I'm happy you guyz liked the last chapter!

Zerrin of the Wind: Thanx! I think her powers are cool too. I've been obsessed about the Element powers for while, so I thought 'why not?' anyway, thanx for the tip on Dom's eyes. Oops. And yes, he does. Awww…lol.

Zeetah: Thanx a lot! I like the chapters too. Well, I wrote it, so of course I would like it! And ok, good, I like reading stories, and I bet yours will be great!

On top of cloud 9: Actually, I hate them too, unless I'm writing them. Then they're fun. I really liked that chapter too. It's probably my favorite. And, no, she's not going to tell them yet, but she's going to get a big surprise in this chapter…

Cami ran down the hallways past nobles and servants (the entire household was up by now, because it was nine). Why did this have to happen today? It was going so well, with the lessons and things…I could handle the diary because I could keep it secret, but a prophecy? And in front of others? I just want to be normal! Is that too much to ask? She screamed to herself.

She reached the small bench in the garden, the very one that Tobe and Loesia sat on. Cami sat, chest heaving. She couldn't take it anymore. She jumped on her airboard, and flew up. She landed on the roof, and huddled up in her cloak. I just want to be normal… She thought, and a couple of tears trickled down her cheeks.

After a while, Cami sighed. Crying wouldn't do anybody good, though it made her feel better. Besides, she had a home now-at least, a bit of one-and she was safe. Cami smiled weakly and wiped her eyes.

Good thing too, for a dirty blond head stuck out of a window on the roof, and bright blue eyes looked straight at her. Tobe's expression softened, and he climbed out of the window and sat next to Cami on the sloping roof. The wind ruffled his hair and he sighed contentedly. Then he turned to her and asked quietly, "Are you ever going to tell me your past?"

"I suppose now is as good as anytime," said Cami glumly, and proceeded to explain about Maggur's cut, leaving, the soldiers, the river, the inn, everything, ending with the magic she had done that very morning. "This is my airboard." She pulled out the device.

"Wow," Tobe was shocked.

Cami grinned. "Want to try it?"

"How does it work?" Tobe asked, eager to try this strange new way of transportation.

"Well, you stand on it and balance yourself. Then to turn left, lean forward, and to turn right, lean backwards. I control the air or wind that makes it move." Then Cami remembered that they were on the roof. "We should probably try it on the ground, because if you fall off…" The y were both silent for a moment as they contemplated the worst things that could happen.

Tobe shivered and nodded. "I'd rather not risk my neck. Let's go!"

When they arrived in front of the stables, they got started immediately. Laughing and joking, they played around until the midday bell rang. Cami's stomach growled, and then she remembered that she had had no breakfast.

"I'm starving." Cami told Tobe, who promptly fell off the airboard, because Cami stopped the wind by not concentrating. She grinned sheepishly. "Sorry about that," she said as she pulled him up.

Tobe winced. "I'm fine." They ran inside.

During midday, Cami sat between Gydo and Tobe, both who made the meal more interesting by telling stories and jokes. As Cami was buttering a roll, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to find an impatient Kel standing behind her.

"Cam, come here," After that quick announcement, Kel walked away quickly. Curious, Cami followed her.

When they were in a secluded spot, Kel began to talk. "Cami, remember that night at the inn where you told us that the king needed to know about the up-coming war and the new weapon?" Cami nodded. "Well, Alanna's a mage, and she spoke to the king that very night using a far-speaking spell. He decided to ride immediately to Mindelan, and since then, we've been talking to him as he rode, telling him things about you, like how you're a mage. Well, he's here now and wants to talk to you."

"T-talk to me?" stuttered Cami, astounded. She couldn't talk to King Jonathan. He was a mage, a king, and a knight, and rumors in Scanra said that he beheld he Dominion Jewel. "The likes of him don't talk to the likes of me-"

"Since when have you cared who talked to you?" demanded Kel with her hands on her hips. "Besides, he isn't like that. He's here to see you, and that's what he's going to do." Then she turned and yelled, "Your Majesty!"

Cami frantically searched her brain for some excuse, but each one was more feeble than the last. Then a kind male voice said, "Hello, Camillianna. I'm King Jonathan."

Cami looked up to see a tall man with wavy black hair and deep blue eyes. He held an air of power around him, and he wore a kind smile that showed all of his perfectly white teeth. Cami's breath caught in her throat; he's so handsome, she thought giddily. Then she dismissed that thought and scolded herself silly for even daring to let it creep into her mind. Was she some lovesick chit that swooned over any man? Besides, he was married, and was way too old for her. She firmly set any thought like the first one aside, and stared the king straight in the eye.

"Your Majesty asked to see me?" Cami said, the picture of an innocent girl.

The king bent down to her level. "You are an extraordinary girl. A mage dealing with the elements. Smart, for already designing your own spells. Leaving your country to warn ours; very brave."

"Your Majesty flatters me," Cami murmured, her eyes looking at the floor.

"Come now, I can tell this isn't your nature," The king said frankly. "Now this is my point. Since you are a very powerful mage, I request that you come back to the palace with me. There is a teacher by the name of Numair Salamin that has agreed to teach you. You may take some classes with the pages, for seeing that he has a family, he cannot teach you all the time. The classes that you may take are all of them, though I daresay that you need to know about Tortallan history, unless you are planning to live here. You will get rooms of your own, along that anything you might require. A servant comes in with hot baths every morning and evening, and takes away your dirty clothes. However, a personal maid must be paid from your own pocket. We leave in a week."

Cami stared in shock at the king. Live in the palace? Her? Numair Salamin was the greatest, most powerful mage in Tortall, and he wanted to teach her? Her head spun. Servants, classes, -wait, the classes! She could get horseback riding lessons and sword fighting lessons from professionals, and not to mention staff fighting, unarmed combat, and all of those.

She looked at Kel, amazed, and then her face fell. She had what she wanted here at Mindelan. She would miss all her friends, and even the sparrow-guides, even though she had barely been here over a day.

Kel caught Cami's look, and said quietly, "Don't worry. You can visit."

"In fact, you can do more than visit." That was the king. "Keladry of Mindelan, I hereby order you, Sergeant Domitan, and all of Cami's friends to come to court for three weeks. What do you say, Camillianna?"

Cami looked at him. In his eyes, she saw that this was no question; this was an order. A nicely put one, but an order, all the same. Maggur's cut taught her that you should never cross swords with kings.

"I'd be delighted to go, Sire," Cami said reluctantly. Then she remembered Moondust. "Um, Sire, Lady Kel, may I take the horse Moondust?"

Kel smiled. "Of course. As an extra, she isn't really needed, is she?"

Cami whooped, then remembered who she was with. "Thank you Sire. I am most grateful to you for providing this amazing opportunity."

The king smiled. "Run along now. I'm sure you'd like to finish your breakfast."

Cami curtsied and ran back to the table. But when she got there, she looked at Tobe, Gydo, and everyone sitting at the table laughing. With a pang, she realized that she would miss all of them. Well, maybe not Loesia, but still. Cami sat in her chair, her expression somber as she stared at her half-empty plate.

"Cami, why aren't you eating? A moment ago, you were starving." Tobe said after swallowing a bite of lettuce.

"I'm just not hungry anymore," Cami said.

…

The next few days were fun, with sword fighting and horseback riding, but the prospect of leaving was always in the back of Cami's mind, looming over her like a dark cloud on a sunny day.

The day before she was leaving, Cami knew she had to tell her friends. She gathered up Tobe, Gydo, Irnai, and another girl named Violeta in her room.

They all sat on the bed, staring at Cami. They had never seen their friends so sad, or so serious.

"Ok, this is hard to say," Cami began. "But you need to know."

"Need to know what?" asked Violeta. She was known for being blunt. Tobe elbowed her and motioned for Cami to continue.

"I'm going to live at the palace." Cami said.

"The palace?" shrieked Gydo.

"Yes. I got an offer from none other than the king himself. You see, I'm a mage. A different type of mage, and supposedly very powerful. I'm going to be taught by Numair Salamin." Cami told them.

"Numair? But he's the most powerful mage in the country!" a shocked Violeta said.

"But what about us?" asked Gydo. "You're leaving us?"

"All of you, Kel, and Dom are coming to the palace for the first three weeks." Cami said.

"Really?" said Irnai. "Even I didn't See that."

Cami then realized that while the girls chattered (though Irnai never really chattered), Tobe had been unnaturally silent.

"Tobe?" Cami said gently. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Tobe said. "I just need to take care of a couple of things." He got up and left the room.

…

Tobe was in the stables, grooming Moondust. He lifted the brush for another strokes, then sagged against the stable wall.

The mare lipped his clothing. Friend, what's wrong?

"Well, Moondust, it's hard to explain…" Tobe said, uncomfortable with telling his personal thoughts to a horse.

Don't be uncomfortable Tobe. Please try to explain.

"You know Cami? The girl who's been riding you? Well, she's leaving tomorrow for the palace. She's going to live there. With you." Tobe said sadly.

Tobeis, do not think for one second that that last comment fooled me into thinking that you will miss me more than that girl. The horse told him sternly.

"But I will miss you," Tobe told the horse, and hugged her around her neck.

Moondust's expression softened. There's a good boy.

…

That night Cami took her meager belongings and put them back in her bag. Kel had insisted that she keep some clothes that she supplied, including the dress Cami wore the first night.

As she packed the diary, Cami touched the pendant that still hung around her neck. She still hadn't shown the diary to Kel, but maybe she would soon. She sighed. She was as noble as the king, but she couldn't help but think like a commoner.

Cami also wondered how Tobe was. He had been terribly elusive ever since she had announced that she was going to live at the palace. She had to leave. Poor Tobe, she thought. He must be really upset.

The next morning dawned bright and early. Cami rolled out of bed with a groan, then froze. Today was the day she was leaving Mindelan. Kel had told Cami last night that they were going to leave at nine, but it was five now, so Cami got dressed and went downstairs.

She nicked a glass of milk and a couple of rolls from the kitchens, and headed outdoors to eat. Once she had finished he snack, she stood up and brushed the crumbs off her lap. She took Moondust out of the stables and rode her around. She was proud of herself; she was able to trot now.

After an hour, she dismounted and groomed Moondust, then headed towards a little box by the side of the stall. In there lay her daggers, some of her most prized possessions. She hadn't needed them here, but she suspected that she might need them on the road. Cami secured them to her shirt sleeves and pants, and grabbed her sword (a gift from Kel). She practiced for a while, then went back upstairs, stowed her sword in her bag, and slung it over her shoulder.

During breakfast, Kel stood up. "People of Mindelan," she began. "I'm afraid I must leave for a while."

People groaned and Kel grinned. "I'm glad I'm so well liked," she joked, and added, "My mother and father will be supervising you in my absence. Once the meal is over, those leaving will report in front of the stables with their things. Thank you."

All too soon, the meal had ended, and Cami met Kel, Irnai, Dom, Tobe, Gydo, Violeta, the king, and the king's soldier-escorts outside the stables. After making sure every one was secure and happy, the king yelled, "Move out!"

…

Ok, this was sort of a filler chapter, but we do need it. The next couple of chapters will be about her at the palace. R&R PLZ!