--------------------------------------
Author's Notes
Hey everyone! It's Meitian again, with another chapter of our beloved Tortallan heroes and heroines. Thanks to the people who reviewed and those who have us on author alert and favorites. I hope you're enjoying the story so far! We love you! We love you!
--------------------------------------
Tortall Meets Emelan
By Meitian and SilverWindDanceFaiirie
Chapter Three: Travels
The diplomatic party left early in the morning from Pirate's Swoop by boat. The Lioness could be seen at all hours lurking by the railing, looking kind of green. In addition to being renowned as one of the best in the arts of fighting, healing and tongue-lashing, she was also reputed for getting incredibly seasick. Keladry of Mindelan was spending her time below the deck, reading a book about the etiquette and traditions of Emelan. Numair and Daine were sitting on the deck, meditating.
Bethany wasn't quite sure what she should be doing. She wasn't interested in books or boats, and had no magical Gift. So she stood by the railing, looking out at the ocean, trying to avoid everyone else. She failed. Eventually the Lioness sidled over to her lonely portion of the deck.
"It's very blue out there," remarked Bethany, stupidly.
"Yes," muttered the Lioness, who was looking very green by now. She sighed. "Do you want to be here?"
"Not in the least," answered Bethany. "Of course, there's nowhere else I'd rather be, so I suppose I'm rather stuck, aren't I?"
"Mmm," said the Lioness, grimacing. "I don't like diplomacy, and I hate boats. I think sometimes Jon does this just to torture me."
Bethany just nodded lamely. She'd never get used to people calling the king Jonathan. Never.
The Lioness continued speaking. "Personally, I have a feeling that this isn't going to go too well. Maybe it's just that I want to go home... or maybe it's because I'm going to be sick again..." She made a face.
Bethany stared glumly at the water below. How much water was there in the world? And how deep did it go? The water was deep out here, they were far from shore. She looked out into the distance. Water for as far as she could see in every direction. Except...
"I see land! I see land!"
The port was called Summersea. There were a lot of people there, as it was a major trading city, but many more people had come to see the Tortallan ambassadors arrive.
The guards got off the ship first, followed by a very plain, blonde woman, to the disappointment of the crowd. Second to disembark was a red-haired woman who was easier to identify - she could be none other than Alanna of Olau and Pirate's Swoop, known as the Lioness, the Tortallan King's Champion. The people noted that she looked greener than they had imagined.
Next: A tall black-haired man and a young woman with long, curly brown locks. These two had to be the famous mages, Numair Salmalín and Veralidaine Sarrasri. Last off of the ambassadors was a tall, quiet-looking woman in armor - the first distaff in over a century, Sir Keladry of Mindelan.
The people of Summersea whispered among themselves. Mages and people of rank were nothing new to them, but these people were practically legends in their own time. Numair passed through the crowds with that vague smile on his face, but the others were less at ease with the whispering. Keladry, Bethany and Daine, the youngest of the envoy, were particularly ill at ease. Although you couldn't tell Kel was uncomfortable; her training in the Yamani Islands made her disinclined to show any strong emotions outwardly.
What surprised the people the most was how ordinary most of the Tortallans looked. Out of their fancy ambassadorial livery, they could be friends, or siblings, or relatives. They had half-expected them to be gods and arrive on storm cloud.
The group found their way to the edge of the crowd. Not far away, there was a group of riders in the ducal colors of Emelan riding towards them with a string of extra horses. The head rider, who was dressed differently from the others and radiated an aura of power addressed the blonde woman, who replied and smiled, and motioned for the others in her party to get on the extra horses. And then they rode away.
And, not too far away...
"Eaaaagh! Wake up! Wake up! They're going to be here soon!"
"Nrrrgh?"
"Get up, Briar!"
"Hey!"
"Augh! Where'd my best dress go?"
"What am I going to wear?"
And so the day began in Discipline cottage...
