J.T. Marie - The Scar

The Scar

By J.T. Marie

Published by Queerteen Press

Visit queerteen-press.com for more information.

Copyright 2012 J.T. Marie

ISBN 9781611522914

Cover Photo Credit: Parkinsonsniper

Used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

Cover Design: Written Ink Designs

All Rights Reserved

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are solely the product of the authors imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America. Queerteen Press is an imprint of JMS Books LLC.

* * * *

The Scar

By J.T. Marie

The warm spring breeze wafting gently down the bustling streets of Ouest set hearts aflame, and young Mistress Jana Trence, the generals headstrong daughter, burned with the need for adventure. A young lass of thirteen years, her days had been filled all winter long with musty old books and tedious studies, so when the sun melted the last of the snow from the ground, she knew she had to get outside.

Not just out of the house, but out of Ouest itself.

After breakfast, she cornered Merlie, her handmaiden and best friend, who spent the morning in the kitchen with the other servants. Jana found the older girl seated on a wooden stool by the fire, pinching boiled beans from their skins into a metal tin. Merlies long, blonde curls were swept up off her slender neck in an untidy tumble atop her head, and Jana had to resist the urge to pluck at the corkscrew strands as she snuck up behind the servant.

Hey, you, Jana whispered, coming up behind Merlie. What cha doing?

If Jana expected Merlie to jump, she was disappointed. Merlie continued pinching the beans and, without breaking rhythm, blew a wayward curl out of her face. Hey, yourself, mistress. What does it look like Im doing?

Working. Jana stepped around Merlie and pouted. Im tired of working. The ice is gone and the air is clear, and Ill have no more of this working business on such a glorious day. How about we get out for a while?

At eighteen, Merlie knew her place in the world was at her mistresss side. But she also knew she had chores to do, and Jana had studies to attend to, so Merlie gently nudged Jana back with one elbow and replied, You know theres a lot to be done today

But Janas heart was set, and she brushed Merlies protests aside. Exactly! she said, waving his arms wide. The whole world awaits! They say theres a mysterious man who lives so deep in the Austral Mountains, hell give the first person to find him a set of magical runes. That could be us, Merle! I could find him!

Merlie wasnt impressed. Mistress Jana, I have these beans to prepare, and soup to make, if you plan to have lunch today.

So well take it outside, have a picnic.

With that, Jana swept the bowl of beans from Merlies hands. When the servant reached to take them back, Jana jumped nimbly aside and raced past her for the door. Come! The world awaits!

Young mistress! Exasperated, Merlie chased after Jana, knowing that whatever her orders were, she could never tell the girl no. Jana, come back here! Your father will have my hide!

Janas girlish giggles rang through the courtyard of the luscious home then out into the crowded streets. Lifting her skirts, Merlie chased after her charge. When she caught sight of Jana, the younger girl leaned nonchalantly against the open gates of the city, munching on an apple shed snagged from a vendor in passing, the bowl of beans in the crook of her elbow.

Jana, Merlie gasped, slowing to catch her breath. Come now, we have to get back.

Aw, Merlie! Just a quick picnic! Jana held the bowl toward Merlie, who saw it had been filled with fruit and cheese as the girl raced past the stalls lining the city street. No one would complain, she knewJana was the generals daughter. Any food she took would be billed to him discreetly.

Merlie looked at the dingy cobblestones and the people hurrying about. Here? At the city gates?

Jana nodded out past the gates, where the land opened to a rolling meadow edged in by dense trees. How about out there? It looks nice enough.

Merlie shook her head. Oh no, not outside the city walls! You know what your father said

He doesnt have to know. Before Merlie could protest further Jana was outside the city, racing for the dark grass growing deep beside the forest.

With a sigh, Merlie trotted after her charge, praying under her breath that the general would linger at the palace and not come home early to find his daughter outside of the city walls.

* * * *

Lying on her back in the cool grass, Jana watched the fluffy white clouds stretch lazily across the denim spring sky. Beside her Merlie sat straight-backed and cross-legged, wary and watchful. They were too far from the city gates, in the servants opinion, and too close to the still evergreens of the dense forest. Shed heard talk of magical creatures in the woods, and recent attacks on travelers at night had the city closing the gates after hours. She watched the leaves and branches carefully, waiting for any sign of movement. If the general knew theyd ventured this far

But Jana seemed unperturbed and at peace, glad to be out from under the watchful gaze of her father, and because Merlie knew her place, she kept quiet. But her gaze never left the forest, where any number of dangers might lie in wait for her charge. How much longer before she could once again suggest they head on home?

Merlie, Jana said, breaking into the servants troubled thoughts.

Merlie turned her attention from the forest to the girl stretched out before her. Even at her young age, the generals daughter was already a stunning beauty, more so because she had no idea just how pretty she was. Her thick auburn hair was worn in a long braid down the middle of her backkeeping it free from entangling in her bow when she had archery, and free from the grip of her opponents when she trained in the martial arts. A fringe of red tufts across her brow shaded her sun-kissed face, and her eyes were the same faded blue as the sky above.

Merlie knew in another two years, her mistress would be asked to join the junior cadet troop, where shed probably meet the man or womanwho would become her partner. In war, in peace, in life itself, and though Merlie would always be at her mistresss side, she would always be just a servant to the girl, never anything more. This was the best she could hope for. At least she had some part of Jana, no matter how small.

She shook herself free from those thoughtsno use dwelling on what cannot be. Yes, mistress?

Jana rolled over on her side and picked at the grass. Merlie, she sighed, exasperated. I have a name, you know.

I know, mistress.

Then why dont you use it? Even when were alone?

Merlie smiled. Because your father would have my hide if he heard me address you by your common name. A servant doesnt speak to her mistress as a commonerthere would be no respect then.

Jana sighed again. But youre my friend, Merlie, not just a servant. Besides, technically youre my fathers servant, not mine.