The King ushered everyone in and told them all to sit down,
"Now will someone explain to me exactly what is going on." He said with great patience "We will start with you Lady Leah, how, when and why did you come to be in Tortall?"
Lady Leah settled herself more comfortably and began to talk.
Leah's story
I was born in Cathark quite a few years before Ozorne came to the throne, we were a noble family and I never wanted for anything. I was devoted to my brother Arram, or Numair as he is now, and he to me. I had a strong magical talent and when I was three I was already doing quite complex spells. It was around this time that Arram began seeing Lady Varice, I hated her from the moment I set eyes on her, she poisoned my brother against me, saying I was dangerous. I saw her for what she was, she carried on two relationships- one with Arram and one with Ozorne. It lasted for years, Varice was clever, I tried to tell Arram but he wouldn't listen, he told me I was jealous because I didn't have him to myself, and I suppose it was true. Eventually Ozorne found out about the two affairs but, to save her own skin, Varice blamed Arram. That's when Ozorne accused him of treason and he fled, he promised to take me too but he vanished in the middle of the night and I never heard from him again. Ozorne was furious that he'd got away in revenge he sent his troops after my family, our house was ransacked, my mother was raped and my father was murdered- in front of me. I got away using my magic and lived on the streets perfecting and honing my magical skills. I became a thief to get food and money. At twelve I mastered the art of shape shifting and thieving became easier. I swore revenge on Varice for what she had done to my family. One day at a big festival when I was fifteen I saw Varice standing at Ozorne's side. I climbed up to someone's balcony and gathered a huge fireball in my hand. I was about to throw it when one of the guards spotted me and shot me, the arrow pierced my shoulder and made me loose my aim. The fireball landed on top of the canopy and Ozorne's mages put it out before it hurt anyone. I fell off the balcony and the soldiers arrested me. Ozorne was going to have me executed but I escaped before he could. I spent a year travelling all over Cathark, when I returned to the capital I heard tell of a Tortallan delegation to be arriving to negotiate a peace treaty with Cathark, among these was a Black Robe Mage named Numair Salmalín who was Catharki born and had received a conditional pardon from Ozorne, it had to be Arram, I tried to see him but I couldn't get too close to the palace on fear of being arrested again. Unfortunately word got around that I was back in the capital so I went into hiding. I missed the immortals war and when I resurfaced there was a new Emperor on the throne with Varice's tongue still pouring honeyed words into his ears. I couldn't leave without one last attempt on her life. Once again it failed and I was arrested, Kaddar was clement and imprisoned me telling Varice that I was dead. I spent a year in prison before I found a way to break out. I left immediately for Tortall and lived with the Shang for seven years, they taught me well. Finally I left them and journeyed to Corus, I met Cleon of Kennan in the forest and decided to have some fun.
She finished with a wicked grin at Kel who blushed angrily at the memory.
"Kel, would you care to continue the story?" asked the King. Kel sighed knowing there was no way out of it, she told the story in the woods. When she had finished the King was looking angry,
"I would have a lot more sympathy with you if you didn't kidnap my knights" he said dryly
"Sire, Leah can be very useful," said Numair hurriedly, "she's a black robe, a powerful one, it would be better if you kept her here where you and I could keep an eye on her."
"That's rich!" exploded Leah "I do not need to be looked after or watched, I lived for years on my own and I'm fine, thank you very much." The King sighed and rubbed his face with his hands,
"You may stay until I decide what to do with you. Kel will you call the servant in please." Kel stuck her head round the door and asked the young woman standing outside to come in.
"Find this young lady a room in the Mages quarters please, make sure it is near Master Numair's. Thank you all you are dismissed, Emperor Kaddar would you like a tour of the Palace?"
"That would be charming thank you." The two rulers walked off discussing ways to keep Varice and Leah away from each other.
Later Kel returned to her room and sank down onto the sofa, Tobe poked his head out of his adjoining door and asked if she'd like some tea she grunted in answer. He brought her a cup anyway as Neal entered.
"I'll have one of those if you're offering," he said eagerly
"I'm not" replied Kel grumpily, Tobe brought him one anyway,
"Traitor" Kel muttered. Neal settled himself down on the chair swinging his long legs over the arm, "So..." he said questioningly
"So what?" grunted Kel in return,
"So tell me what happened, I know this has something to do with Cleon and that strange mage." Kel told him everything that had happened in the Kings office that afternoon. When she got to the part about Cleon, Neal was horrified but refrained from saying 'I told you so' instead he said,
"Wow another Salmalín black robe, no one will dare attack Tortall with those two around." Said Neal impressed.
"One problem," replied Kel, "she's not loyal to the crown and by the sounds of it she's not loyal to anyone except herself."
"Yes that will cause some trouble for the King, if I were her I'd want to make peace with him, he wields the Dominion Jewel remember." Neal said seriously. Kel snorted at the idea of Neal being Leah.
The night wore on and the two friends sat and talked well into the small hours of the morning. Finally, Tobe, worried about her health as usual told Kel it was time for her to go to bed.
"'Night Kel." Said Neal swooping down on her and kissing her cheek, their customary greeting and farewell. He departed for his own bed leaving her to think about getting into hers.