A/N: Sorry for such a long wait, and thanks to all my wonderful reviewers! I was on vacation, and while I've had this chapter written in my head for quite a while, this is the first time I've had the chance to put it down in type. And without further ado, here is Chapter 4!
A Whole New World: Chapter 4
"What?" Yasmin stared, wondering, at the falcon, who was still seated on the windowsill. "What did you say?"
The falcon gave what seemed to be a sigh, and spread his wings to lift himself into the air, calmly lighting down on Yasmin's bedpost. He turned to survey her with one stern dark eye. Close the window, he ordered, fluffing out his feathers.
Yasmin moved to obey, not protesting like she normally would. "Who are you?" She asked, closing the shutters with a snap.
I told you, the falcon returned, my name is Kiyoshi and the Trickster sent me.
"Why would the Trickster want to help me?" Yasmin demanded, turning to face him, her dagger still clenched in her fist.
The falcon stared at her, and as green eyes met brown, Yasmin was the first to look away. Your father's grandmother and great-grandmother were Chosen of the Trickster, he told her, and the Trickster never forgets his Chosen.
Yasmin slowly nodded, trying to digest this new information, frowning. Shadow had never mentioned being the Trickster's Chosen, but maybe he didn't know. Her grandmother Althea had never mentioned it either, but it wasn't something you went around shouting to the public.
"How can you talk to me?" She wanted to know.
The falcon's mind-voice was amused now. The Trickster gave us a bond—we are connected now—by mind, as well as spirit.
"Connected?" Yasmin echoed, confused.
The falcon sighed again in her mind, sounding irritated now. Close your eyes, he instructed. Yasmin complied, but she found herself gazing at the darkness of her eyelids. Her green eyes flew open and she glared accusingly at the falcon. "Nothing happened!"
And nothing will if you don't trust me! The falcon snapped back, his dark eyes flashing again with that human-like light as he turned to stare at her. His plumage glowed in the firelight, and the light seemed to dance around him in the semi-darkened room.
Now close your eyes again, the falcon instructed, and Yasmin obeyed. This time, instead of darkness, she saw a glittering waterfall of white light with a large pool at its base: her self. Feathers ghosted against her face; keeping her eyes closed, Yasmin inspected her essence, and was surprised to see a copper form of light in the shape of a falcon dive in the waterfall and dissolve, littering the waves with specks of copper.
Open your eyes. The soft voice came to her mind, and no longer afraid, Yasmin opened her emerald eyes and gasped. Her skin seemed to glitter with white and copper light that was fused together, shining against her skin like a set of magical veins.
Her gaze traveled to Kiyoshi, who glittered with the same copper-and-white fire. Yasmin peered closely, seeming to sense something more behind the copper fire that showed beneath his feathers. She blinked her eyes open again, and the fire was gone, only to leave a ruffled looking falcon on top of her bedpost, digging his talons into the wood.
Yasmin yawned, stretching, suddenly tired. The magical bonding had tired her out on top of the tiring day she had already had, and all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep for a few days.
Scooping the rose off the floor, Yasmin affectionately brushed the dirt off the pale pink petals, placing it in a small vase along with the other fresh flowers she had requested.
Yawning once again, she murmured, Good-night, Kiyoshi, unknowingly speaking mind-to-mind. Kiyoshi's voice was indulgent and affectionate as he responded, Please, call me Kiyo, Yasmin.
Call me Flower, Yasmin retorted, climbing into bed.
Kiyo's voice was warm as he chuckled softly. Good-night, Flower. May the Trickster guard your dreams.
A week later, Yasmin was trotting her mare down the main road of the palace that led down to the Corus marketplace. She was homesick for the Dove, and had left the palace under the pretense of shopping. Amadahy was busy entertaining her many suitors in order to cover Yasmin's absence, so her single companion was Kiyo, who floated high on the thermals above her head, keeping an eye out for danger.
Yasmin lifted her face to the breeze, glad for the wind. It was the perfect summer day, but Yasmin was wearing one of her courtly dresses, and had even put on face paint to disguise herself further, in case someone from the Rogue spotted her before she got to the Dove and surprised everyone.
Suddenly, her gray mare—Smoke—half-reared, snorting. Something had obviously spooked her, but Yasmin clung to her, whispering soothing words until she calmed. When the horse stood still, snorting and quivering, she called up to Kiyo, Do you know what spooked her?
Kiyo's response came back to her, sounding puzzled. No, he replied, but something did.
Yasmin slowly nudged the mare into a trot, keeping an eye out. You never knew who would try to take advantage of a seemingly defenseless court lady on an empty road by herself. Suddenly, Smoke reared to her full height, almost unseating Yasmin in the process. Yasmin clung desperately to the mare's sweaty hide, and she heard the rope holding her saddlebags to the saddle snap, causing her bags to fall the dirt.
Yasmin could feel herself slipping, and she clung desperately to her mare's neck. She couldn't hold on forever, and as her hands slipped away from the pale mane, she heard Kiyo above her screech in panic, Yasmin! And then the only thing she saw was darkness.
The next thing she saw when came to was her father and Haunt peering down at her. She smiled up at them drowsily, thinking for a moment that she was back at her room at the Dove and that she had overslept. The sun beating down at her face and her dagger hilt pressing into her back jolted her back to reality. The serious looks on both faces told her that something was wrong.
"Milady, are you all right?" Shadow was the first to speak, his face neutrally blank. Yasmin frowned, confused. Why was her father being so cold? Suddenly, she lifted a hand to her face. Her face paint was still in place, paling her skin several shades lighter than its normal golden-brown. Her black hair was in an elaborate knot, and she was in a dress, soit was no wonder they didn't recognize her.
"Where's my mare?" Yasmin heard herself demand, sounding aloof and haughty. Talon squeezed her shoulder gently, and Yasmin winced slightly, grateful that she had had cloth pads installed in the shoulders of all her dresses for Kiyo.
"She probably ran off," Haunt's familiar whispery voice came to her ears, and Yasmin turned to face her aunt, smiling. Haunt glanced this young court lady but continued, "Your falcon wouldn't let us get near you until we showed him that we meant no harm."
Yasmin glanced up at her friend and scolded silently, Kiyo, this is my father and my aunt. You should have known not to harm them!
I didn't know if they were friend or foe, the falcon retorted stiffly, I didn't want them to hurt you.
Yasmin sighed and turned back to her father. "I'm fine," she informed Shadow stiffly, getting to her feet and brushing off her green dress. "Thank you for helping me."
"You're welcome," Shadow replied stiffly, his green eyes cold. He turned and made his way down the road, and after a moment, Haunt followed.
Yasmin grinned, and after letting them get halfway down the road, called out, "Shadow, wait." Shadow froze where he stood, and Haunt whirled around, staring at Yasmin intently. She seemed to find what she was looking for, because she started laughing with uncontrolled mirth.
"A fine thing," she chuckled, turning to Shadow, "when you don't recognize your own daughter, Nirav."
Shadow turned slowly, and stared at Yasmin, still wary. "What?" He growled, tense.
Yasmin glanced at him, then turned to her saddlebags. Rummaging around, she produced a handkerchief, and began to wipe the face paint off. When she was sure she had it all off, she unpinned her hair, letting her customary braid fall down her back. Slowly she turned around, smiling.
"Hello, Da."
Shadow stared, then suddenly smiled. "Hello, Flower," he murmured, walking forward to hug her firmly. Yasmin rested against her gratefully. "I didn't recognize you in all that finery." Her father chuckled, smoothing her hair away from her face. His expression melted from joyful to worried in a heartbeat. "What brings you here? Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Yasmin reassured him, "just a little homesick for the Dove."
"And Amadahy?" Haunt wanted to know, her pale blue eyes worried.
"She's fine," Yasmin soothed. Smiling, she added, "and entertaining plenty of suitors." Shadow frowned at this, but Haunt merely laughed.
"I'm glad she's enjoying herself. But," she added, suddenly stern, "you look at for her at the palace, you hear? I don't want her getting sucked into the nobles' life."
Yasmin nodded, but she wasn't sure if she could do what her aunt asked. Dahy could do whatever she wanted and no one would be able to stop her.
Shadow took her hand. "Come on," he murmured, "let's go to the Dove."
Deep in the shadows of the Corus slums, the sound of crackling flames erupted as something stirred. Deep orange, almost blood-red eyes stared out of the darkness, with a slightly crazed light in them. The creature rustled amongst the shadows and slid along the wall, hungry for prey. There were many more Rogue in Corus, and they were all waiting to be captured.
Walking into the Dancing Dove clad in her usual breeches and shirt was like coming home to Yasmin, who was greeted with smiles and cheers from her fellow thieves. Ordering a lemonade, she sat down at the table with Shadow, Haunt, and Lightening, while other Rogue crowded around, wondering where she had been. Making up some excuse, Yasmin evaded the more nosy questions, and enjoyed herself, gossiping and catching up on news.
The tavern fell silent as a falcon's screech rang through the air, and a copper bullet flew through the door. When the blur slowed, a falcon hung in the air, beating his wings furiously. While the others stared, Yasmin asked swiftly, Kiyo, what's wrong?
The falcon's mind-voice was panicked and urgent. Gavin's coming! You need to hide! Yasmin paled at this, and Shadow noticed.
"What wrong?" He asked, concerned. Yasmin gripped his arm, her green eyes wide in her pale face. Gavin couldn't find her here! If he did, her entire mission would be compromised!
"A noble's coming here." She said quickly, surprised at how calm she sounded. "If he finds me…" Shadow understood in an instant, and had her on her feet.
"Go," he said, roughly pushing her towards the stairs that led to the upper level. "Go and hide and don't come down until I say so." Yasmin skirted the other patrons, heading for the stairs. Kiyo had disappeared, and she was almost to the stairs when a man appeared, blocking her path and the way to the stairs.
Yasmin tried to shoulder past him, but he moved with her, blocking her. Growling a curse, Yasmin tried again. Once again foiled by this man, stared at him, wondering why he was so intent on stopping her. She stepped back, and time seemed to slow as she looked at him.
He was well-built, tall, and looked to be a few years older than her. He had auburn hair mixed with copper and brown. His hair was messy, and he reached up to brush it out of his face more than once. He had a handsome face, with a long nose that had a slight hook, and a full mouth. His eyes were a deep, honey brown, almost a dark amber, and they seemed so familiar. Yasmin stared at him. His eyes seemed to mesmerize her, almost as if she had seenthem before…
As if in answer to an unspoken question, he pressed something into her hand. Yasmin glanced down at it and froze. It was a falcon's feather, it's now-familiar plumage of gold, copper, and brown gleaming up at her. She stared up into the man's dark eyes, and a smile touched his lips.
"Kiyo…" Yasmin whispered.
A/N: Cliffy! I bet none of you saw that coming! Tell me what you thought of this surprise, as well as the chapter by reviewing! Please press that button down there, and no flames!