A/N-sigh- I don't get a single day off of writing before another evil plot bunny pops into my head, one that I like a heckofalot more than my other plot that I had originally planned. My thanks go to: Erytha, HappeeGoLuckee, Citizen Of Fantasy At Heart and Confusedknight. I combined all of their plot ideas, and came up with the following.

Disclaimer- I'm not Tamora Pierce, aka the nouns you recognize aren't mine.

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Varice Kingsford had always liked tall men.

Something about how their faces were always hidden by the moonlight and the sun casting long shadows onto their bodies was always appealing to her.

The first man she had ever fallen in love with was Arra-Numair Salmaĺin. Unfortunately, he left Carthak and became involved with that other girl, Daine.

Varice probably would have gone after Lindhall Reed, but he was too old, and had gone to Tortall to teach at the university.

But Kaddar. She sighed. He was a man's man. Standing straight, making orders always doing the right things. She wanted him. Bad.

But the only problem was that he was the Emperor, and you had to be royalty to marry him. And then there was what's-her-name from Tortall, the soon-to-be Empress.

But does one's position, status and another woman stand in the way of true love? Of course not, she thought.

She sat on her bed, twiddling with the fine purple lace on the edges of her yellow-colored robe. It was expensive, the robe, but lately she had been fiddling with the edges of the lace so much that it was starting to get seriously frayed.

She took a deep breath, and flicked her long, blond hair over her shoulders, so it was resting on her back. She decided to tell Kaddar about her feelings for him.

She stood up, realizing that this may be the last time she slept in her own quarters. The room she was in was quite nice, but nothing compared to other rooms. It was finely furnished; it was complete with a privy, desk, soft, comfy chairs, a springy bed, closet and a bookshelf. But she could have so much more if she were the Empress.

Putting the fact that Kalasin was to marry Kaddar in the back of her head, she quietly exited the room.

He would most likely be in his quarters at this time of day, so she decided to begin her search there.

Her soft, flat-heeled purple slippers made quiet steps as she made her way through the palace walls. Through the arrow slits she could tell the sun was beginning to set. She passed tapestries and beautiful paintings, but she didn't give them a second thought. Kaddar was the only thing she currently cared for.

She turned a corner and, to her surprise, Kaddar was there, making his way to his rooms.

"Nobility!" she called, not wanted to offend him by calling him his first name.

He turned around, shock plastered on his face.

"I'm not-" he began, but she cut him off by throwing herself into his arms.

"Kaddar," she cried, literally. "I have something I need to tell you!"

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Unikum was of course, quite surprised at this woman thrusting herself into his arms. It was quite nice, actually.

"And what is that?" he said gently, in response to her question.

She looked up into his deep, dark eyes.

"I'm in love with you."

Yes, Unikum was quite surprised.

"You should know something about me," he began.

"Not now!" she said, putting a delicate finger on his lips. "Later."

Was that…seductiveness he heard in her voice? His eyes popped open extremely wide at this discovery.

"Do you love me?" she said, her right hand playing with the hair at the back of his neck, her left hand on his chest.

Unikum had a choice to make, fast. Kaddar-the real one-could find out about Kalasin later. Unikum was finally going to do something for himself.

"Yes," he said.

Unikum grabbed the small of her back with his left hand, beneath her shoulder blade with his right, and pulled her in for a kiss that bent extremely low.

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"Did you catch all of that?" Kaddar asked, not unkindly.

"I think so..." Daine slowly said. "I cannot address the nobles first, they must address me, I cannot leave the room for any purposes, I cannot put my elbows on the table, eating with my hands is considered the utmost rudeness, I cannot-"

"I think you understand the basics," Kaddar said. "But Kalasin's introduction is extremely important!"

Daine nodded. "I understand."

They sat there on the bed for a moment, only listening to the birds chirping happily outside.

"Well," Kaddar said, clapping his hands together. "I'll be gone when you wake up. I'll send for someone to help you get ready for the introduction."

She yawned. "That's fine for me, but I'm going to bed now."

Once both Kaddar and Daine had changed (Daine had borrowed some of Kalasin's night-things), they both hopped into the massive bed. There wasn't any 'embarrassment' to Daine's surprise. Both of them fell asleep easily.

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-2 days earlier-

"Thayet," Numair said. "Why have you called me here?"

The woman, seated at the long conference table, sighed. It was the same rooms as before, the one where Daine had been chosen to be sent into Carthak.

"Sit down," she said. He obeyed.

"Numair," Thayet started, "I feel almost nervous about DaineIf Kalasin has gone missing, so could she!"

Numair looked down onto his breeches.

"I know what you're going to ask me," he said. "You want be to go to Carthak, to check up on Daine."

Thayet nodded, blushing. "You know me to well."

-Present Time-

Numair recalled that day, only forty-eight hours ago, with a sigh. Because of that day, he was here now.

He had gotten onto one of the few ships still trading silk between Carthak and Tortall. It wasn't the best of ships, or the best of captains, but it was a ship. They had made fair time.

He looked around the room in disgust, as they were extremely dirty. He had found a room at an inn called The Pretty Lass, since he doubted anyone would remember him.

Before however, he had questioned some of the more sober people in the bar. It turned out there was to be an introduction at court for the new princess tomorrow at the palace. That didn't make sense, as Kalasin had been kidnapped, so he decided to investigate it tomorrow.

But right now he had nothing to do, so he curled up beneath the woolen, scratchy covers and fell into a surprisingly deep sleep.

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A/N-I know it's short (Sorry Soul of Power ROCKS OUT LOUD) but I'm playing around with a new plot. If you don't like it, than –BAM- out the window it goes. And I really have to get better at my promises, don't you think? I say it's going on hold…and the next day I update. I'm such a hypocrite, but I guess that's a good thing in my case. Tell me if I updated too fast, if it's unbelievably bad or if it's wickedly awesome. Please review and tell me how you like the plot!