Right now Torah is with Rikash, thanks to a lot of his fans! (cough) SOPROL! (cough) You are welcome to try and convince me otherwise, but I am in love with him so I doubt if it will happen. Please, please send in a review! If you don't review, I will be very sad and not post another chapter! (Okay, I probably will because I love writing about Torah. She's really interesting!) If you don't review, I will cry and get very mad!

By the way, I really am Tamora Pierce. (If you actually think that I'm serious, then you have problems!)

Okay, here's the next chapter! Fanfare!

Oh, before I forget, there was some confusion about the last chapter. When Lucion said that it was impossible for Torah to be able to use her powers, here's why!

Lucion is stupid and arrogant!

He thinks that if he can't control the winds, (believe me; he's tried!) then no one can!

He thought that he had put a ward against that! (he forgot!)

Torah is a very powerful weather mage! That is very rare! As you know, Gavi can only control small bolts of lightning and rain. Torah controls the wind and thunder and even the dumb clouds!

Before Torah, only goddesses got the title of Lightning Queen. As far as Lucion knows, Torah is completely mortal! (oh no! could this be a clue to the next chapter!!) Hint! Hint!

Okay, NOW you can read! Enjoy…and REVIEW or the evil monster who gets people who don't review will get you! That was really random! I think I've had too much sugar today! Okay, everyone who thinks I should just shut up, raise your hands! Okay, I have been outvoted. No, I'm not crying! Just read! (break into sobs)

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Last time:

Torah rushed down to where a lightning bolt was fighting with a cloud. She cleared her throat and they stopped immediately. They gave excuses. Torah listened to them like a proper queen was supposed to, before sending them away. She heard a chuckle behind her. She spun around. Rikash stood there.

He smiled at her. She ran into his arms and hugged him tight. Before he could say anything, she kissed him. She laughed at Rikash's surprised expression, but it was cut short by another kiss.

After a couple minutes of this, they broke apart. Torah scowled at him. "You're supposed to be resting!" She said loudly.

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Rikash blushed a bright red. "Does this mean-" He shook his head. "You must be sick. You already have that emperor to love. You lost too much blood."

Torah scowled back at him. "Stop it. I'm not stupid, you know. I know who I love, and I'm hoping that he loves me back. Well, do you?" She demanded after Rikash just stared at her.

He nodded. "Of course I do. You know that!" He sighed. Before he opened his mouth to talk again, Torah kissed him on the lips. Torah found out that he was the best kisser she had ever kissed. Maybe any girl would think that, or maybe she was just madly in love. Either way, she was enjoying herself.

Torah had kissed half the Court and all of the boys her age. Because of this, she didn't act like a maiden in love when she was kissed. She did now. Her knees grew weak, her stomach fluttered, and her heart pounded, as if trying to get out of her chest. Torah cursed herself for acting like that.

Torah remembered that Rikash was supposed to be resting. She broke the kiss to glare at him. He looked back, confused. "I thought I told you to go rest! I'll never forgive you if you die on me!"

Rikash grinned and went to go rest. Torah sighed and sat down, watching him go back into the cloud blankets. She wished she could crawl into those clouds with him. Torah bolted up, bumping her head in the process. She had always thought about kissing, but it had never gone beyond there, not even with Zamar! Was she going crazy? She shook her head to clear those disturbing, yet warm thoughts.

There was a little laugh behind her. Torah spun around and sighed in relief when she saw only Mel. Mel sat beside Torah, pulling her down as well. They turned to watch the moon rise. It was nearly noon, but the moon had already risen.

"I think someone's in love." Mel said dreamily. She winked at her friend. Torah bolted up again, nearly banging her head once again. She winced as the branch nearly killed her.

"I am not!" Torah replied, although her smile gave her away. She sighed dramatically as her cousin gave her an evil grin. "Fine. I admit it. The Court flirt is in love. Toralina the Heartbreaker has fallen in love."

Mel rolled her eyes. "I can tell. You're never this dramatic usually. And you've never called yourself that ridiculous name that the palace has for you!"

Torah scowled. "If it's so ridiculous, then why do you insist on calling me it?"

Mel grinned. "What's family for?"

Torah snorted loudly. Mel rolled her eyes. "You should go and get some rest. Maybe Rikash would give you the comfort that you needed."

Torah stood up again, this time hitting her head hard on the branch. Mel gave a tiny giggle. Torah scowled and Mel submitted to tears of laughter. "I know what you're suggesting, and I refuse. It wouldn't be proper."

Mel continued to giggle. "That's not what I meant at all. I just meant that you should go lay down together. I've heard that people you love give you comfort."

Torah scowled. "Thanks, but I think I'll check up on-" Torah's eyes widened as they fell upon Lila and Jakkin, both kissing fiercely. Mel followed her gaze and snorted loudly.

"They've been at it all morning. Someone should tell them to knock it off. That's getting her majesty very distracted." Mel stood up and winked as Torah scowled at her.

Torah grumbled to herself. She stood up and waved to a cloud. It came down immediately bended in half, a cloud bow. Torah smiled and nodded to it. "Could you lift me up, please? I want to go up there!" She pointed to the sky. The cloud floated to the ground. Torah climbed on and nodded. The cloud floated up to the heavens. Torah grinned. It was so relaxing, much more so than the wind. Even though she loved the wind, it always tired her out. The cloud was different.

In fact, Torah was so relaxed that she fell asleep. When she woke up, it was hours later and, they were still floating in the sky. Torah yawned and hugged the cloud. "You can put me down now." She said.

Once she was back on the ground, Torah checked up on her friends. Rikash greeted her warmly by kissing her in front of everyone else. Everyone giggled, and Jakkin whistled loudly. Lila punched him hard. "Stop it. I think it's sweet."

Jakkin grinned and pulled Lila closer to him. "Anything for you, my love." He said before kissing her. Torah rolled her eyes at the two of them.

"You are so like your father, Jakkin!" She yelled. He didn't listen or hear her. The kiss didn't break. Torah groaned and turned to Liano and Jassikam. "When would you like to head back?" She asked.

Jassikam was leaning against a tree. He raised an eyebrow at his sister. "Never." He said. "I like being out here. There are no princely duties, and I actually feel useful!" Liano nodded her agreement.

Torah fixed them her biggest scowl. "You have to go back sometime! Liano's the crown princess, and you're the oldest prince, Jas! I'm sending you home on a cloud. I'll be back for the rest of you later! Come on!" Torah grabbed Jassikam by the elbow and dragged him to her cloud. Liano followed grudgingly.

"At least Grandpa Jon and Grandma Thayet actually fought in the wars. Father won't let us." Liano grumbled. Torah shook her head and pulled her onto the cloud. She clambered on after them and the cloud took off.

At the palace, King Roald and Queen Shinkokami came running out to meet their oldest children. The younger princesses, Tomokami and Kalakami trailed behind their parents. Tomo was holding her four year old brother Jon.

Shinko kissed Liano on both cheeks. Liano did the same. Roald pulled Liano into a tight hug. Jassikam had slipped away to talk to his other siblings. He groaned when his mother swept him into a hug. He returned her hug, making a face over her shoulder.

"Where have you been, Lianokami?" Roald asked. His face was set in a frown. Liano gave a Yamani bow and nodded to her brother. Torah couldn't help but admire the expressionless Mask she had on.

"A page had been captured, Father. He was Torah's brother. A group of Torah's friends went to rescue him. Prince Jassikam and I couldn't bear to stay behind and let others fight our battles, so we snuck along." Liano said, face still expressionless.

Shinko sighed. "You could have been killed, Liano. You could have got your brother killed. What were you thinking?"

Now Liano was angry. Though she didn't drop her Mask, Torah knew her well enough to see her anger through it. Her parents could too.

"What was I thinking?" Liano repeated coolly. "I was thinking the right thing, Mother. A good ruler doesn't sit around and let her people do all the work. If I had to do that over again, I would do nothing differently." Torah nearly shook her head. Liano's voice hadn't even trembled in the slightest.

Roald looked at his wife. Suddenly, the thing that Torah least expected happened. Liano was swept into a big hug by her suddenly beaming parents. Shinko beamed at her husband.

"Well, she has passed the test, Roald. She will be a good ruler when she is older. Liano, we give you a choice now. You have come of age. We would like to know if you would want to be Queen of Tortall, or if you would want to be a princess and let Jassikam have the title."

Liano blinked. She looked back at Torah, who beamed encouragingly. Liano turned back to her parents and beamed. "I will be Queen of Tortall someday." She said smoothly.

Torah winked and clambered back onto her cloud. She waved to the queen and king and went back to get the others.

A week later, Torah found an unopened letter on her bed. She glanced at the seal and trembled. It was the royal seal of Carthak. It would have to be from Zamar. Her fingers trembled as she opened it.

Dearest Torah,

How are you doing? I am well, even if I am bored. Being a prince is boring! Oh, before I forget, Faziah wants me to tell you that she says hi!

I have the best of news. I was talking to my father the other day and he said that it would be a fine thing to renew our alliance with Tortall. I am allowed to ask you this question! Toralina of Conte and Olau, will you marry me? Don't worry; I know what your answer will be. However, I won't send the ring until you write back. Father says that you will come to Carthak in half-of-a-year. We'll be married in a year.

Don't forget to say goodbye to your friends. You should do so soon, as we need to plan for the wedding soon. Oh, by the way, I have decided to enclose the ring with this letter. I can't wait any longer.

With all my love,

Prince Zamar, Crown Prince of Carthak

Torah sighed and brushed a tear off of her cheek. Why did life have to be so complicated? (Hey! That's a song! I'm so weird!)

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Dun, dun, dun! Oh no! Will Torah say yes??? I guess you'll have to wait until next chapter to find out! Wow, am I mean, leaving you this nasty cliffy! And, I won't be writing the next chapter until three weeks time! We're going on vacation, and then I start high school! Wish me luck!

(By the way, I was only kidding! The next chapter will be up in a couple days! And no, Rikash will not get jealous! He is too nice for that!) I LOVE RIKASH! He has a lot of fans; have you noticed???? Who's a Rikash fan????