Story 2- Astrid Cossette

So I’m sitting in jail. The perfect jail really. You got the moldy walls and dusty corners. Cobwebs all over the place and rats scurrying around me and in the walls. Perfect habitat for prisoners.

I lie on the ground and closed my eyes. I rested my hands on my stomach and crossed my ankles. The dust doesn’t bother me and neither do the rats. If anything, I’ll hum a tune I learned a while ago.

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“Lottie, I don’t see how this is possible.”

My 13th birthday had just rolled around. I was a teenager now. And suitors were already being looked for. I had snuck away to head to the servants quarters. Lottie was teaching me a song today. Something she said would help me.

“Of course it’s possible!” the old lady said, “I’ll show you!”

Lottie started humming a tune. Something different from tunes I’ve heard before. It’s like it had different tune hidden within the tune heard. A tune only certain people or creatures could hear. But I couldn’t quite hear it. I just felt it.

For once, the woman wasn’t off-key and as she hummed, a few of the kitchen rats came to her and then just sat there, listening. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “How are you doing that?” I asked with amazement.

Lottie stopped humming and the rats went their separate ways. The trance was broken. “I told you,” she said patting the stool next to her, “It’s the tune. A tune that animals hear. A tune that animals are drawn to. Only certain people can sing it and do the job it was written for.”

“I believe you now,” I said sitting on the stool.

“Try it.”

I only remembered the first verse of notes. The rest of the tune was unfamiliar still. But I started humming what I knew and not long after, the rats came back, sitting at my feet and listening. And even a few birds from outside came to the window and listened. Lottie smiled.

“I’ve never been able to attract birds,” she said, “Which only proves to me this gift of yours needs to be heard.”

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I started humming that tune I learned so many years ago. The rats in my cell and in all the other cells were drawn in and within seconds, I had a little rat audience around me. I smiled and continued humming, tapping my foot with the hidden beat.

“What are you doing?”

I jumped at the voice and sat straight up. I was so lost in the music that I didn’t even hear the female come at the door. She had blond hair pulled into a braid like mine. Her red eyes looked firmly at mine and I tried to search for words. Did she really just see all that?

“How long have you been standing there?” I finally asked.

“Long enough to know you can sing the song of Beasts,” the woman said. She kept her hand awfully close to the sword on her side.

Lottie told me that’s what the song was called in most places. But she also said only special people could sing it and actually attract the animals. “Yes,” I replied calmly.

“You know only certain people can sing that.”

I nodded. The female knight came down here for something. “Can I help you officer?” I asked with a little smile.

“I came down to check on the town prisoners,” she said, “Which all are accounted for.”

She kept looking at me with those fierce red eyes. They reminded me of a friend of mine from the last time I was thrown in jail. And just for the record, this is only the second time for pretty much the same exact reason. “Yes. I am here,” I said picking up some old hay, “And it doesn’t look like I’m going anywhere.”

The guard didn’t say anything and walked back up the stairs. I took a deep breath and lied back down, getting comfortable as I was before. I started humming again. I liked my rat friends.

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“You step like this and then twirl like this.”

I repeated what the servant showed me. “You make me feel like I’m home again,” he said, “Thank you.”

I nodded and thanked him in return for teaching me the dance. Now I had something else to practice in my room. Lottie walked in the room. “Did you learn a new dance?”

I nodded. Lottie set down the basket of laundry and sat on the stool. “Show me.”

The servant picked up his drum and started pounding on it, creating the beat I had listened to earlier. I moved with the beat, letting each strike of the drum direct me to the next step. When I had finished, Lottie applauded with a standing ovation. I did my curtsey and I went up and hugged her.

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“Hey!”

I opened my eyes. How long have I been asleep? “Wake up you pretty lass!”

I sat up, rubbing the hay out of my hair. There was the half-elf who got me in here in the first place. Lovely…

“Can I help you? Or are you here to falsely accuse me again?” I asked sarcastically.

“Don’t get smart with me you wench,” he said opening the gate.

I knew what he was trying to do. “I’m surprised your baby gravy still works,” I said backing up. The wall stopped me. If I do this right, I can swerve around him and get out of here.

“It takes a lot more than a kick to stop me.”

He backed me up against the wall again. This all seemed to familiar. “Now come on. I know you were just tired that night. Didn’t have much energy but now you’re well rested.”

That’s right get a little closer buddy. I dare ya. “I’ll ask one more time. Step away from me.”

The poor sucker only got closer. I did what I do best in these situations. I kicked him once more but this time he was prepared. He barely moved away in time but he somehow did it. I ran for the split second he had stepped to the side but I wasn’t quick enough. He had grabbed my arm and threw me back against the wall. He was sober which made him think faster. Damn it…

He knocked my head against the wall and I fell to the ground. My head was throbbing and I could barely sit up but I saw him coming towards me. This was it. The one time I couldn’t get away. But this was still better than home…

He leaned down toward me and I felt his hot breath against my cheek. “Stop!”

I started regaining strength and turned my head toward the voice. The guard did so as well. And I don’t think I have ever been so happy to meet a stranger in my life.

“What do you think you’re doing?” the female knight asked.

“Go away Astrid,” he said grabbing my wrist. I shook it off.

“Do I need to report you?” the knight named Astrid asked firmly.

“They won’t believe you. You’re nothing but a woman. Women have no right working in the law.” The guard turned to face me. “They’re only good for one thing.”

I spit in his face. He turned but only grabbed my wrist tighter. “Let her go,” Astrid said, “Or do I need to tell Wayland about you?”

As soon as Astrid mentioned this Wayland, the guard’s face was horrified. He let go of my wrist and stood up, walking out of the cell and mumbling something to Astrid on the way by. I have regained strength at that time and stood up. Astrid looked at me firmly.

“Thank you,” I said sympathetically.

“Don’t think you’re getting away so easily,” Astrid said, “I’m willing to give you your freedom.”

Just like that? But I knew better. She wanted something in return which is probably why she came down in the first place. And then she saw me about to be taken by that oath of a guard. “What do you want in return?” I asked.

“You’re smart,” she said, “No wonder why you’ve survived this long without being caught.”

“What do you-?”

I then realized what she was talking about. She recognized me. She wanted the bounty.

“I’m not going to turn you in,” Astrid said, “You’ve worked too hard to get to this point and I don’t want to ruin that. Plus I’m not the type to betray someone who is going to help me.”

I smiled. I don’t know why. How could I trust this woman? I barely knew her and she could betray me as soon as I did what she want. But something told me she wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t betray me. “Alright. What do you want me to do?” I asked.

“You can sing the song of Beasts,” she said, “My family in town are having a rat issue in our home. If you can rid them for me, I will let you go.”

Sounded easy enough. “What do you want me to do with them?”

“I don’t care. Just get them out of our house. There is a plague going around and I don’t want to take any chances.”

I nodded and walked toward the cell door. Astrid stepped aside and let me through. The plague she was talking about was actually coming from some bad grain in the north but I didn’t want to argue with her. Rats could be just as bad.

We walked out of the jail and Astrid followed me close behind. She pointed me towards a nice little home in town. I opened the door and she closed it behind us. “Is anybody home?” I asked.

“They’re all out for the day,” she said. Astrid held out my bag of things to me. “I’ll give these back once the job is done.”

I took a deep breath and put my hands on my diaphragm, taking a couple deep breaths. I could hum it but to attract all the rats in a house as big as this, I needed to sing it. I sang a couple notes and then started singing the tune.

A minute later, every rat in that house was by my feet. I kept singing, walking out of the house and out of town, Astrid not too far behind.

The people looked amazed and gasped at the sight of the rats following me like I did when Lottie taught me it. This event reminded me of a story I heard once as a little girl.
They said that’s what the song was inspired by.

More rats followed me as I walked through town. Unlike the man in the story, I wouldn’t drown them. I just led them in the forest and once I was sure I was far enough, I stopped singing and watched the hundreds of rats go their different ways. I smiled and looked up to find Astrid standing there. And for the first time, she was smiling as well. “Well done,” Astrid said.

“Thank you,” I said walking towards her, “But you know they’ll eventually find their way back.”

“I know.” Astrid handed me my bag. “But it will be nice to have a few weeks without any problems.”

She smiled and nodded her head at me. I did the same in return. “Thank you for not turning me in,” I said slinging the bag over my shoulder.

“Who are you again?”

I laughed along with Astrid. I would have to come back and help them with their rat problem once in a while. And just to hang around with Astrid. “I have to go,” I finally said, “Thank you for helping me.”

“No. Thank you,” Astrid said, “And don’t be afraid to come back. I’m working on getting that guard fired and I’ll make sure he stays away from you.”

“Before I go, who is Wayland?”

“He’s an explorer. And he saved that guard’s life once. But I think Wayland might be able to help you.”

Astrid then told me of how to get to the next town where Wayland said he would be next. He could then tell me of different places to get more riches than usual and who to talk to. I thanked Astrid for the last time and headed off toward the next town.

Some good came out of this town… I made a new friend.