It was with a saddened heart that Sinteari watched the Islands slowly fade into the distance and then vanish on the horizon, only then did she turn from the rail and snap her fan open, she was not pleased with this turn of events but she would have to deal with the hand fate had given her.

She was not excited to be leaving the Yamani Islands, she knew her sister was, but then she wanted to be a Tortallian knight, not a Yamani Warrior. Her parents were the ambassadors from Tortall to the Yamani court. She had lived there for 11 years, since she was born, her parents had left and then came back after their oldest brother had been knighted, since then her two other brothers had been knighted as well.

During the time she was two to the time that she was nine she hadn't really known her parents, they had been in the Yamani Islands only for a short time when her parents had returned for the knighting of her brothers. In a good will gesture and the promise to return they had left her there while they went back to Mindelan for that time.

She had learned quickly how to hide her emotions and she was good at it now, as not a single emotion showed as she turned from watching the ever vanishing Islands and snapping her fan open coving the lower half of her face.

I am a Yamani Princess, I am as calm as the lake on a calm day, she was as impassable as the stone gardens and as strong as the mountains.

"Sinteari, you know you do not have to hide your face from us" her father interrupted her thoughts, the man had brown hair, dreamy hazel eyes that looked at her as he spoke to her quietly. Piers of Mindelan was a short stocky man only standing about 5'10 and a diplomats smile.

Her mother on the other hand stood at 6' with graying hair and a passive face, and fiery eyes. Ilane of Mindelan just shook her head and turned back to her 10 year old sister, listening to the excited chatter about becoming a knight.

"Are you also going for your shield Sinteari?" Kel asked her more reserved sister, before looking at her Mother and father.

"If I wish to continue on my chosen path Keladry I will have to continue with training in Tortall" her cool even voice soft and musical had a cold lilt to it, her fan hiding the fond smile from view.

They Kel stood at 5ft 1, Kel with honey blond hair, she wore hers short, cropped below her ears while Sinteari wore her long silver hair in a braid and it hung down to her knees. While Kel had their fathers dreamy hazel eyes Sinteari had mismatched eyes flecked with a dark amber, and though Kel had no gift, Sinteari had a mixture of gifts.

At an early age Sinteari had found she could talk to animals and heal small wounds, she told no one, not even her parents. It was the most well hidden secrets of hers, though she knew of no one else who had a mix of gifts like her, so she thought it best not to say.

Kel nodded "you will be a page there though Sinteari isn't that exciting?" she could tell that Kel was trying to be Yamani 'blank' as she called it.

"Hmm, I would prefer the warrior way of the Islands, but it will be worth it to fight" she slipped her Yamani fan which held razor sharp edges lower and smiled at her sister. "Plus I will have to keep an eye on you"

It wasn't long after that they retired and the days began to turn in to routine, wake up and join her family for breakfast and spend the rest of the day reading, writing to her friends or pouring over the Mindelan account books that her Father had given her to practice her maths and accounts.

It was on a day that she had set the accounts aside, and moved to the rail the sea was tossing their ship in the rough waves, the priestess would say to give a prayer. She had spent a lot of time with the Priestess, learning etiquette. Priestess Michiyo would have told her to give something to the Sea goddess to calm her.

With that thought in mind she took out her shusukan and let the edge bite into a finger letting a single drop of blood drop into the sea as she quickly healed her finger she sent a prayer.

To the Great Sea Goddess please let us arrive safely to Tortall, please calm your raging spirit and sooth the seas.

It was with that she turned and went back to her cabin to work on a few healing books one of the crewmen had. It was because she was lost in the book that she didn't notice the sea calm and smooth out like a lake on a cool calm day, and stayed that way until they reached port.

It was a relief that they landed in Blue Harbor. It was a two day ride to Mindelan from the harbor and they were already weary so they settled down in the Seaside Inn and washed the salt from their skin, and hair before turning in for the night.

Sinteari curled up in the bed with her sister, her silken kimono laying over a chair along with her sisters breeches. Unbeknownst to her, she was the argument of several gods.

IN THE DIVINE REALM

"How could this have happened Mithros!" the Great Mother Goddess cried pacing backing and forth between the ice mirror and her throne like chair.

"I do not know sister, " Mithros for all he was worth couldn't figure out how a girl had been born to several gods all in one child.

They turned to the Sea Goddess who had brought this up.

"She is a daughter of the lord of the hunt, of you and and the Great Mother. Of the green lady and of the Hag, of the trickster and the dreamer, and me, I do not know how she came to be but her gift is growing stronger and she will lose control if not contained soon." The Sea Goddess voice murmured

She Gave blood to the sea asking for calm and safe passage, it was a tradition long forgotten my most, but the sea goddess does have a blood lust not well known.

"She also has the blood of the Black god, that makes the majority of us Parents" grimacing slightly the Great Mother sighed never having a child before.

"Well out of my children, she is the first girl." Smiling Mithros continued to watch in the Ice mirror as the girl with silver hair curled an arm protectively around the other girl.

"We shall have to see sister, all we can do now is watch." Mithros waved a hand the ice mirror melting and he was on his way to oversee a problem in Scanra

Needless to say it wasn't long until the other gods heard about the child, all watched and waited.

Weiryn started to carve a bow from a white holly tree, that the green lady had grown just for that purpose.

Gainel sent dreams filled with love, and comfort for he could do nothing else

The Black god brushed her hair from her face before giving a gentle kiss and leaving as silently as he had come.

Kyprioth smiled and went to find a suitable gift for his first ever 'child' if any of the other gods had seen the grin on his face they would have surely stopped him. Not that he knew how he had gotten a child either but he had an Idea that it was probably his fault.

The Great mother goddess merely smiled and continues on with her duties, a small black cat purring at her feet.

The sea goddess sang a sweet lullaby that sent all in the Harbor city to sleep, and for that night the seas and waters were calm.

IN THE MORTAL REALM

They woke in the early morning changing into Tortallian dress (the girls in breeches and tunic) they climbed into a carriage that awaited them and headed for Mindelan. It took two days and two night to reach their home where they were greeted by a cold Connell and a excited Anders.

"Mother, Father welcome home!" Anders cried giving Ilane a kiss on the cheek and giving Piers a one armed hug before turning to his sisters and smiling.

"Kel! I haven't seen you since you were a small sprite and this must be Sin!" He smiled hugging Kel and going to hug 'Sin'.

"Anders, brother. How are you? And your lovely wife?" once more Sinteari snapped her fan open covering her face frowning and hoping she memorized the pictures and names right.

"She is well, about to drop the baby at any time"

"I am leaving, I was called to help with a friends Fief" Connell said coldly before turning and mounting his horse "Mother, Father" he nodded ignoring Kel and Sinteari

"Well… that was awkward" Kel muttered so only Sinteari could hear.

Nodding they entered the house as Baron Piers finished the letter to the King telling of their return and his daughters wishes to pursue her shield.

It was going to be a little rough with two daughters trying for their shields. Hopefully Sinteari would pave a good path for Keladry.