A/N: Hey guys, I wasn't going to post it yet, but someone reviewed, and I decided to post this one for my fans. Even if you criticize me, at least I'll know that someone's reading it….

Responses to My Reviewers:

That is really, really good. I just wish it were longer. I love the fact that they're all so different, and they have beautiful names! -Amie

To Amie: Thanks so much! You were my first reviewer…I really appreciate it. I definitely will add lots and try to update a bunch… As long as I know I have one fan… I make up most of the names… A few are ones that I hear and change a bit to fit the character.

* * *

Lily awoke with a headache as big as the Copper Islands. She sighed, knowing that she had overtaxed her small gift once again. She heard the bells and realized that there was an official dinner she had to attend for a group she belonged to. She ran to the mirror and sighed. She opened her closet and groped blindly, finding a deep green silk dress, in a combination of the Yamani style popularized by Shinko, and the old Tortallan style. She threw it on, smoothed it down and began work on her hair. She brushed through the slightly wavy hair over and over, getting the tangles out and wishing that she had the courage to wear her hair short like Kendi. She quickly pinned it up, using the hill of bobby pins to pin her thin hair into a style that would have taken anyone else hours. She took a bit of oil and mixed it with powders to create eye-paste and lip rouge, applying them quickly and half-running out the door. She almost slammed into her sister on her way down the hall. She stopped for a moment.

"Hey, Lily..."

"Tia, I'm already late, I'll talk to you later, alright?"

Lily didn't even wait for a response, but took off down the hallway. Tia shook her head and walked the other direction. She arrived at Biltor's apartments a few moments later, and she tapped out a quick rhythm to let him know that it was her. He opened the door, and she stepped in. She glanced around the room and then turned to face him. He took her hand and led her to sit on the bed. She looked at him for a moment, then lowered her gaze to play with the fabric of her skirt. She could feel his eyes on her, and she felt heat rush to her cheeks.

"Tia..."

Suddenly, he tilted her head up and kissed her solidly. Although she knew she shouldn't, she leaned into it. One of her hands found its way to his neck, and the other twisted his hair around her fingers. She felt herself losing control, but she really didn't care. She felt as if this was supposed to happen, that her whole life had been building up to this moment, this physical proof of their love. Suddenly, he pulled away. She wanted to lean in, to claim his lips again, and to abandon all caution to the wind, but she knew she couldn't. He sighed and stood up.

"Tia, I can't do this. I can't take advantage of you like this, I love you, but I don't want to take advantage of you. You couldn't possibly love or want a half-breed changeling..."

"You wouldn't be taking advantage of me! My mother is a half-breed changeling, as you call it! I want this just as much as you do! I love you, and I want to do this..."

"Tia, you don't know what you're saying. You're young, and you think you know what love is, but you don't. You are infatuated with me, and you will regret this!"

He shifted to his natural, centaur shape. The passion behind his words was revealed in his nervousness and in his instinctive change to his natural form. Tia stood up suddenly, her long curly hair flowing behind her, her blue eyes blazing and her cheeks flaming.

"You have no idea! I'm not infatuated. I feel like I'm fighting with a part of myself as I stand here arguing with you. I hardly think that's infatuation. I would make myself a centaur forever if I couldn't be with you as a human. I doubt that's infatuation. If you still think I'm infatuated, think about it, and when you finally decide, let me know, since you seem to know everything about my feelings! Goodbye Biltor, maybe forever..."

She charged out the door, and Biltor sunk down on his centaur knees in the midst of the pile of cushions he more often used as a bed. He hung his head, and regressed into thought.

* * *

On the practice courts

Two girls, one regal with long, straight black hair and sapphire eyes the shape of lengthened almonds. The other was graceful but still somewhat unproportional, with her father's black, untamable hair and black eyes that came from no one in her family. The second, Kendi, twirled to escape an attack and caught a flash of black out of the corner of her eye. She stopped, signaling to Sinta to let up. She stood to face two boys, each two years older than herself and her companion. One was identical to his father, the Crown Prince Roald II. He carried only one element of his mother, the Crown Princess Shinkokami, formerly of the Yamani Islands, and that was her grace and charm. The other had his father, Emperor Kaddar of Carthak's, golden skin and stature, while he retained his mother, Empress Kalasin of Carthak, nee Conte of Tortall's, black hair and sapphire eyes. Kendi nodded to the first.

"Prince Jasson, kind of you to join us. I'm surprised that Sir Raoul would let you go..."

"For the last time, Kendi, call him just Jasson. He's my brother for gods' sakes!"

"And Raoul had some, erm, "urgent business" with his wife, for your information!"

The other boy snorted and choked, while Kendi effectively ignored her friend's comment and turned to the golden-skinned boy.

"Crown Prince Jonathan, good to see you. You arrived yesterday from the delegation with Prince Roald and Lady Keladry?"

"Grrr, its Nate, damn it! And have you seen Trina or Fort?"

"Nope, care for a round?"

The four teens practiced and chatted, and if not for their strange and regal looks, they could have been mistaken for a group of normal pages and squires. Suddenly, two children, two years younger than Kendi and Sinta burst from the bushes. They were identical to their older brother, Nate, in everything but their eyes. The boy had dark brown eyes, and the girl had an odd combination of blue-green and brown, making a strange, hazelish color. A loud shout echoed through the courts, reaching the ears of the six just minutes after the two appeared.

"Katrina.... Ka'Fortir... where are you?"

The two took off running in the opposite direction from the sound. The two boys just laughed, and the group separated. As soon as the two girls were out of hearing range from the boys, Kendi flopped down onto a stone bench. She had felt her pulse start to race, and she feared that an attack was coming on, but she had been wrong. Her pulse had slowed immediately, and she felt fine. She tapped her friend's shoulder, and the two started off for the palace.

* * *

A week later

Tia awoke to a gorgeous morning. She got out of bed and walked to the windowsill. After gathering up the bouquet of wildflowers on the sill, she walked over to her table and deposited the flowers in the vase with the offerings from the previous seven days. She sighed and tossed on her morning gown, then she brushed her hair and walked out to the sound of the breakfast bell.

* * *

7 hours later

Lily firmly planted her knee in the small of Tia's back, yanking hard on the laces. She heard her sister let out a long breath, and she tied of the laces, making sure the corset wasn't tight enough to impair breathing to a huge extent. She still wasn't fond of this idea. She helped her sister into her dress next. The dress was deep red silk in the Gallan style, with tight three-quarter length sleeves dripping with lace. The neckline was v-neck, lined with lace and diamonds. The skirt was long and a-lined, brushing the floor. Lily laced up the back of the dress, and helped her sister step into two deep-red silk slippers decorated with diamonds. She fastened a delicate ruby and diamond necklace around her neck and a matching bracelet around her wrist. She put elegant ruby eardrops in her ears, then Lily began to work on her hair. Lily twisted bunches of the brown curls back and fastened them down with hairpins decorated with tiny rubies. Lily twisted the rest of the hair into a bun and fastened it with a golden hair net decorated with tiny rubies and diamonds. For a last affect, Lily took tiny red and white blossoms and tucked them in the bun, then sprinkled golden shine powder in it, making it glow, but not look gaudy. She took a soft, fine brush, a few packets of powders, a small clay bowl, and a jar of oil. She took a few drops of the oil and mixed it with the finer, red powder, then took the mixture and applied it to Tia's lips, and then repeated the process with the golden powder, applying it to Tia's eyelids. The younger girl stood up and walked decisively to the door.

"Now, you're sure about this?"

"Completely."

"Well, I've got to finish getting ready myself, so I'll go. I'll see you tonight."

* * *

1/2 an hour later

Tia tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for her turn. The herald was calling out the names of the people in front of her.

"Crown Prince Jonathon Iliniat of Carthak, Heir to Emperor Kaddar Iliniat and Empress Kalasin Iliniat, nee Conte."

"Sir Raoul, Knight of the Realm and Lord of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, and his wife, Lady Buriram Tourakom of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, Trainer for the Queen's Riders."

"Duke Nealan of Queenscove, Knight of the Realm and Chief Healer to the Court, and his wife, Duchess Yukimi noh Daiomoru, of Queenscove."

"Lady Histia Salmalin, daughter of the Wildmage, Veralidaine Salmalin and Black Robe Mage Numair Salmalin, and a Wildmage and Healer herself."

Tia looked around, realized he was announcing her, and glided quickly out the large wooden and gilded doors. She stepped quickly down the stairs, repressing a wince as she stepped on the outside of her foot and twisted it. Within a moment, her foot was completely forgotten. At the end of the seemingly endless staircase stood three men. One was her father, smiling and encouraging as usual. The second was Biltor, barely concealing his shock and surprise. She knew she looked amazing, that had been the point. He could never touch her, and she was perfect. The third was a family friend, Nate, the cousin of her sister's best friend and the Heir to the Carthaki Empire. He was a little younger than her, but the perfect opportunity. She swept down the last few stairs, turned and looked at Biltor, then swirled around, rested her hand on Nate's waiting arm, and swept onto the cleared ballroom floor. She went through the steps with a calculated grace, switching partners without thought, until she found herself dancing with her father. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder, and she was twisted around to face Biltor. He held her squarely and firmly, and he wasn't about to let her go.

"Why haven't you answered my notes or acknowledged my existence?"

"I'm infatuated, remember?

"Dammit, Tia, you know that's not true, and you know you made me see it. I got the jitters, that's all."

"Really? Mr. I'm Always Right admitting he's wrong? I doubt it. Now go dance with some dumb court beauty."

She stalked out to the gardens, not even noticing the black cat with dark green eyes stalking behind her. She noticed it once she reached the gardens and pulled it up into her lap without checking its mind. When she began to, it began to shift, until Biltor was sitting on her lap. She laughed and pushed him off with a quite undignified "oof."

"I should have known! You, with your tricks. But I'd better head back, the boys will be expecting me."

"They know you look beautiful, but they are just infatuated. Unlike you."

"Oh, so now you admit it!"

"Yes, I've realized that I'm wrong, accept my apology?"

"Of course."

They shared a breathless kiss, then returned together. Throughout the ballroom, hearts were heard to shatter, and when they left together, scandalously early, many long faces were observed.

* * *

A/N: REALLY long chapter, eh? Well, you wanted it! Don't worry, I promise there will be more about Tia and Biltor… Things aren't over for them yet! Kendi will have more stuff later… You'll have to wait a while to find out what's going on with her, though… You won't be hearing from Lily or Nera for a while, but then they'll come back with a vengeance… Anyway, here's a quick preview of what's coming up next: Another ball and a meeting with Prince Roald…