Walking back up onto the beach she stared at the pile of clothes for a moment, then shook her head. They couldn't get wet and her underclothes needed to dry out. She slipped out of those and sprawled out on the white/gold sand. Maybe she could get a tan, in imitation of the Raka's golden brown skin.
Trick melted from necklace to blob before settling on her shoulder, trilling happily as the sun's warmth crept through both darking and girl. Aly let the sun soak into tired muscles for a while before flipping over and lying on her back. Shading her eyes she watched the clouds skitter across the sky.
"Are those the same clouds that mother can see?"
She hadn't realised she'd spoken out aloud until Trick answered her.
"No. Dragons say clouds are always changing. Besides, Tortall is farfar."
"I know Trick. I was being silly." Or just wishful.
"Funfun. Taybur look for you. He ask Dove, Fesgao, many people. No one know. He not happy."
Aly sighed. Taybur Sigibat. She'd had enough to think about without him. He was never actually very far from Aly's thoughts. She tried to tell herself it was solely because he confused her.
And she so needed more confusion right now. So solicitous, so very polite. She would never forget his words at the rebellion, after he'd opened the gates for the Raka and spotted her: shivering with shock at the deaths of those she cared about.
"You can't give up. Not now. Dove, the people, the kingdom, me- We all need you…"
That last addition… "me". Only so many ways to interpret that. So many ways and she knew full well which way she wanted it to be. She doubted it very much though. He had ever given her reason to believe she meant more to him than any other. So she assumed he meant hat he would miss her company. Aly knew he found their tête-à-tête a pleasant distraction from the tedious conversations of nobles.
Feeling disgruntled with herself she flipped over, almost squashing a startled Trick.
"Sorry Trick…but that man, he irritates me so much."
"I would like to presume you are not talking about me?" Aly flinched at the sound of Taybur's voice.
You have got to be kidding. She thought. Kyprioth! I'm going to skin you for this!