Thanks, guys, I appreciate the reviews. =D In case you're wondering, yes I do have a bit of an obsession with Alex right now. ;)
It was just over a week later when the messenger came. He was travelling from Corus, he said, to Kiala's home in Goldenlake then to Tirragen, Alex's home, to give news of the fight, and of deaths. An odd expression came into his eyes when he said 'Tirragen', one of, Kiala thought, mixed fear and… and hatred. She gripped his shoulders.
"Is my brother all right?" she demanded of him. "Raoul? Is he all right?"
"He's fine, my Lady," the messenger reassured her. "A wounded leg, that'll give him a limp to show for it, I'd say."
Unconsciously, Kiala's hand went to the leg that had caused her so much pain that day when she had had the dream, the same dream that had plagued her through many days and nights.
"And… Alexander of Tirragen?" she asked nervously, an icy shiver going down her spine all of a sudden. "What about him?" The messenger's face darkened.
"You don't know, my Lady? You haven't heard? Tirragen betrayed Tortall. Treason, my Lady." He then went on to tell her exactly what had happened. Kiala's hands began to shake, and all the colour drained from her cheeks.
"And… Alex? Is he… all right…?"
"He's dead, Lady Kiala," the man said as gently as he could. "Sir Alanna killed him. She had no choice," he added as tears clouded Kiala's vision. "He attacked her. She was just better than him, that's all."
As Kiala's father descended the stairs, the messenger turned to him to report. The young lady fled past him, past her father, up the flight of mahogany stairs to her bedroom, soft and pink and safe. She flung herself on her satin-quilted bed, sobbing heartbrokenly. Her brother was safe, but the man she loved was dead.
"He-llo! Kiala!"
The girl stopped in front of him, a little bit breathless from her run to greet him. He was different, older, his muscles wiry and his eyes alert, but he was still Alex.
"Hullo," she said, her eyes wide and bright. "Alex."
"Hello, Kiala," he replied with a smile. "How've we been?"
"Good," she answered, suddenly shy. At home, the men had all been unattractive to her, all the people who came to visit her mother. But Alex, fourteen years old, was somehow so different to them. His dark eyes were sharp, with a kind expression that made her smile. His hair was not short, but not long either, and it stuck up at the back. He was taller than her, but a lot shorter than her massive brother Raoul, who suddenly appeared and swept her into a bear-hug. She giggled and fought, her eyes still locked in Alex's gaze.
They went around the market together, Raoul, Alex and she. She had barely any money, so could only examine the beautiful things on offer, but Alex seemed so rich. He bought several small things for himself, then suddenly presented Kiala with a small silver brooch shaped like an eagle in flight, and a silver necklace with a bird's-foot shaped pendant…
Kiala lifted her head, her eyes red and puffy, tears streaking down tracks on her wet cheeks. She looked at her bedside table, on which lay the brooch and necklace Alex had bought for her.
"Because someday, you'll be an eagle yourself. Spread your wings, Kiala, spread your wings and fly…"
She heard his words as clearly as if he was in the room with her. He had been joking, smiling, but there had been an odd seriousness in his dark eyes. And she realised all of a sudden the significance of the dream she had had on the day of the great battle in Corus.
She had watched Alex die…