A/N I'm back. I've had this chappie done for a while, but it didn't feel quite right. But I guess it's as good as it's gonna get. Go see Bend it Like Beckham, and rent Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, they are both most excellent movies, which definitely do not fail egregiously. I'm in a weird mood having just seen Bill and Ted last night (Bill and Ted has a really cute young Keanu Reeves in it).
Wildmage- I am sincerely sorry another cliffy here. But you do find out what she was going to do!
Elle- Thanks for the review!
Keziah- I won't say a word not one word.
Nesuto- Thanks for the review (I like your new name).
Ex-Roomie- Have you started the Magician's Ward yet? It was great seeing you yesterday! I hope that the La-X team does better next time.
Smials- I'm glad you have been enjoying the story, and thanks so much for reviewing (reviews are wonderful).
Ivy Dragon- What would I do without you (no sarcasm you are great). You always have great points, which make me look back on the chappie more closely and see how I could write it better. Thank you. The point of the whole glowing Amber thing where Falkin feels that he would die if he touched her is a theme carried on into this chappie. Jasson feels the same way when he sees her in this chappie but he doesn't touch her. The point is that Falkin acts. He can be afraid, but he overcomes it for Zira. I should have written it better though. It was awkward and made it sound like I had forgotten what I had written before. Thanks for pointing it out. I can't draw sitting people either.
Sudha- Ya I'm not going to change Zira now, but if I rewrite her I'll want to give her more flaws. The thing is that if I had dwelt a little more on the page training years her flaws would be more apparent because she really was the worst page (and actually that was part of the reason I wrote her because all the others become like the best, and I was like that's not too realistic, but then the story developed differently and I didn't want to make it 700 pages long. I did change the Sari thing because of you (I really don't know anything about Indian culture). Thank you!
Death By Moonlight- Awesome name (could be a band or something). Thanks for the review!
Thank you everyone, please read review and enjoy!
Chapter XXXI: Beginnings
Zira and Falkin stayed in the tent together talking until Zira stood with a sigh.
"If I am to make it to Corus in time I should leave this evening."
"Is Neal coming with you?" Falkin asked.
"I most certainly will not," drawled a voice near the tent flap. Zira and Falkin turned to the lanky green-eyed man at the entrance. He walked in. "I am a healer as such I will not choose sides. But I will go to the border with Falkin and help those who need it." He turned to Zira. "I cannot help you with what you have to do. Eimar be with you though." Zira smiled.
"Amane, and might Eimar remain with you as well," she replied. Neal looked at her.
"I'll help you pack," he said. The look in his eye stopped any arguments on Zira's lips. He wanted to talk. She turned to Falkin, and wrapped her arms round his neck.
"Good bye," she said. Falkin leaned down and kissed her. Then let go.
"Eimar protect you all your days," he said quietly. He bit his lip, holding back tears. "I will rally the troops here." He ducked out of the tent before another word could be spoken. Zira turned to her knight master.
"What do you want to talk about?" she asked. Neal looked down at the floor.
"I told you before that I knew more than you thought I did," he said awkwardly. "Well I'm going to tell you exactly what I know." Zira opened her mouth but Neal continued more quickly. "Numair asked me to help him find out your secret, my library has more on Antitheos than his. Of course none of the recent books have anything about anyone like you in them." He looked at her. "What you have is strange. It can turn the gift against itself. No other Mage can truly do that. Your magic is undetectable; it isn't the gift. That is how you kept it secret." He paused. "That is how you hid from even Daine's magic, isn't it? What you have is older, far older. It is the mark of Kingship. It explains why my bone-strengthening spell didn't work, and why you have better night sight than anyone I know. It explains what a Jellicle cat is doing wandering the palace. You have Old Magic, and the Dominion Jewel belongs to you." Zira stared at him. "I cannot help you directly, but one thing I can say is that Jon respects courage, and hates anything underhand. Be forward, princess, be bold. Don't sneak around." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. Zira smiled.
"I will," she said.
~*~
The evening saw a figure riding a blood bay at full gallop towards the Tortallian border. Falkin and Neal watched it until it was out of sight, they would move in the morning. The camp had been alerted to the war and was prepared. Neal looked at Falkin.
"Can you do this? You will be a traitor to your country," he said quietly. Falkin smiled.
"Before I was all talk. I never actually did anything to bring justice to the world. I'm not a traitor. I was a hypocrite before," he laughed. "I'm finally in my right mind which is out of it. Neal, with all my talk about equality, and a utopia, I never did anything. Then I see Zira. She doesn't talk. She acts. Mithros knows she's proud, and stubborn, but not scared of a sacrifice. She " he trailed off. "I have to do this for her. She deserves it."
"Falkin don't underestimate the power of words, some of the greatest victories were won with them," Neal said with a smile, then he sighed. "As long as you know what you're doing, I'm going to turn in we have a long ride before us tomorrow." Falkin stayed though, and fell asleep on the wall under the stars. He woke just as the hot sun came over the horizon hitting his eyes with its bright rays. They would be leaving in the late morning. He climbed down the wall, and walked to his tent. His haversack was packed and his saddlebag was piled next to it. He swung them on his shoulders, and walked to where his horse was grazing.
"Camel," he said as he tightened the girth. "We have a long ride before us." He mounted onto his back, and walked him slowly in circles. The camp was almost ready, all the women and men from age fifteen to thirty were following him. They were going to fight for their freedom. A horse trotted up beside his. He looked up and saw Kiké. She smiled grimly.
"I'm ready," she said. Falkin grinned.
"Where have you been. I needed to thank you for saving my life." She laughed, but Falkin looked at her and realized that she was painfully thin, and her tunic barely covered a big bruise on her shoulder.
"I was staying with some relatives," she said bitterly. An Antithean soldier rode by them.
"Hey sweetling where's your hair," he said whistling. "Meet me in my tent this evening. I'll make it worth your while." He flipped a coin at her, which hit Kiké and dropped to the ground. She didn't look at it. Falkin glared at him. "Oh I'm sorry are you already taken for tonight?" Kiké blushed bright red.
"Get away I'm not for sale," she growled. The man snorted.
"You have no honor that is why your family hides you away. I'd be ashamed to if you were a sister of mine." Kiké drew her knife.
"Back off, you have know idea of whom you are dealing with." The man laughed and rode off. Kiké resheathed her knife. Falkin looked after the man.
"Kiké," he said.
"What?" she replied harshly.
"What was that about? Why does Mustafa not want to talk about you? Why did your 'relatives' hide you away and beat you?" Falkin looked into her green eyes. She sighed, and shook her head so her short hair swung from side to side.
"Only hookers have short hair," she said. "My relatives think that I gave up my honor to save my family. I sold my hair for food though," she said quickly. "But people here don't see it that way. The only excuse for a shorthaired girl in Antitheos is that she is dishonored. These relatives also threw out my mother when she was pregnant with me, but that wasn't her fault," Kiké said defiantly. "She was raped by a Tortallian soldier. I hate him. He is the reason that my family is starving. No one here wanted to help half Tortallian bastards. He doesn't even know that he has a daughter somewhere." She trailed off, and looked out towards the border. Her green eyes smoldered, and Falkin realized what a curse to her those eyes were. They kept her from looking like a normal Antithean girl. People saw her Tortallian father mapped out on her face.
~*~
Jonathan sat quietly in his study, looking at a piece of parchment. The Antitheans had attacked again. He put his head into his hands. What could he do? He had to protect Tortall's interests. He didn't want another war. War had killed two of his best friends. The Antitheans had attacked a small border outpost. He looked back down at the letter in his fist. He reached out and hit a small gong on his desk. A young man entered.
"Send Liam here," Jonathan said. The man bowed a left the room. After a few minutes Jonathan heard a knock on the thick oak door. "Enter." Liam came in.
"What is it father?" he asked.
"Antitheans have attacked a border station." Liam leaned forward urgently.
"Which one!" he said. Jon had not expected so much energy from his second son.
"The last one, to the North east," Jon replied.
"Was anyone hurt?" Liam asked. "Was Tobit hurt?" Jon nodded; remembering that Tobit was Liam's friend.
"No Tobit is fine. This report is from him. I'm going to send you out to help him with a battalion of the King's Own."
"Yes father." Liam replied. He was seething inside. Who would dare attack his friend's fort?
~*~
Zira rode, pouring her power into Roos' flanks. They flew, going far faster than any mortal horse could possibly gallop. The ground changed from hard packed dust, to gravel then grass, as she sped towards Corus. Her long braid thumped rhythmically against her back, as she leaned forward, face just above the mane. Tears were pouring down her face, though she could not tell which hurt made them fall: her country's, her father's, Falkin's, or her own. The city came towards her in a blur of amber. It was just before dawn as she galloped down the cobblestone streets. Lights turned on in her wake, as sleepy eyed citizens looked out their windows at the beautiful Antithean princess who flew by their stone buildings.
She reached the palace just as the sun started to rise. A sleepy stable boy staggered out of the barn. She tossed the reins to him, and ran though the archway leading into the great hall. As she ran her body changed, becoming smaller, more lithe, faster. Her paws were sure of the direction, and never faltered. Zira the human had run this way many times. Doors flew open before her. She was racing the clock.
She rounded the last bend, and burst into a room.
Jasson jumped to his feet as a black and white jellicle cat flew into his room. The cat morphed before his eyes. He stood as Zira's frail form appeared before him, she was glowing amber. Her breaths came ragged. Slowly she blinked her eyes, long black eyelashes covering her large amber eyes then revealing them again.
"Zira," he breathed. She swallowed. He saw she was trembling. "Sit down," he said as he pushed her into a chair. He knelt before her, looking up at her face. He loved her so much. "Why can't she love me? Why does she love Falkin?" he asked himself, his spirit raged inside him, but he couldn't say anything. He never could. He couldn't speak up for himself, and he couldn't speak up for those he loved. He was always silent, taking the path of least resistance. He knew no other way. Looking up at Zira he saw why he loved her. She was everything he could never be.
"War has begun again," she said flatly. Jasson wanted to take her in his arms, but was too afraid, she was glowing amber, and he felt that he would be burnt in an embrace. He just knelt before her, looking at her.
"Jasson," she said, then faltered.
"What?" he asked. She took a deep breath, and raised her eyes to the casement. She didn't want to hurt him; she loved him. He was one of her dearest friends. She had to do it though. He was a prince, he had his duty too, and it might hurt him, but the ruler as an individual did not matter. She knew as well that she was using him, and she hated herself for that. But she had to. For Antitheos. She lowered her eyes to his. His hazel eyes were so full of love and passion she faltered for a moment. Then regained her composure.
"Jasson, will you marry me?"
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