John Flanagan: The Emperor of Nihon-Ja

'Come in,' she called. The door slid open and Evanlyn entered. She had bathed as well. She wore a wrap-around robe and her short blonde hair was still wet.

'How are you feeling?' Evanlyn asked.

Alyss made her way to a low stool and sat, groaning slightly once more, and indicated for Evanlyn to sit beside her.

'I'll live,' she said, with a wry smile. 'That hot water certainly does wonders. What doesn't parboil me makes me stronger,' she said, misquoting the old proverb. The smile faded and she regarded Evanlyn for a few seconds.

'It occurs to me,' she said, 'that in all the terror and excitement and cheering, I never said thank you.'

'Thank me?' said Evanlyn, her tone incredulous. 'I have never witnessed anything to match what you did last night! That was the most courageous act I have ever seen! Where on earth did you get the idea?'

Alyss coloured a little, although, with her face already flushed from the heat of the bath, it was difficult to notice.

'Something Selethen told us when we were in Toscana. He said one of the tribes to the south of Arrida hunts lions that way. They let the lions knock them over, then lie under their shields and stab upwards at them. It struck me that might be the way to deal with the Kyofu. Of course,' she said, smiling, 'they don't have the benefit of a friend hurling great chunks of lead at the lion as they do it. You have no idea how relieved I was when you came to the rescue.'

She looked seriously at the smaller girl now. Everyone had made a great fuss about Alyss's willingness to act as bait in the forest. Only Alyss realised that when Evanlyn had come to her aid, she had done so without any protection at all. If her sling shots hadn't been as accurate as they were, she would have been left facing an enraged beast at close quarters, without shield, armour or defensive weapon of any kind.

If Alyss had risked her life to defeat the Kyofu, Evanlyn had done no less. She wondered if the princess realised that and she felt a deep regard for the other girl, not just for her skill with the sling, but for her readiness to put herself in danger to save a companion.

If only…Alyss resolutely pushed the unworthy thought aside. But Evanlyn seemed to be thinking along similar lines.

'Alyss,' she said uncertainly, 'one day I'll be queen. And I'm going to want people around me who are courageous and dedicated and imaginative.'

'That's as it should be,' Alyss said.

'Frankly, I'd like quite a few of those people to be women. I think women have a different perspective on things, as your mentor has proven time and time again. I'd like you to be one of my inner circle, Alyss, professionally and personally. I think that we could work very well together.'

Alyss made a half bow from her sitting position and winced as the back muscles stretched again.

'I'll always be happy to serve my queen and my country in any way I can,' she said politely.

Evanlyn spread her hands in exasperation. 'Why do you have to be so formal, Alyss? Why can't I get through to you? I respect you. I admire you. I like you! I want to be your friend! My father has shown that having good friends as advisers is the best way to rule. Halt, Crowley, Baron Arald. They're not just advisers. They've been his friends for years. And friends will tell you when you're wrong. I want that!'

'Have I been unfriendly, your highness? I've always tried to be respectful.' Alyss's face was a mask, but now two spots of colour appeared in Evanlyn's cheeks.

'There always has to be a niggle between us, doesn't there?' she said angrily. 'Thank you for that, your highness. Have I been unfriendly? I've always been respectful.' She mimicked Alyss's words savagely. 'I'm offering my friendship, but you seem determined to push me away. Why? Let's get it out in the open, once and for all!'

Alyss drew in a deep breath. She hesitated. She was an ambitious girl and she knew she might be jeopardising her future career if she took this any further. But then the dam broke.

'We both know what it is! Keep your hands off Will, all right?' She stood up, dominating the smaller girl with her superior height. But Evanlyn stood her ground and shouted back at her.

'Will? What about Will? What is it with you about me and Will?'

'Because you're in love with him! You're the princess and you think you can have anything you want, and you want Will. Any fool can see that!'

'Then I'm afraid you're the fool, Alyss Mainwaring, because I am not in love with Will. I'm in love with Horace.' Evanlyn had lowered her voice, but her words carried no less weight for the sudden drop in volume.

'Of course you are! Don't deny it. You…' Alyss suddenly realised what the princess had said and floundered to a stop. 'You're what?' she said. 'I mean, I know Horace is in love with you. But you…'

'I am in love with him. Deeply in love with him. And only him. Why do you think I came halfway round the world to help him? Because he's a good dance partner? Oh, I love Will, Alyss. But I'm not in love with him. We went through so much together and he was a wonderful friend and protector for me. Look, years ago, when we came back from Skandia, I thought I was in love with Will. I'll admit I made a play for him then. But he refused me – and he was right. We're friends, good friends. Surely you can deal with that?'

Alyss hesitated. She still wasn't certain. She wasn't sure that she trusted Evanlyn's motives.

'I'm not…' she began but Evanlyn erupted in anger once more.

'Oh for god's sake, girl! Tell me, how do you feel about Horace?'

'Horace?' Alyss said in surprise. 'Well, we grew up together. I love him, of course. He's like a big brother.'

'Exactly! Now has that ever seemed to bother me? Or have I coped with it?'

Alyss couldn't help a wry smile. 'Well, when we found him, you nearly broke my arm getting him away from me,' she said and Evanlyn rolled her eyes to heaven. 'But no…I suppose it hasn't bothered you. There's no reason why it should. There's nothing like…that…between Horace and me, as I say.'

'Aaaaaaaggggggghhhhh!' Evanlyn let out a frustrated yell. Alyss actually recoiled a pace in surprise. 'That's what I'm trying to tell you! There is nothing like that between me and Will, either! Cope with it! For god's sake, cope with it!'

More than a little taken aback, Alyss studied the determined stance of the small figure before her. Alyss was an honest person and she was forced to admit that Evanlyn had an excellent point. Alyss had spent the past few months, and some considerable time before that, acting suspiciously towards her, distrusting her and jealously resenting any time she spent with Will. Yet she realised that Evanlyn, if she chose to, could feel exactly the same way about her relationship with Horace.

But she didn't. She accepted it.

And suddenly Alyss felt very small when she remembered the sarcasm and the taunts and the bruised knuckles that had characterised their relationship. Evanlyn had behaved well, she thought. It was she who had behaved badly, who had been petty and distrustful. This was a noble and courageous girl, she realised. She hadn't hesitated to risk her life when Alyss was in danger. She had acted quickly and resourcefully.

She had offered her friendship and Alyss, as she always had in the past, had rebuffed her.

'I'm sorry,' she said meekly. 'I never thought of it that way.' She felt ashamed and for a few seconds she couldn't meet Evanlyn's eyes. But then she heard the unmistakable smile in the smaller girl's voice.

'Well, thank goodness we got that out of the way. After all, our future husbands are best friends. It'd be damn awkward if we continued to hate each other.'

'I never hated you,' Alyss protested, but she saw Evanlyn's eyebrow raise in a familiar expression.

'Oh really?' the princess said.