A/N-I'm seriously considering killing my document manager, but I don't know how. It did the thing again, it just took out the entire ending of the last chapter, so I had to edit it but luckily I found it before I posted it. So if someone's talking and all of a sudden it's an entirely different scene, it's not my fault. At least, I don't think it is.

Disclaimer-….The characters aren't mine….they never will be….

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A knock on the massive doors sounded, and Kalasin's eyes popped open. She shut them. She was too tired to care whom it was, she was to be the Empress. She was allowed to sleep in.

The knock sounded again. Kalasin groaned and rolled over. She was shocked to find that Kaddar wasn't there. She decided that he had already gotten up.

Go away, she thought, not noticing she wasn't saying it aloud.

When the knocks sounded again, she just muttered, "Come…"

The doors opened, and the slave that Kalasin had been talking to the day before walked in timidly. Kalasin swore inside her head. She didn't want to deal with the slave right now.

"Ex-excuse m…me, but I hav-have been sent to wake yo-you, Nobility."

"By whom…" she sleepily said. She was still lying down, and did not intend to get up.

"Lu-Lukiem Hasham-r, member of-of the Katchéà fam-family, sac-sacred holder of the-the goblet-et of Jukéminiti,-,"

"The goblet of Jukéminiti is a cup with mold growing in it. The Katchéà family is just a bunch of old people who think that they're better than everyone else."

The slave looked shocked.

"Thin-think as you wish, No-Nobility, but I mu-must wake y-you."

"I'm awake. You can leave now." And that's when something dawned on her-the slave was once again wearing no shirt. That got her to sit up.

"Where is the tunic I gave you?" she demanded.

The slave backed away. "I-I have been ordered by-by Luki-Lukiem Hashamr to-to dress like-like all of-of the others as-as low as me, Nobility."

She stood up. "And where might he be?"

"In-in the stables, Nobility, briefi-," she didn't have time to finish her sentence however, as Kalasin had ran out of her chambers, lighting-fast.

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Kalasin ran outside, looking for the stables.

She was still un-aware she was in a skimpy nightgown.

Once she had found the stables (all she had to do was follow her nose), she walked right in.

It was the same as Tortallan stables, just with different breeds of horses. The rafters were filled with hay, and the distinct smells of horses were around her. In the center, there was one medium-sized table, most likely for briefing others of missions, or just a place to relax. Sitting at the table was Lukiem and five others. Four men, one female. They were all dressed in expensive reds and golds.

"Excuse me," she called, furious. "Why in the-,"

"Princess!" Lukiem said charmingly, rising from his seat. The others did the same. "This is a pleasure. We did not expect you! That is fine though, in fact, that is much better than I originally planned!"

"I don't give a damn. Tell me, why did you take away the slave's tunic.?"

"Princess!" Lukiem sickly said. "I did not expect you to use such language!"

"Damn you, bastard. Answer me. That's an order."

Unknowingly to Kalasin, a young man made his way behind her…

His 'charming-ness' disappeared.

"You are a nuisance. I know your plan, the one to kill us all and bankrupt the kingdom. You'll seduce Kaddar, and take him with you back to Tortall. That other bitch, the one that was here three years ago, was trying to do that, but she failed."

How dare he call Daine a bitch! She thought. But then, if he was to annoy her, she might as well annoy him.

"That's right. Daine is a bitch. Or at least, she can be one, if she wants. Oh wait, are you aware that a bitch is just a female dog? Or were you just too stupid to know that?"

To her surprise, he smiled.

"Now," he whispered.

The next thing Kalasin saw was blackness.

And the next thing she felt was pain.

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A/N-The whole female dog thing brought back memories. Once, in grade two, I got up in front of the class and said: "I bitch is a female dog. And an ass is a donkey." I got a really weird look from the teacher, when I thought I would be praised. Meh.

I hope this chapter didn't go too fast. If it did, just tell me and I'll add more.

Pleasepleasepleaseplease review!