The brunette clad in gold and green inhaled deeply before she began to speak. She was no stranger to talking to a large amount of people; she was well known by many servants just because of the stories she told after hours. She told stories of sorrow, stories of love, stories of adventure, but always stories about a hidden noble who she had once been employed by. They knew the heroine of every story by one name and one name only, Ranita. And oddly enough, Rai knew she was going to have to speak of Ranita to the courtiers tonight as well. And perhaps they would wish to know what happened to this Ranita, but she could never tell them that. That secret would be her secret until she was buried, at least, if she had it her way.
She was well aware that everyone was waiting for her to speak, so she started without any warning. "I know many of you do not know me by name, as I am a mere servant. But I happen to be the maid of the Marquise of Merindar and I go by the name of Rai." She turned to Elestra at this point and quickly performed a curtsey. "I have to admit something right now to you, my Lady. I lied when I told you I came from the north. The truth is, I come from the south. I come from Kilal." She heard a soft murmuring ripple through the crowd as she spoke of her home place, as it was the second time someone had spoken it tonight, saying they were from it. She waited for the whispers to stop before she spoke again.
"Yes," she said loudly. "I am from the same principality as the man who just arrived in Petitioners Court. But I am dead to everyone there and I did not want him to find out that I was alive; that is my reason for not speaking before him. Because then it would give everyone in Kilal the hope that their Princess will return to them. I was once the maid to the Princess of Kilal, Ranita. But something occurred and she was forced to flee. I fled with her and watched as she succumbed to things no noble should ever have to be forced to succumb to. She eventually… fell away. And I arrived here at Athanarel shortly afterwards. As to Kilal, it once was a glorious principality in the south, the warmest place in the country. Kilal was once praised for the horses we raised there, but slowly, Kilal stopped being heard from years ago. I believe if you look at maps of our world, there is a large amount of land that isn't labeled. That land is Kilal." She couldn't help but notice several people looking at her with looks of disbelief, so she added, "if you wish, send someone to get a map and I will show it to you."
The Kind seemed to think over this for a moment, but before he could even say anything, his curious wife had already sent someone to go find a map. Within minutes, a map had been placed in the middle of the large table and everyone could see that the county of Soler was extremely large. Rai traced a part of the land with her finger and spoke, "this part that seems to be Soler is Kilal." Several courtiers nodded, believing her. It was hard not to as Soler was not supposed to be a large county, the only thing it was known for was it's scholars. If Soler had all the land by the water, why weren't the growing crops? Everyone in the room knew that the Soler count himself should have been in the room that day, but had to rush back home only two days beforehand as a shipment of books from Soler had not been delivered to another country. Worried something had been wrong in his home, the Count of Soler fled Athanarel swiftly.
Rai once again waited several moments for everyone to either agree or doubt her words of Kilal, but she let none say anything. The dark brunette once again started to speak, "several years ago, during the revolt of Tlanth, Kilal tried breaking away. The Prince of Kilal did not succeed and instead was found dead several days later when he had been riding. It had been an accident, of course." She said the last part sarcastically and tinged with bitterness, but if people noticed, they wouldn't say anything. "Galdran had the maps reworked so that it looked as if Kilal did not exist in court.
" The Princess had just become pregnant at the time of her husband's death and a Princess was born many months later, only a month or so before the coronation. Many were afraid the Princess would lose her child because of her sorrow for her husband. But luckily, a baby girl was born. This girl was Ranita. I was raised as her companion as my mother was her nursemaid and I eventually became her maid after my mother's death years ago."
"The man who is attacking is the steward Ranita picked," Rai paused a moment. "The same man who caused the fleeing of Ranita and myself years ago. The same man, who happens to be my brother."
Rai saw some people were looking at her as if she were mad, while others were giving her looks of pity. For they knew what her brother had done was treason and for that he would die. "But I believe I can convince him not to attack Athanarel, I am sure I can convince him not to attack Athanarel. All I need is your majesties permission and a riding of perhaps, ten soldiers whom would be able to bring my brother back with them to Remalna-City."
"Why should my parents trust you?" Alaraec demanded of the maid. Rai lowered her head to hide the smile before she responded.
"For one reason, I am the only one who can stop Malek and as he has most likely convinced everyone in Kilal that your parents, their majesties were the ones who killed Ranita, every person in Kilal will fight until the death. The Princess of Kilal was very well loved," Rai said, her head still bent. "If I am not to be trusted, throw me into a dungeon. If I have earned at least the slightest bit of trust, send me with ten soldiers. The worst that can happen is that I lead to them into a trap. But if I am being truthful, I can stop a civil war. Not a revolt such as the one the Queen led years ago, but a full out civil war. Kilal will effect Soler, which will of effect all of it's neighbor's. The country will be divided."
Meliara looked at Rai and then to her husband and without saying a word, Vidanric stood and walked over to his son. He whispered some words to his son and his son nodded. Then the king walked towards Rai, "I will grant you the soldiers and my son will be accompanying them. And Rai, don't be the one to kill whoever this man is. You should be off in the morning."
Rai looked at him with surprise. She was at first surprised that his son, the Crown Prince would be joining her and then she realized something else. She turned to look at the Queen, the only mage in the room. And then she understood. The Queen must have been able to tell if she was lying. And the only part she could tell that she had been lying about was the part dealing with Malek. "Thank you your majesty," Rai said in a soft voice and curtsied. And then she slowly backed away to one of the hidden servant exits.
And then she ran to her room to pack her things, knowing that she would never be spending another night in that room. She had no wish to return to Athanrel, not when everyone found out who she was.
The next morning, Rai and the Prince accompanied by ten soldiers left Remalna-City. The whole time the group of twelve rode with Rai in the lead, the brunette knew the blond prince's gaze was on her at all times. They spent the whole day riding and for the first time the whole day, Alaraec dropped his gray-eyed gaze from the maid. Instead, he turned it to the soldiers. Although they were soldiers and should be up to a long ride, there had been peace for many years now and few people save couriers spent the whole day in a saddle. "We have to stop," the Crown Prince of Remalna ordered the maid. She quickly agreed and they stopped at the closest inn to rest and to eat.
Although the soldiers ate in the common room, Alaraec and Rai ate in a separate room, together. They ate without saying a single word and it was only when Alaraec was about to stand that Rai spoke. "Sit down," she said in a calm, demanding voice. Alaraec glared at her, "you have no right to speak to a prince of Remalna this way, maid."
"And you are an utter fool!" the green eyed woman stood up suddenly and raised her hand, as if to smack him. Instead, she pulled out an amulet from beneath the collar of her dress. "You see this? The ruler of Kilal has always worn this. I am no maid! And if we ever meet again, if you try and addressing me so, I will slap you." Alaraec was looking at her as if she was mad and was about to yell at her and then he felt her hand come in contact with his face and he could have sworn he heard a faint apology before he blacked out.
Ranita made sure the Prince was breathing properly before she left the room and made her way to the stables, with her head hooded so the soldiers didn't recognize her, and rode for Kilal.
A/N: I am aware how sucktastic this chapter is, but I didn't want another story that isn't finished, so I just finished it up really badly. There may be a sequel, but I'm not sure. After all, it had originally been planned as a R/A story.