Jaina and Roald knew he spoke the truth. They both hid blushes as best as they could and finished eating.
Jaina and Roald didn't have any time to talk about this then, though. They had to go get all of Jaina's armor, and everyone else was at training. Roald showed her around the entire place. By the time they were done it was time for the evening meal.
"How was your day?" Keladry asked.
"Interesting." Jaina said. "I learned a lot thanks to an awesome sponsor."
Roald blushed a deep red. "So, did you learn anything, Roald?" Neal asked.
"Of course." Roald said.
"So, Owen how was your day?" Jaina asked.
"Not as jolly as I had hoped." He complained.
Everyone at the table hid snorts of laughter. "What is your definition of jolly?" Jaina asked.
"Don't get him started." Neal said before he could answer.
"Sheesh." Owen said, with mock annoyance.
The rest of the meal went with light talk and banter. After the meal Jaina realized this would be the best time to talk to Roald. She touched his arm and mouthed. "Can we go somewhere to talk?"
"Sure." He mouthed back.
They headed to Roald's room. No one dared disturb the room of the Kingdom's heir. "Jaina-"
"Roald-" Jaina said at the same time.
They laughed, which eased the tension a bit. As she laughed, a thought struck her, and she could tell something like it had struck Roald. She took Roald out of her force sense, so she couldn't feel his nervousness. "Jaina, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met." Roald said, getting to the point. "And you understand what I go through as Crown Prince." Then he looked at the ground. "It's just… I have a responsibility to Tortal. I don't know if my father would honor my love."
"You the most handsome and intriguing guy I have ever met. I don't know when I will have to return to my galaxy." Jaina said. "You are right, we both have alternate lives and must somehow control ourselves."
"This love isn't destined to be." Roald said. "Let's walk away from this while we have our sanities."
"We will just be friends, and nothing more." Jaina said.
"The best of friends." Roald said.
"Deal." The two shook on it.
Jaina walked back to her room, depressed, but feeling that she had done the right thing it wouldn't be fair on either of then if they fell in love, but she had to leave and he had to marry someone for the good of tortall. It was good they nipped it in the bud.
As she got close to her room, she sighed, she sensed that Keladry was waiting for her. Sure enough, Keladry (whose room was 3 doors down from hers.) beckoned her inside Keladry's room. Jaina went inside slowly. "So what happened?" Keladry asked.
"We called it off."
"What?!" Keladry asked. "You two looked so cute, why?"
"Because he has to marry for the good of Tortal and I will probably have to go back home sometime."
"Well, I guess that makes sense." Keladry said, slowly, but Jaina could read she was still sad about it.
"Let's change the topic." Jaina said.
"Ok. Tell me a little about your academy." Keladry said.
"Our training master is my uncle, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. Usually we get up eat, and then we go to a lecture that my uncle and if he has been called away on missions whoever he has appointed will teach us something. Then we go practice the skill we have been instructed to practice. Then the advanced students work with the teachers on skills like lightsaber dueling, mediation, hand-to-hand combat, or whatever else they deem we need help on. The younger students usually have just finished their skill practice then and the teachers work with them. Then we have free time, which we are supposed to use to hone whatever skill we would like. Then Uncle Luke and us have a work session in the evening. This all is sometimes subject to change. Uncle Luke runs the academy in a deceptively loose way. If you hear about it you think that it isn't really grueling, but it is. The thing that makes it bearable is how nice Uncle Luke is. I know I am biased, but everyone says the same thing."
"Sounds like fun." Kel said.
"It is." Jaina said. "I love it at the Jedi Academy."
Just then Seaver came bursting in to Kel's room. Jaina could feel his anger and shock, so she sat up to brace herself. "Kel, Jaina, I was coming to get help on math homework, when I passed Jaina's room, it was defiled."
Jaina and Kel got up, almost in tandem and rushed to Jaina's room. It had been mutilated even worse then Kel's had when she had first come here. She read, no girls, especially no foreign girls. We want only pure Tortallan blood. Go away from here.
Jaina didn't read the rest. She just started cleaning up. "Call Salma." Kel told Seaver, who had followed.
Seaver bolted from the room. Jaina and Kel began to set everything up again. Salma arrived within minutes. "Jaina, go with Kel to her room. I will have everything back together. I will put the same lock on your door that Kel has on hers. Give me your key," then she looked around at the damage. "Maybe you want to sleep in Keladry's room for the night. This will take awhile, and you should be rested for tomorrow. I will bring along a bedroll."
"All right." Jaina said, she took her nightclothes and went to Keladry's room. As promised Salma brought a bedroll in minutes.
Kel and Jaina fell asleep quickly. Jaina awoke when Keladry did. She watched Keladry do her morning practices. Keladry had great skills, Jaina observed, and an even greater determination. Just like Tenel Ka. Tenel Ka… Jaina thought about her warrior friend, who was never satisfied with enough, she had to push herself past her limits.
"Jaina, you are up." Keladry said, surprised when she noticed Jaina's brown eyes watching her.
"Yes, I have been for awhile actually. You use the weapon very well, it almost looks like an extension of you."
Kel blushed. "Thank you."