My early childhood was spent on Ashdale. My little sister and I lived with our parents, Valance and Kristina. Father had been a soldier when he lived in Burthorpe. Before that, he was an adventurer. On a trip to Ashdale, he met Mother. The two quickly fell in love and were married in under a year. I was born the following year. My sister Cosette arrived four years later.
Mother was a skilled crafter, and Cosette shared our mother's passion for making pretty things. I was definitely our father's daughter, as I was much more interested in learning how to fight. He taught me how to use various melee and ranged weapons. I had good aim with a bow and a crossbow, as well as with throwing knives. However, I found I had a particular fondness for smashing targets with a heavy sword.
Father resumed his adventuring after Cosette was born. He enjoyed making his own schedule, and he provided his family with a decent income. Sometimes he would bring back a good amount of treasure, and other times the loot was modest. We were not rich, but we were comfortable in our small home.
One chilly autumn day, when I was only nine, Father left on an expedition to the island of Crandor. He had heard there were opportunities there for great rewards, for those who dared to seek them out. Before he departed, he hugged and kissed us. He placed his hands upon my shoulders, looked into my eyes with pride, and told me, "Look after your mother and your sister for me, my brave Kitten." I promised him that I would.
That was the last time any of us saw Father. He never returned from Crandor.
Once it was clear our father was lost to us, Cosette began to have nightmares about being all alone in a world filled with monsters. Mother had made me a doll with black hair, black button eyes, and a simple red peasant dress. I named her Raven. After Cosette was able to recall her bad dream, I gave Raven to my sister. I told Cosette she was not alone.
I wish I could have told her she was safe from monsters.
I've been putting out fire with gasoline!
Our mother did the best she could to provide for me and my sister, but without Father it proved to be difficult. She would earn a small amount of coins selling her beautiful handmade jewelry and pottery in the marketplace. Cosette helped her decorate the clay items. My jobs were to attract potential customers to stop and examine our wares, to persuade them to make a purchase, and to keep a watchful eye out for thieves. I was strong enough to mine, and I had learned the basics of smithing from Father, so I was able to craft bronze items and gather clay for Mother and Cosette to work with. We struggled, but most days we had enough to eat. It was usually easy to catch small fish along the coast.
Mother would put on a brave face for her daughters, but often Cosette and I could hear her softly crying from the next room. We knew she missed Father terribly. So did we - but we had each other. Still, Mother wanted to give us girls a better life.
One morning, as we were setting up our goods in the marketplace, a large man approached Mother. He appeared to be well-fed and was dressed in fancy clothes. His name was Garron Willowby. He was a local merchant who made a successful living through trading with nobles on the mainland. He had short dark hair, and his beard was neatly trimmed. He feigned interest in our items, however I could tell he was more interested in Mother. She was an attractive woman with long red hair and pretty blue eyes. Understandably, Garron seemed to be quite charmed by Mother. He tried to be charming in return, but I had a bad feeling about this man. He did not appear to even notice me or Cosette, until Mother introduced us. Garron bought a few silver chains from us and left. He returned several times over the next two weeks, forging a fast friendship with Mother. Then he showed up with flowers and an invitation to dinner at his home on the north end of Ashdale. She accepted.
After a brief but intense courtship, that bastard Garron married our Mother.
I've been putting out fire with gasoline!
Mother's marriage to Garron turned out to be a huge mistake for her and for her girls. She believed she was providing me and my sister with a decent father figure, who would protect us and give us everything we needed to live a good life.
It was not too long after the wedding that we learned the real Garron Willowby was very different from the man he pretended to be while in the public eye. To the casual observer, Garron was a friendly, smooth-talking, well-respected wealthy merchant who was generous and faithful to the teachings of the god Saradomin. In the privacy of his home, he was loud, short-tempered, cruel, and controlling. He would often drink to excess at night and pass out on the floor. Mother would find him the following morning, and try to help him. Garron would get angry and blame her, or me, or Cosette, or a business rival for his drinking - anyone other than himself. He never blamed himself for anything.
Garron owned a fancy wooden cane he would sometimes walk with while in public. Those who did not know him well may have assumed he just liked to show off, since he did not need the cane in order to walk. However, those of us who had to live with him knew the cane had another purpose. Garron would use it to "moderately correct" me or my sister if he felt we were misbehaving. Most of the time, it was me because whenever I could, I would take the blame if Cosette had done something wrong. We were good kids, but that was not enough. We had to be perfect. Nothing less was acceptable. We wore blouses with long sleeves and long skirts, supposedly for modesty reasons, to show respect to Saradomin. In truth, it was to prevent our bruises from showing in public.
Most of the time, Mother did not see Garron hit us. Once, she saw him strike Cosette with the cane on the back of her legs. Mother slapped his face. He raised his arm to hit her, but I pushed him back. Embarrassed, he stormed out of the house. That was the first time we saw Mother fight back
I've been putting out fire with gasoline!
Once a week, Mother would bring me and Cosette with her to do the shopping for the week. Sometimes we would travel by boat to Taverley, then head north to Burthorpe. Garron would give Mother a shopping list, along with just enough coins to purchase all the items on his list.
While Mother and Cosette picked out food and other items from the local merchants, I would bring my bronze pickaxe into the Taverley mine to gather clay for Mother to use for her crafting projects. During these trips, I developed my talent for picking pockets. I only chose rich-looking targets, who probably wouldn't miss a few gold pieces.
On one of our weekly shopping trips, shortly before my twelveth birthday, I was leaving the Taverley mine with a backpack filled with clay, when I spotted a young wealthy man yelling at a beggar, who was asking for money. The nobleman mocked the older man for being poor, then began to walk south towards Taverley. I bumped into him twice, pretending to struggle with my heavy pack. I said, "Sorry." The noble exclaimed, "Watch where you're going, girl!" and he hurried off. I smiled and handed the old beggar the three gold coins I had in my left hand. His face lit up and he said to me, "Saradomin bless you, young lady!" as he went to buy something to eat. I said to myself, "Yeah, well Saradomin has much to make up for." I pocketed the other three gold pieces I liberated from the rich young idiot.
A short time later, I met up with Mother and Cosette at a merchant's stall. Mother was talking with the woman working at the stall, while my little sister was making a new friend.
I've been putting out fire with gasoline!
While Mother was speaking with the woman in charge of the crafting stall, Cosette was drawn to a small blue stuffed unicorn that was for sale at the stall. My sister would pet the little unicorn, and pretend it was galloping away - carrying us to where we would be free. Seeing how attached to the toy Cosette was becoming, our mother asked the merchant lady how much she was asking for the small blue unicorn. She told Mother they normally sell for ten coins, but since my mother was already buying some crafting material for mending our clothes, the woman said she would sell the unicorn for a mere five coins.
Mother really wanted to purchase the little blue unicorn for Cosette. However, she had spent almost all the coins Garron had given her to do the shopping for the household, and unless she did not quite get everything specified on Garron's list, there would not be enough coins to spend on this toy. Mother did not want to break my sister's heart, but she knew Garron would be angry with her if she failed to come back with all the items. I reached into my coin pouch and handed her the three coins I stole from the wealthy jerk I bumped into earlier. Mother looked at me and said, "Thank you, Kat...but where did you get this money?" Knowing she would not approve of thievery, I simply told her, "I found it." I do not think she really believed me, but she gave me a hug and told me I was a good big sister.
Mother made a deal with the merchant to purchase everything she needed, except she bought a little less thread - and we bought the small blue stuffed unicorn for Cosette. My sister was so happy! She hugged her new friend, who she named Blue, for the rest of the trip back to Ashdale. Mother smiled and told me we would have to do something very special for my birthday the following week. It was nice to see my mother and my sister happy for a change. Of course, that did not last long once we returned to that house.
*turns the page*
I've been putting out fire with gasoline!
After we got back from our shopping trip, I unloaded the clay from my pack and placed it near the potter's wheel in the back room, where Mother would work on her crafting projects. Garron helped her unpack the food and supplies we picked up. As he did so, he compared what he had written on his list to what we had returned with. Everything matched up, until he realized we came back with only eight reels of thread, instead of ten. Garron became angry and demanded an explanation. Then he noticed scared little Cosette clutching her new friend Blue. He yelled, "IS THIS WHAT YOU SPENT MY GOLD ON? THIS FOOLISH NONSENSE?!" He went to grab the toy from Cosette, but Mother stepped in between them and screamed back at her husband, "KAT AND I BOUGHT COSETTE A LITTLE SOMETHING TO MAKE HER HAPPY! GARRON, MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER IS ONLY EIGHT YEARS OLD, BUT YOU ARE THE ONE ACTING LIKE A CHILD!" Garron turned and walked quickly to the far side of the room to fetch his wooden cane. I got there first. I stood in his path, gave him an icy stare, and told him, "No."
Garron stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Mother held us close and said, "I am sorry, girls. I made a mistake marrying that man, and we are all paying the price for my poor judgement." Cosette and I assured Mother we know she loves us, and only did what she thought would be good for us.
The following week - the week of my birthday - Mother left earlier than usual to do the weekly shopping. She went alone, leaving me and my sister behind. At first, I thought maybe she was planning a surprise for my birthday. However, she did not return before nightfall. Cosette and I were afraid something terrible had happened to our mother. Even Garron seemed concerned. It felt like ages since we had seen Garron show genuine caring for his wife beyond public displays of affection. He told others she was tending to a sick friend in Varrock. The truth was she was gone, and we did not know why. She never returned.
I've been putting out fire with gasoline!
After the first few days had passed since Mother's disappearance, Garron's behavior became more unpredictable. He maintained his image as a decent family man in public, taking care of his stepdaughters while his wife was "away" for who knows how long. Of course, the public had no idea what life with Garron was like. Sometimes he would yell and curse over even the smallest of matters, from unfavorable trades to cold food. Sometimes he would stay in his room and not speak, leaving me and my sister to fend for ourselves. He was drinking more regularly to the point where he would pass out. He was bitter about losing Mother. Often, he tried to blame me and my sister for her leaving him, but I would point out she left us behind too, which did not make any sense. Garron could see that, when he was in his right mind - which was becoming the exception, not the rule.
It was increasingly clear to me and to Cosette that we had to leave this place. Garron was a vile man when he first entered our lives. Now he had become unstable. We knew he could not be trusted to take care of us, and that it was just a matter of time before he would vent his full fury upon us. There was no other choice. We had to leave.
I found a large empty sack downstairs with the household supplies. I brought it up to our room, and told Cosette to pack our clothes because we were leaving tonight. While my sister packed up our wardrobe, I went to the kitchen and placed some bread, fruit, and cooked meat in a small hamper. I brought the basket of food to Cosette, and we placed it on top of our clothes inside the large sack. On top of everything else, Cosette laid Raven and Blue inside the sack.
My sister and I were about to head downstairs and out into the night. I handed the sack to Cosette, telling her I wanted to grab some coins and a weapon to take with us. There was a bronze longsword on the table, which I had been cleaning earlier in the evening, As I approached the table, Garron entered the room.
I've been putting out fire with gasoline!
Garron saw Cosette carrying the sack, and figured out we were leaving. "SO, YOU BRATS THOUGHT YOU WOULD STEAL FROM ME AND SNEAK OFF, AFTER ALL I HAVE DONE FOR YOU?!", he shouted. I confronted him near the clay fireplace along the wall and yelled back, "I THINK YOU MEAN AFTER ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO US!". Garron furiously spat, "GO TO YOUR ROOM WHILE I DECIDE YOUR PUNISHMENT!" I could hear the roar of the ocean coming from outside as we argued. He repeated his command, "GO TO YOUR ROOM!" I defiantly screamed, "NO!" Garron angrily charged straight towards me. He yelled, "YOU ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE! YOU WILL DO AS YOU ARE TOLD!".
Garron drew an iron dagger and held it in his huge right hand. I reach towards the table, where the bronze longsword waited. I grasp the longsword and then turn to face Garron. He waved the dagger menacingly at me. Suddenly, he moved forward and stabbed me in my left arm. I scream at him. Then I hear cries coming from behind me. Cosette was very upset. The bastard Garron tried to advance, but I plunged the longsword into his side. He howled in pain and shouts, "YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT, YOU LITTLE BITCH!" He shoved me aside. I hit the wall hard and fell to the floor. The longsword clatters across the room, beyond my reach.
I hear more crying and shrieking from my sister. Now Garron was laughing. I focused my eyes. I see him looking to the far end of the room, where Cosette stood in fear. Garron went over to her, grabbed the sack, and opened it. He reached in and pulled out something with his left hand...something blue. The small blue stuffed unicorn. My blood boiled. I was furious! I no longer had the longsword, but I see the fancy wooden cane leaning against the wall near me. I stand up and grab the cane with both hands. Finally, the stick used to beat us would serve a noble purpose. I glance over towards Cosette. Garron is taunting my sister, threatening to burn up her toy. I scream, "LEAVE HER ALONE!" and swing the cane with all my strength.
I've been putting out fire with gasoline!
I smashed Garron directly in his ugly face. I heard his skull crack as his blood began to flow from his broken nose. He dropped the dagger and the little blue unicorn as he staggered backward several steps, until his large body crashed into the front of the clay fireplace, knocking loose a chunk of burning log, which fell to the floor after igniting Garron's expensive shirt. He had spilled alcohol on his shirt earlier in the evening, so the flames spread quickly. Soon, that entire corner of the room was on fire!
I dropped the cane, picked up Blue, and shouted for Cosette to run. She grabbed the sack and hurried downstairs. I was right behind my sister, urging her to keep running as more of the upper level of the house caught fire!
We ran outside and did not stop until we were far enough away from the blaze. Cosette did not wish to see the powerful flames, and she held on to me tightly, refusing to look back. It was the opposite for me. I was enchanted by the sight of the fire consuming Garron's house, and all the evil it contained. The flames were majestic as their righteous fury cleansed the spot where that house had stood. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
Neighbors began to arrive to fight the fire. They did not notice me and Cosette standing in the shadows. We quietly made our way to the southern end of Ashdale. We snuck on board a boat headed for the mainland. We arrived at Taverley, and made our way to Burthorpe. There, I smithed a bronze two-handed sword for myself, and a bronze dagger for my sister.
Cosette and I had many adventures together for a few years.
I've been putting out fire with gasoline!
