ATTENTION: This chapter contains spoilers from Kings of Clonmel. Just thought you should know.

Chapter 10: Truth Revealed

Halt's POV:

"A-Arratay?" Raven asked, her expression unreadable.

I froze, unable to answer her.

"Y-you left! Why?" She continued.

"I had too. My being there with your . . . family," I stumbled over the word, then recovered, and continued. "Endangered you . . ." My voice trailed away.

"Endangered me?!" Raven started. "How would I be 'endangered' by your presence?"

"I can't tell you, yet."

"Can't tell me? You can't tell me why you left, why you never came back?"

"No, you're not ready for the whole truth. You're not ready to discover who you really are." Raven spun on her heel and stormed further into the forest, Shadow reluctantly following.

I wasn't worried. I knew what she was doing. She'd go deep into the forest, calm herself down, come back, and let me speak to her. Right now, she was just upset. And I didn't blame her. As I walked back to the castle, I dissolved into another memory.

Third person POV:

Two eyes gleamed in the gloom, and if you looked hard enough, you could see the faint outline of a boy standing in the shadows. He walked forward, and knocked on the door of a small farmhouse. The creaked open, revealing an old mans face.

"Excuse me, sir." The boy said, his voice weary. The old man smiled kindly.

"Arratay! We were told you would be stopping by." The man said.

"I've been followed," the boy, Arratay, says quickly, extending a bundle to the man.

"Is this Gale?" The man asked, taking the infant, and cradling her.

"Yes, that's Gale. I have to go know, the soldiers who followed me will not be far behind."

"You'll come back?"

"I will always come back."

Ravens POV:

I turned from Halt, or Arratay, and stormed deeper into the forest. Suddenly I broke into a run. Rain streamed down my face, or were they tears? I couldn't tell. Branches whipped at my face, a cut on my cheek forming. The sky was now an ominous black, whether from rain laden clouds or nighttime I could not tell. I slowed, my distress and confusion fading away. I shouldn't have snapped at Halt. I look around, not recognizing where I was. My hand instinctively fell to my left hip, and I frowned when my hand did not meet the worn hilt of my sword. I realized I had left my weapons back in the clearing with Halt.

'You pick the worst times to leave your weapons behind,' Shadow said, and I jumped, startled.

"Oh, it's just you." I said dismissively.

'Just me? It's just me?!' Shadow protested indignantly. I patted his head absently. I slumped against a tree, and brought my knees up to me chest. My clothes were wet by now, and I was freezing. Shadow sensed this and laid down beside me, trying to warm me with his body heat. I must've drifted off, for when I awoke it had stopped raining. I ran my fingers through my damp hair and stood. I froze when I heard a cough, then relaxed.

"Halt." I greeted. He strode forward, and handed me a lumpy bundle, which held my bow and swords.

"Wouldn't do to have you kidnapped on the brink of a war," he said.

"Oh. Well, in that case, thanks." I replied, still a little surprised by his nonchalant attitude.

"Have a seat, Raven," Halt said, and I sat, drawing my cloak around me for warmth. We sat in silence, though I was bursting with questions. Finally, I couldn't hold it back any longer.

"Where've you been? How come you didn't come back? What's so special about me?" He held up a hand and I halted my verbal torrent.

"I see you've picked up some traits from my apprentices," he commented dryly. I recalled that Arratay never liked questions.

"No, we just do it to you." I assured.

"So it seems like. To answer your questions, I should probably let you know who I am. Or what I am." At this I perked up. This sounded interesting.

"I'm a Hibernian Prince, Halt O'Carrick." He began. I leaned forward.

"Y-you are? What made you leave?"

"My brother, Ferris. You see, we were twins. However, I was born first, therefore I was first in line for the throne. He didn't like this so much. So I left to avoid conflict. I'm not the princely type, anyway." At this I laughed.

"No, you most certainly are not," I agreed. "Where do I come into all this? You just stayed at my parents house, right?" I asked anxiously. Though, by the way he looked at me, I could tell there was something else.

"That's where it gets complicated. You're . . . you're not a farmers daughter. You're a Princess. My younger sister." I almost fell over.

"I'm sorry, I heard you wrong. I can't be a Princess. I'm a thief!" I stammered.

"No, you heard right. You were born shortly before I left, so I took you with me. I couldn't leave you with Ferris." I then remembered my prided lineage.

"I can't be. I'm an Exiled."

"Well, that's where legends are annoying things. You are, this is true, as am I. When the Exiled left Araluen, they married into royal families in all countries. But, rumor has it, their abilities only pass down to certain members of the families."

"So, then, how could you tell I was an Exiled?" For, indeed, Halt had informed me of my background.

"You were a quiet, petite baby, like I was. You also had strong back muscles. You also couldn't stand people."

"Oh. So, why didn't you come back after the fire that killed my 'parents'?"

"I thought you died."

"Obviously I didn't."

"No, you didn't." He moved over beside me and put an arm around my shoulders. I smiled up at my friend. My teacher. My brother.

Authors note: Wow! Surprise surprise! Who was expecting that?

Mac Gustah: yes, I took inspiration! Hope you don't mind.

TrustTheCloak: Thanks! Her personality is based off of mine (and Halt's)

Willow Treaty: Any more ideas? (other than a lettuce and carrot war XD (I'm still having a laugh over that)) nothing happened to Thursday. I just need to work on my other book; so while I do that, I'll update more often on this book.

ATTENTION: A chapter may not come out tomorrow, I have a piano recital and will probably spend most of the day on the piano. Can anyone guess what I'm playing? ;) it's a pretty popular piece these days . . .