Many thought her mad, turning the times when her ramblings ringed true into mere coincidence. Forcing her to depend on the slim kindnesses of others. Dirty, tangled hair hid much of her face, and what that didn't cover, the dirt layering her skin did. Cloths soiled and ripped to the point where one can not even call them rags, covered her slim and underfed body.
None of the villagers could comprehend the tourter this girl was put through. As death and destruction, life and creation both invaded her mind, waging a war there that neigther could win.
* * *
As she lay there, curled up in a dark corner, foot steps could be heard coming toward her as a woman walks down the ally to her. She has seen the woman several times in her visions, but she doesn't notice her now, as another wave of images swallow her. Reaching down the woman grabs her arm, and tries to drag her to her feet. Letting out small squeals, she tries to run only to be caught from behind. "Oh, no you don't. I've wasted too much time looking for you to let you get away now." and drags her out of the ally where a carrige is waiting. Throwing her inside, the woman shackles her to the seat. Looking fiercly at the young driver "What are you waiting for fool, get moving!" shocked out of his confusion he whips the horses and they dissappear.
Pulling up to her manor, she grabs the girl again and drags her inside, the boy right behind her. Taking her to and empty room, she throws her on the bed and storms out the room locking the door behind her. Turning to the boy: "Open this door, and it'll cost more then a simple beating." giving him a smack on the cheek to emphasize her point, before sweeping away down the hall. Looking at the door the boy can hear crying from within. Shaking his head he walks down the hall in the other direction to look at the long list of chores he was sure his mistress had left for him.
* * *
She fell asleep soon after, haunted by the visions, but was awakened roughly. She felt cold hands rap around her neck, and felt something heavy settle on her chest. Suddenly the images were gone, and standing at the foot of the bed was the woman smiling at her smuggly. Looking down she sees the pendent the woman had put around her neck. Staring at her puzzled, "A seer isn't of any use to me if they can't control their sight." she says cooly. "Now, to the wash with you. I can't have someone tracking dirt all through my home." A servent she has just noticed, walks forward and picks her up. Hitting at her with her weak punches, she's carried to the door on the other side of the room. "Be careful idiot, if that girl gets one bruise it'll be your head." the woman snaps, but there was little chance of that.
Walking into the bathroom the servent puts the girl down gently on the floor, and reaches back and closes the door, locking it. Going to the sink she pickes up a wash cloth and walks over to the girl. Taking gentle hold of her arm she pulls her to her feet and sits her down on a stool. She sits there looking at the strange woman fearfully. "You don't need to fear me child." she says in a calm voice. "I'm Naree, but I wouldn't say that to the miss'es. To her, I'm just a servent, and you, her newest toy. Now I need to get you cleaned up, and ether you can let me, or we can do this the hard way." staring at the girl inquiringly. Given a little nod; she takes it as a yes. Bending down she pulls at the tathered shirt. "First we need to get you out of these things." undressing the girl, she guides her over to the bath and slips her in. They spend the next 2 hours in the bathroom, trying to clear away years of dirt and grim. Meanwhile, Naree talking to her, trying to calm her and, tell her about the house and ways to act around the woman, whom she learned was a sorceress named Lerane.
In the end the results weren't bad. Due to the impossible tangles much of her redish-brown hair had had to be cut, but Naree managed to keep it a little below shoulder length, and braided it into a horsetail. "We need to let you get a little sun, girl" she says noting the girls almost milk white skin. And after putting her in cloths, they turned out to be to baggy, and had to be tailored. "Doesn't matter much." Naree said while tailoring the cloths. "You'll grow into them soon enough. And for now they hide the fact that your skin and bones."
* * *
A knock comes from the door. Startled she stares fearfully at it. "Don't worry it's not her." Naree says getting up and walking over "She wouldn't bother to knock." Opening the door, the boy that had drove the carriage is standing there with a tray. "Good, I trust you got what I asked for." "Yes, ma'am. handing the tray to her and turning. At that time another servent comes rushing down the hall. "Naree, we have an emergency. Come quick." "Be there in a second." looking back at the boy who is sneaking down the hall."And where do you think your going." Naree says sharply. "The Misses left me a lot of work to do." "And they day you actually do any of it, I'll die of shock. Stay here and watch her. I shouldn't take long." Pushing him in the room, she hurries down the hall.
The girl standing in the middle of the room scurries to climd in the bed when she notices him looking at her. Giving a sigh he shakes his head a little, "So what's yer name?" walking forward. Moving back, she looks at the boy fearfully. "What's wrong?" looking at himself to see if something was out of order, and looking back at her confused. "Have, have we talked before. I'm not sure." she says spacey like. "No, we haven't. Why would you think we have?" "Because, I remember us talking." "We couldn't have. You just got here last night." out of the blue she starts crying. "Hay, hay you don't need to do that, hay, I'm sorry I didn't mean to . . . I mean, aarruugg." plopping down on the bed frustrated. Startled she looks up, and her crying stops. "There that's better. Never could stand watching a pretty girl cry." the boy says smiling. Unable to stop her?self