Deleted Scenes–Turdus

You know how on the DVDs of movies there are sometimes deleted scenes in the special features section? Well, just like in making movies, there are often scenes in books writers don’t use. I’ve decided to start sharing some of those with you now since there were beginning to be too many spoilers in my, “If Aviandria Were A Musical” posts. I may have to put spoiler warnings in some of the future scenes, but this one is fairly safe. It is from Gateway to Aviandria. Ashlynn and her companions are on their way to Accipitridaelynn. It was my attempt to try and tie up what I thought was a loose end with the Traders. Later on, I felt it was more of a distraction than a help, so it got cut. However, I thought it was a fun enough scene people might enjoy it. Please, remember this was part of my very first draft ever, so it is still pretty rough.

Turdus

We reached Turdus near the afternoon of the second day. I was surprised at what I saw. The only city I had ever seen in Aviandria was Aedon, and compared to Turdus, Aedon looked more like a quaint little neighborhood.

Turdus was a large city, and quite formidable looking. In fact, it looked more like a fortress than a city. The stone walls were strong and tall, and even from a distance I could spot sentries and guards on top of them every few hundred feet. There was one gate. It was open now, but it was easy to tell it could be closed quickly, and nearly impossible to get into afterward.

Though people seemed to be able to exit freely, the freedom to enter through this gate was not exactly guaranteed, as evidenced by a short line forming outside, as soldiers questioned each of the people who entered the city, reminding me of lines at the airport.

“It looks like they have added extra security,” Alder said from where we were watching out of site.

“What could be going on?” Dillyn wondered. “This is the tightest they have had it since I can remember.

“I think we may have to do without the supplies,” Alder said. “It is far too risky with them questioning people as closely as they are. We might get through, but then again, we might not.”

I could tell Dillyn hated to admit it, but he knew what alder said was true. He may have liked the idea of an adventure, but Dillyn wasn’t foolish enough to go too far. “It just seems like such a shame to come all this way and not even be able to get the supplies we need. Ah well, I guess we knew it was a possibility.” He shrugged his disappointment off with the same ease as he would brush dirt from his boots.

Alvorach wasn’t so quick to let it go. “I could go in,” he suggested. “There wouldn’t be any danger of them recognizing me. I can just say I am from up north and passing through to get supplies.”

Alder was about to object, but Dillyn spoke in favor of the idea. “It might actually work,” he agreed. “I wish I could go in too, but at least this way we wouldn’t have to spend more time trying to get supplies by searching for them.”

Alder nodded, not happy exactly, but recognizing his friend was right. I had to smile. Alder was so careful. He wanted to make sure everybody was perfectly safe. He didn’t like to take risks, especially when it came to the lives of his friends. Yet I knew he would risk his own life for any of us in a heartbeat.

Alvorach started getting ready to approach the gate. I suddenly had an urge, which I decided to act on.

“Wait, I’m coming too,” I said.

Alder and Dillyn and Alvorach tried to object to this, but I just shook my head at them. “It won’t be any more dangerous for me than it will be for Alvorach. In fact, it may be less so. There is nobody here who could possibly recognize me.”

There really wasn’t much they could say to argue with that. It was a small victory, but a victory, nevertheless.

“Alright,” Alvorach finally agreed. “But stay close to me.”

“And be careful,” Alder added. “We can’t afford to lose you, especially now.”

I nodded, and smiled. “Don’t worry. I will be fine. I’ve done more dangerous stuff than this since I’ve been here.”

“Well then, good luck,” Dillyn smiled. “I wish I were coming, but since I am not, you will have to enjoy yourself twice as much to make up for it.”

“I’ll do my best,” I laughed.

As Alvorach and I approached the gate, I almost began to regret my decision to go with him. Security things always made me nervous, and I started to wonder if they would somehow be able to tell that we were not the ordinary Aviandrian citizen. I didn’t see how they would, but still, my palms began to grow sweaty, and I could feel my stomach doing flip-flops. I half expected them to stop us and demand to see papers, which of course neither Alvorach or I had.

We were stopped, just as everyone else had been, though to my relief, there was nothing said about papers. I guess I had been watching too many movies. They spoke mainly to Alvorach.

“What is your name and business here?” the guard asked us.

“I’m Anderan and this is Aranna. We are on our way to Accipitridaelynn from the north. We only stop by here to replenish our supplies for on the way.”

The guard looked at us for a few moments more and I held my breath. Apparently our looks and Alvorach’s explanation satisfied him because he waved us through. “Alright. You and your missus may pass.”

I was surprised at this, and I almost opened my mouth to correct the man, but thought better of it just in time. I decided it would be much wiser to play along in this circumstance. I don’t know why I should have been surprised. After all, it was a logical conclusion, considering the information the guard had

Alvorach seemed to have the same idea, because he surprised me by gently placing his arm over my shoulders and leading me through the gate. I looked up at him in surprise, but as soon as I realized his tactic, I changed my shocked expression to an adoring smile just in case someone was still watching. It had only taken a second, and I hoped the guard hadn’t noticed this transformation.

I need not have worried at all, for the guard had turned his attention to the next person waiting to get in. As soon as we were out of view of the gate, Alvorach dropped his arm.

“I must beg your pardon,” he said, seeming slightly embarrassed. “I thought it might be best to play along, and I couldn’t ask your permission first. I do hope you will forgive me?”

The situation suddenly struck me as quite funny, and I began to giggle uncontrollably. I don’t think Alvorach had expected this, and looked bewildered for a moment, which only aggravated my urge to laugh. I was now laughing so hard I could hardly breathe.

Alvorach stood looking on, unsure of what to do. Other people were giving us curious glances as well. I knew I was attracting far too much attention, and that I had to stop, but that is much easier said than done. I tried my best to compose myself, taking in deep breaths and trying to think of something else.

As soon as I could speak again, I smiled at the still baffled Draconian, still fighting back brief spells of giggling.  “There is nothing that needs to be forgiven. Don’t worry about it. In fact, I think it was kind of funny, in case you couldn’t tell.”

Alvorach couldn’t hold back a smile as he said, “Really? I might have never guessed.”

I followed Alvorach along the main road, which would led to the city center where we could find the market place. Alvorach quickly found the different merchants where he could purchase the supplies needed. As the merchants filled his orders they casually chatted. I listened as Alvorach tried to get any helpful news from them without looking suspicious.

As he was purchasing some cheese from a brawny fellow with bushy eyebrows he chatted on, asking trivial questions, but questions which may lead to an opening to ask some of the important ones.

“Your cheese looks especially fine today,” the Draconian commented.

“Indeed, it is a good batch,” the man answered, seeming pleased at the complement.

“I am glad I got a chance to buy some before it is sold out then,” Alvorach continued, smiling at the man. “Cheese like this must go quickly.”

“Fairly fast, yes,” the man agreed. “At least I hope so. Can always use the business you know.”

“Yes indeed,” Alvorach agreed. “Has the extra security around here now been hard on the business?”

“Not as hard as you might suppose,” the man shrugged. “Besides, it keeps the trouble-makers out.”

“So why is the security so tight right now?” Alvorach asked. “Has there been extra trouble around lately.”

“Oh, we have been having some trouble with traders,” the man answered.

My head snapped up. The word sent chills down my spine. “Traders?” I couldn’t help asking.

“Yeah, the rascals have been a bit too pesky around here the last month or so. Folks got sick of finding things missing. We chased ‘em out good though. All the way to Slavachnid. Just making sure they don’t find their way back,” the merchant went on, satisfied to have someone to gossip with.

He kept on talking, mostly about similar situations he remembered. We listened, feigning deep interest as we payed and left.

It didn’t take us long to get the rest of what we needed, and we were soon making our way out the gate. We kept close as we exited the city, in case the same guard noted us agin, but soon we were clear and making our way back toward Alder and Dillyn.

“You seem to have interest in these traders,” Alvorach observed, once we were out of earshot of the city.

“Let’s just say we aren’t on the most friendly of terms,” I told him. “Haven’t Alder and Dillyn told you about it?”

Alvorach shook his head. I was a little surprised, but I realized perhaps I shouldn’t have been. Alder had promised he would mention my origins to Alvorach until he asked, and he must have categorized that as part of it.

“Well, both Gwen and I have had our own unpleasant encounters with them,” I told him. “In fact, if it weren’t for Alder and Dillyn, I would have been in serious trouble with them.”

“You got involved with the traders?” Alvorach asked in amazement.

“Not intentionally, I can guarantee you,” I laughed at his surprise. “I was caught by a couple of them, who hoped they could use me as a trade object. It was Alder and Dillyn who rescued me. If fact, that is how I met them.”

“They never told me anything about that before,” Alvorach said, shaking his head.

“That isn’t all,” I continued. “Not only did I get away then, but we also managed to cross them again. This time it was Gwen they had caught. We got her away, but we didn’t leave the traders with very good feelings between us.”

“You rescued Gwen from them too? The bad reputation of the traders is legendary, but I didn’t think they got that bad.” He shook his head. “It is no wonder that they aren’t allowed in Draconland.”

“Well, they wouldn’t be allowed in Aviandria if I had anything to say about it,” I said, kicking a stone down the road to emphasize my point.

Alvorach laughed. “Don’t worry,” he assured me. “You will.”