffed, “I can have my last act of being here in this hellhole ordering my father to execute you.”

“Please, your father would be paying them to take you. Just so he could get a good night’s sleep. Bet the silence would be good for him,” came the violet eyeroll as two soldiers dressed in Imperial garb started towards them.

“Both of you shush !” Emily hissed, eyes wild, “O-Oh…I-I mean…they’re coming…s-so um…”

The two bitter rivals glared heatedly at each other one final time before all four offerings came into a line. The two soldiers continued closer to them, their black-silver armor clanking under golden tabards, though their heads remained free. One was far taller than the other, lanky and platinum haired with sun colored eyes that shone with the same energy as the heavenly body they served. An equally as warm smile crossed his face as he looked at the four young adults…he seemed to be happy, hale and whole, as if he was enjoying his job a bit. The other one was shorter, but equally as well…his eyes were as green as rosemary and held a gentleness that spring leaves had.

“Good morning!” the taller man smiled, “I see you all are excited for today! I’m General Emmett of the Eliosian Empire and this is Captain Thaddeus. I know we were kinda supposed to give this big ol’ speech and everything but…”

“The wind kinda stole the cheat sheet,” the Captain, Thaddeus, finished, “And our General didn’t get the chance to memorize it,”

“Details,” the General rolled his eyes, “Aaaanyways. So, as you guys know…we can only take one of you with us as the courtesan of Aenea. We’d like to take you all with us to give you all the better life that’s in Elios…but…”

“We kinda only have room for one,” Thaddeus admitted, “Sorry. But! We will let you know that your families will be taken care of, they’ll actually be given a noble title and if they want, they can move to Elios and into a manor built for them. If they want to stay here the Empire will send a crew of builders to repair one of the uh…manors…here. They’ll want for nothing. Just like you won’t. So…to start…why don’t you all tell us your names?”

Emily gave a squeak as the gold and green eyes lit over to her. She barely stammered out her name, ice brittle and fleeting as the wind. Emmett walked over and put a hand on her shoulder, speaking gently to her and Emily visibly relaxed. Taking a deep, long breath.

“Emily Athenaios,” Emily introduced herself, giving a slightly shaky curtsy, “Archivist and s-s-scholar,”

“Nice to meet you, Emily!” Emmett beamed as he and Thaddeus moved to Braiden.

“Hm?” Braiden finally looked up from where he was picking at his outfit, the clinking coins and raiment shimmering as he moved, “Braiden Faust…Merchant,”

“That’s probably the most interesting outfit I’ve seen, good to meet ya, Braiden,” Thaddeus grinned as he shook Braiden’s hand.

Uzi would have been next…had Patricia not hooked her leg around Uzi’s and yanked the smaller girl’s away as she slithered into position.

“Patricia Regis-Aenea,” Patricia purred, offering her hand, “A pleasure to meet you both,”

“You stuck up, scum sucking swamp serpent ,” Uzi hissed as she got to her feet, “If you wanted to kiss up so badly you should have asked them to turn around and bend over.”

Emmett bit his lip, trying to hide a smile. Thaddeus actually had to turn his head and cover his snort with a cough.

“Ex cuse me, who gave you the right to speak? As you can see, I’m the one in line and you aren’t,” Patricia scoffed, “Sit down, forest rat, and wait your turn. Insults like that are not befitting of a courtesan of an Emperor .”

“Yeah like he’s going to want a sow like you muddying up his court,” Uzi snarked, pinching her nose and snorting like a pig, “Considering your personality I’d be surprised if he didn’t kick you out to the streets upon setting foot in the palace, considering, y’know, rotten fruit and bad eggs go in the dump .”

“You’d know, wouldn’t you?” Patricia fired back.

“Better than the chamber pot you’ve been living in,”

“And…who may I ask are you?” Emmett was trying to hide his smile and failing as it came through, like the sun on a cloudy day.

“Suzannah Doorman, you should learn to mind your tongue around important company,” Patricia smirked, “That’s definitely not going to get you chosen, but then again…the daughter of a washed up Apothecary and a Huntsman isn’t going to go far.”

“Oh bite me , you silver-spoon chewing toddler. I didn’t ask to be here, I’m forced to be. And my name …” Uzi snarled, “Is Uzi .”

Neither Emmett nor Thaddeus could hold back their laughter anymore. In fact, their mirth was so profound that tears ran down their faces. They both looked at each other after a full five minutes of howling laughter…and nodded.

“Ok…Ok I think we’ve made our decision,” Emmett quirked an eyebrow up at Thaddeus.

“Oh, absolutely,” Thaddeus nodded, “Princess Tessa is going to love this.”

“Well, alright then,” Emmett smiled, “Braiden, Emily, I’m sorry…you two are lovely but I don’t think you’re what we’re looking for.” Emily looked like she was going to collapse in relief. Braiden looked nonplussed and shrugged. 

Thaddeus turned towards Patricia and Uzi both. His green eyes were still sparkling in laughter as he regarded them.

“A Courtesan should be, well, quick on his or her feet in responding to verbal barbs. Due to the absolutely stellar verbal sparring we saw here just now…Patricia?” 

“Oh thank the gods I thought my family was going to be stuck here forever,” Patricia smirked, “And for the last thing I’m going to do in this hellhole…”

“You didn’t let me finish,” Thaddeus shook his head, “I don’t think you’re fit either. But uh…Uzi on the other hand…”

The color drained from Uzi’s face as both General and Captain stood in front of her.

“Oh no,” she whispered.

Curse her stupid, acid tongue…

“Ladies and gentlemen of Aenea!” Emmett beamed, “We are pleased to announce that we will be escorted Suzannah, er, Uzi Doorman with us to Elios as the newest Courtesan of the Eliosean Empire!”

Notes:

SO! Courtesan DOES NOT MEAN SEX WORKER! I am being CLEAR. Courtesans historically were COMPANIONS to nobles. Were there some that did the horizontal tango with their noble? Yes! There were! But, Courtesans were in general those who were intellectual, witty and smart enough to keep a noble company during a party. Effectively...they were a close friend to their noble.

I will repeat...this. IS NOT. A sex thing.

That is like saying that ALL fanfiction writers are smut writers...which we aren't. There are some people that do. But a gooood chunk of us are not. There will be romance in here...some potential spicy moments...but...nothing explicit. I can promise you that :3

I will work on this when I get the chance...but the brainworms started eating at me. And they would not go away. I was supposed to do JS things today, DragonWriter dammit...

Chapter 2: 2

Notes:

Ok, so I was trying to write some for IR and this would not just leave me alone soooo you guys get another Nightshade chapter. And some World Building!

2

The sky wept in jagged teeth as the carriage trundled along. Uzi was currently curled up in a glaring hostile ball of broken glass and bristling porcupine daggers on the seat inside, sinking down in the plush crimson velvet that was too soft and made everything feel…

Suffocating.

She kicked at the seat in front of her, scowling as a lock of raven feather hair fell over her eyes. She wanted out of this damn carriage, she wanted to go home and she wanted to never leave the woods again. She’d live in a cave for all she cared. 

The Aenean girl huffed as she flopped back against the seat with a loud whumph of motion. Her fingers wrapped around the copper triskelion and thumbed the curling vines between the arms of the Apothecary’s sigil. 

Her mother was to have finished her training next year…and she would have been a full fledged Apothecary rather than just an apprentice. 

Well that was a freaking lie now. 

She heard a soft ‘whoa!’ from the driver as the carriage quaked and shuddered to a halt. The carriage door opened, revealing that too sunshiny General with the golden eyes and puppy dog grin. He gave a warm smile as he offered his hand.

“We’ve stopped at a waystation for the night,” he told her, “Thought you’d want to sleep in a bed. It’s been a really exciting day for you today!”

Uzi stared at the hand, half expecting the expensive calfskin leather to morph into a snake and bite her. Her nose wrinkled up into a sneer as she crossed her arms and huddled back against the seat.

“Exciting? Y’know what would be real exciting? Turning this stupid caravan back around and taking me home.” she spat.

“But…home’s ahead?” the golden eyed man in front of her raised an eyebrow, “You’re a citizen of Elios, the royal household even!”

The amethyst eyes narrowed, glaring into the golden irises before them before giving an exaggerated roll and a huff as she unfolded herself from her ball of wispy cloth and velvet and warily made her way towards the open door. The General stepped back, still holding his hand out for her to take as her head popped out of the carriage door. She smacked it away and looked up and around the area. 

It was a small hamlet, barely more than five buildings. A stable, an Inn, a supply store, a blacksmith and a barn for the harvest of the surrounding fields. A massive and looming wood grew to the west of the hamlet, the dark boughs reaching towards the sky with fluttering leaves and needles. Part of Uzi’s soul ached looking at them, wanting to immediately run into them and make the long trek home…

But if she bolted now they’d catch her. 

With a scoff of forced air, she hopped down off the carriage and stalked towards the inn where the soldiers accompanying them were already heading. If they would get drunk enough to pass out…she maybe would have a chance.

---

The night had drawn its cloak around the world long ago before the soldiers had gotten drunk enough for Uzi to slip away. A soft, sharp smile twisted across her face as she slid the window open. She knew there was a guard at the door, after all, she was ‘ precious cargo’ and damned be the drunken fool that got into his head to try something. 

She shifted up to the windowsill, her bare feet curling around the frame and welcoming the cool of the night that began to rob the head of the day from the black lacquered wood. Her eyes flicked around the area, she was on the second floor of the inn…so that was a bit of a drop of about 20 feet.

In other words…a cake walk for her. 

Her grin grew, violet eyes glinting reflective in the dim candle light as she shunted herself off the ledge and near floated down the drop. Her bare feet tapped against the flagstones with nary a sound, her hands reaching out to cushion her fall. She straightened up, the wind blowing the violet fabric of her dress around her in wisps as she turned on her foot and bolted into the mists. 

She doubted they’d find her, especially when she hit the woods. The night was the cloak that she gratefully wore around her shoulders, the time her people oh so loved. The trees seemed to bend around her passing, shushing whispers that trailed dew and raindrops from the storm before across her arms. Colors bright-sharp and gleaming lit to her gaze, as if the noon sun shone down through them. It was no secret that the Night loved the Aenean people, a blessing of the Night Goddess to their progenitor long, long ago and carried down for generations. 

The ability to see by starlight and moonlight as if by sunlight. The ability to pass quietly without sound. The ability to leap from greater heights and land without so much as bruising their feet. Ethereal in the night with their feathered hair that played in the breeze and shimmered with iridescence only the moon and stars knew. Keen of lightly curved ear and reflective eye, Wisps they were once called by allies, Wraiths by enemies. 

Thieves to bitter souls post the war with Elios. 

Uzi’s heart calmed as the night air wrapped around her. The sound of the nocturnal animals moving in the trees, calling and whispering as feet moved through the underbrush was as soothing to her as the warmest blanket.

If she closed her eyes…it was as if she was home.

The sound of a twig snapping, not under paw or hoof, made her jump. Someone was here. Another person. She gave a groaning sigh as she darted further into the forest, slipping through small deer trails and cracks in creek beds like a shadow.

But her pursuer didn’t quit.

And neither did she.

She managed to find a clearing, groaning as she saw there was no place to hide or climb, to disappear into the mists that were steaming from the wet ground under her bare feet. Her pursuer kept advancing, crackle crunching through the undergrowth in a loud boot-stomp manner. She turned to face her pursuer…and stopped when she saw a very worried General come through the trees.

---

Emmett was not really enjoying the night but here he was. First, he’d noticed that the girl they were escorting to the capital had not been having a good time at the dinner party. Then, when he went to check on her and relieve the guard from his shift to get some rest…he’d found that the bed was empty and the window was wide open. Thirdly, he was not too pleased of having to jump down from the window to give chase…even if it didn’t hurt him as much as it should have, it still hurt! Fourthly, he’d had to track and chase this elusive wisp of a woman through the woods and it was only because of his ability to find little traces and trails that he was able to find her.

Which, led to the fifth thing tonight. The fact that she did not look like she was going to listen and go back without a fight as she stood in the middle of the clearing in the woods. 

“Miss Uzi, it’s late…and it’s dangerous out here,” he tried, “Please…come back to the inn and get some rest. It’ll be a long day tomorrow and I don’t want you to get sick.”

He took a step towards her and she picked up a rather sharp looking rock.

“I can, and will, throw this at you,” she threatened, “Back the hell up.”

Emmett raised his hands and took a step back. Well…this was going to be problematic. 

“I don’t want to go to your stupid little empire.” Uzi hissed, still brandishing the rock, “I don’t want to be in that little carriage anymore either. I certainly don’t want to be the freaking concubine to a wrinkled, decrepit greasy old man with a power fantasy and a whole entire army at his back!”

The clouds opened up overhead, spilling silver into the grove and making Emmett’s golden eyes widen as the raven black hair of the woman before him suddenly shimmered in shades of violet, blue and onyx, as the violet eyes near glowed under the moon and the fair skin turned alabaster. He knew the Aenean people were beloved by the Night…but this is the first time he’d ever seen one under the moon. It was an ethereal beauty, something that any man would have his breath stolen by.

He took a step forwards, dodging the first rock she hurled at him. Seemed she kept that promise. And gently wrapped his much larger hands around her wrists, making her drop the second and third rocks she had picked up to throw at him.

“I’m sorry that we couldn’t take your family with us,” he apologized, “I know this is…a lot. I was like that too when I got brought to the capital. The city…didn’t sit well with me. But…I learned to like it. You might too!”

“...Let me go.” she growled, those brilliant violet eyes glaring up at him.

“...Are you gonna throw a rock at me?”

“...Maybe.”

“Then that’s gonna be a no until that maybe turns into a no.” he said, not releasing his grip on her wrists, “Kinda for both our safety. I don’t want to attract something unsavory to you if my blood gets on you. And I also would like to kinda, maybe not be concussed?”

She stared at him defiantly, giving a tug on her wrists but still being unable to get free. 

“...I don’t want to force you to come back but…” he gave a sigh, “If you don’t then it’s not gonna be just me that gets in trouble. It’ll be Thad, it’ll be the other soldiers under my command, it’ll be you…your family…Aenea. Please…” he loosened his grip gently as he brought their hands together, “Don’t make escorting and protecting you harder than it is?”

She glared up at him for a little bit more, before her little nose wrinkled and she gave a loud, huffing sigh. Her head turned away as those pale little rosebud lips pouted.

“I’m not riding in that damn carriage anymore. I will kick the window out and run,” she threatened.

“I’ll get you a horse,” he smiled, “C’mon, let’s get back to the hamlet…it’s getting real late and real cold and I don’t want you falling off your horse tomorrow. Unless you want to ride with me...”

“Oh bite me , no.” she hissed, baring that sharp little threat-smile as he gave a laugh and unclasped his cloak. She stiffened up like a cat that had been unexpectedly pet as he wrapped it around her shoulders, “The hell is this for?”

“Keep you warm,” he said simply, “I don’t get as cold. But I’m used to wind and rain.”

Her eyes narrowed at him warily, but she stepped around him and started back towards the hamlet, hugging the cloak closer around her shoulders. He gave a smile and followed after her, hand on his sword’s pommel to make sure that they didn’t get ambushed by any wild animals.

---

Uzi was just… peachy the next morning. That General had knocked on her door and woke her up at the crack of dawn saying that it was time to move on. She had promptly threw her pillow at him and he responded by walking in and throwing the shutters on her window open, letting in the brilliant morning light. She’d tried huddling in her blankets with a very angry hiss but that was ruined by the fact the blankets were stripped from the bed.

It was. Most definitely . Illegal to be that sunny and chipper that early in the morning.

The grouchy Aenean had been led to the stables to pick a horse and just from pure spite…ignored the docile white mare that whickered gently at her…and went straight for the half-wild black stallion that snapped and bit at anyone who came near.

She lovingly named him Bonecrusher. 

Granted, Bonecrusher threw her a couple times before he seemed to realize she was not giving up. But as of right now, he was tolerating her being on his back. She seemed to believe it was from the sugar cubes she snuck him and he’d happily crunch on. 

By the end of the day she would have this horse putty in her hands she swore it.

He’d make a great getaway steed…were it not for the fact that the General had the horse’s reins tied to his saddle to make sure she didn’t seize them and gallop away.

By the time they had reached the Imperial City of Elios, Uzi’s tailbone was aching and she wanted to get off and walk for a bit. But, that wasn’t happening. The sun was starting to set, framing the tall spires of the Imperial Palace in a glowing aurora of fire as they rode through the gates. 

Uzi could feel the stares of the Eliosians around her. Her scowl managed to get a few to quickly turn away much to her amusement…but still, many stared and whispered as the newest courtesan to the Imperial Court was brought into the city. 

She wanted to throw up. 

She wanted to punch that noblewoman that sniffed in her direction and turned her head snootily away.

She wanted to snatch the reins from the General and spur Bonecrusher out of the city and back towards home.

So…why didn’t she?

She kept trying to find an answer…but…nothing was coming. She didn’t even realize that they had stopped until the Captain had come up and tapped her gently on the wrist.

“Let’s get you inside,”

“Sure, right into the bedchambers of the Crypt Keeper Tyrant huh?” she rolled her eyes.

“Actually no?” the Captain raised a blond eyebrow over jewel bright eyes, “We’re going to be escorting you to the Princess actually. You’re her courtesan, not the Emperor’s.”

“...What.” Uzi blinked as she slid off the saddle and Bonecrusher gently nibbled her hair. 

She was led away, trying to not show the angry-sad pang on her face when Bonecrusher whinnied after her.

“We’ll take care of him,” the General reassured her, “He’ll have a nice place in the stables and you can see him tomorrow,”

She huffed as she walked between General and Captain, though…a part of her wondered about them. They didn’t…look like Eliosians. They didn’t have the fiery light gleaming in their eyes, nor the molten gold ember speck freckles the long lived people had. So that meant they weren’t originally from here. Kyeva, Cyrius, Theialos, Kemetah, and Aenea were the only other places. And she was very sure neither of them were from Aenea. Neither of them had the telltale features. She doubted they were from Kemetah or Kyeva. The gemstone speckled skin and jewel bright hair of the Kemetan people did not belong to them, neither did the cold winter dark hair frosted with white and ice-depth eyes cracked with silver of the Kyev people. So that left Cyrius and Theialos. 

She didn’t get the chance to question as they stopped in front of a set of doors, dark mahogany stained crimson with golden filigree of phoenix flame and curling flower vines. Two guards stood in front of the door, spears held at ready…though they quickly and quietly skittered away when they locked eyes with the General. 

The golden eyed man gave a soft chuckle and a winning smile as he walked up and knocked on the door. Not but two seconds later, a woman opened the twin portals. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, curled in delicate ringlets down to the small of her back. Tanned skin locked with golden laurel bracelets around her upper arms as she sat them on her hips. A pastel pink chiton hugged every curve of her willowy frame and was cinched at the waist with a golden belt of cords and leaves and flowers, the neckline plunged down between her breasts in a low V that very nearly touched the belt…but showcased something far more interesting. A brilliant pink topaz, shot through with auroras of gold, lavender and pale blue, set in a golden diamond on her breastbone. 

A Theialosian Birthstone. 

The Theialosian girl turned equally pink gemstone bright eyes up at the Captain and the General.

“Evening, Lizzy!” the Captain shot her a smile, “How’re you doing?”

“You were interrupting our girl time so…yeah, no not exactly happy?” the Theialosian girl,Lizzy, rolled her eyes.

“Well, we brought a new friend!” the General beamed, “She’s the new Courtesan from Aenea.”

Lizzy’s gem-like eyes raked down Uzi’s form. A small little wrinkle formed on the perfectly sculpted bridge of her nose and made that want to punch rise back up in Uzi.

“Ew, where did you get those clothes?” Lizzy scoffed, “The garbage?”

“Hmmm nah, I don’t recall going to the same place you got your personality,” Uzi fired back.

“Youuuu…” Lizzy started.

“What’s going on?” another voice asked.

Lizzy stepped aside as another girl walked up. She was a bit more modestly dressed than Lizzy was. Her wine red dress cut into her waist below her chest and then flared back out again leaving the barest top of her hips exposed. It looked more like she was wearing two pieces rather than one. Her short, platinum gold hair was curled lightly in frame around her cheeks while a pair of golden framed quartz-beryl glasses perched on her nose, barely hiding the flame-like golden eyes behind them. A golden freckled arm reached out and put a hand on Lizzy’s shoulder.

“Everything ok, Lizzy?” the very much Eliosian girl asked.

“Yeah, yeah, it’s fine, Vicky,” the Theialosian girl huffed, “We have a…new girl.”

The other girl looked at Uzi, giving a wry grin as she extended her hand.

“Nice to meet you, you’ve met Lizzy it seems…I’m Victoria, but nearly everyone calls me Vicky,”

“...Uzi,” the Aenean girl replied, taking the hand.

“Thanks for getting her here,” Victoria smiled, giving a wink at the two men at the door, “But we’ll take it from here,”

“Have a good night! And welcome home, Uzi!” the General smiled as Uzi was pulled into the room and the doors shut behind her.

“Ugh, finally. You can take her now. I’m going back to what I was doing,” Lizzy inspected her nails a little, “Probably should give her a bath…she smells like horse,”

“Was riding, idiot,” Uzi growled.

“Whatever,” Lizzy rolled her eyes as she walked past the other two women, her golden sandal shod feet barely tapping against the marble.

“I’ll get you to the baths soon, but I think you’re gonna be introduced first,” Victoria admitted, “So you’re from Aenea yeah? I could tell from your ears and hair…I thought that was more a myth. We don’t see many Aeneans here,”

“Yeah well…” Uzi started as another voice cut her off.

“Vicky?” another female voice asked, “Who was at the door?”

“Our new friend and courtesan!” Victoria announced, gently tugging on Uzi’s wrist, “C’mon, you’ll like her. I think she’ll like you too.”

Uzi begrudgingly let Victoria pull her along into a larger room full of crystals and couches and pillows…and an absolutely massive bed. On one of the couches sat a young woman, no older than Uzi, who was flanked by another young woman the same age. 

They both were Eliosian from what Uzi could tell. The one standing was tall and light blonde haired, her amber eyes were cold fire and molten gold as twin tails rippled in gentle waves down her back. A black dress, modest in its design, hugged her curves until the golden belt at her waist slit the thighs and let her long legs breathe. 

The second woman though was different. 

Her coppery-rust hair was incredibly wild and untamed, wispy and tied into a few ribbon bound tails to keep it out of her face. Her steel-blue eyes were alight with a warm fire that was spread down to the smile and smattering of golden freckles across her nose and cheeks. A short, dark blue dress with golden corset lay on her almost hanging from her as she shot up with fire-spark excitement and blitzed over to Victoria and Uzi. 

That infectious smile never left the girl’s face as she seized Uzi’s hand and vigorously shook it.

“It’s nice to meet you!” the girl beamed, “You must be our new courtesan friend! I’m Tes-uh…oh right…ah…” she released Uzi’s hand and gave a clear of her throat before lifting her head and presenting the top of her hand to Uzi with a pretentious air, “You are in the presence of Princess Contessa Theresa Elios of the Imperial family.”

Uzi stared at the hand like it was a dead fish. The woman in front of her stared back at her…

And then promptly broke into a snorting fit that turned into a bubbly bunch of giggles.

“I’m jus’ pullin’ your leg, no need for all the formalities and all.” the woman giggled, “You can call me Tessa.”

Notes:

So I can't take the idea for having her name be "Contessa". That belongs to the Caretaker and his glorious works. She'll mostly be called Tessa.

Chapter 3

Notes:

Little shorter this time around...and a little on the 'boring' side probably. But, it's going to be doing some setup.

Sorry for the delay in this! I had been blocked on the first part of this chapter for a LONG time.

3

Uzi stared at the girl in front of her. This. This was the future empress over all of the world? This spazz?!

“Oi, I know I’m a royal but y’don’t need to look at me all gobsmacked and all,” Tessa huffed, closing an eye, “I’m just like everyone else…”

“‘Everyone else’ doesn’t live in a palace big enough to house small countries ,” Uzi finally said, her mouth unfreezing. Tessa froze for a few moments before that giggling laugh snorted from her again.

“Oh I like you!” she grinned, the golden freckle drops on her skin glittering in the light of the large latticed windows, “You’re from Aenea, right? I’ve never really met an Aenean before! What’s your name?”

“Uh…Uzi,”

“Uzi! That’s an interesting name!” came the smile, “Well, I hope your journey here was good! Guess we should show you around your new home!”

“Oh-KAY!” Uzi yelped as Tessa grabbed her by the arm and started taking off, nearly bouncing in her excitement, “H-Hold on! Let go! I can walk!”

Tessa’s hand on her suddenly let go, the princess giving an embarrassed smile as she hunched down a little bit. “S-Sorry um…I-I get a little excited, really…but I really would like to show you around! Like you said, the palace is um…pretty large an’ all.”

“Your highness…” the pigtailed girl sighed, “Shouldn’t you be having one of the other courtesans do this? You have a dinner to get ready for.”

“Oh, hush, Mother and Father can wait! They understand this is still kinda important.” Tessa huffed, “Oh, right, I haven’t introduced you yet! Uzi, this is Jaelyn, my best friend!”

“Handmaiden and Head Courtesan,” Jaelyn stated, “So you’ll be reporting to me more than not.”

“Oh god I hope no one pokes you in the chest,” Uzi smirked, “Otherwise that hot air might turn this place into a desert to rival Kemetah’s.”

Jaelyn’s face turned a brilliant red, her golden eyes blazing in fury as her jaw worked. Uzi just gave her a sharp-toothed grin. Oh, this was going to be fun .

“Hooookaaaay let’s uh, not start a war, yeah?” Tessa winced.

“Of course, your highness,” Jaelyn stated, that furious tic in her eye smoothing over. Ohoho ho Uzi was going to have fun abusing that later. But that was for when she was not being in the presence of someone who could very easily order her head be lopped off for insubordination.

“I’m sure we’ll all be the best of friends…maybe?” Tessa gave a nervous little laugh as she brushed a coppery lock of hair back behind her ear, bracelets jingling as she then put her hands on her hips, “Speaking of potential best friends! Let’s introduce you to the others!”

“...Others…” Uzi’s nose crinkled in distaste, “You mean there’s more than the pastel pink pom pom and glasses?”

“Lizzy and Vicky are two of them but there’s three others,” Tessa nodded, her head tilting towards another door, “C’mon! You’ll love ‘em!”

She offered her hand rather than grabbing Uzi’s wrist at least this time. Uzi raised an eyebrow…but ignoring the pointed, dagger-like glare from the pigtailed Eliosian menace behind her, she took Tessa’s hand and let her near drag her forwards into another room. 

---

The room Tessa dragged her into was almost as large as the room that they had been in. Large windows lay with golden lattices and allowed the warm spring air to blow through the silken curtains. Uzi’s nose crinkled again as she noted that, no, she was not going to be able to sneak out those windows and make her grand escape. Where she was quick and quiet of foot…the gods had cursed her with not being strong of arm. So she’d have to find another way out of this rich and opulent hell.

There were a handful of people Uzi’s age reclining on pillows, sofas, one even was leaning against the windowsill as the sunlight shattered off of the droplets of gold in their skin. She recognized two of them, the Theialosian girl, Lizzy was it? with the pink Birthstone was currently on a sofa, filing her nails as an absolutely massive girl with pin straight, dark hair that frosted at the tips was braiding her hair. The tall girl’s eyes looked over at Tessa, Uzi and Jaelyn with an almost bored expression, the slate blue depths spiderwebbed with silver in almost a snowflake pattern around her irises. 

Two others lay on a different sofa, a boy with brilliant turquois green hair marbled with a vibrant deep blue, almost similar to malachite and azurite Uzi noted. Which…made sense considering those stones seemed to dot his golden-brown skin. He was currently feeding grapes to a girl with brilliant blue hair and what looked to be many shades of blue topaz littering her equally as bronzed gold skin. Uzi knew enough of her geography to know that they were from the nation of Kemetah. Their flowing robes that showed way too much skin in Uzi’s opinion also played into that, more fitted for the scorching heat of the crystal deserts that made up their homeland.

Victoria looked up from her spot on the windowsill, her beryl glasses sparkling as she closed her book and got to her feet. The scarlet gown shushing quietly on the marble floor. 

“Hello you lot!” Tessa beamed, waving, getting the other courtesans to look up, “We have a new friend!”

“A new person?” the boy asked, raising an eyebrow as his fellow Kemet shifted up on the couch. The pale blue gaze of the girl lit upon Uzi and she gave a scoff.

“Her name’s Uzi,” Tessa smiled, “She’s from Aenea! Oh uh…every courtesan has their own room. It’s just…yours isn’t completely done yet, Uzi. I think Emmett and Thad might have brought you here a bit before schedule. And, well, y’know…kinda caught the builders off guard.”

“Loooovely,” Uzi grumbled, crossing her arms, “So what, I’m going to be stuck in this common room?”

“Or the stables,” the Kemet girl smirked, “She smells and looks like she walked out of a pub’s chamber pot.” she got up off the couch and glided over to Uzi, the blue gemstones in her skin flashing in the light, “Hasn’t anyone told you about hygiene or is that like, just a standard Aenean thing?”

“Rebecca!” Tessa scolded, “C’mon, you promised you’d be nice…”

“Wow,” Uzi rocked back on her foot, a sharp toothed smirk forming on her face as she looked up at the taller girl, “Wasn’t expecting this to be happening this early. Look, I just spent the last bit of the trip riding on horseback in rain and storms and just got into the palace. So…tell me, prismatic princess…what’s your excuse?”

“Oh, so that’s why you smell like the back end of a horse,” Rebecca’s nose wrinkled, “Eugh,”

“Better to smell like one than look like one,” Uzi fired back, “All I have to do is get a warm bath and clean clothes…you though?” Uzi gave a hissing wince as her violet gaze raked up and down the blue-haired girl, “Best thing I can think of for you, sweetheart, is a burlap sack,”

Uzi heard snorts from around the room, Rebecca’s nostrils flared as she took a hissing breath in.

“Big talk from a forest goblin. This is a place of high society and elegance, not some highwayman's inn," she hissed.

"I'd ask how you know what the folk who frequent those inns are like, but it's impolite to ask after a lady's lovers." 

Tessa actually laughed at that, Uzi raised an eyebrow as Rebecca lunged, only to get grabbed by the green-haired boy.

“Easy, Becca, don’t pay her any attention…she’s like, not even a tenth as pretty as you.” he soothed.

“I ah,” Tessa had to disguise another chuckle as a cough, “See you and Rebecca are going to be uh…good ‘friends’. Thank you Darren! Might um…take Rebecca for a stroll around the gardens to cool off?”

“Yeah, good idea,” Darren nodded, leaning down to lay a kiss on the side of Rebecca’s neck, “C’mon, Becca, let’s get out of here. Enjoy the afternoon before the sun goes down and show off how pretty we are,”

The two Kemets made their way out, thought Rebecca shot Uzi another very nasty glare…which was returned with a smirk. 

The sound of ice settling on a lake in the dead of winter, the softness of wind blowing snow off the mountains and the sharp click-pop of a blizzard racing through snow covered forests caught Uzi’s attention. She turned to face the tall girl, who was grinning with a wild smile at her. 

“Babe,” Lizzy sighed, “You can’t be asking people if their weapon skills are as sharp as their tongues. “Seriously.”

The tall girl replied back to her, something in a language that Uzi didn’t know. Tessa gave a soft laugh.

“I think we’ve had enough evisceration by vocalisation for today, Doll,” she admitted, “And I dooooon’t exactly think Uzi knows Kyev,”

The smirk on the absolute valkyrie of a woman’s face grew. Lizzy rolled her eyes and smacked a fan against Doll’s forearm.

“It’s no fun if they can’t fire back,” she sighed.

“Give me a month and I’ll be able to fire back in her own tongue,” Uzi growled, “I know damn well she can understand me but yeah…hate to agree with pastel princess there…but its no fun to word spar if you don’t know you’re being insulted in another language.”

The Kyev raised an eyebrow, making her way over to Uzi and sticking out her hand with a smirk. “Deal,” came the heavily accented Common from the much much taller girl.

Uzi seized her hand, dwarfed in size but not in spirit…she then crossed her arms again and glared at the remaining girls in the room, daring to be spoken to. Tessa did try to open her mouth, but was cut off when the door opened.

A serving boy, no older than twelve Uzi thought, poked his head in.

“Begging your pardon, your highness” the boy started, “Um…”

“No worries!” Tessa smiled as she turned around to face him, “What’s going on?”

“Your parents are sending for you. Something about dinner preparations and the local barony arriving a little sooner than they should?”

“Bloody hell…” Tessa sighed, “Jae, you ready to stop me from chucking the nearest horrendously overpriced artifact at the baron’s son?”

“Of course,” Jaelyn gave a smile as Tessa grabbed her by the arm and started to pull her out.

“Oh! Vicky! Can you take care of Uzi until her room is ready?” Tessa asked, poking her head back into the room, her copper locks swinging as her steel-blue eyes sparkled with inner fire, “Pleeeeeease?”

“Your highness, it’s not ladylike to beg,” Jaelyn scolded, though there was a touch of mirth in her voice.

“No worries, Tessa!” Victoria smiled, waving, “I’ll make sure she’s settled in!”

“You’re the best!” Tessa beamed, “Thank you!”

Uzi raised an eyebrow as she saw another eye twitch from Jaelyn, but didn’t get to question much on it before the other Eliosian girl was yanked out of the room by the princess and the door closed behind them.

“So…that was entertaining,” Victoria sidled up to Uzi, grinning, “I have never seen anyone give Rebecca that big of a tongue lashing before,”

“Yeah and I’ve never met someone with that big of a head,” Uzi deadpanned, “I’d have asked her if she was crying but then I realized it’s just how her skin looks with all those gemstones…”

Victoria gave a light giggle as she nodded her head towards the door.

“While I agree she needed to be taken down a few pegs…she was right in the fact that a bath might be in order,” she admitted, “Do you need anything from your things?”

“What things,” Uzi groused, “All I have is what’s on my back,” 

Victoria blinked, looked at Lizzy…who looked absolutely scandalized…and then back at Uzi. “...We’ll let you use my stuff for now. But I think Tessa’s going to want to get you at least something for you and your room. No, wait, I know she’s going to want to make sure you’re comfortable. So we’ll probably go to the market in the morning and make a day of it knowing Tessa.”

“I honestly don’t care right now,” Uzi sighed, “Just let me take a bath and let me go to sleep.”

Victoria gave a soft little laugh as she put a hand on Uzi’s shoulder, waiting for Lizzy and Doll to leave. 

“...The first night’s always the hardest,” she told her, “It’s not easy being taken from your home, unfortunately it’s something everyone’s had to learn…save like me and Jae really. It took Lizzy nearly three weeks before she was settled in. Doll took nearly a year.”

Uzi didn’t say anything…but it was nice that someone did seem to get how she was feeling. 

---

The bathhouse was quiet and nice. Victoria at least had managed to let Uzi spend time in it alone to get herself clean. The Aenean girl had already upended a bottle of bubbling solution of mistwart and honeysuckle into the water and after a small amount of panic as the bubbles went far above where they were supposed to…Uzi was now currently soaking in the warm water. 

The Kemet Sunstone floors were warm, keeping the water at a pleasant and almost sleepy temperature that made Uzi’s heart and mind calm. She wasn’t fond of the in your face floral and fruit scent of Victoria’s bath materials, but that could change in a bit. 

She looked up at the ceiling, eyes trailing over the stone carvings of firebirds and dragons, flowers and trees. Creatures that Uzi knew of myth and had heard of in old house calls when she worked with her mother. 

The Aenean girl’s hand wandered to her necklace, fingers brushing against the copper triskelion and rubbing against the skull, leaf and moon carved into the edges.

She looked at one of the candles to the side, eyes dull as she shifted in the water. She grabbed a comb, brushing through the rat’s nest of black hair until she had a sizable amount of newly freed locks and turned back to the candle. 

“Lady of the shaded depths at the end of time, I pray to you…” she murmured, one hand grabbing at the necklace and the other dropping the locks of ebon hair into the flame of the candle, sending acrid smelling smoke into the air as the hair burst into a flurry of sparks, “Goddess Aerlyn, deliver me from my captors…and may your arms stay from me until the stars rain eternally from the heavens…”

She blew out the candle, the smoke rising and twining within itself as it made its way skyward, and stood from the water to grab the nearest towel.

She didn’t know if her goddess was listening to her…

But it didn’t hurt to ask.

Notes:

Aerlyn is the goddess of Death. She's part of the triple goddess that Uzi follows. Her sister aspects are Lyliwyn and Seryn...goddesses of Nature and Night respectively. The Apothecaries follow all three of them.

Uzi is not starting out being able to understand Doll at this time...but she will soon, don't worry. Doll just does not like speaking Common and prefers Kyev (is also a cultural thing!)

Hopefully the next chapter will not take as long as this one did...