Kiara only stared at the food that was once again in front of her. It was strange to watch the queen with her son. There was only word she could be described with and that was bitchy. Though with her son... she seemed almost caring and warm. It was another contradiction in a world of them and Kiara's head was starting to throb. She was also trying to ignore the looks that Alexis was giving her, but it was getting hard. It was as if this woman was all knowing and it was giving her the creeps.

And then, of course, there was the tension between Lamont and his father. It wasn't hard to see why they would not get along. The prince spent all day in a library when his father probably wanted nothing more than for him to spend it with a sword. It was strange even to Kiara that he had never fought. She was sheltered beyond belief, but still she had learned to use her bow and dagger. Hadn't someone ever threatened Lamont's life? Or had he never known the fear that followed forever after that?

While all these thoughts went through her head, Kiara put on a smile and tried to answer the question that was asked of her in an acceptable way. "It is ... different. Not as green, and yet it is still beautiful." Her eyes became distant as she accidentally let out her current thought: "I wonder if I could spar with the soldiers. Surely they must know some fighting techniques that mine do not. I would be eager to learn." In her head she continued, [i]though they would probably rather see me dead than teach me a damn thing.[/i]