Chapter Two.

Roald sat on the bench in the private Royal gardens, hoping for some privacy. As always when he came here, he had only one thing with him: a letter from Kalasin. He cast his eyes around: roses, honeysuckle, green leaves, pink flowers, white flowers- no people.

He broke open the golden seal hungrily.

Dear Roald,

I hope you are well; it has been a while since I heard from you. I am glad to hear that Lianne recovered from the nasty flu she had and that Liam passed his Ordeal. I will send him a congratulatory gift as soon as I am allowed but please pass my well wishes on for me.

I cannot believe it but the weather is getting hotter here already! Kaddar says that when it is the height of summer he will take me to the coast for a short while, where he has a palace and I can bathe in the sea every day. (Remember when we were kids and we used to do that when we visited Uncle George?) It is a sweet gesture of him, but I'm not entirely sure how I feel. How will the Empire cope if we go on holiday?

Dusty (the mare Kaddar gave to me when I arrived, remember?) has hurt her ankle and I fear for her. If she does not get better soon and I can't ride her any more, what then will happen to her? (Don't answer that, Roald.)

My ladies in waiting are continuing to instruct me in the intricate art involved in making the Spring Festival decorations. It is a strong tradition for the women here to decorate the main rooms so I don't know why I wasn't told about it at home. The women enjoy teaching me though, so never mind.

Let me know how Shinko is when you write back- in your few letters you barely mention her at all!

All my love,

Kally.

Roald quickly scanned the letter again. So, the parcels Kally sent out of Carthak were still being screened and she was still finding the heat oppressive. He saw through her words about the holiday: she was worried, as ever, about being alone with Kaddar. Roald had always been uncertain about how his sister would take the physical side of being married and her letters did little to nullify his anxiety. Although she never said directly that there were any problems, he guessed by the undertones that she was uncomfortable with it.

He also saw the hidden message behind her horse's accident. Riding had always been an escape for Kally. If she was unable to ride her own mare, she was unable to escape and he knew that if he was in his sister's position he'd want to get away as much as he could.

The passage about the Spring Festival decorations made him chuckle: Kally had never liked to be out-done by any body and she would hate to seem ignorant to her ladies in waiting. She was the Empress, and she thought she had to be omniscient.

He fingered the letter, listening to the birds. Perhaps he ought to write back to her this time. It was just that- well, writing to his sister always upset him.

He was so far away, and he couldn't do anything to help her.

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