The Jealousy of Kyprioth
Summary: It is 7 years after Dove took the throne of the Kypriang Isles and Aly and Nawat are happy together, with a son. Until Kyprioth's jealousy puts Aly is a position she doesn't want to be in.
Chapter 2: Mysterious Strangers
Aly woke up to the sun shining on her face and a pair of strong arms encircling her waist, holding her close. She lay there for a while, content to have her husband beside her again. But after a while, she began to feel the now well-known feeling of hunger, so she slid out of Nawat's arms, got dressed and made her way to the mess. She planned on eating quickly and then waking her husband in a way he'd like.
But before she could even finish eating, Nawat came up behind her with a plate of food, sat down and began eating his own breakfast.
'I was going to come to wake you up after I'd eaten.'
'Well then I saved you a trip didn't I?' Nawat grinned mischievously. 'What are you planning on doing today? I just need to check a few things and then I'm all yours.'
'Well you go and do that. I want to get a bit of riding in today.' She stood up, gave Nawat a quick peck on the cheek. 'See ya, love' she said and made her way out of the mess and towards the stables.
The smell of horses got increasingly stronger as she walked closer. But Aly loved the smell, and would sometimes come here to clear her head. Aly stopped in the doorway and let her gaze roam around the stables. She caught sight of something and dashed to the side of the door so she wouldn't be seen. Aly peered round the door and took in all that she was seeing. There was her son, grooming horses. That was a daily occurrence. Yet this was different.
He was grooming three horses at once, obviously using magic. Aly watched as he alternated between each horse whispering to them, as he brushed them himself, and then left them to the magic hands that appeared out of nowhere, picked up the brush and carried on where he left off.
Aly looked on with amazement. Never in her life had she seen something like this. She turned around and hurried back to the mess hall, to find her husband. There were a few things they needed to discuss.
Alan completed grooming the horse in front of him, his own faithful Mageheart, and moved to the next stall and did the same for the other two horses. As he put the brush away in its rightful place, he shifted his Sight to see the blaze of colour leaping out at him. He looked towards the horses and saw the copper fire surrounding them. He looked up at the roof, and saw the black and violet magics intertwining, remains of the magic that Uncle Numy and Granny Alanna had put up to ward against fire. Alan relished the colour. He thought it looked beautiful. Without realising it, he fell into routine of carrying on with his work not realising that he had not shifted his Sight back.
Alan saw movement at the corner of his eye. He turned and saw a figure hurrying towards the pavilion. He saw it was his mum.
He just hoped she hadn't seen him use his magic…
'Aly are you sure it was him? I mean it is very likely he would have the gift, especially having a gran who is a powerful healer, not to mention her twin, who was an extremely powerful sorcerer. He shouldn't have such a trained gift at this age should he?'
'Nawat Crow, I know what my son looks like!' said Aly, livid that he would think that. She took a deep breath and continued. 'But you're right; his gift shouldn't be this strong at his age.'
Finding her husband and dragging him to their bedroom and then screaming at him had made her more tired than usual. She rubbed her eyes. She wasn't ready for this so early in the morning. It wasn't even midday yet.
'I just want to know why he kept it from us. Nawat, why? I'm his mother aren't I?'
Nawat brought her into the embrace of his arms. They didn't know how long they stood there.
Dove stood in front of the majority of the palace staff and informed then of a piece of news she received earlier that day.
'I have called you here to inform you of a visit from someone you might remember. My sister Sarai is arriving here in a few weeks time. She will be arriving with her husband and her son, Mequen. I would like the palace to be cleaned spotless and I would also like to have the east wing cleaned as that is where they will be staying for the duration of their stay.'
Many were surprised, but did not voice their opinions. This was not news to Fesgao and Chenoal, because as soon as she received the letter she called them and told them to be ready for her announcement. Fesgao leaned towards his companion.
'At least she didn't tell them this is the first time she is visiting the Isles since she ran away. I think Dove is glad that at least she was invited to Carthak to see her nephew when he was born. We had best get ready. We both have things that need to be done for this visit.'
Chenoal glanced at Fesgao and watched as he walked away. She sighed and headed back to the kitchen.
Alan ran outside of the stables and started making his way towards the castle. He was so distracted he didn't realise that he had not shifted his Sight back.
He walked quickly and surveyed the scenery and to his right slightly ahead of him he saw a figure. Noticing the figure Alan slowed down to see who it was. He didn't recognise the man and noticed that this mysterious stranger was surrounded by shimmering white. There was nothing particularly outstanding about this man, yet Alan couldn't help there was something he was missing. He noticed that this man had several rings on his hand. So this man likes jewellery, nothing new there.
Alan shook his head and continued on his way. He had to find out if his mother had seen him using his magic. That was the important thing.
Alan Crow ran on his short 6 year old legs through the corridors toward his parent's bedroom. He reached the door and poised his hand to knock when he heard a voice that was clearly his mother's.
'I just want to know why he kept it from us. Nawat, why? I'm his mother aren't I?'
Alan froze. She knows. She saw. He moved away from the door, when he stopped. Wait she's sounded sad. She doesn't know why I didn't tell her or Dad. Why didn't I tell her or Dad? He thought about it, and started to make his way back to the stables. He needed to think. I didn't tell them. Why? Because it didn't feel right. He didn't think he should tell them. It just…didn't feel right.
Alan noticed that man again. He was standing in the same position. It was only now did Alan realise that this man was looking up at a window. His facial expression would lead you to believe that he could see all that was happening inside the room.
Alan looked towards the figure and remembered that he hadn't changed his Sight back and did so. When he looked back towards the man, he saw that he had disappeared. Alan changed his Sight and once again there was a blaze of colour and he could see the man again. Alan changed his Sight over a few times to check if what he was seeing was really true.
Alan kept his Sight on the blaze of colour and approached the man. He stood in front of this man. He was a 6 year old boy, standing fout feet tall, in front of a man who looked to be in his late thirties and stood at a proud 6 ft 5". This man realised that Alan could see him and he looked at him incredulous. When he saw who it was his expression softened, and then spoke, Alan barely hearing them.
'I'm sorry. I can't let you remember me; not when you might tell them, especially not her.'
Alan's world went black.
Kyprioth waved his hand and Alan disappeared from in front of him, and was safely put in the stables. He wouldn't remember a thing….
Thanx to Mage of the Heart, Weeping Willow, Aly-Kyprioth, and last but definitely not least, thanx to my wonderful beta ConfusedKnight (!) for reviewing!
Please review and tell me what you think!
Erytha
