The Three Buetiful Women, Ch.1 The Visiter

1

A crisp ‘knock’ awoke the beautiful young women lying lop-sided over an excessively stuffed couch, stiff and new. This girl, with full lips and pale skin framed wildly with curly blond and maple hair, shining smoothly as a rising sun glared through the open window.2

‘Knock’, again the noise, firm against the thick wooden door. The girl’s hazel green eyes shot open wide and alert. Trying to flatten her bouncy hair she scampered quietly to the door, as another ‘knock’ sounded. “I’m coming, I’m coming..” she impatiently grumbled, slightly annoyed of her lack of sleep, and her head heavy, from the nights festivities.3

Her hand gently rested onto the doorknob, and with a quick flick of her wrist the door opened, yawning, with a quite squeak. Light exploded from the open door silhouetted  tall figure, with a narrow staff. The figure dilating her eyes, as she coward, shielding her face with fragile fingers. “I’m, I’m sorry sir, Juniper is out right now...you can place your gift her inside, please.” her tongue still fuzzed and clouded, made her stutter to the strange figure.4

A grumbled laugh slipped into her ears, “I am not here for only Juniper, my dear Arya.” Arya looked up in wonder, this man’s voice was not familiar, yet he knew her name, strange. 5

“Your not her for Juniper’s eighteenth birthday?” last night at mid-night her best friend, Juniper, had turned the year of eighteen, the shock of it still floating Arya’s brain, an alien thought. Yet this man was not here for Juniper? Last night the whole village had been here on the mountain for Juniper, the only time the girls really saw the village, their prejudice for their beauty still rumbling like a distant storm.6

Strange. The man advanced, stepping into the three room cottage. He closed the door with an intimidating ‘boom’. And as he did so, the light released him to reveal his face, an old man tall and thin, yet unmistakably there was muscle bulging beneath his worn traveler’s cloak. “Sir, I do not know you, yet you have knowledge of my name, how is this?”7

A thin smile silently appeared across his wrinkled face, and gone in an instant, like the beauty of flashing lighting. “You fame has not just stayed in this small valley Arya.” Fame? Sure, she knew that she had a pretty face, but she could hardly that fame. Is fame only just that, a face, not what you are?8

“Sorry sir, I’m not sure I understand your intentions of being here.” Arya murmured staring up at the man, he had hard, blue eyes, cold yet, it seemed behind the passionless center there was a warmth. The world seemed to dance behind them, years of knowledge, wisdom.9

“Aw! I’m sorry, I haven’t properly introduced myself. I am Brom, a simple man coming from Corage.” Arya gasped, she had heard of Corage, a small trading town snuggled up beneath the shadow of ‘Sauda’ her nation’s capital, which was at least a solid two months ride. “And I have come here to inform you of a secret association, though I can not give you much information...” her heart started to pound. She had heard rumors women across the country gathering together, trying to get a female leader, their rights had been demolished, not that they had had much anyway. Their right to speak when told not to, consequence: death. Or to work with a hammer or saw. Not to wander the empire without a bonafide man to ‘guide’ them.. Rights worthy to fight for. But she already knew about these things, surely a man wouldn't’t have come this far for only that.10

“Yet still,...Brom,” she tested the new name, one she had never heard of, it lolled off her tongue easily, like an otter leisurely slipping into a pond, “why have you chosen to come this far? And you are a man, how does the women’s unfairness effect you?” Arya wondered out loud, but before Brom could answer there was a cringing crash from the adjacent room, Arya flinched, though Brom seemed not to react at all.11

Arya was about to investigate when through the bedroom door, a young women looking about 15 stumbled clumsily into view, as soon as she lade her sapphire eyes on Brom her dark skin took a shade darker into an auburn color. “Excuse my sir, I do not recognize your face. And I apologies for my unworthy dress for a man.” she slyly said, almost sarcastic, for she was still wearing her night gown.12

“Aw, I understand. I also apologies for not speaking first and introducing myself. People call me ‘Brom’.”  Brom said with a cunning look in his eyes. The girl took a long intake of breath at the name, Arya frowned13

“A worthy name for an old mysterious  man. And mine, Keledry.” the next words coming from her rose bud lips were oddly shy, which usually did not match her steadfast personality, “I’ve read of such a name before, a magical name for sure.” Brom and Arya where taken aback by the girls words, Arya was always surprised at her young friend’s knowledge, and yet Brom seemed curious at how she knew of this.14

“I don’t think word has reached this set off area, but the King Matole has made law of not to speak of fairy-tales, for such things do not exist and could be dangerous.” Brom said with a soft reply, he seemed angered by his own words “I hate to bare such news.” he explained15

both Arya and Keledry frowned at this, for fairy-tales where a large part of their life, when you live alone on a mountain top, what else was there to do? Arya confronted this by stating, “If they do not exist then how could they be dangerous?”16

“A trivial question, my fair lady, for I do not know the answer.” Brom said with a puzzled expression. Wrinkles weaving patterns across his ancient face, like the ruff bark on trees. “Aw, now here is the new adult of the house,” Juniper had silently entered the room, with a confused look on her face, her midnight dark hair, paling her skin even more, and her brown eyes deep and dark, falling into the ripping seams of the earth, forever. “Juniper.” the old man sighed like a profound weight had left.17

“Who is this.. I mean: .my I ask?” Juniper had always been the responsible one, fallowing King Matole’s rules strictly.18

“You may, I am Brom, coming from Corage.” Brom responded, expressionless leaning against the painted walls, cover with exotic paintings of faraway places, it made the room seem cluttered, yet homey.19

Juniper nodded her head silently, making her hair shift, making it ripple in the sun’s risen light. “And why have you traveled so far?”20

“To call to your attention the protest, for you rights as women. You should be able to do as you please without the shadow of a man.” Brom replied firmly. “And you girls are a perfect visual idea, I think if you three come with me, that many more women well take up their courage and join us, making this rally more affective. Also, at the moment, I am the leader of this protest, which I also am a man. Which most women are trying to get out of the situation of having men boss them, you would be in charge instead of me, if you agree.”21

“FINALLY! A man who understands!” Keledry gasped. Arya’s mouth silent, yet her face betrayed her to the excitement and delight.22

Though Juniper’s face was full of apprehension and, shock, “What if we are caught, sir?”23

“Death,” Brom said solemnly, deep lines of seriousness cut dangerously into his face, “but the real question you must ask yourselves ladies, is it worth it?”24