A/N Sorry I've been so long in updating. School, you know? And I've been sick.
Chapter Five: Reactions
Kalira was set gingerly in a chair in a room next a woman that she recognized from the books as Gaytha. She was older than was described in the books, hardly a surprise considering how much time must have passed. "This is Kalira," Jemmie explained. "Rolan's new Chosen." Gaytha spared him a quick look of sympathy before studying Kalira.
"How tall is she?" the woman asked. "I can't tell with her sitting down, and I assume from the fact that you carried her that she can't walk." Kalira made a face at Jemmie who smiled slightly.
"About Lyra's size, I should think," he said speculatively. "Though she might be about a handspan shorter. I don't know; I haven't seen Lyra up close for a while." Gaytha nodded.
"I definitely have some Grays that will fit you," she said quickly. "Tarri!" A girl of about seven years came running. "Tarri, will you get me some Grays; about a six I would say." The girl nodded and ran into the back. Mero's and my daughter. Her brother is down at the stables, helping with the Companions." The girl returned bearing an armload of gray clothing. Gaytha shook out a tunic and held it out slightly, looking at Kalira. "It'll fit." She tossed it to Jemmie who caught it easily.
Jemmie and Kalira gathered the clothes and Kalira, who when experimenting, found that she could walk –slowly and shakily- held onto his shoulder as she walked down the hall. Jemmie took her to the ground floor room that Teren had assigned her and they left her clothing there, after she'd changed into Grays.
"Now," he said slowly. "I think you should meet Lyra. The princess, Kris' sister," he explained to her blank look. "She'll be with Selenay; you can shoot two ducks with one arrow, so to speak." Apprehension began to build in Kalira's face.
"The queen?" she squeaked. "And the Heir, all at the same time? Spare me, Jemmie!" He laughed.
"Lyra's not so bad," he said cheerfully. "A lot like Kris, if a little more serious. And I've known Selenay since I was a baby. She doesn't bite. And it won't be the queen and the heir, it'll be the king the queen and the heir." Kalira groaned.
"Do you have a grudge against me or something?" she mumbled.
"No," he said. "Just want to introduce you to some people. You'll have to meet them eventually." Kalira sighed.
"Bring it on. At least I'll get it over with." Jemmie patted her on the shoulder.
"You'll be fine," he assured her. "Really, you will." She grinned at him."
"I sure hope I will be, because if I'm not, you'll have to flee the country, you and Mardik. Rolan will most definitely come after you, with my ghost to assist."
"Oh spare me," Jemmie said dryly. She laughed and opened the door.
"Come on," she urged. "Didn't you say something about needing to meet like, the entire royal family?"
* * * * *
Teren stared blankly at Kris. "You are joking." It was a statement, not a question. Kris shook his head.
"I wish," he said frankly. "But I'm not. Kalira is not from Velgarth." Teren gulped. "She's not very different from us," Kris hastened to assure him. "But there are a few subtle differences."
"Like-"
"She sometimes refers to things we've never heard of," Kris explained. "Like something called pizza." Teren raised an eyebrow. "She also doesn't know some of the things you'd expect about Valdemar. Teren," His voice was deadly serious. "You cannot let any of the other Heralds or Trainees know about this. I don't know what would happen, but it wouldn't be good. As the Monarchs' Own, Kalira needs the full trust of every Herald in the Circle, and if there are doubts-" He let his voice trail off.
"Not good," Teren finished.
"Exactly." Kris cocked his head and stared into thin air for a second. He smiled and turned back to Teren. "Laya says that Jemmie is going to take Kalira to meet Mother, Father and Lyra and I should probably head over there."
"You probably should," Teren chuckled. "I will see you later, Kris."
"G'bye Teren." Kris pushed back his chair and stood, leaving the room.
* * * * *
Kalira bowed to the King and Queen of Valdemar and their daughter, Princess Lyra, the Heir, trying to hide her nerves. Despite what Jemmie had said, and the fact that his bow was a shallow one and he was currently grinning at King Daren.
"Elspeth told me we had finally received Talia's successor, but you come as something of a shock, especially if what she's told me about you is true." Kalira raised her head to see Selenay's eyes twinkling at her, a smile on her face. "No matter what Jemmie has told you, I'm not going to bite, Kalira," Selenay assured her. "And neither will Daren or Lyra." The Heir, who looked very much like her twin brother, smiled at Kalira.
"Nice to meet you, Kalira," she said smoothly. "Welcome to Valdemar." Kalira smiled shyly in return.
"Nice to meet you too, Princess Lyra," she said quietly. Her legs were beginning to tremble.
Kris chose that moment to enter the room. She flashed a genuine smile at him. "Hello Kris," Selenay said, moving out from behind her desk to embrace her son. "Everything go alright with Teren?"
"Perfectly," he said. "He knows everything he needs to know about Kalira, and has promised to tell no one, not even Keren. Jemmie," he added, turning to him. "Kerowyn wants you in the salle right about now, if possible." Jemmie nodded.
"See you later, Lyra," he called over his shoulder. Kalira caught a flash of affection in Lyra's eye.
"You too, Jemmie," she called back, rising to shut the door behind him. Daren chuckled and stood as well.
"Kalira," he said. "Welcome to Valdemar. And Jasen says hello as well. We don't need you now, and now that we've met you, you have the rest of the day to do as you please. Kris, will you show her around?" Kris nodded and turned to leave.
Kalira began to bow before she followed him out, but Selenay stopped her. "You're the Monarchs' Own, Kalira," she said. "You don't need to bow to me, my husband, Lyra or Kris unless we're in public -that's to prevent some of the nobles from having an apoplexy- nor do you need to use titles. I'm just Selenay, and he's just Daren." Kalira nodded.
"Yes your- Selenay," she said, hastily correcting herself. Quietly, she followed Kris out the door. "Can we go down to the Companion's Field?" she asked as soon as he'd shut the door. "I think I need to talk to Rolan." Kris nodded.
"Sure," he said, smiling. "I completely understand." Kalira smiled back at him, a smile that betrayed her weariness and conflicting emotions. She was stuck here for the rest of her life, and she was getting a headache. Life just wasn't fair.
A/N Review and I update, okay? Zhai'helleva! –Queen's Own