Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Ten: Luminescent

"He is, isn't he. I wouldn't have him any other way, though." Alethea hummed in agreement as a woman with skin dark like Ajihad's walked up to us.

"Princess Khensamel." The woman said curtsying.

"What is your name?"

"Nasuada."

"Well Nasuada, I require a friend that isn't male and I don't want my friends addressing me so formally," I said with a smile. "If you must use the term 'Lady,' princess gives the air of a stuck up woman, and I am never going to be a stuck up twit."

Nasuada laughed at my words and nodded at me.

"Very well, my lady, I will be honored to be your friend, my father had informed me that you might want to visit Lady Arya."

"I would."

"I will take you to her first before taking you to your room. I have a feeling you want a good wash and new clothes."

"That is an understatement." I laughed while we started to walk down the massive stone hallway. "I may travel with men, but I do not need to smell like them."

"I will have your maids draw a bath while you are visiting Arya," Nasuada said while trying contain her laughter.

"I would appreciate that immensely, thank you." We made some more turns before Nasuada ushered me into a room and shut the door behind me. Arya had her back to me for a second before she turned around to face me. "You're looking much better since I saw you last."

Arya smiled and studied me for a few seconds.

"You look just like your mother."

"So I've been told, does it bother you that I am an only half-elf and a child of his on top of that?"

"No, I can sense that you have a good heart, just like your mother." Alethea let out a squeak from my rucksack.

"I like your cousin!" Arya looked confused as I started to smile.

"Would you like to introduce yourself?" I barely finished saying the words before Alethea wormed her way out of the rucksack and onto my shoulder, curling her tail around my neck. "You wondered where the other egg went? She's right here."

Arya's face split into a grin as she watched Alethea clean herself.

' "When did she hatch?"

"Same time Saphira did, we later found out she can size change. She's been keeping a low profile so we wouldn't attract more attention. Alethea, would you like to introduce yourself?" Alethea jumped off my shoulder and grew big enough to look Arya in the eyes.

"I am honored to meet you, Alethea," Arya said with a nod of her head and a twist of her fingers.

"I am honored to meet you as well," Alethea responded before returning to my shoulder.

"I have a question, have the twins always given off a....distrustful aura?"

"Since I have first met them, they have given me the same feeling, but it is Ajihad's decision to trust them," Arya said with distaste.

"Well, I would not trust them with my life," I said, shaking my head. "I should go and get cleaned up now. I feel utterly gross."

I made my exit and Nasuada led me to my room where a hot bath was waiting. I let out a big sigh as I lowered my body into the hot water. I scrubbed my skin raw in an attempt to get the layers of dirt that had accumulated. I let out a squeak when some maids came in to help me finish. I wasn't expecting this much help.