Disclaimer: Siani belongs to me, everyone else belongs to Tamora Pierce. This isn't meant to offend her, just show my appreciation for her work.
Prologue
Eleven-year-old Princess Siani, the youngest daughter of Thayet and Jonathan of Tortall muffled a groan when a speech spell began in front of her. Resisting the urge to bolt for the window, she touched the spell with her small multicoloured gift. It was a swirl of blue, green, and purple and not really strong enough for anything, except a bit of light.
The speech spell was sent by King Jonathan.
"Siani, could you please come to my library now." Ordinarily Siani would have argued or complained that she was busy, something in her father's manner was worrying. He was trying to sound normal, but was a lot more serious than most times.
"Okay, Father," Siani replied, to which he nodded, gave a strained smile and ended the spell. Frowning, Siani headed for the door.
Once outside her door, Siani was startled as Eda Bell, the Shang Wildcat and Hakuin Seastone, the Shang Horse flanked her.
"What are you doing?" Siani asked.
"We are under instructions to escort you to the king's library." Hakuin said, grimmer than Siani had ever seen him.
Smirking, Siani joked, "thanks very much, but I think I know the way. Or are my parents worried I'm not going to show?"
"It is for your protection." Siani started to get worried. The Shangs didn't usually exaggerate.
"Protection from what?" Siani demanded, turning on the spoiled princess act.
"That would be best left for your parents to explain," was the only answer she got.
In the king's library, Jonathan told Siani the news. A spy in another country had reported threats of them kidnapping someone - Siani. Eyes growing wider, Siani asked, "why they would want to kidnap me?"
"To use you as a tool against us," Jonathan said, grave-faced. "The Shangs and every other person in the palace has been warned to look out for you. You are not to go to the city, or outside the palace. I doubt they will attempt a kidnapping in the palace."
Siani nodded, scared now. "You can go," The King said and Siani headed out the door.
As she was walking through the halls of the palace, Siani now noticed all of the people around, all looking very wary. The Shangs behind her were tensed and Siani herself was very alert. Ready to put into practice all of the fighting skill taught to her by various people.
Just before they reached Siani's door, she and the Shangs suddenly found it hard to move.
"What the ...? What's going on?" Siani said in confusion, finding it very hard to talk. She twisted around to face the Shangs. Astonished to see them looking frozen, Siani was startled when a bunch of people suddenly arrived in the corridor, seemingly from nowhere.
Panicking, Siani did the first thing that came to her head. She lit the corridor as bright as she could with her gift. Unfortunately though, when her gift reached the people, it gave off an explosion-like sound and blinded Siani with white light. Pain making her cover her eyes, Siani had the sensation of falling and hitting the ground.
When the light cleared, Siani was not in the hall anymore, she was in a grassy reserve. In the distance a few high rise buildings could be seen and there was a power line a few metres over. But Siani didn't see any of this, she was already unconscious.