New Beginnings

Chapter one- Memories

Disclaimer~ Ok, is this really necessary? *Sigh* Well, actually, I think all the characters in this chapter are mine! Well two claps for my creativity! Hehe, if you do see something that sounds familiar, it's not mine, k?

"Damn," muttered a youth on an overlarge, black mare. "Damnit, damnit, damnit," she said again, looking at a road sign that read 'Port Caynn- 2 miles', and back at the map in her hand. A frown creased her pretty face. She was on her way to Corus, but had taken a wrong turn 10 ½ miles back. (*A/N* I realize that Port Caynn is right next to Corus and there's no way she could have taken a wrong turn but, work with me here) She was running out of food; her uncle had only given her enough food for half of her journey and she had only slipped so much away before she left. Thinking of her uncle, Ariana's frown deepened as memory flooded her.

* * *

"Ariana!" Ayako called weakly. Ariana ran to her mother's side. Ayako had caught the sickness that always over takes the eastern lands around midwinter. Ayako noh Miko of Celesta was a beautiful Yamani princess, and had never quite adapted to Tortallan illnesses. This year it had been especially bad. It didn't help that her husband, Lord Damaris of Celesta, had been killed just recently. "I have something very important to tell you." She snapped her fingers and gold fire raced to the corners of the room and expanded, covering the walls.

"Why did you ward the room?" Ariana asked.

"Carita, Jaden, and Mikeal are here," she answered, meaning Ariana's aunt, Damaris' sister, her uncle, Jaden, and cousin, Mikeal.

"So?" While they had never been particularly nice to her, she had no reason to distrust them.

"Carita is jealous of both of us. I don't trust her. Jaden is her lapdog, and does whatever she wants. And I do not like the way Mikeal looks at you . . . hungrily," her mother said in Yamani. Ayako only spoke Yamani when she was very frightened, sad or happy, but like a proper Yamani lady, her emotions never showed in her face, words, or voice, only language. Ariana had no answer to her mother's words. "My time grows short," she continued, "I -"

But Ariana interrupted her, "No! No mama, no! You are not going to die!" She slipped into Yamani as well. Her beautiful turquoise eyes flashed silver, as they always did when her emotions became heightened. (*A/N* Ariana means silver in some language, in case you wonder about all the silver in the story . . . ok well its also my favorite color, but that's not the point hehe)

"Hush child, listen to me -" something about Ayako's voice made Ariana stop protesting. It was something she had never experienced with her mother's Yamani mask; it was fear. "I must tell you this before I die, I will be blunt. Damaris is not your father." Ayako looked at her child, waiting for an outburst. None came.

"Who is it then?" she said in a calm voice that unnerved Ayako more than yelling would have.

"We met a week before my wedding, during the midwinter festival. I had left a banquet to get some fresh air. I was walking in the gardens." Her mother's voice seemed far away, her eyes were distant, lost in memory. "He came to me, a glowing figure, curly hair, as red as blood. One eye turquoise, one silver, dark and muscular," suddenly Ayako sighed, coming back to reality. "Ariana, your father is -"

"Cita, (*A/N* ok, I know that the god of thieves is the Crooked God but in my story, that and Cita are interchangeable, ok?) Ariana breathed, knowing the description, "my father is the god of thieves? Why didn't' you ever tell me? Did Pa -," she caught herself, "Did Damaris know?"

"Yes, Cita is your father, and no, Damaris did not know. It would have killed him."

Ayako became pale and her breathing labored. "My time comes. Beware- of - Carita - Jaden - and - Mikeal. I...love...you." Her breathing slowed, then stopped as a look of peace came over her.

Tears spilled from Ariana's now fiercely sliver eyes. She grabbed her mother's hand. She didn't know how long she sat vigil at her side, crying and thinking.

She must have dozed off because the next thing she knew, a servant was shaking her shoulder and looking inquiringly at her mother's body.

Ariana, mouth set in a grim line, said, "She will have a Yamani burial fit for the Empress and will be buried in the Imperial Cemetery. (*A/N* are Yamanis cremated or buried?)

* * *

Ariana then set to moving her belongings to her mother and Damaris' room. When Carita found her doing this, she ran up to her, dripping sugar, saying, "Dearest, why are you moving your things in here? You'd best leave that to Jaden and me. Now be a dear and go play in your room."

Ariana squared her shoulders. She may only be 11, but she was the heiress and Celesta now belonged to her. This vile, condescending woman would not take that away from her.

"No," she said simply, eyes dangerously silver, "this room belongs to me." She walked past her.

Carita's sugar vanished, her eyes narrowed. It seemed that Ariana had gained her mother's beauty, grace and self confidence upon Ayako's death. Well, the aunt thought evilly, Mikeal will certainly have a treat tonight.

The older boy had had his eye on her since he was old enough to do so. Now that there was no one to stop him, Mikeal was free to take liberties with the girl. It didn't faze him that she had had training in Shang, knife, and hand to hand fighting, and could use a sword. To him, Ariana was just another frail, beautiful lady to take advantage of.

Ariana's feet suddenly swirled with deep, rose-colored, magic, and she found that she couldn't move farther. The girl spun around angerly and shot a ball of silver gift at the older woman, who caught it easily.

"Dearest," Carita said nastily, "you mustn't upset yourself so. Anger isn't becoming on your pretty face." A ring of rose fire encircled Ariana's throat and tightened until her vision became black around the edges and her head was one massive hurt. She sank to her knees. "Now," Carita said, putting magical suggestion behind her voice, "go to your dressing room. You'll find a surprise there."

The magic vanished from Ariana's throat and feet, but it didn't matter because there was nothing she could do to make her feet stop walking. Ariana cursed as she turned into the corridor where her rooms were. Why didn't mama mention that Carita was a powerful mage? I swear, Ariana mused as she opened her door, if she wasn't so evil, the Crown could certainly use her.

Inside her room, Ariana stalled as long as possible, feeling as though something terrible would happen if she entered her dressing room. Something like a spell that would drain her gift and her life, or a booby trap that involved a sword running her through. When the magic finally over took her, she opened the door slowly, and said a silent prayer to the Goddess and her father. What Ariana found was much more painful than a spell or a sword.

*That would be the end of Chapter one! Woo Hoo! Gotta love the suspense, even if it isn't good suspense, lol*