Dance with the devil

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Tabitha Mai Fallamhàin was a young woman of known beauty and grace. Though she lived on a farm, raised, cared and bred horses, the outdoor life had not tarnished her beauty. Perhaps it has added to it. Her golden hair shone like it was made of pure gold when the sun rays touched it. Her amber eyes were warm and radiant.

One day a stranger from outside the community had come to the ranch, bartering with Tabitha’s father for a horse. The man seemed exotic, even if he seemed like them, something was off. Perhaps how he carried himself.

Tabitha had caught the eye of this stranger. She had not taken her eyes off him either.

When the bartering was done and a horse was bought she moved back to her own tasks knowing there was little chance she would again see this stranger.

It was only a day later that the man returned with the horse. He rode up to Tabitha, with worry she asked if there was something amiss with the horse. The man spoke calmly how he wanted advice from Tabitha’s father, but he would also like to have some advice from the expert who had worked with the horses daily.

Tabitha was charmed at the recognition of her skills and spent a while to give the man some advice on grooming, caring and riding.
((The way this line was originally written made me thing she spent awhile grooming him))

When the afternoon ended and the evening neared, Tabitha was ready to go home, the man stopped her with an offer. He would bring her gold as radiant as her hair, if they could spend some more time together. Tabitha declined, she had no use for gold. She had all she wanted.

The man offered Tabitha a house for her own, where she could live and no one could tell her what to do. Tabitha declined the offer as she was happy with her family which she loved.

The man offered Tabitha servants in that house, to fulfill her every wish by just a call. Tabitha declined this as well. She was happy to work herself and with her hands.

The man offered to show Tabitha the outside, not just this community, but beyond seas and worlds. Tabitha hesitated, to see more, to fulfill her curiosity was sounding very tempting.

She asked the man to tell more of the world outside.

So they talked, for hours and hours. Tabitha was amazed by the stories and enthralled in the adventures. They talked to deep into the night, in the attic of the barn. On the blanket they lay in the hay where they later fell asleep entangled in each other’s arms.

The morning after, Tabitha woke and saw what struck fear in her heart. The man was not of her kind, he was some stranger. She pushed herself away and ran to the house.

Soon after Tabitha's father and brothers came for the man. But he had made himself scarce quick. Knowing trouble was brewing. Tabitha distraught with the betrayal of this man pleaded forgiveness with the clergy and with her parents. But she had entangled herself with a devil. She was cast out.

For a few months Tabitha lived in a hut on the outskirts of the community. She managed. She was not scared of living alone or caring for herself.

But in those few months she had learned, the devil had planted his seed inside of her and it was growing into a devil child. At the gates of the community she pleaded and begged to speak with one of the clergy. She explained that if she gave birth of this devil child outside she feared to let loose the evil and did not want to make matters worse.

The clergy was understanding and took Tabitha into a convent. There she gave birth to a golden haired, amber eyed baby girl.

The baby was immediately taken away, brought to another convent deeply hidden away in the forests. So, the child could be cleansed of the devil. And not infect another.

That is where my story begins.

The name they gave me is Soliana, I have been raised in the convent. Though raising might be a big word. I have been fed, clothed and was given a place to sleep. My days consisted of chores the moment I could walk and pick things up.

Labor cleanses the person, that was always said. When the sun was in the highest point of the day, I had to perform the cleaning, everyday without fail. No matter if I was sick, weak or incapable of standing.

My torso was bared and exposed to the sun, The sisters hit me with canes or strands. To chase the devil out they said. The sun rays could reach inside this way.

I only remember the pain and the fear. When I was older and I had behaved so well, the sisters allowed me to do some chores outside the walls. We were often visited by travelers who came for supplies, for aid. Or a place to rest.

At one time an army of sorts passed through, they had fought. They were rowdy and loud. The sisters told me that I should be kind and caring to everyone that walked the sun.((Walked the sun? )) We cared for their wounded. We fed them. We brought them our homemade mead. It was one of the specialties of this convent. The land around the building were fields of flowers of all sorts. The bees in their areas made the sweetest or spiciest honey.

With that we made strong and tasteful mead, or so I am told. I am not allowed to drink. It might tempt the devil.

When a group of the men drank and talked they praised the mead. Saying things like their commander was right and this was a fantastic spot to camp. That their commander had praised the mead and the women here.

I just smiled and tended to my duties. It was strange though I knew there were different kind of races, people. Intelligent beings but I never realized that they would come here. Or how they looked. We did look somewhat similar in the broader sense of things.

Two arms two legs, two eyes, though those of our people are in the range between greens and yellows. Hair colors varied more in these people. My people had ranges of white to reddish colored hair. I had my extending nails but they had more stumps for fingers. Our teeth were different, though just slightly. Mine are bit longer, sharper. Theirs are more straight flat.

I observed these people for a while and watched them leave they went up the mountains.

When the group started to leave a thought came to me, I can just as well follow them. Which I did, it only took a moment to grab some things, a blanket, some bottles, dried foods. The rest nature could provide.
((There should be something her about leaving the convent. ))

I followed the last of the army quietly as they went into the mountains, and that is where I decided to take my own path. I had to think.
((from a story telling POV having her spend time as a camp follower would be good for her character. Not a camp slut but a washer woman, camp cook, medic,etc. Camp medic is a good idea-Sickness is common to armies. More common then wounds sometimes. She would have to defend her virtue or selectively give a tumble here and there. But giving her time around camp would educate here about the world. Give her enough experience to ask the question she asks next. She would say something about leaving the army,))

What were my next steps going to be? Was I going to create a life for myself somewhere, or am I going to hunt down the man who caused the death of my mother and the life I had lived so far?

I had little information about the man, he looked like those that just left. I had a vague description and a sketch of him. So I always remember the devil I spawned from.

The mountains are kind enough to provide when you are kind to nature in return.

I knew what plants to watch out for. I knew what was edible and what wasn’t. I couldn’t hunt that much as I had only taken a small knife, nothing big enough to kill an animal.
((If she spent time with the armies she would have a good kit, knifes, pots, bedroll, etc))

Not long after I had found a cave. Made it my home, I had made a little bed with leaves and branches, a small fire-pit where I could cook and roast food. At least I had the wits to take a pot with me to cook in.

I spent my days, caring for the little garden patch I created, Caring for the little mushroom corner in the cave. Boiling water to clean. Now and then I was lucky to snare a rabbit or another small mammal.

I had lost count of the days when I heard a sound, a sound not of an animal, I suspected a person was in pain. Now nature here has some traps, and I suspected that this person might have fallen into one.

There are these large carnivorous plants. They are a root system the bushes are the diversion, growing sweet berries and sweet scented flowers. The ground underneath is often loose and easy to cave in due to the barbed roots. When someone or something falls in, it will be snared and slowly consumed.


(PAUSE IN EDITING) When I reached the root pit I could see a man trying to crawl out. He hung on to a sword he had slammed into the ground. I rushed back to the cave to get some water I had started to boil in the pot and threw it over the roots the shock of it caused the grip to loosen and I could help the man on solid ground.

He was quite severely wounded and fell unconscious after he was out of danger. I made a stretcher from some branches and strips of his and my clothing.

It was a big and heavy man but I was able to drag him back to the cave. I made sure to clean and dress his wounds. And now and then I dripped some water or broth into his mouth so he got some fluids and sustenance into his system. I knew the venom of these plants were severe and he might not even make it. Many unwary travelers had fallen into such pits and not survived this.

I was surprised that after only a few days he started to stir. I was making some tea and warming up some roots for food. Seeing him stirring made me first think he had a seizure but he opened his eyes and looked at me.

I checked his wounds and saw they were already showing signs of healing.

“You are one lucky man. “ I stated calmly.

“I have seen men dying agonizing deaths due to these plants. “

He kept watching me as I grabbed a bowl and brought him some food.

"Eat, you need your strength." Walking back to the little makeshift kitchen area i took a mug and poured some water in. Bringing it to the man as well. He was still looking at me...

With hands on my hips i looked at him and at the bowl.

"If you are not strong enough to eat i will feed you, but i have never been known for a soft healing hand."

The man laughs "You remind me of someone. But no I'll eat myself. I had just not thought of finding a person out here. I have been stuck in those roots for a while."
I look surprised.

"For a while??? Usually a man of your size dies within two days of being stuck in there. You must be remarkably strong. But happy i found you, it is not a fate i would wish upon my enemy."

Returning to the food i ladled some soup up for myself, poured some water and sat down to eat. By now the man started to eat as well hearing the sounds. Hearing appreciative eating sounds i smiled.

After the meal i take his bowl and nod to his mug.

"Want more water? "</br

He looks ate with a slight grin and says "Well, rather something stronger but i guess that is not an option. "

I laugh. "Well i do have some mead with me. They are a specialty from the convent. Could not have let that gone to waste. So I took some with me. But seeing you only just woke up. If you can stand and walk i will open a bottle with you."

I clean the things diligently i have structure and ways i do things and that keeps me sane.

He is silent again and watches me tend to things in the cave. Eventually he lays down again and i see him slowly fade to sleep again. I watch him most of the night but near morning the sleep wins and i drift off.

For the last weeks my dreams had gotten wilder, stranger and it was often i startled awake from a strange dream. But this time was different.
I wake with the scent of.... meat? Meat being roasted?! I jerk up, afraid my patient might have fallen into the fire. But instead of that i see him sitting near the fire roasting a few parts of a boar.

Rubbing the dust and gravel of my face and clothing i look at him shocked.

"You killed the boar? Those creatures are vicious. It could have killed you. Or at least harmed you. And i couldn't have saved you from that." While speaking i walk up to him and look over if i see any clear signs of wounds or other injuries.

He laughs and pats me on the shoulder.

"I am tougher than i look. I was looking for my things but got ambushed by this animal and all i could see were baked hams and bacon, like a cartoon. So i killed it and took it with me. Seemed you have been living a vegetarian lifestyle lately anyway."

I could not deny that it smelled wonderful and my stomach did start to growl with the smell of that cooking meat. I smiled.

"Well you bring the meat I'll have some vegetables and a wonderful dark mead that goes well with boar."

I left him to roast the meat and i prepared the rest of the food. I think from that moment we got an understanding. For the next days i went out foraging and gathering things to prepare for the rest of my journey and the man went out to search for his things. He didn't accept my help when offered, but he seemed to manage just fine.

One evening while we were eating he started to talk in a serious tone.

"I have found what i was looking for. So i must get on my way again. I know you do not have a set destination, and i really enjoy your cooking. Why not join me? Though i must warn you that there is a good chance that you can never return here. So i need to know something. "

I was slowly chewing my food while listening then swallowing and chasing it with a gulp of mead i ask him.

"What do you need to know? I think in our talks you have learned all there is of me. It is not much. "

Normally he does smile or at least has a more relaxed expression but this time he looked dead serious.

"You are from a convent, do you believe in an afterlife? That your soul goes to somewhere after you die?"

I take a long drink emptying my mug of beer. Filling it up again and filling his mug i release a long breath in a sigh and answer.

"I do not fully understand. But if you are asking what i believe after death. Those who die in the grace of the sun will return to its radiance, those like me who have been born of a devil will not, I will be returned to the earth to grow into the blessing of the sun again"

A slight shrug and a heavy sarcastic tone added to the end.

"Is that okey with you?"

The man nods. "Does it matter where you die?"

Getting slightly nervous now with all the talk of dying i shift uneasy.

"No, it is just a way of saying in a nicer form that your body will be nothing more then compost. I do not really believe what the clergy and the preachers tell us. If that was true I would have already run rampant into villages cursing the land and acting all evil. Instead I am just looking to see if I want to have revenge or not."

His face clears and a sudden roar of laughter. Again i look surprised. What in the world is going on with this man. When he stops laughing he asks
“Revenge him? On who? “

I stare in the fire for a bit and then exhale a deep breath.

“The man who caused my mothers death, and who caused me to be blamed for being a devil child. He was an outsider, pretending to be one of us. During a playful night impregnated my mother. She was exiled until she found out I was growing inside her. She gave me up to be cleansed, and she gave herself over to the preachers to be healed as well. She did not survive this. This man then just left. I want him to know what he had done to my mother. “

We are both silent for a while. Then i break the silence. "So i took the liberty of making a traveling pack for you as well. I hope you do not mind i used some of the skins of the beasts. I did not have the time to fully cure it but it should be good enough. I packed a bottle of the dark mead you like and dried fruits and meat. Broth.

I would like to travel together but I feel my paths leads me to somewhere else. I just need to get away from here."

The man nods “Tomorrow I will leave, and I will bring you to a place where you can easily travel around. I suggest to take a ship and learn what you can on your travels. “

I nod in agreement and after we had finished the bottle I took first watch. In the morning he was already standing and ready to leave.

“We can better start walking over the side of the mountain. “

The man laughs shakes his head and produces a pack of cards. Staring into one he opens what seems to be a doorway to another place. Pulling me along we stand on sunny area. A beach. He points me into a direction.

“They are always looking for deckhands there. Go search for a ship willing to take a new one in and travel. We might see each other again. “

I thanked the man for his kindness and with that we part ways.

There were not many women on the ship and the men were not keen on personal space.
((Needs something on finding the ship and them taking on her and her dog))

One of the women on the ship saw me struggling so she took me under her wing and taught me to fight. ((Abrupt. Why did she see her struggling? struggling with what? And why is fighting the answer))I might not be strong. But I am flexible, fast and vicious. Or that is how she described me. She taught me to use my nails. All in my kind have extendable nails. They get curved and are quite strong.

By now I had learned that my kind of people was not the only kind.

For a while I had given up on my search. Well not given up, I had not found any news or clues, so I would just make sure I survived and made a life of myself while hoping to find new clues.

Working from ship to ship. Now and then seeing familiar people. I had made a sailor of myself that no man or woman dared to touch. There are some still with scars on their cheeks of my rejection.

When I started to work on a new ship with new crew I would eventually ask again if they knew this person I had a picture of. And luck had it. One day another showed me a picture. It had a signature even. They said that is what those royals do if you ask politely. Collect signatures with the pictures.

I saw the man that doomed my mom. I asked the sailor with the deck where he collected that signature he told me Amber port. This man often frequents a bar there. Since it is one of our stops there is a chance I could get a deck myself and ask for a signature. It sounded like a marvelous plan.

We arrived at Amber docks. I found a place that sold these decks of cards. What a silly thing to do. But finally it would possibly get me close to this man.

I waited and waited. I let the ship sail away knowing I would find my target here. I had saved up enough coin to survive for a bit.

A week went by, the man came indeed to the bar the sailor had said. Observing him drinking. Waiting till he got enough in his system that would intoxicate a man of his size. I had experience enough of measuring that by observing sailors.

The time came to strike. With a pleasant and meek smile I approached the man. Not making eye contact. I held out the cards with his on top. It was a mistake I made I looked up. He recognized something. He hesitated. It was now or never. I lunged towards the man with knives in both hands. I doubt I even made a scratch before they knocked me down.

I failed. Sorry mom.

((My add)) The man looked down as a couple sailors rolled me over. He held my knives and examined them expertly. "Well arn't you a salty wench. Its not till after that most wenchs try and kill me. SO what made you so annoyed with me?"