Disclaimer: I do not own any of TP's books or charries! This will not be repeated, so remember it!

Prologue:

First sight (Your first sight of them)

The Yamani Islands

She flipped the last few bars of the battle course (think monkey bars and any Olympic event that includes gymnastics). Ending with a roll and coming up in a battle stance, she bowed to her teacher. She moved off the side, watching her eldest brother take the same course, and her younger brother taking the smaller one.

"Keira!" It was her Mistress.

She walked up to her Mistress and bowed, palms flat on her thighs. "Milady?"

"Your mother wants you. She says it is an urgent matter."

"Thank you, milady. I will return shortly if I may." She bowed again and turned away, then took a few steps before disappearing (for those who have seen Charmed, it's like the shimmering). She reappeared outside her mother's office. Opening the door, she stepped in.

"Mother, you called for me?" she asked politely, bowing as her mother stood.

"I did, daughter. Read this." Keira's mother handed her an offical-looking letter.

Keira read it quickly. The messages written in her eyes were fleeting; she hid them with her Yamani mask. Her mouth thinned at one point before returning to normal. After a few minutes of reading and re-reading, she set the letter on the desk and focused on the wall, striving for control.

"What are your thoughts?" her mother asked gently.

After a moment Keira sighed. "What else is there to do?" she asked softly, staring at the desk. "We must. I will go through with the betrothal." She smiled slightly. "It must be better than the repetitive parts of my life here."

Her mother Diana said nothing, but put a hand on Keira's back. "You can always decide to return home, you know that, don't you?"

Keira looked at her mother and nodded. "I think I'll go practice again," she said. She backed up, bowed, then disappeared, reappearing in her room. Within moments she'd changed, tucked her shukusen in her belt, took her naginata from the wall, and was gone.

There she was. The battle Mistress. Keira appeared before her. "Milady, would you honor me with a duel?" she inquired politely.

"It is I who would be honored," the woman returned, unstrapping her own glaive. Within moments the two were locked in fierce combat, one that always helped Keira let out anger and frustration, two of which she had much of at the moment.

When they finished (Keira losing, again), they walked the short distance to a mountain river. There, Keira proceeded to explain her impending betrothal, adding when the caravan was to be sent and to leave. At the end, the Mistress gave her polite congratulations, then some helpful advice.

When the Mistress left, Keira rose and bowed, then sat. For long, long moments she sat and meditated, praying to each god for their support and guidance in a certain area of her life.

It was there, two hours later, that her brother found her. Nared crept up silently, sitting beside his sister for some time before saying softly "Mother told me. Congratulations."

"I need luck, not congratulations," returned Keira. She sighed softly. "Oh Nared, what am I to do? We are not even royalty! What could the Prince possibly want with us?"

"I don't know. Maybe he knows of your skill. All of the lands know of Total's war. Perhaps he thinks he can get help through this."

Keira nodded slightly. "That would be an adequate assumption..." She stared at the water, then sighed again. "I should begin packing. The caravan will arrive in a few days time." She looked at her brother. "Will you come with for some time?"

"For you, of course." The corners of his eyes crinkled in Yamani amusement, and Keira's did the same.

The two sat quietly, reflecting and meditating, until dinner. Then they stood and walked away together.

Tortall:

"Let me go with them," said the Prince.

"No, Liam. It is dangerous."

"I want to see her before she's here, before she draws into her shell," argued the Prince. "I want to know her for who she is, and be able to tell her that."

After a few moments, Thayet and Jonathan nodded. "Very well. Pack light. You're leaving tomorrow."

A/N: Well? This is my first TP fic, and it should be updated sooner than the others. Thanks to all the people who might review, because I know a few who will!