Chapter 1
The sun had nearly completed its journey across the heavens when Daine landed and took human form again. She pointed in the direction of what earlier had looked like a hill, but now was clearly some sort of a fort. She eyed it with anticipation, not know what she would find in these walls that were surely meant for a purpose that was beyond her.
They horse was lead up the hill by Daine. Hails were shouted from the ramparts and Daine returned the happily. The gates were opened and they walked through. A tall man caught Daine up in a hug.
"Magelet, I was so worried. You are late and you didn't send word!" The man frowned, then scooped Daine up in a second rib-crushing hug.
Daine wiggled out of his grasp and smiled, "Numair, I am fine. I just was delayed slightly," She turned and grabbed Rhiana, "This is Rhiana. She escaped from Scanra."
Numair eyed Rhiana with interest. "How did she get across the river?"
Rhiana looked at Daine and received an encouraging nod be fore she answered hesitantly, "I-I jumped in M-master. I had t-to fight my way across."
Numair looked at Daine as if he wished her to confirm the story and when she raised her eyebrows he smiled kindly down on Rhiana, "Well that was quite a journey. You must be terribly hungry. Why don't you go to the mess and eat. Daine and I have much to talk about." He pointed her to a long building near the middle of the complex and then led Daine away.
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Numair took Daine to the commander's cabin. There they spoke of the things she had observed why surveying the border between Tortall and Scanra. When they had finished the official business Daine was showered with kisses. Numair conveyed to her without words how much she was missed. He insisted also on showing her how much she meant to him.
When he was sure that not one spot on her body had been spared a kiss he led her to the mess and to a million questions.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Upon entry silence fell and all eyes turned to Rhiana. She paused in the doorway before taking a breath and then with courage that took all her might to summon stepped to the counters where food was served. She got her food and made her way to an empty table in the far corner.
Rhiana had never been so aware of her appearance, but here among these soldiers that a year ago would have sooner killed her as look at her had a drastic affect on her self-confidence. She sat in the corner aware of the eyes that watched her every move. She was hungry but had a hard time getting the food to her mouth her hand seemed to shake as the earth does when it is stresses.
She had managed to get only half her meal down when Daine walked with Numair following on her heals. Daine seemed to glow and Numair looked exceedingly pleased with himself, but nothing looked out of the ordinary. A crowd of curious people assaulted her with questions and she silenced them with a smile.
Daine walked straight toward Rhiana. She was no longer bombarded with questions but given curious looks. Daine sat down at the corner table and food trays were brought for both her and Numair.
"Why do you sit here in the corner?" Daine asked a kind smile on her face.
Rhiana smiled back nervously and looked around. "I am Scanran. To them I am the enemy, and not to be trusted."
Numair frowned and asked, "How old are you?"
Rhiana hesitated before saying, "I am ten. Why does it matter? To them I may be a child but I am still a child of the enemy."
"I was asking cause you seem wise for your years. I meant no harm." Numair looked slightly hurt but said no more.
"The only smarts I have are street smarts. I would like to learn but there are no schools for peasants an women are less than peasants." Rhiana sighed and looked down at the table embarrassed.
"Well you may get the chance. Tomorrow we are leaving for Chorus the capital and home to there Majesties King Jonathan and Queen Thayet. He will decide your future in this country. We leave at dawn so get some rest.
The sun had nearly completed its journey across the heavens when Daine landed and took human form again. She pointed in the direction of what earlier had looked like a hill, but now was clearly some sort of a fort. She eyed it with anticipation, not know what she would find in these walls that were surely meant for a purpose that was beyond her.
They horse was lead up the hill by Daine. Hails were shouted from the ramparts and Daine returned the happily. The gates were opened and they walked through. A tall man caught Daine up in a hug.
"Magelet, I was so worried. You are late and you didn't send word!" The man frowned, then scooped Daine up in a second rib-crushing hug.
Daine wiggled out of his grasp and smiled, "Numair, I am fine. I just was delayed slightly," She turned and grabbed Rhiana, "This is Rhiana. She escaped from Scanra."
Numair eyed Rhiana with interest. "How did she get across the river?"
Rhiana looked at Daine and received an encouraging nod be fore she answered hesitantly, "I-I jumped in M-master. I had t-to fight my way across."
Numair looked at Daine as if he wished her to confirm the story and when she raised her eyebrows he smiled kindly down on Rhiana, "Well that was quite a journey. You must be terribly hungry. Why don't you go to the mess and eat. Daine and I have much to talk about." He pointed her to a long building near the middle of the complex and then led Daine away.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Numair took Daine to the commander's cabin. There they spoke of the things she had observed why surveying the border between Tortall and Scanra. When they had finished the official business Daine was showered with kisses. Numair conveyed to her without words how much she was missed. He insisted also on showing her how much she meant to him.
When he was sure that not one spot on her body had been spared a kiss he led her to the mess and to a million questions.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Upon entry silence fell and all eyes turned to Rhiana. She paused in the doorway before taking a breath and then with courage that took all her might to summon stepped to the counters where food was served. She got her food and made her way to an empty table in the far corner.
Rhiana had never been so aware of her appearance, but here among these soldiers that a year ago would have sooner killed her as look at her had a drastic affect on her self-confidence. She sat in the corner aware of the eyes that watched her every move. She was hungry but had a hard time getting the food to her mouth her hand seemed to shake as the earth does when it is stresses.
She had managed to get only half her meal down when Daine walked with Numair following on her heals. Daine seemed to glow and Numair looked exceedingly pleased with himself, but nothing looked out of the ordinary. A crowd of curious people assaulted her with questions and she silenced them with a smile.
Daine walked straight toward Rhiana. She was no longer bombarded with questions but given curious looks. Daine sat down at the corner table and food trays were brought for both her and Numair.
"Why do you sit here in the corner?" Daine asked a kind smile on her face.
Rhiana smiled back nervously and looked around. "I am Scanran. To them I am the enemy, and not to be trusted."
Numair frowned and asked, "How old are you?"
Rhiana hesitated before saying, "I am ten. Why does it matter? To them I may be a child but I am still a child of the enemy."
"I was asking cause you seem wise for your years. I meant no harm." Numair looked slightly hurt but said no more.
"The only smarts I have are street smarts. I would like to learn but there are no schools for peasants an women are less than peasants." Rhiana sighed and looked down at the table embarrassed.
"Well you may get the chance. Tomorrow we are leaving for Chorus the capital and home to there Majesties King Jonathan and Queen Thayet. He will decide your future in this country. We leave at dawn so get some rest.