A/N: All right. I haven't forgotten any of my fics, not Kept Silver, not Repairing the D'Yer Wall, and not Lil and Joneaus. Blame it all on Skavnema. She PM'd me. We got to talking about the new Book on Yahoo Messenger, and a plot bunny BIT ME! So, this is all her fault! winks at Skav It's supposed to be One-Shot. I don't think it will remain that way. Also if you have a better idea for a title, let me know. If you want to message me on yahoo, I'm 'DarkLadyIvy'. As always, R&R!
Oh. SPOILER! This might give tidbits of High King's Tomb. You have been warned.
Karigan's chest heaved as she attempted to breathe. There had to be some mistake. Never could she believe that she had been betrayed so utterly. Not by her.
The paper crinkled in her hands as her fists clenched tighter. If she had been Mara the entire room would have been incinerated by now.
"Karigan, what is," Laren Mapstone paused at the entrance to her office. She had sent Karigan for a parchment of requisitions; now, her Rider had a letter crushed in her grip and a murderous look on her face. Remembering the merchant's daughter was a sword master in her own right, the Rider Captain took a step back.
"Why?" Karigan growled in a voice so deep that it hurt her throat. She was trembling in barely controlled anger, and her veins were laced with hot hate.
Laren glanced down at the clenched letter, the Hillander marking on the paper telling her all. She cursed inwardly. The found article was the most recent letter that Zachary had sent just after the Knighting ceremony. She had not the opportunity to burn it. She should have destroyed it that very night.
"It does no good," Captain Mapstone tilted her chin up, defiant. Her favorite Rider may hate her, but she had acted for the good of the kingdom.
"That is not your decision to make!" Karigan shouted with vehemence. She took a step forward, wishing for her saber.
"Isn't it? I am the King's advisor. I am your superior. This dalliance would cost our nation peace! A peace that even now is tenuous at best!"
"Dalliance? How dare you! You have no right to burn messages meant for me! These are my emotions, my feelings, and you have no right to dictate to me how I should feel or what I should decide!!"
"Then you dishonor your pledge as a Rider," Captain Mapstone narrowed her eyes.
"Dishonor? To skulk in darkness, to play the politician? That is what you have been doing Captain," Karigan spat the title with distaste, "that doesn't sound like a Green Rider to me! Much less destroying a message you were meant to deliver! "
Laren closed her eyes at Karigan's verbal assault. She had acted in what she felt was the best interest of both her King and Rider. "What would you have me do Karigan? Have you both mooning over each other like love struck calves? Allow you to become lovers, only realize that the intimacy you crave is a fraud? Who do you think you are?"
Karigan looked shocked and even more hurt. "It is my decision to make," she argued back.
"Let me remind you of something, Galadheon," Laren didn't back down at Karigan's wince, "you are a merchant's daughter. You are not nobility, and therefore beneath the notice of our king."
Karigan smirked, holding up the letter. "This says otherwise."
Laren clenched her jaw. She would have to play dirty. "Men will say anything to slake their lust."
Karigan paled, and then the anger returned full force. "You lie,"
True. Laren's ability responded silently. "You cannot be with him,"
Karigan laughed; a sharp, hollow sound. "I shouldn't have been able to travel to the past or the future, yet I did. I shouldn't be able to turn invisible, and I shouldn't have survived many of my experiences. Yet I did. In this world of magic, nothing is impossible, Captain," she stated grimly, brushing past her to the door.
"You will destroy what peace we have if you pursue this with Zachary," Laren predicted ominously.
Karigan paused at the door, her grip firm on the doorknob. "If you were to presume that I would put my own happiness before my Kingdom, you don't know me at all. For all that I have done for Sarcordia, you are blind," she hissed haughtily, slamming the door.
Laren sagged against the wall, holding her head in her hands. "I'm sorry," she whispered to the empty room.
I really wonder how Karigan will be once she finds out in Britain's books. Because you know she will be PISSED!