Disclaimer: Guess. Don't steal my stuff, you can do all the things you want with Tamora's.

Chapter 1

Kaara

Martin was in the palace garden practicing with his sword. He quickly sheathed it when he heard a man yelling. A guard was chasing a girl, he was jeering at her wanting her to kiss him, and maybe more.

She was hooded with only her eyes showing on her face. She stopped suddenly and turning around to look at the man.

"Come on, I know you do want me," the man smirked.

"Be quiet." The girl glared at him.

"Don't be-" he was cut-off when he fell down as if pushed.

"Get away from me!" she yelled, the man looked stunned.

"Hey." He said, not making any move to leave, but as he tried to take a breath he couldn't. He looked like a goldfish, trying to gulp in the air; then suddenly he dropped to the ground, now breathing. He stared in surprise at the girl as he got up and ran off.

She relaxed, Martin looked at her in surprise and admiration. That was strong magic. Getting a hold of his wits he stepped closer: "How did you do that?" he inquired.

The girl spun around but seeing he was not a threat she held her head up answering, "I have the Gift."

"I mean what was the last thing you did there?"

"Oh, I created an air tight orb around him and he couldn't breath." She inspected her fingernails. And played with the opal in her hand.

"Sure scared him," Martin laughed.

"Yeah," she raised her eyebrows as she said it, "Are you a squire?" Motioning towards his sword.

"Knight." Martin corrected.

"How old are you?" she asked, he seemed a little young to already be a knight.

"I'm 15, but I started training when my father died, I was nine." He brushed his fingers through his hair.

"Only took six years…" she cocked her head.

"Five." Martin was quick to correct her. "I got my shield when I was 14."

"You must be really good."

"Well, yeah I am-I mea-" he stopped hearing the girl stifle a giggle; her hazel eyes sparkled with laughter. 'Her eyes are beautiful,' Martin thought, he stared at her but as she started noticing her shook his head away.

She jumped as the lunch bell rang. "I need to leave," she said, a little worried. "My name is Kaara."

The name sounded familiar, he said it again trying to place it. She heard and as if answering his thoughts:

"The princess of Tortall can't be late." She walked off, Martin staring after her.

The princess… he couldn't believe it, his hands fell to his sides, limp. He had to sit down. On the bench he took three deep breaths before going in to eat lunch.

'What if she waves and giggles with her servants when I come in?' He thought before getting to the main hall, 'it would have no affect on me,' he decided although walking in his head was hung so she might not recognize him.

Martin sat by his page, when he began to feel comfortable and looked up to see where Kaara was sitting. She looked a bit nervous as she turned her head, their eyes locked.

Her golden hair caught the sunlight beautifully, she might try and embarrass him now but he couldn't pull away. Her hazel eyes had flecks of green and her full lips were neither smiling nor frowning. Her nervous smile as she turned away told him she would have never done anything to make him feel uncomfortable.

'How could I have thought that she would do anything like that?' He thought, appalled with himself. Kaara was now talking with a lady in waiting about her age, 15. She laughed at something the lady said…

A pinch drew him out of dreamland. It was Garrett, his best friend. He was 16 and a squire he was muscular and great at getting girls (unlike Martin), in fact he had one hanging off him right now.

"Don't stare at girls." He warned," Also if I followed your gaze correctly, DEFINITELY not that one." Martin smiled.

"Yes." He said, but wasn't really listening.