unicorn story, first six pages

[maderr]

Swordwick

"Are you all right?" Willa asked.

Hollowick dropped his hand from where he had been rubbing his forehead. "Just a slight headache. Nothing a cup of tea won't fix, when we arrive." Which would be all too soon, he thought, stifling a sigh. Not that he was sorry he was coming, but he had not thought he would be coming so abysmally alone.

Willa grimaced and sat back in her seat, shifting restlessly in the stiff velvet cushions of the ambling carriage. "Honestly, Holly. I am sorry mother and father were such prigs about all this. Pence is magnificent—you're both magnificent. I am so very sorry you were forced to leave him behind."

Hollowick shrugged, hoping to convince here he was all right—even if what he felt was miserable. Just once, he wished he could be himself outside the castle walls. His headache would not go away until he had Pence with him again, and back home he knew Pence was equally miserable. Never mind the fact they had said he was not even allowed to bring his sword. Not even so much as a dagger.

Not that he had listened to them on that point, but it was the principle of the thing.

"You are feeling wretched and I know it," Willa said. "Do not try to fool me, Holly."

He stuck his tongue out. "Fine. I'm not happy about leaving Pence, my head hurts, it's just as well they told me I could not take my sword—but I would rather be here to support you while feeling miserable than being comfortable at home and leaving you all alone. Pence agreed with me, so there."

She smiled and kissed his cheek, wrapping her arms around his shoulders to give him a loose embrace. "You are the best little brother in the world."

"Haha" Hollowick said, rolling his eyes. "You have no basis for comparison, having only one little brother—one brother at all. You only like me because I'm smart enough to know how to avoid your throwing punches at me."

"Which likely makes you the smartest man alive—or perhaps it's that you're the only smart man alive, hmm," she mused, then smiled. "I am glad of your company, and will be happier for it all the more if…" She trailed off and flapped her hand vaguely. In the slivers of light just slipping through the curtains over the carriage windows, her ruby and diamond engagement ring glinted.

"If you're fiancé turns out to be an utter toad?" Hollowick finished.

Willa wrinkled her nose. "Yes, that. I do not know what our idiot parents were thinking—offering me up before I even met him! They could have at least granted me that, and not treated me entirely like a…chess piece, whatever one fits."

"Oh, I am certain you are treated like a pawn, but destined to be a queen, Will."

"I suppose," Willa said with a sigh. "Not much choice in the matter, is there? I guess I should be grateful for the chance to be a Queen, and stop hoping I'm about to meet a prince charming, especially as I am hardly a fair princess."

"You're the grandest princess that ever was," Hollowick said hotly. "So what if you're not starving to death and your hair does not look as though it belongs on top of a cake?"

Willa laughed, and embraced him again. "Oh, Holly. Whatever would I do without you?"

"Likely you would have played with dolls instead of making me dress up in your old clothes," he retorted, but obligingly kissed her cheek. "So, who is this bloke you're marrying?" he asked, just to make her laugh.

"You!" Willa said, swatting him as she snorted with laughter. "I would like to see you call King Galus a bloke!" She eyed him, and prodded him in the chest. "Don't you dare! Most people, when they're nervous, run and hide. You're the only person I know with a death wish, Holly. Do not call my pending husband a bloke."

"I wouldn't," Hollowick protested. "Not until he proved to be an ass, and then I would just call him an ass." He paused, then asked, "So is he an ass?"

Willa shrugged. "To be honest, I don't know much about him. Horen has always been a fairly quiet kingdom, and they send emissaries and ambassadors—I've never met their royalty properly. I know the last king died only two years ago, his son and heir—Galus—took over then, and he is about a year or so older than I. He has a second son, about…twenty seven, I believe. So you are still the baby brother, I'm afraid." She giggled when he made a face. "They're a small kingdom, it will do them a great deal of good to be tied to ours—and we earn a hefty tariff break by joining with them. Business as usual."

"I wonder what mother and father will eventually do with me," Hollowick muse. "Seeing as they can't marry me off—they don't even like it when people see me."

"You can live with me," Willa said firmly. "If I'm going to be Queen, then I may as well make use of the bloody title and declared you can stay with me and do as you please."

He smiled briefly, enjoying the thought for a moment, letting the wish warm him. Then he tucked it away with the thousand other wishes that would never come true, because of the path he had chosen and the fact that his parents hated that choice. "I think they'll just ship me off somewhere, tuck me away, once you are no longer around to pitch fits about it. It's not like I'm terribly useful at home, beyond being the Great Embarrassment."

"Psh. Not to me."

"And I do not think you're ugly. A pity we are related, we'd be a better couple than mother and father. The only thing they've ever agree on was that I'm a complete failure."

"You!" She pinched him.

He grinned and started to say more, but realized that beyond the carriage the noise level had increased. They were in the city now, and headed rapidly toward the palace. He could not believe he was travelling to see his big sister married off to a man none of them had ever met. What is he was an ass? What if he was a full on bloody bastard?

Well, then he would find a way to call Pence, unwrap the sword and daggers he had smuggled into his luggage, and show them just how embarrassing he could be when so inclined. If anyone even so much as made her uncomfortable—

"Oh, stop glaring," Willa reprimanded lightly. "No one has done anything to either of us yet, stop plotting demises."

Hollowick made a face at her."Stop reading my mind."

She smiled and tugged at a lock of his coppery hair. "That reminds me—I completely forgot to tell you that the younger brother is wick. Fenwick, I believe is his name. Don't know his specialty or familiar, though. No one has been terribly forthcoming with details." She pursed her lips at this annoyance. Then she sighed, hands fisting in the costly fabric of her emerald green gown. "Holly, what if I completely botch this?"

"You won't," Hollowick replied firmly. "Come on, Will. You punched the Duke of Aisling when you were fifteen, and now he is one of your best friends. "

"True," she mused. "Though the bastard could have come home for my damned wedding."

"He is an ambassador, now," Hollowick reminded her. "Locked in delicate negotiations."

"Pah!" She said, then smiled. "Still, I am not exactly—"

The words were drowned out by the sound of trumpets heralding their arrival, and they exchanged a look of anxiety and resignation as the carriage slowly came to a stop. Taking a deep breath, fussing with her hair, Willa gathered up her skirts as the carriage door was opened. A footman extended a hand to assister her and she took it.

"Princess Willa Constantina Amadia Grandine!"

Hollowick was pleased at the noise which sprang up—the clapping and cheering and further trumpets that welcomed the future Queen. Then it was his turn, as the herald announced more sedately, "Prince Hollowick."

He could see from the brief ripple of surprise that went through the crowd that no one here had known the Princess' brother was wick. Odd. He scanned the crowd, going immediately to King Galus. Handsome enough, he supposed. Black hair, blue eyes, well built, hopefully well bred but with royalty it could so easily go either way…

Then something else caught his eye, and he stared in pleased surprise to see a unicorn. It was silver white, with a long horn that all but flashed in the sunlight, the barest hints of gold in its mane and tail. Beautiful…and that must be the wick brother, standing alongside it with a hand upon the unicorn's neck. He looked much like Galus, with the same black hair and blue eyes, but he was far more slender, a bit taller..and looking his way.

The man smiled at him, and beckoned, and Hollowick reluctantly went forward. "You're wick! I did not know that!"

Handsome too, eh? Especially after Lord Toad Face.

Shut up.

Hollowick kept his face blank, but only just. Damn it. How could he forget that he would be able to hear any unicorn and the wick to whom he was connected? Sometimes, he wanted to beat Pence upside the head for giving him such a headache of a trait—especially since they would probably never be allowed to put the skill to its true use.

"Hollowick, right? My name is Fenwick. It's an honor to meet you."

"The honor is mine," Hollowick said reflexively, bowing his head and shoulders slightly. "You have a beautiful kingdom, from what little I have so far seen. My sister will love rearranging it."

Fenwick laughed. "Well, she can't rearrange it worse than my mother. Other women rearrange furniture, Queens switch around bits of kingdom, eh?"

Hollowick's mouth twitched, and he looked reflexively toward Willa to make certain she had not caught his teasing. His humor vanished, however, as he saw that her smile was a bit too bright. Something had already upset her. But what? Damn it, why had he not been paying attention?

Looks like Gally is a bit miffed his bride is not more slender, the unicorn thought without sympathy. Guess we should have seen that.

It will do him some good not to get what he wants. If she's got even half a brain, she's far beyond those pixies he always plays with. The unicorn snorted. Do you suppose the rumors are true? I think I would pay a King's ransom to see her clock him.

Fenwick barely hid an amused smile. Shut up shut up shut up, you stupid horse. He coughed and smiled more openly at Hollowick. "Your sister is beautiful. My brother has obviously made an excellent choice."

"She was most excited by the proposal," Hollowick replied, deciding that the shouting match which had ensued was close enough to excitement it wasn't too much a lie to describe it thus. "We are happy to be here. Your familiar is beautiful, if I may say so."

Of course he may say so.

"Thank you," Fenwick said, beaming. "Might I ask, where is your familiar?"

Hollowick stifled a sigh, and ignored the familiar pang that came whenever he thought of Pence. As much as he hated to admit it, as angry as it made him, his parents were probably right—bringing Pence along would have caused nothing but trouble. "He is at home," he finally replied. "The journey here came right in the middle of our hunting out a savage dragon. I left Pence at home to finish the matter."

"Impressive," Fenwick replied as they followed along with the crowd inside.

You never let me fight dragons alone.

That is because you would just flirt with it and invite it back to your place.

I would never consort with a savage dragon. Look at you, implying I would sleep with anything.

If you haven't landed a savage, it's certainly not for lack of trying, I would wager. Now shut up.

Hollowick realized he was never going to make it through this journey with his sanity intact. He would get stuck with another unicorn wick. Was there any chance he would last through the wedding without giving himself away, or worse?

"What is the nature of you wick?" He asked, just to distact himself, and hopefully them from a conversation that as once more devolving into things he really did not need to know.

Fenwick grinned. "I'll show you later. If I mess around now, my brother will kill me for drawing attention away from him."

For being prettier and more talented, you mean.

Stuff it. Gal is a good king, if a bit…awkward, otherwise. He never got to be normal, you know.

Gally is a very good king the unicorn graciously acceded. He is just a flat out idiot everything else. Perhaps the bride will smooth out his rough edges. She looks a strong girl, and is if half of what we hear about her is true. The unicorn peered at Willa thoughtfully as they passed through the grand halls of the palace and out into the gardens beyond, where a lavish arrangement had been set—food, music, an open dance floor, colorful lanterns which would be lit as it grew darker.

He glanced at his sister, seeing she had cheered some, and more than a few women had flocked toward her—hopefully a few would be real friends. Feeling it best to make a clean break, she had brought only her two maids, and none of her friends or maids in waiting. It was the whole reason he had insisted upon coming, and sacrificed Pence to do so.

We saw she would be a good choice, did we not? Fenwick asked idly, and said aloud.

Saw she was a good choice? Hollowick thought. Did that mean Fenwick was a Seer? That was definitely rare, and even controversial a wick talent.

"So what is your wick, my new friend? Perhaps I should say new brother."

Hollowick smiled. He was without most of his power, lacking Pence, but he still had some of it. Closing his eyes, he focused on what he wanted from the myriad trunks coming along, held his hands slightly out from his body, and snapped his fingers—then spread his hands to catch the book that fell into them. Turning it, he presented the book with a playful bow.

"Oh, brilliant," Fenwick said, accepting the book, one of Hollowick's spell books—one that would not get him into trouble. "You're a flash. Bloody marvelous, that."

Shrugging, trying not to show that he was stupidly pleased to have impressed anyone with his talents, he let Fenwick enjoy the book and let his own gaze wander over the crowd. It seemed the normal gathering of lords and ladies, some more minor figures entitled for whatever reason to attend the betrothal ball, servants, guards…

He looked in surprise at the small group of soldiers at the farthest end of the garden, something stirring in his chest—hope, he realized. Surely it could not be… "What are those?" he asked, pointing. "Those men with third grade familiars and…swords, surely that is what I am seeing. Are they…?"

"Swordwicks?" Fenwick finished for him, voice dismissive, and Hollowick felt his hope wither and die. "Yes, they are. Grade three all of them, I do not recall their familiars. They could be decent wicks, I do not know why they insist upon the swords." He shrugged. "But, they are a fair hand when the savage dragons come around, I suppose. Brother says to let them be, in any case. Come, we had better get to the wine before all these drunken louts take it."

No longer in the mood for wine, or anything else, Hollowick followed obediently along, looking briefly one last time at the swordwicks, feeling the absence of his own sword at his hip, and knowing all too well the looks on their faces—of wanting to belong, but never belonging, and damned if anyone would ever count them the equal of other wicks.

Comments

[evilgeniuskoji.livejournal.com]

'a;lsg'sal I WANT TO READ THIS but I'm gonna be late. >>;; Curse youuuu. Curse youuuu. I must return later.

[evilgeniuskoji.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh. I am loving this. 8D Fascinating, and I want to know moar now. 8D

[tsubaki-dono.livejournal.com]

Oooohhh lovely. I so want to read more of this. I know you want to focus on Bound but this is too cute.

[tsaiko.livejournal.com]

Okay, the more I read of this, the more intriguing it becomes. What kind of animal is Pence? Why are swordwicks considered beneath other wicks? What is with normal people's reactions to wicks? It's so interesting.

I can't wait to see more.

[unusualmusic.livejournal.com]

basically what she said.:)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_calex_/]

YOU WROTE MORE UNICORN! Oh, this makes me so happy. I love Hollowick, and Fenwick just really shoved his foot right in there, didn't he? I'm really excited about this fic. ^_______^

[pc1739.livejournal.com]

Cool :).

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

Aw, Holly, become the best Swordwick ever and show them all! :O

[vera-dicere.livejournal.com]

love love love this. i'm really loving hollowick and i'm intrigued by him being a swordwick [or something similar?]- i'm sure fenwick's apparently low opinion of swordwicks will turn around once he gets to know hollowick.

looking forward to more! :D

[melayneseahawk.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I can't wait for the rest of this.

[alice_montrose]

Glad to see more of the unicorn story! :)

[skylark97.livejournal.com]

Heehee! Holly. XD *glomps*

1) I love Willa. And I'm gonna kick Gallus's ass if he can't see the coolness that is her. I do so love the unicorn's comments about him, though. ^_^ And I want to know why he never got to be normal.

2) Fenwick...XD I love how he sticks his foot in his mouth and doesn't even realize it. I can't wait to see what his reaction will be when he discovers that Hollowick is a swordwick. Especially after he's already complemented him on his wick. :3

3) Totally look forward to meeting Pence. ^_^ <3333

*flying tackle glomps* You are the awesome and Holly is adorably grumbly. :3

<3333

[tygati.livejournal.com]

Eee! You are seriously awesome. ^__^ And I am Highly Amused at how Willa sorta steals the first half of the story. *grin* The various social politic things behind wicks and particularly swordwicks intrigue me, and like the unicorn, I totally want to see Willa clock her new fiance. ^____^ Hee!

[jolena.livejournal.com]

It's really not nice the way you tease us. I can't wait for the next part, Hollowick really needs to be cheered up. ^_^

[tsimiko.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I'm a horrible lurker, but I figured I deserved to pop out of the woodwork for this. I love all of your work, and to see a new post by you always makes my day, especially when I've been having a bad day of my own.

I absolutely adore that the main man is Holly and his sister is Will. I can't help but wonder what Pence is like, and how he'll get along with Fen's unicorn.

I'm fairly sure I would not mind begging and pleading for more of this, but I'll be patient and wait for more.

[celticm.livejournal.com]

Interesting universe and cute characters! I hope to see more of it soon. ^_^

[ciraarana.livejournal.com]

*wriggles* The wicks, and swordwicks in particular, Pence, King Galus - and when will Will snap and punch him? - unicorn flirting with dragons ... so many intersting things! Hooked, I tell you. :)

[rainbowfantasie.livejournal.com]

mmmmmoooooorrrreeeeeee...please?

Poor Holly...and stupid Fen for being wickist and not liking swordwicks. I bet Holly will change his mind eventually, though. =)

[mailechan.livejournal.com]

Oooo, this one sounds interesting! I am looking forward to hearing more about "wick" culture and why swordwicks are looked down upon.

[chris-king-2005.livejournal.com]

*blithers merrily*

OMG. This is great!

[the-camster.livejournal.com]

*snicker* I am really liking Fenwick and his familiar, the mental conversations are always fun aspects of stories. Though I don't think you mentioned Fenwick's familiar's name…

Sounds Great! Keep On Writing!

[maderr.livejournal.com]

It's Diamond. I think it crops up soon.

[the-camster.livejournal.com]

oooooooooh, aaaaaaaaaaah…… pretty!

[suzume-tori.livejournal.com]

I highly approve of older sisters who dress up little brothers. I resemble that remark. (Not anymore -- I mean, my brother is much too tall to fit reasonably into any of my clothes, and the stubble really ruins the effect. But as a little kid, he was cuter than any doll I had.)

Pretty picture at the top of the LJ, by the way. I liked the old one, but I highly approve of this one, too. Yay for pretties. <3

The mental image of a bunch of curls on top of a cake -- like a wig -- made me snicker.

Also, Hollowick is hilarious, and therefore completely awesome. Smart-mouthed, snarky characters are the ones that are nearest and dearest to my little heart. (Okay, I adore the sister, too. She is everything an awesome big sister should be.)

The minute you mentioned the second son that would make him the youngest? My mental slash goggles were lowered over my eyes. Yes, the FIRST available guy in age range, and I know nothing about them, and I start mental slash. (Unless the unicorn can turn into a guy, and is the thing he is leaving behind. In which case I'm slashing them.) I have no idea what is wrong with my brain, but that's how it works.

Wick. What is wick? I mean, there is wick as in candle, wick like it was used in the book"the secret garden" which meant like awesome or healthy or something (I can't remember. I shall have to reread it now.) And looking it up (Yes, I am that geeky. Stop laughing!) I found "(wich) a village, a castle, a dwelling or place of work: baliwick, Warwick, Buscot Wick"

Hahaha, upon reading more, the question is answered. Nevermind.

You rock. <3 this is AWESOME. (Plus, UNICORNS. Yay.)

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Aha, it pleases me you went and looked it up. I was afraid someone would ask wtf without bothering to see, first.

[hyperjirou.livejournal.com]

Where exactly did you find it? I looked it up, and the closest I came was circle of stones. Although I'm suspecting the name is related to witch.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Here (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=wick&searchmode=none).

[damnedangelcry.livejournal.com]

uh, where can i find this story, other than reading it from here? is it already on your website? I also cannot find Bound. I tried, but its hard when livejournal takes a LONG time to open on a stupid stupid slow 'net connection

[maderr.livejournal.com]

I've only got Swordwick here, so far, since I just started it. Bound is not up, since I said a while back it was only going to be a paid serial and wouldn't be up 'til sometime in March.

[damnedangelcry.livejournal.com]

Ah, so that's why i can't find it on your list of fics on your website

[suspendisbelief.livejournal.com]

Cool new shiny!

Am most intrigued by the magic system.
Is the grade of the wick determined by the species of the familiar? like can you have a unicorn as a familiar and still be grade 1?
How is the type of wick determined? it sounds like it might be partly choice but partly not as well.

Love that Willa is an unconventional princess and look forward to her making it work with Galus, especially since it seems it will involve fists.

Also, am curious about what the true use of his unicorn mind-reading ability is.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

familiar is tied to the power of the wick - a grade one would never have a unicorn. grade one is more like house cats and stuff. grade five includes unicorns, tame dragons, phoenix, griffon, and...a sea serpent or something. Wick is just what you're born with, like any talent. Fenwick was born a Seer, and Hollowick a flash--but they can choose how to employ those skills.



the unicorn mind-reading thing is tied to the fact he's a swordwick--since that's where he put his skills, and what he focused on, he got a familiar made for just such a thing, and the overhearing ability is tied to that.