queenoftheostlers: lol! I was planning to but then Peach blossom is a gelding… so no baby horses… well, I'm taking flip-flops as sandal type thingys and if they didn't already have them… they do now!
ionalama: have fun wrapping pressies! Glad you like the fluff!
anonymous girl : lol! I don't know if Tammy writes by request, but I hope this fic does her amazing work justice in the story of how Kel/Dom would get together, (with a small side plot of shorts… did I just say SMALL? Lol)
Terzatrack: don't worry , I'm a lot happier this morning… :D (eating yummy pancakes… mmm!)
Sweetlilfrenchgirl: Thanks!
imakeladrygirl: Lol! We'll see what we can do, but we won't be able to update everyday if we do, because of exams and the dreaded…latin mocks…(shudders..)
wildace keladry2005: lol! Thanks times 7 million!
Aly the Spy: Thanks! Thanks!
Faith Tibbles: Thanks!
Jules-Gemma : Thanks, I luv looking at parts of the story from different perspective's…
x17SkmBdrchiczxx: he he he! There's still more to come (shh!)
Sarra21 : Good! I'm glad you found it funny (grins)!
Emporar Kaddar: Thanks! I take it you found it amusing…lol!
king's-own-knight: well it'll have 25 chapters plus an epilogue…
nativewildmage: Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!
LandUnderWave : lol! I'm not going to stop this now…its getting interesting…lol!
Cry of the Wolf Child: Thanks so much! Your reviews are so nice :D (happy author bounces round room, grinning manically!)
balinnka: Thanks! (as always!)
rocks and glass: he he! I'm glad you agree, GO SHORTS!
(-a/n- Three weeks have passed in Tortall, Kel and Dom are officially courting, Neal is now back at court and The Copper Isles delegation is due to arrive. Also for this story I'm ignoring the end of Tricksters Queen, in which a delegation is sent to the Copper Isles)
It was a breezy day, the sky was a deep blue and the sun reigned down all over the Realms. At the prow of a large boat stood the young, Queen of the Copper Isles and her most trusted friend and advisor.
The fifteen-year-old Queen Dove, squeezed Aly's tense hand reassuringly.
'You know I don't think I've ever seen you this tense, not even during the rebellion.' She said quietly.
'Give me a rebellion any day.' Said Aly, 'You know this is just the weather it was as I left Tortall.' And much to Dove's great surprise, she saw tears trickling down Aly's face.
Shocked, she asked what was wrong.
'Nothing, I'm just being stupid that's all, but I haven't seen my family for five years, so much has changed.'
'How so?'
'Well, I don't know how much I've told you about my childhood.'
'Not much,' admitted Dove.
'You know my parents are Alanna the Lioness, and George Cooper, the whisper man. I grew up at the swoop, ma was always off fighting some enemy and we were left under the care of Maude. I know all the influential people in Tortall, the King and the Queen are my aunt and uncle, as are the Commanders of the King's Own and the Queen's riders, Numair Salimalin black robe, and Daine the Wildmage are also my aunt and uncle.' Smiling weakly, she said, 'I have an extended family.'
'You grew up among heroes!' breathed Dove.
'You could say that, its just everyone expected me to follow in my mothers footsteps, but I didn't want to, I wanted to be a spy, when they refused me I ran away…'
'And was captured by pirates.' Interrupted Dove.
'Although they know that I work for you, few of them know my role in your government.' Looking at her feet shamefacedly, Aly said, 'They don't know about the twins or Nawat.'
Dove gasped, 'You mean you haven't told them?'
Aly shook her head.
'Well I can't pretend its going to be easy for you Duani, but I'm always here.'
'But that's were you're wrong, Dove, it is I who stand on your right side.' Said Aly, her eyes regaining their normal twinkle.
'If you stand on my right, then I must be on you left.' Reasoned Dove.
The two women, from the two most different backgrounds imaginable, who had been drawn together by fate, (with a little helping hand from Kyprioth!) were closer than sisters, and as Tortall came into view, they embraced.
An hour later, the Copper Lady, the ship on which they had been travelling, docked. A large crowd of Tortallan nobles were waiting for them.
Kel watched as the ship docked, their had been no such meetings between the two nations for many years, it was important that this treaty should be a success and she had agreed to help Raoul, in escorting the delegation to Corus.
The gate was opened and the Kyprin people began to disembark. First the Herald announced, Queen Dovasary of the Copper Isles. Kel was shocked to see that the Queen looked younger than she was, she couldn't be more than sixteen, yet she radiated power. She had coppery skin and her face was veiled, exposing only two, dark calculating eyes.
Next came a whole procession of even darker skinned people, obviously native raka, and mixed among them was the pale skinned Luarin. It was only as they were loading up the carriages, did Kel notice a woman talking quietly to an older looking raka.
She had strawberry blonde hair, tied back in a raka-style plait, and her skin though tanned, was definitely that of a Luarin. She wore a loose shirt and sarong wrapped around her waist. Her eyes were very familiar, hazel green and Kel had a feeling she was taking in every inch of her surroundings.
As the delegation set off towards Corus, she turned to the man riding next to her, who had introduced himself as Taybur Sibigat, Captain of the Queen's guards, and General to Queen Dovesary's armies.
'Who is that women, standing by that Raka?' She asked.
Smiling Taybur said, 'We call her Duani.' And he trotted forward to ride with Raoul.
Her limited knowledge of Kyprin told her that Duani meant leader…Just then Neal caught up with her.
'How are you today, mighty Protector?'
'You'll need protecting in a minute if you don't shut up,' she growled, flushing pink, Gods, how she hated the name the chamber had given her, I mean something like Lioness or Giantkiller, was fine, but protector…?'
Alanna watched from her balcony as the Copper Isles delegation entered the Palace, she searched through the sea of faces, but couldn't see her daughter anywhere. Disappointed, she ran down to the entrance hall, where the monarchs would meet, standing at the next to the King, as duty expected, she watched as Queen Dovesary was introduced.
A grand feast had been prepared in welcome, Alanna had asked to be seated next to Kel, in the hope that the younger knights, would have a more interesting conversation topic.
'Who are you looking for? You keep scanning the crowd…' asked Kel.
'My daughter was meant to be coming.' Sighed Alanna.
'Aly?' Asked Neal, 'I haven't seen her for ages.'
'Neither have I,' she said softly.
'So how's Yuki?'
Immediately Neal launched into a speech about Yuki's newest craving for carrot cake and how their baby was four months old, and was just beginning to kick.
That night, the council which included, their majesties, Gary, Alanna, George, Numair, Raoul and Daine, sat discussing with the Kyprin council, (Dove, Taybur, Chenoal and Ysul)
'So tell me, how did you manage to overthrow the Rittevon line?' Asked King Jon.
'The God sent us a gift, Duani. She organized the whole rebellion almost single-handedly and under her command, we whittled the opposition away and restored justice to the lands. I'm sure you will hear, more in due course.'
Although Queen Dovesary may be young, she speaks confidently and assuredly of her position, thought Gary, she will make an excellent ruler, of the Copper Isles.
'We must discuss the position in which this alliance stands, if you wish to intimidate us by your warriors and heroes, then I suggest you are wasting your time. As much as we admire them for their brave and daring deeds, we have our own heroes and the alliance, must indeed be just that, an alliance of our two countries on equal terms, not just an assurance that we won't attack you.
Our army is large and efficient for the size of our country, we have rounded up hundreds of pirates and we will protect you from Jinzhaden attacks, if you promise reinforcements in war.'
The King was taken aback by this speech, the young Queen would not be swayed from her position.
Alanna was bored by the discussion, why should she care what fishing rights the Copper Isles have?
Until suddenly the door burst open and a woman ran in towards the young Queen, two Royal guards tried to stop her, but were sent flying by two well aimed kicks.
The woman, ran up to the Queen and spoke, quietly and fast in Kyprin.
Dove raised her eyebrows, 'Is it true that next week Carthaki and Yamani delegations will be arriving?'
'Yes, how did you know…?'
'I'm not cross, its just that my sister will be coming with the Carthaki delegation, and I look forward to meeting her. I presume you didn't tell us in case peace talks went wrong and we left.'
'That is true.' Replied Jon.
The Woman turned to leave, but Dove caught her sleeve.
'I present to you the Duani, the Tricksters choice.'
The woman turned into the light and Alanna gasped, 'Aly!'
(-a/n- I'm sorry you had another in-between chapter … it does have a point later on...Please review..)