A/N I'm back, it is 11/11 today isn't that cool. I love things like that. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update. I have just switched schools and was getting adjusted (yes I am just making up excuses seeing as my new school (though good for a public school) is definitely no as hard as my old one (just ask Kalle). One cool thing I have been up to (other than X-country running and homework) is a web site on Zira and the Antithean Kingdom. I don't have it up yet, but when it is posted be sure to check it out. Now on to thanks.
Jarka Ruus, I don't think that this counts as soon but I have updated, thanks for reviewing. PenMage (BTW I love your story) we shall see what happens with Falkin and Jasson. A few people know, but I have a feeling that no one will like the ending of this story. Keziah, thank you for saying that this is one of your favorites. Zira fell for Falkin years ago, this doesn't mean she'll end up with him though. Maybe I'll make her end up with Liam (heh). Barannilwen, heh, I'm sorry this chappie doesn't say what Neal knows, maybe the next? We shall see. M'cha, well I'm sorry I didn't update sooner (rereading all these reviews makes me feel bad because I waited months to update, and for that I am really sorry). Eve Eastborne, well this story hasn't stopped, and I will hopefully continue it on. I'm quite fond of it. Zurizip, ::shrinks under glare:: Sorry now I have been gone for 3 months and am returning with only one chappie. I hope you like it though. Rya, I kind of wish I could publish it but Tammy would probably sue, someday I might rewrite it out of Tortall, and all you guys will be like "wait I've read this somewhere before" (heh). Cytosine thanks for the review, it made me laugh, I tell a lot of people that "The men in White coats will be very kind to" them. Your review reminded me of it. Lady Redbird (I still love you pen name), thanks for the review. I'm sorry about my thing about Cliffies, I just write them without thinking. Ivydragon, Thanks for the review, I'm glad you liked the chappie. I like the idea of Neal being faced with this decision. Beloved Ex-Roomie!!! You are so weird. I guess you wrote this right after I sent you Lady Knight. Well soon you will be putting away that field hockey stick for the winter (heh all the sports with short skirts) and taking out the LaX stick for spring (well you have meditation between the two sports) miss you so much. Blue Eyes oh I'm sorry I did ignore it for a while. But I'm updating now! Thanks for the review. (Blank) wow I think your "post review button" got stuck cause you left me 12 identical reviews. Thanks for them all though. TARA!!! I miss you so much. You don't live next door anymore. I hope that all is well with you. You are the reason that this chappie was written. And I will write you an email soon. You are one of the few who knows exactly where this story is heading. Miss you so much (oh also I just realized that I have our Clueless DVD, How should we split it now that we aren't next door to each other?). Wow a lot of reviews. Thanks to all of you. I'm sorry that it took so long. I will try to update soon, but I'm giving no guarantees. Also my new version of chappie 1 is uploaded and I want to know what you people think of it. I'm sorry a thousand times about the wait. Read, Review and (I hope) Enjoy.
Chapter XXII: Strangers
Alanna paced up and down her room. Then in despair she threw her body into a chair. The door opened and George entered. Alanna looked up at him, eyes filled with sorrow.
"I slapped her, George," she said. "I hit her." George strode over to her and knelt in front of her, looking deeply into her violet eyes. "She hates me. I don't understand why though. I think she hates me even more than she hates Jon. Why does she hate me?" George brushed a wisp of greying red hair out of her face.
"Hush lassie, hush," he said quietly. "She doesn't hate you."
"But that's the worst of it, she does. What did I do?" She bowed her head, but George lifted it again.
"Oh my sweet lass, ask her."
"But she won't listen to me. Every time I see her she looks at me with such hatred that it scares me." She leaned into George, head on his shoulder. Who was this girl that could hurt his Alanna so. He cradled her body in his arms, kissing her hair gently.
~*~
Zira woke, but her eyes remained closed. She heard rain pelting down the glass. The clouds were black, then a streak of lightning would coat them in silver, flashing through her eyelids, and boom of thunder would rattle the glass. She watched it all through closed eyes. Slowly she raised her lids, and saw Shae's worried face looking down at her. She smiled slowly, and Shae took her up in her arms hugging her tightly. They didn't need words. They pulled apart and Zira read sorrow in Shae's deep eyes. She smiled again and then stood up and walked to the window.
"How long has it been like this?" she asked, not turning.
"It started last night," Shae replied, coming up beside her. "While you were asleep."
"Shae, do you want to return to Antitheos?" Shae looked up startled. Zira was standing in front of the window straight and tall. Shae thought of her father, mother, brothers, home. She thought of the warmth of the Antithean sun, and of playing with Zira in the gardens. A wave of homesickness washed over her, filling her with an anguish that she hadn't felt since she had first come to Tortall. But what she was remembering was a time before war, before famine. Her brothers had returned home from the war changed, and morose, stiff from old injuries and silent most of the day. The gardens that Zira and she had played in now were dry and dead. She missed the old Antitheos, but not the one that was waiting for them. She thought of Tobit, Falkin and Jasson, and the kindness of the Queen. She felt guilty as she formed her answer.
"No," she said quietly. Zira turned towards her, suddenly, angrily. "I don't want to return to it in this state. I don't want to go back before we have completed what we came here to do," Shae turned facing Zira. "I could not bear to go back to Antitheos, and see the chaos that the people I have grown to love caused. Zira I am weak, I don't want to face Antitheos, and see its pain when I have been happy. Forgive me." Zira looked at her eyes cold, but they softened, and she put her arm around her friend.
"Shae, you are not weak, I am the one that did not want to continue on." A knock came at the door. Shae walked over to it and opened it. Framed in the doorway was man. He was in his fifties perhaps with, greying brown hair, but his eye had a sharpness that added youth to the handsome face.
"I would like to speak with the princess. Alone."
~*~
Falkin kicked his mount into a trot. He was in Antitheos. The culture fascinated him. Their political structure had held up for years, keeping the majority of the people happy. Even in this hard time, he could not find any one who spoke against the system or the king, but still the people starved. There was little that could be done; the rain would not fall. The people were becoming desperate. There was talk of war, but none wanted it to go that far. War would destroy them utterly.
His guide was a young girl named Kiké, she was short, and dark skinned. She had sold her hair to pay for food for her family, and so it fell raggedly to her ears. Her eyes were greeny brown; her father had been Tortallian. She hated everything that had to do with Tortall, but she needed the money that Falkin was paying her to be his guide. She never spoke to him. She didn't speak Common. At night when they camped he would hear her sing in her high voice haunting songs that he couldn't understand. She led and he followed.
Kiké would not have admitted it to anyone, but she didn't find this blonde Tortallian, quite as hateful as she felt she should. He had a kind smile, and his brown eyes held more intelligence than she thought one of his people could have. The first night they camped, he offered the first watch to her. During the night she studied his peaceful face, wondering at his trust of her. She had drawn her knife and stood over him, prepared to cut his throat. His life held no value to her, but something prevented her.
During the day Falkin would talk, an endless monologue to keep himself company. Kiké would listen to the harsh sound of the Common, but mixed in she would hear names, Zira, Shae, Abi. She wondered at this.
~*~
Tobit had been sent to border patrol a week after the ball. He hated leaving Shae, but he had been excited to be sent so close to Antitheos. He hadn't realized that the border was where the most tension between the countries was. The men who were put under his command were rough, and didn't take kindly towards a man who was in love with an Antithean. They said that he was weak and grumbled at his open-minded approach to the people across the border.
"Who the hell does he think he is? Telling us that we have to understand the barbarians," they would spit. "The boy's still wet behind the ears. He has never had to fight these people."
Tobit's first encounter with Antitheans, other than Zira or Shae, was not encouraging either. Two men were captured for raiding, and brought before him. He questioned them in badly accented Antithean, which had been taught to him by Shae. The only response they would give him was a carefully chosen curse. Tobit found himself again in a peacemaking position, but this time neither party liked him. He took comfort in writing Shae, and his other friends. His men's attitude did not improve when they learned that he was corresponding with not only his Antithean lover, but also the infamous Antithean Princess. He needed to prove himself to both sides, but that was an impossible task. After a week at the border Tobit was on the edge of his sanity.
"The great peacemaker arrives. Stand and bow to the poet," Roup, the leader of the soldiers, jeered. Tobit spun on his heels.
"Roup, latrine duty for the week and you will see me in my tent in five minutes."
"Oh, does the sensitive philosopher not want to get his own hands dirty?" Roup said. Tobit's hard blue eyes met Roup's.
"I will not stand for insubordination. Two weeks, and I suggest that you enter my tent in five minutes, or you may find yourself at latrine duty for the rest of your life." Tobit's voice was dangerously quiet, but Roup calmly spat on Tobit's boot.
"You are no leader. You are too soft. You're the worst type of noble. You don't know who the enemy is. You are sleeping with her, and yet you don't see that. How can we respect someone who 'understands' the enemy." Tobit leapt at him. His strong arms hit Roup over the head knocking him to the dust.
"You will be disbanded for those remarks. You others who hate me, remember I am the leader of this base. I am neither a poet nor a philosopher. I have passed the Ordeal of Knighthood. I was the squire of the Crown Prince of this great country. I am not a soft noble. The Princess Zira is my friend because she has earned my respect, but you neglect the fact that I am also the friend of our own Prince Liam. I am Tortallian and will do what is best for my own country. You will follow my commands because I was placed in charge of you. Do not question me. Do not mock me. I am your commander. Roup, I will see you in my tent in five minutes. There you will hand in your sword, and I will free you from you conscription." Tobit turned around and strode back to his tent, leaving his men in a stunned silence.