Well, thanx for the more reviews, but PhyscoLioness were are you? You used to review every time…oh well.
On top of cloud 9: Thanks for updating your story! And no, sadly, she is not a goddess. That would be to much like Daine, don't you think? But in this chappy…this reveals something else…enjoy! Oh, and how do you get so many reviewers? It's scaring me…
Zeetah: Thanks for reviewing! It's good to hear from you! Try writing stories of your own, because what's the point of joining then? You don't have to join to review! Think about it.
Well, here I go…
Cami was startled out of her reverie by a great gonging bell. She assumed that it was the dinner bell, and since there were supposedly a lot of visiting nobles, she decided to dress up.
She quickly changed in to a silvery-blue silk dress she had found hanging up in the closet. She slipped her feet into some thin delicate slippers the same color as her dress, and a thin white shawl encircled her shoulders. Her blond hair was up, and a blue pendant the color of her eyes on a silver chain was around her neck.
Cami twirled, the skirts whispering, and she glimpsed a bit of her reflection in the mirror. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at the glass. Is that really me? She wondered. Instead of a poor common-born Scanran girl, she saw a lovely noble in her place. The dress fit her perfectly, and her pale skin made her look even more beautiful.
She grinned to herself as she left the room, and she saw that a sparrow was flying by. It stopped when it saw her, and hovered at her eye level as she said, "Dinner?"
The sparrow wheeled around and flew off, Cami walking confidently behind it. When they turned a corner, Cami gasped.
The once-bare Great Hall had been transformed into a beautiful masterpiece. It looked like every painting Cami had ever seen of a banquet, except that this was wonderfully realistic. A glimmering crystal chandelier hung in the center, casting light all around with its many candles. A long wooden table with glinting platters made of the finest porcelain held every food imaginable. Nobles from all over Tortall were seated around it.
Kel appeared next to Cami and led her to a chair. "This is where you sit." Cami blushed at being caught gaping, and Kel added, "You look very nice tonight."
Cami beamed, then looked Kel up and down. She wore a green dress that accented her hazel eyes, and she also had slippers the color of her dress. Garnet drops glinted at each of her earlobes and she had a garnet necklace too. "So do you," Cami told her. Kel blushed, and hurried off to attend another person who had just arrived.
Cami sat down in the chair. She stared at the assortment of forks, knives, spoons, and glasses. Why were there so many, and how on earth am I going to figure out how to use them correctly? She wondered.
"I was confused at first too, you know," said a practical female voice. Cami jumped, then turned around. There was a female, about a year older than her sitting right next to her, smiling brightly. She had long black curls and twinkling brown eyes. The girl continued, "But then I got the hang of it. I'm Gydo, from Goatstrack, which is up north. Or at least it was, before the Scanrans attacked. Who are you?"
"Cami," She answered, liking the girl immediately. "I'm from Scanra." The girl frowned. "Oh no, I wasn't part of the army. In fact, I was against it. But I couldn't say that, or Maggur would have skinned me alive. I came across him once when I was five, and he gave me this." She turned her arm to show Gydo the scar.
"Wow, that's horrible!" exclaimed Gydo. "Now I guess we have a good reason to call Maggur 'Maggot' here. As for me, I was a refugee and was almost used for fuel for the killing machines!"
"What happened? Were you scared? Did he hurt you?"
Gydo held up her hands in defense. "So many questions," she laughed. "One at a time, please."
The girls chatted happily, swapping stories of joy and adventure, until a booming voice announced, "The first course is served."
Servant began circling the room with wine and appetizers. A gloved hand came into Cami's view, and a heavily accented voice said, "Wine or water, milady?"
"Water, thank you," replied Cami, as Gydo selected the same thing beside her. She tore her eyes away from the water filling one of the many glasses, and finally looked to see who was sitting across from her: Tobe.
…
When Tobe had sat down and looked across the table to see who was sitting there, he nearly fell off her chair, and his mouth dropped open in awe. It was Cami, but not the shirt-and-breeches Cami he saw before, but a different Cami. This was a silk-dress-hair-done-up-necklace Cami.
"Cami," Tobe breathed. "She's beautiful."
"What did you say?" Loesia, who was sitting next to him, elbowed him. Then she turned her head in the direction that Tobe was looking. Her face turned sour. "Oh look, there's that nasty Camillianna again. Leave her alone tobe, or else she'll steal you away from me." Loesia said Cami's name in such disgust that that Tobe looked at her in shock.
Then he regained himself and said, "Look, Loey, I've been meaning to talk to you about that-"
"The first course is served!" said a loud voice, interrupting Tobe. He ground his teeth.
"What's that?" asked Loesia mildly, having just taken a gulp ofher wine. Tobe's water lay untouched.
"Nothing, nothing," He'd have to wait until after dinner.
…
All through dinner, Cami carefully avoided Tobe's gaze, though she could tell that he was doing all he could to catch her eye. Instead, she talked to Gydo, who kept twitching and looking the other way. Finally Cami asked, "What's wrong? You keep on looking away, and fiddling with your napkin."
"It's Tobe," replied Gydo finally. "He keeps on waving to you, and things like that. Why are you ignoring him? Don't you know him?"
Cami groaned. "Yes, I do," she told her newfound friend. "It's a long story."
"It's a long night," retorted Gydo, and Cami looked around and sighed. It was only the second course.
"Ok," she replied grudgingly, and quickly explained what had happened.
"Oh," said Gydo. "That also explains why Loey-Loesia-there is giving you such nasty looks." She pointed to the girl who was sitting next to Tobe. She caught Cami looking, and shot her a look that could have peeled paint. "You know," added Gydo thoughtfully, "Tobe told me that he just wants to be friends with Loey, and that was before he met you. I think he really likes you."
Cami shook her head. "Look, this is going to fast for me. Right now, I'd like him as a friend, and a friend only. Then maybe after a while, I'll consider it. Okay?"
Gydo shrugged. "Sounds good to me," she said, and selected a salad from a nearby dish.
…
Finally, the banquet was over, and Tobe pulled Loesia aside. "Loey, you and I need to talk."
"'Kay," she giggled, and followed him into the garden. They stopped at a bench where they sat. "What did you want to talk about? This?" She smiled at him seductively and tried to kiss him, but Tobe pushed her away.
"Stop, Loesia!" He shouted, and surprised, she did. He hadn't called her by her full name in ages. "You had too much wine. Listen, you're a great friend and all, but I don't want to be together. Together together."
"What?" her eyes blazed angrily. "I think it's you who's had too much wine." She shouted, conveniently forgetting that he had had water. "We'll talk about this later, Tobeis Boon!" She got up, whirled around, and left, walking off tipsily, leaving Tobe alone on the bench.
He sighed. Now that that was over, all he had to do was apologize to Cami. He smiled. This was going to be a snap.
…
Cami sat down on her bed, already in her night-shirt. She held the battered book in her hand, apprehensive. Did she really want to do this? Yes, she told herself. With all her heart. She opened the flap to the first page.
This diary belongs to:
Princess LydianyaHeiress to the throne of Scanra
Cami gasped. That was the last known princess of Scanra, and she had disappeared a long time ago. She turned the page and read the first entry.
Dear Diary,
Today was fine; I didn't do much, though my godfather, Maggur, came here today. He used to be such a jolly man, but now he is different. More cruel, mysterious, and the like. I'm not so sure about his story. He says he came here to help protect me, for my father is sick and dying and my mother is dead, but I don't believe him. There's some ulterior motive; there always is with him.
Dear Diary,
I found out what my godfather's plan is. By law, if the princess doesn't produce a suitable heiress (it must be a girl) before she dies, her godfather becomes king. I overheard him telling his friend that he's going to dispose of me like he did with my lover. Supposedly, next week, I am going to die. But I have an heiress. I gave birth to her secretly, about a month ago. There was only a midwife in attendance, my best friend Marion. I don't care if she's a commoner. It's so hard keeping the baby a secret, though. Every day I live in fear that Maggur will find her.
Dear Diary,
I've taken to sending winds to eavesdrop on Maggur these days. Oh, I must have forgotten to explain. The queen is the main ruler in Scanra, and the oldest girl, or only girl child inherits the throne, and marries outside of it. The oldest girl, or only girl (in this case, me), is an Elemental. An Elemental is a mage who controls the elements: earth, water, fire, and air. Now back to Maggur. It turns out that he wants to start a war against Tortall. This war will take years to put into action, but he has to execute me first.
The next few entries was about Maggur's plans and sadly, her father dying. Then, Cami came to the last entry which had a necklace in it:
Dear Diary,
Today, I fear, is my day to die. I am handing my baby over to my friend Marion and her husband Jeffrey. I have named her Camillianna. If she ever has to leave her family, or when she turns fourteen, I want her to have this book. The pack is also special. It appears to have only one big pocket, when it has many other little ones that are spelled for invisibility and phasing, so only my Cami can open them. I am also enclosing my necklace. It is the sign of the royal Scanran throne and the true Elemental, and I wish her to wear it and get back our throne from the tyrant Maggur! Cami, if you are reading this, know that I love you, and I'm sure that Marion and Jeffrey do too.
(End of Diary)
…
Cliffhangerrrrr! R&R, and I will bake cookies and smoothies for you!