Disclaimer: Ok, I DO own Secery, Amisha, Paine, Ocea, Einur, Eidur, Aligan the Younger and Older… And Tamora Pierce is a bloody genius, so she owns everything else.
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Daine the Wildmage had just stared at the girls after they had spun their tale. She gave a soft smile.
Paine felt jealous; she hardly ever smiled. Her anti- social nature made her emotions hard to handle, to say the least. Paine tilted her head slightly, looking at her the rest of the God- born children. Secery tried to act so strong; she was, but she was young, tired and naïve to most things of this world. Her insights on character made her easily- adaptable.
Amisha was trying not to grin too widely at Daine. She was young, cheerful and unknown to this world. She gazed around curiously. It was, quite frankly, extremely amusing. Her head was bobbing around and she was barely paying attention. Paine grimaced, seeing Amisha pick up the baby. Paine couldn't stand small children.
Paine turned her gaze to the quietest of the group. Ocea looked odd in the dim lights. Even though they were indoors, she seemed to glow like water in the sun. She hardly ever spoke anymore. She was constantly training, rather than communicating with others. Ocea sat, blinking tiredly at a clock nearby. Daine had long since brought them glasses of water to drink. As Paine watched, Ocea's eyes focused on her own glass. The water quivered. Slowly, it rose into the air in a tight coil. It then melded into a ball of water. It drifted over to her extended palms. Ocea looked up, apparently realizing the conversation had stopped and Daine was now staring at her. Ocea glanced down. She gave a slight smile and let the ball drift over to the cup.
-Plip-
It dropped back into the cup. "Sorry. I couldn't resist." She murmured, looking demure.
Daine nodded, looking calm. "Certainly." The conversation continued.
Secery, of course, was doing most of the talking. She usually took the lead during these things. Her side of the conversation ended and Daine began asking questions of everyone.
"So… Amisha? How is it I've never heard of you from Ma?" She asked.
Amisha flapped a nonchalant hand. "Oh, whenever she is helping you out, she really doesn't have enough time to talk to you. Besides, I don't think she ever thought this might happen…" Amisha grinned. "And now you're stuck with us for a while."
"How old are you?" Daine asked softly.
"Me? Oh, I'm 13." Amisha was looking around the room again, her eyes not focusing on anything. Daine stared quizzically.
Ocea leaned forwards, her sea- green eyes gentle. "Don't worry. She isn't always like this. She's just excited about being in a new realm." Paine grinned and gave a slight nod. Secery gave one of her sarcastic smirks.
"She's absolutely normal after we get used to the places we are," Paine finally piped up. She rolled her eyes expressively.
"Gee, you talk about me like I can't hear you," Amisha grumbled.
The door busted open. "Daine, dear have you seen my mage kit? I seem to have-" Numair Salamin walked into the room, his robes flaring. He stopped mid- sentence. Belatedly, he continued, "- lost it… Daine, who are these young ladies?" he asked, feigning sociability.
Daine smiled up at him- it was a long way up- and said, "Numair, that's my sister and her friends. They've just arrived from the Divine Realms. Isn't that wonderful?"
Numair's eyes were basically bugging out of his head. The girls exchanged looks and all hurried to make their excuses.
"Um… I need to go… find some water. Practice, you know…" Ocea came up with.
"Yeah, practice. Got to do that…" Paine was on her feet within seconds.
"Got to… find the rooms we were assigned…" Amish commented, stumbling off towards the door. "I'm sure you two have a lot to catch up on."
Secery was the only one that kept her head. "I'm going to go take a look around the Palace. I've heard tales about it from the Divine Realms. Come on girls," she said, sweeping out the door.
"Boy, we all sure kept our heads didn't we?" Secery said with a wry grin.
"So what are we all going to do?" That was Paine.
"Well, I'm actually going to do that…" Secery said to the others, lifting her eyebrows.
"Same here," said Paine.
"And here." That was Ocea.
"I'm going to look around… find our rooms… find the training rooms…" Amisha murmured.
"Okay, so, we can meet back in the Great Hall when we get back. Then, Amisha can show us where our rooms are." She looked at all of their faces. They were all nodding. "So it's settled. See you all later." With that, Secery flounced off in her normal fashion.
The others shrugged at each other and wandered in their different directions.
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Amisha wandered around for about five minutes before losing all patience and grabbing a passing person's arm. "Hey, where can I find out where my assigned room is?" she asked of a squire passing by next to her. Much to her amazement, it was the same squire from before. She blushed when she realized just how rude she had been. She quickly released his arm. "Oh, sorry…"
He smiled down at her, making her stomach do small flip- flops. And, she found herself blushing slightly. He brushed back short auburn hair from his eyes. She hadn't noticed before, but his eyes were a soulful brown. He grabbed her arm gently, walking in the opposite direction she was trying to go.
"It seems you were trying to go the wrong way." He gave her another brief smile. "By the way, I'm Seth of Darcia. And your name is?"
"Oh, my name is Amisha Sarrasri. Pleased to meet you." She held out a hand, intending to shake his hand. Instead, he took her preferred fingers and gently kissed them. When he looked up again, he found her blushing and looking slightly befuddled. A secretive smile came to his lips.
"So am I." Tilting his head slightly as if thinking, he stood up completely. "If my knight- master allows it, may I show you around the Palace?"
She sighed in relief. "Thank you. If your knight- master says yes, then I would appreciate it very much."
"Well, then, will you walk with me to his quarters?"
He gazed at her gentle smile. "Lead the way."
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Ocea had been lying when she said she was going to go practice. She wandered around the halls of the Palace, searching in waves of sporadic power for the healing wing. She sensed the bathing feel of a healing gift, vastly outnumbered by the sick. The healers were much overstretched. She rushed to the hospital wing.
She halted at the door, staring at the injured around her.
"You there!" a healer yelled in her direction. For a moment she was afraid he was going to send her away, but instead, he continued, "Come over here and help. If you're healthy enough to stand over there, you're strong enough to help me a bit." She walked over to his side.
Once there, she briskly asked, "What is it you want me to do?"
The healer stared at her for a long moment. "I didn't expect you to come over. Most just mutter excuses…" He shook his hair out of his eyes and asked, "Can you take care of this patient for a moment? I must tend to some of the others…" She nodded mutely and knelt next to the patient's bed.
"If he starts to convulse-" He was unable to finish the comment because one of the other patients suddenly started flailing wildly. He shot a wild look over his shoulder as he bolted away.
She looked back down at the patient, smoothing damp hair from his forehead. Unconsciously, she brushed his mind in waves of power. She sensed he was dying of an internal wound. She felt him slipping into the Black God's Realms, yet felt in her heart that it wasn't his time to die yet.
She desperately grabbed his life- line. Unaware that she was glowing a soft sea- green color, she sent waves of healing power into his system. Her power roared in her ears and swept through his system, purging his system of all ailments and injuries. She felt his eyes flash open. She released him. Turning to look to see where the healer was, she was astonished to see he was crouching beside her, his eyes curiously observing both her patient and Ocea herself.
She coughed delicately. "Err, yes?" she inquired in a calm voice.
"Why didn't you tell me you were a healer?"
"I assumed you would figure it out eventually… And, besides, we didn't have much time to get to the pleasantries." He blushed, much to her surprise.
"Ah, yes… I suppose not." He looked around desperately for something. He sighed. "Will you help me? We're a bit overworked…"
"Certainly." And, feeling like she was on good terms with the man, she continued in a quirky voice, "What did you think I came down here for in the first place?" For the first time she had seen him, he smiled. Holding out his hand he said, "Timias of Roe."
She took the offered hand. "Ocea of… well, not around here." He gave a weary smile.
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Secery glanced up and down the halls as she walked around. From the people around her, she heard that there was going to be a ball on the next day. There was also talk of four God- born teenage girls walking around the Palace. Secery found herself chuckling a little about this.
She cheerfully wandered around the catacombs of the Palace, glancing here and there at the wreckage. She gave an amused glace at some of the tombs. The day she and her friends had been brought to this realm, they had been visiting the Black God and those in the Realms of the Dead. She had of course, talked with quite a few of them.
She heard a rustling from behind her. She swung around, whipping out a diamond sword out of nowhere. In her shadow stood a young man, his eyes grey and hair short and brown. He was taller than she, and well muscled, yet slim. He blinked at the tip of her sword, which was directly in front of his nose. Slowly, he raised his hands, showing he was unarmed. His eyes dropped from the blade to her pale face.
Lifting an eyebrow and featuring a good- natured, if lazy smile, he spoke. "Umm… Hello. My name is Einur. I'm from Emerilian. Can you get that away from my face?"
"I can. But, what were you doing behind me?" She lowered the sword, but it didn't disappear. "I'm Secery. I'm from the divine Realms."
He grinned. "Oh, I was doing the same as you; just wandering around aimlessly. I saw you, and decided to ask where you were going…"
Sensing no lies from him, she allowed her sword to dissipate. She gave a lopsided grin.
"So, you're one of the Princes of Emeriliam…"
In return, he continued, "so, you're one of the demi- Goddesses…" She smiled over at him.
"So, why aren't you with the rest of the royalty?"
"They're boring." With a tiny smirk in her direction, he continued, "But, you're much more fun."
She lifted a fine eyebrow.
Secery gasped, looking at the clock. "I think I've got to go talk to the King. Want to came?" He shrugged, signifying an okay.
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Paine turned, looking around the stables and practice yards fondly. She looked around. Then, something caught her attention. There was a sparring match between knights occurring nearby. She stared for a moment, but then realized the man who seemed to be watching nearby, like her. She walked over.
"So, what is this?" He looked at her, his eyebrows going up.
"No idea. I'm not from this country…" he smiled. "It seems that they have grown out of practice, so they want to train."
She glanced over at the two lines. "Interesting…" She said in a bored voice.
She rolled her eyes and pushed away from the wooden fence. Out of nowhere, her sword appeared. It was slim, and long. Its black metal sparked almost as much light as the fiery ruby that sat on its hilt.
He stared at her for a moment. "Might I spar with you? With practice weapons?"
She shrugged, but her fine- boned face revealed mirth and good nature. "Certainly."
He led her inside, unaware that they were drawing a slight crowd around them. Her own sword had long since disappeared, so she had no trouble catching the sword he tossed at her. She swung it around experimentally. She glanced up, and saw him doing the same. She settled into a standard sword fight stance and waited for him to do the same. The man across from her blinked hazel eyes at her and crossed swords with her.
"Someone marks us off," Paine finally articulated. One of the people nodded.
"Cross your weapons… oh, yes you've done that already… Guard!" The knight from another land lunged forward, his sword flashing in the dim light. Much to his surprise, she met him, sword to sword. He bore down on her sword, testing his strength. She held it up, until, heaving, she pressed him back.
He began to circle warily. Her motions, smooth and calculated, kept her front to him at all times. He grunted his approval and launched towards her with a series of chopping motions, attempting to get her guard down. She met each blow, edging him to do his best. It became obvious she was toying with him, waiting for her moment. He growled, his temper rising. Finally, she took the offense. Taking some daring risks, she twisted her body, breaking free of the ring and into the open air outside. Her eyes glimmered with a strange light as she parried, cut, and sliced.
Once, it seemed he had gotten her cornered against a tree, but she managed to twirl and do a sort of cartwheel around him. He was now against the tree, and it seemed he had been beaten. He surged forwards, trying to catch her by surprise. He managed to link his sword beneath her own. With a twist and a grunt of effort, he sent it flying.
She did a few back- hand springs, getting out of range of his sword. She reached her sword. She managed to grab it up, spinning to meet his sword with a crash. There was a fire in both their eyes. She suddenly saw an opening. She twisted her body, keeping him confused, in time to bring her blade up to kiss his neck. They both froze.
"That was the best fight I've had in a while. I'm Eidur of Emerilian." He said, brushing light brown hair from his eyes.
Paine lowered her practice sword, smiling. "The same here. You're the best fighter I've met so far in the Mortal Realms." She extended her free hand. "I'm Paine, of the Divine Realms."
His eyes were slightly startled as he looked at her, but he managed to reply, grabbing her hand, "Well met, Paine of the Divine Realms." She smiled over at him.
"The same here."
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Ocea waved cheerfully back at Timias as she left the room. The other healers had returned, so her power was no longer needed. She wandered around. At one hallway, she stopped. Several guards were standing around a door down the way. Curious, she walked down the hallway, stopping in front of the guards curiously. They stared at her warily.
"What is it that you are guarding?" she asked, shooting them all puzzled looks.
One of the guards puffed out his chest, trying to look important. "We are guarding the people who have come back from the Black God's realms."
"So, are you keeping people from going in ofr from going out?"
"Out. Most definitely out."
"So, if I were to go in, would I be allowed back out."
"Yes…" She smirked and walked past him into the rooms beyond.
The inhabitants turned to stare at her. Joren of Stone Mountain was the closest to the door, and he looked frustrated beyond belief.
He looked over at Ocea coolly, his eyes emotionless. "Have you come to kill me or save me?" Ocea blinked at Joren.
"Neither… So how is it you're back with the living?"
"I? I must have been mistaken with someone else…" He turned his wandering eyes to a window. His eyes seemed sad. It was obvious something had changed since he had died. He had not aged in his death; he remained 18.
"You're different than when you were alive the first time…" she commented without thinking.
"I am. I met the great Mother Goddess, and Mithros quite a few times. And they each lectured me about women and men being equal in fighting until I felt like my eardrums had burst." He sighed. "I'm going to have to apologize to Mindelan…" He rubbed the back of his neck.
Ocea was startled when he turned towards her, his blue eyes far- off… yet slightly gentle. She blinked at him. He was certainly handsome, and he had the air of someone who knew he was handsome. His hair, which had once been rather long, was now short. She realized he was looking at her in much the same way she had been studying her. Much to her surprise, she found herself blushing ever so slightly.
She glanced down at herself. She was willowy, graceful. She remained slightly shorter than Joren. She knew she was quite pretty, as were most of the Goddesses. It was quite another thing to be surveyed as beautiful by a handsome man. She smiled faintly, and turned to go. She swept from the room, nearly flying down the halls…
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Joren stared after the girl for a time, wondering who she had been, where she had come from. He smiled slightly. He decided that she must be new here, and that she was brilliantly gorgeous.
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Secery and her new friend wandered into the Great Hall. On the other side, Secery found all of the other girls were all sitting at a table. Secery blinked. Beside Ocea sat no one; but the other girls both had a boy sitting next to them. As Secery and Einur drew up, Paine began introducing the new people. "These are Squire Seth of Darcia and Prince Eidur of Emerilian. Who's your friend, Secery?"
"This is Prince Einur of Emerilian." The brothers nodded to each other.
The King stood and an immediate silence fell over the squires, pages and knights.
"He did not give a speech, but rather called out, "I would like to have a word with the Princes of Emerilian, and," he said. Hubbub rose suddenly. They were immediately motioned into silence. "And, I would also like to see Amisha Sarrasri, Secery, Paine and Ocea up here, please."
They all glanced at one another. They all rose. And, across the room, another boy was rising to his feet. They all walked towards the dais. He motioned for them to follow him. Murmurings followed them out the door. Once they were all in the hallway, he turned towards them.
"First of which, I'd like Timias of roe to bring you Princes to your rooms. He stood at the door and hollered for Timias. After the princes had left, he turned towards the god- born girls. "After much deliberation, we would like you to join us for the Banquet Ball." They all nodded enthusiastically. "All right, we'll see about dresses then. And, someone will show you to your rooms…"
He turned, about to call for another page, when Amisha interrupted him. "I've already found out where our rooms are, your Majesty."
He nodded sagely. "Yes. That will work." And with that, he swept off, leaving the girls to walk to their rooms…
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Author's Note: Okay, how did you like that chapter? Anyways, you know the drill. Leave reviews to tell me whether to continue or not.
