A sword the ring and the chalice story.
What would happen if Tobjestein survived the return from Nold? Where would the Prince and Princess grow up and be trained? Would Faldain and Alexieka still fall in love? Where do Gavril and Pheresa come into the story? What happens to Thia? Could Dain and Thum still be friends? Has anyone else read these stories?
Chapter 1: Settling in.
"Thia!" a young teenage girl ran up to hug her friend.
"Alex! How are you? What are you doing here?" the princess asked her younger friend, "The priestess will kill you if she finds you've snuck in. You know girls under 18 aren't allowed, they only let students in."
"Which is why I'm here." The dark haired girl replied, "I got moved up a year, again, something about needing older role models and more challenging classes... so I'm starting with this year's class."
"Don't tell me, you were trying to teach the younger girls how to fight with the extra time you had because of the simplicity of your subjects." Thia grinned, "You realize it's a lot harder here than back at the school."
"Yeah, but I can pick my subjects and do things I'm interested in." Alexieka replied,
"The thing is I need to find good rooms, do you know any?"
"In the academy?" Thia asked.
Alex nodded, "I'd rather not be too much with the other girls, and they get annoyed when I train in the morning."
"Have the room next to mine; I have the first floor to myself because no one else likes being so near the stables and the kitchen." Thia offered, linking her friend's arm and walking her to the rooms, "So how have things been at the school since I left?"
"Let me see..." Alex pretended to think, "Madame Kaman lost a heap of weight, Madame Venn still bursts into tears when ever some one talks back, Madame Mina fell down the stairs and landed on Madame Cambey who is still the same size, luckily for Madame Mina, and the girls still giggle, squeal and cry. Oh! And self defense is still not on the subject lists."
Thia laughed as they passed under a doorway that led into a first floor corridor. "Ok, this is my room." She said gesturing to the first door on the right, "That corridor after it leads of to the gardens, the corridor at the end goes left to the kitchens and right to the stables, kennels and eventually the practice courts and this left hand one," she gestured to a corridor opposite the route to the gardens, "That one leads to the performance hall and the library."
"Cool, do you get many people wandering past?" Alex asked, looking at the corridor.
"No, most of the girls have little interest in the kitchen or the gardens and practice courts." Thia replied.
"Would never have guessed." Alex put in sarcastically.
"Yes, and the 'men' are housed separately so they have other ways of accessing the named facilities." Thia put on a voice, mimicking the headmistress, Alex giggled.
"Anyway, take your pick of the rooms, the other three are empty."
Alex walked down to the room past the first corridor on the left. Opening the door, the room was a bright yellow with orange tapestries, a rather ugly looking chest of drawers and a lime green bathroom to the left, "Perhaps not."
Directly across was a deep purple room with lilac awnings and lots of tables, rugs and a bed crammed in there somewhere, "Hmm...lets try the next one."
Walking back down the room opposite Thia's, the walls were a soft cream with burgundy trims, to the right was a modest bathroom, just the necessities, an adjoining room equipped with a four poster bed, red drapings, and a wardrobe. The first room had a box window overlooking the courtyard, an oak writing desk, small fireplace, a table and chairs, and a large open space covered with a burgundy rug, "I think I'll take this one."
"I thought so." Thia said, "Do you have to go tell the head where you are staying?" "Yes but I must also decide on my subjects first." Alexieka replied, pulling out a long list of subjects, "Alright, self-defense, yes. Etiquette, hell no. Ballet, no. Performing arts, yes. Riding, is that side saddle or normal?"
"Side saddle."
"Then no. English, standard, advanced, extension 1 or 2? Extension 2. Magic, yes. That's four we need 8. Science, physics, yes. Visual arts, very much yes. Ancient history, yes. Eldish, yes. Can we do 9?"
"Yes."
"Ok, then healing, yes. I think that'll do."
"Let's go then." Thia replied as they left the room. She led back the way they came, "The head is directly above the main dining hall," she explained heading up a winding cedar staircase, "And she only teaches the most advanced etiquette students and advanced magic. She's really nice if you are on her good side, luckily she's a woman who believes that women with brains are more useful than the ones without and doesn't get too upset if you fail things like etiquette or needlework, but she doesn't like no-it- alls, so don't talk back too much." Thia knocked on a big oak door they had arrived at.
"Come in." called a smooth contralto voice.
The girls walked into the office, directly a head behind a large desk sat a mature woman. She had silver hair that did nothing to diminish her beauty, her eyes were pools of deep blue and held more wisdom than Alexeika could have thought possible, yet she was sure she could see a mischievous glint somewhere in there, 'I like this lady already.'
"Ah Alexieka Volvn, is it not, and Princess Thiaterika. How may I help you girls?"
"You asked the other girls and me to find rooms and select subjects before returning to you." Alexieka stated at attention.
"Yes. But I did not expect such promptness; most girls fiddle around for ages choosing."
"My father taught me to be prompt Madame."
"Your father is a general is he not?" Alexeika nodded, "I take it you are friends with Thiaterika." It was a question.
"Yes Madame, we were the only people at the school who liked riding and archery."
The head grinned, "Where are you housed then?"
"Opposite her highness, room 28 I believe." Alexeika replied.
"Again a change, most girls need to go back to remember their room number. What are your subjects?" Alexeika handed her the sheet of parchment with her selections. "You have 9 subjects, that will be a strain on your studies."
"I believe I can cope."
"If not you may drop one at any time." The woman smiled, "Welcome to Shimana Academy Alexeika, I've got a feeling you'll do well. You must report to the seamstress for your uniforms. Good day."
"Good day Madame." Alexeika and Thia replied in unison before leaving the room and heading down to the seamstress.
"That wasn't too bad, she seems so...like us." Alex said as the headed down the stair.
"She's a strict taskmistress though." Thia said rounding the corner.
"I'd guess tha...OW!" Alexeika had rounded the corner straight into something solid and was now sitting on the step holding her head.
"Sorry." A voice said, "Are you alright." He held out a hand that was ignored.
"I'm fine thank you." Alex replied looking up, he was taller than she was and that said something.
"Dain!" Thia cried having just turned the corner.
"Hey sis." He replied, never taking his eyes of Alex. "Thia, your friend, is she new?"
"Alexeika is..." Thia was cut off suddenly.
"Yes I just started and I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk about me in the third person while I'm here." She snapped. Faldain took a step back, startled.
"Pray beg my pardon Lady Alexeika, I did not mean to be rude." He replied, 'A girl with spunk, things may be interesting round here.' "You are general Volvn's daughter."
"Yes, and you are Prince Faldain, and Thia is you sister, and this is Shimana Academy and we are Netheren, and I need to get some uniforms because I have just enrolled and don't we love stating the obvious." she replied sarcastically.
Luckily for Dain, Thia could sense an Alex insult-a-thon coming on and swiftly adverted the fight, "Yes, we must get going," she replied, nudging Alex down the stairs, "See you later Dain."
"Goodbye sister dearest, and her fire maiden friend." He called to their retreating backs.
"Why did you make me leave I was going to give him a piece of my mind." Alexeika said as the continued down a new corridor.
"I don't want you fighting with my brother not until you've settled in at least." Thia replied turning her into a room stacked with clothes. "Mistress Vete."
"Yes girls?" a plump woman came into view.
"New recruit." Thia replied.
"Lovely, what's your name deary?"
"Alexeika."
"What size are you?"
"About a 12."
"Let's try these on then." The woman gave Alexeika a bundle of clothes and shooed her into a dressing room. Examining them Alex found she had a long black skirt, a long white blouse and a set of black robes. Trying them on she had to get a larger blouse, but the rest fitted perfectly.
"Now do you have any specialty classes?"
"I have self defense, performing and visual arts, and magic and healing."
"Alright, SD and PA have the same uniform," she handed Alex a knee length grey skirt, a black tunic and short sleeved shirt, and a pair of white leggings and loose white breeches.
"You wear the skirt and leggings together or you can wear the breeches alone depending on your mood." Alexeika found them a perfect fit, the woman handed her a white apron,
"That is for VA and healing."
"What about coats and scarves?" she asked pointing to the colored array of jumpers and accessories."
"The colors denoted your magic house." The woman supplied, "You will be sorted some time today and they will be given to you then."
"That all?"
"Yes."
"Good afternoon then."
"Good afternoon."
As they went outside, carrying the stack of clothes Alex asked, "So what's the deal with the houses?"
"Those with magic powers are separated into houses by their elements, earth, fire, air and water, the non-magic people have their own house and it's just a way of telling differences. I'm in earth, Dain is in fire. Earth is green and brown, fire is red and yellow, air is yellow and pale blue, and water is blue and lilac, people with a few talents pick their favourite element." Thia explained.
"Alright, how do you get sorted?"
"The professor tests you with a moonstone ring, it shows your strong elements when put on your hand."
"And if Miss Volvn would like to be tested now I will gladly do so." A smooth male voice said from behind them. The girls jumped and turned face to face with an old man, silver haired and bearded, dressed in purple robes.
"Master Si Yama." Thia bowed to the man, her friend followed suit, "Alexeika would you care to?"
"Yes, please."
"This way." The man led them through a doorway to their left, the girls followed after still carrying the clothes. The entered a room full of books, parchments and vials with a circle etched into the stone floor. "You can put those clothes down and step into the circle." Alex did as she was told, the man opened a box set behind his desk. "Put this on your finger and we will see where you belong."
Alex slipped the ring onto her first finger and watched the colors swirl, until they finally came to a stop.
"Red and blue." The Master mused, "A very rare combination, fire and water, equal halves. You may choose."
"What is the difference?"
"Water will see you with academics, quiet people, fire is for warriors and outgoing people. Water is linked to healing, fire, fighting, two very opposite elements. Water is feminine, there are more women in that group; there are no women I know of in fire."
"I pick fire."
The man grinned, "I rather thought you would. Here," he waved his hand, "Are your other clothes," a bundle of red and yellow clothing landed in her arms as well as a pair of red knee high boots, "Good luck, Miss Volvn."
"Thank you, sir."
"See you tomorrow sir."
"Bye girls."
The two girls left the room and headed back down to the rooms, "Now if we have no more disruptions I'd like to put all my things away." Alex sighed as they finally turned the corner into their corridor and into her room.
What would happen if Tobjestein survived the return from Nold? Where would the Prince and Princess grow up and be trained? Would Faldain and Alexieka still fall in love? Where do Gavril and Pheresa come into the story? What happens to Thia? Could Dain and Thum still be friends? Has anyone else read these stories?
Chapter 1: Settling in.
"Thia!" a young teenage girl ran up to hug her friend.
"Alex! How are you? What are you doing here?" the princess asked her younger friend, "The priestess will kill you if she finds you've snuck in. You know girls under 18 aren't allowed, they only let students in."
"Which is why I'm here." The dark haired girl replied, "I got moved up a year, again, something about needing older role models and more challenging classes... so I'm starting with this year's class."
"Don't tell me, you were trying to teach the younger girls how to fight with the extra time you had because of the simplicity of your subjects." Thia grinned, "You realize it's a lot harder here than back at the school."
"Yeah, but I can pick my subjects and do things I'm interested in." Alexieka replied,
"The thing is I need to find good rooms, do you know any?"
"In the academy?" Thia asked.
Alex nodded, "I'd rather not be too much with the other girls, and they get annoyed when I train in the morning."
"Have the room next to mine; I have the first floor to myself because no one else likes being so near the stables and the kitchen." Thia offered, linking her friend's arm and walking her to the rooms, "So how have things been at the school since I left?"
"Let me see..." Alex pretended to think, "Madame Kaman lost a heap of weight, Madame Venn still bursts into tears when ever some one talks back, Madame Mina fell down the stairs and landed on Madame Cambey who is still the same size, luckily for Madame Mina, and the girls still giggle, squeal and cry. Oh! And self defense is still not on the subject lists."
Thia laughed as they passed under a doorway that led into a first floor corridor. "Ok, this is my room." She said gesturing to the first door on the right, "That corridor after it leads of to the gardens, the corridor at the end goes left to the kitchens and right to the stables, kennels and eventually the practice courts and this left hand one," she gestured to a corridor opposite the route to the gardens, "That one leads to the performance hall and the library."
"Cool, do you get many people wandering past?" Alex asked, looking at the corridor.
"No, most of the girls have little interest in the kitchen or the gardens and practice courts." Thia replied.
"Would never have guessed." Alex put in sarcastically.
"Yes, and the 'men' are housed separately so they have other ways of accessing the named facilities." Thia put on a voice, mimicking the headmistress, Alex giggled.
"Anyway, take your pick of the rooms, the other three are empty."
Alex walked down to the room past the first corridor on the left. Opening the door, the room was a bright yellow with orange tapestries, a rather ugly looking chest of drawers and a lime green bathroom to the left, "Perhaps not."
Directly across was a deep purple room with lilac awnings and lots of tables, rugs and a bed crammed in there somewhere, "Hmm...lets try the next one."
Walking back down the room opposite Thia's, the walls were a soft cream with burgundy trims, to the right was a modest bathroom, just the necessities, an adjoining room equipped with a four poster bed, red drapings, and a wardrobe. The first room had a box window overlooking the courtyard, an oak writing desk, small fireplace, a table and chairs, and a large open space covered with a burgundy rug, "I think I'll take this one."
"I thought so." Thia said, "Do you have to go tell the head where you are staying?" "Yes but I must also decide on my subjects first." Alexieka replied, pulling out a long list of subjects, "Alright, self-defense, yes. Etiquette, hell no. Ballet, no. Performing arts, yes. Riding, is that side saddle or normal?"
"Side saddle."
"Then no. English, standard, advanced, extension 1 or 2? Extension 2. Magic, yes. That's four we need 8. Science, physics, yes. Visual arts, very much yes. Ancient history, yes. Eldish, yes. Can we do 9?"
"Yes."
"Ok, then healing, yes. I think that'll do."
"Let's go then." Thia replied as they left the room. She led back the way they came, "The head is directly above the main dining hall," she explained heading up a winding cedar staircase, "And she only teaches the most advanced etiquette students and advanced magic. She's really nice if you are on her good side, luckily she's a woman who believes that women with brains are more useful than the ones without and doesn't get too upset if you fail things like etiquette or needlework, but she doesn't like no-it- alls, so don't talk back too much." Thia knocked on a big oak door they had arrived at.
"Come in." called a smooth contralto voice.
The girls walked into the office, directly a head behind a large desk sat a mature woman. She had silver hair that did nothing to diminish her beauty, her eyes were pools of deep blue and held more wisdom than Alexeika could have thought possible, yet she was sure she could see a mischievous glint somewhere in there, 'I like this lady already.'
"Ah Alexieka Volvn, is it not, and Princess Thiaterika. How may I help you girls?"
"You asked the other girls and me to find rooms and select subjects before returning to you." Alexieka stated at attention.
"Yes. But I did not expect such promptness; most girls fiddle around for ages choosing."
"My father taught me to be prompt Madame."
"Your father is a general is he not?" Alexeika nodded, "I take it you are friends with Thiaterika." It was a question.
"Yes Madame, we were the only people at the school who liked riding and archery."
The head grinned, "Where are you housed then?"
"Opposite her highness, room 28 I believe." Alexeika replied.
"Again a change, most girls need to go back to remember their room number. What are your subjects?" Alexeika handed her the sheet of parchment with her selections. "You have 9 subjects, that will be a strain on your studies."
"I believe I can cope."
"If not you may drop one at any time." The woman smiled, "Welcome to Shimana Academy Alexeika, I've got a feeling you'll do well. You must report to the seamstress for your uniforms. Good day."
"Good day Madame." Alexeika and Thia replied in unison before leaving the room and heading down to the seamstress.
"That wasn't too bad, she seems so...like us." Alex said as the headed down the stair.
"She's a strict taskmistress though." Thia said rounding the corner.
"I'd guess tha...OW!" Alexeika had rounded the corner straight into something solid and was now sitting on the step holding her head.
"Sorry." A voice said, "Are you alright." He held out a hand that was ignored.
"I'm fine thank you." Alex replied looking up, he was taller than she was and that said something.
"Dain!" Thia cried having just turned the corner.
"Hey sis." He replied, never taking his eyes of Alex. "Thia, your friend, is she new?"
"Alexeika is..." Thia was cut off suddenly.
"Yes I just started and I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk about me in the third person while I'm here." She snapped. Faldain took a step back, startled.
"Pray beg my pardon Lady Alexeika, I did not mean to be rude." He replied, 'A girl with spunk, things may be interesting round here.' "You are general Volvn's daughter."
"Yes, and you are Prince Faldain, and Thia is you sister, and this is Shimana Academy and we are Netheren, and I need to get some uniforms because I have just enrolled and don't we love stating the obvious." she replied sarcastically.
Luckily for Dain, Thia could sense an Alex insult-a-thon coming on and swiftly adverted the fight, "Yes, we must get going," she replied, nudging Alex down the stairs, "See you later Dain."
"Goodbye sister dearest, and her fire maiden friend." He called to their retreating backs.
"Why did you make me leave I was going to give him a piece of my mind." Alexeika said as the continued down a new corridor.
"I don't want you fighting with my brother not until you've settled in at least." Thia replied turning her into a room stacked with clothes. "Mistress Vete."
"Yes girls?" a plump woman came into view.
"New recruit." Thia replied.
"Lovely, what's your name deary?"
"Alexeika."
"What size are you?"
"About a 12."
"Let's try these on then." The woman gave Alexeika a bundle of clothes and shooed her into a dressing room. Examining them Alex found she had a long black skirt, a long white blouse and a set of black robes. Trying them on she had to get a larger blouse, but the rest fitted perfectly.
"Now do you have any specialty classes?"
"I have self defense, performing and visual arts, and magic and healing."
"Alright, SD and PA have the same uniform," she handed Alex a knee length grey skirt, a black tunic and short sleeved shirt, and a pair of white leggings and loose white breeches.
"You wear the skirt and leggings together or you can wear the breeches alone depending on your mood." Alexeika found them a perfect fit, the woman handed her a white apron,
"That is for VA and healing."
"What about coats and scarves?" she asked pointing to the colored array of jumpers and accessories."
"The colors denoted your magic house." The woman supplied, "You will be sorted some time today and they will be given to you then."
"That all?"
"Yes."
"Good afternoon then."
"Good afternoon."
As they went outside, carrying the stack of clothes Alex asked, "So what's the deal with the houses?"
"Those with magic powers are separated into houses by their elements, earth, fire, air and water, the non-magic people have their own house and it's just a way of telling differences. I'm in earth, Dain is in fire. Earth is green and brown, fire is red and yellow, air is yellow and pale blue, and water is blue and lilac, people with a few talents pick their favourite element." Thia explained.
"Alright, how do you get sorted?"
"The professor tests you with a moonstone ring, it shows your strong elements when put on your hand."
"And if Miss Volvn would like to be tested now I will gladly do so." A smooth male voice said from behind them. The girls jumped and turned face to face with an old man, silver haired and bearded, dressed in purple robes.
"Master Si Yama." Thia bowed to the man, her friend followed suit, "Alexeika would you care to?"
"Yes, please."
"This way." The man led them through a doorway to their left, the girls followed after still carrying the clothes. The entered a room full of books, parchments and vials with a circle etched into the stone floor. "You can put those clothes down and step into the circle." Alex did as she was told, the man opened a box set behind his desk. "Put this on your finger and we will see where you belong."
Alex slipped the ring onto her first finger and watched the colors swirl, until they finally came to a stop.
"Red and blue." The Master mused, "A very rare combination, fire and water, equal halves. You may choose."
"What is the difference?"
"Water will see you with academics, quiet people, fire is for warriors and outgoing people. Water is linked to healing, fire, fighting, two very opposite elements. Water is feminine, there are more women in that group; there are no women I know of in fire."
"I pick fire."
The man grinned, "I rather thought you would. Here," he waved his hand, "Are your other clothes," a bundle of red and yellow clothing landed in her arms as well as a pair of red knee high boots, "Good luck, Miss Volvn."
"Thank you, sir."
"See you tomorrow sir."
"Bye girls."
The two girls left the room and headed back down to the rooms, "Now if we have no more disruptions I'd like to put all my things away." Alex sighed as they finally turned the corner into their corridor and into her room.