I am so evil to poor Rikash and Jakkin! I have added another boy for Torah. Just read and see if you like him better than the other two, then send in your vote saying who you want her to end up with. The choices are…Jakkin, Zamar, Rikash, or Jassikam! Thanks a lot. Also, if you have any ideas, please send them in. I know that it's only the fourth chapter, but I need some ideas. Okay, please go ahead and read. After you're done reading, then REVIEW or you will be cursed with…with…something! REVIEW!

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"Say goodbye!" Kali told Torah. Torah groaned and turned back to where Rikash, Mel, and Gavi were standing. She hugged Mel.

"See ya later, Mel. I'll tell Aunt Kally that you said hi." Mel beamed back and stepped aside to stand by Rikash. "Bye Gavi!" She hugged the older girl. Finally she turned to Rikash. He smiled at her. "I'll be back soon, Rikash!" She gave him a hug.

Torah stepped away from her friends to stand by her mother again. "Mother, I think that Toma wants to come. Can she, please?"

Kali looked at the little pink dragon made out of lightning. She shook her head in exasperation and nodded to Torah. Torah gave a squeal of joy and hugged her mother. "I think we should go say goodbye to Uncle Thom and Numair. Come on!" She dragged her mother into the building.

An hour later, they met up with Torah's two sisters, Nashana and Elena. Torah looked them over. Nashana was at the convent learning how to act ladylike. She was almost as big of a flirt as Torah was, even if she was not even ten yet. She had red hair and bright sapphire eyes. She was small and had a tiny nose that her Grandma Alanna had given her. Elena, on the other hand, was only six. She was a fighter. She had started learning Shang from her parents at age three and was already quite good. She also had blue eyes, but her hair was as black as Torah's. She was also small for her age. Torah hugged them both.

Kali picked Elena up. "Your Father and brothers won't be coming. Liam is doing something for the king again, Thomath couldn't get off, and Mylon didn't want to come. It'll be just us girls."

Nashi grinned. "That's good. Boys that are related to me are no fun. You can't flirt with family! Not that I would want to, though!" She added quickly as Torah giggled.

"Then you won't be flirting with Prince Razan, will you? He is your cousin!" Kali said slyly.

Nashi groaned. "He's my second cousin! I'm allowed to flirt with him! I won't flirt with him, if Torah doesn't flirt with Zamar!"

Torah snorted. "No deal! Of course I'm flirting with Zamar! He's so handsome! He has big blue eyes, tan skin, rich black hair, muscles…"

Elena groaned. "Torah! Talk about me instead!" She said in her little voice. She was ignored as Torah kept talking about her second cousin.

Kali sighed and turned to Nashi. "Now look what you did! She's going to be talking about him the whole way there!" Nashi giggled.

Two days later, (A/N – I know that this would take longer, but I need them to get there by Midwinter, so please just go along with it!) Torah and her family arrived in Carthak.

Torah was the first to get off of the ship. She was tackled by a girl a year younger than her. Her friend Faziah giggled and helped her up. Torah frowned as she rubbed her head. Finally, she grinned at the princess, saying, "That's the second time this month!"

Faziah laughed. "Sorry. I'm so excited to see you though! You look well! That dress goes great on you! Come on; you need to tell me about all the men you've met lately!"

Torah's violet dress did look great on her. It hung just off of her shoulders, leaving a respectable amount of bosom showing. There were amethysts sewn into the bodice, which fit her slender figure perfectly. The skirt was wide, but not too much. The best part was her heels. They made her look three inches taller and were covered in amethysts.

Faziah showed Torah around. They both were talking about boys, when Torah's favorite prince rounded the corner. He stopped to stare at Torah, and his face broke into a grin. Faziah left them, smiling. Torah rolled her eyes. She knew that Faziah would love it if Torah was to marry her brother. Torah knew that that would probably not happen. Zamar was supposed to marry for the good of Carthak.

Torah curtsied. She stood and held out her hand, which Zamar kissed. Torah smiled at him. "It has been too long, your highness." She said.

Zamar smiled back. "It has, milady. Would you do me the honors of accompanying me to the ball on Midwinter's Day tomorrow?"

Torah took his offered arm and smiled. "My prince, have you not found another lady to accompany you yet? Why would you turn to a poor girl like me?" Torah absolutely loved flirting!

Zamar smiled back. "You may be poor, milady, but you are the most beautiful of them all!" He spun Torah around to face him. Torah smiled. She felt a hot excitement race through her veins as their lips met.

He was the best kisser Torah knew. He was one of the main reasons that Torah returned to Carthak to visit. He was amazing. Their kiss lasted a long time. After a few minutes, and a couple breaks for air, they broke apart, each of them grinning at each other. Torah hugged him tightly, Court behavior forgotten.

"Gods, did I miss you and your kisses!" She whispered into his chest.

Zamar laughed and put an arm around Torah's waist. She rested her head contently on his shoulder. The two of them walked back to the room where their parents and siblings were.

When they entered the room, still hugging, everyone grinned. Emperor Kaddar put his hand on his son's free shoulder, smiling. Kally gave them each a hug. Kali laughed and hugged her half-sister.

Torah mock-sighed, eyes dancing. "You people are very rude, you know. We are just friends. No matter how much you want us to fall in love, we aren't going to. Right, Zamar?" Zamar kissed her on the lips again, and she dropped her act and kissed him back with the same fierceness.

When they broke apart, the noticed that everyone except for Nashi and Faziah had left the room. They two girls were both grinning and sitting on the floor. Torah scowled at them before turning back to Zamar.

"Zamar, would you know how to make your little brother Razan fall in love with our Nashi here?" She asked wickedly.

Zamar grinned. "Why would I need to? He's already in love with her. Imagine that! Our younger siblings are going to get married some day."

Nashi squealed. "Torah! I'm only nine! I'm not even going to consider getting married until I'm at least eighteen! I just can't wait to come to your wedding and crowning! Everyone knows that while you enjoy flirting with other men, you love Zamar. You will be Empress someday!"

Torah groaned. "You don't know that. I could die of a fever before my next birthday. Zamar could have to get married for the good of Carthak. We could get into a big fight and never want to see each other again!"

Nashi rolled her eyes. "Okay, I'll put it this way. If this were five years in the future, you would be engaged. Am I right?"

Torah and Zamar looked at each other and grinned. "Probably."

Nashi snorted as Faziah squealed. "Oh, I would love it if you two got married! We would be sisters, Torah! We would be the two most important ladies at Court!"

Torah laughed. "It isn't five years in the future though. Anything could happen. I don't know if I would like being empress."

Zamar, Faziah, and Nashi all snorted at that. "Yes you would!" They all said in unison. Torah frowned at them all.

"You guys know me too well. All right, it would be fun to be empress, but I would only be good at some areas, like the parties and balls. I would never be able to command a war."

"That's what Zamar's for." Faziah said bluntly. Zamar snorted.

"Thanks." He drawled.

There was a knock on the door. Kaddar entered. He turned to Zamar. "Zamar, you are needed in the throne room. Would you please come with me? Faziah, please show Lady Torah around." He left the room. Zamar shrugged and followed him.

The next day, Torah, Nashi, and Faziah were getting ready for the Midwinter ball. Faziah looked splendid in an orange sleeveless gown. It showed more of her bosom than would be acceptable in Tortall, but that was okay in Carthak. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun. Nashi wore a pink gown. Even though she was only nine, she would be able to go to the children's ball. She looked as cute as she could.

Torah looked the best by far. Even though she was only fourteen, she looked beautiful. Her long hair fell to her waist in curls. The sleeves of her gown were just off of her shoulders. The neck was way lower than her Tortallan dresses. The dress was an indigo-violet which matched her eyes perfectly. Diamonds, amethysts, and sapphires were all sewn into the bodice. Purple eye paint was painted onto her eyelids. Her lips were painted red. She looked stunning.

The three of them put the finishing touches on their looks. There was a knock on the door. Faziah answered it. Two boys stepped into the room.

Zamar wore a bright blue shirt, tucked into black breeches. A white cloth was wrapped around his shoulders. He looked so handsome! His companion went straight to Faziah. Nashi slipped out of the room.

Zamar stared at every inch of Torah's body. She twirled around, showing off her dress. Finally she stopped and grinned up at him. "Am I pretty enough for you?" She asked. In answer, Zamar strode to her side and kissed her deeply.

Faziah wasn't pleased. "Stop it! Torah, you're going to mess up your face paint, and I'll have to do it again! You guys, listen-" She broke off. Torah stopped kissing Zamar to look at her friend and her companion kissing. She giggled and turned back to Zamar.

When their names were called, Torah and Zamar walked down the stairs. Torah flashed all of the men a flirty smile. She never got a break that night. She danced with all of the men in the room, even Kaddar, but she knew that he danced with her because she was family, not because he thought that she was beautiful. Torah mostly danced with Zamar. Finally, at the end of the ball, Zamar led Torah out onto a balcony and turned to her.

"When's the next time that you're coming back?" He asked.

"I think it'll be in two years. Why?" Torah smiled at him.

"I wanted to know when I'd be able to see you again. Goodbye, love." Torah was deeply kissed.

The next day, Torah was back on a ship to Tortall. She sighed. For once, she wished that she could scry like Rikash and Mel. She wanted to look at Zamar again. He was so handsome and his kisses were amazing! But was that a good reason to marry someone? They had been friends for a while, but after their first kiss a year back, they had moved from friends to 'lovers' entirely. They were no longer friends.

All the couples who Torah knew were friends too. Her parents had been friends since they were four and five. After ten years of that, they fell in love. The king and queen were friends. Dom and Kel were great friends. They had been friends for six long years. But while Zamar and Torah had known each other for a long time, were they still friends? Torah loved him. He wasn't just someone she liked to flirt with. She loved him. But did he love her?

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How was it? Please, please review! Thank you! I want to know who you want Torah to end up with! So far I only have one person who told me their input! Thanks! The next chapter will be up soon! I probably will type it today!