The night sky looked beautiful, at least it did to the Mother
Goddess. She watched the palace at Trya with interest, as it had been a
long time since she had visited other lands that did not nesicarily worship
her. The building was shadowed by the dark, but there was still a light on
in young Alee's room. She was reading, and she should be in bed. The
Goddess resisted the urge to tell her that herself.
She had plans for this one. Yes, she had the most glorious plans. Right now, however, the girl was in the wrong place. She needed to be in Tortall, and since Alee wanted to go anyway, it did not seem like it would be all that much trouble to get her there. Aliriel had grown up, and was now fifteen. Old enough for what the Goddess had arranged. Now, to talk to the Lioness....
In the palace at Tyra, Alee hastily blew out the candle on her bedside table. In the darkness, she shoved her book under her pillow and pretended to sleep. Her maid came in, ready to yell, and quieted instantly. The woman muttered a curse, and walked out. Alee grinned, pulling out the book on Tortall. She had taken it from the library and could not put it down. Technically, it was about all the other kingdoms too, but she was only interested in Tortall. Her interest stemmed from the encounter with the King's Own, and the fact that they had occupied her country for so long. She wanted to see their country for herself.
Her idea for getting Bryan to agree was simple. Tell him she wanted to go to learn more about the troubles of the world and ways to mend them. She wanted to know about politics and all the other boring things he found so wonderful. If she acted well enough, it was possible he might let her go. Not on her own, of course. He was far too protective for that. Nevertheless, she could bargain for just a few soldiers and a maid, she hoped.
Besides, he could not refuse if she said she wanted to meet the King and talk to him. She had acted as an ambassetor while the knights had been here, taking messages and talking with Raoul of Goldenlake. She even had a cousin in Corus, surely, he could not refuse her.
But he did, for over an hour. The next morning she spent engrossed in a battle of wits until she thought she might burst from frustration. But finally, he said yes.
She had plans for this one. Yes, she had the most glorious plans. Right now, however, the girl was in the wrong place. She needed to be in Tortall, and since Alee wanted to go anyway, it did not seem like it would be all that much trouble to get her there. Aliriel had grown up, and was now fifteen. Old enough for what the Goddess had arranged. Now, to talk to the Lioness....
In the palace at Tyra, Alee hastily blew out the candle on her bedside table. In the darkness, she shoved her book under her pillow and pretended to sleep. Her maid came in, ready to yell, and quieted instantly. The woman muttered a curse, and walked out. Alee grinned, pulling out the book on Tortall. She had taken it from the library and could not put it down. Technically, it was about all the other kingdoms too, but she was only interested in Tortall. Her interest stemmed from the encounter with the King's Own, and the fact that they had occupied her country for so long. She wanted to see their country for herself.
Her idea for getting Bryan to agree was simple. Tell him she wanted to go to learn more about the troubles of the world and ways to mend them. She wanted to know about politics and all the other boring things he found so wonderful. If she acted well enough, it was possible he might let her go. Not on her own, of course. He was far too protective for that. Nevertheless, she could bargain for just a few soldiers and a maid, she hoped.
Besides, he could not refuse if she said she wanted to meet the King and talk to him. She had acted as an ambassetor while the knights had been here, taking messages and talking with Raoul of Goldenlake. She even had a cousin in Corus, surely, he could not refuse her.
But he did, for over an hour. The next morning she spent engrossed in a battle of wits until she thought she might burst from frustration. But finally, he said yes.