That was the first of many sleepless nights spent with or thinking about Flari. And when I did sleep Gainel saw it fit to make certain that Flari was there as well. I couldn't stop smiling and everyone around me both noticed and committed. I spent much of my time in Corus down in the lower city watching her dance or watching her care for the people of the lower city who I learned quite quickly loved her. I found that Flari was a mystery wrapped up in an enigma. She was brilliant but she hid it well with city scant and confused looks. She was beautiful but she ignored it as if her own looks meant nothing to her and she just happened to look like that without any work at all which was mostly true. Except for her hair her hair she took care of. The only problem was she always had it up braided and curled into a bun on either the top or back of her head. I found myself fantasizing about unwinding it and running my hands through it.

She couldn't hold liquor to save her life and I sincerely hope she never has to. One small glass and she's tipsy any more than that and she's completely gone and she'll rant and rave about anything she finds even silently distasteful. Which is usually politics she knows enough to scare me and that is why I hide my relationship with her which is a very strange friendship that I desperately wish was more. I know she likes me more than anyone else besides the Rogue who I feel a strange rivalry with while at the same time I feel some sort of camaraderie with. I hate him and he hates me but only because we're both in Flari's affections.

I find myself for the first time in my life hating the fact that I am noble. If I wasn't noble I know she would be with me and I also wouldn't be worrying about if she's just a spy and though that does worry me I find I'm just not able to care enough to do something about it. I do find myself missing Ally because I know she'd be able to tell what was what in the mess I've manage to get myself into.

I've tried to find out about her past, her family and where she was born but she says nothing more than that they left her for dead and she's glad to be rid of them. I ask who taught her to use her gift and she smiles and says 'everyone and no one.' What kind of answer is that?

I wish I could talk to my lord about her I know he knows there is someone in my life now for whom I care dearly though I assume he believes it is far more than it is from the looks that he gives me when he knows I've not gotten to bed till near dawn.

I wish I could speak with Uncle Numair for I fear she is very powerful in her Gift and some days I feel as if I am too wrapped up in her to the point of questioning.

I wish I could speak Ally but she is off living her life with her family in the Copper Isles and I dare not write.

And finally I wish I could talk to my parents whom I assume already know about the time I spend with Flari if not from my lord than from one of the whispers in the city but I can't I'm afraid that the moment I voice my fears she'll be ripped out of my life and out of this world.

I find myself praying that no one asks and that someone asks. I want to tell some one who can give me some kind of answer so I go to Flari I know deep down that she does not lie. She will either answer or not and in that I will have my answer.

We sit in her room at the Dove. "Are you… Are you… a… spy?" By the end you could hardly tell I was talking but some how she heard me.

She smiled gods I love it when she smiles like that. "No." She says and I let out a breath I feel I've been holding since the day I met her. "Spies have masters and as you well know I care not for masters. I'm my own person and I answer no one."

Before I know what I'm doing I leaned over and kissed her molding my lips to hers and holding the back of her head for fear that she'd pull away. To my sear amazement she didn't pull back at all she responded and pulled me back with her till I found that I was straddling her as laid stretched out on her bed beneath me. I pulled back panting and confused 'What just happened and why in the name of all the gods did I stop.' I looked down to find her flushed but smiling face staring up at me most likely laughing at the confused look on my face. "I should go." I said without moving it was like I was paralyzed.

"Should you?" She asked with a soft smile I can't ever remember her bestowing to any older than five.

"Shouldn't I?" I must of looked so confused because I saw those perfect violet eyes of hers dancing with mischief.

"That all up to you of course as long as you know that this is as far as I'm willing to ever go with this…" Before she could explain farther I was kissing her again and searching for the ties to her dress.