Ok, so you all are wondering. "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?" good question. The answer: right here at my desk…thing is…I kind of need a computer in order to write, no? That ugly little blaster worm virus…ya, the one that gives you a little window with a countdown on it so you know just how long you have until it shuts down on you? Yeah, that one. The one designed to give you heart failure the minute you see it. That popped up on my computer and I nearly turned my hall deaf from my screech. Anyway, so my computer shut down and I had to whisk it away to the computer help desk center at my school where they held it in quarantine for nearly a month and a half! (those evil little computer trolls) Anyways, I got Artemis back (Artemis is the name of my computer) and I was ready to go and….what to my surprise…..but a hurricane is a commin'. Now, first of all…I go to St. Mary's College. If ANYONE knows where that is, they understand. My room is literally 20 feet away from the St. Mary's River which is the first river of the Maryland Chesapeake bay. Second, I'm a RA….which means I'm in charge of about 20 residents at my school. So what am I forced to do…hmm..spend countless hours boarding up all their windows, cause obviously GIRLS can't do such things, help them lift all their belongings up off the floor (we're on the basement level…with luck like mine…who needs guns) and make sure no idiots are having hurricane parties and running around naked in the middle of Hurricane Isabelle. Sigh…so..all these trees fall down cars get wrecked and my room gets flooded…(luckily, Artemis was safely stowed away.) but low and behold, no power for almost a week. Do you KNOW how WEIRD that can get? Anyway, I finally got power and I'm ready to go.
The Secret Magic: 2: Uncontrollable
She couldn't breath. She tried, desperately. The frigid ice around her entire body was ripping away at her in painful strips. She tried to breathe in, again. All she got was more icy pain. She could feel her lungs fighting the pressure. Her left hand gripped onto something with unrestrained conviction, refusing to let go, so she reached up with her free right hand and tried to punch through the white blanket above her. Pure white, yet, so dark. She couldn't remember ever being so scared. If she couldn't breath, this would be it. Her heart was pounding at her chest, trying to break through her ribs. She scratched at the white sheet in sharp thrusts as the horror of what was happening slowed down time around her, dragging each second out endlessly. If she could just…take…one…more…
Jade's body jumped up from the bed, heaving for breath. She'd been sleeping on her stomach, so her arms had automatically pushed her body up. Her eyes were wild for a moment, looking around and up for the white blanket again. When she finally got her bearings, she looked to the bottom of the bed where Kitten had been sleeping by her feet.
The dragon hadn't even stirred.
She fell back down on her stomach and buried her hands under her chest, chasing away the early morning chill and the remnants of the nightmare. She reached down for her blanket and wrapped it more securely around herself. Peeking out towards the window and groaning at the early morning, she muttered, "It's too early." She tried to close her eyes and sleep longer, but images of white suffocating blankets refused to leave her mind. She struggled out of bed, pulled her blanket from under Kitten wrapping it around her shoulders. She shivered at the cold draft in her room and walked out into the living quarters, muttering about winter.
She was starting to feel the familiar slumber inside herself, her magic settling down for a winter's nap. But with the winter came the tale-tell signs of a long season full of restless nights. She scooted over to her parent's room and pocked in her head. She was slightly surprised to see both of them already up and gone. She peaked in on Atune and discovered her tutor was stills sleeping, though not with as many blankets as Jade would have expected. Atune was always commenting that the winters in Tortall were mere snow flurries compared to the blizzards in Scanra.
She grabbed a book from her shelf, scooted back into room, plopped onto her bed and began to read, Kitten snuggling closer to her leg.
*****
They waited at the front gates with an assembly of greeters. Further down, crowds of city folk had gathered in the street to welcome their Princess home. "I'm surprised Jon and Thayet didn't throw tradition out the window and be out here to great Kalisin." Alanna murmured into her thick mittens. A bright red tunic that bore a golden Lioness across the front and back reached mid thigh over light tan breeches and near black leather boots contrasted her bright hair fittingly. Her Gold chain mail armor glistened in the clear early winter morning air. Sword and dagger properly placed and leather gloves hooked to her belt, which she would quickly trade for her warm mittens when their guest arrived, she stood as a beautiful beacon of Tortallan glory.
Gary of Naxen snorted into his uncovered hands. In his own fief regalia of black and gold, he stood handsomely for a man entering his late forties. "They would have, if there weren't an entire entourage of priest and ambassadors coming as well. As it stands, their Majesties are going to have to meet them in the Great Throne Room like they would any other visiting royals, even if it is their own daughter." Gary looked down to his left where the fiery red head was jumping in small rapid beats to keep warm. "Alanna, honestly…you're worse than an old Mitherean priest; would you cut that out!"
"It's COLD!" she scolded. "What am I supposed to do? Sit here and freeze? No, thank you!" Gary rolled his eyes. His attention caught to the side as Daine casually walked through the gates, pulling at the sleeve of her green cloth uniform coat. She seemed to be having trouble keeping the dark brown leather gloves folded correctly underneath the coat.
"Mithros, Daine. Is it possible you've gotten even more beautiful from the last time I saw you in that thing?" He smiled at the younger woman with charm.
Daine looked up at him startled at first to hear her name than quickly turned into a brilliant wide smile. "You always were a charmer, Gary."
Alanna glared grumpily. "Funny how even when I was your age, I never got compliments like that."
Before she could say anything else, Raoul, in browns and blues of all colors, broke in, "That's because we were always afraid you'd run us through with your sword." Laughs were shared, and even Alanna had a half grin across her face.
"It is amazing how you pull that off, Daine," Alanna said, more light-hearted. "You wouldn't think it seeing as you usually look best in blue, but it does."
Daine smiled shyly and shrugged. "I've always felt rather overdone in this. Like I'm calling attention to myself."
Numair came through the gates then, a few papers in hand, reading them hurriedly. "Here now, Numair," called Raoul. "What do you think about Daine's uniform?"
Numair looked up with a smile and looked towards Daine, a glint in his eyes. Personally, I like what's underneath it better." Daine's eyes nearly came out of her head as Numair smiled toothily and the others laughed loudly.
"They've arrived!" Called a Tortallan guard who galloped up the brick street with a smile. "They entered the city walls half an hour ago. They should be here within minutes." Footmen scurried into positions, guards straightened and stood at attention, the Mitheran Priest stood in a line parallel to the Palace outer walls as the Knights and Nobles placed themselves in two lines leading up to the palace gates. Numair and Daine stood among a handful of other Mages while Alanna, Raoul and Gary stood across from them.
Daine moistened her lips in nervousness, taking deep breaths to relax. "Calm down," murmured Numair. "It's only Kalisin."
Daine looked at him with disbelieving eyes. "We haven't seen her in eight years, Numair, people change."
Numair grinned. "From what I've heard, not that much."
"Wha?…Where did you hear that? What have you heard? Why…" She was interrupted by the sound of the crowds cheering and waving suddenly. Confetti was thrown into the air and people jumped madly in happiness. Daine was caught suddenly by surprise as trumpets from the catwalks sounded in welcome. They played a regal song as a number of Carthiki guards on horseback came into view, quickly followed by a number of carriages, one larger than the others.
The Carthiki guards wore their bright gold and blacks with pride as they stopped their pure black steeds so that the main carriage was positioned at the line of welcomers. The footman riding the back of the carriage quickly dismounted his position in the back coach seat and opened the beautifully crafted wooden door of the carriage.
A familiar pale hand reached out wrapped in crimson red velvet. The Footman held his hand out and Kalisin emerged from the carriage with bright blue eyes.
Thayet's beauty on arriving in Tortall, in truth, even in Serain, had been legendary. Her pale perfect skin and physic mixed with Jonathans deep blue eyes had produced a creature so divinely beautiful, even the Gods had to smile upon her. Kalisin, who had always been considered a beautiful young girl, had grown out of her late teen awkwardness and emerged into her womanhood at fool blossom. Her black coal hair was pinned up and had intricate red beads placed strategically, a black sheer veil seemed to have been pulled over her face to hang prettily from her neck. Her pale perfect skin contrasted the crimson of her lips as well as the crimson of her dress, which looked light enough for summer, yet warm enough for summer. She was tall, at least 5'8'', and had a very slender waist to accentuate her 'attributes' even more. At 25, Empress Kalisin of Conte could drive men to their knees with desire and women to madness with envy.
Kalisin squinted her beautiful eyes as the early morning sun shone brightly down. She took the step down to the ground and breathed in the air. Looking up, she smiled at the many faces that had been a comforting memory for so many years. Her eyes lit up in delight when her eyes met a particular pair of crystal blue eyes.
"Roald!" She said in happiness. Daine turned her head slightly to see that, yes, in fact, Prince Roald stood at the gates, hands behind his back, feet set apart and a wide smile upon his face. He took a few jogging steps to meet up to Kalisin, who had sprinted towards him and crushed her in a warm embrace. Kalisin wrapped her arms around his neck, tears of joy in her eyes.
A round of applause pulled brother and sister apart momentarily. Kalisin pulled away slightly but held on to his hands. "Roald, you rotten thing. Why have you not come to visit me in so long? Look at me. Having to travel all the way up to Tortall just to threaten you into coming more often."
"Now, now, dear sister. What would her Majesty say at hearing such things?" They laughed and hugged once again before an old Carthiki priest cleared his throat. Kalisin rolled her eyes dramatically at Roald with a smile before pulling back again. "My dear brother," she said royally. I wish to present to you, future King of Carthak; my son, your nephew, heir to the throne of Carthak, his royal highness, Prince Otadon."
A boy of eight emerged from the carriage wearing a woven gold tunic and black satin sash with gold threads designing the Carthiki royal seal. He wore light tan breaches and brand new black leather boots richly designed in gold threads. His face, was striking to say the least. He had his fathers black Carthiki hair. His skin was his mothers, pale ivory. It contrasted his black eyes sharply. Those Carthiki eyes were lined in black, making them stand out even more. He was tall for his age, but already showing sighs of a strong youth.
Prince Roald stepped up to the young boy and bowed. "Welcome, cousin. My home is your home." In a quieter voice Roald said, "Though if you like, I can show you where I dunked your mother in the mud, she screeched for weeks after that."
A smile broke across the small lips and the young boy nodded in anticipation.
"If I may…" interrupted Kalisin with a glare at her brother.
Roald straightened and cleared his throat. "Oh yes, of course."
Kalisin eyed him suspiciously before continuing. "I would also like to present to you, brother, my youngest, Duchess Miliani of Carinthia, High Royal Princess of Carthak.
A young girl of about 5 was helped out of a the coach by an elderly lady wrapped in the Royal servants clothing. The first thing that ran through Daine's mind as she rested eyes upon the small child was how clearly the line of beauty would continue throughout the line of royal females. The little princess was almost an exact copy of Kalasin. Thinking back to the first time Daine had met the young princess, she recalled Kalasin was only 8 then, Jade's age. With a sigh and a smile, Daine couldn't help but see another future beauty if the young girl.
Kalasin walked and greeted many of the palace officials that waited patiently in a line for her. Some, of course, she greeted more warmly than others. When she embraced Alanna and Gary warmly, one of the Carthekian priests cleared his throat in reproach. Kalasin straightened slowly. A momentary dark glare churned into a patient sigh as both Alanna and Gary patted her hands reassuringly and she moved on.
Daine's own personal greeting with the Empress was brief but promising. "You Majesty," Daine greeted one hand behind her back, the other in front of her as she bowed in uniform.
Kalasin picked up Daine's hand and squeezed it tightly. Leaning in ever so slightly, she whispered. "We'll talk more later, you and I"; and there was a shake in Kalasin's voice that caught Daine's attention.
Daine forced a grin. "Of course, you Majesty." A few more seconds of eye contact and Kalasin moved on down the line of three Wild Mages currently in residence at the palace. Daine sighed and braced herself for meeting the long line of Cartheki nobles and priests that had arrived with Kalasin.
A/N: Coolness…read and review
Catch ya later. Bye now