Chapter 02: More Rain
A/N: Okay, so last time, I never had any A/N or anything. That was because I was already half asleep when I loaded Chapter 01. Anyway, Rika is actually a character my friends and I made up - one of three (Rika is "me"; Alandra and Thel might appear in later chapters… just for fun). So yes, Alianne and Alan are 14, Thom's 16 and Rika's 9. This is sort of before "Lady Knight" happened, or during… sort of. During the time when Daine and the animals were still spying. She was up there for three years, remember? So this story takes place sometime there. J
* * *
The next morning, Rika woke up alone in her parents' bed. A short letter from Numair sat on the big table in the study next room over.
Rika,
I miss you already. Be good for Uncle Jon, Aunt Thayet and Aly for me. Uncle Lindhall agreed to help you with your lessons while I'm away, so report to him after lunchtime. Don't get into mischief with your cousin Aly. Perhaps you should take care of her. Take Cloud out for rides daily, or she'll get restless. Once again, be good!
I love you.
- Papa
Rika laughed at her papa's silliness before washing up and going downstairs for breakfast. She hated eating with the pages and squires. They always stared at her like she was a spidren or another nasty immortal, and that made her feel uncomfortable. Like always, she took a seat at an empty table and picked at her food. She avoided as many stares as possible.
"Rika! Can I join you?"
She looked up and smiled. "Hi Alan! Where's Aly?"
"Right behind him," Aly sang, sitting down opposite of Rika. "Breakfast looks good, doesn't it?"
"It's the same thing every morning," Alan complained, poking at his fruit.
Aly stared at the girl in front of her. "You're rather quiet today. Your da left?"
Rika nodded.
Alan put an arm around her. "It's all right. We know how you feel. Our ma left, too. But they'll be back. They always come back, sooner or later." He patted the girl on the head before diving into the fruit on his tray.
"Oh, Alan, you eat like the Palace pigs sometimes," Aly commented, sticking her tongue out in disgust. Rika hid a small smile behind her hand.
A tall shadow fell over their table. "Who's this little rat in our breakfast hall?" a voice sneered. Rika looked down and blushed violently. They had never bothered her before… but then again, she had always been with her mama or papa.
Both Alan and Aly stood up, but neither of them were taller than the page making fun of Rika. In fact, they were both a head shorter. "Shut up, Zachaerie," Alan growled.
"Bugger off, twins," the boy commanded, and were immediately gone, replaced by the boy's gang. "Listen, you little ra-" The instant his hands touched Rika, he shot backwards into the wall close by and landed unceremoniously on the floor, unconscious. The other boys stared with mouths opened before launching themselves at the nine-year-old. She shrieked with fear and the hall filled with a bright light then a ear-splitting boom, showering everybody with sparks of fire.
The room erupted in chaos as some tried to run away, while others tried to hide under the tables.
* * *
King Jonathan and Queen Thayet, who were dining in their private quarters jumped when they heard the explosion. "Mithros, what was that?" Thayet gasped, heading for the door.
Buri and Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak were still cuddling in bed when they both jumped out of bed in battle stance. After the initial shock, the two of them, still dressed in nightgowns and shirts, ran out the door where they joined Jon and Thayet. "Are we at war?" Raoul growled, running alongside Jon.
"I don't believe so…"
"Aly, the infirmary is this way!" Alan shouted from around the corner.
"I have to go find Jon and Thayet, Alan!" came the swift reply as the Lioness' daughter rounded the corner. She ran right into the King, who held her steady. The girl bowed quickly, nearly toppling over with the momentum. "Your Majesties! It's Rik-"
Alan finally caught up to his sister with a lifeless looking little mage on his back, face white as a ghost's. "Her heart's stopped, Your Majesty!"
* * *
The sky above the Third Company of the King's Own roared and cried, soaking every soldier and mage within a minute.
Numair looked back, his heart tightening. What's happened to my little mage, now? He wondered. Many flashes of lightning - silver in colour - shot downwards, igniting the forests close by. He stopped his horse, head still turned. "Something's wrong, Alanna."
The King's Champion stopped the troops by raising a hand. "Jon's with her, Numair. And if it's anything bad, he'll contact us. Plus, Lindhall might have caused this. I'm sure Rika's fine."
Numair swallowed the lump in his throat. "I sure hope so. It's raining harder than I've ever witnessed. And there's too much lightning in the sky…"
The Third Company all made the sign against evil on their chest before following the Lioness.
With one last look back, the most powerful mage in Tortall rode on.