CHAPTER 1 Ariyanna

I hum while I draw the man from my visions at a table near a window. I drew him the way I saw him. He had a square face with sad, waiting eyes. He was handsome.

In my recent visions, this man appeared in need. I wish I could help him even though I knew nothing could be done. I am too week to help him. Even if I was strong enough I couldn't because I am confined in this prison. I saw this man more often and it was always the same. I would walk in a tavern and see him leaning against a wall with his defined arms crossed. He would be looking at the ground as if afraid to be seen, but he must have felt me or someone else watching because he would look up. The man's icy blue eyes would meet someone's gaze. At first his eyes looked as though he didn't want to be bothered but soon it seemed he recognized this person. His eyes would softened. It seemed that he loved this person. I couldn't help but be jealous of the person he looked at with pure love.

I wish I could know what he was thinking. He looked so strong but so fragile at the same time. Something had to have happened but I can never see what. It makes me so curious and he has been all I could think about lately. I sigh and glance around the room, catching a chill as I look towards the window.

I hear the floor creek and Mary comes up behind me putting a blanket over me. Sighing she says, "You're going to get sick and I am not going to have anyone to talk to for days." She crosses her arms and leans in close, "Ariyanna? What are you drawing?"

I look up to see Mary looking over my shoulder and I quickly cover it. "Nothing important. Why are you watching me?" I smile. "Leave me be, Mary!"

Mary shrugs her shoulder, "because I can. Don't you try to play this off, I saw the picture! It was a man! A pretty handsome one too I must add, but I've never seen him. How do you know him?" She tries to look at the picture again but I cover it the best I can. "What are you hiding from me Ariyanna?"

"I am not hiding anything from you," I laugh, "I have never meant this man in my life. I just started drawing and this is what I drew," I swept my hand across the picture.

"You must know him, or at least have met him. Such detail couldn't be drawn from imagination!" Her mud colored eyes bore into mine waiting for my answer.

"I can draw from imagination. You know I'm creative," I stutter at my lie and bite my lip.

Mary snorts, "Oh your creativity is something of beauty. Pure talent really. You know if you're going to try to lie to me you will have to do better than that."

"Mary, I swear this man does not exist!"

"Uh-huh, and that's why you have been sighing in content for the past 10 minutes. It seems to me Ariyanna that you have a little crush. Don't try to tell yourself that you don't."

I look at the picture and back to her. "No I don-"

Mary put her slim hand defiantly on her hip, "Please, I have always been able to read you like a book."

"I do not! I've never seen him before!" I roll my eyes. "At least not in person."

Her eyes widen and she pushes a strand of hair out of her face, "So he is real! You had visions about him? He has to be important then. Hmmm…" She stands up straight and smooth's out her gown. She looks at me mischievously, "What are your visions like?"

I lift my chin, "what do you mean?"

She comes and leans close to me, her brown hair falling in front of her shoulder, "Your visions, they have been including him a lot recently, from what I can tell. I mean, you are starting to draw him. What part does he play in them?"

"Nothing romantic or vulgar if that is what you're implying." I sit back in my chair completely worn by her endless banter.

"Oh but you wish it. You look at that picture as if you're in love."

"Please!" I look at her in shock.

"I can feel what your emotions are, but it's not hard to see; it's written all over your face." She walks and turns me around putting her hands on my shoulders. "Listen, I know you still have feelings for Ronan even though you say you don't."

I groan, "Mary! For the love of our granter! Stop bringing poor Ronan into this!"

She always had to bring up Ronan, but it was never like the way she thought. We've known each other since we were little and we have seen more of each other than what is usually seen by young children. We were best friends, almost like brother and sister. I guess it could have seen that we liked each other. We didn't give it a thought even when our gifts started to show, but as years went by, Ronan became stronger and more muscular. You could say he became very handsome. Most of the girls drooled over his body, especially Mary. When one would meet his gaze his eyes seemed so focused and it looked like he could see right through you. I think it is that focus that made him strong but others say he is an unnatural talent and it's a gift that made him a great fighter. "He was quite a catch," my mother would say.

When I got older, I just seemed to get weaker and s little fatter in the hips and breast. I grew taller and I had what my mother would call a womanly figure. I didn't think I was much to look at, but Mary always complemented me. She always told me how my eyes would glow when the moon was out, almost like I had moonstone eyes. Mary loved to play with my hair. She always braided my long brown hair that reached well past my butt. While she tied it into a love knot, she would hum songs that I did not know. I used to want to cut my hair, not wanting to deal with it but, mother would never allow it saying royal ladies never cut their hair. I did, however, grow to like my hair. It was a way to hide if I knew someone was looking at me.

I guess you could say I was jealous of what Ronan had. He and other boys seemed to be trusted more. They were told things that I still wished to know. When I started to bleed, mother and father wouldn't let me out of their sight. They said I was a lady now and I was expected to act as such. I began to realize that women were not thought to be very important or as capable as the men were. I suppose I was jealous. I wanted to know the things the men talked about, to understand them and know what was happening.

When my gift started to show, Mother would make me stay inside and tell her what I saw in visions while she brushed my hair. I did not see much at first but soon I could see as much as I wanted. I was excited. I would finally know what was happening and be able to help. I thought it was a great gift until mother had died and father's want for power escalated.

"Ariya?"

"Hmm?"

"That's it, isn't it? You still love Ronan?"

"No I –"

She silences me, "It's alright, but it is ok to like someone else at the same time. It's natural."

"I don't love Ronan and I never have. We were friends and that's all." I looked down to the picture I drew, brushing my fingers over the indentations. "I've never even met the man I drew in the picture. How could I love him?"

"That doesn't matter, you like them both, you don't have to love them," she dismisses me. Mary walks back to the couch and falls down letting out a deep breath. "You know…"

I tear my eyes away from the picture and glance at Mary, "What?"

"You can always sleep with them, or at least Ronan until you meet the other. It's a great way to get information," Mary smiles and waves her eyebrows.

"Mary!" I look at her and frown. "That's … No Mary," I stutter.

"It's what I do when I need to find out something. Men will tell you anything in bed. Especially you pretend to enjoy it."

I begin to speak but close my mouth. I get up from the wooden desk and go sit beside her "What do you find out? Who do you..?"

"Guards mostly, and really anything they want to talk about. Which is mostly much classified information. Did you know that your father sent out spies for the rebels? It led to a massacre in the streets of the neighboring villiges."

"Mary you could be ruined if anyone finds out!"

"If the anyone found out any of the guard had an affair with me they would be executed. Besides, they have to talk about it to someone somehow and just want someone to listen." She looks at me with a very knowing look. "Men can never keep secrets from women."

I look down and bite my lip, "they just talk afterwards?"

"I ask them a few questions and they just go on and on. They just need a nudge in the right direction here and there if you know what I mean." She lays her hand over her mouth, "It is almost too easy." She giggled.

"You're a harlot!"

"Shhh!" She smiles.

I stand and walk towards the window. "You think men will keep sleeping with you a secret, because if you get caught, my father will cast you out."

"Please! Do you think me that stupid to not make sure I am safe? I know things about them that I could use against them if needed. But usually their life is enough to keep the secret." She turned away pouting.

I sigh and wait till she looks at me, "Is it that simple?"

She laughs nodding her head, "Not only is it-"

We both look up to a knock at the door. I jump as if I have been caught doing something wrong. I feel like I have been doing something wrong.

Mary laughs, "You are so innocent." She gets up and walks to the door. She collects herself and opens the door. She looks and pauses for a moment- "Ronan. What a pleasant surprise!" She says eagerly. "What's the matter? Do you wish to talk about something?

Ronan looks around Mary to find me, "Ariyanna, your father wishes to see you," he said completely ignoring Mary. I knew he didn't really care for her. He only talked to her if he needed to.

I stand, smoothing my skirt and walk to the door where Ronan waits. He turns already knowing that I am following. As I make it through the door, I feel a slap on my butt. I yelp.

"What's the matter?" Ronan looked back at me confused.

"I…uh… tripped," I laughed awkwardly.

He gave me one more confused look and turned back around walking forward. I glared back at Mary and she laughed as she shut the door. I quickened my pace to catch up to Ronan and walked in silence. Ronan led me down the never ending halls and stairs to court where my father waited.