Hello, everybody!!!! It's time for another one of my famous boring talk! I really should start a column, but my computer genius( sarcasm, if your dense) side won't let me figure out how, and besides that, I'd probably lose interest and end up blabbering just like I'm doing now. I thank you all for doing reader reviews, the happy joyful little things they are. I would also like to say, since there was a lot of confusion, Aleut also has a dull, boring little horse that I decided to sell just to get rid of it. I am not HEARTLESS enough to sell Night Starr, Aurel 'would never let me do that( these characters rule my life!) Anyway, onto chapter 5......................





*~ Chapter 5 ~*





" You really aren't used to sea travel, are you?" I asked a vomiting Aleut. She groaned and went back into the cabin. I sighed. It had been like that for several weeks. I had traveled a lot to Cathark, so I was used to the boat's rocking, while my Tortallian friend was not. Night Starr was down in the steerage, so I was completely on my own. I went back inside my cabin and spread a map out. Currently, we were in the emerald sea, near the Copper islands. The ship was headed for Corus, and there was no other detour. Better then nothing, I supposed. I didn't really want to go there, for Corus is known for its thieves, and after sunset one had to watch there purse. So many girls and boys alike ran away there to be thieves, it was remarkable. Had said the Emperor last time I went to court, we should be proud of our nation, for Tyra is full of honest and talented people. As well as poor and starving. I shivered. It was slowly getting colder. I tapped one of the sailors on the shoulder.

" yes, My lady?"

" How soon will we be in Tortall?"

" In about 3 or 4 days my lady. Due to the winds and high waves though, We'll be stopping in one of the Copper island ports."

" Can't we continue? It doesn't look that bad. My friend and I are kind of in a hurry."

" Red sky in morning, sailors take warning. Wind is still, bad is yet to fulfil." He said, quoting an age old adage.

" sir, I don't mean to be rude, but the sky's perfectly clear. There is absolutely no way a storm could be coming."

He ignored me, as most Tyranian men do when they simply don't want to talk anymore. I got fed up trying to reason with him, and stayed in my cabin until we reached the port. Immediately a vile smell came into the air of rotting fish and whiskey. Several drunks were staggering around.

" This is the port?"

Aleut said skeptically.

" Apparently it is. Come on, we might as well see what we can do here. We'll be here all night."

It was a fishing town, with basically a couple of taverns and some houses. A tiny town it was, but even the bums looked slightly better off then the average peasant in my country. I walked into the tavern to see if I could locate a scribe. The tavern maid shook her head.



" No dearie, ya won't find any of that sort here. If ye look around and ask some, ya might be able to find someone with a quill and paper. You look like ya don't need a scribe. But ain't this a grand city? Yah, it may be small, but a grand city in da making. Care for a drink dearie? It'll be on the house."

In Tyra, Children of noble familys start drinking wine at young ages to improve the heart muscle. Besides that, it was a delicacy. I peered into her cup. It was whiskey, with a hair floating in it, and didn't look like the most appetizing thing in the world.

" Thank you, but I've got to go."

I quickly hurried back outside to Aleut, who was reading the notices on the board. " It doesn't say anything about a scribe.

"Damn it! My parents are going to have a heart attack when they find out what I've been doing all this time! My father's going to assume I've been kidnaped, my mother's going to think I've become rebellious and decided to run away, and my siblings probably think I'm dead." "Well, why don't you just go get some more JEWELS." I said, in a I-demand-a-explanation voice. " Those were all I had." I rolled my eyes. Some people were so dense. " I mean, where does a fifteen year old girl get about a gigantic bulging bag of jewels by herself?It seems like pretty heavy pocket change. I'd say you were a princess, but you would of never left undetected otherwise, or I'd say you were an extremely powerful mage, but somehow I don't think your either of those two."

She sighed, and lowered her purple eyes.

" Well, you see, I kind of stole them while I was in Tyra."

I raised an eyebrow.

" Well, it was in that little village we got caught in. This old guy was carrying a pouch of jewels, and I figured what did he need them for anyway, and I was planning to buy some food with them, and HEY!" I pushed Aleut hard, and she hit the dirt floor. I kicked her hard, several times.

" Don't you ever do something like that to my people again. And if you do, don't you dare tell me about it. They're may be some people in Tyra I am not proud of, but you do not steal from my people. And if you stole from that village we were in, I will have you know that those people do not dream of riches, they dream of watching their children go to bed without a starving stomach. They dream of freedom, or a day where they do not have to work in the rice fields. I have half a mind to leave you in this city, you spoiled little rich Kapoe!"

I said cooly. Aleut jumped up, and brushed the dirt off her pants.

" Why do you have to get so mad? I said I was sorry. I'm not proud of what I did. You have to see my side of the story---- my father's a thief. Pretty big one, him being the king and all. I was raised this way."

I ignored her, and marched straight back to the boat.

" Wait, Aure! Please, I have something to show you! Be mad at me after this."

Reluctantly I waited a moment for her to catch up.

" My name is also Aurelia. Not Aure."

She shoved a parchment in my face. There was a picture of me on it.

" Looks like your wanted in several different countries."



I quickly read it.







Wanted: Lady Aurelia De Conoce Li the second. A runaway from the capital city, Tyra. She is a Juna(authors note- highest caste, the purple streak hair thing), has hazel eyes and black hair. Last seen in Lightning palace, home of Lord Slannen De Conoce Li the first, the Emperor's royal advisor and companion. Lord Li has offered 5,000 gold pieces for her return, Lord Daniel of Trescon offers 1,000, and The imperial Emperor offers 10,000 gold pieces for her return."