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"Carthak City!" the boatman yelled above the din of the docks. Daine, Maura of Dulanth, and other Tortallans stepped off the dock.
"I can't believe it's been a whole month since we last came!" Daine yelled over the sound. Kit chirped.
The younger girl shivered. "I don't know. It feels...different," Maura said, hesitantly picking up a bag.
"Its what you needed," Sir Gareth the Younger said waspishly. "After three months of fever, any kind of vacation from that cold mountain would be nice." He critically examined her pale face, now thin and wan from so much sickness.
"Daine! Gary!" Kaddar strode up to the group sent to witness his rise to Emperor. Smiling at the gaunt girl with them, he led the group to the carriages waiting.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Daine, in her room, donned an expensive violet blue gown sewn all over with winking silver thread at then hems and wrists. The full silk skirt swept a melody around her ankles as she pulled her long brown hair into a loose bun.
"Excuse me?" a slave interrupted at the doorway. "The Prince required me to inform you that the ball is starting in twenty minutes."
"Thank you." Daine smiled as the girl tiptoed out the door, shutting it quietly. Not only had she dark braids, but she wore a clean and respectable tunic and leather sandels. Kaddar had made quite an improvement in the few weeks she had been away. And the absence of "Yes, Nobility" was a relief.
She sighed sadly as locks escaped her ribbons and drizzed down onto her bare shoulders. "Oh well," she muttered. "Might as well." Brushing a bit of face paints on, she gave herself one more final appraisal before clasping on a sapphire (Numair's birthday present) and leaving the room.
"Kitten?" she called in the hall. The small dragon made an impatient noise.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Walking into the ballroom, Daine searched for any Tortallan. Sitting weakly on a wall bench, Maura was alone. Trotting over as quickly as high heels would let her, the wildmage approached the pale girl.
"How are you feeling?"
The younger Tortallan smiled. "Fine, I guess." Glancing over at the younger clerks and minor nobles, she whispered "Do you think Ronolin will ask me to dance?" The fourteen year old gazed wistfully in the direction of a tall boy.
"Ronolin, as in Ronolin of Kaniam?" Daine laughed incredulously. "I thought you hated him as a child!"
"I did," Maura lowered her voice dramatically. "But look at him now! And I did lose a lot of weight...i can be a recovering maiden in distress..." she added impishly.
As it was, the golden haired boy did seperate himself from the crowd of young men. When he walked over to Maura, Daine smiled and winked before going outside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kaddar watched as the lovely Daine escaped out from the ballroom. Following her as she walked from the veranda to the gardens, he slipped in the shadows as quietly as a cat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Daine, sitting at a fountain, stared at the moon. A full orb, it glowed in the dark sky and dimly lit up the small courtyard. A rustle caught her careful ear.
"Daine?" A voice came from the grey shadows to her left. Kaddar emerged from the gardenia bushes, tousled. The absence of paint on his face was quite a difference.
"Hello," the girl replied. Grinning smugly, she added, "Did you enjoy the coronation, your Imperial Majesty? Where's your face decoration?"
The young man snorted, almost like Cloud. "Sure, it was 'wonderous,' as you would put it. I wiped off all their 'magical paint of royalty' already. I love-" he grimaced- "being prodded around by useless priests, who, let me mention, are all quacks-"
"Oh, hush."
There was a pause.
"Daine?" Kaddar's voice came through the darkness. "I wanted to tell you that...within a few years, slavery will be abolished throughout Carthak."
Looking up, Daine grinned. "Truly?" He nodded gleefully. Jumping out of her stone seat, she hugged him joyfully. "That's 'wonderous' !" she added, making a face as he smiled teasingly. "Wonderous is a word from where i come from!" she insisted.
"Really," he asked, holding her tighter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am an idiot, Kaddar told himself. Well, i began it so i should at least try.
Daine inhaled quickly as she felt the new emperor's arms tighten around her waist.
~~~~
how you liek this? if not, i wont keep going...