Oh, whoops, oops, right, the story. ;) Well, y'all, I was SOOOOOO inspired by your great reviews [I. Love. You. People!!] that I *had* to write another one, then and there, even though I woke up at 6:20 A.M. this morning feeling *absolutely* *exhausted*. Anyvays. I probably won't finish this for a few days, so actually, I lost my tooth a few days ago, and I woke up exhausted a few days ago [although I am ALWAYS exhausted when I wake up, so ...]
And GO MY FIELD HOCKEY TEAM!!!! "Those who have the will to win cannot be beat" is one of our many mottos. ;) BE AGRESSIVE! GO ... WOOHOOO!!! Okay, okay, alrighty, team spirit session ... *temporarily* dormant. =D NOT over!!
The King wasted no time on choosing plenty of suitors for me to "take a look" at; it was almost as if he thought my agreement would expire if he didn't think of another marriage prospect for me by tomorrow. It was hard to contain my laughter at the thought that he was wasting his time with all this - truly, I wouldn't marry until I was a full knight, and that was years away. Also, by then I would have a lot more freedom of choice! I would defy every royal custom that I thought was restraining and unecessary.
Perhaps I wasn't living for the good of Tortall, like my conscience told me sometimes, but when I thought about it more, I realized that I was. I was showing the world that even princesses, supposedly living a pampered palace life, and supposedly emotional and silly like "most girls," could earn their shield and be a Knight of Tortall. I was going to prove to every living Tortallan that those who have the will to win cannot be beat, and that princesses were good for far more than to be married off for alliances; I knew that Tortall would thank me and remember me forever after, even if it took years. In this my mind was set, and I was determined. It would take work, it would take exhaustion and frustration and anger and injustice and hard work and hiding, but they would all give in.
I could feel it in my heart.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
By my seventh month of being in Tortall, as the Queen's birthday loomed ever closer, I had written a long letter to Gazali, outlining my plan and telling her all the day-to-day news. I asked her advice on how to further my plan, and wondered how involved she would be willing to get in this scheme. If I didn't have her, I knew it would take much more planning, training, and hard thought to pull this off.
Sending the letter was a completely different matter. I knew that all the palace mail, especially from the high nobilities, would be searched, since Roald was close to obsessed with catching plotters against his throne. I wanted somebody reliable who would get the message to Gazali fast, and who would ask no questions.
Knowing that anyone at the palace was basically out of the question, I took to going out daily, taking walks around the grounds, and then beginning to slip off to the city. Nobody ever noticed, or - I thought - cared, so I made it a routine that palace folk became used to, Princess Andrea's "little excursions." I always came back alive and well, and besides, I was learning how to navigate through a crowded city better than I had ever learned it in safe, sheltered Yamani Islands. Luckily for me, I didn't seem to be easily recognizable, but I always went in a servant's outfit I had managed to procure, and hid it safely in my private royal vault above my canopy bed. I kept the key in my slippers or shoes at all times, so that no one could find me out. In a way, it was my first lesson in espionage; and I took it as seriously as my life.
I knew I would have to train myself at least a little for what I would be doing in the years to come, and this was as good a time as any to begin. Once I had established my daily "walks," and became more familiar with Corus, I began to search for an agent that would be willing to transport a letter to the Yamani Islands very inconspicuously ...
Passing a young man the third day of my "quest," I was surprised to see that the man was standing without moving, just watching me, and I turned back around to get a closer glance. His deep green eyes caught and held me, and he wore a crafty grin which enthralled me. Before I could move my lips to say something, he had disappeared, but something about him assured me I would meet him again.
I was right. Two days later he reappeared at my side as I again scoured the marketplace for someone who would send my letter to Gazali. I was getting worried. If I couldn't even begin, how could I ever know if my plan would even work?
"Aaron Linnus," he introduced himself. "You're looking to send mail." It wasn't a question. I looked at his tough, but somehow soft face. His eyes were gorgeous, but carried a kind of dark mystery in them. His hair was a rich brown, and it made me long to run my fingers through it. He did not look like a man I would appreciate as an enemy, even as a skilled knight.
"Yes. I'm - Andrea Miles," I told him, thinking fast to come up with a last name. His eyebrows raised momentarily, but I saw his reaction disappear into the depths of those eyes.
"I could do that for you. No searches, no inquiries, no nothing. Our business is as secret from you as yours is from ours." He sounded quite disreputable, but I was still drawn to him. I figured it was rebellion against my father, who would probably disown me if he found out where I was and what I was doing.
"Is that all you do?"
"No. I acquire, and I supply demand."
"You're a thief."
"Sharp girl." He smiled broadly at me. "Especially for the princess. I didn't expect the Yamanis to teach you much." I nearly fainted, but thankfully managed to keep my composure. I silently thanked the emperor's armsmistress for her sharp lessons in keeping my face straight and emotionless.
"They're quite skilled, you know. I bet even they could teach an old dog like you some new tricks," I returned, making him laugh.
"So what are you doing sending secret mail, your Highness?" he asked sternly, expression solemn again.
"That I cannot reveal until I know I can trust you," I answered quickly. "All I want now is a fast message to the Islands, and discretion."
"I can do that. For a price," he remarked shrewdly. I frowned.
"Who are you, anyway?"
"I told you."
"Thieves come in many shapes and sizes. Are you a spy, or a messenger, or what?"
"You expect me to tell the princess exactly who I am, do you? Disregard for the moment that I do believe you are trustworthy, and that I have something against you as well."
"You told me your name."
"And you seem to be so sure that's my real name. I find it amusing how little you value my skill," he informed me. I fell silent, trying to decide. He was perhaps my only hope. But if we could never trust each other, how would we get anywhere? I was almost sure that if one of us gave, the other would tell all too. And I knew that I would have to be the one to give.
How dangerous was it, anyway? What reason would a thief have to do me in? And yet - and yet - there was that dark mystery, the part of his soulful eyes where light no longer shone. What lurked there?
I weighed my choices. If I told him everything, I would know of him and his doings, and he would know of mine. I could put him in jail for years, but would anybody at court listen to a thief's rants about me? Roald would put me under closer guard, but I had complete faith in Gazali. If I could get this one message to her, which time would certainly allow, I felt confident she could handle this man. The Vanishers had skill like nothing I'd ever seen, and I was sure that they could handle a common thief of Tortall. Granted, I knew little about them, but they didn't intimidate me so far. Not much.
"Princess, time is being wasted on both sides, now," Aaron announced, breaking the silence of thought.
I took a deep breath. "I will tell you all," I began, "if you provide a quiet, safe place, no thefts, and some information of your own."
He grinned. "I knew I was right to take a liking to you," he observed, almost to himself. "I guarantee all of that. Come with me."
Perhaps stepping inside a back-alley inn called the Night Dragon with a thief who knew I was part of the Royal Family of Tortall wasn't the smartest thing I have ever done, but I certainly got lucky. It produced terrific results. Besides, I wasn't scared. Maybe he was just a good actor, but something about him made me feel safe when he was around, and I was sure that he wasn't lying when he said he had taken a liking too me. He was good at flattering people.
He led me up three flights of stairs and down a corridor to the left - I kept track of where we were going, of course, if I ever really needed to escape - and into a dimly lit room at the end.
"Nobody will overhear us here," he whispered. I suppressed the urge to shiver, but in vain. Something about that whisper from him sent a current running up and down my spine. He sat across a small table from me, after motioning for me to sit. It gave me a slight, momentary sense of confusion as I realized I would have to pull out the chair for myself, something I hadn't done for maybe a year. Then I told him everything, concealing nothing and telling him so. He looked pleased and exhilarated when I was done, as if he was getting ready for a real adventure.
"Just when I think Tortall nobles are getting complacent, they get a new surprise thrown at them," he exclaimed, a daring spark in his eyes. "This is perfect, and so crafty I can't believe I didn't think of it myself. So you're going the Lioness's way, eh?"
I nodded, shivering again at the delight in his voice.
"I'll send that letter to your friend free of charge, and any more you want, Andrea, for delivering me from endless boredom. All right, a deal's a deal. Now that I know your story, you can know mine," he offered. I sat up a little straighter at his words.
"I'm not Aaron Linnus. I told you my name wasn't real, remember? I was born Christan of Hiera. My mother was a servant of Lady Elda in fief Hiera, near King's Reach. The servant died, and the Lady adopted me. Once I was old enough, she shipped me off to Corus with only a horse and a note saying that I was to become a knight without any interference or involvement from her. I was there simply to inherit the fief after she died, to simplify her will-making procedures. She was done with me from the day I was born, and I probably wouldn't pay close attention to her until I arranged her funeral; imagine how loved I felt.
"She was extremely lazy, and even when I was around she payed little attention to me, leaving me to a long succession of very unfortunate and unlucky nurses." He grinned wildly and fiercely, leaving me grateful that I had never been called upon to be his caregiver! "Once I got to Corus, I decided that I didn't want to serve the shield of Tortall. I wanted to be skilled at fighting, but I wanted to fight for myself. I joined the Court of the Rogue, and rose steadily. I've been King now for almost a year. I'm seventeen."
King? The Court of the Rogue? He was the King of Thieves! It barely surprised me, it fit him so well, and yet it gave me a shock beyond any I could have imagined.
"So why do you trust me?" I blurted out.
"Because, your Majesty, you trusted me. You're not a normal noble, you know. Those Yamanis have corrupted you."
"More like saved me, from what I've heard," I retorted, then realized that he was joking and grinned shyly. Time seemed to be spinning. I handed him the letter, and then jumped back, my mind racing.
"Have you kept the letter?" I asked wildly, breathing quickly. Something had just struck me. He smiled slowly.
"I knew it!" he burst out, but not so loudly that we would be discovered. "I'm glad I met you, Princess. I knew from the start that your mind worked like my own." I caught his eye, and for a minute we stood completely still, our gaze locked. Shivers conquered me.
He broke the silence, but didn't move his eyes. I fought the urge to step forward, to move closer and look deeper into his eyes ... "So you want to pass as me?" he questioned.
"Of course," I answered breathlessly. "It's perfect .. the perfect scheme .. no one will suspect .."
"I thought as much," he said in a businesslike manner, reluctantly drawing his eyes away. I blinked, and the spell was broken. "I did indeed save her letter, at a sign from - I thought then - the Goddess, but I could have been wrong. Your friend Gazali is that good?"
I nodded, pretending not to act suprised that the Goddess had given him a sign. She consorted with men? I'd never heard of that. But I suppose she had her reasons - it would be wonderful if she was on my side in this! I didn't know if she had appeared to me before, or if she ever did, whether it would be in her Yamani form or what. But I couldn't think about that now. There were real problems to think about, rather than idle speculations.
"I should add to Gazali's letter," I told him. "Have you paper?"
"Won't Roald suspect something if you're gone this long?" he countered, raising an eyebrow at me, as if surprised that I hadn't taken precautions. My face fell and my eyes widened.
"Mithros!" I breathed. "I have to go! Where -"
"I'll take you back, and I'll add to the bottom of the letter," he offered. When I raised an eyebrow, he shook his head. "Do you want this done or not? It's the only way, your Highness. Let's go. And remember where the Night Dragon Inn is, this is the headquarters of the Rogue, and it's where you should go if you ever want to see me. Say 'the gift of the bluejay' and touch your left thumb to your right ear if you encounter any trouble. Sounds silly, but it will save your life, have my word." I nodded, and together we flashed out of the room and down the flights of stairs while trying to be as discreet as possible. He'd splashed water onto his hair from a basin by the door, and walked a little like a hunchback to conceal who he was. We rushed through the back ways towards the palace, and he stopped only when the first menagerie was in sight.
"Thank you," I said gratefully, suddenly breathless again and trying to stop my mouth from being so dry.
"I will see you again, Andrea," he informed me, in a 'this-is-my-final-word' tone of voice, and looked at me hard for a moment.
"What does your Court call you?" I wondered.
"Aaron. Only you know I am Christan," he said simply, and his eyes smiled.
"Then I will see you again, Christan ..." I told him in a low voice. He glanced directly into my eyes again, and then he was gone.
My mother's birthday ball arrived without a reply from Gazali, but I hadn't expected one. By the time I met Christan, I had only three weeks left until the ball (balls were usually about a month delayed from the actual date of the birthdays these days, I had discovered, because nobles were usually so lazy about getting the preparations together), and the Yamani Islands were far away. Added knowledge of the Vanishers told me that they were not around their homes a great deal; it would be amazing if Gazali had even recieved my letter by now. I could afford to wait. I had planned to start late, hadn't I? As long as I became a lady knight, I was content with any time in the world.
True to his word, Kander brought a small knife, and caught my eye the minute he walked in. I realized with a start that he was handsome! I wondered why I hadn't thought of it that much before, but his gray-green eyes were true and loyal, and I felt strangely comforted when he was around, not constantly charged, like the effect Christan had had on me. The second I was able, I escaped Queen Sengati's chattering friends and sought him out. We danced for one long song - he said it would look less suspicious that way - and then he slipped away, leading me into a deserted serving room in a complicated system of chambers off the main ballroom.
He drew close to me before we began and spoke quietly.
"Don't tell this to anyone, And, but my best friend in the city is the youngest member of the Court of the Rogue. The thieves' guild, kind of," he explained, to make sure I knew what he was talking about. After all, he had no idea I was friends with the Rogue himself! "He's kind of a favorite with the King of Thieves, or the Rogue, as they call him, because he's young, but that's an incredible benefit! He's got almost supernatural reflexes, and the King's taught him a whole bunch of tricks. His name is Aaron Linnus, and he's amazing! I only met him once, but he's really, really good at what he does. Only he's very mysterious ... it's hard to find out anything about him ..."
I could tell that Kander was fascinated with Christan ... almost as won over by him as I was. I could bet that sometimes, the Code of Chivalry got to be a bit too boring and restraining for boys - and girls - his age, who already knew so much about fighting and weapons and riding.
"So my friend Ben Melville, the one who Aaron likes, taught me all these knife tricks. They'll be endlessly useful. He said that Aaron told him, 'these tricks will save your life, have my word.'" I grinned, remembering Christan's words when he was teaching me the thieves' sign: 'Sounds silly, but it will save your life, have my word.'
We spent the next forty-seven minutes (until Kander had serving duty) practicing all kinds of skills. Kander let me have his old dagger, which was newly sharpened, while telling me excitedly that Aaron fought with six, hidden in various places. I wondered how long I could conceal knowing Christan around him ... every time the Rogue's name was mentioned, my heart beat ten times faster.
But I felt so safe around Kander ... when he was near me, I was relaxed, I felt protected, I felt ... loved. Loved in a way no emperor, no Tortallan ambassador and his wife, no king and queen ever could love me.
It scared me to think of it, though, and so I didn't. I don't know whether I purposefully avoided Kander after I realized that, but when I felt my heart sink whenever he left a room I was in, and my eyes light up the minute he entered and gave me his special wink, I felt a comfort no spine shivers could give. It baffled me, and I was glad to get relief from my confused, spinning thoughts when I visited Christan for a second time and he told me that he had recieved Gazali's reply.