OMG im back! its unbelievable. I havent updated this story in a long time but lately ive been getting emails about it and so i was inspired to start it up again. I was so confused about where to start but i think i did a somewhat good job of making it sound like the actual charecters. If i didnt im totally open to critisism, it makes my work better! Anyways i know alot of people dont read kate constable but i hope whoever IS reading it enjoys it, thanks for waiting patiently. :)

ChapterTwo

A sister

It was the second time that afternoon that Calwyn ached to bolt from the room. She could feel her eyes become moist, her voice faltered. How could one person challenging her cause her to doubt herself so? How she hated the eyes that watched her every move. Waiting. They were all waiting for her to make a slip. Waiting for her to say, or do something wrong. That would satisfy them, confirm their suspicions.

As she looked around the room she could imagine the thoughts of the men around her. What was Darrow thinking, leaving a woman with power in his absence? She is about as capable of running this place, as a child. With her heightened sense of power she didn't have to imagine what everyone was thinking, she could feel it. She could feel Fenn's fierce irritation at her incompetence, the black clad sorcerer's unmasked doubt. And the rebels and courtiers both flustered and upset with Darrow's decision to leave her in charge.

The only person in the room that held no feeling of jealousy or doubt sat to the right of her, with an encouraging smile upon her beautiful face. Keela winked at Calwyn in that charming way of hers as she stood. The former third princess of Merithurous appraised the room of men, sorcerers, rebels and courtiers alike. She shook her head as she paced around the room, a lovely smile playing on her full lips. "Friends," she began. "Hear me." She began circling the table around which all the men sat, softly brushing her hand along their backs.

"There are no foolish men here, no one incapable of helping rebuild this land." "You are all strong and able men are you not?" She said stopping where Fenn sat, giving him a small squeeze on the shoulder.

The arrogant man at once sat a little straighter, raised his chin a little higher. Keela continued her walk around the room.

"The restoration of Merithurous cannot be achieved without the aid of all you fine men. Merithurous needs leaders, sensible, skilled men like yourselves. Together we can change the way the people of this land think. Together, we can change Merithurous."

Everyone's eyes in the room followed her, as if they were all bewitched, including Calwyn's. Like Samis. Calwyn thought ruefully. Calwyn remembered the way Samis's words flowed, as smooth and sweet as the honey of Antaris. How he could persuade almost anyone to do anything. Keela evidently shared his gift. All of the men sat a little straighter, Keela's little speech making them feel a bit more important. But as Keela's smile vanished they became uneasy.

"Yes, it will be a wondrous day when Merithurous becomes new, but my brothers, I fear it shall never be if…" Her lips became a hard line as she studied the men who were hanging on to her every word. Then her eyes locked with Calwyn. She turned back to the men. "That day, that day of achievement will never come unless we all work together. All of us, including the women." A slow smile spread across Calwyn's face.

"I deem you all foolish men if you cannot see the power that flows throughout this woman standing here." She said nodding to Calwyn. "The lord of the black palace did not leave his ring with her without reason, is there anyone that doubts that?" Her voice suddenly hard, challenging the mean. "Are you so proud, so set in your ways that you cannot take orders from a woman?" "You cannot deny the power that she holds."

Calwyn appraised the woman standing across the long table from her. Keela's pale blue eyes burned with determination as she dared each and every one of the men to contradict her.

How different Keela was from the woman Calwyn had met almost a year ago in the Palace of Cobwebs. The self absorbed woman who had called Calwyn a little nadu, and plain. She was the woman who time and again compromised the safety of Calwyn's friends. But now things were different. Keela was different. Of course she still had her charms, but now there was a different air about her. She no longer used her wits to hurt and manipulate others. She used them to better Merithurous and her friends. So could Calwyn actually call Keela her friend?

The words of Briaali sounded in her mind. You and she will be bound together for all time. You were both reborn from the Knot of the Waters; you are sisters now.

Yes, Keela was a friend. And she was fast becoming a sister, as Briaali had predicted. Though Calwyn was happy to have a new friend, her mind took on another track. She began to think again of a girl who was once her friend. A girl who was once her sister.

Did you like it? Did you not like it?REVIEW ANYWAYS! please, and thankyou :) 3d chapter should be up this weekend maybe.