"How do we know your Seren Draper?" Diane asked. Seren was killed many years ago. how do we know that somehow Seren survived that crash over the ledge and that your her? How did you survive?"
"after i went over the cliff, i rolled for a long time before i caught hold of a tree growing from the side. after a while of hanging there, i decided that if i was going to die, i was going to die trying to get down, instead of meekly hanging there waiting for the tree to crack with my weight and send me plummeting so i started climbing down and somehow made it to the bottom alive."
"It certainly sounds like Seren," Numair remarked.
"Why, if you survived, didn't you tell Numair and your parents?" Daine asked.
"Because, I did not accidentally fall of that ledge. I was pushed. someone wanted me dead, and I didn't want them to know they failed and try again!" Seren exclaimed. " i need your help. I cant fight them alone."
"I'm inclined to believe your are Seren," Numair said. "we will certainly do our best to help you stop whoever wants you dead. But I need to know one more thing what did you call me when you were mad at me?"
"I called you a pigheaded fool!" Seren exclaimed.
"It's definitely my sister," Numair answered the occupants of the room. "now to do something about your problem."
~Heather
Daine stifled a smile as Seran told her brother the answer to his question. "I'm sure Alanna and Jon will help," she assured Seran. "Especially when they know you're Numair's sister. Right?" she asked them.
Jonathan nodded and Alanna exclaimed, "Of course! But who would want to kill you?"
"I'm not sure Seran said slowly. "I have had people hate me before, but known as to go as far as to kill me. There may be someone but I just can't remember!" She uttered a sigh of irratation.
Alanna sighed and patted her shoulder, "If you remember anything please tell us. It may help more than you think," before leaving the room, with a "Goodnight." Jon followed suit and muttered a "Goodnight."
Daine rose and said, "I'll go see if Onua needs any help with the horses. Hope you have a good stay in Tortall," before dissppearing out the door.
Numair rose and said quietly, "I'll show you to your rooms."
"Arram -" Seran began as she hurried to keep up with her brother as he made his way through the palace.
"Numair," he interrupted patiently.
"Numair," Seran repeated. "Sorry. I thought you would be happier to see me. You thought I was dead!"
Numair didn't reply, he seemed to be thinking. "I am happy to see you Seran," he said finally. "But what I can't understand is why you didn't tell me or mother and father you were alive. Mother was heartbroken."
"I - I'm sorry," Seran said slowly. She didn't know what to say. She had not expected this.
"You don't have to tell me now," Numair said. "I can wait. Well, here they are," he said, stopping in front of a brown door. "It's good to see you again Seran," he said hugging her tightly. "Sleep well."
Seran watched him walk away, before shaking her head and going inside to her rooms.
~Rowan of Callamonderez
Waking up the next morning Seren tried to decide on which clothes to wear. She didn’t see any point in wearing skirts, since she was in Tortall, the land widely known for it’s women dressing like men, but she wasn’t brave enough to wear breeches.
Sighing, she found a rich blue tunic with a white shirt and black breeches. The blue shirt matched her dark eyes and hair perfectly. Although she wasn’t quite as tall as her older brother, she still was tall for a woman.
While drawing her long dark brown hair back into a horsetail in front of the mirror, she heard a knock at the door. Seren stared cautiously at it for a moment, when the knocking seemed to get tired and opened the door itself.
A head tumbling with short-cropped red hair and piercing purple eyes pushed itself through the door.
“Won’t you came in?” Seren asked politely, gesturing towards a chair, although it sounded awkward saying that when obviously Alanna needed no one to ask her to come in.
Alanna shook her head and replied, “I can’t, I have to see to something before….” She trailed off, then shaking her head again, she continued, “I just wanted to say, Numair didn’t have to act so…suspicious towards you. And don’t be taken aback by it. Numair’s the most paranoid person I know.”
“I remember.” Seren said in a small voice. Both women stood quietly for a moment when another knock was heard. A squire peeked his head in through the door and whispered something to Alanna. Alanna nodded and the boy left.
“I have to go know, enjoy your stay at Tortall.” Alanna smiled as she left.
Sighing, Seren turned back to the mirror and messed with her some more.
~Aniya of Clement
Only several brush strokes were needed in preparing her hair for the day ahead. Stepping away from the vanity table Seren looked uncertainly towards the door. She didn't want to leave her room, not knowing who was outside the door, but she was starving and sure that breakfast was awaiting her in another room. Heaving a sigh and purposefully walking to the door she opened it and stepped into the hall outside.
Seren took one look and screamed at the top of her lungs. A hand clamped over her mouth abruptly cutting off the shrill sound. After a few moments the man who held her did nothing to further end her life (other than scaring her to death) and she began to calm down.
The man slowly removed his hand away from her mouth. "I didn't know that sound could be made with anything other than a chalk board," he remarked.
Seren grimaced at her behavior. "Sorry," she apologized. "I wasn't expecting anyone and you scared me."
Holding both hands up in surrender the man smiled. He had a nice smile, it was warm and friendly surrounded by a chiseled mouth. His eyes were bright and joking as he said, "didn't mean to. I thought they would have told you."
"Told me what?" Seren asked suspiciously.
"I'm your guard. I was assigned with morning."
"What?"
He looked puzzled as he took her hand and rested it on her arm. "It really was the easiest thing you know."
"No, I don't. Why don't you tell me?" she dared. After all, no one else saw fit to tell her anything, why should be be any different?
"You see, my brother thought it would be best since you're new here and I know all the ways anyone would try to enter other than those already guarded..." he trailed off and shrugged.
Pulling me along after him he continued talking, "You're supposed to have suitors and I have free time."
He had said this was his brother's idea, and yet it didn't sound as if he was in it for anyone but himself. Unbelieving of what he had told her Seren stared hard at him and asked, "and who is your brother?"
"He's married to the king's champion, his name is George."
~Joy-Anna
So far, everyone had accepted her story without question. Except for that moron Salmalin. She mentally furrowed her brow, trying to think of why he wouldn't accept what she said. She had the correct explanation for everything, and a perfect plan. Everyone else believed her, why wouldn't he? < You know what we do to people who don't believe us, > The Voice said inside her head.
< We get rid of them, > she replied.
< That's right, > The Voice said, laughing evilly.
~ Mage Melery
