I'm so sorry about the long wait guys. It's just that I completely forgot about this story and was sorta concentrating on other stuff.

I hope you like this chapter. Even though it may be a bit short.

Previous Chapter:

Numair Salmalín, who had gone unnoticed by all except one, had entered the hallway just in time to witness the conversation between human and animal. He froze before suddenly turning around to inform the king of what had just happened.

Chapter 9:

"I'm telling you Jon. She conversed with Kitten in a way not even Daine could do!" Numair exclaimed to the king of Tortall. "You have to talk to her. You have to find out what she's up to. She might be able to help us."

"Numair, I have already told you. It's not that simple. I can't just go up to her and order her to tell me what she did, what she said. I can't do any of that. She is not my citizen to order." Jonathan sighed wirily. Numair started to speak again. "Alright, alright. I'll have a word with her. I'll see what I can find out. Does that make you happy?"

Numair grimaced. "You do realized if she can actually speak to Kitten then she has some magic that we may have never seen before. I haven't told Daine yet but I plan to. She should know, especially if it has to do with animals."

Jonathan looked up sharply. "I understand your need to tell Daine everything, Numair. But this conversation must stay between us. What you have seen must stay between us. I will not risk the Alliance that has been formed with Sylverden just because you have a hunch. You must understand that for the good of the kingdom we can't tell anyone of our suspicions."

"I understand, Jon. I suppose we're not going to tell Alanna. Her advice in the matter would be invaluable…"

"But she can't keep her mouth closed to George about anything and knowing Alanna she would use no tact what so ever to try and find out what this mystery is about."

Numair looked at his king, sitting in his chair. The beams of sunlight coming through the window emphasized the growing grey hair that was evident in both his hair and beard. He went out of the room.

The pages were practicing staff fighting on the training courts. King Jonathan watched them from the shadows. Only one person was aware that he was there and she gave no inclination to the fact. After about an hour of using the staff the pages were shifted off to the archery court. As they walked, or jogged in some instances, the king stopped a boy as he walked by. Frederick turned around to see the king beckoning him. Walking over, he found the monarch sitting under the tree reading a book. Jonathan stood up as he approached.

"Hello, Uncle Jon. It's good to see you again." He said pleasantly.

"It's good to see you well, Fred. I have an inquiry about something that I have to ask you about." He paused. "Would you be able to tell me what occurred in the magic class yesterday? Something to do with Skysong and Page Sophia."

"The only thing that happened was that when Kitten spotted Sophie, she went over to her and followed her around like a dog. That is of course before Sophie went to the next class. The she left. Did the invisible trick Oh, and Tkaa looked at her for a minute before bowing and continuing on as though nothing happened. Is there something wrong, Uncle Jon?" Fred asked.

The king laughed. "Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to know about the class. Something that Numair mentioned to me as interesting. You go and run along to archery now. Don't want your teachers to think you're slacking off." Fred was running back to the class after bowing when the king called out to him again. "Oh and Fred. Look after the new Lady Page. Things mat be a bit strange for her these couple of weeks before she settles down."

Fred laughed. "I don't think you need to worry about her, Uncle Jon. Kieran and Aaron have taken a liking to her." With that he turned around and ran back to the class, leaving the king of Tortall to his thoughts.

After dinner that night, Sophie was walking back to the gallery when the king made his presence known.

"Good evening, Sophia. I trust that your day has been a pleasant one."

"It has indeed, sire. And I trust that yours has been just as pleasant." Sophie smiled.

"Thank you. Today has been very good." The king paused here. "Sophia, if you are having any trouble you know that you can come to me. If you have anything you need to talk about Thayet, Gary, anyone here in the palace is there if you need to talk to them."

"Thank you for the offer sire. However, at the moment I have no troubles of to speak. Everyone here has been friendly and willing to help the girl in all aspects of life here in the palace." Sophie looked down the hall. "If you excuse me, sire. But I fear that I am late for an appointment with my father. It was nice to meet you." With that she bowed to the king and took a different corridor, hoping that she was headed in the right direction.

I'm terribly sorry that this chapter was so short. I have a lot on my mind at the moment and have clacked off a bit in my writing. I will try with all my might to get the next chapter out faster than this one.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. Anything you don't is mine.