Katsa rode in the castle court, the horse wheezes noticeably and seemed grateful when she stopped.

She had ridden the whole night about by, now covered with dust and splashed with mud.

Raffins news seemed to have been worth it.

She could see him when she rose of the horse and handed over the reins to an ostler.

He did not turn round, seemed completely detailed in something, or somebody.

Katsa saw the young woman only in the profile. She carried a dark garment and heavy boots, her dark hair was weird and long and covered almost completely her face, so that she saw only one pale nasal point.

She was very small and elegant, almost breakable.

Then she laughed, threw back the head and noted Katsa.

She looked to her directly in the face.

Her one eye was poison-green, like ivy, the other owned the colour of ice. She was without doubt a recipient, and Katsa didn't like the distrustful, cold expression on her face.

~~ Some weeks before ~~

Raffin had been in the library when suddenly something abruptly crashed into him and expelled a gasp. Books fell to ground and a girl looked embarrassed to him upwards.

Her dark hair lay chaotically and wavy around her pale face, and she lowered the look when she noticed that he looked at her as if she was'nt accustomed to be noted.

"It-i'm sorry-forgive me "she gasped out. "Do I have they-is everything allright? I am sorry!"

"Nothing has happened to me. " he answered and bent down to lift the books.

The girl did the same, their heads collided, and she lost the balance.

She gave no sound of herself, stood up again and in a hurry the books about one another.

"I. I am clumsy. " she murmured.

It was the first time that she really looked up.

Her one eye shone in a strange green, the other was grey, with tiny blue circles in it which contracted when she looked at him.

She might be at most 18, was small and elegant, anyhow like a roe deer.

He never had saw her before , but she had recognised him and looked in a hurry again at her toes as if she was afraid.

"I was in thoughts, forgive me , prince. " she murmured.

"Have we met before? "he asked.

She threw a short look upwards again. Her eyes had a little bit vague in themselves.

"I am for a few days in the castle for visit. My name is Armina."

King Randa had mentioned, Armina, the daughter of a rich lord, his only heiress. Now after the death of her father the succession had to be cleared and Randa was to be got in it intressiert a big clod of money.

The fact that she was here, he had not known.

She had to hold it for a bad sign that he said nothing, she stepped back.

"Before- before longer time we have met once. At a party. But it was clear to me that you would not remember. At that time my eyes were still normal."

Ordinarily it appeared in the childhood whether somebody was graced or not, but there were exceptions.

He asked himself what she was able to do.

She was still staring at her feet.

"You can look at me. Seriously. "if said Raffin. "I do'nt bite."

Armina lifted quite slowly the look.

"I am not used to it. "she apologised. "You are very friendly, prince Raffin."

She smiled half and he smiled back.

A voice suddenly called her name, and Armina looked round hectically.

"This is my lady's maid- if she finds my books-I wanted to hide them when I-you-"

She bit the lip. "I will get trouble."

"I could take them - forsome time - and could come after and fetch them. " he suggested.

Now she completely smiled.

"You are very friendly. " she repeated. "Thank you. Really. These books are everything my father left me, except the whole money and our home. My ladys-maid is very strict, she's not allowing me to take this books or any other things that could make me intelligent."

Armina handed over the books to him.

"Tonight I will fetch them. " she promised. "Thank you".

She had really appeared to fetch them, and after her shyness had disappeared, it had turned out that she not only read with pleasure but also seemd to be very clever.

"Does your grace has something deal with cleverness? "asked Raffin. Armina who had discussed something with Bann looked up hesitantly.

"Oh. I wished it would be like this. "She sighed. "My gift is only one nice voice for singing"

"I would love to I hear that. " he admitted.

She lowered the look again, smiled.

"Later maybe."

From then on she came every evening to them.

"Kat.!"

Raffin embraced her, and Katsa answered the embrace.

"I have received your news and have came as fast as I could."

"I see this. "he kissed her on the head. "You must have flown. Where is Po?"

Katsa let go him. The girl with the poison-green eye observed each of her movements.

"He is in Monsea, with Bitterblue. But he'Ll come soon."

"This is Armina. " Raffin introduced the girl. "My fiancée. Armina, this is Katsa, my cousin."

Katsas eyes recognized how Arminas face turned cold a second ,then she stretched her hand and held out Katsa.

"I've heard much good about you, lady Katsa. " she quietly explained. "I am pleased to get to know you, finally, personally."

Katsa answered the handshake firmly.

"Also pleased."

Armina smiled at Raffin, but Katsa had the feeling that there was something cold around her , as if all friendliness was only simulated.

Po would have known immediately if you could trust to her. Katsa had to count on her feeling and decided to keep track of Raffins fiancées .