Raoul didn't sleep the night of Vinson's ordeal. He didn't even bother to try. The last week with Jai he'd really understood what it would be like to have her around all the time, to sleep with her every night, to talk about little things with her, to have her flitting around his rooms laughing and organizing and kissing and teasing. He hadn't been able to sleep last night without her, and tonight all he could do was pray that the Chamber gave Vinson everything he deserved.

He sat in his study and waited, and eventually the knock came at his door. Opening it, he saw Alanna.

"Vinson wants a presence with the King and Queen," she said.

Raoul nodded. "I'll get Kel. Thank you for telling me."

Raoul shook Kel awake and the two of them walked quickly to the palace courtroom. Jai was already there, dressed in black, sitting between her father and Vinson's father. Vinson burst into the room shortly afterwards, bruises forming and disappearing on all visible parts of his body. As he confessed to beating and raping women in the lower city and begged their majesties to tell the Chamber to let him free of the Chambers punishment, Raoul noticed four bruises form on one side of his neck and a fifth on the other side. Satisfaction rushed through Raoul as he realized Vinson was feeling every bruise he put on Jai, as well as the bruises he gave to other girls. Jai kept her head high, never flinching at Vinson's words. Burchard leaned over his daughter and spoke briefly to Vinson's father, who nodded shortly at the man before getting up to see to his eldest son. Kel on the other hand, was noticeably bothered by what was being said. Raoul tried half-heartedly to get Kel to tell him what was wrong, but was too focused on Jai to pursue the matter after Kel disappeared.

Maggie moved from her seat near Raoul and sat next to her friend. She whispered something in Jai's ear, then gave the other girl a hug before Lord Burchard stood up and snapped his fingers at Jai, demanding that she follow. Jai obeyed his command, following him silently out of the room, never once looking towards Raoul.

Later that evening, Jai knocked and walked into Raoul's study. She took off her shoes, sat on his desk and placed her feet on his chair one on each armrest. She placed her elbows on her knees and sighed.

"Hello," Raoul said with a smile. "Why the long face?"

"What if those attacks were my fault?" Jai said softly. "Every time I forced him away or avoided him, do you think he went into the city and took it out on women in the Lower City?"

"Jai, this is not your fault. You can't blame yourself for what he did," Raoul said. "The Chamber made him pay. You're free of him now. You should be happy."

Jai smiled bitterly. "Free? I'll never be free."

"It could be better. There's no one out there as bad as Vinson would have been. Perhaps you can marry—" Jai cut him off with a kiss.

Raoul kissed her back and began to unlace her gown. With a sigh, Jai pulled away, "I have to get back. Joren's ordeal is tonight and the family will definitely notice if I am gone. Good night."

Raoul went to bed late that night after sitting up wondering if he could somehow figure out a way to make things work with Jai. Perhaps if he offered to marry her with no dowry, Burchard would be willing to let them marry and let Jai keep the fief. Finally, he got up and went to bed, falling to sleep quickly. He was woken far earlier then normal by sounds coming from his squire's room. He flung open the door to Kel's room to find none other than Burchard himself screaming at Kel. He pulled Burchard off Kel and slammed him into the wall, unable to control himself now that he had the opportunity to vent his anger. Once things had calmed down slightly, he realized they were saying that Joren had died in the chamber, and for some reason blaming Kel. Once he'd gotten them out of Kel's room, he spent a few minutes assuring Kel that it was most definitely not her fault Joren had died. He also added that he knew from previous conversations with others that Joren had been nasty far before Kel got into the picture. He then returned to his own bed and stayed awake all night wondering how Jai was taking the news and whether he had just ruined any chance he had of marrying her.

Two days later, Jai finally knocked on his door. Seeing the strange look on her face, Raoul pulled her into a hug. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

"I don't know. I'm still in a daze. I hated him. He was awful, but he was my brother. Father made him that way. I'm not sure he had a chance to be different. I don't know how I feel. Actually, I don't want to talk about this," she said, moving to sit on the desk and pulling him to her. "I don't want to think about this. Let's just forget. Together."

Raoul leaned her back onto the desk, happy to comply. A knock on his door interrupted the two's enthusiastic attempts to forget.

"Raoul?" Jon called.

Raoul got off the desk quickly re-lacing his breeches as Jai attempted to do tie her laces and smooth her skirt back down.

"Raoul what are you doing in there? We need to meet with you," Jon said.

"Just a second," Raoul called, shoving his shirt into his pants. Jai took a step towards the door when she saw the doorknob turn. Gasping, she dove under Raoul's desk. Raoul sat in the chair in front of her as Jon walked in, followed by Gary, George, Alanna and Numair.

"What were you doing?" Jon asked, curiously.

"Nothing. I was just in the bedroom and didn't hear you at first," Raoul said, trying to breath normally and pretend that there wasn't a partially undressed girl at his feet. "What's this about?"

"Two things. First, we've got word of a spidren attack up north that we need you to take care of after this. Second, we've been getting word of omens springing up. Great danger for Tortall." Jon said, then sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Plus George is getting chatter that something is going on, perhaps with assassins, but its all very vague and whispered rumors.

Raoul started to speak when he felt Jai's hand move up his thigh and give a gentle squeeze. Raoul started and then coughed to hide the sound of Jai's giggling.

"Are you alright?" Jon asked.

"Fine. Fine," Raoul said hastily. "Nothing more specific from the omens?"

Numair shook his head. "It's very confusing. A very gifted seer I know claims that her visions speak of a prophecy that must be fulfilled for Tortall's safety. That's the clearest message I've been able to find, and I can't find any prophecies relevant. I feel like I've read something, but I just can't quite remember. And the rest of the omens and seers' wisdom is all over the place. Some say the danger is imminent. Some say it is in the future. Just be careful."

"Do you want me to increase your guards, Jon?" Raoul asked.

Jon sighed. "Not for now. I don't want to make people nervous for no reason. Alanna and George are going to stay here rather then return to Pirates Swoop for Midwinter. I'm hoping that will be protection enough."

Raoul nodded. "I still think maybe we should up at least some of the guards, especially if you are leaving the palace for any reason. Perhaps you, Roald and Thayet should try to make sure you always have at least one other person with you wherever you go on the off chance there is something to this assassination threat."

They talked a little while longer; Raoul trying not to react to Jai's attempts to distract him. Finally, to Raoul's relief, they all got up to leave. George was the last of the group to go, and before he walked out the door he raised an eyebrow at Raoul before looking pointedly at the desk and giving him a wink.

As soon as they left, Raoul pulled Jai out from under the desk and put her squarely on top of it.

"What did you think you were doing down there?" he asked.

"Being naughty," she said with a smile. "You may need to teach me a lesson."

Raoul laughed and kissed her. As he trailed kisses down her neck, he said "I wish I had time, but I have terribly important things to do."

Jai whimpered slightly, her eyes closed and her head leaned back. "Please," she whispered.

With a groan, Raoul pulled away and finished lacing up her dress. "Duty calls, but I'll finish this when I get back. Promise."

Jai smiled at him sadly. "Good-bye Raoul. Goddess bless," she said, kissing him gently. "I love you," she added as she walked out the door.

Three weeks later, Third Company returned, bruised by largely unharmed after finally tacking down and killing the immortals they'd been chasing. Raoul had thought of Jai constantly on the ride back to Corus. With Vinson out of the way, he couldn't help but hope that somehow he and Jai could figure out a way to make things work, even if her father hated him.

"Look, my lord. A wedding," Kel said pointing in front of her and bringing Raoul out of his imaginary future and into the present. "Do you know who that is?"

Raoul shook his head, watching a woman in a veil and long white gown walk towards a carriage, her hand on her new husband's arm. She lifted the veil off her face as they approached, and as she stepped into the carriage she turned and looked in their direction. Raoul's heart almost stopped as Jai's blue eyes caught his own for instant before she disappeared into the carriage.

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Please Review i love you when you review. Lots of work next week or so so prob not every other day updates for a bit--unless i decide to procrastinate a ton which i usually do. also abyssgrl thanks for the mom thing, i totally didnt notice i used that.