Breaking Glass

Thom was sanding outside the door to her family's rooms. He was speaking to her eldest sister, Ella, who was twirling her golden hair and batting her eyelashes.

"Thom!" Coryanna exclaimed with a smile. Thom turned to her, relief apparent on his face.

"Coryanna," he said, "I was looking for you. Ali demands to go riding with us."

"That sounds lovely," Ella murmured, trying to regain Thom's attention.

"You hate riding, Ella," Coryanna told her with a laugh, "you don't even have any tack." Her sister shot a glare at her, and nodded silently to Thom and slammed the door behind her.

"Your sister is odd," Thom said.

"Or too normal," Coryanna said with a grin.

Thom laughed, "Perhaps."

"I'd love to go riding."

"Good, Ali will be happy. We're meeting in an hour," he said. Thom thought for a second and then asked, "Where were you?"

Coryanna paused slightly and said, "Oh, I just went to Numair's rooms, I went all the way there before I remembered he'd left."

Thom smiled, "Well, more time for riding then, yes?"

"Yes," Coryanna said. "I'll meet you down there." They smiled their goodbyes and Coryanna went into her rooms. Her sisters sat together on the lounge whispering fiercely. They stopped as she approached, Ella stared at her vindictively and Fiona tried to wipe the sly look from her eyes. Coryanna just smiled at them and went to her own room. She fell blissfully into her bed, grinning feverishly.

Coryanna turned in her bliss and stared at her candle, which was burned to the quick. Her smile faded to curiosity, she hadn't lit that candle this morning. She tried to remember her sadness from the night before, but she couldn't seem to catch the feeling. The candle burned on.

Someone must have lit it, she thought. Coryanna rose and changed into her riding skirt and fixed her hair. She left for the stables thinking about the man she didn't know.

Berry seemed happy to see her, and Coryanna saddled her with her huge smile. She led her mare out of the stable and out into the sun. Ali was outside, petting her own mare.

"Coryanna," Ali exclaimed in greeting. "You came!"

"I can't pass up a ride."

Ali smiled, "I'm glad, I didn't want to just ride with Thom and Alan. They pick on me a bit."

"They do?"

"A little," she admitted, "only cause I wanna do what our Da does and not what Ma does. I don't wanna be a knight and I don't have the Gift like you n' Thom. Oh. Sorry, I'm not supposed to bring it up."

"No," Coryanna said, "its alright as long as my Mother and sisters don't find out. I don't have a problem with my Gift anymore."

"Good," Ali said, "cause I can see it now, and I don't want to have to hide that."

Coryanna stiffened. "What?"

Ali began to laugh, "I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have told you. It's gone now."

"I'm sorry, Ali, I don't understand."

"I've got the Sight. I can see who has magic, among other things. But when I first met you I couldn't see it. A second ago it was threaded all through you. Not clear, but visible. It's gone now, though."

Coryanna smiled, "I've been trying very hard to get it to show."

"Whatever your doing is working."

"It's good to know. So you don't want to be a Lady Knight?"

"Naw," Ali said, "it's not for me."

"There you two are!" Thom called, Alan followed behind him. "Are we riding this summer or next?"

"Hold your breeches up!" Ali called, mounting up. Coryanna followed suit. "Cory and I are talking!" Coryanna smiled.

"Well, come on, you're intelligent people, talk and ride."

"Race ya to the path!" Ali yelled, galloping past them. Alan turned with a laugh and followed. Thom waited for Coryanna to lead her horse toward him, they cantered behind the twins. Chatting and laughing.

"Were are Roald and Kali?" Coryanna asked.

"They have matters of state to address," Thom said, a frown on his face.

"Matters of state? Is it a secret?"

"It won't be soon," Thom sighed, "the King and Queen are talking marriage."

"For Roald and Kali?"

"Yes."

"But-?"

"I know. It's a duty thing. Roald told me he doesn't mind and Ali says Kali feels the same. Duty," Thom hissed at the word.

"That's awful."

"Last I heard, Roald is marrying a Yamani princess and Kali is marrying the emperor of Carthak."

"And they don't mind?"

"They do," Thom said, "but they want to do what's right for the Kingdom. Treaties."

"Well," Coryanna said, "my sisters can stop fighting over Roald now."

Thom laughed, "He'll like the silver lining."

"They can dance with Raymond of Tirrsmont," Coryanna said, "he's supposed to be an eligible bachelor."

"And I'm not?"

"Oh, you are," Coryanna said, seriously, "but you're much too liberal for a husband."

Thom laughed, "Ah, that's why I'm not targeted by the Court Mother's."

"That's it exactly."

"I thought Raymond was your conquest."

"I hope not," Coryanna said. "He frightens me."

"But he's danced with you a dozen times."

"I can't say no," Coryanna said, "it's not something an unattached lady can do." Coryanna wondered if she was unattached now, her stranger may have laid claim with his kiss. Then another thought crossed her mind. What if Thom thought the two of them attached?

"Hurry up, Slowpokes!" Ali called. Coryanna and Thom urged their horses to catch up and the conversation was lost.