Rob: Yeah. Can you figure out that anything that doesn't belong to Tamora Pierce is Caila's, and vie versa? Good.
Me: Bleh, it's snowing. It's march. It's not supposed to snow in NY. And we're supposed to get more snow later tonight/tomorrow. I don't want any more snow, unless its during the school week and i can get early dismissal/2 hour delay. cause then it pwns. But it doesn't pwn when it snows 8 inches on a saturday and Caila wanted to go shopping.
The sky was still gray as they cantered into the clearing. Dom held Cai's horse still as she dismounted, and as he did so he looked hopefully at the other riders. Cai's voice broke the silence, saying gently,
"Dom, she wasn't there. Did you find anything?" Dom's face darkened, but he gestured at the young man standing next to him.
"We ran into Jesslaw on the way here. He was coming back from border patrol and refused to not come with us.
"Jesslaw, you heathen." Alan said, clasping arms with the man. He then turned to Dom. "We need to make one stop before we continue after Kel."
"No. We're going after her now. I didn't let her down in the war, and I'm not letting her down now." Alan grimaced.
"Dom, you forgot one thing. We have no clue where she is. I'm guessing the south, but we're not sure, and that's what this stop is for. To get information. It's not far, only two hours hard ride. It's by Tirragen. If we get started now, we'll be there just after noon."
"One question Alan, who is this?" Dom gestured to Cai, who was still wearing her disguises. She started to laugh, and removed the charms from her bracelet. "Uh, Cai? You forgot the eyes." She pouted.
"But Alan… I always wanted green eyes!" He smirked, and with a wave of her hand Cai's eyes were back to a blue-gray. "Fine Alan."
"I swear by Mithros, Cai-" The laughing look dropped from her face.
"Alan, don't bring it up again. That is one thing I do not want to discuss. If we're going to get to my father, we should hurry up. Dom, get your men ready. She mounted her horse, and Alan mounted his.
"Lead on, Lady Cai-" Alan yelped as he realized his hair was blue. Cai smirked, rode forward as Alan was berating her.
The sun had burned off most of the mist as Cai slowed outside Tirragen. Following a path around the west boundary, Cai said,
"Our house is down here. We've-" She broke off as she spied a man walking down the path, and sped up until she was right next to him. Patting his shoulder, she exclaimed,
"Joseph! It's me!" The man grinned and clasped Cai's outstretched hand.
"Never thought you'd come back, miss. Your father's at home. And who are they?" Joseph gestured to the men.
"This is Alan, and that's Owen and Domitan. Men, this is Joseph. He helps my father run the small farm we have." Joseph shook his head.
"What happened to that lady you were serving? Your father won't like you running around with a pack of men. I'm going to the house now, as it is, you can come with me." Alan looked at Cai questioningly as she followed Joseph.
"My father's a bit old fashioned." Cai explained. "He made sure I never hung out too much with the village boys. He didn't want to teach me how to fight, either, except I watched him teaching the village boys and accidentally revealed myself. The boys messed up, and I showed them what they were doing wrong." Alan laughed, and stopped his horse as they rode past a small gate. He glanced a face at the window, and as the door opened Cai rocketed off her horse and threw herself at the middle-aged man.
"Da! Da!" She shrieked, and Alan tied the horse's reins to the post before greeting Cai's father.
"So let me get this right," Cai's father said, sitting across from Cai and Alan on a wooden bench. "You and this Alan of Pirates Swoop need my help in locating a lord? And this Alan thinks I'm the exiled Lord Ernilion of Kolep, and that you are Idania's daughter Qiana?" He sighed before looking at Alan. "You're a smart one, lad. I wouldn't have expected anything less from the spymasters son." Alan looked at him questioningly, but Ern waved him off. "You would be surprised at what I know." He rose and bowed. "Yes, Lord Ernilion, formerly of Kolep, at your service. But I go by Ern Thatcher now." Ern glanced at Cai's shocked face.
"So, I'm really Lady Qiana?" She asked quietly.
"Yes, but I couldn't leave you with your mother." Alan started to rise, sensing he was intruding on a family moment. Cai held onto his hand and dragged him back down before replying,
"So I had a mother, and you let me mourn her for my whole life? You lied to me?" Ern nodded hesitantly, and she quickly rose and walked out on them, with Alan running after her. He caught up to her outside, and dragged her to a tree with a bench beneath it, where he sat down.
"Cai, I'm sorry…" Alan trailed off as he handed her a handkerchief, and she blew her nose.
"Alan, I hate it when you're right." He grinned.
"Cai, we've known each other for little more than a week. How many times could I have been right?" At that she laughed, and Alan gave her a hug. "It'll be alright. And I've heard Idania's not so nice." He shuddered, remembering her shrill voice. Cai replied,
"She seemed alright to me. Except for her choice in second husbands. This is odd. You make me laugh." Alan looked at her quizzically.
"Is that a bad thing?" Cai grinned.
"Not necessarily. It's just that I'm usually the one to comfort people and make them laugh. Alan, I want my job back." He nodded gravely.
"But of course. There's one thing about your father though. Since he is Ernilion of Kolep, he has a grudge against Daniel. Daniel is the reason why your father was exiled, so let me talk to him. This also explains why you look so much like Kel." Cai looked at him blankly.
"Er, Alan? Please explain your thoughts. Us mere mortals don't understand what you're saying." He sighed.
"You're related to Kel."
"And that's possible how?"
"Your mother is Idania. Of Seabeth and Seajen. Her sister, Llane, now known as Lady Llane of Mindelan, is Kel's mother." As Cai's father walked through the grass, Alan hurriedly rose and bowed. Ern, however, pushed him aside and sat next to his daughter.
"Cai, I am so sorry for all this. I was going to tell you this year, but you went to work for Keladry and there was never an opportune moment. Now who is this lord you are looking for?" Alan quickly said,
"We just need to know where his homes are. I know he has a home in Carthak, but I don't know what town." Ern shrugged.
"I'll need to know a name first, lad." Alan looked directly into his eyes before simply replying,
"Qimat." Ern's face grew dark, and he clenched his fists.
"No!" He shouted emotionally. "I will not send my daughter to that scum. You, you suggest that I do that? With what you know about me? I will not allow it! She stays here." Hesitating a second, for he wanted to still please his daughter, he continued, but more calmly, "If Cai stays here, in Tirragen, or Kolep, as it were, I will tell you where Qimat's home in Carthak is located. But only if you swear on your mother's life, to not bring Cai with you to the southern shores." After looking apologetically at Cai, Alan nodded.
"I won't let her come with me. I promise. And I'll leave tonight, as soon as you tell me where he is." Alan picked Cai up from her seat on the bench, and pulled her into the house. "Cai, don't argue. You know I didn't want you to come with us. Stay in the house."
Walking back to Ern, he missed the murderous glare Cai sent him. As Ern explained where Daniel's house was located, Alan felt drops of rain on his head, and told Cai's father, "We'll need to stay tonight. The horses can't take another day in the rain. Why don't we finish this up after supper?" Ern nodded, and Alan got up and walked through the house, looking for Cai. He found her in what looked to be her room, staring out the window at the rain falling and hitting the glass. Alan sat next to her and hugged her shoulders. "I'm sorry Cai. But it'll be better this way." Cai looked at him bleakly.
"Alan-"
"And I know that you think it's your fault, Cai." He continued. "But it's not. You didn't have them kidnap Kel, did you?" She shook her head. "Then stop blaming yourself. Cai," Alan said tiredly as she ran to her old bed and pulled the blanket over her head. He got up and sat down next to her, and pulled the blanket off of her head. "Excuse me, Cai. I thought you wanted to be happier. If you want to join us for lunch, I'll see you there. If not, I'll come back later, and say goodbye when I can get a response." He got up, but Cai stopped him.
"You're really going without me?" Alan looked into her face.
"Yes Cai. I'm really going without you. I will bring back Kel. But I want you to be safe. Now come and eat lunch." He patted her feet, and then went to walk out of the room. Stopping, he glanced back at Cai, who had reached out her arm.
"No tracking magic, Cai." She closed her hand, stopping the pale yellow glow, and frowned.
"Fine. But take your necklace back." Cai tugged off the necklace and held it in her outstretched fist.
"Cai, it was a gift. Keep it."
"No Alan. Since you don't want me to come, I don't want a gift of yours. Take it back." He muttered darkly and crossed the few steps between them.
"Fine Cai. I might as well give this back then as well." Alan grabbed the necklace from her and threw something on the blanket. "And for your information, I want you there. I'm just not letting emotions get in the way of rescuing Kel." Leaning over, he kissed her on the forehead before stomping out of the room.
Cai picked up her swirl necklace from where it lay, and fastened it around her neck before getting out of bed and walking through the open door.
Alan in his cabin on the Rattalin, the outdoors being soaked by the brilliant southern sun. He saw the distant shores of Carthak in front of him, and turned his head back to view Tortall. He had left an hour ago after meeting with Raoul, Buri, and his parents, and had quickly left due to the anger of the women, especially his mother. He sighed, remembering Cai's angry face as he left her home, and pulled out the scrying mirror his sister had given him for his birthday. Bringing an image with his gift, he first found his mother eating lunch with Buri, and then hesitantly turned his gift to see Cai.
Alan saw her sitting next to a barrel, happily eating a roll, with someone sitting next to her, and he was confused as to her surroundings. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, and Alan rose to answer it, still holding the mirror. Nealan of Queenscove stood there, ready to knock on the door again. Alanna had brought Neal with her from Corus, and had told Alan to bring him to Carthak because he was going crazy worrying over Kel. Neal grinned, and said,
"They're serving lunch in a few minutes My favorites, stew and rolls." Alan stopped short, and shook his head.
"Rolls? No," He said, half to himself, half out loud. "Coincidence. Must be coincidence. She wouldn't dare-" Alan looked quickly at the mirror, and Neal looked to see what was on it. "By Mithros, I'll get her for this," Alan continued, and pushed Neal aside as he stormed out of the room and to the kitchens, where there was a tarp pulled over a few barrels and boxes. He yanked the tarp off, and stared in disbelief at Cai and Yukimi, Neal's wife. Behind him he head Neal gasp. Glaring at Cai, he motioned for Neal to help Yuki up, and ignored their welcomes.
"Er…Alan? Mind giving me a hand up here?" Alan started yelling.
"What in Mithros' name are you doing here? Go back! We're turning back. I am taking you home, locking you up, and then coming back to find Kel. Your father will kill me!"
"Actually, Alan, he said that you weren't to bring me to the southern shores. As you can see, we are past the southern shores. Give it a few hours, and we're out of Tortallan waters. And see, at that point my father can do nothing, for you did not realize I was here until we left. So…" Cai leaned comfortably against a barrel, "If you would kindly forget I am here for the next few hours, no one will get in trouble. Oh, bring me a few more rolls, will you? And a pillow?" She looked at Dom, who was peering over Alan's shoulder. "Oh, hullo Dom. Ignore me for the next few hours, but just until we get out of Tortallan waters. Then I'm free to move about the ship and cause trouble." Cai grinned, and Dom laughed. Alan glared at him, and Dom looked at Alan.
"Alan, what did you do now? You said Cai's father wanted her to stay. So why aren't you helping her up?"
"Oh, because Sir Alan here promised my father he wouldn't help me get to the southern shores. So, as long as he has no clue I'm here, he's keeping said promise. And I figured that the end of Tortallan waters signify end of southern shores." Dom whistled.
"Alan, when the few hours are up, she's going to murder you." Cai grinned cheerfully.
"But of course. Now where are my rolls and pillow, huh? Yuki can go off with Neal-" She cut off as she realized that Neal and Yuki had disappeared minutes before. "Or she can just stay with Neal." Leaning against the barrel again, Cai ate rolls for the next two hours, and annoyed all the sailors.
"Hey, bloke, what was that for?"
"I dunno. Hey! Who threw this at me!" An angry sailor pointed at Cai.
"The girl did. She's been chucking them at everyone."
"What? I don't know who you're talking about! I'm not here!" Cai said innocently, and then muttered, "It's not my fault if there's no entertainment on this boat." Laughing as he walked past, Owen offered her a hand up.
"Milady, we passed out of the waters a few minutes ago. I think. But this is jolly! You like to throw things at people too!" Cai sniffed disdainfully.
"My dear knight, I only like throwing things at people who deserve it. Could you direct me to Sir Alan?" Grinning, Owen guided her to Alan's room. "Much thanks. Ammunition?" Owen gleefully handed her rolls. "Many more thanks."
"One question, could you come later and throw them at Neal? Dom needs cheering up. And it would be jolly."
"But of course, Sir Owen. One question for you. Do you love the word jolly?"
"What? Jolly is just… jolly!"
"Ah, I see…" Cai said gravely. "Carry on, good sir knight." Knocking on the door, she opened it and found Alan sitting on his bed. Chucking the rolls at him, he yelped and grabbed them out of her arms before setting them outside the room and closing the door.
"I swear Cai, both of us are going to be in so much trouble for this." She laughed and shook her head.
"I may be in a bit of trouble with my father, but I can handle him."
"Well Cai, I'll be in trouble with my parents!"
"No you won't." She chewed on a roll that she had pulled from her sleeve, and walked over to Alan's bed and stretched out. "For I believe it was your charming mother who smuggled me aboard." Cai laughed at his shocked face. "And by the way, if you don't take me, you don't get disguises. I may not be a spy, Alan, but I can look like anyone. Now that roll… or many rolls… were far too little for me to eat. Let's get something." He cuffed her lightly on the head, and pulled her up from her spot. Cai patted his arm, and said, "It's good to be here, Alan. I was going crazy being stuck at home." He looked at her incredulously.
"Cai, since it took us two days to get here, you must have left right after us." She waved it off.
"Alright, more the thought was making me crazy. I was home for an hour though…" Alan laughed, and dragged her to the mess.
As they sat next to Dom and ate, Cai explained how she had gotten away from her father and onboard.
"Well, my father basically locked me in the house after you left. I guess he figured I would go after you guys. But he didn't know that I had learned how to pick locks."
"Who taught you?" Alan interrupted. Cai grinned.
"Kel-"
"Kel? And who taught her?" Dom asked.
"Your cousin who goes by the name soon to be dead Nealan." The mentioned sat next to Dom, who hit the back of Neal's head.
"Anyway, I packed some clothes and took the horse you had left behind. I followed your trail, and then when I got to the port your mother found me, Alan, and then smuggled me aboard. And that's my story."
"Cai, how did you get through the desert?" She shrugged. "Ah, so disguises, eh? Who were you?"
"You. Worked well. The Bahzir recognized me, and that's why your mother followed me. I had forgotten to take off the disguise. And when I took it off, the Lioness recognized me again and took me to Yuki, who had come to find Kel as well." The Yamani woman sat next to Neal, who was still being beaten by Dom, and calmly reached for a roll. "So we snuck aboard while you men were eating breakfast and saying goodbye, and promised Lady Alanna we would find Kel."
"So that's what she was doing aboard the ship. You usually can't get her near them." Cai grinned.
"She said she would have come, but she gets terribly seasick. Now Alan. Before you all got on board, I examined the rooms. Much to my surprise, you claimed the one I wanted. When are you moving out?"
"What! No! I'm not moving out!"
A little while later, Alan was picking up his things from his room and bringing them to a room a few down the hallway. Cai surveyed it all from her spot where she sat comfortably on the bed.
"Now Alan, what you were talking about before you left…"
"Erm, what did I say?"
"About emotions and stuff." Cai replied, waving her hands around for emphasis.
"Oh, that. Er…" Alan quickly looked down at his feet, then picked up his things and walked out of the room. Cai followed him to his new room, and shut the door behind her. Walking up to where Alan was, she turned him around and wagged her finger in his face.
"So you were just toying with me, were you? You thought that if you just told me that Hey, I want you to come, but its for the greater good, that I would just stay?" Alan started to back up from her, but tripped and fell, and he swore loudly. "Now Alan, your mother would not like that language. No. She. Would. Not." She said, tapping his chest with her finger to punctuate what she was saying. Alan grabbed her hand and held it for a second before dropping it like it was on fire.
"Fine, Yes. I did hope that you would stay there. Happy?"
"No." Cai strode forward until she was looking up at Alan, who had by then gotten up. Suddenly she seemed to realized what she had said, and quickly retorted,
"I mean, yes. I'm happy." She backed away, and this time Alan was the one who stepped forward. He cupped her cheek in his hand and said,
"Cai, you guard yourself too much. Let down the barriers for once." Looking him in the eyes, she replied,
"Hey, are we bashing on Cai today? How about you let your emotional wall down, and I'll see what I can do." Hesitating for a second, Alan nodded.
"Right." Cai started to walk away, but Alan grabbed her shoulders and pulled her closer to him.
"Alan-" He put his finger on her lips to quiet her, and then leaned down to quietly kiss her. After a moment, Cai backed away. "Alan-"
"By the gods, Cai, stop guarding yourself. You're not going to help anyone by keeping your emotions bottled up inside" Surprised, Alan saw Cai's tear up. "Cai, I'm sorry…" He reached out his hand to her cheek, but she pulled away.
"No Alan. You're not sorry. You only think about yourself and your stupid emotions. All nobles are alike. Only thinking of themselves."
"Cai, if I may be so bold as to say it, you're the one who told me to 'let down the emotional barriers'. And you're a noble yourself."
"No. I am not a noble."
"Then what was that jolly conversation with your father about?" Cai let out a snort in spite of herself. "What?"
"You sounded like Owen." Laughing, Alan put his arm around her.
"No, Alan. Stop thinking of your own emotions."
"Oh, well I'm sorry you don't like what you found out."
"You never think of other people's emotions."
"Cai, what else have I done?"
"You were being a git Alan. A stupid, senseless, git. Now stop. Bothering. Me. I can't deal with this now." A tear coursed down her cheek, and Alan wiped it away before she could run.
"Cai…" He wrapped his arms around her and sunk to the floor.
"Alan, let go of me."
"No Cai, I won't. I am going to sit here, and hold you until you stop crying. So if you want me to let go, you would stop crying about this." Cai looked up into his face.
"See Alan? I stopped crying." Alan sent his gift into her, and noticed her disguise.
"No gift. Now keep telling you emotional barrier to take a vacation. Letting everything build up is not good." He scooted back until he was leaning against the door, and put Cai's head on his shoulder, stroking her hair. Cai's tears dampened his shirt, but she eventually stopped crying and sat there in his lap.
"Alan, I'm sorry. Can I get up now?" He shook his head.
"No. Because for this moment, we are not in danger. No one is bothering us. They don't even know we're in here. So go to sleep. I know you probably didn't sleep the past few nights. And I vaguely remember you mentioning you get a better nights sleep if I'm here." He used his gift to call over a blanket, and laying it over Cai, and tightened his arms around her. "Go to sleep."
Alan woke with a start as a pounding came on the door behind him, and he slowly moved to the side until both he and Cai were away from the door. He got up slowly, and calling out,
"I'll be there in a second," picked up Cai and placed her on his bed. Opening the door, he was greeted by the faces of Neal and Dom. Motioning for them to keep quiet, he checked to make sure Cai wouldn't fall off of the bed before emerging out of deck.
"What is it?" Neal grinned.
"Seeing as you're the only one who knows where we're going, would you care to tell us? Or are you too busy?" He nodded his head in the direction of Alan's room, and Alan cuffed him on the head.
"Meet me in the mess in ten minutes." Shooing them away, Alan opened the door and quietly shut it behind him, but Cai had already woken up.
"Alan, about before, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. That was rude. And I'm sorry about sneaking about and coming when you told me not to. But I had to come. It's my fault, and-" Alan leaned over and kissed her. A bit surprised, Cai could only ask,
"Why?"
"You kept talking. And your voice was too loud. I swear, Uncle Jon could hear you in Corus."
"No, I figured that was why. I tend to babble. I meant, why me?" Alan sat down next to her.
"Because- and don't say anything till I'm done- You're different from the court ladies. You don't seem to care what other people think. You're pretty. You're always laughing, making jokes. You're brave, courageous-"
"No I'm not." Cai said quietly.
"What did I say about interrupting me?"
"But you're wrong. I'm not all of that. That's what people see, not who I really am. You only like the person you think I am." He shook is head.
"Cai-"
"I'm self-conscious. I make jokes, but only because I have nothing else to say. I'm not pretty. I'm not brave. I ran. I didn't help Lady Kel. Now she's kidnapped."
"You ran because she told you to. Cai," Alan took her hands and tugged her forward until she was leaning against him. "I like you. I don't care if you think it's only for outward appearances. I like you for who you are. Stop thinking badly of yourself. If it makes you feel any better, think of this as being heroic. Which it is. Cai-" She tilted her head up and kissed him. When Cai moved away, Alan asked, "Shutting me up?"
"But of course. You-" He put his hand over her mouth and kissed her forehead, and then her cheek.
"This is a very effective way of shutting you up." Alan leaned in to kiss her again, but Cai's eyes darted to a sparkle of green light near his ear.
"Alan-"
"Hullo Alan." Cai grimaced as she heard Neal's voice. "Would you please join us in the mess now? I'm sure you could leave Cai alone for a few minutes." He snickered, and then Cai and Alan heard Dom saying,
"Let me talk to Alan."
"No Dom."
"Meathead." Cai sighed.
"Alan, could you terminate that listening spell?" He nodded, and grinned as the green sparks faded.
"I should go though." Cai sighed, and pulled one of Alan's shirts over her head. He looked at her questioningly, and she said,
"Well, I'm coming with you. And I'm getting cold." Alan laughed as he put his arm around Cai's shoulders, and strode out of the room.
