Chapter Seven

Plots, and Betrayal

Kadi pulled her wool jacket tighter around herself. Her crutches leaned against the wooden bench while she watched her friends practice in the outdoor training courts. It had to be well below freezing, and they were still practicing outside, their shirts open. Of course, that wasn't really a bad thing.

"This is what you do for fun?" Lorena asked incredulously, shifting her amber skirts uncomfortably.

"Did you have something you wanted to say?" the other girl returned icily. They still hadn't made up for their fight. Now the whole thing just seemed. . . pointless. It had no meaning to Kadi, not with everything else that had happened to her lately.

Lorena winced, twisting the lace on the tiny waist of her skirt. "All right," she muttered at last. "I should have said it a long time ago. . ." She shook her head, her mouth a grim line. "But you know me. I don't forgive and forget. . . I-I remember. . ." She shook her head again, and her straight brown hair fell into her face. She didn't move it, something Kadi always remembered her doing. "A-and I don't forgive."

"Yes," Kadi replied bitterly. "I'm well aware that you're on your way to being an ice-princess, Lorena."

"I just. . ." she broke off, her voice choked. "I'm sorry. . . okay? I can forget. . . after. . . you know."

"No, I don't know," the black haired girl snapped, glaring at her ex-best friend. The anger that consumed her was shocking, but it had a right to be there. So, why not make Lorena suffer for all the time Kadi had worried what she would think? "Tell me."

"You know. . . the forest. . ." Lorena was blubbering now, waving her arms for effect. "I. . . I couldn't stay mad after that. I realized what a bitch I'd been, and how horrible your life has been since you came to the palace."

"For the second time," Kadi added sullenly.

"I know. . . it was pretty horrible the first time, too, huh?"

"That wasn't the half of it." She waved a hand, as if to push off the memory that hung inches away from her conscious. "What Father did after was."

"He was pretty mad at you for leaving, wasn't he?" Lorena's voice was low and worried. When Kadi looked up and met her gaze, she found that the other girl's eyes had softened, and held sympathy now.

"That's not the half of it. In fact. . . No. There's no 'half' of my life. It's all one big disaster, right after another."

"Well, well, well. What have we here?"

Gary. Kadi recognized the voice at once. She and he had practiced over and over, and now she was ready. As payback they were going to play a prank on Lorena, and then Kadi would consider being her friend again.

"Two pretty ladies, is that it?" Raoul came up, and clapped Gary on the shoulder, fixing a hungry leer on his face. "Well, they'll do nicely. You get the one on the right Arnold, I'll take the one on the left."

Kadi shrieked, mock-fear being drowned out by how funny the look of terror on Lorena's face was. Gary threw her over his shoulder, and began to run out of the practice courts, and onto the field that led to the Royal Forest.

Raoul grinned. "Hop on," he commanded, turning around.

Kadi threw her arms around his neck, and let him put his arm under her good leg where she wrapped it around his stomach. Her broken leg hung limply as he charged forward to catch up with Gary and Lorena.

"K-Kadi, you know how. . . how to fight!" Lorena wailed as Gary bounced along the field, a carefree look on his face.

"We're being kidnapped!" Kadi cried, pushing her face into Raoul's shoulder to stifle the following burst of laughter. "Help, help!"

You are so silly.

The sound of hooves followed Everglade's remark, and the mare charged up alongside Raoul, black mane flying out backwards, reins dancing in the wind. She neighed sharply, and slowed to match Raoul's speed.

Kadi grabbed onto the mare's mane, and swung herself up, disentangling herself from Raoul's arms. He grinned brightly, and hopped up behind her.

Everglade snorted at the extra weight, but charged forward nonetheless. The girl grabbed onto the reins, and leaned back against Raoul as the mare cantered steadily closer to Lorena and Gary.

"Kick him off!" Lorena yelled, her eyes wild with fear.

Some part of Kadi realized that what she was doing was a bit mean, but the vengeful part persisted. Lorena had been mean to her for months, for absolutely no valid reason. A little payback was justly earned.

Everglade drew even with Gary, and they slowed. Gary dropped to a walk, just as the mare did, and dropped Lorena softly onto the grass.

"Okay. Joke's up," he said, panting.

"What?" Lorena's eyes were wide with shock.

"It's payback," Kadi replied simply. "You were mad at me about nothing. I think I justly deserved that. Lorena, meet Sir Gareth of Naxen the younger, a.k.a. Gary. And Sir Raoul of Goldenlake."

Lorena made a stifled choking noise. "You're. . . You two are. . . The King's right-hand men?"

Gary smirked. "Yup. That's us." He offered a hand. Lorena stared at him, anger boiling in her eyes. She pursed her lips, and raised her shoulders. Then she let out her breath, literally deflating, it seemed, and stared sulkily at the ground.

"You're such a weirdo," she informed Kadi. After another moment, she glanced up, but she was smiling. Then she laughed and took Gary's hand. "Nice to meet you."

Kadi smiled. "Now I forgive you, Lorena."

(X)(X)

Kadi finished her bath, and dressed in a thin red dress made of soft satin. The neckline was dangerously low, and she loved the way it made swishing noises around her feet as she moved. With a heavy sigh, she lay down on her bed and began to read.

There was a gentle knock on the door after a few minutes.

"Come in," she called, remembering that she unlocked it after she got out of the bath.

The door opened, and there was a soft click as it closed again. With difficulty, she kept her eyes on her book. She wanted firm indifference in place. She knew it would be Jonathan; he had promised he'd come.

"Hey." He sat down lightly on the edge of her bed, and smiled. For a moment she couldn't breathe, and it felt as if her heart had stopped. He wore a pair of loose-fitting gray pants, something she had never seen before. His shirt's cuffs were unbuttoned, and his blood red tunic was done all the way up his neck. Black hair fell lightly across one of his brilliantly blue eyes.

Kadi swallowed, hard. "H-hey," she replied, her voice shaking. Gently, she put her book down, and stared at him. She tried not to, but she couldn't help it. He was absolutely gorgeous at that moment.

"I came by to see how you were doing," he said, running his fingers, almost nervously, through his hair. "How's the leg?"

"Not so bad. Duke Baird's got me on about a million pain-killing spells though. It's pretty useless right now, but at least it doesn't hurt." Unlike my pride, she added silently, bitterly.

"That's good." His voice was soft and quiet, with a sort of restrained sound about it. When she met his eyes, they were sparkling, as if there were emotions fighting within them. A clash of beasts, she thought.

There was a long pause between them. Kadi wrapped one of her undone curls around her finger, strangely self-conscious of the low neckline of her dress. She'd worn lower before. But. . . never in front of someone like. . . like Jon.

The thud of her heart increased, and she could almost feel it pound against her ribcage. She'd thought of him as Jon. Not Jonathan. Jon. . . She tried it again, and liked the way it sounded in her mind.

"You. . . you look beautiful tonight," Jon whispered huskily. She smiled, and noticed that his eyes were drawn to the low neckline of her dress.

The rapid beat of her heart increased, and she felt the flush spreading across her cheeks. Her throat grew tight. Was he going to kiss her? Would she let him? It wasn't the first time something horrible had happened to her. And Duke Baird had said she'd gotten over the shock of it incredibly fast. If only he knew. . . But no. She wouldn't go there. Not now, not ever.

Jon scooted closer to her. Kadi leaned deep into the pillows behind her. Her fingers absently slid down his arm. They end up in his open palm. He glanced down, fire burning in his eyes. Slowly, almost timidly, his hand closed, and he threaded his fingers through hers.

He leaned down, so close that she could feel his warm breath on her face, could see the desire that burned in his eyes.

"I love you, Kadi."

Her breath caught in her throat. Astrik. He loved her? "I. . ."

"You don't have to say it," Astrik told her. "I just want you to know that's how I feel. Before you leave. I understand that you're still young. That you still don't know what you want. It's okay, really."

"No," she whispered softly. "I love. . . I love you."

Her pledge. . . It flashed before her eyes as Jon leaned down, his lips almost on hers.

"No," she whispered gruffly. "No." More firmly this time. "I'm sorry. I'm. . . I'm not ready, Jon. Not yet. Maybe. . ." She shook her head.

For a minute she could have sworn she saw anger in his eyes. But then it vanished. "Yeah, okay."

(X)(X)

Kadi picked at her eggs the next morning. Alanna was practicing wrestling with Raoul. Thayet and Buri were practicing their K'miri trick riding. Gary was talking to his father about some boring map. And she didn't know where Jon was.

There was a murmur that swept through everyone having breakfast, and she glanced up, wondering what the morning gossip was about. Jonathan smiled at a blonde girl in a pale pink dress. She smiled back, and said something. He said something in reply. She nodded, and he kissed her cheek. Then he came over and sat down next to Kadi.

She looked angrily up through her eyelashes at him. "Who was that?" she asked, trying to keep the anger out of her voice.

"That was Lady Thaliah of Arock," he said, scanning a paper he had pulled from his tunic critically. "I'm taking her to the ball tonight. I didn't figure you'd want to go."

Kadi recoiled visibly. There had been a sneer in his voice. But. . . Just because she didn't want to go. . . that didn't give him a right to take someone else. Weren't they technically together? Didn't that mean he either took her, or no one? But no, she reasoned. He was king, obviously he had to take someone.

"Well, you're right. I don't want to go. At least not with you," she muttered, shaking her head.

He looked up sharply, glaring at her. "What was that?"

"You going to order me to tell you? J-just because you're king. . . well, it-it doesn't mean I'd tell you." She gritted her teeth, glaring daggers into him. "In fact. . . have some soup!" She grabbed her soup bowl, and hurled it at him. Her aim was off, but some of the soup still splattered the side of his face. He blinked. "Besides," she stood up, grabbing her crutches, "you know perfectly well what I said."

She stalked angrily away from him, from the room.

"Lady Thaliah of Arock," she mimicked. "Well, I hope he has fun. Maybe he'll get some love afterwards too. Mithros knows that's probably all he wants. . . It's not fair." Kadi brushed angrily at the tears that slid down her cheeks.

"Don't cry. I know it's over, but it's only the beginning." He held her tighter, kissing her hair.

"No, Astrik. You don't understand. Here in Maren. . . I was safe. Because of you. But when I leave. . . He'll do it again. Just like he did it all the time. . ."

Astrik looked away, staring out across the firing range. The bow hung limp in Kadi's arm. She wouldn't look at him, but instead her eyes were fixed intently on the target. He unhooked one arm from around her waist, and touched her cheek from behind. He was surprised to find it was wet with tears.

"Rape, torture. . . It's not a pretty world out there, Astrik. But for some reason. . . for some reason life has decided to hate me." She turned to face him, her eyes sparkling with more tears. "He's mean to me. He hurts me. And then he laughs. And my brothers can't help me. . . Or they won't. . . I don't know. . . !"

"I wish I could help you, Kadi."

"I wish you could too. But Father will never let me stay here. The court in Tortall is where he wants me."

"Not even if I asked you to marry me?"

"Not even then, Astrik. You're a commoner. He hates commoners. That's why we're moving to Tortall."

"You're a commoner here, Kadi."

"Yes. But in Tortall we'll become nobles. Of Reliem, he says. I'll be Lady Kadina of Reliem." She stared at her bare feet, the grass tickling her toes.

Astrik put his hand under her chin, lifting her eyes to his. "I'll always love you, lady or not. If there's any way I can help. . ." He let it drop, and lowered his face to hers. Their lips met, softly at first, and her eyes drifted closed.

Kadi lost herself to the kiss, forgetting the world around her, if only for a short time. Her lips opened to him, and his tongue slid inside her mouth. A raging desire passed between them, and he pulled her closer, pushing his firm body against hers. His fingers slid down the back of her dress, his lips moving down her neck.

"Oh. . . Horse Lords. . ." Kadi moaned. She gritted her teeth, and pulled back. "I. . . I have to go Astrik. I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't do this."

He grimaced, and nodded. "Y-you're right. . . I-I'm sorry. Does. . . does it have to end? Li-like this. . .?"

"Yes, it does. In Tortall. . . Things will be different in Tortall."

"If. . . Kadi, can I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"I love you."

"That's not a question." She managed a slight smile, and reached up to touch his face. Her fingers curled into a fist, and she pulled her hand back, frowning. "I'm sorry."

"If-if you ever need me. . . ? Send for me. I'll come."

"I love you."

The words rang in her head, and she leaned hard against the stone wall, breathing heavily.

I can't do that, she thought desperately. It was true. She couldn't send for Astrik. Not now, not ever. But who would she go to the ball with? Why go, come to think of it. What was the point? She had crutches, she wouldn't be able to dance.

No, she decided. She would go. If she didn't. . . Jonathan was only going with Lady Thaliah because he was mad at her. She figured he would get over it in time. But in the meantime, she would not let him win. She would go to the ball. And that was that. But who would go with her? Normally she would have been able to ask pretty much any eligible man at court. But since she had broken her leg, she wouldn't be able to dance.

"L-Lady Kadina?"

Kadi looked up from where she glared at the ground. Standing before her was the answer to all her troubles, if she played this right. He was about five ten, with blond hair that fell all over his face and his head, spilling nearly to his shoulders. There were brown and red highlights in his hair, and his eyes were a lush chocolate brown. His body wasn't massive, but it was hard, toned. Most importantly though, she felt an instant spark of attraction, but nothing that she wouldn't be able to ignore.

"Yes?" she asked sweetly. Some part of her mind, the reasonable part, presumably, said that it was wrong to use this man. But she didn't really care at that moment. She wanted to get back at Jon. And get back at him she would.

"I'm Sir Damzin of Arock. My sister's being presented at court tonight. So I actually have to show up at the ball, and I usually don't." He smiled shyly, a look that made Kadi's heart flutter. Yes, she could definitely use this young man. "Anyway, I was wondering if you'd like to come with me?"

Yes, Kadi thought, but she didn't say this. She had to play this exactly right, make him the perfect pawn.

You're being unfair to the man! Everglade snapped, but the sound was faint because of the distance, and Kadi ignored it.

"Why ever would you want to take me, Sir Damzin? I can't dance, with my leg."

"I. . . uh. . . I don't really care about dancing. I'm bad at it actually, and I've seen you in court before. I. . . I-uh. . . I-I. . . uh. . . always thought you were pretty. . . very, very pretty. . ."

She smiled winningly, shifting her weight to free a hand, and running it through her springy black curls. "Well, you're rather good looking yourself."

A crimson flush spread across his cheeks, and she grinned inwardly, though the pang of doubt was growing. "I would love to come," she said at last. "I'll see you later."

Ooh, I'm evil, yes? Anyway, on to the next chapter! Please review, by the way! It only takes a second, and it means so much to me!!!