Chapter Two
A cot had been set up in the command center for her to sleep, and she slept. When the morning came she was awaken by a hand on her arm shaking her gently. She grumbled slightly but when she heard Daine laugh at the protest she was startled to full alertness. For a moment she thought she was back in her own bed in her own home. She shook her head and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
Daine smiled good humouredly and said a little to enthusiastically for Rhiana's taste, "I'm not a morning person either, but look on the bright side we are going to see the king. You'll find out his plans for you." With a quick instruction to get dressed she was left Rhiana alone with that thought.
The king's plan for me? I'm not so sure I like the sound of that. What if he orders me arrested or chooses not to help me? Without another thought she through on the clothes Daine had set out for her and ran outside.
When she got to the gate she saw two horses. One was old and slow; he looked very mild tempered with those black and white spots. The other was a lovely mare that shone brightly in the slights shine of the rising sun. She almost blue, the color of Daine's eyes. Her mane shone silver in the pale light of dawn, and Rhiana thought she was the loveliest creature to ever grace the planet.
When she got closer she noticed the horses eyes were the color of they clearest morning sky. Rhiana loved the horse and wished with all her heart that she could keep this magnificent anima. Just then, Daine came up to her and said, "You'll be riding Sapphire," she indicated the blue roan with a smile, "She is high-spirited, but should cause you no trouble if you treat her right."
"You mean I get to ride this horse and not the old spotted one?" Rhiana sighed in relief.
Daine laughed outright at the sigh and said, "Numair is not much of a rider. Spot is the only horse I trust to tolerate his pathetic skills. Besides she likes you." Daine smiled one last time and left Rhiana with a wink.
When the time came Rhiana swung gracefully into the saddle. Before her family was poor they had owned a countless number of horses. She wanted to show she was a good rider but then thought better of it. In Scanra beggars did not ride and she was one for a time. It was best to let them see her as just a beggar and thief, not what she truly is.
They rode on until dark. By then they were at an inn, and were able to order some real food. Rhiana vowed that she would never pass up the chance to eat as long as she was able while she stayed in Tortall. They sat in silence companionably. When all the food was cleared the three companions made there way up to their rooms.
Rhiana collapsed on her bed, and sighed when she felt the softness of her mattress. The day had been long and her dust covered clothes told of the journey from Haven. Now, as she removed her dirty things she thought of the kindness that had been showed to her. How could someone care so much for a stranger, especially one of enemy blood, that they would take her in and feed her? She looked at the clothes she wore. They were not new, but they weren't the rags she once wore either. She eyed the pack in the corner with amazement; she had more clothes in there, as well as a warm cloak just in case.
I haven't had things like this since. She put that thought away in the back of her mind, ...It is not good to dwell on the past, and she finished preparing for bed. As soon as her head hit the soft pillow she was asleep.
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"She's hiding something." Numair whispered in Daine's ear.
Daine rolled over and faced him, "Numair she is a little girl, what does she have to hide?" Numair looked concerned, "I don't know what it is, but I am sure of it. She was running away from more than guards, but the question is what?" "Or who?" Daine smiled slightly, "She is just a child what harm good she do? Honestly, Numair, I think you're being silly. She doesn't have the gift according to you, and I would know if she had the sight. What else could she have that would cause harm? Come now let us sleep we had a long day." She was a bout to turn back around when Numair caught her and kissed her gently. She surrendered to him; she had no wish to resist.
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It was not until an hour after dawn when the smell of freshly cooked rolls tickled her nose that she awoke. Seeing the height of the sun she jumped quickly out of bed and through on her clothes. They left without me, she thought, I knew their loyalty couldn't be trusted.
At that second there was a knock on the door. A familiar voice called, "Are you decent?"
Rhiana could not explain the relief she felt when she heard that voice. Trying to keep that relief from her voice she answered, "Yes, come on in."
The door opened and Daine came in; she carried a tray with biscuits and tea on it. She smiled kindly at Rhiana and set down the tray. She looked at Rhiana again but the girl just stood staring. With a sigh of impatience she ordered, "Eat, child. I don't want you to lose your strength," Rhiana just looked at her, "The food isn't going to consume itself. Besides, it is getting cold."
Rhiana came to herself and scrambled to obey. "You see? It isn't poison. Rhiana trust us. Numair and I only want to help you. You are safe with me. I promise."
Rhiana wanted to stop Daine from leaving but forced herself to stay where she was. I trust you, she thought fiercely, It is you who won't trust me, not when you hear the truth. Sadly she finished her meal. She cursed her lack of courage. If anyone would understand it was Daine. Yet, Rhiana couldn't bring herself to tell. Daine had been through the same thing but Rhiana couldn't see how even Daine would trust her when it came to the telling of that dark secret that haunted her every step.
She finished packing. Her head ached with the many thoughts that raced through it. One thought was on the top of all of them. She tried to push it back but it was no use, she was forced to accept it like she had so often done before. This thought had stalked her in all her travels. Who am I, why did they save me?
A cot had been set up in the command center for her to sleep, and she slept. When the morning came she was awaken by a hand on her arm shaking her gently. She grumbled slightly but when she heard Daine laugh at the protest she was startled to full alertness. For a moment she thought she was back in her own bed in her own home. She shook her head and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
Daine smiled good humouredly and said a little to enthusiastically for Rhiana's taste, "I'm not a morning person either, but look on the bright side we are going to see the king. You'll find out his plans for you." With a quick instruction to get dressed she was left Rhiana alone with that thought.
The king's plan for me? I'm not so sure I like the sound of that. What if he orders me arrested or chooses not to help me? Without another thought she through on the clothes Daine had set out for her and ran outside.
When she got to the gate she saw two horses. One was old and slow; he looked very mild tempered with those black and white spots. The other was a lovely mare that shone brightly in the slights shine of the rising sun. She almost blue, the color of Daine's eyes. Her mane shone silver in the pale light of dawn, and Rhiana thought she was the loveliest creature to ever grace the planet.
When she got closer she noticed the horses eyes were the color of they clearest morning sky. Rhiana loved the horse and wished with all her heart that she could keep this magnificent anima. Just then, Daine came up to her and said, "You'll be riding Sapphire," she indicated the blue roan with a smile, "She is high-spirited, but should cause you no trouble if you treat her right."
"You mean I get to ride this horse and not the old spotted one?" Rhiana sighed in relief.
Daine laughed outright at the sigh and said, "Numair is not much of a rider. Spot is the only horse I trust to tolerate his pathetic skills. Besides she likes you." Daine smiled one last time and left Rhiana with a wink.
When the time came Rhiana swung gracefully into the saddle. Before her family was poor they had owned a countless number of horses. She wanted to show she was a good rider but then thought better of it. In Scanra beggars did not ride and she was one for a time. It was best to let them see her as just a beggar and thief, not what she truly is.
They rode on until dark. By then they were at an inn, and were able to order some real food. Rhiana vowed that she would never pass up the chance to eat as long as she was able while she stayed in Tortall. They sat in silence companionably. When all the food was cleared the three companions made there way up to their rooms.
Rhiana collapsed on her bed, and sighed when she felt the softness of her mattress. The day had been long and her dust covered clothes told of the journey from Haven. Now, as she removed her dirty things she thought of the kindness that had been showed to her. How could someone care so much for a stranger, especially one of enemy blood, that they would take her in and feed her? She looked at the clothes she wore. They were not new, but they weren't the rags she once wore either. She eyed the pack in the corner with amazement; she had more clothes in there, as well as a warm cloak just in case.
I haven't had things like this since. She put that thought away in the back of her mind, ...It is not good to dwell on the past, and she finished preparing for bed. As soon as her head hit the soft pillow she was asleep.
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"She's hiding something." Numair whispered in Daine's ear.
Daine rolled over and faced him, "Numair she is a little girl, what does she have to hide?" Numair looked concerned, "I don't know what it is, but I am sure of it. She was running away from more than guards, but the question is what?" "Or who?" Daine smiled slightly, "She is just a child what harm good she do? Honestly, Numair, I think you're being silly. She doesn't have the gift according to you, and I would know if she had the sight. What else could she have that would cause harm? Come now let us sleep we had a long day." She was a bout to turn back around when Numair caught her and kissed her gently. She surrendered to him; she had no wish to resist.
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It was not until an hour after dawn when the smell of freshly cooked rolls tickled her nose that she awoke. Seeing the height of the sun she jumped quickly out of bed and through on her clothes. They left without me, she thought, I knew their loyalty couldn't be trusted.
At that second there was a knock on the door. A familiar voice called, "Are you decent?"
Rhiana could not explain the relief she felt when she heard that voice. Trying to keep that relief from her voice she answered, "Yes, come on in."
The door opened and Daine came in; she carried a tray with biscuits and tea on it. She smiled kindly at Rhiana and set down the tray. She looked at Rhiana again but the girl just stood staring. With a sigh of impatience she ordered, "Eat, child. I don't want you to lose your strength," Rhiana just looked at her, "The food isn't going to consume itself. Besides, it is getting cold."
Rhiana came to herself and scrambled to obey. "You see? It isn't poison. Rhiana trust us. Numair and I only want to help you. You are safe with me. I promise."
Rhiana wanted to stop Daine from leaving but forced herself to stay where she was. I trust you, she thought fiercely, It is you who won't trust me, not when you hear the truth. Sadly she finished her meal. She cursed her lack of courage. If anyone would understand it was Daine. Yet, Rhiana couldn't bring herself to tell. Daine had been through the same thing but Rhiana couldn't see how even Daine would trust her when it came to the telling of that dark secret that haunted her every step.
She finished packing. Her head ached with the many thoughts that raced through it. One thought was on the top of all of them. She tried to push it back but it was no use, she was forced to accept it like she had so often done before. This thought had stalked her in all her travels. Who am I, why did they save me?