Two weeks later, Xlelon was summoned to the king's presence. She nervously smoothed her skirts as she waited to be called in. Neal had escorted her to the doors, and then left, giving her a kiss for good luck. She smiled at the thought of Neal. She still thought that it was to good to be true, but was still far too much in shock of this recent change to care. A bird in the window peeped at her, saying hello. She greeted it, then turned as someone tapped her on the shoulder. He bowed. br

"The king will see you now mi'lady." br

She smiled. br

"Thanks." br

She was led into a small chamber, in which sat the king, dressed as simply as the queen, who was seated in a chair by the fireplace. Xlelon gulped slightly, the last time she had been in a private room with either of them had been when she had first come. Then she hadn't even really recognized him. He turned to look at her, then nodded to a chair. br

"Please, sit down, this may take a while." br

She raised her eyebrows mentally, wondering what exactly he was going to say. He sighed. br

"You know that we lost many of our diplomats in the Immortals war." She nodded, it had been why they had kept her in the first place. "Well, the tauros were the first to show up in Scanra. Some of our men were there, trying to work out a treaty between that clan and a few others, so that they would look at Tortall graciously." He sighed again. "When the tauros showed up, they began to rape women of the clan that we were working with. The women were so badly hurt that they could rarely say anything beyond 'help' or other one word sentences. At first, it was blamed on other men of other clans." Now he stopped and looked at her for a moment. "Then the Chieftain's daughter and wife were both taken. There were very few that had access to them, their husbands, the Chief, a few servants, and the diplomats." br

Xlelon drew a breath. br

"They put the blame on them." br

Jonathan nodded sadly. br

"Yes. They were accused in front of the Chieftan by one of the priests, who claimed to have seen the man leaving the room where the daughter slept the night before she was found." He looked down. "They were given five minutes to speak for themselves, but have no witnesses beside those that were Tortallen." br

"And they thought that those that were Tortallen would defend their peers." br

Jonathan nodded. br

"They were burned that day at dusk." br

Xlelon winced. br

"I don't mean to tempt the fates, but why are you telling me this?" br

Jonathan smiled at her humor. br

"Because, Xlelon, the newest Chieftain has agreed that another attempt must be made in light of the mistake." br

Xlelon squeaked, though she had certainly not meant to. Jonathan looked at her strangely, and she made her self draw a breath. br

"What I am asking, is that you be the diplomat for Tortall to Scanra. You have had less than half a year in training, but you already have a grasp of the language, and many of the skills. Numair tells me that your magic is under your control, and Master Oakbridge informs me that you learn things quickly. Myles also gives you a good word, he says that though you have trouble with remembering dates, you remember what happened and what lead up to it, and what it effected later. All are important skills for a diplomat."

She sat in shock, surprised by the glowing review that he had just given her. Thayet tugged on Jonathan's sleeve, pointing to her stunned expression. Jonathan smiled and let her swallow it all. Finnally, she shook her head, recovered. br

"Um. When?" br

He smiled. br

"Not for a year at least, there are many things to arrange. I just need to know your answer." br

Thayet saw the look on her face and rephrased her husband's statement. "We don't need it now my dear, within the week would be fine." br

Xlelon gulped again, and nodded, still shellshocked. br

"Your sure that I'll have at least a year?" br

Jonathan nodded. br

"Yes, these things always take a large amount of time." br

"But I don't know the language that well!" br

Thayet smiled. br

"A few of the Mithran priests will help you there, the city of the gods is on the Border." br

Xlelon rubbed her head. Thayet nodded and stood up. br

"Think on it, consider, we have others, but you are our first choice, should you decide that this is your wish." br

Xlelon stood clumsily and curtsyed, wobbling slightly due to nerves. Then she turned and opened the door, mind whirling. br

~^~br

::cracks open another can of worms:: *g* ::is v. v. proud:: br