Child of Conquest

Chapter 1

Childhood in Raeburn

Seraphina opened her eyes- it was still dark. Unable to get back to sleep, she threw back her blanket and exposed herself to the cold. Breathing into cupped hands, she tiptoed across the cold damp floor, picking up her father's cape and placing it around her shoulders. Her parents were still asleep. Opening the creaking door Seraphina stepped outside and stumbled over a chicken that loudly clucked in complaint. After cursing the stupid animal she ambled along a narrow path that lead above the sleeping hamlet. Finding her usual spot she waited patiently, waiting for the sun to make its journey across the eas tern sky before turning back home.
She sighed.
Another dreary day in Raeburn had begun.
As Seraphina sat down by the newly lit fire to warm herself her father asked where she had been.
"Nowhere really, I thought you'd be at the stable by now?"
Her father raised an accusatory eyebrow. "Maybe I would have if my daughter had left me my cloak"  he smiled as she looked sheepishly back at him
"I don't understand why you have to wear mine; it's far too big for you."
Seraphina shrugged "It's warmer"
"Is it indeed " he said with a playful glower as Hammond smiled he noticed his wife Darea shaking her head. He tried to look more serious.
"You will finish mending your own cape today and then you won't have to steal mine." He said more sternly- mostly for his wife's benefit.
"But I was to come and see the new foal today."
"But nothing," Hammond replied trying to ignore the look of disappointment on her face.
"You will do your chores and help your mother."
Darea began to speak. "It's not as if we don't have enough to do around here. You have to be more responsible, Seraphina. Look at that cape―ruined it is―and who's expected to fix it? Well, I tell you, it will not be me. It's high time you started to pull your weight around here and at the stables."
Hammond leaned from behind his wife and kissed her cheek
He was an exceptionally tall, muscular man with a presence that made men, women, and children feel awkward and insignificant. His deep voice resonated with power and authority, but to Seraphina this out-of-the-ordinary man could only inspire safety and comfort. Hammond winked at his daughter, interrupting his wife mid-rant.
"Don't go on, I have work to do. Seraphina if you get all your chores done, you can come up to the stables."
Seraphina smiled at her father in gratitude, for he realised what Darea could not. That she had no interest in marriage, cooking, weaving, or child bearing, much to her mother's dismay. Hammond, however, had never conveyed any displeasure about her disinterest in mastering domestic skills.
He walked passed Seraphina and playfully ruffled her wild hair whilst holding his hand out for the retrieval of his cape. Seraphina handed it over and grimaced as she noticed the layer of mud along the bottom. Looking guiltily away she met her mother's disapproving face.
"Come girl, there's plenty for you to do."
Taking a deep breath Seraphina slowly wondered over to the large, flat grinding stone to begin her chores. After hours of monotony, Seraphina departed the smoky hut and made her way outside. It would be spring soon, plants were beginning to bud and the streams were beginning to trickle as mountain snow began to melt. As she ambled along the narrow path the outline of her father came into view. He turned and beckoned her, running up the hill she breathlessly threw her arms around his thick neck, as he effortlessly swung her around.
"Hello my little one." replacing her feet to the ground he ruffled her wild hair in his customary manner.
"Come, our newest member needs a name."
Holding his stubby fingers as they walked through the wooden doorway she looked at the plaque above the door and remembered the hours she had spent watching her father's hands carefully carving it out. The wood was ornately decorated with pictures of galloping horses and in the middle the words hros linde;[1]
Inside was the familiar smell of straw and just around the corner lying near its mother, laid a small brown foal.
"When was he born?" Whispered Seraphina
"Jafn nærri bá ðu. [2] I have thought of a name for him,"
"What is it?" Seraphina asked.
"Ciardha."
"Ciardha," She repeated, trying to mimic her father's thick accent.
"I love it. What does it mean?"
"Dark."
Her father often spoke in an unknown dialect especially if he lost his temper, which was not that often. She had learnt not to ask about where such words and phrases came from as her father was always reluctant to talk about his childhood. Even Darea refused to talk about the subject and it had proven pointless to ask anyone in the village. Hammond was still considered an outsider despite his marriage to Darea, whose family had lived in Raeburn for generations. He was however the only horse breeder which earned him begrudging respect from the villagers, at least to his face.
Her only real friends of the family were the Hames, Calla and her two children Aldwyn and Gladwyn. They had been similarly disregarded by their neighbours ever since Calla's husband had died and their youngest son taken away. Growing up Seraphina and Aldwyn had become close friends; they found mutual companionship where the other children had offered none. Similarly both families were ill favoured among the other villagers and it had become apparent to Seraphina from an early age that everyone, even family had secrets.
The chill upon the spring air eventually gave way to the heat of a summer's midday sun. The hard task of gathering the crops had been and gone and there was a feeling of merriment amongst the inhabitants of Raeburn. Today was particularly hot and the village had become a hive of activity and laughter.
Strolling along the well-trodden path to the stables Seraphina spotted her victim. Aldwyn was fishing, his feet dangling in the cool water, chewing on a long blade of grass whilst humming a tune in his own incoherent way. His brimmed hat covered his face; it was too perfect an opportunity to miss. She stealthily made her way upstream slipping behind the cover of the trees.
There, that would be the perfect place.
She hastily removed her shoes and dress and hung them on a nearby tree branch. It was pleasing to feel the cool grass between her toes. Slipping one foot slowly into the cool water she took a deep breath slipped into the clear stream. Ducking underneath the water holding her breath, she steadily advanced on Aldwyn. Raising her head slightly out of the water she couldn't help feel a great satisfaction at what she was about to do. Reaching out she searched for the feel of skin, her hand brushed against toes and Aldwyn's foot twitched. She swiftly grabbed his ankle and pulled, Aldwyn's body hit the water with an almighty splash. Arms and legs spiralled out of control before Seraphina grabbed hold of his collar and pulled him upright. Spluttering and coughing he stared at Seraphina angrily.
"Very funny Seraphina, you nearly drowned me. That's funny is it? Scarring me to death!"
Seraphina tried to stifle her laughter "I'm sorry, I couldn't resist."
Aldwyn tried to pull himself back onto the steep bank. But the weight of the water was forcing the back of his trousers down. Seraphina turned away trying to keep a straight face as he grunted and puffed in effort. She quickly became impatient at his helplessness. "Here, let me help."
Aldwyn brushed her away "I can manage."
Sighing, she pulled herself up onto the bank and held out a hand to her smaller friend, Aldwyn reluctantly accepted.
He spoke in sharp breaths, clearly agitated.
"Honestly Seraphina! If anyone comes along and sees you half naked in the river with me, who only knows what they'll think."
Seraphina chewed the corner of her mouth nervously, it was this kind of behaviour that Darea constantly reprimanded her for.
Aldwyn breathed out deeply, "If anyone did see, I suppose we could say you fell in and that I jumped in to save you."
She laughed, "I think you've just proved that swimming isn't one of your strong points."
"I'm a fine swimmer, I was just disorientated," Aldwyn smiled defensively "I could easily save you if I needed too."
Seraphina curtseyed to her supposed wet knight. "But kind sir, how would you explain removing the damsels dress, seeing as I was supposed to have fallen in?"
Aldwyn smiled. "That is a point," he muttered
"But more importantly, who could ever think you were a damsel?"
She punched him on the arm, hard.
"That was entirely uncalled for." He protested, looking around and rubbing his arm.
"Seraphina where did you leave your clothes?"
Seraphina suddenly noticed Aldwyn glance at her wet underclothes. They had grown up together and until now she had previously felt no reason to feel uncomfortable in front of him. Trying to ignore the feeling of awkwardness she turned away.
"Just over there, I'll go get them."
With a twist of her body she lithly dived into the water, deliberately splashing him.
Seraphina climbed out onto the opposite bank and began wringing out her long hair, she watched her friend emptying the contents of his shoes onto the grass.
"I'll meet you at the bridge," Aldwyn bellowed.
Seraphina cupped her hand behind her ear pretending she couldn't hear him.
"At the bridge," he shouted pointing ferociously further upstream. He eventually gave up and began walking away.
Seraphina leant back onto her elbows enjoying the warm sun on her face when the sound of squelching appeared from behind a nearby tree. Aldwyns attempt to sneak up on her was pitiable. To humour his bruised ego she decided to let him jump out at her and after a convincing scream of shock, Aldwyns face lit up with triumph.
"Where were you going?" asked Aldwyn
"I'm going to see Ciardha.
"I wish I had a horse", he wistfully replied
"He's not mine Aldwyn, not yet."
"Even so, all we have is that stubborn old goat that kicks me at every opportunity." Seraphina laughed.
"I'm very fortunate," she said sullenly looking down at her calloused hands.
"I think you've got lovely hands." He said reassuringly.
Aldwyn always was a bad liar, but how could she not smile at him? Breaking the awkward silence she wiped her hands like they were dirty.
"I'll see you tomorrow. I've got to go to Trantors after I have seen to Ciardha."
Aldwyn waved and squelched into the distance.
What started out as a good morning quickly turned into a particularly unpleasant day. The summer's morning had turned to drizzling rain which put Trantor's son, Oberon in an unpleasant mood. This wasn't unusual; but today he was taking greater delight in tormenting her.