"Kally!"

The girl's gaze shot up, focusing on a hazy figure developing out of the mist. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously and clenched her fists by her sides, trying to assess the threat this new woman posed to her. Gradually the mist dissipated, and the blurred outline of the figure sharpened into focus.

The brunette's face was relieved. No, relief hardly did the expression justice; it was more than that. Indescribable joy filled her face, joy befitting the years that mother and child had been kept apart. Her arms opened wide to welcome her daughter. "I've come to bring you home at last."

"Mama?" Recognising the woman, Kalasin staggered forward carefully, trying to avoid the jagged edges of rock below her. Her bare feet stung as she reached out a battered and aching hand, trying to touch her mother. Her muscles screamed with the effort, but the Queen remained just out of reach. "Mama, I was so scared!"

"It's all right, sweet. I'm here now. Just a little further!" Thayet called out, tears trickling down her cheeks. "Come on, please!"

Kalasin struggled ahead, trying desperately to reach her mother, although perversely, the distance between them remained the same. The skin of her foot tore on a sharp rock. Temporarily distracted by the throbbing pain, she looked down, holding her bleeding sole. Suddenly, remembering what she was doing, her head snapped up. Thayet had vanished.

"Mama?" She was nowhere to be seen. Loneliness surrounded the girl, pressed in at her until it was difficult to breathe. "MAMA!" Kalasin, princess of Tortall, sank to the ground, beating her already bruised fists against the ground as she sobbed.

"Jonathan, you have an absolutely exquisite daughter-in-law," Lagne of Galla complimented, nodding to the Yamani in question. Shinkokami coloured daintily and accepted the praise with a pleased smile. Almost instantly, she was drawn away by her protective husband, Prince Roald, with a murmured excuse that emerged as sounds rather than words.

Jonathan let out a hearty laugh at his son's doting gaze. "Young love, eh?" he grinned, gesturing to his son, currently whirling his wife around the room. Lagne smiled wanly in response, not pleased by the snub. The heir to the Tortallan throne should take more care to appease his neighbours, especially when said neighbours took the trouble of visiting in person. A visit had been necessary, though; he had been unable to stop dreaming of Tortall for six months.

"Lagne, would you care to meet my first-born daughter?"

The Gallan King nodded eagerly, figuring that if he was destined to be there, he might as well satisfy his curiosity at the same time. Thayet's beauty was unsurpassed; Jonathan's handsome looks rivalled by few. Roald had been a fine figure of a man, despite the questionable personality. He was anxious to meet another of their children. Word had circled that the Tortallan monarchs were looking for suitors for their offspring. An alliance between the Gallans and the Tortallans, although not a pressing demand, might turn out to suit Lagne very well.

"Clarisse, would you mind finding Kalasin for me?" Thayet asked. Lagne eyed the Queen of Tortall as the servant hurried away to do her mistress's bidding. Although she was renowned as a strong, independent woman, her appearance was deceptively fragile. Her cheekbones were high and accented with rouge, her raven tresses twisted around a dainty crown. Her stance was relaxed, yet somehow alert as though she was ready for anything. Her nose was arched, and her green-hazel eyes twinkled, set in delicate, creamy skin. Every man in the Eastern Lands, Lagne included, longed to hold this alluring woman, although wisely none let their desires become public knowledge. Surely Kalasin would be magnificent, coming from such elegant, noble parentage.

A young woman hurried from the balcony above. Lagne felt a rush of apprehension in his stomach.

"This is my daughter, Kalasin." Lagne looked at Jonathan for a second, before he took his first glimpse of the picturesque divinity that was sure to be his eldest daughter. Jonathan sounded… tired. Not booming with pride, as he was sure Thayet's father must have done. With such attractive descendants, it would be hard not to burst with pleasure.

Lagne turned. A sullen girl met his horrified gaze. Scars tracked her temples. Her eyes were not the strong hue of sapphire the Conté line were renowned for, more of a lighter colour. Her mane, though dark, wasn't the sleek, captured locks of midnight sky that her siblings had. Also, she was shorter than Lagne would have thought, and plumper around the cheeks as well. He had heard tales of the princess, including a few mentions of kidnap, but there was something not quite right here, something that set aside Lagne's plans for a quick engagement. Of course, he wouldn't dishonour the neighbouring royalty by mentioning anything. He would show these Tortallans how somebody with manners acted.

"A pleasure to meet the progeny of such an esteemed family," Lagne murmured charmingly, if not entirely honestly, as he reached for Kalasin's gloved hand.

I smirked as I pulled my curtains shut, having refused my maids entrance to my rooms this evening. I found it exhausting, constantly having people under foot. Of course, this was really just another of my idosyncracies my precious Mama and Papa indulged me in. They let me have anything I wanted. Guilt was such a wonderful thing to play off. It meant that my slightest wish was obeyed here.

Tonight marked the seventh year since Kalasin's capture. Oh, how things had changed.

Almost as though I had conjured her with my thoughts (though I certainly hoped I hadn't), I heard Thayet's tentative voice outside my door. "Kalasin?" The maids had probably informed her I'd turned them away. Charming. I'd even managed to be polite this time.

"Yes, Mama?" I asked, not bothering to waste breath on an invitation into my room. She'd only assume that I was in a sociable mood, and then I'd never get rid of her.

"Are you feeling well?"

My eyes rolled. Wonderful. An interrogation, and I'd probably brought this on myself by throwing the stupid wine over that stupid attendant. He'd stepped on my foot, but that would be difficult to explain to Thayet. "No, Mama, I'm really not," I lied; ready to excuse my behaviour as I had so many times before. Being co-operative was the easiest way of getting rid of her. I padded to the door and opened it. She stood outside, leaning against the wall. A worried expression distorted her perfect features. "Mama, I was so scared."

She pulled me into a hug, pretending she knew exactly what I was talking about. Really, she had no idea. No idea at all. I didn't even have an idea – it was my traditional cover story, to explain my strange behaviour. I wept into her shoulder, aware that her very expensive dress was now crinkled.

"Look, Kally, I love you. I love you so very much, and I will always be here for you." She pulled away, pushing my hair behind my ears so she could see me better. "Always."

I sniffed and nodded. Obviously I didn't believe her. I'm no fool. Anybody who loved their daughter as much as she claimed to would never have let them be captured the way hers had. "G- g- goodnight," I stammered.

"Goodnight," she smiled. "Sweet dreams."

I managed a smile, privately cynically amused. Hah. Not in seven years had I had a sweet dream. Nightmares filled my sleeping moments, choking me in fear so I was unable to even cry out for help. Not that I'd get any. Still, I made sure I reaped the benefits the following morning. "You too." Yes, she could have the sort of dreams I had become accustomed to, and I wished her many of them. Sometimes I thought she might dream the same ones; I'd catch her looking at me halfway through breakfast as though she'd never seen me before, as though she'd seen what Kalasin should look like now.

I made sure the door was safely locked as I got into bed, so I couldn't be disturbed. I hated her so much. Her perfect skin, her light, easy tone, her smile. The way she tried to love me.

I couldn't wait until the time came. Jonathan was despicable as well. He was kind, warm and gentle, but firm with his country and children. And so handsome! Surely no man in all the Realms could equal him, with his flashing sapphire eyes and his dark hair, blacker than the night sky.

My thoughts turned to the events of this evening. King Lagne of Galla in particular stood out. His green eyes sparkled under eyebrows arched not with disdain, but with… I struggled to find a suitable word. Pride? He seemed almost stiffly aware of his station, but had managed to be charming, all the same. Yet, a couple of times, when he had assumed I was preoccupied, I had found him looking at me so… oddly.

I was used to people staring, mouths agape, but King Lagne's gaze had been… penetrating. Was that the right word? It had disturbed me, anyway.

An idea occurred to me, and my stomach twisted in fear. Did he know?

My secret had been so well concealed. It was absolutely impossible. I reassured myself that the Gallan King had no idea. He couldn't have found out what so many were ignorant of.

He didn't know that I wasn't Princess Kalasin.

"Kalasin!"

I ignored the shout, and continued to walk primly as if I hadn't heard anything. They evidently still needed to learn I wasn't a dog at their beck-and-call. What did they think all those servants were for?

"KALASIN!"

I sighed in exasperation, realising that I couldn't feign deafness any longer without avoiding awkward questions and swirled around, taking care to smooth my skirts down so as to prolong the silence.

"Yes, Thom?" Honestly. You would think that they would have realised already that I didn't actually enjoy their company, or making conversation with them. But no, they had to be persistent.

The Lioness's son panted up beside me, red in the cheeks from running. He looked a little too plump. I tilted my head on one side, considering him. Perhaps I'd let him be messenger boy for me. It looked like he could do with the exercise. "Have you seen Lianne?"

I growled underneath my breath, mildly relieved that it wasn't me he wanted, yet insulted that he thought Lianne could do something better than me. It annoyed me that everybody always seemed to assume that I'd know exactly where the person they wanted was. In fact, I did know where my younger "sister" was, but I decided it might be kinder if I let him search for her. Add a bit of variety to his dreary life, and to teach him a lesson as well. A fake smile stretched across my cheeks. "No, sorry. Shall I tell her you're looking for her?"

"No, that's fine," he said, a little too quickly. "I'll, uh, find her later. It's not important."

My eyes gleamed. A teenage crush, how adorable. And how strangely convenient. Father wouldn't like it. I had heard the tales of his relations with the lady knight. Besides, since there was no chance of marrying me off, Lianne was to marry that Carthaki Emperor. Or was it the Tusaine King? No matter, neither would approve. Nor would dearest Papa.

Better make sure he found out.

"Papa!" I breathed a sigh of relief as I spyed Jonathan, not too far away, talking to a group of young knights. I could begin putting my plan into action immediately.

"Kally! I'll be there in a second."

I yawned, covering my mouth with my hand. Last night's dream had left me tired, not to mention impatient. "Papa!" Personally, I felt all his attention should be centred on me. I was his daughter, or supposed to be, anyway. After all, it had been his fault that Kalasin had been kidnapped. It had been under his nose, after all. "Papa, I need you!"

"I'm coming, Kally. Just a little longer!" He turned back to the youths. Well, now. There was a much easier way to get myself noticed, and it would probably even add credence to my new information. Besides, I'd never liked being kept waiting. Not even by a king.

I collapsed on the ground into a heap, my head hitting the stone wall behind me.