(Continued from Ch 57, Snubbery)    

The Chronicles of Rapina  
Chapter 58, Memories

After sneaking through the cafeteria to the yard and then going through the girls' building to the library, Bellany spent a couple of hours pouring over additional books on mathematics.  She came down to lunch a little late and took very little because of the church brunch she had, had earlier.  However, she did make sure she got a piece of cherry pie.  Cleopatra absolutely loved cherry pie.

  "Hi Cleo." Bellany smiled.

  "Hello Bellany.  You are sure not eating much today. Are you trying to loose weight?" Cleo asked.

"No, but there was a brunch at church today so I ate not long ago. I will save these biscuits until later in case I get hungry.  It looks like you are nearly done.  I really cannot hold all of this.  Would you like a second piece of pie?"

Cleopatra smiled brightly and took the extra pie.  "Thank you Belle."

"Don't mention it.  I am just glad it will not be going to waste," Bellany winked.

"No it will be going to waist instead." Cleopatra grinned.

Lunch passed quickly over small talk and soon the two girls finished and went outdoors for their after-lunch stroll.

They secluded themselves in a thicket created by several large flowering bushes.  They had found the thicket earlier in the week while scouting for the mysterious man in rags.  They seated themselves on a makeshift bench Bellany had created from several rocks and a few dead tree limbs confiscated before the gardener found and disposed of them.

"As promised I feigned a grand interest in Mortaebius and got the priest of Barraff to let me attend a service," Cleo said.

"Your family worships Barraff the god of commerce?" Bellany asked.

"Of course.  We owe him a great deal." Cleo smiled.  "You would not believe who I saw over there at the temple of Mortaebius.  There were so many important people.  Headmistress Vargrend and Headmaster Bristol were both there and so was Mayor Eagan.  I recognized a few of the instructors as well.  After the service, I was able to talk to Guardian Moore.  He is the reverend.  Sure enough, he let me borrow a couple of books.  I told him they had to be meaty and difficult or they would not hold my interest.  He loaned me this prayer book and this book on bylaws and rituals.  Which would you like to see first?" Cleopatra smiled.

"Umm... how about the prayers?"

Cleopatra handed Bellany a large leather bound book of prayers.

Bellany grinned.  "Reverend Leland would die if he could see me looking through this prayer book.  Oh thank you so much Cleopatra!  It is so difficult for vindy girls to act up."

"You are welcome.  Read all you want.  I brought some homework."

"Okay I will give this a good looking through."  Bellany was silent for quite sometime as she casually pretended to look through the book while actually reading it as rapidly as she could.

"There, I got that history assignment done.  How is the book?"

"Oh it is wonderful.  There are so many prayers in here.  Here is a good one:

'Hail Mortaebius sovereign of the dead, wisdom of ages, steadfast in thy eternal sepulcher.  The trials of the living rob me of rest; the frantic pace of life makes anxiety of my peace.  My thoughts are muddled, my perspective myopic, yet the toils of the day have hardly begun.  A sign I pray the, to rest my soul, a sign I pray the to calm my nerves, a sign I pray the to restore thy wisdom to my troubled mind.'"

"Aaah!" Cleopatra pointed at Bellany in terror.

"Wha?" Bellany lifted both arms and looked at herself trying to figure out what about her was frightening Cleopatra.

"Prruck, hok-hok-hok-hok-hok," called a voice from behind her.

Bellany turned and saw a large raven perched in a nearby tree.

"Hok-hok-hok-hok-hok," Bellany imitated. "Want some biscuit?" Bellany asked the raven. 

"Cleo, calm down it's just a bird for heaven's sake," Bellany said.

Bellany took a biscuit from her pocket and held it out to the bird.

The bird eyed the biscuit but did not move.

Bellany moved very slowly until she could reach the limb.  She poked the biscuit through a twig on the branch and then backed off.

The raven advanced and soon began tearing at the biscuit with its sharp beak.

"Just a bird?" Cleopatra asked incredulously.  That is not just a bird, Bellany it is huge.  It has got to be the biggest raven I have ever seen.  It must weigh ten pounds.

You are exaggerating; he could not weigh more than three or four pounds. He is healthy though.  Look at his feathers they are so shiny."

"Gods Bellany you just read a prayer to Mortaebius and huge raven dropped out of the sky and perched in the tree behind you.  Don't you find that strange?  The raven is a symbol of death you know.  It is Mortaebius' sacred bird."

"I suppose it is a little strange, but I am certainly not going to write my mother about it.  I would be grounded forever.  Please don't tell anyone.  I am sure it would get back to reverend Leland and he would burn me as a witch or something."

"Are you a witch?" Cleopatra asked.

"Oh I wish I could do spells, doesn't every girl?  The fact is I can't even get near a book on alchemy, let alone magic, so how should I know if I have any hidden talents?"

"Maybe we should name him." Bellany said.

"Who?" Cleopatra asked.

"The raven of course, silly," Bellany said.

"Well you could name him Sky or Cloud or Wind or something since he came out of the blue.  Or how about Deeth or something since he his sacred to Mortaebius," Cleo said.

"Hmm, clouds are much too white to name a raven after."

"There are dark clouds like the ones in storms," Cleo reminded Bellany.

"He is beautiful, don't you think?" Bellany asked.

"Yes in a creepy sort of way," Cleopatra said.

"Oh come on Cleo, he and this prayer book are the most excitement we have had all week."

"Gods you are right, Bellany.  A bird and a book are the best we can do?" Cleopatra asked.

"Welcome to Vargrend's prison for girls," Bellany said, giggling.

"How will we top this?" Cleopatra asked.

"We probably will not be able to, I mean the raven is so cool, but I had another idea about ways in which I could be naughty..."  
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Bellany walked quietly into the library and disappeared behind some bookshelves.  It was late enough that the librarian had gone home for the evening, and only a couple of her student assistants remained.  After the assistant went by with her cart full of books to be re-shelved, Bellany walked casually to a table where she set down the large art book she was carrying while looking briefly at another book.  She picked up her art book again and continued to her usual table where she opened the art book and began reading.  Earlier in the evening, Cleopatra had the librarian retrieve several books from the boys' side, including one on alchemy.  She went back to her room about half an hour later and left the books on the library table.  A few minutes later Bellany had arrived.  Bellany had spotted the book she knew would be on the table and had clandestinely picked it up beneath her art book.

Every alchemical symbol and concept seemed to unlock a memory.  The hundreds of hours she had spent perfecting the skeleton team that created healing potions began flooding back into her mind.  With those memories, she remembered bits and pieces of magical theory and the magical exercises she used to do while supervising her skeleton crew.  If the memory of the time she spent in Thane's laboratories was locked in the vault of her mind, then the text on alchemy was the skeleton key.  Bellany was so glad Mary Duffy worked in the library in the morning rather than the evening.  If the current assistant knew what Bellany was reading, she would be cross, but Mary would never let her hear the end of it.

The later it got, the fewer people remained in the library.  From about nine to half past eleven when the library closed, it was nearly deserted except for one or two librarian's assistants and a few die-hard scholars.  Rapina smiled at one of the boys' assistants through the bars. She could not help the little tug she gave his lust.  It had been far too long since she had been with a man. Besides she was feeling so proud of herself for dreaming up the plan that had brought back such a large store of memories.  Cleopatra had come when it was busier.  The assistant who had given Cleo the alchemy book had gone off duty just before Cleo had left.  As long as no one was too nosy about what Bellany was reading behind her art book it was a perfect plan, and Cleopatra could not be blamed.

Rapina was so pleased with herself.  Last week she had recalled a great deal of her time with the orcs and more details had come to her since then.  She had remembered Jooldig and the armorers.  Yet she knew there was more after her experiences with the armorers that refused to come back to her.  The books on Mortaebius had brought back a veritable treasure trove of memories about Graveston Isle, her lover Rames, her mentor Thane and Uhler, the imprisoned troll shaman that she had tended.  Now she was remembering more about her life with Thane and Rames and about her apprenticeship in magic.  How could she have forgotten her love for magic?  It had fascinated her ever since she had been a little girl.

Suddenly Bellany jerked upright.  She peered over her book and shrugged at Patricia the librarian's assistant across the room while mouthing, "Lady Weepins."  The ghost had taken her by surprise once again.  She slid the book on alchemy into her lap and kept it face down while she began to look around with her ghost hand.  "Why are you bothering me," she said in a very low voice to the apparition she could only sense with the palm of her left hand.  "I can feel you with my hand but I cannot see or hear you so why bother me Lady Weepins?"  After a while the ghost flitted away and Bellany went back to reading her book.  When she was finished she simply put the art book and its secret companion into two separate carts full of books to be re-shelved and then left the library.  She had a feeling that the evenings leading up to the ball would find her in the library reading much more interesting books than the rules for vindicator worshippers allowed.  
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"Announcing Sir Abraham Steefl of Norwit in Avengene and Lady Bellany Norwit of Avengene," the Harold called out.  As Bellany strolled down the stairs into the cafeteria building, she realized the evening was not going to go as she had dreamed.  The staff of the academy had done a fine job decorating the cafeteria and gymnasium with autumn colors and the trappings of a bountiful harvest, but Bellany knew that this was just a prelude.  The great estate houses of the Emerald Families hosted the _real_ balls and by the looks on many of the faces, this would be the first and last ball she would ever be invited to.  Hers would no doubt be the same as the lot of the commoners at the academy on scholarship.  Few were invited to the balls thrown by the Emerald Families.

There were so many scowls on the faces of those attending. Many looked away from her and whispered comments to one another.  It was just one more level of humiliation added to the heaping helping she had received during her first two weeks in school.  Most of the young women and wealthy parents who had attended were obviously against her.  In vindicator attire they quietly berated her for being overly modest, for soundly closing the barn door after all of the horses had got out.  Had she come in the white evening dress that Bianca Bristol was wearing she was sure those attending would have maintained that the neckline pointed out what a harlot she was.  The fact was that she had nothing more provocative than the autumn gold dress she had worn.  All of her finery was hideously boring. 

She overheard a few remarks about Abraham's face and him being the best she could do.  People could be so cruel.  She knew she was not the kind of woman who could be the dutiful wife of a worshipper of the vindicator, let alone a paladin but it still bothered her that they would talk of him in such terms.  After all he nearly carried the school on his back during tournaments.  He was a passable dancer.  If, during her ballroom dancing class, she had not been reminded of much of what Guardian Thane had taught her, she would have been worse off than he was. She was careful not to tug on his lust.  She did not intend to fight against his beliefs.  He was far too immersed in them, just as was Charles' mother.

Charles frowned as he looked at the reactions to his sister as he approached her from a corner of the dance floor.  She was much more interesting than she had been when she was younger, why couldn't they see that?  The orcs had been bad but the ordeal had changed her for the better.

"Bellany, Abe, great to see you," Charles said.  In a lower voice Charles whispered, "Word is Bristol has her snub locked down on you with every bit of her social clout, Belle.  No one will dare dance with you first because they know what the social cost would be to them and their families.  Abe doesn't count because he is father's vassal and he would have to dance with you even if he did not want to.  It is his knightly duty.  No one can fault him for that.  At least no one who can take him," Charles winked at Abe.  "Then again no one can take him other than me with a crossbow at 60 paces so I am not expecting anyone to protest him escorting you."

"I hope it is not spilling over on you, Charles.  Are the women shunning you?" Bellany asked.

"I am first crossbow of the academy and I beat my new friend Erol Fobs, the man they brought in to shut me down.  I know all the top athletes now, and that puts me in the emerald crowd whether the Emerald Ladies like it or not.  Some of the Emerald Ladies think I am hot, which doesn't hurt," Charles smiled with an easy bravado.

Bellany smiled, "You are a handsome man with a winning reputation, Charles.  I am sure you will make them all swoon."

Charles grinned.  "I am on it.  Speaking of which, I have to get back to my date.  I invited Jennifer Rothe.  She is not a noblewoman but her father is a bigtime banker.  She lives next door to Bianca Bristol."

Bellany smiled, "Okay Charles, go ahead and mingle, I don't want the snub to rub off on you.  Have fun."

"I will," Charles said as he turned to make his way through the crowd.

Bellany had plenty of time to sample the refreshments and watch the lords and ladies dancing.  For a moment she pictured them all as skeletons dressed for a macabre ball.  It brought a smile to her face followed by a frown.  _Could I really be that homesick?  How could a place full of walking dead really be home?_  Bellany did not know, but she could not escape the feeling.  She missed Thane; he had been like a father to her.  She missed Rames her lover and martial trainer as well.  At times her body ached for his touch.  Then again after two weeks without a stud in her pasture she was aching for sex.  She knew she would have to find a way to defeat her prison if only for a few moments at a time.

As the evening wore on, Bellany found that no one but Abraham Steefl asked her to dance.  When the two of them participated in dances that involved switching partners, couples containing emerald family members suddenly took a breather.  Steefle asked Bellany to dance frequently as if trying to make up for the omissions of others.  Yet, Bellany still got plenty of time to watch Charles and the other attendees of the ball.  Charles seemed to be systematically asking just about every woman at the ball if she would like to dance.  Perhaps he thought he could divine which of the young women were likely to be naughty or perhaps he just wanted to make sure the Bristol snub did not apply to him.  The emerald ladies were reluctant to dance with him but he actually managed to get a dance with Bernadine Belgado and Natalie Rose.  In any case, Charles was quite a charmer and nearly as good on the dance floor as he was with a crossbow.

There was only one young man that she had to concede was a better dancer than was Charles.  He was dressed quite elaborately and was as handsome a man as she had ever seen.  Bellany smirked as Charles and Belgado left the floor after the chamber orchestra concluded another work.  The young man she was watching was watching her brother's rear although she was sure he had come with Miss Belgado and should have been watching her.  She was, after all, one of the greatest beauties of the academy.  Oddly, his lust was directed at both of them, yet his gaze was fixed on Charles. Bellany quickly moved around the sidelines and came up behind and beside the young man. 

"Charles has nice cheeks.  Yet, wouldn't you say Lawrence Eagan's pair is just as sweet?" Bellany whispered.

The young man turned with an open-mouthed smile and a lifted eyebrow.  "I noticed," He said.

"Quite a few of the young women have but they are very subtle about it.  Yet, there are those women who would prefer looking at the women if they were as bold as you are.  Bellany lifted her chin to point towards Belgado.

"You have an astonishing eye for a vindicator girl."

"I am a retired vindy girl keeping up appearances.  I could as easily act like the sole source of entertainment for forty young orc raiders but you can imagine how that would go over."

"Oh gods!  You scandalous whore!" the young man whispered vehemently but his smile had broadened.

Bellany giggled. "You _can_ imagine it."

"Are you looking for a hot man?" Bellany asked.

"Always," the young man said.

"I know he is not as handsome as Charles but I think Blaxton thinks you are a god as do most of the young women here, but I imagine you cannot really trust the women.

The young man cocked his head. "You must know who I am, yet we have not been properly introduced.  I am Lord James Jordell.  A pleasure to meet you."

"A pleasure to meet you too, Lord Jordell.  I am Bellany Norwit, but I imagine you knew that already."

"Of course, everyone knows you. You are the fallen woman, the walking scandal, the baronetess of bacon, Baconetess Porkwit the porcine princess. Infamy is its own reward." Jordell smiled.

Bellany giggled and then whispered, "Is that why you pretend not to look at the women as well as the men?  Or is it purely for practical reasons?"

Jordell looked taken aback.  "Milady, I never look at young women.  I haven't the least bit of interest in them," he whispered with a grin.

"As you wish, Lord Jordell," Bellany whispered.  "I suppose looking at women does not produce the shock, enmity and hilarious squirms looking at the men does either," Bellany grinned.

Jordell laughed.  "You mustn't reveal my game," He whispered.  "I love men.  Shocking them simply makes it all the more entertaining.  Do you really think Blaxton fancies me?  I can usually tell but I have not noticed him giving me the eye."

"He is very good at not noticing you when you are close.  Actually, he is good at pretending not to notice you farther away, but I can still tell.  You would have to get him alone.  Even then, some men who found you attractive would not act on it because of their beliefs.  I know a girl here like that.  Men do nothing for her but she hates herself for looking at women.  It is a bit sad," Bellany said.

"That would not be you would it?" Jordell asked.

"I notice women, but my eyes tend to linger longer on men."  Bellany unconsciously licked her lips."

"You predator!" Jordell said feigning fear.

"Yes I am, for the same reason you are. _Lust_," Bellany whispered.  "Every Emerald boy knows he could not possibly be allowed to marry an orc slave wench.  They are not the only ones to whom that fact is obvious.  That and their families want heirs.  I did not get pregnant all those months entertaining the orcs.  My credentials as a brood-mare are highly questionable.  I have to act like a vindy girl to keep my parents happy, but my heart is not in it."

"Your dress certainly is." Jordell held his nose.

Bellany doubled over giggling.  It took her a while to come back to her senses.  "You should see the rest of my wardrobe.  You would wither where you stood.  This is the most alluring piece of finery I own, and the lingerie beneath it is positively embarrassing."

Jordell motioned to Bernadine Belgado.  "Coming hither is Bernadine Belgado.  "Bunny, this is the infamous Bellany Norwit, as you can tell by her flame red hair.  She knew far too much about us without having talked to either one of us.  I believe she is a dangerous slut."

"Achoo!" Bellany sneezed.  "Oh excuse me."

"Are you allergic to beautiful women?" Jordell asked.

Bellany reddened.  "No, I am as innocent as my finery where women are concerned.  Well, maybe not quite that innocent," Bellany said.

Jordell squealed.

"Astonishing that a vindy girl would admit to lust.  Don't look where I am not looking. I have been watching Bianca Bristol's expression go from pouty to self-righteous.  Now she's talking to Gransward about whether we are discussing our favorite men.  We really should oblige her.  After all, she called in several social favors to make this evening go just the way she wanted.  Which of the Emerald boys do you find most handsome Lady Bellany?"

"You already know you are a handsome man.  You remind me of Red Jack, but more refined and not quite as burley.  Present company accepted, I think Saint Varlans is the most handsome, although I guess Varlans is not exactly an Emerald boy.  Eagan is cute, and I like Carnarvon, he is a very solid warrior type, although not technically as handsome as the others," Bellany said.

"Mmm, yes you do have fine taste.  Which one would you like to bed?" Jordell asked.

"Just one?" Bellany asked under her breath. "If I am going to fantasize about men, I am surely not going to bed just one."

Jordell's mouth opened in horror.  "Gods Bunny, are my ears clogged or is Norwit a shameless hussy?"

Bernading Belgado smiled.  "Are you intonating that she could be a strawberry vindy slut, Jamie?" Belgado whispered as she licked her full lips.  "Is that really possible?"

"Well you will have to eat her and let me know if she really is strawberry," Jordell giggled softly.  "Oh gods, Bianca Bristol is coming this way," Jordell whispered into his hand.  She looks so cross.  Just a moment."  Jordel excused himself and diverted Bristol to the other side of the dance floor.  Bernadine took Bellany's hand and led her through the throngs of people so that they could spy Bristol talking to Jordell across the room.  Jamie Jordell was obviously in his element.  His expressions were so innocent yet so gay and this only seemed to fan the flames of Bristol's anger.

Bernadine covered her mouth so that no one could see her laughing.

"What is so funny?" Bellany whispered.

"Bianca is being rude, Jamie looks so hurt." Bernadine whispered, her breath warming Bellany's ear.

"He knew exactly how she was going to act. I think he made it even worse, the imp." Bellany whispered into Belgado's ear.

"Jamie started in social circles from a very early age," Bernadine whispered.  "He loves to toy with people.  Bianca is making this far too fun for him.  He will not talk to you again this evening or maybe ever, but what Bianca just did was inexcusable, and he was wounded loudly, so you never know.  He may not be ready to put the strawberry doll away since you have proven such an amusing plaything.  Goodnight Bellany, it was a pleasure to meet you."  Bernadine smiled wetly at Bellany before walking back into the crowd.

Bellany shook her head and went back to watching people.  Bianca and Glenda definitely seemed to be having fun ruling the roost.  Both had beautiful faces, although Bianca had fuller more generous lips.  Her body was somewhat more generous than Glenda's as well, but that was only because Glenda was willowy with a very brief figure. Yet her blonde hair made her stand out in a crowd.

"Ah ha-ii," a young man stammered at Bellany's side.  Bellany recognized the librarians' assistant from the boys' side of the library.  He seemed even more awkward than ever.  She guessed that was because he was so close to her.  He looked as if every cell of his body were wriggling with anxiety.

Bellany smiled at him. "What's your name?"

"Uh Evin, ah Timothy Evin," He stammered.

"I am Bellany Norwit, a pleasure to meet you."

"I saw you in the library.  Is it true no one is supposed to dance with you?" Timothy asked.

"Yes, Bianca Bristol has mandated that whosoever should dance with me first shall be forever snubbed into oblivion.  You would loose your customers for research preparation and all manner of other nasty things.  Only Abraham Steefl is exempt because he has to dance with me since he is a vassal of my father.  I wish I could dance with all the boys but they don't dare ask.

"That's not fair.  I - I was uh looking forward..."

"You are very tense.  Do you think you could pretend to be tense around me even if you were not?"

"Uh why?" Timothy looked confused.

Bellany grinned.  She whispered in Tim's ear, "I know what you need to calm you down.  It is a shame the chaperones are as thick as fleas on a dog's back."

Timothy blushed crimson.  He seemed unable to say even a single word.

Belany whispered in his ear, "You mustn't breathe a word of this even to your best friend.  I am just a naughty girl who dares not be too naughty with her social equals lest her parents find out.  You know my family would never allow me to marry a man unless he were a nobleman or at least fabulously wealthy.  Yet none would be the wiser were I to have a few discrete little dalliances here and there."  Bellany tugged on Timothy's lust.  It felt as though it were petrified in place.  The boy's entire body was immobile with a paralyzing combination of lust and shock.  You close the library, right?"

Timothy nodded dumbly.

"My roommate opens the girls' side in the morning," Bellany whispered.  "If you can, make a habit of staying five or ten minutes after the girls' assistant closes and leaves at night.  Maybe you could do an extra good job of tidying up and get some points with the librarian.  I cannot be sure when it might happen, but if my roommate is out at the moment when the library is closed, I will borrow her key and sneak in to see you for a few minutes.  The bars will be annoying, but it is the best we can hope for."  
 
This ends, Memories, chapter 58 of The Chronicles of Rapina.  
The story continues in chapter 59, Inmates.

 Copyright 2004 by Rapina