It was coming on spring, and Paige was getting down to business. She
wanted Jai to get out of his lurking-around-corners-scaring-the-wits-out-of-
everyone phase and Raine out of her woe-is-me-men-suck phase. It wasn't
going to be easy. Especially with people as stubborn as they, but she was
confident she could do it. After all, she did come from a family of
matchmakers did she not?
That afternoon she headed down into the city, and wound through the stalls in the market, the merchants bellowing about their wares. She was greeted by some, and scowled at by others, she paid them no mind and continued until she reached a small, brightly painted door with the symbols of the gods on the wooden sign above it, signifying a mage-for-hire.
The door creaked on its ancient hinges as she pushed it open and was greeted by the familiar scents of peppermint, citrus, clove, jasmine, and the spicy tang of ginger. She took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dimly lit interior. There were candles in decorative holders that were very much like wedding lanterns casting specks of color onto the ceiling. An old, white-haired woman sat in an armchair before the fire, whilst a short, brown-haired and –eyed woman sat in a chair at the other end of the room by a window, doing needlework. The younger woman jumped up when she saw her.
"Paige!" She walked over and embraced the girl.
Paige returned the embrace. " Hello Mama".
Liriana lead Paige over to a chair opposite hers, and searched Paige's eyes. "What is it that troubles you?" She sat back comfortably. " You wouldn't be here otherwise."
She felt herself burning pink. "Mama." Liriana laughed, a musical sound like temple bells. "Oh all right. How do I get two friends of mine who truly like eachother to…"
"Fall in love?" Her mother supplied, her eyes twinkling with mirth.
"Well… yes. But you see, I think that they already truly do, but they're just to shy, stubborn, and full of pride to do it themselves."
"Oh, my dear, you've got a tough case, but I think we can remedy that." Paige watched as her mother wandered over to a locked cabinet. She produced the key from a chain around her neck, and the cabinet door swung open. Liriana began rummaging through bottles, explaining to her rapt student as she did so. "There are several ways, dearest, but I think that the most effective would be…."
* * *
"Starbrook?" Thayet muttered. "Yui told me as much, but they said that the girl of theirs was…well, dead. I didn't really believe it."
Myles shook his head. "Can't you tell from her looks, Thayet?" He smiled at the look of absolute bewilderment that crossed her face. "She's got the classic look. Her skin's too dark to be full blood-Tortallan, Scanran, or even Gallan, and too light to be full Bazhir. It's like the color of…" He searched for a good simile. "The color of tea with cream."
Thayet smiled rather sheepishly. "I knew she was pretty, but I'm afraid I'm not as avid a scholar as you, Myles. I hadn't really given much thought to her heritage." She sighed. "I suppose I wanted to think she was just an ordinary girl, who happened to look a lot like a noble. Like that identical stranger theory Numair's been trying to make fly for years."
Myles nodded absently as stood from his seat, and shifted his rumpled tunic self-consciously. Placing a hand on his forehead, he began to massage his temples and pace simultaneously. "We're going to have to approach this carefully. She'll be afraid… why else would a noble, a young noble, leave their home in such a manner? Unless…" The pacing ceased, and he looked up, not really seeing. His eyes were haunted as he silently put a theory together in his mind.
"Myles?" Thayet asked quietly, sitting up straight. "I can see the wheels in your head turning, what are you thinking?"
He came back to reality with a start, the theory settling firmly in his mind. "Well, think about it, Thayet. Why did you leave Sarain?"
Thayet's face darkened. "I was not about to have my future bartered away like grain. Especially after…" She trailed off. "But why would a noble in Tortall do that? We're not torn by unrest or warring clans."
"No, but some of our noble families are a little more…colorful than the others." Myles pointed out thoughtfully.
Thayet took a moment to digest this. Then she nodded firmly. "You're right. There are a few of them that are rather deceitful. I never knew much about the Starbrook clan. Are they an older family?"
Myles nodded gravely. "They are; although they all but disappeared from the map until not too long ago. Their name is in The Book of Gold, and they have given almost as many knights to the crown as Naxen or Queenscove." He sat again. "It is a wonder that Raine and Lady Sapphire are related."
"That's true," Thayet agreed. "Sapphire is much like the late Lady Delia."
Jezebel wandered in, looking sheepish. "Excuse me, my Lady, Sir Myles, but Raine is here for tea, ma'am."
"Thank you, Jez. Send her in, would you?" Thayet asked, sitting up straight. The maid nodded and left. "Well, here goes everything."
* * *
Raine's breath caught in her chest as she stepped into the Queen's study. Sir Myles was there, and right away she knew what they wanted to talk about. She felt the color momentarily leave her face. Biting her lip, she curtsied, then sat where the queen motioned.
They served tea, both Thayet and Myles sipping theirs. It was silent in the room for a few moments. Raine played idly with the handle-less teacup she held. She traced the outline of a leaf with her finger then placed it back on the tray. Myles cleared his throat. She looked up, her hands folding and refolding in her lap.
"We need to talk, Raine." Thayet began.
"I gathered as much, your Majesty." She interrupted. Instantly she wished that she could take it back. "Begging your pardon, ma'am."
Thayet smiled warmly. "It's all right dear, perfectly all right. We just need to discuss some things with you." Her gaze darted to Myles then back to Raine. "You never told me where you were from, dear. As your employer, it seems that I should know such things, should I not?"
"You should." Raine agreed quietly. She knew it would come to this, and silently she slapped herself a hundred times over for not taking care of this at the beginning.
"So." Thayet said pointedly.
"Don't worry child, whatever it is you ran away from cannot touch you here." Myles told her, and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. It was reassuring, as it was intended to be, but she cringed all the same.
"Why don't we start with your true name?" Thayet asked quietly.
"Raine is my true name." She whispered. "Although not all of it." She swallowed, clenching and unclenching her hands. "My full name, is Lady Raine Nanaimo of fief Starbrook." She looked down. Her voice rose as she grew more confident with each word. "And the tattoo that everyone keeps whispering about is the one I'm sure Sir Myles has just told you about." She looked up, smiling wryly. "Because unless I'm being paranoid, people have been checking my arms every chance they get."
Thayet smiled at the girl, although her eyes were worried. "Then you're not dead."
Raine laughed. "Hardly. My family is not something I wish to belong to." She swallowed. "And I would rather my sister did not learn of this, if that's acceptable." Thayet nodded, and Raine let out a sigh of relief.
After that, the subject was dropped, Thayet deciding that the rest of the discussion was better kept for a more private time and place. No one noticed the figure that slipped out the door from the shadows after Raine revealed her true identity.
* * *
Paige hummed a song to herself while she moved around her room. It was small, no bigger than most closets really, but it was her own, and felt more like home to her than anywhere else in the world. She pulled open a barely visible drawer in her night table, pushing aside different packets of herbs until she found what she was looking for. Smiling to herself, she pulled out the packet of herbal tea. It was one of her own mixtures, a potent blend of chamomile, lavender, peppermint, and citrus extracts, designed to make the drinker calm, and depending on the dosage, induce a calm, peaceful sleep.
She laughed at herself. She really did seem like a rather evil woman, standing here, mixing potions to feed to her friends. Her laughter subsiding into an insistent case of giggles, she tucked the packet into her apron pocket, and left the room.
* * *
"What do you think?" Roald whispered to Paige's Corona as he walked her along the trails of the Royal forest. He had just finished retelling the last few months to the horse. "Did I do right?" The horse snorted derisively." Aw… Who am I kidding? I should have told her." His blue eyes hardened. "In fact…" He looked up and saw the turrets of the castle through the leaves of the trees, which were getting thinner and thinner- a sure sign that he was reaching the edge of the forest. "Perhaps it's not to late to apologize." He all but jumped onto Corona's back, and the pair flew up to the castle.
* * *
Raine read the note that had been stuck on her pillow, and her fingers clenched around it unconsciously. The paper crumpled up in her grasp, forming a small, tight ball. It was from Paige- asking her to come to tea this afternoon. She had been afraid for weeks before to face them, then she had, and she and Paige were starting to get back to the way things were before, but she couldn't bear being in the same room with Jai for more than a few moments.
She knew that Paige was planning to have them all "talk", as she so lightly put it. But Raine didn't want to talk. She never wanted to have to speak to Jai again. "He lied to me." She murmured, trying to reassure herself. Inhaling deeply, she shut her eyes tightly and tried to envision herself as a calm being. Letting it out slowly, she told herself that she had to talk to him sooner or later. And the sooner, the easier.
Walking over to her wardrobe, she tucked the paper into her pocket, trying to smooth out the worst of the wrinkles her involuntary reaction had created. She opened the doors with gentle fingers, and pulled out a white dress with an odd filmy gauze over it. The gauze shimmered in the light, like a faceted gem. Fingering the soft material, she lay the dress on her bed. She turned back and pulled out the soft leather shoes that went with the dress.
"If I'm going, I may as well look good." She murmured to herself, as though the petty reassurances would make her any less nervous.
Gingerly, she untied her apron and unbuttoned her blouse. One sleeve slipped down her arm, and she glared at the tattoo, wishing that she could be rid of the damned marking. She slipped the soft gown over her head, smiling at the soft shooshing sound the material made against her skin. Looking at the reflection in the mirror, she was awed to see another person. It was the girl she was brought up to be… not the Raine that everyone here knew. She sighed at her reflection, and was contemplating taking the dress off, and changing back into her work clothes when someone pounded on her door.
"I-It's open." She said loudly, setting her stance so she could defend herself if she had to, making sure the latch on the window was off, so she could get out.
The door opened a crack, and a dark-haired head peered in. When the person saw her, the door creaked open the rest of the way, and Jai stood before her, hands clasped behind his back, obviously trying not to let his jaw drop.
"It's just a dress." Raine said coldly, dropping the fighting stance, and standing with her own hands flat at her sides.
He ducked his head. "I can see that. It looks good on you," he murmured.
"Thank you." She said curtly, grabbing the brush off her chest of drawers, and pulling the two sticks that held her hair up out, letting it tumble over her shoulders in thick waves. She ran the brush through it, waiting for him to say something. Finally she spun, hold the brush out like a sword. "What do you want, Jasson?"
"I want…" He looked up from studying his feet. He strode over and clasped one of her hands, while she resisted the urge to pull away; she glared into those sapphire eyes. "I want you to forgive me."
"Why should I forgive you?" She demanded, pulling her hand away and stepping back. "You lied to me. From the very first, you lied. And you continued lying."
"And what about you?" He retorted, whilst his thoughts of apology floating away like apple blossoms in the wind.
"Excuse me?"
"Lady Raine of Starbrook." He spat back. " Lady Raine Nanaimo of fief Starbrook? Apparently I'm not the only one who lied, Raine." He glared at her.
For a moment they stood there simply glaring, each daring the other to break eye contact. Finally, Raine's face melted into a smile, and she started to chuckle, then to laugh hysterically. Without meaning to, Jai began to laugh as well. Still laughing, Raine walked to him, and hugged him. They clung to eachother until their laughter subsided.
"Can I assume that my apology is accepted?" He asked quietly.
"Only if mine is as well," she murmured into his chest. He gripped her upper arms in his hands and pushed her away so that he could look her in the eyes.
"It is. Do you believe me, that I'd never hurt you on purpose?" Blue searched green.
"I do." She swallowed hard, closing her eyes, then looked back up at him. "Even if you are a prince."
"I'm a human being first and foremost." He explained, releasing her arms.
Nodding mutely, she took one of his hands in hers. "Let's go for a walk, shall we? I heard that the orchard is particularly beautiful this time of year."
"It is that," and the two friends walked hand and hand toward the stand of blossoming fruit trees.
* * *
The Lady Sapphire looked out a window in her sitting room, and grimaced. There was Prince Jasson again, walking along with that girl who was so familiar. She was almost like…Like her sister. But that couldn't be possible, could it?
She spun like a caged beast; warily eyeing the door that had clicked open. A pair of bright blue eyes peeked around it. Sapphire breathed a sigh of relief. "Leaf, get in here." She snapped.
The tall, thin young man edged inside, a lock of his messy blonde hair falling in his large, bright eyes. "You wanted me, Sapphire?" Sapphire raised an eyebrow, frowning slightly. "Lady Sapphire," he corrected, bowing almost imperceptibly.
"Yes. I want you to find out who that wench the prince is spending all his time with is. I need to know the competition before I can alter the balance." Leaf gulped, and bowed again.
"Yes, milady." Then he edged back out the room. The blonde turned back to the window, her face scrunched up in a petulant scowl. This girl would have to be taken care of, and soon."
* * *
"So tell me of your life before you came here." Jasson demanded, running fingers through his dark hair. "I mean- your hobbies, everyday chores…give me a sense of…"
"Normalcy?" Raine suggested pertly.
"Yes," he said, taking her suggestion, and giving her a sidelong glance. "Normalcy."
She shrugged. "There's really nothing all that interesting."
"Oh I doubt that."
She sighed grudgingly. "Fine. But let's sit down somewhere, it's a rather long story to tell."
"Okay." The two walked a little further, and sat on a stone bench under a particularly flowery cherry tree. "Now we're sitting. So talk," he cocked his head to one side, and gazed at her intently.
"Well…" She didn't quite know where to start. "I guess…"
"What was your daily schedule?" He asked, giving her a relatively simply topic.
She smiled. "Okay. Well… First I woke up an hour before dawn, and practiced unarmed combat. My parents didn't know I was doing it, but my brother- Vaughn- he was teaching me. He went to the Shangs for a while, but he had to come home because of an injury," she explained. All the while moving her hands as she spoke.
As she continued, Jai was caught up in the sheer musicality of her voice. He forgot all sense of space and time, even where he was and who might see them there together, just being woven into the spell of her words. Transfixed by the calm she seemed to resonate, and the sorcery she seemed to cast with that movement of her hands…
* * *
Leaf slunk through the brush about twenty paces behind the twosome, disgusted with himself for doing what Sapphire bid him. Every now and again he caught snatches of conversation. He smiled to himself. They were rather cute together, but then he remembered Sapphire's plan, and the smile turned into a wince. He wished he'd never gotten involved with the Starbrook clan, Sapphire least of all.
He crept around the large peach tree across from the largest of the cherry trees so he could get a look at the girl's face. Her head was down, and she was motioning with her hands as she spoke, although Leaf couldn't hear the words, he could almost imagine what they were. The wind blew, scattering the blossoms of the trees and a lock of her long mahogany colored hair into her eyes. She whipped her head up, shoving the hair behind her ear, and Leaf gasped, stumbling backwards into the grass. He ran as fast as he could away from there, and when he reached the inner suites of the palace, he burst into Sapphire's rooms without knocking, red in the face and breathing hard...
"Leaf?! What is the meaning-" She cried, jumping out of her seat, her embroidery dropping to the floor.
"It's Raine," he gasped. "She's here. She's her…."
* * *
A/N: Well? What'd you guys think? I know it's been a while… a very long while, but I hope you liked this part. I'm going to be able to post more often now because my computer is finally back online. So- tell me what you think of Raine 6, please! Flame if you like, although I don't think I've written anything flame-worthy. I promise I won't get too upset. *grin*
~Cass
That afternoon she headed down into the city, and wound through the stalls in the market, the merchants bellowing about their wares. She was greeted by some, and scowled at by others, she paid them no mind and continued until she reached a small, brightly painted door with the symbols of the gods on the wooden sign above it, signifying a mage-for-hire.
The door creaked on its ancient hinges as she pushed it open and was greeted by the familiar scents of peppermint, citrus, clove, jasmine, and the spicy tang of ginger. She took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dimly lit interior. There were candles in decorative holders that were very much like wedding lanterns casting specks of color onto the ceiling. An old, white-haired woman sat in an armchair before the fire, whilst a short, brown-haired and –eyed woman sat in a chair at the other end of the room by a window, doing needlework. The younger woman jumped up when she saw her.
"Paige!" She walked over and embraced the girl.
Paige returned the embrace. " Hello Mama".
Liriana lead Paige over to a chair opposite hers, and searched Paige's eyes. "What is it that troubles you?" She sat back comfortably. " You wouldn't be here otherwise."
She felt herself burning pink. "Mama." Liriana laughed, a musical sound like temple bells. "Oh all right. How do I get two friends of mine who truly like eachother to…"
"Fall in love?" Her mother supplied, her eyes twinkling with mirth.
"Well… yes. But you see, I think that they already truly do, but they're just to shy, stubborn, and full of pride to do it themselves."
"Oh, my dear, you've got a tough case, but I think we can remedy that." Paige watched as her mother wandered over to a locked cabinet. She produced the key from a chain around her neck, and the cabinet door swung open. Liriana began rummaging through bottles, explaining to her rapt student as she did so. "There are several ways, dearest, but I think that the most effective would be…."
* * *
"Starbrook?" Thayet muttered. "Yui told me as much, but they said that the girl of theirs was…well, dead. I didn't really believe it."
Myles shook his head. "Can't you tell from her looks, Thayet?" He smiled at the look of absolute bewilderment that crossed her face. "She's got the classic look. Her skin's too dark to be full blood-Tortallan, Scanran, or even Gallan, and too light to be full Bazhir. It's like the color of…" He searched for a good simile. "The color of tea with cream."
Thayet smiled rather sheepishly. "I knew she was pretty, but I'm afraid I'm not as avid a scholar as you, Myles. I hadn't really given much thought to her heritage." She sighed. "I suppose I wanted to think she was just an ordinary girl, who happened to look a lot like a noble. Like that identical stranger theory Numair's been trying to make fly for years."
Myles nodded absently as stood from his seat, and shifted his rumpled tunic self-consciously. Placing a hand on his forehead, he began to massage his temples and pace simultaneously. "We're going to have to approach this carefully. She'll be afraid… why else would a noble, a young noble, leave their home in such a manner? Unless…" The pacing ceased, and he looked up, not really seeing. His eyes were haunted as he silently put a theory together in his mind.
"Myles?" Thayet asked quietly, sitting up straight. "I can see the wheels in your head turning, what are you thinking?"
He came back to reality with a start, the theory settling firmly in his mind. "Well, think about it, Thayet. Why did you leave Sarain?"
Thayet's face darkened. "I was not about to have my future bartered away like grain. Especially after…" She trailed off. "But why would a noble in Tortall do that? We're not torn by unrest or warring clans."
"No, but some of our noble families are a little more…colorful than the others." Myles pointed out thoughtfully.
Thayet took a moment to digest this. Then she nodded firmly. "You're right. There are a few of them that are rather deceitful. I never knew much about the Starbrook clan. Are they an older family?"
Myles nodded gravely. "They are; although they all but disappeared from the map until not too long ago. Their name is in The Book of Gold, and they have given almost as many knights to the crown as Naxen or Queenscove." He sat again. "It is a wonder that Raine and Lady Sapphire are related."
"That's true," Thayet agreed. "Sapphire is much like the late Lady Delia."
Jezebel wandered in, looking sheepish. "Excuse me, my Lady, Sir Myles, but Raine is here for tea, ma'am."
"Thank you, Jez. Send her in, would you?" Thayet asked, sitting up straight. The maid nodded and left. "Well, here goes everything."
* * *
Raine's breath caught in her chest as she stepped into the Queen's study. Sir Myles was there, and right away she knew what they wanted to talk about. She felt the color momentarily leave her face. Biting her lip, she curtsied, then sat where the queen motioned.
They served tea, both Thayet and Myles sipping theirs. It was silent in the room for a few moments. Raine played idly with the handle-less teacup she held. She traced the outline of a leaf with her finger then placed it back on the tray. Myles cleared his throat. She looked up, her hands folding and refolding in her lap.
"We need to talk, Raine." Thayet began.
"I gathered as much, your Majesty." She interrupted. Instantly she wished that she could take it back. "Begging your pardon, ma'am."
Thayet smiled warmly. "It's all right dear, perfectly all right. We just need to discuss some things with you." Her gaze darted to Myles then back to Raine. "You never told me where you were from, dear. As your employer, it seems that I should know such things, should I not?"
"You should." Raine agreed quietly. She knew it would come to this, and silently she slapped herself a hundred times over for not taking care of this at the beginning.
"So." Thayet said pointedly.
"Don't worry child, whatever it is you ran away from cannot touch you here." Myles told her, and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. It was reassuring, as it was intended to be, but she cringed all the same.
"Why don't we start with your true name?" Thayet asked quietly.
"Raine is my true name." She whispered. "Although not all of it." She swallowed, clenching and unclenching her hands. "My full name, is Lady Raine Nanaimo of fief Starbrook." She looked down. Her voice rose as she grew more confident with each word. "And the tattoo that everyone keeps whispering about is the one I'm sure Sir Myles has just told you about." She looked up, smiling wryly. "Because unless I'm being paranoid, people have been checking my arms every chance they get."
Thayet smiled at the girl, although her eyes were worried. "Then you're not dead."
Raine laughed. "Hardly. My family is not something I wish to belong to." She swallowed. "And I would rather my sister did not learn of this, if that's acceptable." Thayet nodded, and Raine let out a sigh of relief.
After that, the subject was dropped, Thayet deciding that the rest of the discussion was better kept for a more private time and place. No one noticed the figure that slipped out the door from the shadows after Raine revealed her true identity.
* * *
Paige hummed a song to herself while she moved around her room. It was small, no bigger than most closets really, but it was her own, and felt more like home to her than anywhere else in the world. She pulled open a barely visible drawer in her night table, pushing aside different packets of herbs until she found what she was looking for. Smiling to herself, she pulled out the packet of herbal tea. It was one of her own mixtures, a potent blend of chamomile, lavender, peppermint, and citrus extracts, designed to make the drinker calm, and depending on the dosage, induce a calm, peaceful sleep.
She laughed at herself. She really did seem like a rather evil woman, standing here, mixing potions to feed to her friends. Her laughter subsiding into an insistent case of giggles, she tucked the packet into her apron pocket, and left the room.
* * *
"What do you think?" Roald whispered to Paige's Corona as he walked her along the trails of the Royal forest. He had just finished retelling the last few months to the horse. "Did I do right?" The horse snorted derisively." Aw… Who am I kidding? I should have told her." His blue eyes hardened. "In fact…" He looked up and saw the turrets of the castle through the leaves of the trees, which were getting thinner and thinner- a sure sign that he was reaching the edge of the forest. "Perhaps it's not to late to apologize." He all but jumped onto Corona's back, and the pair flew up to the castle.
* * *
Raine read the note that had been stuck on her pillow, and her fingers clenched around it unconsciously. The paper crumpled up in her grasp, forming a small, tight ball. It was from Paige- asking her to come to tea this afternoon. She had been afraid for weeks before to face them, then she had, and she and Paige were starting to get back to the way things were before, but she couldn't bear being in the same room with Jai for more than a few moments.
She knew that Paige was planning to have them all "talk", as she so lightly put it. But Raine didn't want to talk. She never wanted to have to speak to Jai again. "He lied to me." She murmured, trying to reassure herself. Inhaling deeply, she shut her eyes tightly and tried to envision herself as a calm being. Letting it out slowly, she told herself that she had to talk to him sooner or later. And the sooner, the easier.
Walking over to her wardrobe, she tucked the paper into her pocket, trying to smooth out the worst of the wrinkles her involuntary reaction had created. She opened the doors with gentle fingers, and pulled out a white dress with an odd filmy gauze over it. The gauze shimmered in the light, like a faceted gem. Fingering the soft material, she lay the dress on her bed. She turned back and pulled out the soft leather shoes that went with the dress.
"If I'm going, I may as well look good." She murmured to herself, as though the petty reassurances would make her any less nervous.
Gingerly, she untied her apron and unbuttoned her blouse. One sleeve slipped down her arm, and she glared at the tattoo, wishing that she could be rid of the damned marking. She slipped the soft gown over her head, smiling at the soft shooshing sound the material made against her skin. Looking at the reflection in the mirror, she was awed to see another person. It was the girl she was brought up to be… not the Raine that everyone here knew. She sighed at her reflection, and was contemplating taking the dress off, and changing back into her work clothes when someone pounded on her door.
"I-It's open." She said loudly, setting her stance so she could defend herself if she had to, making sure the latch on the window was off, so she could get out.
The door opened a crack, and a dark-haired head peered in. When the person saw her, the door creaked open the rest of the way, and Jai stood before her, hands clasped behind his back, obviously trying not to let his jaw drop.
"It's just a dress." Raine said coldly, dropping the fighting stance, and standing with her own hands flat at her sides.
He ducked his head. "I can see that. It looks good on you," he murmured.
"Thank you." She said curtly, grabbing the brush off her chest of drawers, and pulling the two sticks that held her hair up out, letting it tumble over her shoulders in thick waves. She ran the brush through it, waiting for him to say something. Finally she spun, hold the brush out like a sword. "What do you want, Jasson?"
"I want…" He looked up from studying his feet. He strode over and clasped one of her hands, while she resisted the urge to pull away; she glared into those sapphire eyes. "I want you to forgive me."
"Why should I forgive you?" She demanded, pulling her hand away and stepping back. "You lied to me. From the very first, you lied. And you continued lying."
"And what about you?" He retorted, whilst his thoughts of apology floating away like apple blossoms in the wind.
"Excuse me?"
"Lady Raine of Starbrook." He spat back. " Lady Raine Nanaimo of fief Starbrook? Apparently I'm not the only one who lied, Raine." He glared at her.
For a moment they stood there simply glaring, each daring the other to break eye contact. Finally, Raine's face melted into a smile, and she started to chuckle, then to laugh hysterically. Without meaning to, Jai began to laugh as well. Still laughing, Raine walked to him, and hugged him. They clung to eachother until their laughter subsided.
"Can I assume that my apology is accepted?" He asked quietly.
"Only if mine is as well," she murmured into his chest. He gripped her upper arms in his hands and pushed her away so that he could look her in the eyes.
"It is. Do you believe me, that I'd never hurt you on purpose?" Blue searched green.
"I do." She swallowed hard, closing her eyes, then looked back up at him. "Even if you are a prince."
"I'm a human being first and foremost." He explained, releasing her arms.
Nodding mutely, she took one of his hands in hers. "Let's go for a walk, shall we? I heard that the orchard is particularly beautiful this time of year."
"It is that," and the two friends walked hand and hand toward the stand of blossoming fruit trees.
* * *
The Lady Sapphire looked out a window in her sitting room, and grimaced. There was Prince Jasson again, walking along with that girl who was so familiar. She was almost like…Like her sister. But that couldn't be possible, could it?
She spun like a caged beast; warily eyeing the door that had clicked open. A pair of bright blue eyes peeked around it. Sapphire breathed a sigh of relief. "Leaf, get in here." She snapped.
The tall, thin young man edged inside, a lock of his messy blonde hair falling in his large, bright eyes. "You wanted me, Sapphire?" Sapphire raised an eyebrow, frowning slightly. "Lady Sapphire," he corrected, bowing almost imperceptibly.
"Yes. I want you to find out who that wench the prince is spending all his time with is. I need to know the competition before I can alter the balance." Leaf gulped, and bowed again.
"Yes, milady." Then he edged back out the room. The blonde turned back to the window, her face scrunched up in a petulant scowl. This girl would have to be taken care of, and soon."
* * *
"So tell me of your life before you came here." Jasson demanded, running fingers through his dark hair. "I mean- your hobbies, everyday chores…give me a sense of…"
"Normalcy?" Raine suggested pertly.
"Yes," he said, taking her suggestion, and giving her a sidelong glance. "Normalcy."
She shrugged. "There's really nothing all that interesting."
"Oh I doubt that."
She sighed grudgingly. "Fine. But let's sit down somewhere, it's a rather long story to tell."
"Okay." The two walked a little further, and sat on a stone bench under a particularly flowery cherry tree. "Now we're sitting. So talk," he cocked his head to one side, and gazed at her intently.
"Well…" She didn't quite know where to start. "I guess…"
"What was your daily schedule?" He asked, giving her a relatively simply topic.
She smiled. "Okay. Well… First I woke up an hour before dawn, and practiced unarmed combat. My parents didn't know I was doing it, but my brother- Vaughn- he was teaching me. He went to the Shangs for a while, but he had to come home because of an injury," she explained. All the while moving her hands as she spoke.
As she continued, Jai was caught up in the sheer musicality of her voice. He forgot all sense of space and time, even where he was and who might see them there together, just being woven into the spell of her words. Transfixed by the calm she seemed to resonate, and the sorcery she seemed to cast with that movement of her hands…
* * *
Leaf slunk through the brush about twenty paces behind the twosome, disgusted with himself for doing what Sapphire bid him. Every now and again he caught snatches of conversation. He smiled to himself. They were rather cute together, but then he remembered Sapphire's plan, and the smile turned into a wince. He wished he'd never gotten involved with the Starbrook clan, Sapphire least of all.
He crept around the large peach tree across from the largest of the cherry trees so he could get a look at the girl's face. Her head was down, and she was motioning with her hands as she spoke, although Leaf couldn't hear the words, he could almost imagine what they were. The wind blew, scattering the blossoms of the trees and a lock of her long mahogany colored hair into her eyes. She whipped her head up, shoving the hair behind her ear, and Leaf gasped, stumbling backwards into the grass. He ran as fast as he could away from there, and when he reached the inner suites of the palace, he burst into Sapphire's rooms without knocking, red in the face and breathing hard...
"Leaf?! What is the meaning-" She cried, jumping out of her seat, her embroidery dropping to the floor.
"It's Raine," he gasped. "She's here. She's her…."
* * *
A/N: Well? What'd you guys think? I know it's been a while… a very long while, but I hope you liked this part. I'm going to be able to post more often now because my computer is finally back online. So- tell me what you think of Raine 6, please! Flame if you like, although I don't think I've written anything flame-worthy. I promise I won't get too upset. *grin*
~Cass