A/N First of all CHAPTER 27 IS FIXED SO IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT GO BACK TO IT! Second of all GO TO MY BIO, AND CLICK ON THE LINK TO MY HOMEPAGE look through it (PLEASE). It took me forever to create it, it has all the pictures that I have ever drawn of my characters, different parts of Antithean History, links to my favorite websites, and (of course) my list of the 30 most beautiful stars that ever lived (yes it is random but randomness is good), also please sign the guest book. Thanks.
I'm sorry about the whole chappie 27 mess up, and thank you to all of you who told me to fix it. I uploaded chappie 28 very quickly to kind of apologize.
cytosine: Thanks for going to the website, and signing the guest book! You're awesome. Also thank you for saying that the world I've made for Zira is realistic.
Luna0520: Go to the website, the picture of the dress is there in the Characters: Zira section. You will also find more pictures and info than you would if I just sent it to you.
Celidh of Unicorn's Forest: THANK YOU! You have given me some of the best compliments that you could give to a writer. Thanks again, you made me very happy!
Chapter XXVIII: Visions
Zira helped the people in the camp plant the seed corn. She and Neal had brought enough water with them to just keep drought at bay, and when the green shoots from the corn started to come up the entire place rejoiced.
Falkin, though, noticed that Zira looked tired and haggard each day and suspected that she had something to do with the quick growth of the corn with so little water. He didn't mention it. He tried to divert her attention, and make her laugh and be relaxed. They would go for long rides together, and talk. Their ideas bounced off of each other, and their political beliefs became firmer. Falkin told her of his plans to travel to distant places spreading his idea of a democratic oligarchy, and she told him of her plans on how to stabilize the Antithean economy. Of course technically she wouldn't rule, Antitheos was still under Tortallian control, but she hoped that Jonathan would leave Antitheos mostly to its own devices. They didn't only talk of politics though. They talked about their friends and their childhoods. Often they wouldn't talk at all just reveling in the chance to be near each other. There was a dried well about a mile from the camp and they would often travel out to it, and sit in the meager shade that it provided. Lying there, Zira perpendicular to Falkin with her head on his chest, they would talk for hours.
"Of course not all royalty is bad," Falkin said laughing looking down at Zira, "I'm desperately in love with a princess you know," Zira slapped him playfully laughing.
"Oh who is she? I'll have to fight her."
"She can hold her more than own in a knife fight," Falkin replied laughing, Zira's thick black hair fell across his hand, he took one lock of it, and wrapped it around his finger. "But I like other royals too. Roald isn't as bad as his father, and Jasson isn't bad either." Falkin felt Zira stiffen when he mentioned the youngest prince's name.
"No, Jasson isn't bad," she said with a sad smile. Falkin propped himself up on his elbows.
"I thought Jasson was your best friend?" Falkin said. Zira rolled onto her stomach so that she could meet Falkin's eyes.
"I love Jasson, he is a wonderful person, and a great friend. But he confuses me. Why can't he just leave things as they are?" Zira trailed off. Falkin didn't reply his eyes were fixed on hers. She sighed. "I think that Jasson is in love with me," she said reluctantly. Falkin shifted uncomfortably.
"How long have you thought this," he asked looking down at the dust at the base of the well.
"Since the ball," she said quietly. "You aren't jealous, are you?" Falkin looked at her intensely.
"Do I have reason to be?" he asked, it was almost a plea, and Zira realized that she shouldn't have told him.
"No," she said simply shaking her head. She leaned in and kissed him.
~*~
Jasson concentrated on the binding spell. Hold it hold it, Skysong struggled irritably and let out a shrill whistle breaking the rope of magic that Jasson was binding her with. Jasson regained control, throwing another loop of power around the dragonet. Numair watched him appraisingly.
"Very good," he said nodding. Jasson let the ropes dissipate, and turned to his teacher. Skysong clicked, and whistled in irritation. Jasson froze unable to move. Skysong sat back onto her haunches, and looked at the frozen prince with satisfaction.
"Skysong," Numair said in a vague but reproving manner. "Let him go." She grudgingly let out a click, turned tail high and left the room. Jasson walked up next to Numair. "Don't mind her," Numair said. "She always gets like this when Daine leaves for more than a week. Most of the time she enjoys the experiments." Numair walked over to his desk and sat behind it, half hidden by books, bottles, and papers. "You have great power, and maybe more important amazing control." Numair looked at Jasson carefully. "Yet you aren't happy? Why? You are getting your wish, and getting trained in your gift." Jasson sat on a stool, and looked down at his feet.
"Did you ever meet my Uncle?" he asked carefully.
"I believe he was you first cousin once removed," Numair corrected without thinking. "But no I didn't. His ashes had been spread on the winds before I arrived at court. Why?" Jasson stretched his legs out, and looked down at his hands.
"Father says I have his gift," he said after a pause. Numair leaned forward.
"I know that. You can trace the Orange gift in your family back to your great-great-great grandmother, who was I believe one of the Bazhir. It is usually very powerful, but you and your cousin are, and were, much more powerful than normal." Jasson analyzed his hands carefully; they were large and strong.
"Why do I have it?" he asked.
"Well certain gifts tend to stay in a family," he looked at Jasson. "But that isn't what you were asking is it." Numair sighed and leaned back. "Jasson the gift can be neither good nor evil in itself. It is a tool, you control it, not the other way around, and it is in the way that you manipulate it that causes good and evil. Just because your cousin used a similar gift to forward his own interests at the expense of those around him, doesn't mean that you will follow in the same path he did. Now tonight you should study the Freila shield, and in what types of situations it can be used. I have research to do." Jasson stood up, knowing a dismissal, but he turned on his way out.
"Thank you Master Numair," he said, and left the room.
~*~
Zira dreamed. She was in the middle of a vast plane that shone with a soft amber light she looked up at the sky it was green and spread from horizon to horizon she suddenly realized that she was in her cat form and looking down at her paws she saw the ring on one of her toes it shimmered in the glow of the green sky. An eagle flew towards her, it was weak, but the air was still, and clear. Its slow wing beats propelling it forward. It barely made it to her feet, but when it approached her it looked at her with cloudy amber eyes. It was her father. The eagle staggered towards her, and Zira bounded up to him, and rubbed her face against his beak.
"Father I am here," she said.
"Zira," the response was weak.
"Yes father," she said supporting the eagle and sending some of her strength into him. Strengthening him with her own life force.
"I have seen my death visions," he said.
"No, father. No," Zira cried desperately.
"Zira," the voice was stern. "I know I have come to the end of my reign, soon I will rejoin Eimar, Abi, and my Queen. You must listen to me. My death visions have been of war, famine, death. You can stop it though. You must get It. You will know what to do then. Protect our people."
"Father I don't know how," she said, fighting tears.
"Zira you are my daughter, you know far more than you are willing to admit to yourself. Remember the road of a ruler is not easy. Your people must come above everything, your love, even your hate. Zira, an encampment near the border will attack a Tortallian stronghold. The war will begin again." The eagle ran its beak through Zira's long soft fur. "Zira, my little one, we had so little time together." Tears fell hot out of her eyes running softly down her face.
"Father," she whispered. "I love you."
"Zira, Eimar is near." Zira bowed her head at the ritualistic words, and shook it. Her father's amber eyes looked at her sadly. Tremblingly she replied. The words and their responses wove together in a pattern uniting father and daughter closer than they ever were.
"May Eimar ever protect you."
"May Eimar do the same for you."
"Until we meet again."
"Until we are one again."
"When Eimar calls you go."
"But do not follow me until Eimar calls for you alone."
"I will wait for the call and do good until it comes."
"Keep my spirit ever in yours."
"I will."
"I give it to you for your keeping."
"Amane." As the last word of the ritual was spoken Zira felt her father's power enter into her. When she looked down again the eagle was gone.
~*~
At the moment of the King of Antitheos' death, a small band of Antithean rebels made their way over the border to the low stone buildings of the Tortallian stronghold. Niaussi slipped his knife into the lock on the side door. He carefully found the tumblers, turned them slowly, and quietly opened the door.
A/N Ok I know that I'm overly fond of A/N but I really like being able to thank everyone who reviews individually, and this is one big author's note to all my reviewers. You guys are awesome! I have been writing this story for over a year and it was you guys who have kept me writing this story! It is so much longer than anything else I have ever written in my life. Did you know that if it were in the same book format as the Tamora Pierce books it would be over 150 pages long, as it is on my computer screen it is 65 pages single spaced! So I just want all of you to know that you are awesome, and here are your roses for being here reviewing. I'm sorry also about the initial mess up with chappie 27.
300 roses for my reviewers!
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