Stories of Zee E'lious

[Staccatto]

[SIZE=18]Introduction[/SIZE] Zee, was once better known to her family as Zelousa Toumay, and was blessed (or perhaps cursed) to be born into a family of highly talented individuals. Zee’s mother was an accomplished songstress, her father a noted courtier, and her elder brother and sister were blessed with the skills of sword play and magic respectively. Zee however, was dreadfully mediocre. She was never bad at anything, but at the same time, she was never really all that good. She could sing, but not well enough to say she had even a dose of the talent her mother did. She could understand the working of politics, but never developed the finesse to fill her father’s role. And while she loved to play sword fighting with her brother, she was never quite good enough to be considered a superior swordswoman.  Never quite understanding why she never inherited any of her family’s talents, she decided to instead take up a life of study in wizardry, under her tutor, Adelaar. Her study in magic progressed surprisingly with some ease, and Zee felt as though she had finally found her place.  Taking little notice of anything that occurred outside of her studies, Zee failed to notice that strange men began to come and go from her father’s offices. If not for the events that came later, she would have likely thought nothing of it.   First, began the talk that there was a traitor amongst the city, and Zee finally noticed that her father had become anxious when the talk began. Still, the unsavory characters seemed to visit her father’s office, each time leaving him more upset than the last. Later, the talk escalated to a search. And it was then her father’s health seemed to start to fail. And when this search seemed as though it would have ended fruitlessly, proof of a family of traitors, their identities and their transgressions mysteriously, and somewhat questionably, was delivered to the authorities, with each one of her parents names upon it, along with her own, her brother and sister’s.  Doing their best to hide their children, Zee was sent off into the country under the guardianship of her tutor, her brother and sister sent away likewise to places unknown. Hoping that her parents would be able to somehow prove their innocence and that she would be returned to them in due time, she waited… day after day, until the days turned into months, and then nearly a year.   After a few years passed, she returned to the city where she had once lived, in search of news about her parents and her siblings. What she found was devastating- her parents had been executed, her siblings had been captured, to follow after their parents to the goals shortly after.  Having nothing left of her family, she returned home to her tutor, taking on his name and assumed the role of his daughter, hoping to live out her own life quietly.   Well liked amongst her neighbors, remarked upon a shy, quite kind of girl, it came as a surprise to the village she lived in when once again Zee found herself in the role of the accused. Only this time, not of traitorship, but of disposing of her tutor…  [SIZE=18] [/SIZE]
  [SIZE=18]The Trial[/SIZE] Zelousa stood there in the town council chambers, ropes binding her wrists together, with another looped around her neck resembling a noose like collar. She kept her eyes cast downward, knowing exactly what she would see if she looked up. The townsfolk, that she had come to trust and feel apart of, looking at her with anger, disbelief, hatred…   Yes, perhaps a few would look at her with something else, but it would only be pity for the poor girl who everyone had believed went insane and burned her tutor alive.   Chatter of the people filled her ears, only disrupted when the man who called himself mayor banged his half filled ale stein on a table, calling the meeting to order. The voices hushed, and eyes looked to the front of the hall, eager to find out exactly how the girl would be punished.   The mayor took a swig of his ale, thumping the stein on the table once again.   “You stand accused of locking your father inside of the cottage you lived in, then lighting it afire, until it, and your father burned to death. There are multiple witnesses who say that they saw you light the fire in a maddened rage, so there’s little point in your denying it, but, I guess I should ask you whether or not you’re willing to confess to it yet,” said the mayor in a booming voice laced with drunkenness. Even though his wife found all of these goings ons as a wonderful source of gossip for which to keep her and her friends entertained, it was nothing more than an inconvenience, taking time out of things he’d rather be doing… such as chatting up Sulinah, the pretty girl who served at the tavern.   “Well? Don’t you have anything to say?” he boomed once more, leaning forward, his eyes on Zelousa, her blonde hair hanging limp and dirty around her shoulders and back.   “As I told you before, I didn’t set fire to anything…” Zelousa said softly. “Though I doubt you’ll believe me this time either.”   “Your honorable Mayor!” Piped up a man with a large hooked nose from the far side of the room, “She did it, oh yes she did. My two eyes saw it! Bet it was those demons she summons that made her mad. She’s too mad to realize she did. Oh, she did it, yes she did!”   Two others with nasally voices chimed in, echoing the man with the ugly nose.   “Obviously mad she is! After all, she’s nothin’ but a witch!”  “Girl’s daft, anyone can see that!”   There was no point in her saying anything more. Zelousa kept her head down, as she had been taught to do for the past few years. Say nothing, try to go unnoticed, pretend that you don’t exist. Do these things and you’ll get through. No one will find you… Just… disappear.   She squinted her eyes shut, then opened them once again. It didn’t work, for she was still in the council chambers, and now, the townsfolk’s angry voices began to add to the sounds of her accusers.   The mayor drained the last of his ale, frowning at his stein. He wanted this over quickly. There were no ale kegs in the town council chambers. A problem that he would have the gold to remedy shortly if he had his way.   Banging his stein against the table for the third time, the townspeople quieted as the mayor shrugged to the side, leaning his elbow on the arm of his chair.   “Having heard what everyone’s had to say…” the mayor said in a bored voice, “I find you guilty.” He yawned. “I guess we’ll be executin’ you in the morning girl.”   Murmurs of approval and commiseration buzzed through the room, drowning out the one or two cries of sympathy for the poor, unfortunate crazy girl who would die in the morning.    [SIZE=18]Jailbreak [/SIZE]Zelousa sat in the room that served as her cell, wearing little more than a dirty burlap sack, her hair tangled around her. She could smell herself, and if she hadn’t already gotten used to the odor, she’d have vomited on the floor. As it was, she had already wretched up what little was in her stomach two days ago in the bucket that sat in the corner serving as her chamber pot.   Zelousa Toumay, sat alone, wondering if she’d ever be remembered for more than being a murderous witch.   She’d give anything to begin again. To start over. She’d never cast another spell. She’d try her best to forget her past, who she was… who she might have become.   The sounds of night crept inside of the room, filled with the music of crickets, frogs, and cicada. Zelousa closed her eyes, trying her best to memorize the sounds and take in their comfort.   Then came a ping. Then a bang from down the hall.   Her eyes popped open as she pushed herself up from the floor and stumbled towards the door. When the handle began to jiggle slightly, he stepped back, startled.   Surely they didn’t do executions at night. They said they’d wait until morning!   The door came open, creaking softly. A man, his face obscured by a cloak came inside.   “Good grief. It smells RANK in here. How can you possibly stand it?” asked the man, his voice that of a flamboyant dandy. “Zelousa, darling. You should really think more about the types of accommodations you keep. Standards darling, one must have standards,” He twittered on.   “Eric! Good grief… What are you doing? Have you gone daft?!” Zelousa whispered firmly. “You can’t be here, they’ll consider you an accomplice and fit you for a noose to match mine in the morning.”   “Oh bosh. Who gives a ..., really? These townspeople are nothing but hicks and provincials. Never really understood why you liked any of them anyways.”   She rolled her eyes at that. “Eric, you were born here. And you’re certainly not a hick townsperson…”   “Yes, but even a rose blooms in a garden of thorns darling,” Eric replied as he adjusted his gloves. “Besides, don’t you think I look ABSOLUTELY daaaashing and roguish in my jail break outfit? I wonder if Tom the Smith would like it?”   “I’m sure he would, IF he cared to notice other men and what they’re wearing.” Zelousa shuffled from foot to foot. “What are you doing here anyhow? Surely you didn’t come to chat about fashion!”   “Oh, right. Yes… well… Ta-dah! I’m breaking you out of jail darling! Isn’t it exciting?” Eric said flamboyantly.   He’d always been this way, for as long as she could remember. Trust Eric, the town fop, to think of something like a jail break as an opportunity for amusement.   Oh well.   When one asked for a chance to live, and a new start, one couldn’t be picky as to the method it was delivered in.    [SIZE=18]Two Roads[/SIZE] Sometime later, when Zelousa and Eric had made it well away from the town, it’s people, as well as any others who might have been looking for them both, they searched out and found a camping spot. Eric, always prepared for an “emergency of fashion” as he called it, pulled out his shears and began to cut away at Zelousa’s hair.   “You’ve been long in need of a trim, darling. The long locks on you just don’t do you justice. Mmm Mm. And a new name to go with the hair. Yes, that’d be perfect,” said Eric, as he happily snipped away.   “Yes. Alright… I suppose.”   Putting down his shears for a moment, he took a long look at his friend. No one should have had to go through all she had, or lose so much. He wished he could prevent any more pain from coming to her, but there was little help for that.   “Those men. You know they were paid to accuse you. Right?” Eric asked.   “Yes, I know.”   “And you know that they likely lit the fire, right?”   “Yes.”   “Why would they do that?”   “I haven’t any idea…” Zelousa answered, shaking her head.   “Little liar.”   She grinned at that. “Perhaps, but not as good as you. You had a town convinced that you preferred men.”   “Yes, well… one does what they must do, don’t they?”   Eric finished snipping away at her hair, the fire eventually burning itself away.   In the morning, the two friends parted, deciding that it would be best for their chances if they went their separate ways.   Eric was off to the city, to stay with some friends who would help him hide for a while.   Zelousa, now to be known as Zee (A much fitting, and sassier name Eric assured her), set out towards a town of misfits that Eric had heard about. There, it was thought, Zee should be able to start over again.   As they said their goodbyes, each wondered if they would see the other again.   Eric wondered if Zee would be able to survive on her own as he walked away, not looking back.   Zee wondered the same, turning to look back in the direction of the city of her birth, wondering if she would ever know what it was her father had done to merit his entire family being hunted and killed.

[Staccatto]

Remember These Few Things Zee sat a bit off of the road side, a warm fire crackling before her. She sat there, feeling lonely, wondering how far Eric was to the city. She already missed him so much, her only friend, the only person who cared if she lived or died. He was like a brother to her. He took care of her, defended her, and was over protective, just like any sibling should be.   She had often wondered why it was he seemed to care in the first place. There was never any dramatic event that had brought them together, nor were they similar in temperament or other circumstances. Zee simply remembered that from the first day he had seen her, he had assumed the role of her protector, though in his own flamboyant style. No one else had questioned his role, and Zee was too happy to have a friend to ask Eric why he had chosen her.  But her protector was gone now, having insisted it was for the best that they part ways and take off in separate directions to increase their chances of escape.   But, before Eric went his own way, he had left Zee with a list of instructions…  “Never shy away or make yourself seem scared of anyone. They’ll know they’ve got you then.”   One after another, his rules drummed through her head, some of them useful, others simply his paranoia speaking at the idea of having to leave her on her own.  “Make sure you know more than anyone else about everyone else. Forewarned is fairwarned…”  But one repeated over and over in her mind…  “No matter what, trust no one. Don’t tell them who you are, where you came from… Anything”  Howls echoed in the distance, and the fire began to die down. Zee searched around through her supplies, trying to find more tinder and flint, but finding none. The wolves howled again, sounding closer this time, dissuading the lone girl from searching for more supplies in the forest.   There was no way to rebuild the fire without doing something, and without the fire, the wolves would have no fear of coming out to play with Zee.  Whispering under her breath, she motioned her hands in a few practiced intonations, the fire leaping into the air briefly, before settling down at a moderate crackle.   The howls rang through the night once again, this time, seeming much, much further away.
  With that knowledge as comfort Zee laid down to get what sleep she could.

[Staccatto]

You Might Die Trying
  Her pack slung over her shoulder, Zee approached the gates of the town called Hlint. It appeared to be nothing special from the outside, but she had heard that a number of adventurers and odd types lived in and passed through the town daily. Surely, Zee would be able to disappear there amongst people who would attract far more attention than she would.   As she passed through the gates, her now chin length bobbed hair brushed into her face. Through the strands, she saw all manners of people hurrying down the dirt street of the town, crossing to make their way to the caravan wagons, the bank, the inn, and where ever else it was that they were on their way to. Walking down the street, Zee felt self conscious and panicky. Her heart beating wildly, she kept hearing a voice in her head telling her that someone was bound to recognize her.   But no one did.   Instead, every person was absorbed in seeing to their errands, or talking to each other. A man bartered with someone for potions. Another sat on a bench polishing his sword, while the woman next to him entertained some of her friends with some tumbling that she had apparently used to confound a pack of goblins.   Making her way to the inn, she paused a moment outside, a sight just off to the side making her heart skip wistfully.   There, in a group of three were two men and a woman avidly discussing magical theory, taking turns casting small spells or cantrips to reinforce their respective points. There, out in the open, were mages casting spells.   Zee had not seen such a thing done so openly for the past few years, not since she and her tutor had moved to outre’mer town which Adelaar had decided to be an ideal hiding place. Zee and Adelaar had been the only two residents which dared to do such a thing, and even though they had been accepted for the most part within that town, they had always been regarded with a dose of suspicion.   Suspicion which had turned to outright hatred when Adelaar had been killed in a housefire under one might describe at the very least as highly questionable circumstances.   Stepping inside of the inn, Zee felt her right hand ache where her pinky had once been. The ache matched that within her, the ache to once again practice her own spells. But that would never be…  Even within a town that seemed to welcome it’s mages freely, Zee was simply too afraid to risk trusting people again.