Disclaimer: None of the characters in this story that don't belong to me are mine, every one that is mine belongs to me, the same is true for any places or events in this story.
Authors Note: Okay, well… first of all I would like to thank those people who reviewed; it makes me feel like my life isn't just a complete waste of time. Secondly I would also like to thank those reviewers who gave me plot suggestions; they are all pretty much the same so I might be able to use them all. Other then that, Well, if I have anything else to say I will post it at the bottom.
The Gods Gifts, Chapter 2: Yamani Calm
Kel woke up to the soft cheeping of birds. The sparrows she had fed last year were now sitting on perches all over her room. Crown, the head sparrow, sat on Kel's chest, she peeped when she saw that Kel was awake.
Groaning Kel rolled out of her bed. She yawned and stretched before she filled up the food dish she had bought last year with birdseed. The birds all fluttered towards where the dish lay on the table. Kel shook her head to clear her mind and then stepped towards the middle of her room.
She picked up her practice glaive and began the swings and turns of a pattern dance. She finished and hung her glaive on the hooks on the wall. Then she did ten of the floor pushups the Shang Wildcat had shown her last year.
When she was finished she grabbed her clothes and slipped into her privy chamber to change and get ready for the day.
Kel arrived at breakfast that morning to see that most of her friends had already sat down and were talking amongst themselves. As she walked over to get a tray with food on it, she noticed to her irritation that Azi was also at the table, and was laughing sweetly at something Neal had said. She tilted her head to the side and smiled, only to have her attention redirected by one of the other boys.
Kel felt anger swelling inside her and she had absolutely no idea why. Calm, she thought to herself, as smooth as a lake on a windless day. She managed to keep her emotions under control. Grabbing her food she went to sit down at the table.
"Good morning," She said, smiling a fake, cheerful smile.
"'Mornin'." Neal said, lifting an eyebrow at her false good humor. "How in Mithros' name are you this wide awake?" He asked.
Azi laughed, and smiled at Kel. "Good morning." She said.
Gods, why does this girl bother me so much? Kel thought to herself. I haven't even really met her yet. Determined to keep up her charade, Kel smiled back ever so slightly.
"Hey Kel, Neal just had an amazingly unstupid idea," Cleon said, ducking the roll Neal threw at his head, "Anyway, so, since you're not already sponsoring someone, maybe you could show Aziala around the palace." He continued, undeterred.
"Um, I'm no so-" Kel began,
"Please, I would like it very much." Azi said in a cute little voice, her eyes pleading.
I am going to regret this, I just know it… "Sure, why not." Kel said with an inward sigh.
Azi's face brightened. "Oh, thank you so much," she said.
"Yeah, no problem." Kel said, as the thought of spending the whole day with a girl she couldn't stand took over.
Kel spent the morning showing the other girl all of the marvels of the Tortallan palace. As Azi exclaimed over each one, Kel grew more and more annoyed. She didn't know why but she had the feeling the awe in this girl's voice was fake and merely for the purpose of making Kel feel proud of her country.
This girl is a born diplomat. Kel thought, If I hadn't spent those years in the Yamani islands I would almost be fooled by it.
She led Azi to the hall which boasted all the portraits of the royal family throughout the history of Tortall. Unlike Neal, who would have been able to tell a story of each of the monarchs, recent and long dead, Kel just leaned against a pillar and let the other girl explore on her own.
She watched bored as the girl chattered away to some of the court ladies that were walking in the hall. Watching them made Kel think, She seems to fit in so well with those girls, I wonder what would make her want to be a warrior? Kel conveniently forgot how well she fit in with the boys as well.
Eventually Azi waved goodbye to her new friends and came back towards Kel.
"Done already?" Kel asked, her face impassive.
"You can only take so much history for one day. Will you show me the training courts?" Azi said.
"Speaking of that, we should probably get you some training clothes and a uniform." Kel said.
"No, really, it's okay, I already have them." Azi said.
Kel raised an eyebrow but just shrugged.
She led the other girl towards the training courts. After showing her the hard packed dirt enclosures where the pages learned weapons and hand to hand combat she took her to the archery wing and then up to the stables. "Just a second." Kel said, walking inside to say hello to her gelding, Peachblossom.
Aziala followed Kel down the aisle, looking at the different horses as she went. Near the end she found a stall with a gorgeous black mare in it, the only mark on her was a sun shaped blotch on her forehead.
"Hello Teriugei." Azi said. The mare snorted and moved to the front of the stall. Looking over Kel decided that this was probably Azi's horse, or else she had some kind of horse magic.
Kel shrugged and patted Peachblossom on the nose, and then gently finger combed his forelock. Aziala turned around.
"Umm, Kel, can I ask you a slightly personal question?" She said.
"If you want." Kel answered, staring into Azi's green eyes, even though she was almost a year older, Azi was barely an inch taller then Kel.
"I was wondering if you liked Neal." She said.
"He's my best friend, of course I like him." Kel answered.
"No, I mean really like him."
Anger was building inside, trying to force it down Kel asked as calmly as she could, "What gives you that idea?"
"Well, It's just that every time he talks to me or even looks at me you seem angry enough to try to kill me with bare hands, and whenever he talks to you, you practically swoon. I have lived next to Yamani's my whole life, and compared to them, you're as easy to read as a book."
Kel snapped, she didn't know why, she just did. "What is your problem, you just waltz in here and have everyone wrapped around your little finger and then you get involved in other people's personal life, do you have any respect?" Kel didn't realize she was almost creaming, unfortunately, Aziala's temper flared very quickly.
"What's my problem? You're the one who can't stand not being the center of attention anymore, so you won't even talk to anyone who threatens to take that away from you. Your so jealous, it's like you won't let anyone else talk to your friends. You have been nothing but rude to me ever since I got here, and I've been trying to be nice, but I can't take it anymore. I'm leaving, good bye." After this outburst, Aziala spun on her heel and walked away.
"See if I care." Kel called after her.
End of Chapter 2
AN: Okay, so I know I haven't really explained where Aziala comes from yet, but I'll get around to it, probably next chapter. Also, the next chappys will probably have more of other characters in them, any way, please RR.