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Chapter 2 Part One-Lael

The two week trip seemed easy to Lael. She spent her time practicing her sword work and her archery.

When they docked in Rajmuat Harbor, Lael saddled Strawberry and tied her packs to his back. She'd walk him, along with the rest of the company of the Own, until they were all on solid ground again, when they would mount up and ride to the palace.

It took a couple of hours to get through the thick crowds without injuring anyone walking through the streets, but they finally made it to the palace. They were escorted up to the stables, where they were instructed to put their horses up.

Lael stood slightly behind the rest of her squad, knowing that otherwise she'd draw unwanted attention to herself.

A man was waiting for them in the large courtyard. "I'm Orly Fields, the second in command of the island forces," he said. His hands were linked behind his back, and he looked over all of them. His eyes lingered on Lael's face, but he kept speaking. "I trust you have your assignments?" he asked.

Gilbert nodded. "We do, indeed. Seven of the squads will be leaving in the morning, and the other three will be under Isles command."

Orly nodded. "Her Majesty is very thankful that you've come, and would like to express it by inviting you to dinner tonight. Informal, of course."

"We'll be there," Gilbert said.

Orly started striding through the assembled company, forcing the Own to move backwards and out to keep out of his way. Lael moved to the back of the group and bumped into someone going into the servant's door.

They stared at each other a moment. She took ion his complete appearance, from his dark hair and eyes to the lean body encased in servant's garb. She met his eyes, and he fumbled for words before blurting out, "I'm Rafiq."

Lael couldn't help but smile at him. "Lael." She offered her hand, and he stared at it. Just as she was about to take her hand back, he grasped her hand firmly, palm to palm.

"Pleasure, Lael," he said, voice softening.

Lael's smile grew bigger as they shook hands. "Kingsmot!" a voice called out. Lael dropped Rafiq's hand and looked over her shoulder. Julian was calling her. "Come on!"

She turned to look at Rafiq, but he was gone, disappeared through the servant's door. "What was that about?" Julian asked her when she'd trotted over to him.

"What?"

He gave her a look, and she sighed. "I don't know. We bumped into each other, that's it."

Julian nodded. "You won't gain any respect if you get involved with anyone. Especially a servant."

"I'm not planning on getting involved with anyone," Lael muttered, looking down at her toes.

Julian put a hand on her shoulder, and she looked up into his dark blue eyes. "Be careful, Lael. People are waiting for you to mess up."

Lael nodded. "I know."

^_^

That night, Lael went into the Throne Hall, a distance away from the Gray Palace, with her squad and the rest of their company. They were dressed in their blue tunics and breeches, clean clothes after a long journey.

Queen Dovasary was already seated on the dais at the end of the throne room, a big man with observant brown eyes at her right hand. He was Taybur Sibigat, the captain of the Queen's Guard.

Lael took in the scenery as they came closer to the Queen. It was a long hall, gorgeous, with tall ceilings and exposed rafters. A few men moved up there, nearly hidden in the shadows. There was a niche behind the dais where a woman stood. Her strawberry blonde hair was cut short like a helmet around her head. Sharp green-hazel eyes surveyed the troops, and stopped on Lael. She saw the green-hazel eyes widen in surprise for a second, and then narrow imperceptibly.

A man with golden skin was standing next to her, speaking into her ear. She nodded every once in a while, not seeming to pay attention.

"Who is that?" Lael asked Drew, who was standing next to her.

"Aly Crow. The Duani. Spymaster."

"Spymaster?"

Drew nodded. "Since Queen Dovasary has sat on the throne, the Duani has been behind her, cloaked in shadows."

"Who's that man with her?"

"Her husband. He's the commander of the Isle's armies."

Lael's eyes widened. "Wow."

"You don't want to get on their bad side," Drew murmured as they drew near to Queen Dovasary.

They all kneeled before the seventeen year old woman. "Please, rise," she said, voice warm. "Thank you all for coming."

Gilbert bowed low. "It was our pleasure, Your Majesty."

Dovasary nodded deeply. "If I may, could the squads who will be in Rajmuat please step forward?"

Lael moved forward, keeping to the back of the group. Dovasary's eyes landed on hers, and the queen smiled briefly, and turned her attention back to the group as a whole. "With the rebellion on the rise, I can tell you that you'll see a lot of fighting. It won't be pretty, but I know you'll all do your jobs and keep the crown safe. Thank you. Now, we'll all adjourn to the Pavilion of Delightful Pleasures and eat, shall we?"

^_^

Lael kept an eye out for the man Rafiq. She couldn't get him out of her mind. His dark eyes watched her in her memory, surprised at seeing her in the uniform of the King's Own soldiers.

She didn't see him at all during dinner and the gathering afterward, even though she looked. Powell teased her for not paying attention to what was right in front of her. She rolled her eyes in response.

"You don't know what you're talking about," she replied, hitting him in the arm.

"He's right. You look like you're looking for someone," Drew said.

Julian caught her eye and looked like he was going to say something, but thought better of it at the last moment. He looked down at the ground and started scowling. "Leave her alone. It's a new place we're in."

"Protective, aren't we, Jules?" Powell said, nudging him in the arm with his elbow.

"Calm yourself," Julian replied, scowling some more.

^_^

Lael went out to the area set up for the Own to practice. She was by herself, had her sword with her, as well as her bow and arrows. She aimed at the target and loosed, concentrating on the target alone, trying to keep her mind off of Rafiq.

"So you're an archer," a voice said.

Lael spun around and saw Rafiq standing nearby, hands in his pockets. She sucked in a breath and couldn't decide what to say. "Yes," she finally said. "I'm an archer."

"You're very talented."

Lael flushed and watched him come closer to her. "Thank you."

"So, how did you join the King's Own? I thought women weren't allowed."

"They weren't. I asked to join and my lord Raoul agreed."

Rafiq's brows rose, and he nodded speculatively. "I see." He glanced away from her for a moment. "This Lord Raoul. Were you lovers?"

Lael stepped back in shock. He was very direct. "That's hardly an appropriate question!" she exclaimed, completely outraged.

"I apologize. But you realize that you answered my question. You weren't his lover."

Lael rolled her eyes. "No. He's very happily married. And I've no interest in him that way."

"Is this man bothering you?" a voice asked. Lael turned her head and saw Drew drawing near, fingering his sword hilt.

"No, he's not," Lael replied, sighing. "We were just speaking, is all."

"You sure?"

"Positive. Did you need something?"

"Avery wanted us to meet for orders and I offered to fetch you."

"I don't need fetching like a dog, Drew," Lael said. "I'll be there in a minute. I've got to get my arrows."

"I'll wait."

Lael gave him a look. "I can do it myself, thank you. Where are we meeting?"

"The stables."

"I'll be there soonest." She waited for him to turn around and start walking away before she slowly moved toward the target.

Rafiq moved with her, reaching the target at the same time she did. "I want to see you again," he said, ever straightforward.

Lael shrugged. "I'm sure you'll see me."

Rafiq smiled and stepped closer. "I want to see you again," he repeated. "Alone. Just the two of us. Together."

Lael bit her lip against a smile. "I've my duties, and you've yours."

"We can make time, I'm sure. I'll find you." He started to walk backwards away from her, and she smiled at him finally. He grinned and lifted a hand in goodbye.

She hurried back to the stables after gathering her arrows, and found her squad waiting for her. "Where were you?" Avery asked sourly.

"Gathering my arrows out of the target," she replied. "Sorry."

He shook his head. "Doesn't matter. We're to be spending our first week inside the palace walls getting to know our surroundings and working closely with the Queen's Guard. We're to meet Captain Sibigat tomorrow afternoon for further instructions."

^_^

Lael was sitting at the window seat of the room that Queen Dove had provided from her, between Drew and Julian's rooms, in the Gray Palace. She'd just gotten into the room after chatting with her squadmates and having a bit of the arak that they made on island, the liquor that burned every part of you as it went down.

"You're finally alone," a voice said.

Lael jumped and unsheathed her sword, squinting into the darkness. Rafiq was sitting cross-legged on her bed. He lit a candle and Lael could see his smiling face. "What are you doing in here?" she asked breathlessly, sheathing her sword.

"I told you I wanted to see you again," he replied. "Neither of us have to be anywhere at the moment, so now is as good a time as any."

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