JEYNE

This was taking too long. Jeyne was worried. She didn't worry too often. The last time this had happened in her short life it had only been a day and a half; not a tenday.

The grownups had spoken of a huge host. "The magistrates of Luskan granted them passage.", "The King has a host of one million!" "Why?" "The Lord Alaric is a fine warrior, but can he hold them back?", "This is like that invasion of thirty years ago! Winter will defeat them and we'll be able to continue on our business." This last was spoken by a gray beard with a fearful hope.

"Jeyne Do' Urden, get away from the shore and quit yer eavesdroppin'!", said Hawise. She was Steward Alfort's wife.

"I just wanna find out what's happening!"

"Child, no one here knows right now. It's a waste of time worrying yourself." Hawise's eyes were full of apprehension. "Now go and sit yerself down by Lariisa!"

Lariisa. She was the Good Twin, the Pretty Twin, the Ladylike Twin...the Everything Better than Jeyne Twin. From afar she looked like she was doing embroidery work in a serene manner. Even Lariisa,though, showed concern. When Jeyne approached she noticed that several stitches were crossed! Her older sister by eight minutes NEVER did this. Of course, an invasion(not a raid) like this had never happened in their lifetime as well.

"Lariisa, you must have taken my embroidery hoop or something like that.", Jeyne had said to her sister in a joking manner. Lariisa quickly put her embroidery hoop away.

"Jeyne, what did you hear?", she whispered.

"Only what's been said before. You know if father or the Lord Alaric were...hurt...badly, or if a lot of our people...were hurt...Well, we'd know right?", Jeyne said this to convince herself more than anything else.

Polly Alfort then chimed in, "If that army of millions hadn't won a long time ago, they're never gonna win now." Polly said this with a little too much brightness. Polly was Jeyne's truest friend for the main reason that both liked to explore, ride horses(something Jeyne did better than Lariisa), and camp(something Lariisa only did when she had to).

In her worst moments there were only a few things Jeyne could do better than Lariisa: ride a horse, camp, do Sums and Differences, get into more trouble... Her father told her never to think like this. She couldn't help it.

Lariisa Do' Urden, on the other hand, could sew, sing, and always say the right and courteous thing(not that Jeyne cared about that!). Everyone marveled at Lariisa's beauty and graciousness. Lariisa's hair was a thick, silvery platinum that flowed down her back. Of course, a few years ago, Jeyne had cut some of her hair off; she forgot why. She did get into A LOT of trouble for that. Lariisa, even with a short boy's cut was still prettier than Jeyne. The eyes were a sapphire blue. It could go on Jeyne bleakly thought.

Jeyne had shoulder length stark white hair that she almost always wore tied back. Her eyes were orange fire colored. This could only show up in a Half Drow/Half Human, her sponsor, Jarlaxle had told her happily. This didn't seem very special to her. She couldn't see any better or worse than anyone else.

"Hey Jeyne, you wanna play Jacks?", Polly had broken this unproductive reverie. Jeyne appreciated this. Everyone was trying to think about anything other than the most important matter at hand.

"Not right now, but, thanks anyway."

She and Lariisa only had Daddy. He had been hurt in that raid of before, not badly, but enough for her to worry. Others in the Ten Towns did not return at all. Jeyne did not want to think about that.

Councilor, Colson Gris, was in a huddled discussion with the Half Drow mage Alek vin Pool, and the gray beard, Wulfric.. Maybe, they had news thought Jeyne. She went closer. All three of them looked very worried.

Colson, was usually the most upbeat and tenacious of the Councilors. Today, though, she looked all of her 77 years, The sharp blue eyes were stressed and filled with weariness and something Jeyne had never seen, hopelessness.

Alek, seemed much older than his 17 years with his stooped shoulders and the accumulated sleeplessness of the past tenday.

Although Wulfric was in his 60s he was still a fierce fighter. Now he looked defeated.

"Mistress Jeyne, let's go back to the others." Alek told not unkindly. He put a hand and her shoulder and started to walk back with her.

"Jeyne, Jeyne you got no business bothering the Mage."

"Mrs. Alfort, she isn't any trouble. " Alek then smiled sadly and waved to Jeyne.

"Councilor Gris has an announcement for all of us." said Alek.

Colson, stepped before the tired assembled crowd. She could never imagine that this day would come for that person she had called Baby Brother. Only she, Colson, had the right to call the Lord Alaric Baby Brother.

Alaric had always joked that she and Drizzt were his best Rashemi friends. They both were quick to differ with him. As that old proverb went, only enemies constantly flattered you and agreed with you.

"The Lord Alaric has asked for terms of surrender from the young King Valder and his host."

Jeyne felt the hand of Lariisa on her forearm. She could tell by looking in her sister's eyes she had the same questions and felt the same shock.