A/N: I just felt so joyous today that I decided to post another chapter. Well, that and I don't think I posted one last week and I felt a wee bit guilty about it. So here we are.

Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns . . .this stuff. Except what you don't recognize.

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Prince Roald was married to Princess Shinkokami of the Yamani Islands. Making the other prince her source of distress. Prince Liam. He had the black hair that could have come from either parent and his mother's hazel eyes. There was also the youngest prince, Jasson. Who she had met because he was a third year page. But didn't feel threatened by him. Or perhaps it was the seers words that guided her to believe it couldn't be him. Either way she could feel her fate tied not to Jasson, but to Liam.

He was handsome, no doubt about that, but Arra found herself trying to avoid him at every chance.

One night while on her way to the dinner she overheard the Prince himself talking with who she guessed to be his friends.

"Have you heard of the new Shang teacher?" One of the voices questioned.

"Who hasn't? They say she has . . . looks." Another said.

"Beautiful but dangerous, she's a Shang. And not just any Shang the Nameless Shang. You've all heard the stories they say she's taken out twenty men on her own." That voice was Prince Liam's. Twenty men! Where do they get these stories about me?

"Sounds like someone's attracted." The second voice joked. Arra could feel a blush building on her cheeks.

"Lachran, my dear boy, you know what they say. A man often goes after a woman like his mother. It just so happens that Liam's mother is also beautiful and dangerous." It was the first one again. "His brother, Roald, has one too. A beautifully dangerous princess."

"Please don't go into detail about how beautiful you think my mother is. Its quite disgusting." Liam said, putting a mocking tone in 'beautiful'.

"Yeah but you didn't deny attraction to the Shang girl." Lachran said.

Arra could tell she was going to be late to the beginning of the dinner if she continued to follow these people. She found another way to get into the Hall without hearing the Prince's answer to the accusation. Before she sat she noticed that Daine had left, she had known that she'd left a while back but was just realizing how lucky she'd been to get away from the formalities of the dinner.

After one of the dinners of Midwinter Arra went out to the practice fields. Her mind buzzed with the looks the prince had sent her during the dinner. Even across a room she could tell who those hazel eyes were fixed on.

Now she needed time to unwind. I wish I had a sparring partner though. Arra thought to herself as she went throught steps of puches, ducks and rolls. Until she heard a voice.

"Out here alone?" That voice alone could have stopped her cold anytime.

Arra turned around and bowed. "Your Highness."

"Please do stop that. The formalities are . . . annoying. Call me Liam." He grinned showing perfect white teeth.

Arra, too, smiled at his dislike of formality, obviously inheirited by his parents.

"You seem a bit stressed."

"That would be an understatement." Arra answered raking her fingers through her hair.

"If there's something I know its that fighting by yourself releases stress slowly. How about a spar?" An anwer to my prayers in much the wrong way.

But how could she just say no? "That would be nice, but your clothes seem a little, well to be blunt, they aren't exactly for sparring now are they?"

He looked down at his finery and smiled. "You're right. I'll be back in just a moment. I'll take it that you accept?"

Arra only nodded and smiled afraid to open her mouth fearing only a groan would be heard. The prince left and Arra was left to her thoughts. Why him of all people? Do the gods hate me? There's something at work here I can almost smell it.

Liam returned shortly wearing breaches and a shirt. "Shall we begin?"

With that they started. They fought with nothing more than the body. Fists, feet, legs so on. They both dodged and threw punches and kicks. Arra stayed careful with her punches and kicks making sure her Shang trained instincts didn't make her go too far, turning a plain throw into a throw and a deadly punch. At one point, Liam grabbed her and threw her over his side. Arra quickly recovered and turned the throw into a roll and came back with Shang speed. He was on the groung within seconds.

"Well, let no one doubt you are a Shang." Was all he said then laughed.

She raised a brow. "You did?"

"No, well—everyone , you see--" Arra laughed at his struggle to find words.

"Don't worry about it I was only jesting." He smiled as Arra held out a hand for him so he could stand. "Call me Arra."

They sparred a couple more times each time ending at the first one did. Though he took each fall and loss he took gracefully. A humorous comment on his lips. Arra founding herself liking the prince more and more. He was so . . . how to put it? Real. That was the only word that came to mind. She'd met princes and princesses that could host a ball with over three hundred people there, but failed to be able to hold an intelligent conversation.

"How about we do this again?" Liam asked as they took a break in the cold looking up at the stars. Though neither felt cold because of the exercise.

"Sounds good. I may need to unwind after all of the pleases and thank yous and flower talk." Arra said.

"Flower talk?" Liam questioned.

"Yes flower talk. You know, when people talk about nothing in particular. Just about the weather or say something like 'How are your children doing' Bleh. It all tugs at me. Its just too . . . fake. Though people talk like that to avoid tender areas of talk I understand, like ones personal beliefs and so on." She paused. "I'm rambling."

Liam laughed at that. "Yes, but it was all very interesting. You are insightful."

"Well I guess I'd better be off then." Arra said right before she yawned and stretched.

"Wait." He said, though he couldn't find a reason as to why he had said it. But she didn't move for it had sounded like a command. Liam finally let her leave with a lame excuse. Why did he have the urge to spend more time with her?

As she walked away she realized something. She had let him in. Instead of the wall she had wanted she had let him be, well if not a friend then an accquaintance. She sighed. A mistake on my part. She thought angrily. The prince had charm. Arra growled. I'm an idiot! Look what I've started. It would have been better had I stayed as far away from him as possible.

What harm could come from talking and spars? Its not like he's courting me. I'll be fine. I've made myself unfit for a prince over the years. I'm a Shang and a commoner. She tried to assure herself but she didn't feel at all comforted. Instead the memory of the old woman's cackle flitted through her mind.

It seemed to mock her and say. "Your caught."

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A/N: Please don't hate me for this chapter. But Please Review. I appreciate it I really do.

Clair-a-net: Ouch. Sorry if the other one seemed like a teaser. And I'm sorry if you think this one is too . . . I really am. And as for your question. why does she resist her fate so much? One word. Influence. It might not make sense now but give it a couple chapters. If your still confused in a few chapters just tell me and I'll try to clear it up. (I think it's like chapter seven.)

Elfsquire90, Clair-a-net, On top of cloud 9 ,piglet12345, ladyknight257, Swapneshwari, elen, warrior of tortall. Thanks All of you who reviewed!