More, more, more! This'll never end! And this is only the very beginning! PS: I just found out Tortall's real year when I finished Page (yes, I did just read it two days ago!). But what the heck, this is Tortall's Twin.
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Chapter 11: The Grimmest Year in Tortall's History
(and a bit backwards)
"Why?" Faeya asked.
Daria of Conté closed her eyes. "It has been grim since the Space Invaders came." (***A/N: okay, more of my pathetic sense of humor***) "They landed here, tried to force us from our homes and villages. They had terrible weapons, and all who resisted perished. Finally, they just left us alone. Just like that. Like they were saying, 'you're not really worth fighting, so just stay off our property.'"
"What happened then?"
"It then became like it is now. They slowly nibble at the corners of our country, eating away at our lands. One day there will be nothing left. So we decided to form a resistance, because we have one thing they do not. "
"Magic." Fae nodded.
"Magic," Daria repeated. "Not only do none of them posses the Gift, they don't believe in it either. They think it's all superstitious nonsense."
Faeya gasped. "But that's- that's mad!"
"Of course it's mad! Everything about them is."
Faeya took in a deep breath, and thought about what she was going to say. "What do you think-" she started, "What do you think about time travel?" she let it all out at once.
Daria just stared at her. "Huh?"
"Time travel. I think…. I'm from another time."
"Like the past?"
"No, no!" Fae said. "The future. When I come from, Conté is the royal house, not Queenscove. These Space Invaders you talk about… they're thousands of years old. There's nothing left of them but ruins."
Daria inhaled sharply. "And there are different people." Fae continued. "Who is King, by the way?"
"King Jonathan the first, of course."
Faeya laughed. "My Tortall is ruled by King Jonathan the fourth. And his heir is Crown Prince Roald, named after his father, King Roald… Who's King's Champion?"
"Sir Anibert of Tirragen."
Fae laughed even harder. "Tirragen! I should have known!" when her giggles subsided, she explained. "Alexander of Tirragen was killed by the present King's Champion, Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau, formerly Alanna of Trebond, better known as the Lioness. Tirragen is a notoriously baaaaad fief. Next you'll tell me the Prime Minister is Eldorne!"
Daria blinked. "But she is. Sir Treyanie of Eldorne, a most respected woman on all counts…"
Fae just laughed, and laughed, and laughed. "Malven! Tell me who's Malven!"
"Sir Lanienna of Malven, Knight Commander of the King's Own…"
Faeya collapsed on the floor, clutching her sides. "You're kidding! Tell me you're kidding!"
Daria looked indignant. "I'll have you know that Trebond is one of the most horrible, traitorous fiefs to grace Tortall! And you don't even want to know about Goldenlake, Naxen, and *shudder* Olau."
Tears of mirth flowed freely from Fae's eyes, she laughed and laughed and laughed. How long had it been since she laughed this hard? Years…
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Okay, I got kind of overboard with that one. But hey, I'm just having some fun! Review!
