Ok, this chapter: I'm happy cos it's the last of the "introductory" chapters. Ok, the chapter isn't that good but finally I'm getting somewhere! I'm already about a third of the way through chapter five and hopefully now the story's going to start going some places.
Enjoy!
Stolen LivesPart One: Look For The Dark
Chapter Four: Questions Of Sight
Slowly, Alianne began to come around. Her head throbbed something awful. Vaguely, she remembered a dream about a black bird, and pirates. With a groan, she opened her eyes. There was a massive sable horse watching her closely and she nearly screamed. Instead, she put her hand to her head and sat up, eyeing the horse wearily and groaning again.
'You're awake,' said an austere voice. Aly jumped in surprise, then scowled up at the harsh face peering around the horse. Prince Dartonian's short dark brown hair was flopping across his face and his blue-green eyes looked as dull as always.
'Yes, I am,' she grumbled.
'Good. I did not want to have to wait much longer.'
Aly didn't reply. She pulled her knees up to her chest and buried her face in the skirts of her dress. She could tell her head was going to throb for a while thanks to that bump last night, and she felt slightly dizzy and disorientated. The last person she wanted to wake up to was Prince Dartonian. She felt like she was her normal anti-morning self, with a sore head and bruised pride to boost; she was angry with herself for having fallen yesterday and for having been caught, and she was frustrated with him for being so uncourteous. She was also tired and uncomfortable- aching all over from having slept on uneven hard earth.
'Are you injured and in need of a healer?' the Prince asked eventually.
Alianne didn't look up. 'No,' she complained. There was another pause.
'Then if you are sure you are not in need of assistance, I will be leaving. I have much business that needs taking care of.'
'Of course, your Highness,' Aly whispered acidly, climbing to her feet with a wobble. He turned his horse around as if to go but looked back over his shoulder.
'You know, I would have thought it was dangerous enough to sleep outside, in the cold, alone and unprotected. However, I'm guessing it must be twice as perilous incompletely dressed.'
Aly looked sharply at his face and could have sworn that she saw- for a flickering moment- a ghost of a smile light his features. But it was gone before she had seen it properly and his eyes darted down to her chest and back to her face again. Slowly catching on, Alianne peered down at herself.
Her bodice was half undone.
She had forgotten how she had loosened the lacings last night before she had tripped. Turning red, she crossed her arms over her chest. At least she wasn't yet revealing anything indecent.
Prince Dartonian gave her a slight nod of his head and rode off. She glared at his retreating back.
'Stupid arrogant son of a-' Aly muttered to herself, cutting the oath short. Her fingers tugged with frustration at the lacings, re-tying her bodice. 'Couldn't even offer a girl a ride back to the palace. Are you in need of a healer?' she mocked to herself, wandering deeper into the Royal forest. She wasn't ready to go back to the palace and face the bustling noise yet. Neither her head nor her temper would stand that.
'He must have been watching me asleep.' She shivered. 'And he must have been looking at my chest to notice that my bodice was undone, that great perverted old--' Hang on, said that other side of her. That annoying side of her that always seemed to be right and spoil everything. He warned you about your top in a nice enough kind of way. In a way that wouldn't make things too embarrassing for either of you. Maybe he was trying to point it out to you so that you didn't go wandering around Corus with your breasts gradually falling out of your bodice. Maybe, in some way, he was trying to be helpful.
Alianne glared at her own thoughts. Dartonian was not helpful. Dartonian was annoying, arrogant, scornful, conceited, irritating- and strangely interesting, cut off that same said part of her mind.
'What?' Aly exclaimed out loud. She had come to a clearing in the forest and sat down on the grass, removing her evening slippers to dabble her toes in the water that bubbled slowly through. It was ice cold, but strangely soothing.
He's got some kind of odd interest to him. Because it's almost like- in some way- he's hiding something from you. That's the best way you can describe it at the moment. Every time you see and speak with him, you feel like he's keeping something hidden. And your Sight doesn't like him, does it? It won't work around him. Why not? Why does he confuse your magic? And why do you feel something akin to repulsion at any hint of you being in his life, previously or presently? Why don't you like him?
'Why do I have to think such disturbing thoughts is more to the point!' cried Alianne, clutching clumps of her hair. 'Crooked God, you would think I secretly held some attraction to this Prince from the way my thoughts run! As if trying to convince myself that really I want to get to know him better! Well, I don't want anything more to do with the man. And that's final.'
Grumpily, Aly got up and splashed her face and neck with the cold water. It helped a little to clear her headache and slight dizziness. However, she still didn't want to face the walk back to the palace. It wasn't that far- it just seemed terribly unwelcome when your head hurt and your body ached.
With a sigh, Alianne lay down upon the grass and stared up at the sky through the leaves. The dappled sunlight fell gently on her skin but had little warmth at this time in the morning. It wasn't long before her eyelids began to droop. She touched a hand to her neck- yes; the pendant her mother had given her was still there. She smiled. It was almost like having a small part of her mother with her. Aly knew the Goddess had given the necklace to Alanna and that she had worn it while growing up disguised as a boy. It meant a lot to Alianne that her mother would give her something that obviously had such sentimental value to it.
Her eyes were shut and her mind was beginning to drift. She remembered with a smile, the silly little dream she had had last night. She could guess it was induced by her conversation with Prince Dartonian earlier in the evening. So he was even beginning to affect her nightly unconsciousness now! Oh, she certainly didn't like him.
That was her last coherent thought before she slipped into a dreamless sleep beneath the green trees and the blue sky.
Alianne woke later that morning, her stomach rumbling with hunger. Her head felt better, but she still throbbed all over. As before, she crouched beside the rambling brook and washed her face. The walk back to the palace was far more acceptable now, and she set off, gently finger-combing her hair and carrying her dancing slippers.
Entering one of the many palace courtyards, Aly frowned. Usually the place was busy, people rushing back and forth with duties; today it was heaving and the air was thick. Something was wrong. Aly wasn't the daughter of the ex-King of Thieves for nothing: she listened intently as she passed groups, and her eyes darted everywhere, picking up on tiny little details in people's behaviour.
Finally she gathered what everyone was in uproar about: the butchery last night. The second night of the Prince of the Copper Isles' presence and already a dozen of King Jonathan's best bred horses dead. Aly had fair forgotten about it, what with her pounding head, taut muscles and Prince Dartonian's unwanted morning welcome.
It surprised her how the people of Tortall immediately put blame on the Copper Islander. It just showed to her how insecure the commoners really were and how much distrust they honoured the foreigners with. King Jon might believe he had the realm under control but Aly thought otherwise. Her lifestyle as Shang gave her an advantage: she might understand politics but she didn't have to follow them, or social positioning. She could move just as freely through commoners as she could nobles, yet was not blinded by as much prejudice as most. She saw what many overlooked.
However, she thought it a bit extreme to blame Prince Dartonian so intensely so soon, even with her dislike of the man. Wondering if some condemning evidence had been found and the Prince would be removed from her life forever more, Aly peered through the people for some official she knew. Someone like her parents, or Grandda, or Raoul, Gary or Numair- they would be able to tell her what the current situation was.
But she saw no-one important looking, not even one of the younger Royal children who, she gathered, were often hiding amongst the workers in the courtyards, pretending to oversee events.
Aly's stomach rumbled, reminding her she was hungry and hadn't eaten since early evening yesterday. As if hearing her thoughts, the palace bell chimed the midday hour, calling out for the midday meal. Smiling, Aly let herself get caught in the crowds suddenly streaming for the palace mess halls. She would eat lunch away from nobility, steaming in her dislike of Dartonian and then seek someone out- someone like Daine.
~
Lunch had been a quiet affair for Alianne; sitting in the midst of tables enveloped in warm chatter and heart-filled laughter. She had sat by herself on the edge of a table, for once enjoying being alone in such a busy place. She wanted time to her thoughts.
Now lunch was over, and she was heading to her rooms to change. Her head was still a bit sore but she generally felt better for having eaten.
Approaching her door, she sought her key in the folds of dress with a yawn. She definitely needed to get out of this goddamned ball gown! Having found the key, she shoved it in the door and opened it with a thrust. She took one step inside and looked straight into a bubble of thick purple mist.
The little cloud was advancing towards her. Frowning Aly ducked as it came right up to her. It was only about the size of her head and hovered at eye level. It stopped right in front of her and a voice began to emanate from the mist.
Aly smiled as she recognised the voice. The skull-sized cloud must be a talking spell of some kind, set to activate when she came through the door—it was Thom's voice coming from it.
'Alianne! You're back! I came visiting this morning but you weren't around... Could you visit me this afternoon, my dearest sister? I'll be in the private Dean's library from an hour after midday.'
Thom's voice faded, and slowly the smoke dissipated too. Aly grinned at her brother as she slipped into a warm, relaxing bath. Once she had finished soaking and soothing her sore muscles she changed into an earth-green homespun wool gown and left her hair to fall down her back.
The Dean's private library was not restricted to the Dean of the University- it was only the name given to the small collection of books. True, Harailt of Aili held the only key and technically mages were the only other people allowed in there, but as an invited guest of a mage working and training under the Dean's watchful eye, Alianne could enter without worry.
The library was not large, but was situated on one of the highest levels of the palace, meaning there was a wonderful relaxing view from the windows.
Entering the room, Alianne was filled with a sense of peace, well-being and a general contentness. Thom stood across the room, an open book balanced on one palm, deep in discussion with the most powerful mage of the realm: Numair Salmalín. Aly had to smile- the two men were nearly the same height, Thom being only a handful of inches shorter. Pure black hair rivalled bold emerald green, and it seemed the two mages were wrapped up in a heavy debate.
Something made Thom glance up, looking in her direction. Seeing his sister, he smiled broadly. 'Alianne! Come in, come in!'
Alianne smiled at her brother as she received a greeting from Numair. She returned the welcome, coming to stand beside the two men. Thom snapped his book shut and thumped it down on the table.
'Numair, is it too… improper for me to ask why you're here and not working on what happened last night?' Aly asked. 'Everyone outside seems panicked about it.'
The realm's most powerful mage sighed. 'They have good reason to be so worried. I've been working all morning with some of Tortall's best mages and we've discovered nothing. I need a break- there's only so much you can do in one go. Plus your brother needed his lesson and I agreed to help Harailt research an ancient Immortal.'
'Now Aly, you're probably wondering why we've asked to see you,' Thom started. Aly shrugged, knowing he would say what he wanted to regardless of her answer. 'First, let us briefly explain this room.'
'Thom, its a library. I'm not that stupid.'
'Yes, but what is it a library for?' he asked.
'Books?' teased Aly.
'Aly, this library contains books on magic- different magics and their uses. It also contains books on Immortals, since they are connected to us via magic, and some scripts on the Gods,' Numair said.
'What does this have anything do to with me? I'm Shang,' Aly questioned, already fearing she knew the answer.
'You might be Shang, but you also have the Sight,' elaborated Numair.
'Ma and Pa have been talking to me, Aly,' Thom added in a sensible voice. This sounded ominous, Aly thought. 'And I agree with them for once. You might be skilled in the ways of self-defence, but you need to learn to use your Sight to its full potential. You know the Sight is a gift from the Gods, and we should use all of our blessings.'
'So what do you three propose?' Aly folded her hands across her chest, bracing herself for the inevitable reply.
'We propose to have you taught,' answered Thom with a beaming grin.
She sighed. 'Thom, Da was never taught and he's fine.'
'But Da was young in an earlier generation to you- everything was different! The political situation of Tortall, for one, was hugely different to what it is now. And he lived a very different lifestyle to you.'
'Not that different.'
Thom gave her a light glare. 'And Grandmother Eleni would have taught him all he needed to know as he grew up.'
'Well, Da did that with me.'
'Aly! Da only taught you a few essential guidelines.'
'Thom's right, Alianne,' rejoined Numair. He had drawn a book from a shelf and had been flicking idly through the pages. Now he stopped, and offered the open book to Aly. 'The Sight, if properly used, can help you in your chosen lifestyle.'
Aly took the offered book and looked at the open page. There were diagrams of the human form with ovals of different colours radiating from the heart outwards, representing a person's aura. There were more diagrams to show how these could be detected by different strengths of the Sight.
'You can use the Sight,' Numair continued, 'To tell when an enemy is around the corner, waiting for you. With a Sight as potent as yours, you can likely sneak partially into their minds, with the ability to determine their current emotions, identities and even maybe disjointed thoughts.' Aly raised her eyebrows at him, partly sceptical, partly amazed. 'There are different types of Sight though, just like there are different versions of the Gift. Those with the Sight are often referred to as "Seers" but this is quite an inaccurate generalisation. Its true that those possessing the Sight do See what others cannot but all to a personal degree and of a variation of methods.'
Inwardly Aly sighed. This sounded too much like a university lecture to her and she struggled to keep her mind on Numair's words.
'Some people See through aura's like that book is showing you.' Aly looked again at the pictures with their radiating colours. 'They sense forthcoming events- or See glimpses of these- through the emotions they gather when studying someone's aura. Other people can only use their Sight to sharpen their natural vision, so they can See objects far past any other person's natural sight. This can be useful when watching for approaching enemies- or friends.
'Some people can sense who is around them by body heat, and surrounding magic. Others can use their Sight to conjure up mind images- sometimes even mind links- between people miles apart.
'Then there are the variations of Visionaries. This strain of the Sight allows the owner to be skilled in visions. I say skilled...' Numair sighed. 'Visions cannot be brought on, cannot be controlled. They cannot be demanded and cannot be rejected. But they are painful to be experienced- they wear the body out mentally, and physically. Depending on the vision, depends on the type of reaction the body will have. Recipients of visions have been known to be physically wounded. But those with the particular strain of Sight to receive these visions have a certain... immunity to the power and pain of the visions that others lack.
'The visions can be witnessed in a number of ways. Some Visionaries only receive a sense of impending danger, forthcoming fortune or such like- often by way of colours. Other Visionaries receive short, sharp visions when they touch certain objects or pass certain obstacles in their life. Some See visions in their dreams. Others see them as a memory of someone else- often while they are sleeping. As you can see, there are many strains of the Sight- and I haven't even mentioned them all- each with their own special advantages. As Thom said, it would be unwise to neglect a gift from those above us and imagine how it may benefit your skills as a Shang, as a warrior, as a woman of the realm.'
Aly's brows jumped up close to her hairline. 'I'm not a woman of the realm. I mean to travel, to learn the ways first-hand of the other realms, not via textbooks. I mean to be a free woman.' However, her mind played over the possibilities Numair had presented. That last example- of Seeing people's memories through her dreams- was for some reason particularly interesting to Alianne, and she turned and twisted the idea in her mind.
'Aly, think of Ma and Pa,' interjected Thom. 'You've been gone for eight years, doing what you wanted to do. They had no objection to your sudden longing to be trained as a Shang warrior and you left pretty quickly. They gather that you can protect yourself well enough, since you have gained a title but they want you to learn all your abilities to your full extent. They want you to do this. Can't you do it for them? It won't tie you down here, it'll only be lessons while you stay or visit Corus.'
Aly pursued her lips, unconvinced. She was still prodding that thought, trying to shape it into a key to unlock depths of her unconsciousness.
'I will be teaching you Aly,' rejoined Numair, now flicking through another book.
Suddenly, she got a flash of a couple of nights ago. She was standing next to the window of her palace rooms, pulling the drapes across the gap. Another flash, showing her moments before this scene: she was in bed, but she was dreaming. She was dreaming she was a little boy, and she was dreaming everything from the child's own perspective. Like it was a memory of someone else- the little boy's memory. Frowning, Aly thought back. That was four nights ago- the night she had returned to Corus. She had completely forgotten about the dream until now.
Alianne turned back to Numair and Thom, both of whom were watching her patiently, waiting. 'I'll think about it,' she said eventually. The idea of her Sight being used to help her fighting went utterly against her Shang training but she could also understand Thom's words. Now, with the realisation that she might already have had a vision, she decided she ought to think seriously about this. But, she thought, Numair had said visions were painful and exhausting- yet she had only felt odd after her dream.
As she turned to leave the library, Numair called out, 'Well don't think too long or I'll never fit you in to my new teaching schedule! And I just hope you're not as damn annoying as your brother!'
Smiling, Aly waved goodbye and began to traipse the corridors of the palace without any real destination. Tomorrow, she would go back to the Dean's library and look at the books on the shelf Numair had pulled the aura one from. Maybe she could just do her own research and not need any lessons from Black Robe Mages.
'Aly!'
The Tiger turned to see who had called out her name. Lianne ran down the corridor, smiling, her cobalt blue silk dress swishing wildly at her hurried movements. Aly returned the smile and waited for her friend to meet her.
'Oh, Aly I've just got to show you something! Where have you been? I've been trying to find you to show you them- oh, I do hope they're still there!'
Laughing, Aly put her hands on her friend's shoulders. 'Anne, calm down. You're so excited! Now tell me quietly, who do you want to show me to?'
Lianne's blue eyes gleamed as she grabbed hold of Alianne's hand. 'Come see!' she cried, and began to drag the younger girl away. Aly laughed and let the Princess lead her. Twisting down corridors and through courtiers, they soon came to a balcony. Lianne shooed Aly out and shut the doors behind her.
Warily taking in her surroundings, Alianne walked to the edge of the balcony and lightly rested her fingertips on the railings. The balcony overlooked part of the Royal gardens.
'Do you see them?' hissed Lianne, coming up beside her.
'See who?' Aly demanded.
The Princess sighed impatiently. 'Kalasin and the Prince.'
Aly looked back out over the gardens. There were a few small groups of people moving through the paths and alleys, and in the furthest corner sat an ornately dressed and decorated group of ladies. A broad-shouldered, dark-haired man stood in front of the women; and attendants waited behind the benches for orders. Annoyed, Aly realised she would be able to recognise Prince Dartonian from a much greater distance than this, simply because she disliked him so much. She scowled at him and those he was entertaining.
'Now do you see them?' inquired Anne.
Just then, Prince Dartonian turned and plucked a rose from a nearby bush and presented it to Princess Kalasin. The ladies' twitters reached Aly's ears, and she scowled.
'I see them all right,' she answered.
Lianne looked at her friend with mild curiosity. Finally she said, 'You don't like him, do you?'
Pretending an air of innocence, Aly looked at the Princess. 'Who, your Highness?'
'Don't play games with me, Aly. You know who I mean.' Aly raised an eyebrow and her friend sighed. 'Prince Dartonian!'
'Oh, him,' replied Aly nonchalantly. 'No, I don't like him.'
'I didn't think so,' commented Lianne proudly. 'Why ever not? He's only been here... four days. How can you have such a strong opinion so soon?'
Aly continued to watch the figures in the garden, her purple-blue eyes narrowing. 'I'm not sure, I just do.'
'But why don't you like him?' Lianne persisted.
'I just don't. He just riles me. There's something... not quite right about him.'
Lianne sighed. 'Don't tell me you believe he ordered the murder of those horses too? Half the place has gone mad over it!'
Aly looked at her friend, an eyebrow raised. 'And you don't think it's worrying?'
'Well, yes but I think everyone's making too much fuss over it. Panic doesn't help anyone. And I don't believe Prince Dartonian had anything to do with it either.'
Aly gazed back out to the man and the women, their laughter again floating across the wind. 'They obviously don't think he's a murderer either.'
'Aly, if you remember Prince Dartonian was dancing with you when the crime took place so he couldn't have done it himself. And no, Princess Kalasin doesn't believe he had anything to do with it.'
'What about the other women?'
'They're Kally's ladies-in-waiting- with matters such as these, they must believe what Kally does.' Aly raised her eyebrows at this, but said nothing, continuing to watch those in question. 'Kalasin really likes Prince Dartonian.'
At first Alianne said nothing. Then, 'How much does she really like him?'
Anne shrugged. 'She just keeps talking about him to me, and she moaned about how she wanted to go hunting with him this morning but had already promised her time to some other Prince or something.'
'Yes, I had that too. She even tried to boot Prince William off on to me.'
'And she was supposed to be meeting Mother this afternoon but she cancelled it so that she could spend time with Prince Dartonian.'
'Poor Thayet,' mumbled Aly.
'But I can quite understand her attraction to him, can't you?'
'What do you mean?' Aly asked slowly.
'Well, for a start he's handsome. And have you seen the way his arms fill his sleeves and shoulders fill his tunics?- A sure sign of strong muscles.' Aly grinned. 'And have you noticed his eyes? They're almost like the colour of the sea- so attractive! He seems quite intellectual too, which is good since I can't stand stupid men. And did Kalasin tell you, he's the Copper Isles equivalent of a knight and a general of their navy!'
'Yes, she told me,' Aly said with a grin.
'So I can definitely understand why Kally would be attracted to him, can't you?'
'I suppose so,' agreed Aly unenthusiastically.
Lianne laughed. 'Aly, you're still just as non-committal about men as always. Don't you wish you could find true love?'
Aly turned away from the gardens and smiled at her friend. 'And beneath that façade you're still as romantic as before.' She sighed and looked off into the distance. 'Doesn't everyone want love?'
'Aly, that's avoiding my question! Do you want true love? Do you want to settle down- to marry, and have children?'
'Anne, I've only just achieved my title. It's like Mother gaining her shield. I want to live a little first. Live before I think anything about love, or romance, or marriage, or pregnancy.'
'But,' interjected Anne slyly. 'Doesn't love make life worth living?'
'No!' exclaimed Aly, wiggling a hand emphatically. 'What about other things? Adventure, mystery, travels, battles- they make life worth living too!'
'But could you do it all knowing no form of love? So without having had friends, short romances with boys that adored you- without having known family.'
Aly jutted her chin out. 'How can I answer that?'
'Exactly. All your life you've been surrounded in love and all you want to do is travel and fight.'
'Anne, are you getting cross with me?'
The Princess sighed and hung her head. 'No. I guess- I guess I just envy you.'
Aly frowned. 'But why? You've had love all your life too-'
'But not like you. For a start, look at your parents.'
'Anne, you know as much as I do that my mother was hardly around when I grew up.'
'But she loved you so much. And the pure love and tenderness between Alanna and George...' She sighed again.
'Your parents love each other and you.'
'I know. I'm just being stupid. Envying you for the fact you've been encased in such potent love since you were born, yet you can still escape.' Aly's brow creased. 'And still you don't seem to realise the true value of everything you travel away from. And still you don't long to find more love- love for yourself like your parents share.'
Aly sighed. 'Lianne, this is too deep for me now. Can't we just go back onto a lighter subject?'
The Princess laughed a little. 'You never liked to talk about those things close to your heart, did you? Okay, let's talk about the Prince again.'
Alianne groaned. 'Anything but him!'
As Lianne laughed, there was a knock on the door behind them and a young handmaid entered at Anne's beckon.
Curtsying, she said, 'Her Highness Princess Kalasin requests your appearance in the gardens your Highness, Lady Alianne.'
Lianne thanked the girl and she scuttled off. 'Well, this sounds like fun,' said the Princess. Aly just raised her eyebrows and allowed her friend to lead the way.
~
'There you are!' cried Kalasin from her lounging position on the bench as Aly and Anne arrived. 'I could see you watching me from that balcony!' She laughed, and her ladies anxiously twittered in reply.
'We were appreciating the beauty of the gardens,' replied Lianne. This made Kalasin laugh even more.
'And let me guess, your conclusion was that I was the most beautiful thing currently residing in it?'
Lianne scowled. 'Actually, we- well, I- thought that Prince Dartonian far surpassed even you, your Highness.'
Aly tensed. Those were not good words! Kally would not be pleased! She wondered what Dartonian's reaction would be. She had kept her gaze carefully diverted from him all the time she had been standing there. He was standing not too far away from her- and she could sense him tense at Lianne's words too. She couldn't get the thoughts of this morning out of her mind. How embarrassing to have been caught like that by him!
There was a short spell of silence.
Finally, the Prince said, 'Surely you are mistaken your Highness. Princess Kalasin is by far the most gorgeous flower in all of Tortall.' Lianne smiled, and winked at Aly; the other ladies fluttered their fans and tittered. Kalasin blushed. However, Aly thought those words had a touch of falseness to them- as if he was only saying them to make peace again. But she shrugged that off. That was ridiculous. He was a Prince- he was used to this type of thing! And he would be far used to saying slight untruths for political reasons.
'Oh, Prince Dart, you flatter me! You know flattery will get you no where.' Kalasin looked seductively over the edge of her fan as she spoke.
'If your Highness is sure,' he replied.
'Quite.' Kalasin seemed to have a change of heart and suddenly stared at Aly. She pouted- a most un-princess like action, thought Alianne. 'Aly, why do you wear such a common dress as homespun wool? It's not on! I have plenty of silk, satin and cotton gowns you can have.'
Aly coloured slightly, not expecting the attack on her attire. 'I am quite comfortable with simplicity, your Highness.'
'Nonsense. Prince Dart, don't you think she'd look twelve times better in a beautiful silken gown? With a little embroidery around the hems perhaps.'
Even more uncomfortable now, Aly looked to the Prince. As their eyes met, she was sure she saw something flash in his blue-green orbs momentarily. Then his gaze became steely, and he scrutinised her form.
Finally he turned back to Kalasin and said, 'Your Highness, judging suitable fashions for young ladies is not my strong point.'
She laughed. 'Never mind. Aly- visit my seamstress tomorrow morning and she'll sort something out for you.'
'Kalasin,' began Alianne as the Princess turned away. 'I mean, your Highness, I do not wish for your cast-me-downs. Thank you for the offer.' Lianne elbowed her.
'Leave it,' she hissed, and her sister ignored them, beginning to talk again with Prince Dartonian.
'Good afternoon, your Highness's, ladies,' said Jasson bowing respectively and making everyone jump. They welcomed him in return. 'Would it trouble you greatly, Highness if I speak quietly with Lady Alianne?'
'No, take her away if you desire,' said Kalasin disinterestedly.
Jasson came to Aly's side and glared at Lianne until she left them alone. He bowed to her but she clasped her hands behind her back before he could kiss her fingers.
'Aly, how lovely to see you enjoying the gardens.'
'Jasson, you know I hate all this formality junk.'
'Okay, I'll stop.'
'And cut to the chase,' she interjected with a smile, knowing him too well.
'Fine, I was wondering if... well, if you were- you know, busy tonight?'
'Not as far as I know. Why?' Aly's brow creased in puzzlement.
'You see I wondered if perhaps, maybe, there was- um, something you might want to do? You know, like go out for dinner perhaps?'
'Dinner? That would be great.'
His face lit up spectacularly. 'Really? Great! I'll meet you-' he glanced at the sky- 'in four hours?'
'Sure. Thanks Jas.'
'My pleasure.' He bowed to her again, and made to make his leave but she called out to him.
'Oh, and Jas? Are you sure you're okay?'
He flushed slightly. 'I'm fine, Aly. Absolutely wonderful. See you tonight.'
'Bye.' She frowned at his retreating figure as he wandered down a pathway.
'I've never seen Jas so flustered around a woman before,' Lianne remarked thoughtfully over Aly's shoulder.
The younger girl raised an eyebrow. 'What are you insinuating?'
'Nothing, nothing, my dear; absolutely nothing at all.'
Kalasin burst into hysterics and the girls whipped their heads around. Prince Dart was smiling down at his listener.
'Oh, Aly- Aly, you've just got to hear this!' cried Kalasin. 'Come here! Come here, and listen to Prince Dart.'
With a small smile at her old friend's antics, Aly went to her side. Lianne stayed where she was and gazed thoughtfully at the path her brother had ambled down. Then she peered over at Alianne, standing between the Prince and Princess. Realisation dawned, and dispelled the clinging cobwebs; Princess Lianne smiled to herself.
~
'Well, thank you Jasson for a lovely evening,' Aly said, opening her door.
'My pleasure. Thank you for coming.' He just stood there. Aly gazed at him.
Eventually she said, 'Jas I would invite you in but I'm really tired and I've got a busy day ahead of me tomorrow. I'm sorry. Thank you again.'
The Prince looked a bit dejected but he smiled anyway and said his final goodnights. With a troubled sigh, Aly shut the door. She did not want to know what might have happened if she had invited him in! Throwing her shoes off, she thought back over the night.
She had thought it was going to be great fun but Jasson was in another of his skittish moods. He had been hard to talk too and not much fun the entire time. He had crazy moments when he started acting like he was out courting some precious courtier's daughter- at one point Aly thought he was going to start spurting poetry to her! All the time she had wondered what was wrong with him, also pondering the true meaning of Lianne's last words.
The thought had crossed her mind that perhaps- just maybe- he thought of her in a more than friendly manner, but she discarded that. He couldn't. He just couldn't. They were friends- close friends.
Aly groaned. The whole evening had been a total washout for her. Now, all she wanted was her bed! Snuggling between the sheets, a little thought crept into her mind: at least she wouldn't wake up to Prince Dartonian tomorrow morning! At least, she would be very surprised if she did. Smiling at the image of him trying to explain to Kalasin exactly what he was doing in Alianne's bedroom at the crack of dawn, she drifted off to sleep.
~
The darkness was thick- it enfolded her and was nearly suffocating her. Just when she thought she would scream, it loosened and a figure came slowly walking towards her. She waited and the person caught up with her. It was Prince Jasson.
'Aly,' he said, holding out a rose to her. 'Would you like to, er, go to- umm, dinner with me tonight, perhaps?'
'No!' yelled another voice- a harsh, firm voice. A voice you didn't disobey. Aly turned around; behind her stood Prince Dartonian. 'No!' he cried again. 'She's coming with me! We're going to hunt out the Black Falcon and shoot him like the bird he's known for!'
'What?' exclaimed Aly, but they were heedless of her attempts. They shouted at each other and floated closer and closer together. She was caught between them and couldn't get out... They came closer... they were constricting her, squashing her, giving her no room to move... She couldn't breath. All she could hear was their shouts above her. She cowered and wrapped her arms over her head… praying.
~
Coming up in Chapter Five:
Two weeks later...
Aly's plans for future travelling are presently dashed as she is called before Tortall's reigning monarchs.
"Do you agree?" demanded King Jonathan.
"Yes, I agree," Aly replied.
"Then sign here." The King held out a parchment and a quill. Aly crossed the room and took hold of the quill. Taking a deep breath, she scrawled her name on the legal document.
Prince Jasson is less than happy at the news of what Aly has agreed to. Thom is also brought before the King and Queen.
the real story begins to unfold.....
See you soon!
~Fyre Thief