Saorsa

As Saorsa meditates the image of a young girl floats through her mind as it often does.

The girl feels like a long lost friend, someone she used to know and lost, her name is Ceidse.

Ceidse story was not a happy one, she battled through life until even that was taken from her.

Each battle however made her stronger, smarter, more cunning.

Ceidse destiny was decided for her when she was adopted from the orphanage from where she had been abandoned.

The Madame raised the young girl to have grace, elegance, to be a walking work of art.

Her every movement was fine tuned to perfection by the time she reached 17.

For at the age of 17, Caidse came of age and became an official member of the Madam's pleasure court.

The court held a lavish bidding masquerade which was attended by the entire city and there, the masked nobility bid for a girl more beautiful than any they had ever seen.

On this night Ceidse swirled into the room, movements flowing like water. An obscene amount of money passed between the Madam and a finely dressed gentleman that night and Ceidse met her first client.

Ceidse was paid generously for the time she spent with her prestigious clients.

But what she craved the most was not the elegant gowns, the finery or the jewellery but freedom, she would never have chosen this life, no matter how lavish.

It was this first client who Ceidse would entertain most frequently. At first Olc would shower her with gifts, promise to grant her every desire.

However, Olc was possessive, jealous, he would beg her to take no other clients. If only that were her choice, if it were she would take none at all but she would never reveal this to him.

Instead she would pull her full lips into a small smile, glance up through her long lashes and sooth him with her touch.

Whenever Ceidse had time of her own, she liked to walk in the city. She would watch the children play, the lovers walking hand in hand, she would dream of a life that wasn't hers.

One where she would go home to a family instead of The Madam and her fellow consorts.

During one of these walks, despite the rain and the hooded cloak she always wore to hide her features she was recognised by Olc.

He offered to walk her home, she could smell the stench of alcohol on his breath and she preferred to be alone but was too polite to refuse.

It was late, the sun was setting and as they walked through the park she realised that they were alone.

Olc stopped abruptly, he spun her round to face him and she saw the anger flash in his heavy gaze.

He snarled that he would no longer share her, before she could flinch, a flash of metal tore across her vision and then the pain erupted in her cheek, stretching from the corner of her eye down to her chin.

A flash and a twin pain seared down the left side of her face. Olc pulled Ceidse close in a mockery of an embrace and whispered that no one would want her now before he pierced her chest with the blade, turned and left as she collapsed to the ground.

Olc disappeared from the city that day without a trace, hidden by his associates and his money.

As Ceidse lay on the wet grass, rain and blood pooling around her she realised that she felt no pain, not physical nor emotional, her last thought before she closed her eyes forever was that now she was free.

A blinding light shone in front of her eyes, rousing her from a dreamless sleep. She had a vague memory of a life that might have belonged to her but she was not the same.

In front of her stood Pelor, god of the sun and healing. As she took in her surroundings, she realised that it was no longer raining. Through her new eyes she saw that bright flowers were blooming, she could hear the birds clearer than before and feel the river flowing nearby rumbling deep, soothing her soul.

As she arose to meet her saviour, he asked her name.

"Saorsa" she answered without hesitation.

"Well Saorsa, I ask only one thing of you. Will you help those in need in return for the power I have bestowed upon you?"

"I will" She promised, a promise gladly given.

She glanced down and caught her reflection in a puddle, as she caught sight of the twin scars running down her face she threw her head back and laughed.

She laughed for a while and when she composed herself Pelor was gone. She smiled and said I will help those in need and punish those who have wronged.

She vowed that day that she would travel to the ends of the earth to find Olc and ensure that he never hurt another. Then she would hunt others like him. She would make them all the same deal, their life or their money. With any money she could acquire she would buy the freedom of each of The Madame's consorts. One by one she would save them.

Perhaps when she was done she would look for her birth parents.

As the godly light fades, another face appears running towards her, "miss, miss, are you alright? you look positively ghastly... well your face does anyway, ahem..." Gundren splutters as he approaches, offering her a cloak. It is at this point that she realises she is naked.

Saorsa is roused from her memories by a rustling in the trees. She unsheathes her short sword and prowls towards the source of the sound. Her friends stay asleep, resting after a long day as she keeps watch, protecting them as is her true destiny.