A/N-I just found out something pretty darn cool. I was looking up meanings of names for Kalasin and Kaddar. I found out Kalasin means 'black water'. That didn't really fit the story, but hey. It also said 'Kala' was the Hawaiian form of 'Sarah.' So I looked up 'Sarah' and got 'Lady, princess.'

Disclaimer-You know the drill: none of the characters, excluding Lukiem, are mine.

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Kalasin awoke to one of the few remaining bugs sting her once again on the arm. She sat up, groaning. From the remaining sunlight streaming through the window, she could tell she'd been asleep only an hour.

She had fallen asleep at the desk once she had finished her letters, and her face was sticky due to tears. She looked at the three letters: one to her parents, one to Daine, and the last to Roald. They were all different.

The one to her brother told the most lies, since he would probably ship himself to Carthak and kill Kaddar if he ever found out she was unhappy. The letter to her parents said Carthak was a nice place, although she still had to work on her relationship with Kaddar.

The letter to Daine was the entire truth. Kalasin told her about how she simply did nor know what to do with Kaddar, how she hated the bugs, the weather, Lukiem, and how she had no friends.

Once she had sealed all of the letters, she leaned back, sighing. Soon she would be happy. She would have a nice husband, all of the bugs would mysteriously die off, the weather would get cooler and Lukiem would somehow disappear…a knock brought her back to attention.

"Come in!" she called, having no idea of who it could be.

A young girl, about the age of Kalasin, came in. Kalasin flinched.

She wore no shirt, or anything. In fact, the only piece of clothing she wore was a rag/loincloth. Her head was shaved, and her body was full of cuts and bruises.

I thought Daine said Kaddar was going to put a stop to slavery! Kalasin thought furiously.

"Nobility…" she stuttered, "I-I was as-asked to-to,"

Kalasin cut her off.

"What is your name?"

"We-we do not deserve na-names, Nobility."

"Yes you do! Your name will be…"

"Ple-please Nobility, I am-am not in need of-of a na-name."

"As you wish, then." Kalasin walked over to her bags, and dug through them. "Here, wear this."

She pulled out an expensive-looking tunic. It was the best money could buy. The girl looked appalled.

"No-no Nobility, no. We-we do not-not except gift-gifts from our-our superiors!"

"Starting now you do. I will not have my servants walking around wearing nothing but a rag!"

"But-but something mo-more suitable! Pl-please Nobility?"

"I order you to wear it."

The girl took it with trembling hands. Obviously she had never even touched something that nice.

"Nobility I-I must give my-my thanks! Any-anything you wish of my low self, I will-will give it to you, Nobility!"

Kalasin would have to talk with Kaddar about this.

"So why have you come?"

"I-I have been ordered to show you to-to more suitable quarters, Nobility. And to ask you the meaning of your-your name, Nobility."

"The meaning of my name?"

"Yes-yes, Nobility. It-it is custom for the Empress, wh-who is not yet the Empr-Empress to add her-her meaning of-of her name t-t-to her titles. It-it is so that-that she wi-will not be without Carthaki ti-titles."

Kalasin pondered this.

"Are you saying, that if my name meant 'fair', then my title would be Kalasin the fair, princess of Tortall, and then my other titles?"

The slave nodded. "Yes, Nobility."

"That's fair stupid."

"If-if I may ask why, Nobility?"

Kalasin sighed. She was doing that a lot lately.

"Think about this. My name means 'black water'. So am I to be: Kalasin the black water, princess of Tortall?"

The slave almost looked like she wanted to smile, although the sensation quickly passed.

"Yes, Nobility. Pl-please gather al-all of your belo-belongings."

She did so, and proceeded to let the slave show her to her new quarters.

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A/N-More to come! At least if I don't press the 'lil 'ole 'delete' button, which I am very tempted to press. Also, I need help! I'm afraid Kalasin is quickly turning into a Mary-Sue extreme case here. I need faults! Anyways, hope you like it!