A/N: I'm so SORRY!!! It's been over a month, and this chapter's not that long . . . But I'm updating all my story's this weekend, AND I'm updating them all on Christmas Eve. Enjoy!

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"A war is coming," Mariva said gravely, face thoughtful as she called all her knowledge of the Seers to hand. "From what I understand, it will be far from normal. Not the raging battles where men are armed with swords and led by kings wishing for more land or to settle a dispute. This will be a battle where the weapons are magic, fought be Seers, Mages, and Mages of Darkness - the creative name we have labeled the enemy. There are certain other players. As I've heard it, the Saint and the Eternal Lah'nayin's daughter come up most frequently.

"The Saint is on the side of the enemy. She as disguised as a good person, probably beautiful, and very easy to trust. It is she who will gather information from us, learn our secrets. She is connected with the Aevai'in, a deadly catalyst that will swamp the world in darkness and greed. More then that; it is not quite so simple, so clear cut."

Mariva took a deep breath, staring at her fingers before she continued. "The Aevai'in will not cause the world to suddenly burst into flames and make kingdoms fall. Instead, life will slowly sour, like a plague slowly infecting all of humanity. People will cheat each other of goods, pointless wars will be fought, friends will betray one another. All that was good will slowly turn corrupt, leaving the world a place of greed and distrust, where those with money are thew highest gods. Not everyone will become twisted immediately - only the most susceptible, then they will drag down the rest. Eventually, the souls will leave all people. Humanity will be completely and utterly destroyed."

She glanced up now, meeting my eyes. "As the dark players have their advantage, we have the daughter of the Eternal Lah'nayin - you. The Saint, some people believe, but unlikely. The Eternal Lah'nayin is supposed to be, after all, the daughter of the Lady and Lord - or from what information I've gleaned I think that's who. Her daughter is the weapon of our side, the person who will help us - we hope - win." She smiled wryly. "I wish I knew more, but they're so secretive about her - you."

"What about - about the Princess of Lahtorli? Who I apparently am, even though I apparently can't be?"

"Lahtorli is a dead kingdom . . . ."

"Oh, great. I've always wanted to be princess of a dead kingdom."

"It was destroyed in the flames from the eyes of the Lady's father, before humans were created, before any of the land lay as it does now. The Kingdom of Music . . . The Elven land . . ." Mariva looked at me inquiringly. "Children learn of it in school, in their history course. Weren't you?"

"I didn't go to school. The only country I was ever interested in was my own."

"Oh. Well, Laeliena was the last princess -"

I was a little annoyed with the boys. If everyone knew the name of the princess, why was it that astonishing that I had it? Maybe my mother liked fancy princess-y names.

"-and though everyone is taught about her, she is only referred to as the Princess of Lahtorli. Only the Seers know her name."

"And you."

"Well, my betrothed is the Seer of Bast. And I have Priestess Magic, only I refused to go train to be one. It wasn't very much, and I had dreams of riding off with my own handsome prince, like in bedtime stories. So when the Priestesses came to me when I was only five, I threw a temper tantrum and my uncle said I didn't have to leave. I like to think I'm a little less of a spoiled brat now. The entire point of that was that I was mindlocked with Corln - the Bastian Seer - by accident. Since he had the stronger power, he was able to keep his thoughts from me - though he absorbed all of mine. However, he had only just come out of a vision concerning the Princess of Lahtorli, and I was able to gain her name, though nothing else.

"That's how I know. Anyway, *no one* carries the name of Laeliena anymore - it hasn't been used in thousands of years. Apparently the princess was a martyr of some such - I never paid much attention when my governess tutored me in history. I do know that Laeliena is the Shien - the wavering point, the focus of the powers. She is reborn, with all her all her mind intact - all knowing, but she shares none of her knowledge. The Shien makes discussions that play a grand part in determining the outcome, but they are all more to help her land that no longer exists - that is completely not clear, but that's how I understand it. I'm sorry. I don't understand a lot of it myself."

"No, it was much more then I did. Thank you." I leaned back, finishing my tea. "The Princes knew what the name Laeliena meant."

Mariva nodded. "The higher ranking Mages also know this, and Tullon would never keep a secret from his twin."

"And Landraia seemed to have a pretty good idea what she was talking about."

"Did she really? Or was she just piecing together pieces of what others have said?"

"She said something along the lines of how I was an outrageous liar and the Princess of Lahtorli was a myth."

"Oh. She probably thought they were talking about how being the Princess reborn - which they were, but connected to the prophecies. I wouldn't pay much attention to her - in magic related things, at least. In court, she's made it so she's one of the most important person."

"I don't think I like her."

"How astonishing." We grinned at each other. "Anything more uplifting you'd like to do now?

* * *

There was no one else in the courtyard Mariva and I entered. Well, except for the couple hidden by the lilac bush that we knocked into, but they barely counted seeing how they stayed there the entire time. I ignored them, concentrating on the colors in the garden; even in the late fall, they were beautiful. Late flowers bloomed and trees were full of beautiful leaves of red, brown, and gold. A few leaves were artfully scattered on the ground, but not in clumps, covering anything, or in pathways. I wondered if the royal gardeners went to classes for Artfully Arranging Dead Leaves . . .

At the center was a tall fountain. A figure stood on a wide spiral in the center, water pouring from his hands. "Which one is he?" I asked, recognizing the features of the princes.

"Both," she replied, pointing out the circlet with the design of heir, and the jeweled necklace proclaiming the owner a Mage.

"It was sculpted recently."

"This year," Mariva responded dryly. "A new one every birthday, and the old ones stand in one of the palace's galleries."

"I have the feeling you find your cousins . . . spoiled."

"Spoiled? *My* cousins? Of course not," she said sarcastically. She stirred the water with one finger. "I'm sorry. It's just that they get everything they want, and they are so . . . perfect. Gorgeous, chivalrous, charming. . . Rogien is the perfect heir, the perfect knife, the perfect dancer - his list of tributes is longer then I care to recite. And Tullon is this royal Mage; powerful, handsome, sickeningly *royal.*" She sighed, sounding a little upset. "Such wonderful *males.*"

Understanding struck. "Your parents wanted a boy."

"Prayed daily. Offered up money and jewels to the Lady. They left offerings! No one does that anymore. Honestly . . . Then Tullon and Rogien were born, TWIN boys, just a year before me. They think I'm a failure," she said bitterly. "They've been coddling my cousins ever since I was born, and my mother found out she was barren. As if they could convince Tullon to be their heir. Or marry me, something I'd rather not be part of. You have know idea how happy they were when Corln consented to marry me."

"It's an arranged marriage?"

"Every marriage is," Mariva said, looking at me oddly. "But I love him. I didn't, but I do now."

We sat in silence for a minute. Even though she was nobility, Mariva had to put up with some terrible things. I couldn't even remember my parents. I had certainly never been compared to someone else, unless it had to do with my skills as a thief. To have your worth based on your sex . . . That would be unbearable.

"Lady Laeliena?" a voice broke through my thoughts sharply. It was male, cold and stiff - not to mention very familiar. Mariva looked up, but I was slow to follow her example. He had never addressed me by my true name, and never so coldly. Besides, what was with the "Lady"?

When I raised my head, I saw Aiven, dressed all in silver, eyes slightly condemning. He bowed first to Mariva, who hurriedly stood and curtsied, looking not a little awed. Aiven bowed to me then, mouth a tight line, motions stilted.

"What is it?" I said, voice sounding uncomfortable high. "What's wrong?"

"I believe, my lady, that we should depart for Bast."

"But - "

"Now."

"Aiven -"

"We will be leaving in thirty minutes. I will await you in the audience chamber." With another bow to both of us, he turned and walked off.

"No."

He paused in his tracks as my mouth formed that one word, then turned to look at me, face shuttered. "I'm sorry?"

"I said no," I repeated, feeling my temper rising. "I've been invited to a ball, in case you've forgotten. And we are guests of their Majesties. I want to take leave of Lady Jainalii before we leave as well. But most of all," here I was standing and glaring at him, slowly pronouncing each word, "you - have - to - explain. What the hell is going on here? Why are you so mad at me, and why is it so desperate that we leave immediately? Plus, I want to know about Johen. In case you've forgotten, he's my best friend, AND I'm in love with him!" My voice had ridden to an ear splitting level. "I'm SICK of all your mysteries manners! I'm SICK of not knowing anything, of having to follow your plans. And most of all, I'm sick of being a pawn in your annoying little games!"

At that point, the sky opened up and rain poured down.