A/N: So . . . uh . . . here's chapter 26. Enjoy.

Oh, yea. This week is study week and next week is exams SO don't expect a whole lotta action between now and then.

Disclaimer: No stealing here. Because this belongs to Tamora Pierce not me and as we all know I would never steal anything. But! The things you don't recognize DO belong to me. So continue on the favor and don't steal!

x...:...x

Arra held the cup, a dainty little thing, carefully sipping the hot tea. Her father, Emereth, had insisted upon having at least one exclusive meal a day, just the two of them. So it had preceded the last four days. They'd become more comfortable around each other for it though. Today she had her Shang medallion with her tucked away in a pouch.

She tried not to ask too many questions but she had picked up little snippets of information such as the twins' thirteenth birthday had passed not too long ago, or that the servants didn't mind caring for her room because Arra made little mess especially compared to Zedar and Zefra. The last bit of information she had picked up purely by accident. When the servants realized Arra had heard they closed up immediately with fright-wide eyes and went about their business. Why would they be scared? She had asked herself only to shrug it away.

The piece of information that most intrigued Arra, however, was when she found out that there had not been a Queen of Karucia since her very own mother, Iolana. Apparently, Emereth had not wanted her to be queen, a sign of respect for his previous wife. Adelle was only a consort or concubine, someone he had needed to marry to produce an heir.

Arra sipped her tea again just as Emereth put his cup down. She could see he might want to say something so she took one last sip before putting hers down too.

"Now, Arra," He looked up as if still wondering if she was alright with being called by that title. Arra nodded for him to continue. "I believe this is the best time to inform you of my plans."

She raised her eyebrows, "Plans?"

Emereth smiled, "Yes, plans." He motioned for a scribe. "You see, a ball will be held in honor of your return--"

"Oh, please no. I don't need one and," She smiled triumphantly thinking she had him. "I have nothing to wear to a ball."

"Which," The scribe had finally arrived to take Emereth's personal notes, "brings me to the next step. I see you don't have many dresses at all. Time for fittings will be made, fittings for your ball dress and with your sizes they can make you others."

For everything he wanted the scribe to write he would motion.

"I like wearing breeches!" She said indignantly.

"Yes, I know, and I won't take that away from you. But these will be for occasions and such." He cleared his throat, "Next, classes. I believe you've told me already about your extensive learning in history, geography, and languages so these classes will be for other subjects such as etiquette and history of our family Gift." He paused for a moment. "That's all for now. Any questions?"

And so it begins. Arra thought grimly before bringing out her own surprise. "I don't think there's any way to get out of any of this," She looked up hopefully but he shook his head. "I've been meaning to ask you something."

"Ask away."

"Did Marina ever tell you where she took me?" Arra noticed his hand clench at the question. Emereth shook his head indicating 'no'. Arra nodded and continued. "I told you I had learned plenty on history, geography, and language but I did not tell you how."

She fumbled with the pouch before pulling out the silver Shang medallion and handed it to him. "Marina took me all the way down to Maren where . . . where she left me to Shang."

"Oh, I see." His eyes were wide and their focus switched between the Shang token and the small girl sitting in front of him almost as if asking, "Her? Shang?"

Arra trudged on, "I completed the training of course. As a Shang I've grown accustom to exercising everyday."

"I see." He said again. Emereth blinked then as if regaining a certain amount of cool he spoke again. "I've seen other Shang and their medallions. They usually have an animal on it. Why does yours not?"

"I am the Nameless Shang." Arra said clearly and without hesitation. There was no going around the truth.

Emereth sputtered and dropped the medallion as if it suddenly burned.

"If you don't believe me I could prove it."

"No, no. That's not necessary. I'm just . . . surprised is all. I also thought the Nameless Shang would be . . . taller."

"Don't believe all the stories you hear." She took back the medallion. "This all brings me to the question I've been meaning to ask you. Could I have access to training grounds of some sort?"

Emereth closed his eyes and murmured wearily. "A princess wanting to fight."

Arra bristled. He makes is sound like a bad thing! This was possibly the only thing Arra would not let go. "I have been Shang for most of my life. You cannot ask me to give it up."

He opened his eyes and sighed. "Of course not. I'll find someone to show you where they are, immediately if you wish."

Arra thanked him before she was dismissed. Emereth had been very agreeable to any whim she held, almost as if he felt if he didn't keep her happy she'd leave again. Arra shook her head walking down the long corridors till she reached the room that had been dubbed her own.

She had explored all of the rooms finding one for a small study, another for a bathing room and then one more for a sitting room. The door to the left of the bed opened out to a balcony, a rather large balcony overlooking a luscious looking garden. She would trade it for a smaller room and easy access to fighting grounds in a moment. And I think just by looking at my past we can see I'd much rather fight and put my life on the line than be a princess.

Arra walked into the small study and grabbed a random book off the shelf. She sat for a while, flipping through the pages when she heard a knock at the door. Not the door of the study but the main one. They must have spelled it so you can hear it anywhere in the room.

She stood and put down the book on creatures of the ocean to answer the door. There stood the red-haired man she had not expected to see this soon. "Andy?"

He grinned. "Yes, my lady. Are you ready to go to the practice grounds?"

"Arra," She corrected, "Just Arra."

"Of course." Is that all people say to me?

At first silence was the only thing between them which Arra found odd because through the boat ride he always had something to say. But he walked on silently with a slight frown. Suddenly his face seemed to match his eyes. Then he spoke, more seriously than she had ever heard of him. "Don't expect the men to accept you easily, even if you are a Princess, more so even."

Arra raised her brows. "I don't expect anything from anybody. And I'm not one for trying to prove myself at every turn but if they need a demonstration I'll give them one."

He just sighed with a bit more feeling than Arra thought was necessary. Its not that big a deal. Or she didn't think so at least. The practice grounds were walking distance away from the castle but were still held off the main grounds. They were put together differently than the ones in Tortall. Housing for trainees took up the entire back wall even went up for at least three stories high. The land in front of it was all devoted to training.

Only one thing disappointed her. In Tortall, women were at least allowed to fight. Even if their armies were not completely taken over by them at least they allowed them. Here there was not one female to be seen but she wouldn't let that scare her, not in the least.

Stress had been building in her back over the last four days. Had it been able to continue for a week she would have grown irritable. Trying to stretch it out didn't help that much.

"What first L—Arra?" Andy said, his smile back.

She sighed longingly. "Does anyone know hand-to-hand?"

"I don't think so."

"Then what do you expect to happen when one of you loses your weapon?" She asked.

"I can't say. But that is why we are trained not to lose hold of our weapon." He said plaintively. Arra just shook her head.

"Swords, then."

"Right this way!" He led her to a large shed upon walking in she found was full of practice weapons. He continued to lead her to a different wall. "The practice swords are kept over here."

Arra thanked him and picked one up. Too heavy. The next one was too light. She tried three more before finding one she liked. Andy had found one he liked two swords ago. "I see you know what your doing."

"Or I just look like it." She smiled.

Once out on the actual practicing fields Arra stretched and went immediately into stance. "Come on, then."

Andy smiled and lunged. She parried the blow and they continued to exchange hits. She found an opening. Too easy. She took it and their bout ended quickly with her sword at his throat. She glared at him. Arra dropped the sword and slapped him across the face. "If you ever purposely let me win again I will take advantage of that and beat you down till you are nothing more then a bloody heap."

"Oi, girl! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be sowing or something?" Someone called out from behind her. Arra calmly bent down to get the sword she had dropped.

"Shouldn't you be banging your head against a rock like a great oaf?" She asked turning to face him not knowing who he was beforehand but either way she didn't regret what she said.

"Now, now, that isn't how a prince should speak, Zedar," Andy said entering the conversation. He turned to Arra and chastised lightly, "And a princess should not speak that way, either."

"You have an odd conception of how a princess should and should not speak." Arra retorted. She hadn't noticed before but he reminded her of Damien. She turned to her half-brother, "I assume you understand how a sword works?"

"More than understand, I excelled in training." He said coldly.

Arra was about at the end of her nerve for this boy. "Prove it," She said crisply. Zedar nodded and glared at Andy who immediately handed over the practice sword he had. Andy put his hand on Arra's shoulder. He paused as if deciding if what he wanted to say was worth it. He took a glance at Zedar before saying:

"He didn't lie when he said he excelled in his training of the sword."

She smiled. I believe he's trying to look after me. She patted his cheek and sent him to stand away. Zedar may have been four years her younger but he was still taller than her. Arra shook out her arms and legs to loosen whatever tension might be there while Zedar stretched. He seemed serious about this while Arra on the other hand was determined to have fun.

Arra got into stance signaling she was ready and waiting for him to begin. Zedar didn't bother to take up a stance he just attacked. It was a straight chopping blow to her right. She blocked it easily. A crowd began to gather to watch.

Zedar hit away one of her shots to his midsection and lunged at her with and upward sweep. Arra turned away dragging her practice sword behind her momentum. She moved too fast for him to land an attack but he managed to stop the blow and immediately returned with one that made Arra's arm tingle. But she would not be one to show she was in pain. She mentally shook it off and continued.

Anyone watching would think it was only a friendly bout between siblings but Arra saw more. With her trained eye she could see he had talent but he was wasting it by fighting with . . . with . . . anger, Arra decided. But why was he angry? She noticed his underhanded way of showing it too. He would twist his blade at certain points and hold his practice sword against hers longer than was necessary. Mistakes that could cause a loss and all because of too strong emotions.

Arra tired of this particular bout. Zedar was beginning to get confident since he had lasted so long. Arra crouched and spun coming up with the butt of the sword she made sure to hit the sword from his hands and missed his fingers. She twisted her body with the sword to come around and press it to his neck against a thick vein. In his surprise he fell back.

Certain members of the crowd snickered and others just spoke in hushed whispers. Arra shook her head at them and held out her hand for the youth; she didn't want her only half-brother to hate her. His green eyes flashed as he glared at the crowd. They immediately fell into silence. He stood up ignoring her outstretched hand. Zedar picked up the sword, "Again."

"Pardon?"

This time he did take up a stance, "Again! Lets go."

Arra pressed her lips together. She didn't mind a rematch but his attitude about it got to her. Stiff with annoyance she crouched down into position. Arra took a deep breath and shook her head briefly to clear her mind. The stiffness left and liquid smoothness took its place.

This time both reacted at the same time. The practice swords clashed and the hilts locked. The blades trembled at the two forces rammed together. Unnatural pain burst at the back of Arra's head. She winced and pushed off of their sword-lock, still guarded.

Zedar curved his sword around then slid it up. Had Arra not moved the point would have torn up through her nostril. Arra tried to slide around but there was a flash of dark blue and pain shot up her spine to the front of her skull. She faltered. Arra grimaced and blocked Zedar's hard shot to her side.

Pain zipped through her body twice more. Each time Arra had gained the upper hand, even a small one, pain met her. Finally Arra caught the dark blue coming off of Zedar's fingers. She growled and immersed her own fingers in crystal blue Gift before grabbing his hand. Arra jerked him forward then bent the hand back.

"That you would use your Gift!" The Shang in her spoke, "That alone is bad enough in a fight but to use it in such a dishonorable way!"

Arra was still fuming when strong hands forcefully pulled her away. She spun to meet the cold face of Feran. He raised one brow at her, "Do you take pleasure in defeating a boy four years your younger?"

"If he's going to fall back on age as an excuse perhaps he should speak as one his age would," She shot him a look, "and not use words too big for his person."

Zedar met her eyes squarely with his own vibrant green ones. He succeeded in showing no pain from the wrist Arra knew would be hurting.

"Take him to a healer." Feran ordered and people scrambled to obey. "And you, princess, do you have permission to be here?"

Andy stepped forward, "Of course she has, King Emereth himself gave her permission. I volunteered to bring her."

Feran's eye twitched slightly but he turned away all the same.

Walking back to put her sword up with Andy, Arra was struck by how odd everything was. Zedar had quieted all of the older men, every last one, with a look. Perhaps it is because he's a prince. But what about Andy? From what she could tell, he seemed to be a carefree sort of man. Even he had looked intimidated by the young prince. Andy's seriousness and worry over her confused Arra, not because anyone would care at all but because . . . was there any reason he should worry?

Arra put the practice sword back in its place and searched around the storage room idly. It was like walking through a library filled with weapons instead of books. She picked up an exquisitely made bow and tested it.

"You're still up for more?" Andy asked.

"I'm not tired if that's what you mean." Arra replied, "but I forgot my arm guard so the bow will have to wait at least another day."

Andy nodded. They continued on their way to the palace were almost there when Andy spoke, "Who taught you to fight?"

"The Shang Phoenix."

His deep blue eyes widened. "Are you Shang?"

"D-did my father not tell you?" He shook his head. Arra sighed, "He's probably ashamed."

"Or maybe he's just realized how many important events he's missed in your life. Being Shang is no small thing."

"So I've been told." Arra commented. Silence followed for a while until she took a deep breath and before she knew it she was talking, her vocal cords working of their own volition, "Andy, if I ask you something will you tell me the truth?"

"If you command me to I cannot refuse." He informed.

"I will not. Besides commanding doesn't insure that you will tell the truth, only give me an answer."

He smiled and said, "But just asking me won't insure I'll answer truthfully."

"So then there's no point in commanding it if I'll just get the same answer." She said, "Maybe that's one of any given ruler's folly, they think because they command it, it will be."

Andy's smile broadened, "Ask your question, if you haven't forgotten it by now, and I'll try to answer as best I can."

"That's all I can ask of you," Instantly she grew somber. "There's more going on in this palace than I know of, isn't there."

It wasn't stated as a question, but he understood she wanted an answer. He met her in the somber state in the blink of an eye, "There always is something, something that underlays the appearance of beauty and perfection in even a royal family. I'm sorry, I cannot answer any better than that."

Arra nodded. They were only a few steps from her room. She whispered, "Thank you."

Andy bowed, deeper than Arra thought was necessary. Rising from his bow he kissed her hand and murmured, "You would make a wonderful Queen."

Arra wasn't sure if he meant for her to hear him because he walked away as if he had said nothing at all. She stood there for a moment in mild confusion before shaking it off and walking into her room. She walked out of the door to the left of the bed onto the balcony. Cobalt waited there. "I'll never know how you find me."

He cocked his head to one side. She smiled and stroked his blue feathers. I'll have to ask for a stand for him. She remembered how she had told Damien not to get her one because she said she would still be traveling. Lovely how that turned out.

She stared out to the distance thinking of Andy's answer. He hadn't been specific in any way but he had answered her inquiry. There was something going on beneath the surface. Its importance she didn't know but something at the back of her head told her she would know in time.

x...:...x

A/N: And there we are. Surprisingly, I don't think I have a whole lot to say today. Odd. Oh well.

PLEASE REVIEW!