Chapter 14. I know some of you aren't very happy with what happened last
chapter, but think about it guys. Did I actually say I killed off Daine? I
only said that I had to write that scene the way it was for plot building...
'nough said. Read and review! ;)
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or places in this story, they belong to Tamora Pierce
*** If someone had asked Daine what dying was like, she could have described it without difficulty. It was like slipping into a nice warm bath and falling asleep. She had not a worry, not a regret and she just felt like she was ready for a nice long nap.
She was slowly drifting down a black tunnel, the Black God gripping her hand comfortingly. Above her she could faintly see her own body, swinging desolately from the gallows, and below a foggy haze would soon greet her. What was beyond that haze, Daine could only guess.
She turned to the god at her side, deciding to ask him herself. In a voice that she could only hear in her mind she asked, "Is this the realm of the dead?"
The god turned his shadowed face towards her, studying her intently. Daine wondered briefly what his face looked like, or if he even had a face. She had asked her ma this question one midwinter when she and her father had visited Daine, but even she who was a god herself and who had died wasn't sure.
The Green Lady had answered in a hushed voice, "If I only I knew, dear. The Black God hardly ever leaves his own realms. I don't think even his brother Mithros and his sister the Mother Goddess have ever seen his face."
Now the dark hood tilted slightly, as if its owner was pondering an answer. Abruptly the god turned his gaze upward to the world Daine had left behind. Daine followed his stare and saw that some sort of commotion was going on above them.
And then she could breath. She took three great ragged breaths before she even realized that she was breathing. Opening her eyes, she found that she was no longer in the tunnel between life and death, but was lying on the solid reassuring wood of the gallows, which she had been swinging above moments before.
That's a funny thought, Daine pondered dazedly, gallows being reassuring. In front of her face a pair of worn brown boots danced right and left, some times disappearing a moment before clicking loudly back onto the platform.
After several more deep breaths, Daine realized that the boots weren't dancing, they were fighting. Regaining control over her senses, she heard the sounds of fighting. Looking up, she saw a blur standing over her, pushing back the assaults of several burly looking executioners. The blur, which Daine realized was actually a person, did not look like it was going to win. Beyond the three or four executioners now trying to contain the fighter, a troop of City Guards who had been witnesses were making their way, swords drawn towards the fighting.
A tall man advanced from behind the blur, knife drawn, settling down into a fighter's crouch. Daine sluggishly managed to force her mouth to work.
"Behind you!" she croaked, her throat tight.
Swiftly, the blur turned and landed a kick on the stomach of its attacker. The man hunched over in pain, and in answer to the gesture, the fighter dropped an elbow onto the man's back before breaking his arm and taking his knife away. For the moment, the area surrounding Daine and her rescuer was clear and the fighter stood still long enough for Daine to identify her. Then quickly, the girl launched into a fresh attack as a few of the City Guardsmen reached her.
I have to be seeing things, Daine told herself, blinking several times. She could have sworn she had just seen Ms. Sadinga's friend Lani. Upon a second look, Daine realized that she was right.
The first of the guardsmen reached them, thrusting his sword out dangerously in front of him. Lani, side stepped the sword before grabbing her attacker's arm and throwing her knee into the man's wrist. Daine couldn't help but wince as she heard the audible pop of the man's breaking bones.
The raka was a tempest of furry, moving so fast the Daine could barely keep track of her movements. Every blow that she took was paid back double.
Daine struggled to stand, her body weak from her close demise. She got as far as sitting up before getting too dizzy to continue. That'll do for now, Daine thought, still staring in wonder at the fighting going on above her.
The last two City Guards seemed to have grown wiser from watching the failed attempts of their companions. The two guards attacked in unison, each swinging their sword in a different direction in attempts to cut Lani in two.
Lani dropped like a stone to the ground, swinging her leg in a wide arc, sweeping one swordsman's legs out from under him. Quickly she stood up, but no fast enough. The second attacker cut into Lani's arm deeply as she had turned to face him again.
A sound of furry ripped through the air. To Daine it sounded like the cry of a cat when a dog entered its territory. The roar had come from quiet, shy Lani. In moments, the man who had injured her was in no more a position to attack her. Or anyone, Daine thought wryly, for a matter of years.
The crowd who had watched Daine's execution was now scattering in every direction, trampling over those too slow to get out of the stampede's way. A few of the stronger looking men had stayed, perhaps thinking to assist the Guards in detaining Lani, but after witnessing the defeat of the last guardsmen, they decided that it was best to leave.
Through one of the alleys to the right, Daine noticed another, larger troop of City Guards rushing to the scene.
Again, she struggled to make her mouth work. "Lani," she breathed, "You've got more company."
Lani looked down, clutching her bleeding arm in surprise. Seeing Daine, she grinned wickedly.
"I almost forgot why I was here. Welcome back to the realm of the living, Sarra, I thought that I was too late." She looked over to the advancing soldiers. "As much as I'd love to stay and chat with those fellas, I think it'd be best if we got out of here."
Lani reached down a hand to her, which Daine gripped tightly. With a strong pull, Daine was on her feet again. She attempted to balance herself, but found that she was too dizzy and too tired to move.
"I don't think I'll be going any where too fast," she said, "Go on, get out of here." She tried to get the girl to save herself. In response, Lani shook her head.
"Not a chance, lady." With that she bend over scooped Daine onto her back. "You haven't got much meat on your bones, so you're light enough." And then they were off.
***
"No no, my lady, your grip's all wrong," Ulasim corrected Lady Sarai.
Aly lazed on the lawns just out side of Tanair's village, basking in the spring sun. The weather was always perfect at Tanair. In the summer, it wasn't too hot, and the winters were mild to a Tortallan girl.
There were definitely benefits of being free, Aly thought lazily, as she watched Ulasim teaching Sarai and Duchess Winnamine the art of the sword. Now Dove and Sarai couldn't order her to do things that she really didn't want to do. Such as learn how to weald the sword.
Of course, they didn't know that she already had learned the basics from the best. In an attempt at mother daughter bonding, Aly's mother had taught her all she could ever want to know about the sword. She had also learned from the lessons that knives were much simpler and more reliable.
Aly fingered her knives, glad to have a good set always on her person. The first few months at Tanair had been a dance with trouble without a good set of knives. All she had had was a dull old kitchen knife, hardly enough to do any real damage.
Out of the corner of her eyes, Aly saw a form plop down next to her. Always weary, she reached down to her boot, as if to scratch an itch, but she really was just giving herself an excuse to grip the sharp length of steel that she kept there.
"Easy there luarin," Ochuba said, "the god wouldn't be pleased if you gut all of the help he gives you."
Never turning to look at the mage, Aly answered crisply, "Will you ever call me by my name, Ochuba, or will you continually refer to me as if I'm something stuck on your boot that you can't seem to scrape off?"
"No." she answered, amusement hinting in her voice.
"What are you doing here?" Aly asked, watching as Sarai began a bout against one of the new guards who had come to Tanair.
"I want to watch her fight," Ochuba answered distractedly, watching as Sarai circled her opponent, practice sword gripped tightly in her right hand. She swung her weapon at the head of her opponent before being blocked at the last moment. She followed this attack with a side slice to the right and then a back handed one to the left. This move was known as the butterfly cross. Once the second blow was blocked, Sarai shuffled in close to her opponent, meeting him hilt to hilt. The abrupt blow to the fingers gripping his blade, caused the guard to stumble back in pain. He tripped over his own feet and fell to the guard. When he struggled to get up, he found Sarai's blade quivering at his neck.
"Not bad," Ochuba muttered, "the guard's as green as they come, but she does know how to swing that thing."
"She as good as one of the warrior queens of the past?" Aly asked.
"Ha," Ochuba said, "In a fight with Queen Imiary, she wouldn't have even bring a sweat to her highness's brow." Ochuba stood up and dusted off grass from her clothes. "Yet."
***
Daine bounced painfully up and down as Lani jumped down off the platform and raced into the square.
"We need to disappear, fast," Lani panted.
"We need a horse Lani, you can't carry me forever." Daine gasped, still struggling to breath through her partially closed windpipe.
"Right," Lani said, "I think I know someone who would be more than happy to lend us his noble steed."
Quickly, Lani changed directions and headed back toward where they had come. Now Daine could see where they were going. They were headed right to the booth where a very flustered King Rubinyan and Queen Imajane were sitting.
"You're not gonna..." Daine began.
"Of course I am," Lani answered impatiently as she continued to run.
Upon seeing the return of their escaped prisoner, Imajane jumped to her feet yelling, "There, there!" frantically trying to call the guards who were unfortunatly busy, Daine thought with a grin, getting to know the ground quite well.
Abruptly, Lani stopped in front of the royal pair and the nobles who also occupied the booth.
"What are you doing?" Daine hissed.
"Just having a bit of fun, Ms. Sarra." Lani replied. She didn't even seem to care that twenty or so guards were desperately fighting their way upstream of the crowd towards them.
Lani bowed awkwardly, still carrying Daine. "Good morning, you majesties." Only a simpleton could have missed the sarcasm in her voice. Then she continued on her way to the back of the booth.
"You'll hang for this!" Rubinyan cried, drawing his dress sword from its scabbard.
"Will I your majesty?" Lani asked happily, "We'll see." By now they were out of site of the monarchs and in sight of a group of horses.
Daine gasped. These had to be the most beautiful horses she had ever seen. The one closest to them was midnight black, so dark that the stallion almost appeared blue. This was the one Lani hurried up to.
The stallion tried to rear in fright at the two humans who startled it, but was pulled back down to the ground by its reins which where tied tightly to a nearby post.
"Good horsey," Lani whispered. "Big horsey," she added.
"Put me down," Daine said quickly, "I'll calm him down, you untied his reins."
Lani quickly dropped her load by the side of the frightened horse. Daine grabbed his mane to support herself and gently stoked the poor thing's neck.
"It's alright, you handsome lad," she whispered softly to him, "We won't hurt you." Though the chains that she still wore contained her wild magic, the stallion calmed at the gentle voice it heard.
"Done!" Lani said.
"Good," Daine answered, "Can you give me a boost up?"
Within moments, she sat atop the horse, Lani behind her, guiding him into an ally behind the booth where the nobility sat. As they galloped away, the guards finally caught up with them. Their arrows fell too short though, as the two women disappeared into the maze of the streets of Rajmaut.
***
"Come on Aly, tell us a story!" Elsren whinned, pulling at her skirts. He and Petranne had been napping quietly in the grass just moments before, but now they were wide-awake and full of energy.
Aly sighed, "Wouldn't you rather watch your mother and Sarai practice sword play?"
Elsren folded his little arms across his chest. "Watching is no fun! I want to try, but mama won't let me."
"Please Aly!" Petranne said, tugging at her arm, "Tell us another story about the lady who talks to horses!"
"Now that's one I haven't heard," Dove said as she sat beside Aly.
"Ladies, master," Aly said in her best loyal servant voice, "I'm sorry, but I haven't the time. It's almost supper time and Chenaol will be needing my help in the kitchen." She stood up and curtseyed. "Begging' your pardon," she added before heading back up to the kitchens.
Aly was too homesick to tell another story about her family as if she didn't know them. Every tale made her long more and more for home, and she couldn't tell anymore stories if she was to finish out her wager with the Trickster.
Aly looked up startled as she heard several crows report from above. Two men were coming very quickly on horses, one several minutes behind the other. The both carried a bag on their backs with the royal insignia.
She'd better go tell the Duchess that messengers were coming.
***
By the time the first messenger arrived at the gates of Tanair, the Duchess and most of her household was there waiting for it.
The weary man dismounted and handed her the first letter.
Quickly, with Sarai and Dove at her sides, Winnamine ripped it open. She took a moment to read it. Beside her, Saria gasped when she finished, and turned away to rush back up to her room. Dove looked stony faced, while the Duchess was at loss of any emotion.
When they were finished, Dove handed the letter to Aly to read.
To the Duchess Winnamine Balitang and her son Duke Elsren,
Your Graces, it has come to the royal family's attention of certain acts of treason that may have been committed by the former Duke Mequen. Your family cannot, of course, be charges with such crimes committed by a deceased man, however, His majesty King Dunevon has seen it fit to banish once again the Balitang family to the estates of Tanair. If any member of the said family ever leaves the island of Lombyn, the Copper Isles shall see this as an act of treason against the crown, resulting in death.
Yours truly,
Regent King Rubinyan Jimajen of the Copper Isles
Rubinyan had an agenda, that was for certain. The man had come to the Balitang family, not more than four months ago, pardoning them and begging them to return to Rajmuat, however now, his loyalties had seemed to change. Mequen was the least traitorous man in the entire island nation and Rubin knew that well, however his so-called friend was disgracing him by accusing him of such a crime after his death.
What did he have to gain by keeping the Balitangs on Lombyn, Aly wondered. Then she remembered the line to the throne. If anything happened to Dunevon, Elsren would be king. That is unless, Aly thought wryly, Rubinyan and Imajane have anything to say about it. From what Aly had seen of Rubinyan, he was a man to be regarded carefully. He wanted the throne and nothing was going to stop him.
That was when the second messenger arrived. This letter was obviously much shorter because Winnamine only glanced at it before tossing it onto the ground.
"King Dunevon is dead," She announced to her household and the villagers who had gathered. "And Rubinyan and Imajane have declared themselves King and Queen."
Ulasim appeared beside Aly. "If you're thinking along the lines that I am," he said, "This is going to make things very interesting."
***
There, that better? I was never planning to kill Daine. To kill off the main character in you first fic is definitely a recipe for disaster. I just had to have her ALMOST die so that she could find out that Lani was well, who she is. I really didn't mention exactly who she is though, did I? Well, you're smart people, I think you've figured it out. Please review!
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or places in this story, they belong to Tamora Pierce
*** If someone had asked Daine what dying was like, she could have described it without difficulty. It was like slipping into a nice warm bath and falling asleep. She had not a worry, not a regret and she just felt like she was ready for a nice long nap.
She was slowly drifting down a black tunnel, the Black God gripping her hand comfortingly. Above her she could faintly see her own body, swinging desolately from the gallows, and below a foggy haze would soon greet her. What was beyond that haze, Daine could only guess.
She turned to the god at her side, deciding to ask him herself. In a voice that she could only hear in her mind she asked, "Is this the realm of the dead?"
The god turned his shadowed face towards her, studying her intently. Daine wondered briefly what his face looked like, or if he even had a face. She had asked her ma this question one midwinter when she and her father had visited Daine, but even she who was a god herself and who had died wasn't sure.
The Green Lady had answered in a hushed voice, "If I only I knew, dear. The Black God hardly ever leaves his own realms. I don't think even his brother Mithros and his sister the Mother Goddess have ever seen his face."
Now the dark hood tilted slightly, as if its owner was pondering an answer. Abruptly the god turned his gaze upward to the world Daine had left behind. Daine followed his stare and saw that some sort of commotion was going on above them.
And then she could breath. She took three great ragged breaths before she even realized that she was breathing. Opening her eyes, she found that she was no longer in the tunnel between life and death, but was lying on the solid reassuring wood of the gallows, which she had been swinging above moments before.
That's a funny thought, Daine pondered dazedly, gallows being reassuring. In front of her face a pair of worn brown boots danced right and left, some times disappearing a moment before clicking loudly back onto the platform.
After several more deep breaths, Daine realized that the boots weren't dancing, they were fighting. Regaining control over her senses, she heard the sounds of fighting. Looking up, she saw a blur standing over her, pushing back the assaults of several burly looking executioners. The blur, which Daine realized was actually a person, did not look like it was going to win. Beyond the three or four executioners now trying to contain the fighter, a troop of City Guards who had been witnesses were making their way, swords drawn towards the fighting.
A tall man advanced from behind the blur, knife drawn, settling down into a fighter's crouch. Daine sluggishly managed to force her mouth to work.
"Behind you!" she croaked, her throat tight.
Swiftly, the blur turned and landed a kick on the stomach of its attacker. The man hunched over in pain, and in answer to the gesture, the fighter dropped an elbow onto the man's back before breaking his arm and taking his knife away. For the moment, the area surrounding Daine and her rescuer was clear and the fighter stood still long enough for Daine to identify her. Then quickly, the girl launched into a fresh attack as a few of the City Guardsmen reached her.
I have to be seeing things, Daine told herself, blinking several times. She could have sworn she had just seen Ms. Sadinga's friend Lani. Upon a second look, Daine realized that she was right.
The first of the guardsmen reached them, thrusting his sword out dangerously in front of him. Lani, side stepped the sword before grabbing her attacker's arm and throwing her knee into the man's wrist. Daine couldn't help but wince as she heard the audible pop of the man's breaking bones.
The raka was a tempest of furry, moving so fast the Daine could barely keep track of her movements. Every blow that she took was paid back double.
Daine struggled to stand, her body weak from her close demise. She got as far as sitting up before getting too dizzy to continue. That'll do for now, Daine thought, still staring in wonder at the fighting going on above her.
The last two City Guards seemed to have grown wiser from watching the failed attempts of their companions. The two guards attacked in unison, each swinging their sword in a different direction in attempts to cut Lani in two.
Lani dropped like a stone to the ground, swinging her leg in a wide arc, sweeping one swordsman's legs out from under him. Quickly she stood up, but no fast enough. The second attacker cut into Lani's arm deeply as she had turned to face him again.
A sound of furry ripped through the air. To Daine it sounded like the cry of a cat when a dog entered its territory. The roar had come from quiet, shy Lani. In moments, the man who had injured her was in no more a position to attack her. Or anyone, Daine thought wryly, for a matter of years.
The crowd who had watched Daine's execution was now scattering in every direction, trampling over those too slow to get out of the stampede's way. A few of the stronger looking men had stayed, perhaps thinking to assist the Guards in detaining Lani, but after witnessing the defeat of the last guardsmen, they decided that it was best to leave.
Through one of the alleys to the right, Daine noticed another, larger troop of City Guards rushing to the scene.
Again, she struggled to make her mouth work. "Lani," she breathed, "You've got more company."
Lani looked down, clutching her bleeding arm in surprise. Seeing Daine, she grinned wickedly.
"I almost forgot why I was here. Welcome back to the realm of the living, Sarra, I thought that I was too late." She looked over to the advancing soldiers. "As much as I'd love to stay and chat with those fellas, I think it'd be best if we got out of here."
Lani reached down a hand to her, which Daine gripped tightly. With a strong pull, Daine was on her feet again. She attempted to balance herself, but found that she was too dizzy and too tired to move.
"I don't think I'll be going any where too fast," she said, "Go on, get out of here." She tried to get the girl to save herself. In response, Lani shook her head.
"Not a chance, lady." With that she bend over scooped Daine onto her back. "You haven't got much meat on your bones, so you're light enough." And then they were off.
***
"No no, my lady, your grip's all wrong," Ulasim corrected Lady Sarai.
Aly lazed on the lawns just out side of Tanair's village, basking in the spring sun. The weather was always perfect at Tanair. In the summer, it wasn't too hot, and the winters were mild to a Tortallan girl.
There were definitely benefits of being free, Aly thought lazily, as she watched Ulasim teaching Sarai and Duchess Winnamine the art of the sword. Now Dove and Sarai couldn't order her to do things that she really didn't want to do. Such as learn how to weald the sword.
Of course, they didn't know that she already had learned the basics from the best. In an attempt at mother daughter bonding, Aly's mother had taught her all she could ever want to know about the sword. She had also learned from the lessons that knives were much simpler and more reliable.
Aly fingered her knives, glad to have a good set always on her person. The first few months at Tanair had been a dance with trouble without a good set of knives. All she had had was a dull old kitchen knife, hardly enough to do any real damage.
Out of the corner of her eyes, Aly saw a form plop down next to her. Always weary, she reached down to her boot, as if to scratch an itch, but she really was just giving herself an excuse to grip the sharp length of steel that she kept there.
"Easy there luarin," Ochuba said, "the god wouldn't be pleased if you gut all of the help he gives you."
Never turning to look at the mage, Aly answered crisply, "Will you ever call me by my name, Ochuba, or will you continually refer to me as if I'm something stuck on your boot that you can't seem to scrape off?"
"No." she answered, amusement hinting in her voice.
"What are you doing here?" Aly asked, watching as Sarai began a bout against one of the new guards who had come to Tanair.
"I want to watch her fight," Ochuba answered distractedly, watching as Sarai circled her opponent, practice sword gripped tightly in her right hand. She swung her weapon at the head of her opponent before being blocked at the last moment. She followed this attack with a side slice to the right and then a back handed one to the left. This move was known as the butterfly cross. Once the second blow was blocked, Sarai shuffled in close to her opponent, meeting him hilt to hilt. The abrupt blow to the fingers gripping his blade, caused the guard to stumble back in pain. He tripped over his own feet and fell to the guard. When he struggled to get up, he found Sarai's blade quivering at his neck.
"Not bad," Ochuba muttered, "the guard's as green as they come, but she does know how to swing that thing."
"She as good as one of the warrior queens of the past?" Aly asked.
"Ha," Ochuba said, "In a fight with Queen Imiary, she wouldn't have even bring a sweat to her highness's brow." Ochuba stood up and dusted off grass from her clothes. "Yet."
***
Daine bounced painfully up and down as Lani jumped down off the platform and raced into the square.
"We need to disappear, fast," Lani panted.
"We need a horse Lani, you can't carry me forever." Daine gasped, still struggling to breath through her partially closed windpipe.
"Right," Lani said, "I think I know someone who would be more than happy to lend us his noble steed."
Quickly, Lani changed directions and headed back toward where they had come. Now Daine could see where they were going. They were headed right to the booth where a very flustered King Rubinyan and Queen Imajane were sitting.
"You're not gonna..." Daine began.
"Of course I am," Lani answered impatiently as she continued to run.
Upon seeing the return of their escaped prisoner, Imajane jumped to her feet yelling, "There, there!" frantically trying to call the guards who were unfortunatly busy, Daine thought with a grin, getting to know the ground quite well.
Abruptly, Lani stopped in front of the royal pair and the nobles who also occupied the booth.
"What are you doing?" Daine hissed.
"Just having a bit of fun, Ms. Sarra." Lani replied. She didn't even seem to care that twenty or so guards were desperately fighting their way upstream of the crowd towards them.
Lani bowed awkwardly, still carrying Daine. "Good morning, you majesties." Only a simpleton could have missed the sarcasm in her voice. Then she continued on her way to the back of the booth.
"You'll hang for this!" Rubinyan cried, drawing his dress sword from its scabbard.
"Will I your majesty?" Lani asked happily, "We'll see." By now they were out of site of the monarchs and in sight of a group of horses.
Daine gasped. These had to be the most beautiful horses she had ever seen. The one closest to them was midnight black, so dark that the stallion almost appeared blue. This was the one Lani hurried up to.
The stallion tried to rear in fright at the two humans who startled it, but was pulled back down to the ground by its reins which where tied tightly to a nearby post.
"Good horsey," Lani whispered. "Big horsey," she added.
"Put me down," Daine said quickly, "I'll calm him down, you untied his reins."
Lani quickly dropped her load by the side of the frightened horse. Daine grabbed his mane to support herself and gently stoked the poor thing's neck.
"It's alright, you handsome lad," she whispered softly to him, "We won't hurt you." Though the chains that she still wore contained her wild magic, the stallion calmed at the gentle voice it heard.
"Done!" Lani said.
"Good," Daine answered, "Can you give me a boost up?"
Within moments, she sat atop the horse, Lani behind her, guiding him into an ally behind the booth where the nobility sat. As they galloped away, the guards finally caught up with them. Their arrows fell too short though, as the two women disappeared into the maze of the streets of Rajmaut.
***
"Come on Aly, tell us a story!" Elsren whinned, pulling at her skirts. He and Petranne had been napping quietly in the grass just moments before, but now they were wide-awake and full of energy.
Aly sighed, "Wouldn't you rather watch your mother and Sarai practice sword play?"
Elsren folded his little arms across his chest. "Watching is no fun! I want to try, but mama won't let me."
"Please Aly!" Petranne said, tugging at her arm, "Tell us another story about the lady who talks to horses!"
"Now that's one I haven't heard," Dove said as she sat beside Aly.
"Ladies, master," Aly said in her best loyal servant voice, "I'm sorry, but I haven't the time. It's almost supper time and Chenaol will be needing my help in the kitchen." She stood up and curtseyed. "Begging' your pardon," she added before heading back up to the kitchens.
Aly was too homesick to tell another story about her family as if she didn't know them. Every tale made her long more and more for home, and she couldn't tell anymore stories if she was to finish out her wager with the Trickster.
Aly looked up startled as she heard several crows report from above. Two men were coming very quickly on horses, one several minutes behind the other. The both carried a bag on their backs with the royal insignia.
She'd better go tell the Duchess that messengers were coming.
***
By the time the first messenger arrived at the gates of Tanair, the Duchess and most of her household was there waiting for it.
The weary man dismounted and handed her the first letter.
Quickly, with Sarai and Dove at her sides, Winnamine ripped it open. She took a moment to read it. Beside her, Saria gasped when she finished, and turned away to rush back up to her room. Dove looked stony faced, while the Duchess was at loss of any emotion.
When they were finished, Dove handed the letter to Aly to read.
To the Duchess Winnamine Balitang and her son Duke Elsren,
Your Graces, it has come to the royal family's attention of certain acts of treason that may have been committed by the former Duke Mequen. Your family cannot, of course, be charges with such crimes committed by a deceased man, however, His majesty King Dunevon has seen it fit to banish once again the Balitang family to the estates of Tanair. If any member of the said family ever leaves the island of Lombyn, the Copper Isles shall see this as an act of treason against the crown, resulting in death.
Yours truly,
Regent King Rubinyan Jimajen of the Copper Isles
Rubinyan had an agenda, that was for certain. The man had come to the Balitang family, not more than four months ago, pardoning them and begging them to return to Rajmuat, however now, his loyalties had seemed to change. Mequen was the least traitorous man in the entire island nation and Rubin knew that well, however his so-called friend was disgracing him by accusing him of such a crime after his death.
What did he have to gain by keeping the Balitangs on Lombyn, Aly wondered. Then she remembered the line to the throne. If anything happened to Dunevon, Elsren would be king. That is unless, Aly thought wryly, Rubinyan and Imajane have anything to say about it. From what Aly had seen of Rubinyan, he was a man to be regarded carefully. He wanted the throne and nothing was going to stop him.
That was when the second messenger arrived. This letter was obviously much shorter because Winnamine only glanced at it before tossing it onto the ground.
"King Dunevon is dead," She announced to her household and the villagers who had gathered. "And Rubinyan and Imajane have declared themselves King and Queen."
Ulasim appeared beside Aly. "If you're thinking along the lines that I am," he said, "This is going to make things very interesting."
***
There, that better? I was never planning to kill Daine. To kill off the main character in you first fic is definitely a recipe for disaster. I just had to have her ALMOST die so that she could find out that Lani was well, who she is. I really didn't mention exactly who she is though, did I? Well, you're smart people, I think you've figured it out. Please review!