"No messages?" Kahal asked Thuq as soon as he entered his office that morning.

Thuq shook his head. "You're worried."

"It's been too long."

"Maybe there's nothing new to report."

Kahal shook his head this time. "But she would have sent a letter by this time anyway, just to keep up appearances as to why she was sending them."

"True." Thuq thought for a moment. "You haven't heard from Dom either?"

Kahal raised a brow muscle at his administrator.

He shrugged. "I didn't know his name either so I'm just calling him what she did. Not that I know much, we converse just enough to be familiar with each other in case that's ever needed."

"She wasn't there so he had nothing to report. He'll check in again soon."

"See, nothing to worry about."

"Yeah..." Kahal said as he entered his own study and closed the door between them, a bad feeling in his gut.

A few minutes later his study door burst open and his mother entered.

"Greetings, my queen." He stood and nodded.

"Greetings, Kahal." She sat so he did as well. "I'm here to continue our conversation from the family evening meal. I have come up with an idea."

Kahal inwardly sighed. "Yes?"

"I have sent invitations to all of the lords and ladies of the outer provinces to the opening performance next week. I specifically asked them to come a few days early to attend a banquet."

Kahal groaned.

"It is a genius idea. The Premier from the provinces meet occasionally but I can't remember the last time all of the lords and ladies gathered for a social event. If ever. Imagine all of the partnerships that might come from such an event."

"I see you are fully embracing your role as matchmaker, my queen."

She huffed. "If nothing else, it will be an opportunity to unite our provinces and further secure their support of our family. It will be a crucial time for you as their soon to be king, my son."

"You are ever wise, mother."

"I expect you to have interest in a female by the end of that premier, Kahal." She stared seriously at him. "Whether it be a lady or anyone else, matters not to me. If you put in the effort to converse with the plethora of options available to you, I have no doubt you will find someone you find suitable."

"You are right, mother." He sighed and glanced out the window. "Ruling alone wouldn't be wise for myself or my people. I will put this as a high priority."

She paused, obviously surprised. "Good, I'm glad." She stood and he did as well. "You know I push you because I love you, my son."

He stared at her for a moment, not used to her being so directly sentimental. "I know, mother." He gave her a nod of respect and she left his study so he could get back to his mountain of work.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"She's not there."

Dom turned to see an elderly man bringing out a bin of trash and emptying its contents into a dumpster in the alleyway between his and Rahn's dwelling. The sky was black, almost void of any light with the gloomy clouds covering the stars and moon. Still, Dom kept his hood low over his face.

"How do you know?" Dom asked.

The older man closed the dumpster and moved the bin to one hand. "She usually leaves just before sunlight each morning, the same time I take my medicine at my kitchen sink." He pointed to a window on his dwelling that faced Rahn's dwelling. "Haven't seen her leave for several days." He shrugged as if he couldn't care less. "Haven't seen her at any other time either. Not that it's any of my business. Just don't want you hanging around out behind my dwelling." He said over his shoulder as he turned and went back inside his house.

He decided the man didn't know he had a key to Rahn's dwelling. So he went to the other side, to the front door he never used, and let himself in quietly and out of the old man's view. He made a quick look through the house. Nothing seemed out of place or unusual. The bag hanging in her bedroom he had noticed on his last visit was still there.

He had almost thought it funny she'd found such a replacement for him as her sparring partner. Until he realized she was missing. He gave it a couple days, in case it was some initiation test like the last one, and returned this night. He checked the contents of her fridge. The exact same as last time, he noted. Some of the contents were beginning to smell. He determined she hadn't been here for several days, possibly over a week.

He had been giving her a wide girth to do what was needed for her undercover role, but now he would do some digging of his own.



~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey, Bi!" Ashima called from the entrance to the sitting room Biechta was sitting in, watching birds fly on the trees outside as she was lost in thought. "What about this one?"

Biechta wasn't sure if she'd ever get used to the nickname. Or having a friend. Someone who was so comfortable and relaxed around her. "Greetings, Ashima. What is it?"

"I found a book I want you to try."

"Oh? Is it a historical adventure?"

"No." Ashima smiled wildly. "It's fiction!"

"I don't know, Ashima." Biechta paused.

"Come on, Bi." Ashima sat across from her. "I know you've been raised strictly, and I completely understand the reasons. But you're on vacation, right? This is your time away from all of that, your time to enjoy yourself before you get back to all of that."

"This isn't supposed to be a leisure trip."

"Oh?" Ashima scoffed.

"The Queen invited me here to court her son." Biechta lowered her gaze to her hands. "But I do not believe that is going very well."

"That depends." Ashima shrugged with a light smile as Biechta looked up at her in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"It depends on which son you're referring to."

Biechta's eyes rounded and her mouth gaped open. "Wh...what?"

"You were supposed to come meet Kahal, right? See if you two were a match?"

Biechta nodded.

"It's obvious there's no chemistry between you two."

"Ch..chemistry? What does the study of matter have to do with-"

"Bi." Ashima stopped her. "It's a human expression. It means there's no spark between you. No strong pull of attraction."

"Oh." Biechta lowered her eyes again, embarrassed.

"Unless I'm wrong? Do you like Kahal in that way?"

"I..." she kept her eyes glued to her hands, yet her posture remained straight. Ever the proper lady. "I do not know much of..." she cleared her throat. "I was never..."

"Oh!" Ashima sat up straighter and paused for a moment, looking for the words. "Can I be direct with you, Bi?"

"Are you not always?" She asked as she looked up at Ashima.

Ashima laughed and Biechta found herself slightly smiling. "Did you just make a joke at my expense?" Ashima laughed again.

"What?! No!" Biechta started to panic.

"Don't worry, I'm not offended. I am rather direct compared to most Qarthans, I know. I'm simply happy you appear to be getting more comfortable with me."

Ashima's smile was brilliant. Biechta wondered how it would feel to be so happy and carefree all of the time.

"Anyway, I'll just ask. You were pretty much groomed your entire life to become a prize wife for a lord. Am I right?"

"Yes, that is what is expected of a lady." Biechta responded, confused at her question.

"Oh, Bi." Ashima said quietly and Biechta was even more confused at the sadness expressed on her face.

"I do not understand." Biechta commented in a whisper as she stared at Ashima.

"Bi... I have met several Ladies in my short time here. And they've all been highly educated, and taught proper etiquette, sure. But most of the ones I have met are..." Ashima bit her lip as if not sure how to continue.

Biechta wasn't sure if she wanted to know what Ashima was trying to say.

"I don't want to appear rude or... I hope you understand I care about you and that is why I am speaking to you about this."

"What is it you are trying to say?" Her stomach was in knots and her heart was beating fast in her chest.

Ashima sighed loudly. "Being a lady doesn't mean you're not also your own person. Ladies have their responsibilities and have expectations of them, yes. But they also have their own interests and aspirations. Take Halan, for example. She was involved in the theater well before her and Joreth became partners. It has always been her passion."

"She was both a Lady and a theater director before she joined with Joreth." Biechta said as she realized what Ashima was trying to say.

"There are others, Bi. Maybe we can arrange for you to meet some of the ones who live here at the grand hall? It would be nice for you to meet them anyway, there are a few around our age."

"What, as a gathering to ridicule me?!" Biechta stood, suddenly feeling defensive.

"No, of course not." Ashima stood as well. "I simply-"

"No, I know what you are trying to say. That I am useless. Just as my uncle always feared I would be."

"What?! No, I'm not saying that at all! Bi, I'm trying to help you! I just thought if you saw what some of your options were, you might see something you want for your life."

Biechta looked at Ashima as tears began to well in the other girl's eyes. Why was she crying? It didn't matter. She wouldn't stand here and be humiliated. "Excuse me, Ashima. I'm not feeling well, I must retire to my dwelling."

She turned to leave but Ashima blocked her. "Bi, please. We don't have to meet anyone. We don't even have to talk about this ever again. I won't push you."

"I'm sorry." She whispered as she stepped around Ashima and fled from the room.

She ran down the hall and turned the corner to the hall her guest room was on but stopped abruptly when she collided with a tall figure. His hands wrapped around her upper arms to steady her.

"I apologize, please excuse me." She said quickly without looking up. But the male didn't release her.

"Lady Biechta, are you alright? What's wrong?"

She closed her eyes and stifled a sigh. Of course it would be Othen she ran into right now. She shook her head and wanted nothing more than to crawl into a dark hole and never come out.

"I just need to get to my dwelling." She said in a weak voice. "Please, excuse me."

"Allow me to escort you." He said, obviously concerned. "Are you feeling unwell?" He said as he released her and turned to walk beside her.

"Please." She paused to take a calming breath. "Just leave me alone." She exhaled a sigh of relief when she heard his footsteps stop following her as she rushed to her room.

As she put the key in her door to unlock it, she turned to look up at the hall and saw him staring at her. She stood there staring in return for a short moment. But when he opened his mouth to speak and took a step toward her she quickly stepped into her room and locked the door behind her. Once inside she flung herself onto her bed, her face up and staring at the ceiling. Her mind raced through every interaction she'd had since she'd been here.

She had spent so much time being confused since she'd arrived here. She just couldn't understand the comments and questions that people had given her, particularly Kahal and Othen. The looks of confusion and concern on their faces. She hadn't dared to ask them about it. She wouldn't dare question them. Because, like the good girl she was, she had learned not to question anyone of authority long ago.

She closed her eyes and let tears fall down her face. She was a naive fool and everyone here knew it.