A/N: ::swats at a cobweb:: Shoo, you stupid spiders! Shoo! ::stomps:: ::spider scurries away:: STOMP! STOMP! SCURRY! SCURRY! STOMP! STOMP! CRUNCH! oops. ::AHEM:: I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY I'VE BEEN GONE SO LONG! FORGIVE ME! Writer's block - BUT THAT'S NO EXCUSE! Y'know, I whine and complain to my almighty beta reader, who puts up with it for reasons unknown to me, about how I'm having so much trouble writing the stupid thing, and then I open up this stupid file to find that my chapter already had a title and a sentence in it. Not that a sentence is much, but it starts me off. Go figure. :)

DISCLAIMER: Characters belong to me. Places however are borrowed from the Almighty T.P. :D

Lady Ribyyn of Hadic II: Shadows

Chapter 2 - Hiding in the Shadows and Playing in the Light

He blended in perfectly with the predawn shadows cast by the surrounding buildings. Dressed in black, his slim body flowed from one shadow to another unnoticed by passing strays and retiring night watchmen. Slipping into a dark alleyway he padded softly to the end. He crept behind a large crate to reveal a trap door in the broken cobbled stones. Pulling it up swiftly he slid into it, closing and locking it behind him.

He disarmed himself swiftly, knives flying from all their hidden sheaths. They came from his boots, his wrists, his front, his back; every place imaginable and more. It took only moments, and with the knives came his clothes. Tossing his shirt and breeches aside into a large, torn, and burnt armchair next to the rickety table that the knives rested on, he walked in stocking feet over to the bed, which was nothing more than a pile of old blankets and pillows.

"Another night complete," he said quietly to himself. "Another mark on the Shadow's list. I hope you're happy, Master." His voice was bitter, and if the Master had heard, he might begin to doubt the loyalty of his Shadow.

He sighed and lay back on the pile of blankets and pillows, closing his eyes and falling asleep.

Outside, the sun rose and a soft breeze flew quickly through the snowy streets as the shadows of the night began to fade.

~*~

Ribyyn awoke to a small bird twittering at her window. It was a lovely bluebird day; there wasn't a cloud in the sky. On the ground was a thick, heavy blanket of snow that was the result of a late night snow storm, and proof that the warm weather was over.

She hopped out of bed with enthusiasm and rushed to the closet, enjoying the cold beneath her feet. She'd been in Corus for nearly a week, and tonight she was to be introduced, formally, to the court. However, she planned to enjoy her day with Jessa and Min, outside if it was possible. Dressing warmly, she ran a brush through her deep, red hair and then she quickly braided the long locks with nimble fingers. Throwing on a fashionable, yet warm, dress coat, she unlocked her door and entered the sitting room of the Goldenlakes.

Tiptoeing silently across the carpeted floor, Ribyyn knocked softly on the door of Jessa's room. The door flew open to reveal the fifteen-year-old dressed for the cold, in clothes that were practically identical to Ribyyn's. This was no surprise as, like most of the clothes in the girls' wardrobe, they'd both been tailored at the same place. However, Jessa's closet contained mostly purple, while Ribyyn's contained more green.

"It took you long enough!" Jessa hissed at the older girl. "It's past eighth bell!"

Ribyyn rolled her eyes. "Come on," she whispered, heading towards the door that lead to the hallway. "Quickly, before Orlando or Karoline wake up." As much as Ribyyn loved her friend's younger siblings, she'd rather not be stuck spending the day with them.

"What took so long?" Jessa asked as they entered the hall and headed towards the palace's entrance hall.

"I overslept, Jess. It happens to lots of people. If you were so annoyed, you should have come in and woken me up."

"I did that earlier this week and you yelled at me."

"Earlier this week I didn't make plans," Ribyyn replied. The walk was swift and when they reached their destination they saw Min. She was standing nervously in a corner, shifting herself from foot to foot, her eyes darting around the room.

"Finally!" she breathed with relief. "Let's go before the guards notice I left without them." She grabbed her friends' hands and dragged them outside.

A blast of cold air hit their faces. Ribyyn breathed it in. She loved the cold, fresh air and longed for her home in the mountains. She could remember Midwinter there. The rooms were decorated with pine boughs and dried berry garlands that she and Kalvin had made. The sent of cinnamon was everywhere and the outdoors smelt of cedar and pine. Midwinter in Corus was very different it seemed. Pine boughs still hung from the rafters in the ballroom, but the berry garlands had been replaced by silver ribbons. The cinnamon was drowned in the smell of cooked food for the dozens of nobles and courtiers attending the festivities. However, it was still the same outside; beautiful and snowy white.

The three teenagers raced to the center of the pages desolate training field. Jessa flopped down where she stood, spreading her arms and legs out and making herself properly snow covered. Min and Ribyyn soon joined their younger friend in a contest of who could make the best snow angel.

"I hate to interrupt," said a deep and amused voice near Jessa, "but, exactly what are you doing?"

Jessa opened her eyes and looked up into the bluest eyes she'd ever seen. They were framed by long, dark lashes and topped by even darker brows. In between was a perfect nose and below were beautiful red lips. A strong jaw and high cheekbones finished off the lovely face that was topped with a mass of black, silky, hair.

The beautiful lips turned down into a frown. "It's impolite to stare," he said smoothly. Gee, thought Jessa, I wonder who shoved a stick up his-

"May we help you?" asked Ribyyn, interrupting Jessa's thoughts.

"Hmm?" His blue eyes moved to Ribyyn and widened at the site of her. Ribyyn seemed oblivious to his reaction. "Why yes, lovely lady," he said charmingly. His frown turned into a brilliant smile. "I was wondering, could you point me towards the pond? I'm to meet a friend there."

"It's back there, behind the trees, as you well know," said Min, waving her hand behind her. Her eyes held a look that Ribyyn had never before seen in them.

"Thank you, your highness," he said with another flash of his brilliant smile. "Perhaps the two of you would like to join me?" Jessa cleared her throat. The man looked over at her with a raised brow. "You can bring your little sister if you like," he added to Ribyyn. "We can teach her to ice skate." Jessa's jaw dropped in offense and she stood up, dusting herself off.

"Thank you for the invitation," she snapped, "but if it's all the same to you I must decline." She glared at the young man. He couldn't have been anymore than eighteen and it was obvious that he had been born and bred at court. Yet he had a look on his face that said he thought he'd seen absolutely everything. "I promised Lady Bryttany that I would spend some time with her today. Now is as good as later." And without so much as a goodbye she walked briskly back towards the palace.

"I wonder what got her skirts in a twist," the young man mused to himself.

"I can think of someone," Min said from behind him as she watched the girl enter the palace.

The man turned around to look at her. "Mindalyn, how could you be so rude? You haven't introduced me to your friend," he said, motioning towards Ribyyn.

"Ribyyn hardly needs an introduction," she said with a small smile on her face. "Mat, this is Ribyyn. Ribyyn, Sir Mathias of Fawks Ridge."

Sir Mathias took Ribbyn's hand in his own and held it to his lips, all the while keeping his eyes in contact with hers. "Does Ribyyn come from somewhere?"

"Not anywhere that's important to you," the princess answered.

"Ribyyn comes from Hadic," Ribyyn answered for herself, glaring at her friend.

"Ribyyn of Hadic?" Mathias asked. "As in, the daughter of the late Lord Jameson of Hadic?"

Ribyyn nodded. "He was my father. Did you know him?"

The young man shook his head. "No, but my father speaks of him often. He claims they were friends when they were children. So, you're the amazing young lady that escaped from the raiders. You must tell me everything!"

"There's not much to tell," Ribyyn insisted. She glanced anxiously over to Min.

Mat waved his hand at her. "As my grandmother would say, 'pish posh.' There must be something to tell. You've been missing for nearly five years. Where have you been all that time?"

"She's been in Port Caynn, staying with a lovely family," Min explained. "If she wanted to tell you, Mat, she would. Now, didn't you mention ice skating?"

~*~

It was just after noon when Mat escorted the flushed and exhausted girls back to the palace.

"So," Mat said, "I assume you two are going to the Midwinter festivities tonight."

"You know I am," Mindalyn sighed. As the heir to the throne she was required to attend court functions. She despised them and loved them at the same time. Like any teenage girl, Min enjoyed dressing up for special occasions. It was fun to look pretty. But she hated socializing with people she hardly knew. The Midwinter holidays included much of the latter.

"And you, Ribyyn?"

"I'm being introduced," Ribyyn said. "Does that answer your question?"

Sir Mathias smiled at her with his blindingly white teeth. "Then," he said with a bow, "it seems I shall see you there. Until tonight fair ladies." With a final smile he turned around and headed towards the stables.

"So," Min said as she and Ribyyn made their way to the Goldenlake suite. "Your first encounter with a noble male of marriageable age. What do you think of him?"

"He's very handsome," Ribyyn said carefully, unsure of what point her royal friend was trying to make.

"Not to mention annoying, conceited, and self-centered. A lot of them are like that." Min continued to ramble on about, "the charming Sir Mathias and his equally charming friends," as they were known throughout the palace, until they had reached the Goldenlake rooms. Ribyyn dug into her pocket in search of a key.

"Blast!" she cursed. "I must have lost it outside." With a sigh, she knocked on the door of the apartment suite. Moments later it swung open to reveal Lady Bryttany, looking lovely as usual.

"Ribyyn, child!" Bryt said with a grin. "There you are! You're just in time."

"In time for what?" Ribyyn was immediately suspicious. Glynice had used that exact same tone of voice when she wanted Ribyyn or Hayden to perform a task that she knew they would not appreciate doing. It was sickly sweet and dripping with honey. Hayden had always called it a "the fly trap."

"It's like this, Rib," he explained. "We're the flies and she's the honey paper. She knows that we don't wanna do it, so she tries to lure us in with her sweet smelling 'honey-voice.' If we aren't careful we're stuck forever."

"No," Slyde said. "Ma's better than honey-paper. Ye're only stuck until ye finish yer chores. Then she lets ye go. But ye always come back and get caught again later."

"You're just in time to try on your lovely new gown!" Bryt said enthusiastically. Lady Bryttany entered the room she shared with Lord Alden for a moment. She returned with a dress of deep blue.

Ribyyn shot a panicked look at her friend. Min only smiled. "I'd love to stay, but Uncle says I have to attend council this afternoon. I'll see you tonight, Ribyyn!"

Ribyyn glared at her friend's retreating back and turned towards Lord Alden's fiancée. "Must I try it on? Again?"

"Honey," Bryt explained as she forced Ribyyn into her room, "You aren't just trying it on. You're wearing it." Ribyyn looked confused. "After it's properly adjusted we have to fix your hair, and apply your face paint, and then we have to teach you how to curtsey properly."

"But I know how to curtsey properly!" Ribyyn insisted. "And it's only just after noon-"

"Sweetie, with you, it'll take hours. You can't sit still for more than two minutes!"

"All the more reason to start later! Or better yet, I'll wear this!" she said motioning towards the clothing she was wearing; a simple blue dress with snug fitting black boots.

Bryttany just laughed. "Ribyyn, you're being introduced to court. It may be Mid-winter, but the party is being held in your honor."

"My honor? But I haven't done anything honorable," she mumbled as she accepted the dress and slipped behind the changing screen. Lady Bryttany made no move to further continue the conversation.

Ribyyn emerged a few moments later, her hands wrapped in the laces that ran up the back of the dress. "I can't tie it properly," she explained with a woeful expression on her face. Bryttany smiled as she turned the girl around and untangled her hands.

"There," she said with finality. "Now, turn around so I can see if everything's right."

"It's too tight," the young girl insisted.

"That's because it's new and still stiff," Bryt explained. "It will feel better later, but only if you keep it on." Ribyyn moaned with aggravation and the older woman tried to suppress a laugh. "Now, sit down. It's time to play with your hair."

A/N: I am SOOOO sorry this took so long. Honestly I am. Forgive the grammar mistakes at the end of the chapter, by the time I was finished I was too impatient to wait for my Beta reader to check it. They'll be fixed later if I ever get around to sending it to her.