Chapter One

Plans

Ariella left her standing on the deck, staring out into the ocean.

It must have been almost an hour by the time Kade came back. Cara hadn’t noticed that the sun had set a while ago and she was now standing in the chilly night air.

“Hey,” he said putting a hand on her shoulder to bring her back into the present. She looked to him, unsure of how long he had been standing there.

“What’s up?” he asked. Cara shook her head, not knowing how to tell Kade what Ariella had told her.

“It’s just-” Cara began looking down but then switched her gaze to Kade, “do you remember when we were with Lady Helen, and the Rain Festival?”

Kade smiled, “how could I forget?”

“You weren’t affected by it,” Cara said.

“Yes, and that whole mystery was solved when we there,” Kade answered.

“There is another reason why I was affected,” Cara said quietly. Kade frowned.

“What did Ariella tell you?”

“About Carien’yth,” Cara replied.

“What about her?” Kade asked softly.

“She said that I was her,” Cara answered. There was silence as Cara looked down not really wanting to know Kade’s reaction. But he didn’t say anything; he just wrapped her arms around her shoulders and embraced her.

She sighed, it was easier to deal with that news when she was being held by Kade, warmer too. Suddenly the door to the deck opened and the two turned to see who was coming out on deck.

“Kip!” Cara said loudly as the specified person walked towards her. She moved out of Kade’s embrace to welcome the other’s hug. “What are you doing up here?” she asked.

“I heard from Ariella that you were up here,” Kip said, “and I haven’t seen you in a while, I wanted to make sure you were alright.”

Kip gave a nod to Kade, who returned it.

“I am well,” Cara said moving out of the hug, “but you shouldn’t be up here, you’ll get caught.”

“I’ll be fine, I’ve got Naits looking out for me,” Kip answered, “but I heard a rumour; that Sanňa is on board?”

Cara glanced at Kade and nodded, “but it has become a little more complicated.”

“She is not being held against her will?” Kip asked.

“Far from it,” Cara replied with a sigh, “she came here because she was apparently worried about Bäldassare.”

Kip sighed and stroked his chin, “Helcobrek?” he asked after a moment.

Cara shrugged, “I don’t know, I am going to talk to her, and befriend her, I might be able to figure something out. If it’s not Helcobrek then why she is acting this way.”

Kip nodded and glanced around, they were the only ones on deck at this time of night.

“So you will stay at court and try and figure out what is going on with Sanňa?” he asked.

Cara nodded then smiled, “but you are not.”

Kip looked at her confused, “what am I doing then?”

“You are going to find Whiifrow,” Cara answered with a grin, referring to the man who sent telepathic messages to Kip. She had almost forgotten about him while they were in the Isles.

“Whiifrow?” Kip said, “why would I need to find him?”

“Because I need to talk to him,” Cara answered, “go with Standing Feather and BlackFox, and I will stay with Kade and Ariella in court, and when you find him, tell him that he must come see me.”

“I’m not sure that he will want too,” Kip replied.

“That’s okay,” Cara answered, “tell him who I am, exactly who I am, and he will come, he can’t resist.”

Kip gave a nod and looked around the deck.

“I’m not suppose to be up here, other than Bäldassare catching me, so I should go.”

Cara gave a nod and Kip left with a kiss on her cheek. There was silence as the sea air blew Cara’s hair around.

“You didn’t tell him,” Kade said after a moment.

“Tell him what?” Cara replied knowing the answer.

“What Ariella told you.”

“I can’t; not yet. It feels to strange myself to tell anyone else,” Cara answered.

“You told me.”

Cara smiled at him, “yes, but you are different.”

Cara gave him a smile and then walked to the door, which Kip had just disappeared through and went to her cabin.

Sanňa was not back yet and Cara said on the bed full of thoughts. She didn’t feel royal; Ariella must have been mistaken, Cara was supposed to know everything about this world.

But then why would she know everything if she was not from it? Cara shook her head physically to dislodge the thoughts.

She wondered exactly what she was feeling. She tried analyzing the emotions running wild. Fear? Disbelief? Denial? Relief? Jealousy?

Cara stopped again, what could she be jealous about. With a great sigh she plopped face first into the pillows and closed her eyes.

Jealousy, yes she was sure that there was a bit of that in there, but jealous of what?

“Oh,” Sanňa said, “he’s cute too!”

Cara sighed, looking to Kade.

Cara sat up with a violent shake of the head. Impossible. Just then the door opened and Sanňa came into the room looking exhausted. Her smile brightened with she saw Cara sitting in bed.

“Cara!” she said happily, but then slowed a little bit, “you look a little distraught. What’s the matter?”

Cara smiled, “oh, I am sorry, I’m just tired.”

Sanňa grinned and jumped on the bed beside her.

“Because I am here for you know, if you have something on your mind you can tell me,” Sanňa said seriously taking one of Cara’s hands. Cara relaxed.

“Thank you,” Cara said, “that means a lot.”

Sanňa grinned, and got up to change.

“My Ladies would be having a fit right now,” Sanňa said.

“Why?”

“Because I am a princess, even though I’ve been able to dress myself since I was five,” Sanňa said and shook her head.

Cara giggled and changed into a nightgown that she had got in Dariah, she was not used to having to change for sleep anymore. Sanňa, when finished, jumped into the bed and gathered up one of the sheets around her. She sighed and flopped down next to Cara.

“I wonder what it is like to be in Love,” Sanňa said, Cara looked at her surprised.

“Being a princess are you even allowed to be in love?” Cara asked turning on her side to watch Sanňa.

Sanňa just grinned, “well if I don’t tell anyone.”

Cara giggled, Sanňa did also but then she sighed.

“You’re brother reminds me of a boy I once met,” Sanňa said quietly after a moment.

Cara smiled, but she knew exactly who Sanňa was talking about.

“Who was he?” Cara asked anyways.

“I met him in Ytheron,” Sanňa replied, “his name was Kip, it was before my father died. I was sneaking out, wanting a little bit of adventure, you know.”

Cara smiled, Sanňa had begun to talk softly and her eyes reflected that she really liked this boy she spoke of.

“I only met him once,” Sanňa said, “When I went out, I got into a little more trouble then I expected. He saved me.”

“It sounds like your in Love already,” Cara said grinned, Sanňa shook her head into the pillow.

“It was once, and he’s probably forgotten all about me. I didn’t tell him who I was,” she replied.

“Why not?” Cara asked.

“Because I wanted him to treat me like you are right now, not always saying, ma’am and bowing,” Sanňa replied.

“Well, if it makes you feel better than I can call you ma’am and bow?” Cara said laughing.

Sanňa threw a pillow at her. Cara and Sanňa shrieked with laughter and wrestled with the pillows until one of the ladies sleeping next to them stuck her head in.

“Your Highness, it is time to sleep, as the rest of the ship is doing,” she said a little disapprovingly.

“Sorry,” Sanňa replied and covered her mouth from the giggles. Cara grinned as they both settled down in the bed again. Sanňa gave a sigh and closed her eyes with a smile.

Cara’s own smile fell slightly, she watched Sanňa breathing deeply beside her and she made a promise to herself.

The end of her book would be different then what she had planned.