A very special thanks to Lady Arianne of Ambers Valley, thank you for telling me what the Bazhir look like! I could not remember for the LIFE of me! :) Thanks!

Thanks so much to anyone who added this story to their favorites or story alert! It's good to know you want more! :) Sorry it took so long to update. I was at camp.

Thanks to my reviewers, you guys are amazing! I know I said I wouldn't respond through this and that I was starting to use private messaging, but I think this shows how much more special you all are!!! :D

quickreader93: I love Jezmen too. I think she's a totally cool character!

Glissoning Raven: I have some really good ideas for a future plot and so hopefully it'll work out well.

too-much-of-a-book-lover: Aw, thanks! It makes me happy knowing that people other than me like this story!

Disclaimer: If I were Tamora Pierce, then I would be putting this into a REAL BOOK for you all and it would be SO much better (anyone feel free to say "No, it's amazing! Tamora's couldn't be too much better!" Like that would ever happen!) :D

Chapter 3: Waiting in the Shadows

I wake up, groggy and my head feels heavy. Instantly, I remember last night. This isn't good. He's not my husband. Or my brother. He wasn't supposed to see my face. He did though. Not good.

"Jezmen Ka'eere!" my papa's voice rumbles through the tent and I flinch. I must have slept late. He'll be wanting his morning tea. I bet Leora's complaining about what an irresponsible daughter I am.

"I'm sorry, Papa! Coming, Papa!" I call before pulling on my loose cotton clothing and leaping from my room.

Sitting on cushions is Leora and Papa, looking very angry. I curtsey quickly, before hurrying to the spring to fetch water for their tea. I prepare it quickly, hoping to make up for some time I lost.

Of course, fetching morning tea is what a respectable daughter should do. So, every morning, following my papa's wishes, I make him and Leora tea.

I come back to see Leora Gemo and my papa dressed nicely, in their best clothes. "I brought you tea, Papa," I comment, watching them curiously.

"Good." Papa says gruffly. "Now go get dressed in you nicest clothing. The northern prince is here, visiting." Papa, of course, doesn't approve of northerners. Hates them, in fact.

"Yes, Papa," I reply, before walking to my room and shutting the flap. Prince Roald's here. Prince Roald, the man who saw my face. What if he recognizes me? I shudder, it wouldn't be good.

I dress quickly, in my nicest clothing. Then I unbraid my hair.

For festivities, we must look our nicest. Girls are allowed to wear their hair down. We can also wear head covers that just cover our faces, letting our hair show. Everyone always says that my hair is the prettiest they've ever seen. I think so too. It's my one vanity, even though Kirae insists I have REALLY pretty eyes too.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts when I hear Papa speaking to Leora Gemo. "The tribal leaders seem to hope that Prince Roald will choose his bride from here." His voice is very disapproving.

I can tell Leora Gemo perks up, but Papa doesn't notice. Many a married women will throw themselves at the prince, hoping to be taken away from here.

"I want Jezmen Ka'eere to stay away from him. I have a very good marriage deal worked out with Jeire Lemeor. I don't want that foolish, unrespectable northerner to mess it up!" he exclaims.

"Why don't you order her to stay away?" Leora Gemo asks slyly. "She can't disrespect your order."

Papa sighs. "Jezmen Ka'eere is a strong willed girl. I know she would obey my wishes, but she would think. Then she would be curious. Wonder what's so bad about him that I want to keep her away from. Then she'll begin questioning me. That wouldn't be good, now would it?"

"Where is that girl?" he asks, now irritated.

I rush through the flap, pretending I wasn't eavesdropping. Papa would be furious if he found out I was. Still, he's given me lots to think about.

"I am here Papa! I am sorry to have kept you waiting Papa!" I keep my eyes downcast, meekly. Papa nods before leading the way from our tent. Leora Gemo sneers at me, I can tell because of her eyes.

We make our way to the tribal leader's tent, to find the rest of the tribe already there. I spot Kirae in the crowd, looking excited.

The tribal leader steps out. Oh, yay. He looks in the mood for a speech.

Indeed, he begins to speak, "Good morning, my brethren. Today is a historical day for us. For today is the day that a small, nay but important…" I sigh. Man can he speak.

"Event hath occurred, that shall impact every single one of us." He looks around, nodding sincerely. I might just get a nap in. I know my thoughts are treacherous, but I can't help but think them. What's wrong with me? All the other daughters of our tribe are obedient.

"The son of The Voice of the Tribes, also the Northern King, is here today, to speak with us all, on behalf of his father.

"I beg you all to speak with him, to greet him. To welcome him as a brother…" aka do not kill him his bed. Though we do have a history of killing our brothers and stealing their property.

"He will be here for two parts of a moon. Tonight there will be festivities in his honor. Tomorrow the day will continue as usual. He will be walking around and I encourage you to speak with him. Kindness is the key, in any situation in life…"

I hold back a frown as he drowns on about kindness to others for about another ten minutes. Wow, he REALLY doesn't want us to kill him. Fine by me.

Finally it seems like he's winding down. "Those we break the vow of kindness, will suffer. Greatly." He eyes all of us. Aka, kill the prince and you will be tortured and then killed. Yay.

"Now, I introduce to you, Prince Roald!"

Prince Roald steps out, grinning, despite the less then warm welcome he receives.

He has thick black hair and startling deep dark blue eyes. Supposedly he's even handsomer then his father is.

"Hello people of the Golden Tiger tribe. I'm honored to be here among you all. It will be a great joy to speak with you all, as a messenger of the Voice of the Tribes, my father. Thank you!"

Then the tribal leader stands back up. "Let the festivities begin!"

The meals are to be first and then all day and night of dancing.

The older women, or the widowed, bring out the food and we all begin to eat.

I sit watching as women begin to worm their way towards Prince Roald. Many of them are wed, or bound to be wed.

"The flirt games have begun." Kirae sits down gracefully next to me and I nod.

"Yes they have. A man among us might as well loose his wife tonight. Many a women will try to sin for the prince. Where did our olden day values go?" I am well aware of how much I sound like my father. I can't help myself. It's disgusting. Women throwing themselves at him just because he's rich.

"How pitiful." Kirae states eating an almond off her plate. Kirae always finds a way to get the food before everyone else. Besides for the men, of course. She loves to eat.

"I know," I reply, stealing a spicy fish roll of her plate and taking a bite out of it. "Half of those women are married." I add drily as I watch Leora Gemo slide her way next to the very neutral faced prince.

"So you would never do that?" a low voice asks from behind us. I turn but don't see anyone. I go cold. Someone was listening to Kirae and I speak.

"Well…" I say carefully. "No, I wouldn't. It's…just wrong. No one knows about him. What if he's not a good person?" I can't help but blurt. Then I hold my tongue, waiting for the hidden person's reaction. What did I just do?

"But he's the Voice of the Tribes son. Surely he couldn't be bad?" The person asks and I feel numb.

"I didn't mean…" I whisper. Because I know who's voice that is. No Bazhir I know has an accent like that. The person comes from the shadows just as a Bazhir man takes out a knife and throws it at the prince's head, who is in the middle of the women. I squeeze my eyes closed and wait for the impact.

What happens to the prince? Who is the person in the shadows? Why is Jezmen so afraid? Does Jezmen end up with that awful man Jeire Lemeor? Should we just blow Jeire Lemeor up now? Will Jezmen get in trouble for Prince Roald seeing her face? Am I truly allergic to pineapples?

Seriously, I don't know. I haven't written the next chapter yet. I do have a general idea of what I want in my mind, but I haven't made any final decisions yet. SO you guys get the lucky chance to tell me your opinion BEFORE I write the next chapter. Just do it fast because I really need to write it…there may be a special sneak peak for those who do!!

Just don't answer the what happens to the prince one, because I know what I want to happen. You can guess though…:P THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH FOR READING!!!