I'm going to finish this chapter, and then I have to bed! I have school tomorrow! Sad, isn't it? We already have homework, but I thought that I would give you another chapter. You deserve another one for how long of a wait you guys had! Don't forget to review! For the names, I have chosen SOPROL's Myra and C.McPherson's Jazmyn. Thanks you guys. You'll see this chapter why I needed them!
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Torah sighed. The ship ride had taken a week. She had been in Carthak for a month and a half. She and Zamar were getting married in two days. Torah looked at where her dress stood. It was snow white. Torah turned away from it to look at her reflection in the mirror. She was even thinner than a month ago. Even though she was nearly sixteen, she weighed just under a hundred pounds. Kalasin was worried that she was starving herself. Zamar thought that she was trying to lose weight for the wedding. Torah was ashamed to say that it was the first one.
There was a knock on Torah's door. She turned to stare at it before turning back to the mirror. She put a Yamani mask on before answering it. It was Zamar. He smiled and touched Torah's stomach. "How's the baby?" He asked.
Torah smiled. "Everything's well, Zamar." She turned away from him. On the first night of their trip from Tortall to Carthak, the fiancées had slept together. Torah had found out a week ago that she was pregnant.
Zamar sighed. "That's good. Look, Torah. I talked to a healer today. He said that if you didn't gain more weight then you would lose the baby. Please, Torah! You weigh less than ninety pounds!" Torah shrugged and kept her back to him.
"I won't lose the baby. It isn't my fault that I'm never hungry. I'm not starving myself, Zamar. The baby will be fine. I promise that it'll be okay." Zamar sighed and reached over to kiss Torah's forehead. Torah leaned into him and let herself relax for a little while before pushing him away.
As soon as Zamar left, Torah turned to her window. She stared out into the distance, eyes crinkling up as the sun shined into them. She turned back to the mirror and put the finishing touches on her appearance on. She smiled without humor at her lifeless eyes.
"Highness!" A voice yelled. There was a knock on her door. Torah sighed and went to answer it. A small girl, only ten or so, stood outside the door. Her hair was shaved and she wore nothing more than a loincloth. Torah winced. Another slave. She was getting tired of Carthak and its slaves.
"What's your name, girl?" Torah asked kindly. The slave bowed low.
"I'm only a slave, Highness. I do not deserve a name." She kept her head down modestly. Torah snapped.
"I'm sick and tired of being treated like a prize here! I am only Torah! I hate slaves! Girl, you are no longer a slave so tell me your name!" Torah yelled. The slave winced and shrank away from her.
"Amma, milady. I'm Amma." She whispered. Torah winced and calmed down. She didn't mean to scare the girl. She had lost her temper. She was tired of her Yamani face. She wasn't Yamani.
Torah smiled kindly to the slave. "Amma, I need a maid. I was wondering if you would accept that position."
Amma glanced at her before yelping and hugged Torah around the waist. She immediately let go and winced, looking down. "Sorry, milady. I was just excited. You probably don't want me anymore. Are you going to whip me?"
Torah laughed and pulled Amma into her arms. "Of course not. I still want you as my maid. Why would I whip you? If I did, you'd be able to skive off from work tomorrow." Torah said, eyes sparkling with mirth. Amma smiled back, studying Torah's face. She nodded.
"Having children will be good for you, milady." She finally said. Torah raised an eyebrow, but Amma shook her head. Torah shrugged and dropped it. Torah gave Amma a plain, but well-maid tunic to wear. Amma, about to protest, smiled and put it on when she saw Torah's stern frown.
Torah and Amma walked down to the breakfast hall late. It was nearly noon. Zamar kissed Torah's cheeks, and Torah gave Kally, Razan, and the five year old Thayet hugs. She took her seat between Kally and Zamar. Zamar raised his eyebrows at Amma.
"That's my new maid. Her name's Amma. Treat her well." Torah said harshly. Kally smiled and nodded to Zamar. He reluctantly moved over so that Kally could put another chair there.
Breakfast was more cheery than it had been in days. Something about Amma reminded Torah of little Nashi. Torah winced. She had missed Nashi's twelfth birthday. She was a little sad about that. She knew that Nashi would be devastated.
After breakfast, Kally handed Torah some letters. Torah reluctantly opened the first one from her mother.
Dearest daughter,
I'm going to tell you how I feel about this marriage. Don't be offended, I just want you to know how I feel. I think that you rushed into it. It is fair obvious that you do not love Zamar as much as you love Rikash. You'd be much happier with your mage. You and he need to talk, Toralina.
If you do go through with this magic, then I will still give you my blessings. I wish that you would listen to me, though. I know that I'm right this time. However, it is your choice and I will respect you either way.
Lots of love,
Ma
Torah smiled. She opened the next letter, written my Thomath and Nashana.
TORAH,
HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US!? RIKASH IS MISSING; MOTHER'S AT HER WITS END IN WORRY, YOU EVEN MISSED MY BIRTHDAY! YOU AND YOUR MAGE BETTER WORK SOMETHING OUT FAST, BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF YOU SULLKING AROUND AND I DON'T LIKE ZAMAR! HE'S NOT LIKE HIS TOTALLY HANDSOME BROTHER!! I MISS YOU!
NASHI
She's right you know. We all miss you.
Thomath
The last one was from Mel. Torah set it aside, wanting to open it later. She was determined to go through with this marriage no matter what her family and friends thought. She thought better of it, and she opened the letter.
Torah,
We all miss you, including Rikash. He's gone missing with your cousin. Please, Torah. We all know that you don't want to marry your friend. He was never more than one of your friend flirts. Please trust me, Torah. You're my favorite cousin, and I care about you. Come home please!
Love,
Melaniah of Pirate's Swoop
Torah sighed and wiped a few tears off of her cheeks. Why was Rikash missing? Torah shook her head. It hurt to think of him right now. She still loved him, no matter what she tried to tell anyone else. Why would Rikash do that? It wasn't even like him! Had he been drunk?
Torah didn't know and he didn't want to find out. Apparently Rikash and Faziah still had feelings for each other if they were both missing. They had even gone together. Torah shook her head to clear it and put the letters back in their envelops.
Two days later, a handsome, disheveled boy of sixteen and a fourteen year old girl arrived at Carthak by wind. Both of them looked relatively unhappy. The girl sighed as they touched down in front of the palace. She turned to her friend.
"So, Rikash, after the wind took us on that long journey and showed us the whole world, we're finally here. The wedding is taking place…now." She said.
Rikash swore. "Come on, Faziah! We have to hurry then!"
Torah was dressing in her large gown. Amma and a few other maids helped her into it and put faint paint on her stoic face. She finally managed to crack a smile at Amma who rolled her eyes and gave a little giggle.
"Milady, you look depressed. Doesn't she, girls?" Amma turned to her new friends, most of them older than she was. Everyone liked Amma and her cheery attitude. It was impossible to dislike her.
There was a loud knock on the door. Kally entered, carrying a large box. She beamed at Torah. "You look beautiful, my dear. Are you excited for today?"
Torah nodded solemnly. Kally gave the box to Amma to hold before sweeping Torah into a hug. Torah cried a little. "Tell me everything. Ladies, you may go get ready for the ball. Amma, you may stay."
Torah was sobbing by now. "I thought that he loved me! I loved him! I still love him! At the ball in Tortall for Midwinter, he kissed Faziah. He didn't even tell me that he was going to. He didn't tell me that he didn't love me! I don't love Zamar, but I don't know what else to do! It's too late for me to say no now! It's the day of the wedding and I'm pregnant!"
Kally remained silent until Torah was done. "You mean Rikash?" She asked. Torah nodded and buried her face into Kally's shoulder. Kally stroked her hair. "I don't know why he did that. Do you want to wait to get married?"
Torah laughed. "No thanks. I must do this for the good of our child. It would do him no good for his parents to live on opposite sides on the sea and for him to have to travel back and forth. It's for his good." She said.
Kally put her hand on Torah's belly. She looked up, smiling. "No. Not a boy. A girl. In fact, there're two girls. Twins." (A/N: Myra and Jazmyn!!!)
Torah gave a yelp of joy and threw herself on her friend again. Kally laughed and took the large box back from Amma. She opened it and handed Torah a large pair of diamond earrings. Torah put them on with a muttered thanks. Kally nodded and pulled a diamond necklace and bracelet from the box.
Kally stared down at the box. Torah raised an eyebrow. Kally looked up and smiled. Torah was shocked to see tears in her eyes. Kally shook her head. "I wore these on my wedding day. I can't believe that I'm going to be a grandmother. I feel so old, I guess. I mean, I'm young still, but grandmother! Wow. Anyway, here. This was mine when I was your age and getting married."
She put a small silver tiara on Torah's head. Torah smiled. "Thank you, Kally. It means a lot to me. Thank you so much."
Kally laughed. "No problem. Let's go, now. We don't want to keep them waiting."
Kally and Torah walked into the temple of the Graveyard Hag together. Torah noticed an old hag standing near the front of the church. She winked and disappeared. Torah blinked in surprise. She didn't know that the Hag would be here!
Torah didn't pay attention to the ceremony. Zamar looked handsome, but she refused to meet his eyes. She instead looked at the people that she would someday rule. There was Varice and her husband and two daughters. Beside her stood Zaimid and his Copper Island wife Saraiyu and their three children. Further on were Lindhall's sister and her family. Torah turned around as the priestess ordered Zamar to kiss her. They were inches away from each other when there was a loud scream.
"Torah! No! We need to talk!" Torah turned to the entrance. Rikash and Faziah stood there. Torah glared at him and turned back to Zamar. "It's too late, Salmalin. Leave me alone." She turned and kissed Zamar, ignoring Rikash and Faziah.
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Wow, am I evil!!! Well, the sooner you review, the sooner you get to know what happens! Although, I have a choir lock in tomorrow night starting at four pm. It ends at eight the next morning. After that, I have homework and a dinner that I have to go to. I have no idea when I'm going to be updating. Hopefully tomorrow! It depends how easy my homework is! Adios! Review! Wonder how you say that in Spanish…