Quick dedication: all chapters with Numair are dedicated to Pink Squishy Llama, my Numy-loving reviewer.

Chapter 2

It took three days to reach Corus. Eliena and Daine rode side by side, talking. Daine told Eliena about Snowsdale, and animals. Eliena told Daine about life in the Tortallan Court. They laughed together and Eliena even offered to show Daine a thing or two about the fighting she had learned.

The minute the group walked into the palace, Daine noticed a change in her new friend. Eliena went from a normal teenager to the heiress in a moment. She stood up straighter, and adjusted her clothes so they looked perfect. She pulled her black hair from its low horsetail and shook it out. The inky waves fell halfway down her back. Eliena's violet eyes filled with strength, and the wicked glimmer Daine had seen in them disappeared. It amazed her how the girl could change so quickly. A man hurried over to her and bowed.

"Your highness, I have instructions to send you, Master Salmalín, Demoiselle Veralidaine, and Mistress Onua to their majesties upon your arrival," he told Eliena. Eliena nodded.

"Thank you, Francis. If you will follow me, please." Daine, Numair, and Onua followed Eliena, staying a respectful distance behind the princess. They reached a set of doors and Eliena opened them without knocking.

"Eliena!" Daine couldn't see the speaker, but his voice was enough to send her heart cartwheeling. His voice was deep and rich, but clear.

"Was everything all right?" a woman's voice asked. This voice was a low alto.

"Everything was fine, mother. There was no trouble," Eliena replied.

"Numair, is she telling the truth?" the man asked. Numair nodded.

"Yes," he replied.

"Daine, come here," Eliena instructed. Daine walked past Onua and Numair. She stood beside Eliena and got a full view of the voices. The man was heart-meltingly handsome. His close-cropped beard and hair were the same inky black as Eliena's and his eyes were a brilliant sapphire. The woman had copper hair falling to her shoulders and Eliena's violet eyes. There was no mistaking it: these were Eliena's parents, the king and queen. Daine curtsied.

"Your majesties," she said.

"Mother, father, this is Veralidaine Sarrasri. Daine, these are my parents, King Jonathan IV of Conté and Queen Alanna of Olau and Conté, the Lioness," Eliena introduced. The twinkle returned to her eyes. "But you guessed that already." She smiled and Daine saw that Eliena looked a lot like her father. They had the same straight, slightly hooked nose and stubborn chin. But the twinkle in Eliena's eyes and her figure were all the queen's.

"Welcome to Tortall, Daine," Alanna said. "From what Numair has told me, we're honored to have you. Eli, sweet, can you call Thom, please?" Eliena smiled and a violet orb appeared in her hand. A man who looked a lot like Eliena's mother appeared.

"What, Eli?" he asked. "I'm in the middle of something."

"Uncle Thom, your presence is requested in the study," Eliena replied sweetly. "That means now."

"Fine. Tell my sister I'll be there in a moment," the man sighed. The orb disappeared and moments later, the man walked into the room. "For once, Alanna, can't you send someone to get me like any normal person?" Alanna grinned at the man, who was obviously her twin.

"But, Thom," Alanna said, "then what would be the fun in having a daughter who can call you?" Thom sighed and focused his violet eyes on Daine.

"Who's this?" he asked.

"Uncle Thom, meet Veralidaine Sarrasri. Daine, this is my Uncle Thom, the youngest living Master," Eliena replied proudly. "Uncle Thom, Daine's the one Numair thinks has wild magic."

"Numair, did you really need my help for this? You're the expert," Thom remarked.

"I need you to be sure, Thom. I don't want to teach something that isn't there," Numair replied.

"You just want to get back to your experiment," Eliena told her uncle, who glared at her. He put a hand on Daine's shoulder. She felt tingly all over. Finally, Thom removed his hand.

"Its wild magic, all right," Thom decreed. He looked at his sister. "May I take my leave now, your majesty?"

"Go, Thom," Jonathan said before Alanna could answer. Thom bowed and left the room. Jonathan turned to his daughter. "Eli, there's someone here to see you." The doors opened again and a brown haired boy with hazel eyes walked in. Eliena grinned and hugged the boy. "Leo!" Eliena dragged the boy over to Daine.

"Daine, this is Leonard of Pirate's Swoop, one of my best friends. Leo, this is Veralidaine Sarrasri," Eliena introduced. "Leonard is a page. He's going to be father's squire." Eliena glanced meaningfully at her father, revealing that she hadn't yet convinced her father of this fact. "He's also my… adopted step-cousin. Mother's adopted father married Leo's father's mother."

"She doesn't need to know everything, Eliena!" Jonathan laughed. "You sound ten again!" Eliena made a face.

"I hate it when you call me little," she said.

"I don't believe he called you 'little', El. He called you ten," Leo corrected. Eliena stuck her tongue out at the boy.

"I didn't ask you, Leo. Anyway. Go back to your page duties." Eliena waved a dismissive hand. "I have some showing around to do. I'm sure you're missed."

"Missed you too, El," Leo called on his way out. Eliena bobbed a curtsy to her parents.

"I'm going now. Bye!" She dragged Daine out. Once they were a safe distance away, Eliena sighed. "Whew. I hate talking with them in front of people."

"Why?" Daine asked, still trying to recover from Eliena's rapid personality changes.

"Because," Eliena replied, "I always feel so… formal. I hate being a princess." Daine noted that the Eliena she'd met was back. "Leo says I change into a princess sometimes. I think he's right." I think so too, Daine thought. "Anyhow. Let's go. I want to show you the whole castle before dinner. I hope the university students will join us tonight! Some of them are very handsome!" Eliena took Daine's hand and dragged her away. She's certainly high-spirited, Daine thought. Maybe it's just being home again. Hopefully she'll settle down, because she's wearing me out!

Author's Note- Eliena WILL calm down. I'm making her hyper at the moment, cause I am. So… REVIEW.