Disclaimer: All terms, ideas, writing style, characters, names, countries,
worlds, phrases, scenes, etc. that belong to Tamora Pierce are not mine and
any similarities to other books, authors, magazines ideas, etc. are purely
coincidental.
A/n: Thanks again to Rainfall, encouragement is always cool.
Chapter 4:
Tristan magically watched while Eos, masquerading as the native-born Lady Tanianne of Hialla, chatted with other Carthaki noblewomen in a secluded room. She sat with those who would give her the msot information about his key target: Lady Charella of the powerful House Esylade, Lady Faza fae Mikaera, and the key "competitor": Lady Semally of House Khazin. Lady Semally's brother, Lord Kaeron, was a key suspect in a foiled plot against him a few months back-so he had sent in Eos to gather information. Tristan fought a grudging admiration fro the girl-she had nearly escaped fifteen times from his grasp during her training; the latest attempt nearly succeeding. Yet he found that as he cut off more and more of her escape routes, she managed to still find different way to escape. His eyes narrowed in frustration. She was the one thing he could not fully control, but also a key player in his game with the three more powerful Houses.
~Flashback~
Eos stealthily slipped through the guards with her illusion spells, and broke into a sprint as she felt sunshine hit her back. *Almost...there...* Then she stared at the cliff that suddenly appeared. "Yes!" She nearly cried in happiness, seeing the freedom that was so close to her grasp. Then she felt the cool touch of metal on her neck, and felt the freedom fly away. Tristan whispered in her neck, "You try that one more time and I'll really slit your throat!"
~End Flashback~
Eos sat uncomfortably in her ornate gown; though lovely in its contours and dark gold color, the gown seemed to compliment her figure far too much for her comfort. Besides, it was humid and hot, and she could almost feel Tristan breathing down her neck through his all too obvious spy spell. One of her companions, Lady Charella, asked in a falsely husky voice if any of them had ever seen the reputably-gorgeous Tristan Staghorn, then tittered in a meaningful way. Upon responding to this remark, Eos imitated the giggles of the other girls-they were all there for the same reason, this was simply a way of exchanging information among those that were thought to be the main "competition". Charella was pretty in an angelic sort of way; her hair was light brown and she had a sweet smile. Faza was shyly beautiful with blonde hair and brown eyes, but Lady Semally blazed with attractiveness. Her skilled use of face paint and beautiful outfits enhanced her everyday prettiness to beauty that rivaled Eos's. Eos felt slightly awkward, despite her training, with these women who had been living her role their entire lives...unless, of course, they weren't exactly the most ordinary nobility. However, that was unlikely...Lady Semally abruptly interrupted her train of thought by asking, "Lady Tanianne, who does your face paints? They accent your face so wonderfully." Eos replied, but inwardly winced, reminded of morning.
~Flashback~
Tristan walked into the room right when Varice was putting on the final touches to face paint and hairdressing; his mockingly astonished expression caused Eos to stiffen and glare at him. Tristan remarked, "Such beauty...I think all our proud men will be too busy swarming around your pretty face and writing lovesick sonnets for your eyes and ears to realize your true identity...and power." He smiled malevolently at the thought. Instead of replying, Eos simply smiled pleasantly while communicating a sincere death wish, as she had been trained to do if she encountered another spy. In fact, she had practiced it many times on a smirking (of course) picture of Tristan. The afore-mentioned subject said slowly, "Varice, you seem to actually be trying here. Congratulations, Eos might actually survive more than three seconds with every noble in the vicinity planting spells and spies to detect others of their kind-and destroy them." He turned around after delivering a cold smirk to Eos, and as he breezed out he remarked, "And maybe she won't."
~End Flashback~
Eos listened intently for a couple of seconds, then set off the chaos spells to go off in the corridor and adjoining rooms, creating the semblance of an assassination attempt on the three girls. As Tristan had warned, the other noblewomen did not react with hysteria because assassination attempts were as common among the Carthakis as they were among the Yamanis. Therefore, she should act calm and like she was trying to find a way out of the enclosed place without being killed. Lady Charella found the blaringly obvious exit and called, "This way!" to Faza, Semally, and Eos. Hurriedly, they picked up their skirts and ran....
A/n: Thanks again to Rainfall, encouragement is always cool.
Chapter 4:
Tristan magically watched while Eos, masquerading as the native-born Lady Tanianne of Hialla, chatted with other Carthaki noblewomen in a secluded room. She sat with those who would give her the msot information about his key target: Lady Charella of the powerful House Esylade, Lady Faza fae Mikaera, and the key "competitor": Lady Semally of House Khazin. Lady Semally's brother, Lord Kaeron, was a key suspect in a foiled plot against him a few months back-so he had sent in Eos to gather information. Tristan fought a grudging admiration fro the girl-she had nearly escaped fifteen times from his grasp during her training; the latest attempt nearly succeeding. Yet he found that as he cut off more and more of her escape routes, she managed to still find different way to escape. His eyes narrowed in frustration. She was the one thing he could not fully control, but also a key player in his game with the three more powerful Houses.
~Flashback~
Eos stealthily slipped through the guards with her illusion spells, and broke into a sprint as she felt sunshine hit her back. *Almost...there...* Then she stared at the cliff that suddenly appeared. "Yes!" She nearly cried in happiness, seeing the freedom that was so close to her grasp. Then she felt the cool touch of metal on her neck, and felt the freedom fly away. Tristan whispered in her neck, "You try that one more time and I'll really slit your throat!"
~End Flashback~
Eos sat uncomfortably in her ornate gown; though lovely in its contours and dark gold color, the gown seemed to compliment her figure far too much for her comfort. Besides, it was humid and hot, and she could almost feel Tristan breathing down her neck through his all too obvious spy spell. One of her companions, Lady Charella, asked in a falsely husky voice if any of them had ever seen the reputably-gorgeous Tristan Staghorn, then tittered in a meaningful way. Upon responding to this remark, Eos imitated the giggles of the other girls-they were all there for the same reason, this was simply a way of exchanging information among those that were thought to be the main "competition". Charella was pretty in an angelic sort of way; her hair was light brown and she had a sweet smile. Faza was shyly beautiful with blonde hair and brown eyes, but Lady Semally blazed with attractiveness. Her skilled use of face paint and beautiful outfits enhanced her everyday prettiness to beauty that rivaled Eos's. Eos felt slightly awkward, despite her training, with these women who had been living her role their entire lives...unless, of course, they weren't exactly the most ordinary nobility. However, that was unlikely...Lady Semally abruptly interrupted her train of thought by asking, "Lady Tanianne, who does your face paints? They accent your face so wonderfully." Eos replied, but inwardly winced, reminded of morning.
~Flashback~
Tristan walked into the room right when Varice was putting on the final touches to face paint and hairdressing; his mockingly astonished expression caused Eos to stiffen and glare at him. Tristan remarked, "Such beauty...I think all our proud men will be too busy swarming around your pretty face and writing lovesick sonnets for your eyes and ears to realize your true identity...and power." He smiled malevolently at the thought. Instead of replying, Eos simply smiled pleasantly while communicating a sincere death wish, as she had been trained to do if she encountered another spy. In fact, she had practiced it many times on a smirking (of course) picture of Tristan. The afore-mentioned subject said slowly, "Varice, you seem to actually be trying here. Congratulations, Eos might actually survive more than three seconds with every noble in the vicinity planting spells and spies to detect others of their kind-and destroy them." He turned around after delivering a cold smirk to Eos, and as he breezed out he remarked, "And maybe she won't."
~End Flashback~
Eos listened intently for a couple of seconds, then set off the chaos spells to go off in the corridor and adjoining rooms, creating the semblance of an assassination attempt on the three girls. As Tristan had warned, the other noblewomen did not react with hysteria because assassination attempts were as common among the Carthakis as they were among the Yamanis. Therefore, she should act calm and like she was trying to find a way out of the enclosed place without being killed. Lady Charella found the blaringly obvious exit and called, "This way!" to Faza, Semally, and Eos. Hurriedly, they picked up their skirts and ran....