lost in a game of poker

8/13/2019 Lost in a Game of Poker

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Lost in a Game of Poker

Prologue

It was a foggy, cold night when Carlos tumbled out the door to the Flying Horse. He shook his head

and moaned. Carlos went stumbling down the street towards the harbor. He just had to get up on his

ship, and strait into his bed. In his intoxicated state, he stuck his hand into his pocket looking for the

familiar weight of the often heavy purse. His brain could not figure out that the purse no longer lay

in his pocket. Carlos had just played his last game of poker; he had nothing more he could bet. The

thought that just flew over his head was that if Catja had lived, she would have slapped him and

said that he could not bet his children in a game of poker. Then his beloved would leave him and

take the children with her. But Catja have been dead for 5 years, so she could only be disappointed

in him, wherever she sat and kept track of her relatives.

When Carlos finally got aboard the ship, he looked in to the room where his children slept. They

were sleeping sweetly with each other. Even though Carlos was pretty drunk, the sight of hischildren still got him to smile. He tumbled onto his bed.

The next day Carlos was woken up with a tremendous headache. He could hear the men walking up

the ship; it was strange, for he had given the crew free today. He stood up and started going up on

deck. Now he could hear his daughter crying, and his son shouting. Carlos ran up on deck despite

of his headache.

"What's happening here?" He shouted as soon as his son and daughter saw him, they began to beat,

kick and bite the hands that held them.

"Dad! They will not let go," his daughter cried, his son also looked at him with praying eyes. But

suddenly a person shot the vision. Carlos could remember the person from a foggy memory, but

could not remember where. The man smiled coldly to him."You can probably remember me from yesterday. We played poker, I won your daughter and this

magnificent ship. The other gentleman over there won your son and fishing boat. We have just

come to take what is ours, I have your signature on this piece of paper." The man said with a

freezing voice, and held a piece of paper up with Carlos's signature.


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Chapter 1

Kat looked out on the water, in the distance she could see a harbor. It was there they were

going. She sighed deeply, today it was ten years since she had been separated from her brother Matt

at the age of 8, because her stupid father had bet them in a game of poker, and lost. Don’t look so

sad, we are going to the market, you, Mona, Noah and me. Are we not enough? It was her best

friend's voice inside her head. Kat looked down at Sabrina, who sat and licked her fur. She had

known the cat in the 7 years it had lived. Kat shook her head and smiled at Sabrina.

"You're right, we should be happy that we haven’t been found here yet. Otherwise would have Frey

beaten me and then put me to wash the boat. We should also be pleased that in less than a 1 day we

will be on the annual market. "Cat said while she picked up Sabrina and sat her on her lap and

stroked her, Sabrina began to spin.

"You’re also right, it is enough to have you, Noah and Mona, you are the best on the whole earth,

but I miss Matt." Kat whispered, and breathed into Sabrina fur. There isn’ t much to do about it. But

you should probably go down to Mona now; she's looking for you. Kat nodded. She walked across

the deck, and was headed toward the stairs and down to the kitchen when she was stopped by

Captain Frey.

"Where have you been the last 10 minutes? And haven’t I said that I never want that cat running

around on the deck? "He snarled and slapped her. Kat said nothing, because she had tried it before,

and she always had a way of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sabrina snarled at him, but

he ignored her.

Kat didn’t touch her cheek, even though it hurt, because if she did, then he would slap the other

cheek. Captain Frey pointed toward the kitchen while he snarled

"into the kitchen with you!" There was nothing to discuss further, Kat walked into the kitchen

where she was warmly received by Mona and Noah, they looked at her cheek shook their heads,

muttered a lot of unnice words, and then gave her something cold to put on the cheek . Mona talked

so bad about Captain Frey that Noah had to ask her to stop, fearing that the captain would hear her.

Kat was set to wash up. Then she had to wash the whole boat. It should be beautiful when they

came into the harbor. In the evening, they finally into the harbor and moored. Afterwards they allwent to the bed. Kat, however, wanted to go and see the harbor and the town. When she was sure

that everyone was asleep, she sneaked out of her cabin, on to the deck and down onto the

ground. There was almost no people. Kat wrinkled little on the nose; around the harbor it smelled

very strongly of fish. She waved her hand, and immediately there came a fresh breeze with the scent

of salt water. Cat breathed in deeply, and walked through the narrow streets in hope of finding the

local inn. Kat asked Sabrina if she knew where the inn was. A little further, turn right and then the

inn is on the left side the cat answered. Kat followed the streets as Sabrina had indicated. Her cloak

slipped around her slender figure, and her dark hair flew into her eyes, and tickled her around her

ears.


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When Kat went shut the door of the inn behind her the room was very quiet. All eyes were directed

at her. It smelled strongly of beer and alcohol, and the room oozed of smoke. Kat didn’t take of her

cloak, instead she pulled it closer around her, then she went up to the bar and ordered a glass of

lemonade The innkeeper looked doubtful at her, but when Kat gently throwed a few coins on the

counter, he gave her a glass of lemonade. People were a little dismayed when Sabrina came walking

towards Kat. You could hear their terrified outbursts. Kat laughed a little to herself, and took

Sabrina up on her lap. She threw some more coins on the counter.

"A bowl of milk for my fine friend here," she said, and made her voice deep. Because then people

thought she was a boy, and it wasn’t strange that a boy went to the inn, but if they knew she was a

girl, they would begin to talk even more. The innkeeper Sabrina gave a bowl milk . It tastes

wonderful , she said after having tasted a little of her milk they all look a little startled, go over to

the old guy in the corner, he knows a lot about the city. Kat did as Sabrina suggested and left the cat

at the bar, and went over to the old man herself. She sat down opposite the man.

"Well, do you have something new to tell? You know that I will only tell you something, if I get alittle in return " he said with a heavy voice which were filled with the years he had lived. Kat

thought for a moment and then began to talk about the new things that had happened down in

Trekotia. That the old king was dead and that the new ruled the country with such brutality that

some fled to neighboring countries. The old man nodded to himself several times while he smoked

a pipe. Then he began with rusty voice to tell.

"Son, you know that here is the market tomorrow. There will be a great fishing boat, they come to

sell fish outside the edge of the marketplace. It was the first news. Now I will tell you an old story,

as always, it is told in the light of a campfire or in the glow of a candle. "The man leaned over the

table, so Kat could feel and smell his bad breath. He continued"A long time ago," he coughed "there lived a young girl in this town, she was beautiful as the

goddess herself, her dark hair flew around her whenever she walked. Her clear blue eyes had always

a merry twinkle, and there was always a smile on her full lips. She had every man in town on her

little finger. She was also one of the magic, you know the circle labeled ones," he explained,

drawing an invisible mark on his right under the arm. Kat nodded, she had such a mark herself, the

man took her nod, as if she knew what he was talking about. "She was always had this


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gold ring on her forehead. But even though all the men wanted her, she said no to them all. I

thought that she would grow old alone, but one day there came a sailor with his big beautiful ship.He was immediately captivated by her beauty, like so many others had been, but this time she

showed interest. They were happy together, everyone could see that. It did not take long before they

were married and she was expecting their first child. More wasn’t heard of them, but before they

left, I asked her why she had chosen him and why she looked so unhappy. There she sent me one of

her dazzling smiles and said that they were destined for each other, though she would die three

years after giving birth to her second child. She also told me some secrets. I tell them now to you

because I am afraid that I will go and die, but you must not say them on to anyone, okay son?" the

man looked into dark cave the cloak had created around her face, hoping to catch the her eyes. She

nodded, but before he went on, Sabrina said: You know it's your mother talk about There, Katstiffened, but the man didn’t notice it and Sabrina was never wrong. But now Kat was curious.

What her mother had told this man?

"She told me that she had the ability to see into the future and I did not doubt her for a moment. She

had her hand on her stomach while she said, that her two children would be separated from each

other, and that her daughter would have a very hard childhood, but that she would grow up fast and

learn to handle whatever life threw at her. While she said it, it was as if she were in a kind of

trance. But afterwards she woke up and looked at me with tears in her eyes and she said - I can

remember the exact words she said - 'Do you know how hard it is to live with the knowledge that

my children will be separated from each other and may never see each other again. And knowingthat the man I love will tear them apart because he every night will mourn me, because of our

daughter will look like me so much? Knowing that the reason for my future family's misfortune is

that I will die during a pirate attack when my daughter is 3 years old and my son is 8 years? 'While

she took me by the shoulder she earnestly begged me not to tell this secret to anyone, unless it was

absolutely necessary. While she still held me by the shoulders, she came back in a trance as she said

with a very clear, eerie voice, that her daughter would one day visit me and that I would help her.

"The old man lay sick back in chair, with a sad smile. Kat was breathing heavily, while Sabrina

tried to reassure her.

When Kat finally decided to tell the man that she was Catjas daughter; the lady he was talking about


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's daughter. A tall man stepped into the inn, it was Frey. Kat froze, but Sabrina helped her getting

life in Kat’s blood circulation. Kat wrote a note to the man with her name on. She sneaked out of

the door without her being noticed. The old man didn’t discover that she was gone before she was

out of the inn. He took note and stuck it in his pocket. Kat ran so fast she could and suddenly she

bumped into a fat man, he took her gently on the arm while he laughed softly.

"Well now, where are you going in such haste?" He asked. She looked up at him, but it was too

dark for her to see his face.

"Home" she replied, with her deep voice as she freed herself. Behind him stood a younger figure,

she could not tell whether they were friendly or if they were unfriendly, so she did what she could,

she ran.

"Where do you think that young man was going in such a hurry?" Marius asked Matt. Matt

shrugged.

"Maybe home, he said so himself, it may well be that he was telling the truth" Matt replied, Mariusagreed with him, and together they went down to their small fishing boat.

Kat ran the whole way home with Sabrina close to her heels, as fast as she could to the ship. There

she went as quietly as possible into her cabin. She did not fall asleep right away, she had too much

to think about. So she had inherited her skills from his mother, she knew, of course, already. But her

mother had known all along that she would die three years after her daughter's birth. With this

thought Kat fell asleep.

The next morning she was awakened by a person who shook her very strongly and gave her a slap

on both cheeks. When she opened her eyes she looked straight up in Frey's ugly eyes."Where were you yesterday night?!" he shouted. Kat was still somewhat sleepy. But now she

quickly sat up.

"I was here in bed, I was also on the toilet, but I cannot see why it concerns you." She replied very

cooly.

"I OWN you! If you haven’t forgotten it," he shouted as he pulled her up to her feets. He triedto hit

her on the arm but Kat ducked, so instead he hit her cheek. Kat screamed, despite everything she

had taught herself. Frey struck her just above the arm, but he did not get any further because

Sabrina scratched him on his arms and legs. He hurried out with the words

"You do as Mona says today" Luckily he did not know that Kat was good friends with Mona and Noah. Kat dressed quickly into short trousers, took out a white top on with a pink bottom, tied a

blue and white scarf around her waist, and then she took on her belt pouch on. Then she took on her

blue lace up boots, and braided the piece of hair which she had let grow to ankles.

Kat went to the kitchen. Here she got breakfast which Noah had made because Mona was up with

Frey to get money to buy groceries and clothes. Noah also gave her a raw steak she could put on the

eye that was turned purple. Kat ate quickly and then waited for Mona, while she had the raw steak

on her eye.

When Mona came in with a bag of money in a purse, she gasped as she saw Kat sit with a raw steak


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over her eye.

"But Katrina darling! What have the ugly Frey now done to you? "She asked horrified. Sabrina

spun her agreement. She snuggled Kats stomach. Cat took the steak of the eye

"He beat me because I said that it didn’t concern him where I was last night And please don’t forbid

me to go on a market, you know that I’ll go down there with or without permission anyway." Kat

said to Mona. They agreed that Kat had to buy fish and new material, so Mona, Noah and Kat could

get new clothes. Kat took on her jacket and walked towards the market which was already open.

You could her people talking and shouting everywhere, and everyone was trying to convince you

that they had the best products. There was a smell of fresh coffee and freshly baked bread. Kat

smiled and walked toward a seller who seemed to have some nice pieces of fabric.

"Good morning," smiled Cat to the older lady. The lady nodded and stood up

"Good morning to you too, I can help you with anything? Is there something specific you're looking

for? "She asked. Kat nodded and said she wanted to have fabric to sew the 4 pairs of pants, 4 pairs

of shirts and 2 dresses. The lady quickly found something suitable fabric and showed it. Theyagreed a price of 6 gold pieces. Kat took the big pile of fabrics.

She moved to the outer part of the market, Kat looked straight down on the right arm to see if her

circle mark was obvious it was not luckily her bracelets covered it. Kat went with Sabrina in her

heels against the smell of fish. Along the way she was stopped by several who tried to convince her

that she lacked their goods, she thanked them nicely no thanks.

When Kat finally came to the fishing boat she needed a break, so she put the fabric down with a

heavy sigh. It was starting to hurt the places where Frey had beaten her. Kat thought that it probably

didn’t matter anything if she held a slight break before she had to buy fish. Kat closed her eyes, but

opened them again when she heard some voices behind her. A slightly older man looked down ather. When she opened her eyes, he smiled at her. He asked if she needed something, or whether she

just rested in the shade. He thick muscular man with brown hair gray, his smiling brown eyes

looked at her.

"Both," she said, she got up and went to study the products. She asked about what was best, and got

some satisfactory answers. When the man asked how much she would have thought she was little.

"Well, there’s is me, Mona, Noah and 20 other employees, well, then Frey, I think we should have

60 pounds" she replied. He nodded.

"Then it becomes 20 gold pieces, but you can get it for 15" he smiled, she handed the coins out, but

when she did, her bracelets slipped up so you could see her circle mark. The man grabbed her wrist

and studied it closely. He had a long scar on his left hand. While he looked, he held on one of her

bruises, and she gasped with pain. Sabrina did not do anything, she just looked curiously at the man.

"May Belle" called the man named on the ears. A slender woman, pulled aside the curtain that

covered the private space, which the sellers had. She had light brown curly hair and her gray eyes

searched Kat when she came out.

"Yes darling?" She asked, the man pointed at Kats circle mark, the woman got up impatiently and

looked at the label

"Isn’t it ..?" He asked, May Belle nodded and looked both at Kat with big eyes, when a voice asked

"May Belle and Marius, has the girl stolen anything? If she hasn’t, then there isn’t any reason to

hold her "Kat looked over her shoulder to see who the voice belonged to. It belonged to a young


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man who was about 20 years old, he had a bag slung over his shoulder, and his dark half long hair

flew in the wind, as Kat exhaled his blue eyes looked at her with surprise. He was tall and

muscular. He looked kind of like Matt, but no, it could not be him, because Matt was far away and

had probably forgotten all about her a long time ago. Kat did not know why she suddenly began to

cry, she had not cried since she was separated from Matt. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and now

there was no one holding her wrists anymore, now she stood in May Belles embrace, while the

woman comforted her.

Chapter 2

Matt looked over at Marius.

"Oh my .. Will you stay for dinner? " Marius asked the young girl who was crying. The girl stood in

May Belles arms, while her black cat walked in circles around her. She looked like a little Matt'smother and sister, no, he had promised himself not to think about them. They were both too far

away and he could not find them. The girl nodded and shook her head shiftingly.

"I cannot, Frey will kill me if he finds out that I’ve cried in public" she answered while crying. Who

was Frey? Thought Matt

"Is it your dad?" He asked,

"No, thank God for that. My father didn’t like me and my mother’s dead. I don’t know where my

brother and I miss him just so awful much, he was my best friend and the only one who understood

me" Matt went over to her, for he understood all too well how she felt. He stroked her on the

shoulder, but he did not say that all would be good because it was rare that ended well. May Belle

smiled at the young girl.

"We'll say we insisted. He isn’t allowed to kill you just because you’ve eaten with us." She

stated. They went into the back. Matt had taken the young girl’s things. May Belle got the girl to sit

down on one of the old chairs, there was a dim light, so it was all so much darker, with the dark

pieces of fabric that hung down to create shade from the sun. He put the girl's things over in a

corner, he took a glass and filled it up with water and drank, it was lovely cold and wet his dry

throat. There was a black cat walking in the door,

It went over to the girl and lay arranged on her lap. Suddenly the girl looked up at Matt

"This is Sabrina" she said, he nodded. He would like to know what her name was because he could

not just call her the young girl. Fortunately May Belle asked before he got around to ask, whileMatt sat down on one of the other chairs.

"My name is Kat, or correct my name Katrina, but nobody calls me that," she smiled "I don ’t

respond to it." Kat? That his sister ’s name as well. No, Kat always had long hair, she said she would

never cut it, maybe she had cut it anyway. Maybe .. He had to find out more about her. How was

her mother's death, how was her brother, and why didn’t her father like her? Meanwhile, May Belle

cooked and Marius stood outside selling fish, Matt got the opportunity to talk with Kat

"You said that your mother died, how did she die? If you don’t mind talking about it? "He

asked. Matt noticed that she looked down at her cat Sabrina. Then she looked at him

"My mother died during a pirate attack while she was trying to protect me and my brother," she


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Frey had given her earlier.

"Ow! Watch out, it hurts, not there! "She exclaimed. The other figures had gathered her things

together, they sat down beside her. One of the figures lit a lamp, there came a faint glow in the

alley. A young woman, she was probably around 20 years old, came over and wanted to take

Sabrina out of Kats lap. Kat spent the last strength she had to pull Sabrina away from the young

woman. The young woman smiled reassuringly at Kat

"I just want to heal her." She said, Kat nodded when she saw the sign on the woman's arm. I will

survive, Kayla here can heal animals. Sabrina said.

"My name is Lucas,"the young man who had tried to touch her said "this is Kayla, Andrew, Tais

and Sigge." Lucas said, pointing to the other after saying their names, they nodded at her. Who were

they? Kat thought. She saw Kayla heal Sabrina.

"So Sabrina, now you're as good as new" found Kayla.

"So, who are you? Do you safe those in need, or what? " Kat asked, they nodded. Kat got up with

much difficulty, she backed up against the wall When she got up she said"So you’ve helped me, thank you for that," she said, and continued muttering "although it’ll become

much worse when I get home." The boys and Kayla looked a little bewildered at each other. People

were always happy to help. Kat saw their confusion.

"Yes, I might as well tell you the story. Ow! "She exclaimed, as she made a wrong move. She took

a deep breath and continued. "Frey won me in poker, I am his slave, or he believes. He beats me

every day, you just saved me before it got really bad. And now I just thought that it went so well, I

found my brother, whom I have not seen for 10 years I should meet him an hour, but now it

probably isn’t such a good ides. My mother is dead, and my dad probably is as well. "Lucas went

over and supported her very gently, as she was about to fall."You can come down into our cave, otherwise we can follow you back to the ship, and help you."

Kat leaned gratefully up at him.

"Thank you, I would like to return to the ship, I have 2 good friends on board, they’re called Noah

and Mona, they help me whenever Frey has beaten me," she said, Lucas supported her on the way

back, he first drew her cloak well down over her, so people on the street wouldn’t see them

clearly. Kayla bar Sabrina all the way, and Tais and Sigge carried Kat’s things. When they came up

on the ship they followed Cat down to her cabin with her instructions. On the way there they were

met by a very concerned Mona.

"Darling! What has he done to you? She took Kat into her arms and they all went into the

kitchen. Lucas and the others put the things on the table, then they sat down on the corner

bench. Mona put Kat down on one of the softer chairs in the kitchen, then she started to treat

her. Kat tried to talk the while, but Mona would not listen to her

"Young lady, you are staying in bed tomorrow morning, I will lock the door to your cabin

personally, and if I see you on deck I will not answer to the consequences." She declared, the others

giggled a little, but kept up immediately when Mona looked strict at them . When Mona had

finished treating Kat she put her in bed, the others just followed Mona, but when they reached Kat’s

cabin, Mona told them that they could stay maximum 10 minutes. They sat in a semicircle in front

of Kat's bed.

"Would one of you go down to the inn and tell my brother that I cannot come and explain why?"


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She asked, and they nodded. They all went out after 10 minutes, except for Lucas, he said that he

would be here all night if Frey came. Kat did not protest, but said that he had to leave at

dawn. Lucas just nodded.

When Mona came in to throw Kats guests out, Lucas hid himself under the bed. Mona turned off

the lights went out and locked the door. When she was gone, Kat could hear Lucas crawl out from

his hiding location under the bed, then spoke in the darkness. Lucas explained that everyone in the

group had marked circle. When Cat asked him what his power was she heard him flick his fingers

and a little flame appeared his finger. Kat could see that he smiled, his hair fell down on his

forehead. He told her about his childhood.

About how his mother and father had died when plague ravaged. About how he had good friends

among the homeless children, about how he and his four friends decided they would save people

who needed it. While he sat and talked, she fell asleep. When she awoke next morning he was gone,

but after he had let a paper which read.

I’ve left again, if you need help or just want to talk,

ask for me at the inn, they may not know me as Lucas,

but as the dragon. Because I can control firet, ironically enough.

I’ve left the door unlocked.

Take care of yourself. I hope we meet again under different circumstances.

Regards Lucas

Kat smiled and took note into her pocket. She was still sore all over, but she could walk without

hurting. She sneaked out of the door and went into the kitchen where she took some food and thenwent back to her room. After she had eaten her food, she could hear Mona shouting.

"What do you want with Katrina?" Kat sat on the bed, and suddenly the door was opened by Mona.

She looked displeased.

"Do you know the young man here?" She asked, pointing at Matt who was standing behind her. Kat

jumped out of bed and ran into Matt's open arms, while she exclaimed:

"Matt, I'm sorry about yesterday," he held her, while they heard Mona

"Matt, Matt Diago, Katrina's older brother, Catja and Carlos son?" When Matt nodded Mona flew

over to embrace him. That was how they stood until they heard a voice

"Who are you and what are you doing aboard my ship?" Frey shouted. Matt turned around, he put a

protective hand on Kat’s shoulders as he recognized Frey.

"I'm Matt Diago, I’m hugging my little sister Katrina Diago, whom you’ll never, ever be allowed to

lay hands on again" Matt told him, with a threatening and icy voice. Now Kat dared to say

something to Frey

"If you do, ther e are more than my brother who’ll come after you. I'm also going to talk to the

authorities," she said, Frey laughed and said she was his slave, he had the right to strike, kiss and

even rape her if he wanted. Now Matt rescued her.

"Unfortunately for you, slavery was banned 1 year ago. Therefore, Kat can easily go to the

authorities and talk."Matt defended her. Frey laughed and said they could try, he would be a good

guardian who just defended himself when Kat got out of control. Kat was just about to hit him, but


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Matt held her back.

"I’ll take my sister with me on the market today, you cannot prevent." Said Matt and pushed his

way past Frey with Kat in his hand.

Matt took Kat down to the market where he immediately led them to a shop which selledclothes. Here he bought a pair of pants, a white shirt, a pair of gray gloves and a red and gold

checkerboard fabric. Thereafter he took her to belt and shoe seller.

"I need a belt and a pair of boots for my sister." he said to the man who stood in the shop. The man

immediately started to find what Matt wanted. When he had found it, they agreed on a price and

then Matt gave it to Kat, the pile was about to get higher than Kat’s head. Now he went towards a

jewelry trades.

"Matt, you don’t have to do this." Kat said to him, he stopped walking and peeped down at her

"I don’t have to, but I havn’t seen you in 10 years, and I would like to give you new clothes, you

cannot have that on any longer." He said and peeped down, on her mutilated clothes. After that shedid not protest any more, because Matt seemed very certain in his resolution. When they came up to

the jeweler shop, he asked for one leather necklace and a couple gold earrings. He could remember

that Kat had gotten her ears pierced as 7 years old. Kat just had her little pearl earrings on today, it

was almost the only thing of value Frey had not taken away from her. Now Kat believed that they

were finished. But now Matt turned course towards the weapons blacksmith. He couldbn’t be

serious! Kat thought, when they came closer, she started to protest, but Matt said:

"I’m not buying something new. It’s something mother had put aside when she was here many

years ago. I got a letter one month's time ago, where there stood that our family had weapons put

aside at this blacksmith, and if we didn’t fetch them, they would they be sold. "Kat nodded, her

mom had known that they would lose almost everything , therefore had she had put aside something

for her and Matt. Kat wrinkled a little on the nose of the smell, which smelled of sweat and the shop

was very hot. A young man in beginning of twenties looked at them, he smiled, and chatted a little

with them.

"I'm Matt Diago, this is my little sister Katrina Diago, we’ve come to take what our mother Catja

Diago has put aside for us." Matt announced. The young man stopped talking and called his boss.

A very ancient greyhaired man, with sweat on his forehead, came out from the blacksmith, when he

saw Matt, there wasn’t the great change in his facial expression, but when he saw Kat, his entire

face brightened. He limped up to them

"Well hello, isn’t the beautiful Catja’s children? You look a lot like your mom," he said, patting Katgently on the cheek, he continued "How’s your mother?" He asked, Matt took a deep breath, but it

was Kat who responded

"She's dead, she died 15 years ago." Kat told the old man, the old man was sorry to hear that. He hid

his grief behind a mask, while he found the things which Catja had put aside. There was a long

knife, a short knife, a longsword, a shortsword and a lot of small knives, which looked like

hairneedles. Each thing had a little note that who it was for. The swords were for Matt, but the

knives and hairneedles was for Kat. Matt and Kat studied everything very carefully, while they both

had a sad smile on their lips as they held the weapons.

"It is the best craftsmanship, I’ve ever seen, it’s made of a special metal, which never becomes


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"Matt? Can we go back to the inn?" She asked Matt. He nodded and put his sword into the

sheath. Kat tore her knife out of the woodwork and put it in the holder. They went up from the boat,

and towards the inn, as they walked the streets people looked after them as they walked with such

confidence, because they had shiny weapons hanging at the hips. Suddenly Kat broke into a run and

looked over her shoulder at her brother

"See if you can catch me," she cried, he did not doubt for a second, he started running after

her. People who before had gazed at them, was just laughing now. Kat ran as fast as she could, but

her new boots had to be walked in for a while before they were good to run in, therefore she could

not run as fast as she usually did. Matt caught up with her when she was almost at the inn. He

grabbed her hips and swung her around while he laughed aloud. Kat laughed too .."So you're still not getting so old!" She said to him. He shook his head and sat her down. They

straightened their clothes, and then went into the inn. People turned and looked, as Kat and Matt

came. They looked extra carefully at Kat. Matt did not notice anything, he just went over to the

bar. Kat smiled to herself, she walked very slowly after his brother. When she got there she turned

and looked at the men who devoured her with their eyes

Are you finished staring, so we can move forward?" She asked, Matt turned around immediately,

and looked with strict eyes on them all. The men all looked somewhere else than on her. Matt

ordered a beer for himself and a glass of lemonade for her. He would put himself over to an empty

table, but Kat was heading for the same old man whom she had talked with the other night. He was,

like last, and smoking on his pipe. He looked up as they entered.


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"Do I know you?" He asked, Kat smiled at him

"You talked to me the other night, unfortunately I had to go. But you told me a story about my

mother." She explained, the man shook his head.

"No, I chatted with a young kid, but how do you know that?" He asked. Kat looked over at her

brother, she nodded toward the door, 'Get Sabrina, she’s outside' she mimed to Matt.

"I put a note to you with my name, I'm Kat. The boy you talked with, sat in a cloak, and it wasn’t a

boy, as you presumed. I'm just here to tell you that your message has been delivered to me. My

mother predicted that you would help me. You did. The fishershop you mentioned. There I bought

fish at the same time I met my brother whom I hadn’t seen for 10 years." She explained to him,

while Matt had picked up Sabrina. Lucas and his friends will come soon, they look forward to

seeing you 'she said as she hopped up on Kats lap.

"It is you, I can recognize the cat. Think that I should see the day when both Catjas children are

together." He exclaimed. When he had said that, the door was opened again.This time it was Lucas

and his group entered. Their eyes searched around the room, finally Lucas's eyes found Kat. Theyheaded toward the table where Kat, Matt, and the old man sat. Kat stood up, she hugged Lucas, who

whistled to her, and smiled at the others. She noticed that Matt had suddenly became a little shy, but

did not comment on it, for now Lucas talked to her

"You've got new clothes! It suits you, can I see the knife? "He asked, she nodded and gave it to

him. Kayla also said that it was some nice clothes, and if it’d look good on her she'd go in jeans as

well. For that Kat shrugged her shoulders and said it was the most convenient. She got her knife

back from Lucas who came with a lot of flattering comments about it. She felt someone kicking her

legs, it was Matt

"Well, Lucas, Kayla, Tais and Sigge, this is my brother Matt." Tais had seen Matt before, and gavehim one of those manly pats on the shoulder, the other shook his hand. Lucas sat down at Kat’s

chair and pulled Kat with him, so she sat on his lap. She did not mind, because she liked Lucas,

maybe a little more than as friend. The others took chairs and sat down.

"How are you Kat? Are you still hurt? " Kayla asked. Kat leaned her head back onto Lucas’

shoulder

"Yes, but not as much as yesterday. I'm sore all over, but I can easily move around without hurting.

" She answered, Lucas stroked her gently up and down the arms. Sabrina had placed herself on the

table, and the old man had fallen asleep.

They sat and talked a long time, but at one point Kayla said:

"I'm getting tired, I’ll go back to the cave." She rose, as did Matt

"I’ll go with you, you shouldn’t go alone." He explained. The others didn’t protest, so Kayla and

Matt left the inn together. The others remained and continued to talk. When Matt got up, the cat

jumped out of his chair. They talked for a while yet, and continued doing so for about an hour or

two. Afterwards they decided to go back to the cave. Kat went with them to get Matt. As Kat was

about to pay Lucas shook his head, and then he paid. Kat took Sabrina into her arms, and then

Lucas hung his jacket over Kats shoulders, so she wouldn’t get cold, he explained. Kat

blushed. Sigge and Tais laughed loudly over something. They went out from the inn, afterwards

they went through a lot of narrow streets, there were some types that probably wanted to rob them,

but when they saw Lucas's face in the glow of the street lamp they pulled away. Lucas had a


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specific facial expression that was impossible to read. Finally they came to an alley that ended in a

few steps, the young people walked down the stairs and ended up underground. There was a lit

fireplace over in a corner, so there was nice and warm, there were some shabby mattresses, and

beds with several thick blankets, they stood as close as possible to keep warm. When they had

entered the cave Sigge drew a curtain for the entrance. There were carpets on the floor, probably to

keep the heat and keep the cold out. Up one of the walls there was a bookcase filled with books,

next to the bookcase stood two chairs. It smelled nice. When they entered Lucas flicked with his

fingers, then light appeared in the lamps that hung around. Kat looked after Matt and Kayla, she

found them, they stood in a corner and kissed? Yes they did, they soon pulled away from each other

when they saw who had come home. Kat did not know why, it was quite okay that they kissed, yet

she felt betrayed. When she saw them kissing, she could not help but think of how she had been

kissed last time. She pushed the thought out of her head. She watched her older brother for a long

time into the eyes, as she broke eye contact, she said:

"I've had a pleasant evening, see you maybe in a year. Our ship sails in the morning. You have alldone so I will survive until next year." She looked them all in her eyes as she said it. Then she

turned and walked up the stairs. On the way up there, she began to cry. She angrily wiped the tears

away, and heard steps behind her, she looked over her shoulder. There Lucas were, she had his

jacket

"Here is your cloak, sorry I forgot to return it." She said to him and looked away, he would not

think that she was weak. He took the jacket and threw it on the ground. He pulled her into his

embrace. He held her. She wiggled herself free, she looked at him while she mumbled 'Sorry'

Sabrina ran after her Kat wait! He said it's not that way! They have met before, they are in love with

each other, Matt would like to marry her! She shouted into Kat's head."I do not care! I just cannot do it! Why should everyone else be allowed to feel love when I

can’t? Is it a curse I have over me? I think that Matt’s only with me because he feels obliged to do

so! He probably dontt even remember what it was like ten years ago!" Kat cried at Sabrina. Lucas

was absolutely appalled, he stood perfectly still, when the others came up from the cave. Matt

immediately ran after her. Lucas ran after him, which resulted in Kat had six people running after

her. When they came to a narrow street where there were some people, Kat turned on, with her

hands raised. Matt had never seen her angry, but he had seen that she could create typhoons and

hurricanes, when she was irritated. He stopped. Kat pulled her hands back and forth again, there

came a flicker of wind that made them all to fly 12 feet back, then Kat turned around and continued

to run, though they shouted after her. She came by the sinister types again when they saw that she

was alone, they walked toward her. She pulled her two knives and lifted them. Beforre the three

shady guys attacked her, she looked down the street. She saw her brother, whom she loved above

everything on earth, he who had been there for her when their mother was dead, he who had taught

her to fence, the one who had always been there for her when she was sad. Her gaze ran on to

Kayla, she had saved Sabrina, but otherwise she had taken Kats brother from her. Then she looked

over at Lucas, there was a lot of unfamiliar emotions, she knew that she probably loved him. But

she did not know if her love was returned. It probably wasn’t, it never was. The last two Sigge and

Tais, they had been some good friends, they had not done her any harm, they were fine

enough. Then she slid her gaze back at the three boys who were about to attack her. It did not occur


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to her to use magic, she could kill them very quickly, but to what end? What about afterwards, she

would still have to fight with Frey, she would still look at everyone else's happiness, knowing that

she would never experience it herself. She would not live with it. Her mother had to see her own

future. Right now Kats future was very clear to her, there were two options. If she died now, the

others would get over it, but if she survived, then she would see the others survive, see them get

married, watching them go to war and die. She would never get over it, she would always think of

it, she would be angry with herself because she would feel that it was her fault that they had lost

their fortune. Therefore, she chose not to fight against the three boys, she did not resist as they beat

her, she did not scream when a knife was thrust into her arm, she didn’t reply, not even when

Sabrina called her, she did not scream when everything turned black. Now I’m finally going to meet

mom, she thought, now I don’t have to live my horrible life any longer , the last couple of days on

earth had been the happiest time she had had for many years. She was a long time where everything

was just black, she dreamed, she dreamed of her mother. It all happened very quickly, she saw her

life in the fast clips. She saw her mother looking out over the sea, her earrings, Kat so often hadfeslt on the neck when her mother had bent down to kiss her. Kat saw herself sitting and looking

down into the ground while she smiled. She had her hair put up, and she had a fine dotted dress, that

was before she even knew that Frey existed

She saw her mother die, she saw the gun when the shot hit her in the chest. She saw her brother

comfort her and himself, saw him sitting by himself. She saw how he got her up and stand

again. She saw how she began to wear pants. She saw herself swordfight against his brother. How it

continued, she saw her whole life in clips straight to when she was died. When all was finished, she

saw her mother sit and cry, her mother had wings and had become an angel. Her mother did not

seem to have become older, her mother smiled at her and said she was not dead. That there was people who loved her on earth. Her mother said: "Your brother loves you but he also loves

Kayla. You have just found your family, Sigge, Tais, Kayla and Lucas is your family. You have just

found your great love, don’t throw it all away. You must kill Frey, it’s the only way you can get

him out of the world. I love you Katty "When she had said this, she kissed Kat on the forehead.

When Kat awoke, there was very dark around her, she had a very dry throat, and she hurt all over,

especially in the arm. She wasn’t dead, she was in too much pain to be dead. When she moved,

there was immediately something light, and two heads were bent over her, it was Matt and

Lucas. They smiled at her, she tried to sit up, but they stopped her.

"No, you mustn’t get up, you’ve lost too much blood, you’re still very weak." Matt told her, Kat

was a little frustrated, shouldn’t she go and kill Frey?

"I have to get Frey of the road." She said, they smiled at her, 'It's done' they said. He was executed

because he had defrauded the trade, and because he had held a slave. Matt himself had brought the

sword. The ship was now theirs. He asked if she would accept his engagement to Kayla. She

nodded, and Matt hugged her gently, as if he was afraid of hurting her. Then he left the room. Now

it was just Lucas and Kat in the room. Lucas looked at her and stroked her cheek. Eventually he

couldn’t be quiet any longer

"You must never do again! I was afraid I’d lose you," he exclaimed, Kat looked at him and asked

"Do you care?" He looked very frustrated at her


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"Of course I do! I love you," he declared, Kat smiled, then she pulled him down to her since she

could not sit up. When she had him in front of her, she kissed him.

Epilogue

5 years later.

Cat sat on the lap of her new fiancé, they looked down on the deck where Kat’s 4 years old nephew

was running around. Kayla walked around the ship and tried to get her little daughter to sleep.

Matt was down and checked out the holds as they were heading to port. They wereon their way to

the annual market.

The last 5 years had been good, they had profited from the deal. Matt had been trading

solely as Kat became healthy again, all the wounds and bruises she had received during

the years. Fortunately Lucas had been there for her all the time. In three days they were to meet

with Sigge, Tais and their families. Mona and Noah had settled in the market town and nowled a small restaurant. May Belle and Marius had set up an orphanage for homeless children. All

in all it had gone very well since Frey had died. Kat looked over at her fiancé

"Shall we tell them?" She asked Lucas, he nodded, they got up to walk down to their family. They

walked over to Kayla

"Kayla, you’re going to be an aunt" they say in chorus. When they had said that the dolphin Ida

jumped out of the water and sprayed water all over them, they all laughed with her. Sabrina was a

bit musty, she was also wet I hate,I really HATE being wet , she complained.

lost in a game of poker

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