Writer's note: Haha I'm really new to this so if it stinks absolutely tell me in the reviews!!

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own any rights to the work of the wonderful Tamora Pierce because if I did I wouldn't be writing for FANfiction (no offense!)

Hello I'm Emma of Aquinas and this is my journal. I'm starting this journal mainly because of what happened yesterday. I think that things are starting to become more interesting in my life and so I should document it somehow. Also mother tells me that keeping a journal is a good lady-like thing to do. Not that I care I don't ever want to be a lady! I may be 9 but I know that sitting prim and pretty on a chair isn't what I want to do when I grow up. I want to be like the lady knights and the Queen's ladies, fighting for my country. If only I could convince mother of that.

Anyway before I tell of yesterday's events I should most likely inform the reader, whoever you are, a little about myself. I am Emma Alexandria of Aquinas, daughter of Lord Michael and Lady Willa and sister to Brendan, Kenyon, and Connor. We live smack dab in the center of bandit country, which is kinda in the middle to the north.

I guess I'm tall for my age but is anybody really tall when they're 9? I've got boring brown hair, boring brown eyes, plain facial features all except for my skin. Everywhere on my body I have freckles, it's like a freckle machine. I don't mind, I love my freckles they make me different from the average brown haired brown-eyed kid. But my mother does not. Apparently a lady is not supposed to have freckles, she is supposed to have creamy white skin that glows in the sunlight. But Lady Keladry of Mindelan is technically a lady too, she has freckles AND she's a knight. Oh well I dither.

My older brother Brendan is a scholar even though he is only 13 and is being sent to the University of Tortall when he turns 15. Kenyon is 11 and my best friend. Unfortunately he left last year to go to the palace for Page training and I miss him so much. Connor is 6 and has magic that he has no clue how to use. He is also constantly bugging me about everything. I try and deal with him but when I can't get any more I just go out and ride.

My favorite things to do are swimming, riding, archery, and probably reading. I swim everywhere and whenever I can. If my mother found out that I swim with the village boys, even though we're clothed, she'd probably have a heart attack. I have my own horse and I'm pretty much aloud to go where I want as long as I'm relatively close. I absolutely love archery. The feeling of the bow and the string, the sound the arrow makes, and the dull thud when it hits the target. I also love to read. Reading takes me to a different world where I can imagine everything, I love reading history books and acting out battles in my mind.

Of course we're all schooled by our tutor everyday. He is so terribly boring but I don't care because he let's me do what I want. Brendan is very smart and the rest of us are too but we don't like it like he does. I do like languages though. They are so interesting with the different types of words and sounds. I'm fluent in Yamani and I'm learning the language of the Bazhir. Maybe one day I could be a foreign delegate and go to far away countries because I speak their language. Hey I can hope.

Hmmm what else should I put in here. I live in Fief Aquinas, which is pretty large. The towns around us mainly specialize in wood working because there are so many forests everywhere. We have a lot of land that's never even been explored before because the woods are so thick and dangerous. I've always wanted to go explore them but I think I might be just a little too scared.

Oh my goodness that was the dinner bell! I'm so sorry I never even got around to what happened yesterday. I'll write it up after dinner.

Emma