Disclaimer: I own nothing, and only borrowed these characters for a little while.


It would be the first time the Copper Isles Queen made an official visit out of her country. What had started out as a personal plan to visit Carthak had morphed into a six month tour with plans to visit key dignitaries.

Tortall was second on the list and Dove had decreed that Aly would go on ahead and skip Carthak all together. The official line was that the Spymistress was going early to check that there was nothing untoward in Tortall; unofficially, Aly was taking her young family home for the first time in four years.

Not entirely comfortable with leaving the young Queen, even though it would only be for a short month, Aly's mind was abuzz as she finished a meeting with her network of spies: those staying behind, those going with Dove and those going on ahead to slip unnoticed into the societies of where their queen would be visiting. Perhaps she was being excessive, but better to be safe than sorry.

It was only a matter of hours before departure – both for Dove and her large entourage heading one way, Aly and her smaller company heading another – as Aly headed for the wagons lined up in preparation. Moving along each, checking them for anything untoward with her Sight, she came to the last wagon and found a confident man propped up against the wheel.

"Don't trust me to do your job?" drawled Taybur Sibigat, his arms crossed over his chest as he blocked her way. Aly snorted as she pressed just the right amount of pressure to the right place to move the captain of the Queen's Guard.

To his credit, he didn't flinch. "No fair."

Each wagon inspected, the determined woman turned her gaze on the tall man before her. "It is your responsibility to see to Her Majesty's safety."

The soldier was slightly offended. "As always."

"Her every movement, you hear," pressed Aly.

Taybur raised his eyebrow.


As the royal procession moved out of the gates in the early morning light, Aly stood with her arms crossed watching it go by. She wasn't completely at ease and felt as if she was waiting for something to happen. Something bad.

"You're thinking too hard, my Aly," chided Nawat as he slid his fingers into his wife's short hair, preening as he interrupted her thoughts.

Aly instantly felt less edgy, tilting her face to her husband's. "I never stop thinking."

"Well. Perhaps," suggested Nawat in a meaningful tone as he leaned in closer, "you will stop thinking just a little on this trip." The kiss to her lips that followed and the heated gaze that raked over her body told Aly everything she needed to know.

Sparing one last glance to the departing company, she then turned and embraced her own. Her three children chased each other in circles – Ochobai now walking and just as fast as her siblings – and Nawat fixed the last of the bags. She let her gaze linger on her husband's lean form before she moved onto the two guards waited nearby on horses. (She'd balked at security for their small party, but Dove had refused to let her go if she didn't. "Now where would I be if my Spymistress ends up dead? Hm?")

Yes Your Majesty.


Arriving at the outskirts of the city, Dovasary Balitang, still feeling that restricting feeling that had settled over her in the past few weeks, yearned to seek at least some physical freedom. Free of the walls and the city and the well-wishers, she turned to her bodyguard riding just behind her with a fire in her eyes.

"No," said Taybur immediately, his eyes never leaving the road.

"You haven't even heard what I want yet," she shot back petulantly. Why was she acting like this? She never did.

"I know what you want," said the captain of the Queen's Guard in a low tone, his gaze on her. Dove's breath caught as she found herself unable to tear her gaze from his.

She shook herself back together again. "I am as safe as I am ever going to be and I'm on my own land," she tried diplomatically. "I'll be constrained soon enough and you'd do best to let me try and be rid of this gloomy mood."

Taybur considered the request. "Fair enough," he agreed begrudgingly. "Let us ride."

Famous last words.


Next chapter:

Caught.