Warrior princess
Chapter 5, Which One
Author's Note: I've figured out what to call Cat's country/island: Parija! It's kind of a mix between the names of Paris and Persia, but pronounce it however you wish. So when I talk about Parija or the Parijians, you'll know who it is. Ok, that's it. Read on (. AN-this gets a little too sappy/romancy for my liking. I apologize in advance. Sorry. I tried to re-write it, but it would take too long. Keep reading, it'll get better. Just. suffer through this chapter. Tear. ;) Ok I'm done now
Cat spent most of the time on her journey to Rahj's stable wondering what Daine meant by "which one you should chose". She was glad that the stable was on the way to the barge taking her to Carthak, because it was the one place she could stop and rest a few days to regain the animals' strength as well as her own. Within a little over a week, they were nearing the small town concealing Rahj's stable. Cat couldn't help but burst into a grin as they closed in on the small stable. A large outline of a man stepped into the entrance of the barn, and Harlem barked happily, loping towards the figure. Shadowdancer snorted and tried to break into a gallop, but Cat held her back. Not that she was trying to take her time, for her own heart was speeding up as well at the sight of him, but because she didn't want to accidentally run him over. She let the mare go at a lively trot, and they reached Rahj in no time. He laughed as the small mare shoved her delicate nose roughly into his hands, and, after a few moments, looked up at his young friend. His face broke into a wide grin and he moved to Shadowdancer's side and pulled Cat off her back. She flung her arms around his neck and he hugged her tightly back. When they pulled back, he kissed her smoothly, catching her off guard. She quickly relaxed, but when he let go she was breathless. "Hello," she whispered shyly. Rahj laughed and kissed her again briefly. "Hello, m'lady," he whispered in her ear, making her shiver slightly. "What took you so long?" he asked as he began to lead Shadowdancer to a stall. Cat shook her head and sighed. "My aunt was sicker than we'd anticipated. She's better now," she lied. Rahj grabbed her arm, and feeling her newly acquired muscles, raised his eyebrow at her. "Taking care of your aunt required this much arm strength?" he asked skeptically. Cat shrugged. "That and running her small farm for 2 months, yes." Rahj nodded, understanding, and ran his hands up and down her arms. Cat blushed again, as she was not used to having men touch her so voluntarily. When he bent in to kiss her again, she realized that she liked having him touch her, as long as he respected her. And he did. She smiled as he offered her his hand and led her to his room. "You can leave your things there, since you'll be staying there for the next few days," he said. Harlem lie down tiredly on the floor and promptly fell asleep. Rahj caught Cat's eye and they both laughed. Cat sat down heavily on the bed, also tired from her long journey. She looked up and caught the oddest expression on Rahj's face, and although she knew what was running through his mind, she acted as if she didn't. The look in his eyes was wild, barely under control. Just when she thought he would burst, he turned and looked at something on the wall. "So. how long do you think you'll be staying this time?" he asked, his voice much deeper and rougher than usual. Something inside her jumped and she had the strongest urge to grab him and kiss him, but held it back. "Maybe. a week. Shadowdancer should be well rested by then," she said, trying to keep her voice normal. Everything would be fine if we just get out of this room! Cat thought as her mind began to malfunction. Rahj laughed ironically. "You know she doesn't need a week to recover. You could leave tomorrow, if you wanted to." He said. Something in his voice was bitter and resentful, which annoyed her. "Alright, fine then, we'll be completely truthful here. I want to stay a week to be with you, and Shadowdancer's health is my excuse. Is that good enough for you?" she snapped, moody now. Rahj laughed and sat down next to her. "That's all I wanted to hear," he said. Suddenly, everything that had been there before was back, only hundreds of times stronger. Rahj's hands were shaking, she noticed, and her entire body was. "What is it?" he asked, his voice deep, rough, and shaky again. For a few moments, Cat wrestled with what she wanted to do more than anything and what she had to do, and finally her decision burst forth. "I need to check on Shadowdancer," she said, practically flinging herself off the bed and at the door. Once she was gone, Rahj sighed with disappointment. He was glad, though, that he had stopped trembling and was completely under control again. He fell back on the bed, rubbing his head, and then he got up to follow her. He found her in the stall with the mare, eyes closed and forehead against Shadowdancer's. Both breathed deeply, and it occurred to Rahj that they might be communicating in some way. He asked the mare politely if he could have a minute with Cat, and she agreed. She shook her head gently, waking Cat out of an almost-trance. Cat gasped when she saw him. "I'm sorry," Rahj said, leaning against the barn wall. "For what?" Cat asked. Rahj jerked his head in the direction of his room. "For that. Back there." He looked at her and she was looking confused. "I'm not sure what it was, but I know it wasn't your fault," Cat said. She refused to look him in the eye, afraid of what had happened before. He touched her arm gently. "It wasn't your fault either," he said, pulling her chin up to face him. Finally, she looked him in the eyes and relaxed; they were safe from whatever had held them captive before. Suddenly, Rahj looked questioning. "Who are you?" he asked. Cat shook her head and laughed, trying not to look nervous. "You know who I am. I'm Cat," she replied. Rahj shook his head, grabbing her arms and holding her in such a position that she couldn't move until he let her go. He sat down on the stall floor, forcing her to sit in his lap as well. "I want to know about your life. Your family." He demanded. Cat thought silently, wondering if she could tell him. After much debate, the fact that he was holding her so gently decided it for her that she would tell him. She knew she could trust him. "Rahj. I need to tell you something." Cat said shakily. "What is it?" he asked, sounding concerned. "Is there any way we can go somewhere private? It's a secret. a pretty big one." She asked. Rahj nodded. "Either my room or the loft, and right now I suggest we go to the loft. It's less. tempting, and plus if we were screaming up there, anyone below would hear nothing." He replied, and stood up, leading the way to the ladder. Cat followed him, still doubtful on whether it was safe to tell anyone about her secret. When he stopped and held out his hand to help her up, she realized once again that she could trust him. Once they reached the top of the loft, Cat sat down opposite him. She sighed, and then began. "Rahj, I'm not exactly who you think I am. I mean, I am Cat, but I'm also something that you wouldn't expect. I'm in hiding, you could say." She sighed and shook her head, but Rahj just smiled, urging her on. Cat forced herself to go on. "My real name is Princess Kathryn." She said, sighing with relief and looking nervously for his reaction. "You mean.? Parija? The Graspir attacks? But. they said everyone died. they said they killed everyone and took everything valuable and took hostages to torture. they said they might have taken one of the princesses to." he swallowed and looked at his friend. "to. torture. And then kill. You can't be her." Although he said this, Cat could tell he believed her. "I was out of the room when the attacks began. By the time I got back. everyone was dead. Except my sister. She was dying. She told me to get out while I could, and I did. From there I traveled on Shadowdancer to Carthak. It's a crowded city, I figured, so no one would recognize me. Unfortunately, I was arrested because of Harlem and Shadowdancer, them being so well bred and me being a supposed 'prostitute'. Anyways, they took me to the Emperor but he recognized me. He helped me out, gave me money, took in my brother. I owe him a lot. He sent me to two mages in Tortall- Pirate's Swoop. Daine Sarrasri and Numair Salmalin. They, along with Alanna the Lioness, trained me to fight. And now I'm on my way back to Carthak to see if I'll pass a test to become a warrior. You see, my sister's dying wish was that I take back my country, and I intend to. After that. I don't know. But that's my story- I'm a princess." Cat finished, afraid to see Rahj's response. He pulled her into a tight hug, and for the first time since the attacks, Cat let tears fall down her face. "Why didn't you tell me?" Rahj asked softly, but he knew why. Cat felt her body break into sobs as Rahj spoke soothingly into her ear. "I don't understand anything, Rahj. I can't handle this now." She said as he ran his fingers through her hair. "You know I'll help you. And you've got the Emperor of Carthak behind you. Not to mention the greatest warrior Tortall's ever seen, and two extremely powerful mages. And your family. And me." Rahj reminded her. For some reason, his point calmed her down. "You said yourself twice," she laughed gently. Rahj nodded. "That's because I wanted to make sure you knew I'm here for you." He answered. Cat realized that Rahj's voice was becoming deep and relaxing, that he was trying to help her go to sleep. "I know you are," she replied sleepily. Rahj lie down and Cat followed suit, laying her face on his chest and relaxing even more as his arm wrapped around her. Within minutes, Cat was asleep, but Rahj lay awake, stroking her hair and thinking. He had in his arms one of the only heirs to the small throne of a southern island, and he loved her. But she was a princess, and he was a stable boy. Although he outdid her in age, she was, by stature and wealth, much higher than him. Part of him said that she was a smart girl and knew what she was getting herself into, but another nasty part of him screamed that she was too young to know even what she wanted, or if what she wanted was what she needed. He knew that once she had her throne back, she would be forced to leave him. His two choices were to let her figure it out on her own, or to break things up now before anyone got more attached. No, he thought angrily. I promised to be there for her. Confused, he decided to let it go. He kissed her forehead, then her lips, and fell asleep. The next morning Cat woke up extremely early to find Rahj still asleep. They spent the next week together, inseparable. Each night was spent talking in the loft, where they often fell asleep like they had the first time. Although they were now closer than ever, Cat noticed that at times he was distant, almost nervous. On the last day, she realized why. As they got her few items and Shadowdancer ready for the trip ahead, Rahj was edgy and uncomfortable, refusing to touch her for very long or keep eye contact. Confused, Cat asked him about it. "Rahj, is something wrong? Why are you acting so strange? Yesterday you had no problem kissing me, and now you won't even look at me." She had trouble keeping her voice from cracking. Rahj sighed, angrily slamming the saddle down. "I promised that I'd always be there for you, and I swear I will, but Cat, do you realize who you are and who I am? Who would accept a princess and a stable boy together?" he asked. Cat sat, open mouthed in shock. So that's what bothered him. She took his hand and cornered him against the wall. "Rahj, I don't care about that. I need you for life to make sense." She pleaded. Rahj looked at her for a long time, then shoved past. "You don't understand how much you're ruining your life by me. I'm sure someone else would love you just as much and they might have a proper background." At this, Cat became angry. "So I'm just a silly little girl who has no idea what in Goddess' name she's doing? And I can't make my own decisions because I don't really know what's going on?" she demanded, once again cornering him. He backed away from her but still fought back. "No, but you're too young to make decisions that might ruin your life. I can't let you make one of those, even if it makes me happy." He snapped. Cat frowned. "I know very well what won't and will ruin my life, and I know for a fact that you could in no way ever ruin it. Just by being in it, you've made it better. My people value brains as well as heart's desires and true love, and many of our past kings and queens were once lowly peasants. My own mother was a washer girl for the queen, and my father fell in love with her. Now she-" Cat swallowed and re-worded "-and she was queen." Rahj did not respond but tightened Shadowdancer's girth. "You're ready to leave now," he said stiffly, holding out the reins for her. She looked from the reins to Rahj, and her eyes filled with tears. She grabbed his hand, dropping the reins and pulled herself into his presence. She kissed him, gently then roughly, again and again until he kissed her back with just as much emotion. After several minutes, he pushed himself away from her. "No," he said, eyes angry and bright at the same time. He turned abruptly and left her to mount and leave on her own. Harlem whined and looked after him, and then up at Cat uncertainly. She shook her head and mounted Shadowdancer. Before she could get off, she kicked the mare and galloped crazily out of the barn, not looking back. For days Cat rode in silence, never eating much and always tired. They reached the barge in record time and were soon in Carthak. When she arrived, a small dark man showed her a secret entrance to Kaddar's wing of the palace. He was happy to see her; it was apparent in his features. Her heart was bursting in excitement to see her brother. Kaddar walked slowly towards her, a small boy in tow holding his hand. Before Cat could control herself, she broke into a run and crouched to hug her little brother. "Dimitri," she squeaked, joyful tears streaming down her face. He giggled and wrapped his tiny fists in her long free hair. "'Kat," he murmured. "Wecome back!" at this, Cat laughed in surprise and looked up at Kaddar. "Did you teach him that?" she asked with a grin. Kaddar, who looked torn between joining their happy reunion and staying the stiff, distanced Emperor, smiled slightly down at her. "Yes, among a few other things." He held out his hand to help her up. Even with her newly acquired muscles, lifting her brother had become more difficult in the last few months. "You're getting heavy," she told him, and he grinned. Cat laughed and touched his nose, making him laugh more. She glanced at Kaddar, and he was staring at her with a look she recognized from their meeting two months back; it was wistful and affectionate, and as it had before it made her feel wonderful. She smiled back at him and for a second he seemed to lose his royal air, blushing and ducking his eyes away from her face. Once he regained his composure, he spoke. "Kathryn, tomorrow your test begins. You must get your rest and eat well tonight. I will show you to your room so you may change for dinner. Then you must sleep." He smiled stiffly. "Call me Cat, Kaddar." She reminded him as they set off up the many flights of richly carpeted stone stairs. To her surprise, he turned around to smile at her. "Right. I remember." As they headed silently towards Cat's room, she wondered what would happen if she failed Kaddar's test. Even scarier was the question of what would she do if she did pass. After a few minutes of moving endlessly up behind Kaddar, she decided that she would head to the city of Parija and rally her people to help over throw the Graspirans. The Parijian royalty was well known for being extremely kind to the common people, taking numerous trips to the city and working hard to keep them happy. The people loved their King, Queen, and all royalty; they would be happy to take back their country from Graspir. Before she realized, Kaddar walked towards a tall, light colored door and unlocked it with a key he had in his pocket. He saw her staring at it. "I'm the only one in the entire world with a key to this door. You'll be safe in here," he shrugged. Cat nodded and followed him in. The room was beautiful, all light colors and fresh-air scents. Everything felt light, airy, and comfortable; like a butterfly wing. Every entrance to the room seemed heavily guarded by magic, and they shimmered whenever Cat or Kaddar moved through them. Dimitri liked this effect so much that he busied himself walking back and forth through the doorways, Harlem following like the good guard dog he was. Both the Emperor and the Princess watched him for a minute, grinning until they realized they were just standing there. Kaddar jerked quickly, as if startled, and began showing her around. "This is your closet. you can keep your clothes in here. Over here is the washroom. changing closet.-" he stopped as Cat cut him off, grinning. "Kaddar. I know what these things are. I need to change, and I'm sure you must prepare for dinner as well." She smiled kindly as he blushed and began stuttering. "Yes. yes. I'll leave now. I'll see you shortly." He left the room, closing the door securely behind her. Cat grinned and headed to the closet, finding a silk dress there just as Kaddar had told her. He really was the complete opposite of Rahj. While Rahj was charming, friendly, flirty, and free, Kaddar was shy, polite, adorable, and structured. It boggled her mind how she could fall for two men who were complete opposites. She jumped at that thought, spooked. First of all, since when had she fallen for Kaddar? And secondly, why was she still falling for Rahj after he had been so rude days before? Now completely confused, Cat pulled on the silk dress and combed through her hair, tying it in a knot at the back of her head. She wiped a blotch of green coloring off of Dimitri's face and patted down his hair before walking out of the door. She was surprised to see Kaddar there waiting for her, dressed richly and looking completely different from when she had seen him minutes ago. He gaped at her, then blushed and looked away. He held out his arm to her. "Who are we eating dinner with, that you need all this fancy clothing?" she asked him. Kaddar stiffened slightly. "As you are supposedly dead, we are having dinner privately. The others think I am away having dinner with a noble somewhere." He explained. Cat nodded. Once they were seated, the food was served. Cat had not tasted anything so wonderful in months. Kaddar laughed at her excitement over the food. Dimitri was tired halfway through the third course and Kaddar called for a slave to take him to bed and watch him. Once they had finished, Kaddar began to escort her back to her room. It was a long journey, at least 10 minutes, so she offered to go alone. "Kaddar, I'm sure I would be fine on the way back. You don't have to come, if you'd rather go to your own bedchamber." She told him. Kaddar shook his head. "No. It is dangerous for you to go anywhere on your own, especially with you being who you are. With me here, I can explain your presence. I have been taught since I was a young child to always, under any circumstances, escort a woman anywhere she went. Plus, I have the only key to unlock your room and I want to walk you there." He grinned at her, and she laughed. "That many reasons, and I couldn't think of one of them. I must be tired." "Exactly. I must escort you in case you should fall asleep on your way up." Cat laughed again, and Kaddar grinned. The two royalties joked and talked all the way up to Cat's half-hidden room. When they arrived there, the slave Kaddar had called to take Dimitri let herself out of Cat's room. "He is asleep, majesties." She said while staring at the floor. Cat frowned, hating being called majesty while this girl would not look to her face. She tried to conceal that as the slave girl went hurriedly down to the kitchens. Finally, she couldn't anymore. "Thank you!" she called desperately after the girl. Either she was too far to hear, or she pretended not to. Cat made a face and turned back to Kaddar, who seemed to be fighting a smile. "What?" she demanded. Kaddar laughed finally. "Nothing. you just can't stand having people wait on you, that's all." He explained. "It just. should surprise me, but for some reason, it doesn't." "I don't like slavery," Cat stated firmly. "It's completely." she searched for a suitable word. "It's just wrong, and there's no way to defend it." She said. Kaddar shook his head. "Apparently, I should abolish slavery," Kaddar said, but his eyes were light and joking. Cat snorted. "It would certainly be a start," she said. Kaddar cocked his head at her. "Sometimes I wonder how you are a Princess," he told her. She shrugged. "That's Parija for you," she said. Once again, Kaddar laughed. "Well, Princess, it's time for me to leave now. Sleep well, because your test is tomorrow, and unless you want to stay here for more training, I'd do well on it." He took her hand and brought it up to his lips. Once he straightened, they both just stood there, unaware of what to do. Cat gave up and hugged him around the neck. He laughed quietly and hugged her back. When they pulled part of the way apart, they were once again unsure of what to do. Cat felt her stomach tumble nervously as Kaddar's face mirrored how she felt. Suddenly, to her surprise, Kaddar leaned in and kissed her on the lips. She was so shocked that she almost didn't see him pull away, bright red, and bid a quick farewell. In fact, she stood standing there in shock after he had turned and headed down the stone steps. Harlem finally barked at her from the open doorway, waking her from her trance. Silently, she walked in and closed the door behind her. She knelt and wrapped her arms around Harlem's neck. He very solemnly put a paw on her shoulder, as if he understood. Cat giggled and stood up. "You're sweet." She told him. He wagged his tail and looked happily up at her. She grinned and changed hurriedly into her nightclothes, and then checked on Dimitri. He was sound asleep. She kissed him on the forehead and then pulled his blanket up to cover him better. She climbed into bed and Harlem jumped up at the foot of the bed. He fell asleep easily on her feet. Cat wished she could fall asleep so easily. She cleared her mind of all males except for Harlem and Dimitri and was asleep before she knew it.
Chapter 5, Which One
Author's Note: I've figured out what to call Cat's country/island: Parija! It's kind of a mix between the names of Paris and Persia, but pronounce it however you wish. So when I talk about Parija or the Parijians, you'll know who it is. Ok, that's it. Read on (. AN-this gets a little too sappy/romancy for my liking. I apologize in advance. Sorry. I tried to re-write it, but it would take too long. Keep reading, it'll get better. Just. suffer through this chapter. Tear. ;) Ok I'm done now
Cat spent most of the time on her journey to Rahj's stable wondering what Daine meant by "which one you should chose". She was glad that the stable was on the way to the barge taking her to Carthak, because it was the one place she could stop and rest a few days to regain the animals' strength as well as her own. Within a little over a week, they were nearing the small town concealing Rahj's stable. Cat couldn't help but burst into a grin as they closed in on the small stable. A large outline of a man stepped into the entrance of the barn, and Harlem barked happily, loping towards the figure. Shadowdancer snorted and tried to break into a gallop, but Cat held her back. Not that she was trying to take her time, for her own heart was speeding up as well at the sight of him, but because she didn't want to accidentally run him over. She let the mare go at a lively trot, and they reached Rahj in no time. He laughed as the small mare shoved her delicate nose roughly into his hands, and, after a few moments, looked up at his young friend. His face broke into a wide grin and he moved to Shadowdancer's side and pulled Cat off her back. She flung her arms around his neck and he hugged her tightly back. When they pulled back, he kissed her smoothly, catching her off guard. She quickly relaxed, but when he let go she was breathless. "Hello," she whispered shyly. Rahj laughed and kissed her again briefly. "Hello, m'lady," he whispered in her ear, making her shiver slightly. "What took you so long?" he asked as he began to lead Shadowdancer to a stall. Cat shook her head and sighed. "My aunt was sicker than we'd anticipated. She's better now," she lied. Rahj grabbed her arm, and feeling her newly acquired muscles, raised his eyebrow at her. "Taking care of your aunt required this much arm strength?" he asked skeptically. Cat shrugged. "That and running her small farm for 2 months, yes." Rahj nodded, understanding, and ran his hands up and down her arms. Cat blushed again, as she was not used to having men touch her so voluntarily. When he bent in to kiss her again, she realized that she liked having him touch her, as long as he respected her. And he did. She smiled as he offered her his hand and led her to his room. "You can leave your things there, since you'll be staying there for the next few days," he said. Harlem lie down tiredly on the floor and promptly fell asleep. Rahj caught Cat's eye and they both laughed. Cat sat down heavily on the bed, also tired from her long journey. She looked up and caught the oddest expression on Rahj's face, and although she knew what was running through his mind, she acted as if she didn't. The look in his eyes was wild, barely under control. Just when she thought he would burst, he turned and looked at something on the wall. "So. how long do you think you'll be staying this time?" he asked, his voice much deeper and rougher than usual. Something inside her jumped and she had the strongest urge to grab him and kiss him, but held it back. "Maybe. a week. Shadowdancer should be well rested by then," she said, trying to keep her voice normal. Everything would be fine if we just get out of this room! Cat thought as her mind began to malfunction. Rahj laughed ironically. "You know she doesn't need a week to recover. You could leave tomorrow, if you wanted to." He said. Something in his voice was bitter and resentful, which annoyed her. "Alright, fine then, we'll be completely truthful here. I want to stay a week to be with you, and Shadowdancer's health is my excuse. Is that good enough for you?" she snapped, moody now. Rahj laughed and sat down next to her. "That's all I wanted to hear," he said. Suddenly, everything that had been there before was back, only hundreds of times stronger. Rahj's hands were shaking, she noticed, and her entire body was. "What is it?" he asked, his voice deep, rough, and shaky again. For a few moments, Cat wrestled with what she wanted to do more than anything and what she had to do, and finally her decision burst forth. "I need to check on Shadowdancer," she said, practically flinging herself off the bed and at the door. Once she was gone, Rahj sighed with disappointment. He was glad, though, that he had stopped trembling and was completely under control again. He fell back on the bed, rubbing his head, and then he got up to follow her. He found her in the stall with the mare, eyes closed and forehead against Shadowdancer's. Both breathed deeply, and it occurred to Rahj that they might be communicating in some way. He asked the mare politely if he could have a minute with Cat, and she agreed. She shook her head gently, waking Cat out of an almost-trance. Cat gasped when she saw him. "I'm sorry," Rahj said, leaning against the barn wall. "For what?" Cat asked. Rahj jerked his head in the direction of his room. "For that. Back there." He looked at her and she was looking confused. "I'm not sure what it was, but I know it wasn't your fault," Cat said. She refused to look him in the eye, afraid of what had happened before. He touched her arm gently. "It wasn't your fault either," he said, pulling her chin up to face him. Finally, she looked him in the eyes and relaxed; they were safe from whatever had held them captive before. Suddenly, Rahj looked questioning. "Who are you?" he asked. Cat shook her head and laughed, trying not to look nervous. "You know who I am. I'm Cat," she replied. Rahj shook his head, grabbing her arms and holding her in such a position that she couldn't move until he let her go. He sat down on the stall floor, forcing her to sit in his lap as well. "I want to know about your life. Your family." He demanded. Cat thought silently, wondering if she could tell him. After much debate, the fact that he was holding her so gently decided it for her that she would tell him. She knew she could trust him. "Rahj. I need to tell you something." Cat said shakily. "What is it?" he asked, sounding concerned. "Is there any way we can go somewhere private? It's a secret. a pretty big one." She asked. Rahj nodded. "Either my room or the loft, and right now I suggest we go to the loft. It's less. tempting, and plus if we were screaming up there, anyone below would hear nothing." He replied, and stood up, leading the way to the ladder. Cat followed him, still doubtful on whether it was safe to tell anyone about her secret. When he stopped and held out his hand to help her up, she realized once again that she could trust him. Once they reached the top of the loft, Cat sat down opposite him. She sighed, and then began. "Rahj, I'm not exactly who you think I am. I mean, I am Cat, but I'm also something that you wouldn't expect. I'm in hiding, you could say." She sighed and shook her head, but Rahj just smiled, urging her on. Cat forced herself to go on. "My real name is Princess Kathryn." She said, sighing with relief and looking nervously for his reaction. "You mean.? Parija? The Graspir attacks? But. they said everyone died. they said they killed everyone and took everything valuable and took hostages to torture. they said they might have taken one of the princesses to." he swallowed and looked at his friend. "to. torture. And then kill. You can't be her." Although he said this, Cat could tell he believed her. "I was out of the room when the attacks began. By the time I got back. everyone was dead. Except my sister. She was dying. She told me to get out while I could, and I did. From there I traveled on Shadowdancer to Carthak. It's a crowded city, I figured, so no one would recognize me. Unfortunately, I was arrested because of Harlem and Shadowdancer, them being so well bred and me being a supposed 'prostitute'. Anyways, they took me to the Emperor but he recognized me. He helped me out, gave me money, took in my brother. I owe him a lot. He sent me to two mages in Tortall- Pirate's Swoop. Daine Sarrasri and Numair Salmalin. They, along with Alanna the Lioness, trained me to fight. And now I'm on my way back to Carthak to see if I'll pass a test to become a warrior. You see, my sister's dying wish was that I take back my country, and I intend to. After that. I don't know. But that's my story- I'm a princess." Cat finished, afraid to see Rahj's response. He pulled her into a tight hug, and for the first time since the attacks, Cat let tears fall down her face. "Why didn't you tell me?" Rahj asked softly, but he knew why. Cat felt her body break into sobs as Rahj spoke soothingly into her ear. "I don't understand anything, Rahj. I can't handle this now." She said as he ran his fingers through her hair. "You know I'll help you. And you've got the Emperor of Carthak behind you. Not to mention the greatest warrior Tortall's ever seen, and two extremely powerful mages. And your family. And me." Rahj reminded her. For some reason, his point calmed her down. "You said yourself twice," she laughed gently. Rahj nodded. "That's because I wanted to make sure you knew I'm here for you." He answered. Cat realized that Rahj's voice was becoming deep and relaxing, that he was trying to help her go to sleep. "I know you are," she replied sleepily. Rahj lie down and Cat followed suit, laying her face on his chest and relaxing even more as his arm wrapped around her. Within minutes, Cat was asleep, but Rahj lay awake, stroking her hair and thinking. He had in his arms one of the only heirs to the small throne of a southern island, and he loved her. But she was a princess, and he was a stable boy. Although he outdid her in age, she was, by stature and wealth, much higher than him. Part of him said that she was a smart girl and knew what she was getting herself into, but another nasty part of him screamed that she was too young to know even what she wanted, or if what she wanted was what she needed. He knew that once she had her throne back, she would be forced to leave him. His two choices were to let her figure it out on her own, or to break things up now before anyone got more attached. No, he thought angrily. I promised to be there for her. Confused, he decided to let it go. He kissed her forehead, then her lips, and fell asleep. The next morning Cat woke up extremely early to find Rahj still asleep. They spent the next week together, inseparable. Each night was spent talking in the loft, where they often fell asleep like they had the first time. Although they were now closer than ever, Cat noticed that at times he was distant, almost nervous. On the last day, she realized why. As they got her few items and Shadowdancer ready for the trip ahead, Rahj was edgy and uncomfortable, refusing to touch her for very long or keep eye contact. Confused, Cat asked him about it. "Rahj, is something wrong? Why are you acting so strange? Yesterday you had no problem kissing me, and now you won't even look at me." She had trouble keeping her voice from cracking. Rahj sighed, angrily slamming the saddle down. "I promised that I'd always be there for you, and I swear I will, but Cat, do you realize who you are and who I am? Who would accept a princess and a stable boy together?" he asked. Cat sat, open mouthed in shock. So that's what bothered him. She took his hand and cornered him against the wall. "Rahj, I don't care about that. I need you for life to make sense." She pleaded. Rahj looked at her for a long time, then shoved past. "You don't understand how much you're ruining your life by me. I'm sure someone else would love you just as much and they might have a proper background." At this, Cat became angry. "So I'm just a silly little girl who has no idea what in Goddess' name she's doing? And I can't make my own decisions because I don't really know what's going on?" she demanded, once again cornering him. He backed away from her but still fought back. "No, but you're too young to make decisions that might ruin your life. I can't let you make one of those, even if it makes me happy." He snapped. Cat frowned. "I know very well what won't and will ruin my life, and I know for a fact that you could in no way ever ruin it. Just by being in it, you've made it better. My people value brains as well as heart's desires and true love, and many of our past kings and queens were once lowly peasants. My own mother was a washer girl for the queen, and my father fell in love with her. Now she-" Cat swallowed and re-worded "-and she was queen." Rahj did not respond but tightened Shadowdancer's girth. "You're ready to leave now," he said stiffly, holding out the reins for her. She looked from the reins to Rahj, and her eyes filled with tears. She grabbed his hand, dropping the reins and pulled herself into his presence. She kissed him, gently then roughly, again and again until he kissed her back with just as much emotion. After several minutes, he pushed himself away from her. "No," he said, eyes angry and bright at the same time. He turned abruptly and left her to mount and leave on her own. Harlem whined and looked after him, and then up at Cat uncertainly. She shook her head and mounted Shadowdancer. Before she could get off, she kicked the mare and galloped crazily out of the barn, not looking back. For days Cat rode in silence, never eating much and always tired. They reached the barge in record time and were soon in Carthak. When she arrived, a small dark man showed her a secret entrance to Kaddar's wing of the palace. He was happy to see her; it was apparent in his features. Her heart was bursting in excitement to see her brother. Kaddar walked slowly towards her, a small boy in tow holding his hand. Before Cat could control herself, she broke into a run and crouched to hug her little brother. "Dimitri," she squeaked, joyful tears streaming down her face. He giggled and wrapped his tiny fists in her long free hair. "'Kat," he murmured. "Wecome back!" at this, Cat laughed in surprise and looked up at Kaddar. "Did you teach him that?" she asked with a grin. Kaddar, who looked torn between joining their happy reunion and staying the stiff, distanced Emperor, smiled slightly down at her. "Yes, among a few other things." He held out his hand to help her up. Even with her newly acquired muscles, lifting her brother had become more difficult in the last few months. "You're getting heavy," she told him, and he grinned. Cat laughed and touched his nose, making him laugh more. She glanced at Kaddar, and he was staring at her with a look she recognized from their meeting two months back; it was wistful and affectionate, and as it had before it made her feel wonderful. She smiled back at him and for a second he seemed to lose his royal air, blushing and ducking his eyes away from her face. Once he regained his composure, he spoke. "Kathryn, tomorrow your test begins. You must get your rest and eat well tonight. I will show you to your room so you may change for dinner. Then you must sleep." He smiled stiffly. "Call me Cat, Kaddar." She reminded him as they set off up the many flights of richly carpeted stone stairs. To her surprise, he turned around to smile at her. "Right. I remember." As they headed silently towards Cat's room, she wondered what would happen if she failed Kaddar's test. Even scarier was the question of what would she do if she did pass. After a few minutes of moving endlessly up behind Kaddar, she decided that she would head to the city of Parija and rally her people to help over throw the Graspirans. The Parijian royalty was well known for being extremely kind to the common people, taking numerous trips to the city and working hard to keep them happy. The people loved their King, Queen, and all royalty; they would be happy to take back their country from Graspir. Before she realized, Kaddar walked towards a tall, light colored door and unlocked it with a key he had in his pocket. He saw her staring at it. "I'm the only one in the entire world with a key to this door. You'll be safe in here," he shrugged. Cat nodded and followed him in. The room was beautiful, all light colors and fresh-air scents. Everything felt light, airy, and comfortable; like a butterfly wing. Every entrance to the room seemed heavily guarded by magic, and they shimmered whenever Cat or Kaddar moved through them. Dimitri liked this effect so much that he busied himself walking back and forth through the doorways, Harlem following like the good guard dog he was. Both the Emperor and the Princess watched him for a minute, grinning until they realized they were just standing there. Kaddar jerked quickly, as if startled, and began showing her around. "This is your closet. you can keep your clothes in here. Over here is the washroom. changing closet.-" he stopped as Cat cut him off, grinning. "Kaddar. I know what these things are. I need to change, and I'm sure you must prepare for dinner as well." She smiled kindly as he blushed and began stuttering. "Yes. yes. I'll leave now. I'll see you shortly." He left the room, closing the door securely behind her. Cat grinned and headed to the closet, finding a silk dress there just as Kaddar had told her. He really was the complete opposite of Rahj. While Rahj was charming, friendly, flirty, and free, Kaddar was shy, polite, adorable, and structured. It boggled her mind how she could fall for two men who were complete opposites. She jumped at that thought, spooked. First of all, since when had she fallen for Kaddar? And secondly, why was she still falling for Rahj after he had been so rude days before? Now completely confused, Cat pulled on the silk dress and combed through her hair, tying it in a knot at the back of her head. She wiped a blotch of green coloring off of Dimitri's face and patted down his hair before walking out of the door. She was surprised to see Kaddar there waiting for her, dressed richly and looking completely different from when she had seen him minutes ago. He gaped at her, then blushed and looked away. He held out his arm to her. "Who are we eating dinner with, that you need all this fancy clothing?" she asked him. Kaddar stiffened slightly. "As you are supposedly dead, we are having dinner privately. The others think I am away having dinner with a noble somewhere." He explained. Cat nodded. Once they were seated, the food was served. Cat had not tasted anything so wonderful in months. Kaddar laughed at her excitement over the food. Dimitri was tired halfway through the third course and Kaddar called for a slave to take him to bed and watch him. Once they had finished, Kaddar began to escort her back to her room. It was a long journey, at least 10 minutes, so she offered to go alone. "Kaddar, I'm sure I would be fine on the way back. You don't have to come, if you'd rather go to your own bedchamber." She told him. Kaddar shook his head. "No. It is dangerous for you to go anywhere on your own, especially with you being who you are. With me here, I can explain your presence. I have been taught since I was a young child to always, under any circumstances, escort a woman anywhere she went. Plus, I have the only key to unlock your room and I want to walk you there." He grinned at her, and she laughed. "That many reasons, and I couldn't think of one of them. I must be tired." "Exactly. I must escort you in case you should fall asleep on your way up." Cat laughed again, and Kaddar grinned. The two royalties joked and talked all the way up to Cat's half-hidden room. When they arrived there, the slave Kaddar had called to take Dimitri let herself out of Cat's room. "He is asleep, majesties." She said while staring at the floor. Cat frowned, hating being called majesty while this girl would not look to her face. She tried to conceal that as the slave girl went hurriedly down to the kitchens. Finally, she couldn't anymore. "Thank you!" she called desperately after the girl. Either she was too far to hear, or she pretended not to. Cat made a face and turned back to Kaddar, who seemed to be fighting a smile. "What?" she demanded. Kaddar laughed finally. "Nothing. you just can't stand having people wait on you, that's all." He explained. "It just. should surprise me, but for some reason, it doesn't." "I don't like slavery," Cat stated firmly. "It's completely." she searched for a suitable word. "It's just wrong, and there's no way to defend it." She said. Kaddar shook his head. "Apparently, I should abolish slavery," Kaddar said, but his eyes were light and joking. Cat snorted. "It would certainly be a start," she said. Kaddar cocked his head at her. "Sometimes I wonder how you are a Princess," he told her. She shrugged. "That's Parija for you," she said. Once again, Kaddar laughed. "Well, Princess, it's time for me to leave now. Sleep well, because your test is tomorrow, and unless you want to stay here for more training, I'd do well on it." He took her hand and brought it up to his lips. Once he straightened, they both just stood there, unaware of what to do. Cat gave up and hugged him around the neck. He laughed quietly and hugged her back. When they pulled part of the way apart, they were once again unsure of what to do. Cat felt her stomach tumble nervously as Kaddar's face mirrored how she felt. Suddenly, to her surprise, Kaddar leaned in and kissed her on the lips. She was so shocked that she almost didn't see him pull away, bright red, and bid a quick farewell. In fact, she stood standing there in shock after he had turned and headed down the stone steps. Harlem finally barked at her from the open doorway, waking her from her trance. Silently, she walked in and closed the door behind her. She knelt and wrapped her arms around Harlem's neck. He very solemnly put a paw on her shoulder, as if he understood. Cat giggled and stood up. "You're sweet." She told him. He wagged his tail and looked happily up at her. She grinned and changed hurriedly into her nightclothes, and then checked on Dimitri. He was sound asleep. She kissed him on the forehead and then pulled his blanket up to cover him better. She climbed into bed and Harlem jumped up at the foot of the bed. He fell asleep easily on her feet. Cat wished she could fall asleep so easily. She cleared her mind of all males except for Harlem and Dimitri and was asleep before she knew it.