"Her Royal Highness, the Princess Drazeka of Conte!" Alanna led Azeka into
the receiving room, holing tightly to her, one arm around her back, one arm
holding hers to stop her from attacking the herald. Alanna could hear the
younger girl grinding her teeth in frustration, and nudged her to stop.
"There they are," she whispered to Azeka. "Your parents."
Azeka swallowed audibly. She was about to reply, but Alanna put a hand on her shoulder, silencing her. The king and queen were right in front of them.
"Jon, Thayet," Alanna began. "Here's your daughter."
There was a silence in which their Majesties observed Azeka suddenly. Then, without warning, the man's face split in a large grin, and the woman left her chair to envelope Azeka in a tight hug. Surprised, all she could was stand there, a stunned look on her face. The king came down and stood near them. Alanna came closer as well.
"Azeka, this is King Jonathon, and Queen Thayet." She indicated the man and woman. "Your mother and father."
"I can't express in words how happy I am that you've finally been found, Drazeka-"
The girl scowled. "Don't call me that," she snapped. "My name is Azeka." Jon and Thayet glanced at Alanna; she shrugged.
"All right," Jon said slowly. He smiled. "But we are happy to have you here. You're part of our family. And we want you to meet the rest of it." He turned to look over his shoulder and nodded to a doorway. A few children walked in, coming to stand next to Jon and Thayet.
"Azeka," Alanna had whispered the name to him as they waited for the children. "This is Roald, Kalasin, Liam, Jasson, and Lianne. Your brothers and sisters." He pointed to each of them. Roald looked to be the oldest. He looked only a year or two younger than Azeka. Kalasin seemed the next oldest, looking very nearly as old as her brother, though a bit shorter. Liam looked as if he was nine or ten, Jasson seemed to be six, maybe seven, and Lianne looked as if she were four or five. They all smiled warmly, albeit shyly at her.
As Azeka surveyed them all, she cocked her head slightly to one side. She hadn't thought Alanna was serious. She thought it was all some sick joke, or a mistake. But now, as she looked at them all, actually seeing their faces, she had doubts. Her hair was as black as Jon's, so black that it looked almost blue. Her hazel eyes were a mirror image of Thayet's, as well as her tiny, delicate nose. As she looked, she realized more likenesses; she was built somewhat like Thayet, though Azeka looked a bit more frail, and small. She had Jon's high cheekbones, and both of their stubborn chins. Her feathery-looking eyebrows were arched in the same way as Thayet's, and her eyes were placed in the same spot as Jon's. As she surveyed the children, she stopped as she came to look at Kalasin and Roald. It was almost as if she was looking into a mirror. Roald was slightly taller than her; for all that he was younger, he was certainly tall; he had his father's bluest of blue eyes, as well as his tall build. Kalasin looked very much like both of them, almost exactly like Azeka.
She bit the inside of her lip. Could these people actually be her family? Or was it just some illusion? Was this real? Jon seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. He crouched down to be closer to eye level with her – he really was very tall – and took her right hand in his.
"How long have you had this?" he asked, pointing to the jade and sapphire ring she wore on her middle finger. Azeka pulled her hand away slightly, cradling it and the ring in her other hand.
"I don't know. I've always had it."
"And this?" he pointed to the necklace Azeka wore. It was on a silver chain, and had a silver shield, crossed by a golden sword.
"The same as the ring. I've always had it." Jon nodded and stood.
"When our first child was born," he began. He put an arm around Thayet. "We were so proud, and so happy, that we wanted the best of everything for her. I had the ring and necklace commissioned myself. A band of jade, a main color in Siran, and a jewel of sapphire; my color. The necklace has been the Conte symbol for years. (A/N: I'm not sure if it's true; I can't remember if it ever told what their emblem was) If nothing else could prove that you were our daughter, that would."
A slight frown creased Azeka's brow. Her eyes were troubled as she looked from Jon to Thayet to Alanna. The Lioness smiled reassuringly, and Thayet's eyes shone with tears at finally being reunited with her firstborn daughter. Jon looked proudly at her. Azeka glanced at the children. Their shyness forgotten, they smiled happily at her; all of them – as well as the rest of Tortall – knew the story of the lost Conte princess. She looked back to Jon, a slight wariness in her eyes.
"Then what happened? Why didn't I live here? Why have I been living in New York my whole life?" Jon and Thayet exchanged a glance. Alanna looked slightly angry; Jon even more so. Thayet looked worried and unhappy.
"We were in a field somewhere between Corus and Naxen. Only Thayet, our daughter – you – and myself were there. You couldn't have been more than a few months old; nearing your first birthday." His face grew cloudy at the memories. "We were attacked by a band of outlaws. Scanran outlaws. They attacked us quickly; no one else was there. I was able to keep them away with my Gift; but they had a mage with them. A strong one. He was able to break through my wall, eventually, and tried to attack Thayet. She turned, trying to keep you safe. But behind her was another bandit who tore you from her arms. She cried out, drawing my attention to the bandit. I tried to run after him, to get my daughter back; but I was fighting a losing battle; I was trying to protect Thayet and myself, defeat their mage, and get you back. I couldn't do it all. The one holding you went to the mages side, handing him you. He nodded, and said something. The outlaws attacked us, all at once. It was so sudden that all I could do was hold the shields; I stopped trying to attack the mage. I defended us against the bandits. But I had forgotten the mage. He shot a bolt of power into my shields, breaking them. I threw Thayet and myself aside just in time, but there was nothing I could do to save you. The mage made some sort of cutting motion in the air; a black hole appeared. It grew bigger, until he himself could step threw it. He made a gesture towards the bandits, who immediately ran off. The mage smiled, said something I couldn't comprehend, and disappeared into the hole; with you. We searched everywhere – everywhere! All of Tortall was on alert to find you. But there was no sign. We upturned every land we knew of. Nevertheless, there was nothing. We thought all hope was gone.
"Then Numair was commencing an experiment on inter-dimension travel. He found the world you had been living in. We sent him to search. I believe he had been looking for a few months. But he found you. And protected you. And brought you back. And there is nothing he has ever done that we are more grateful for." At the end of his story, Azeka watched him with her mouth slightly agape. Closing it quickly, she took a deep breath.
"Then; then I'm really a…a Tortallan? And I was kidnapped at birth?" She put a hand to he temple; her head was reeling. She had had her doubts, hadn't dared to hope; but she knew, somehow, that they were telling the truth. The whole truth. She looked back up at them.
"Mom? Dad?" With the two simple words, Jon and Thayet had embraced her. The children gathered 'round her to welcome them with hugs and kisses into their family. Azeka smiled; she had a family. A real family.
"There they are," she whispered to Azeka. "Your parents."
Azeka swallowed audibly. She was about to reply, but Alanna put a hand on her shoulder, silencing her. The king and queen were right in front of them.
"Jon, Thayet," Alanna began. "Here's your daughter."
There was a silence in which their Majesties observed Azeka suddenly. Then, without warning, the man's face split in a large grin, and the woman left her chair to envelope Azeka in a tight hug. Surprised, all she could was stand there, a stunned look on her face. The king came down and stood near them. Alanna came closer as well.
"Azeka, this is King Jonathon, and Queen Thayet." She indicated the man and woman. "Your mother and father."
"I can't express in words how happy I am that you've finally been found, Drazeka-"
The girl scowled. "Don't call me that," she snapped. "My name is Azeka." Jon and Thayet glanced at Alanna; she shrugged.
"All right," Jon said slowly. He smiled. "But we are happy to have you here. You're part of our family. And we want you to meet the rest of it." He turned to look over his shoulder and nodded to a doorway. A few children walked in, coming to stand next to Jon and Thayet.
"Azeka," Alanna had whispered the name to him as they waited for the children. "This is Roald, Kalasin, Liam, Jasson, and Lianne. Your brothers and sisters." He pointed to each of them. Roald looked to be the oldest. He looked only a year or two younger than Azeka. Kalasin seemed the next oldest, looking very nearly as old as her brother, though a bit shorter. Liam looked as if he was nine or ten, Jasson seemed to be six, maybe seven, and Lianne looked as if she were four or five. They all smiled warmly, albeit shyly at her.
As Azeka surveyed them all, she cocked her head slightly to one side. She hadn't thought Alanna was serious. She thought it was all some sick joke, or a mistake. But now, as she looked at them all, actually seeing their faces, she had doubts. Her hair was as black as Jon's, so black that it looked almost blue. Her hazel eyes were a mirror image of Thayet's, as well as her tiny, delicate nose. As she looked, she realized more likenesses; she was built somewhat like Thayet, though Azeka looked a bit more frail, and small. She had Jon's high cheekbones, and both of their stubborn chins. Her feathery-looking eyebrows were arched in the same way as Thayet's, and her eyes were placed in the same spot as Jon's. As she surveyed the children, she stopped as she came to look at Kalasin and Roald. It was almost as if she was looking into a mirror. Roald was slightly taller than her; for all that he was younger, he was certainly tall; he had his father's bluest of blue eyes, as well as his tall build. Kalasin looked very much like both of them, almost exactly like Azeka.
She bit the inside of her lip. Could these people actually be her family? Or was it just some illusion? Was this real? Jon seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. He crouched down to be closer to eye level with her – he really was very tall – and took her right hand in his.
"How long have you had this?" he asked, pointing to the jade and sapphire ring she wore on her middle finger. Azeka pulled her hand away slightly, cradling it and the ring in her other hand.
"I don't know. I've always had it."
"And this?" he pointed to the necklace Azeka wore. It was on a silver chain, and had a silver shield, crossed by a golden sword.
"The same as the ring. I've always had it." Jon nodded and stood.
"When our first child was born," he began. He put an arm around Thayet. "We were so proud, and so happy, that we wanted the best of everything for her. I had the ring and necklace commissioned myself. A band of jade, a main color in Siran, and a jewel of sapphire; my color. The necklace has been the Conte symbol for years. (A/N: I'm not sure if it's true; I can't remember if it ever told what their emblem was) If nothing else could prove that you were our daughter, that would."
A slight frown creased Azeka's brow. Her eyes were troubled as she looked from Jon to Thayet to Alanna. The Lioness smiled reassuringly, and Thayet's eyes shone with tears at finally being reunited with her firstborn daughter. Jon looked proudly at her. Azeka glanced at the children. Their shyness forgotten, they smiled happily at her; all of them – as well as the rest of Tortall – knew the story of the lost Conte princess. She looked back to Jon, a slight wariness in her eyes.
"Then what happened? Why didn't I live here? Why have I been living in New York my whole life?" Jon and Thayet exchanged a glance. Alanna looked slightly angry; Jon even more so. Thayet looked worried and unhappy.
"We were in a field somewhere between Corus and Naxen. Only Thayet, our daughter – you – and myself were there. You couldn't have been more than a few months old; nearing your first birthday." His face grew cloudy at the memories. "We were attacked by a band of outlaws. Scanran outlaws. They attacked us quickly; no one else was there. I was able to keep them away with my Gift; but they had a mage with them. A strong one. He was able to break through my wall, eventually, and tried to attack Thayet. She turned, trying to keep you safe. But behind her was another bandit who tore you from her arms. She cried out, drawing my attention to the bandit. I tried to run after him, to get my daughter back; but I was fighting a losing battle; I was trying to protect Thayet and myself, defeat their mage, and get you back. I couldn't do it all. The one holding you went to the mages side, handing him you. He nodded, and said something. The outlaws attacked us, all at once. It was so sudden that all I could do was hold the shields; I stopped trying to attack the mage. I defended us against the bandits. But I had forgotten the mage. He shot a bolt of power into my shields, breaking them. I threw Thayet and myself aside just in time, but there was nothing I could do to save you. The mage made some sort of cutting motion in the air; a black hole appeared. It grew bigger, until he himself could step threw it. He made a gesture towards the bandits, who immediately ran off. The mage smiled, said something I couldn't comprehend, and disappeared into the hole; with you. We searched everywhere – everywhere! All of Tortall was on alert to find you. But there was no sign. We upturned every land we knew of. Nevertheless, there was nothing. We thought all hope was gone.
"Then Numair was commencing an experiment on inter-dimension travel. He found the world you had been living in. We sent him to search. I believe he had been looking for a few months. But he found you. And protected you. And brought you back. And there is nothing he has ever done that we are more grateful for." At the end of his story, Azeka watched him with her mouth slightly agape. Closing it quickly, she took a deep breath.
"Then; then I'm really a…a Tortallan? And I was kidnapped at birth?" She put a hand to he temple; her head was reeling. She had had her doubts, hadn't dared to hope; but she knew, somehow, that they were telling the truth. The whole truth. She looked back up at them.
"Mom? Dad?" With the two simple words, Jon and Thayet had embraced her. The children gathered 'round her to welcome them with hugs and kisses into their family. Azeka smiled; she had a family. A real family.