I woke up at the call of my alarm clock at 5:30 am. Blindly stumbling across my bedroom to dress, I drew out some jeans and a polo fleece coat to ward off the morning breeze. Taking a walk at the local park, I stumbled across a 10 minutes bush walk. Exactly what I needed.
I walked on, watching early birds flying through the sky, chirping at its sleepy
friends to come out and play. There were trees in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, with some hanging halfway on the side of the hill, but never tumbled down.
Some were twisted after decades of harsh weather, enduring storms and hurricanes.
After a few minutes, there was a blinding white light ahead. I walked up to it. It was a hole. An oval the size of a half-meter diameter wide and three-quarters of a meter high. The hole had bright light shining out from inside, with black dust-like things sprinkled around floating in mid-air. The hole itself was floating itself, about up to my chin. I touched it. Instantly disappearing into the light, the force of pulling me in was so strong I fell.
*******************************************
"She's awake." A female voice called from outside a tent.
A tent? Who would need a tent in a 10 minutes bush walk?
I tried to stand up, but stumbled back down.
"We found you unconscious." The woman explained. "Here you are." She
handed me a mug. I looked up to see a short and slender woman in her mid-thirties,
with flaming red hair and violet eyes. She had some strange-looking clothes on, so
strange that it actually looked familiar. I also noticed she had a sword.
Just why does she seem so familiar, as if I'd known her for ages? As if I read
about her in a book or something. That's right. In fact, she looked just like Alanna the
Lioness I often daydreamed about!
A boy of about fourteen came up. He too, seemed familiar. "Hi..." he began
shyly. Alanna saved him. "I'm Alanna. This is Roald, err, Prince Roald of Conte."
Conte? Tortall! What?! But Tortall is just fantasy, three series of books written
by Tamora Pierce! I can't be in Tortall, not the real Tortall!
"I...I'm Alexandra Keith. Where am I?" I asked nervously.
"Why, you're in the Royal Forest, of course!" Alanna sounded surprised.
"Royal Forest?! But I was in Tauranga five minutes ago!" I cried
"Where's Ta - To - Tau... what is it?" The Prince squeaked.
No wonder he doesn't have many friends! He can't even go out to meet them!
Here I thought the Royal Families were all strong political leaders, and never stopped to think one of them could be shy and timid! In all the Tamora Pierce books I've read, he never was shy!
"Err, it's, err, in New Zealand, in Australasia." I stumbled out words.
What is the fitting term for a prince? I forgot. Ah, that's right. Highness. I
remembered. How could I have forgotten, after doing 4 year's research? I never felt so embarrassed before. Here I am, in conversation with the Lioness and the Crown Prince of Tortall, and I don't even know what to say! I feel so unprepared.
Wrong explanation. I am unprepared. I never thought I would journey into
Tortall.
Calm down, and don't make things serious. After all, they're only humans. My
other side argued back. You're not talking to gods.
Oh yes I am. It's worse than talking to gods. I'm talking to legends!
If you're going to be nutty, I won't argue. My other side shut down.
"You two talk, I'm off to find game. By the way, you look so much like Sacherell
when he was your age." Alanna walked off.
What? Leave me with the Prince? No way! Come back, Alanna, I need you!
At least Roald is just as nervous as I am. You can tell by the way he's fidgeting with his tunic.
We were silent for a long time, looking at each other, as if searching for
something. Finally the Prince found his voice and shyly asked, "Are... are you from another world or...or..." he faded away and blushed.
"I think I skipped between worlds, err, highness. " I managed to squeak.
"Please don't call me highness, my name's Roald." The boy argued, voice a
little more confident than last time, but still very soft and shy.
At once he seemed friendly.
The conversation eased, and we chattered away, talking about Tortall, New
Zealand, family, friends, everyday life. We were both very talkative.
To friends, that is.
"Dinner's ready," Alanna called from somewhere outside.
The Lioness cooking dinner? I know she's learning to weave, but cooking...
*******************************************
I had a vision.
Outside a castle, a girl of about twelve was tied to a pole, screaming. She
wore a nightdress and was barefoot. An executioner held out a torch (the fire ones) and walked over to the girl, ready to light the pile of hay beneath her feet. The crowds were shouting with hatred and fear.
Hmph. Who could that girl be, and what is that castle?
"I think you came because Numair placed a magic doorway. Is there a blinding
light, and you came here when you touched it?" Alanna asked.
I nodded. At least, I think so.
"Numair could get you back," Roald put in.
"No way! I like it here! No more work!" I cried.
"You can stay, and train as a page." Alanna answered, voice unusually
thoughtful.
What? I really can? Oh, this is beyond all dreams!
When I got my excitement down, I said, "That'd be great, if I'm allowed."
"Of course you'll be allowed. I'll talk to father about it, and he'll let you in. He always encourages me to make new friends." Roald offered, then added, "Besides, we have another girl page, so you won't be the odd one out."
I was speechless. To become a lady knight, a lady knight of the Realm of
Tortall!
"Of - Of course I want to!" I felt like dancing. This is the best day of my entire life!
That following morning, us three, with a company of a dozen of the King's
Own who was there the whole time without me noticing, went towards the palace.
The king, or should we say Jon, approved, as Roald said he would. That night, I
went to the tailor, a grumpy old man who preferred to be left alone, and he shoved a bundle of clothes under her nose.
"Ya rip'em, ya mend'em. And don't let me see ya for a'least 3 months!" He barked at her, almost shoving her out the door.
I tried the clothes on. The formal uniform was a royal red and gold clinging hose with a cloth-of-gold tunic and a slim black belt with a small leather purse and a dagger.
The dagger was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, and probably the most
beautiful I'll ever see. Gold-hilted, studded with an emerald and engraved with ivory.
It must worth at least $5000 NZD!
Probably even $10000 NZD.
The hose and tunic were beauties, too. You don't get cloth-of-gold from the $2
shop. The whole set of formal uniform must cost about $20000. The practice clothing and winter clothing, made of leather, wool and thick velvet, will cost about $10000.
Only nobles could afford those costs around here!
That made me think. Only noblemen's sons or daughters were allowed to become
pages. Does that mean I'll become a noble? Or am I going to be the first page in the written history of Tortall that is a commoner?
*******************************************
The following two mornings made the decision.
I didn't realise that I was nearly walking into the dreaded Lord Wyldon, or the Stump, as Neal calls him. He's supposed to get me a sponsor.
"Who will sponsor Page Alexandra?" Every word of the Stump's was chipped
from a granite block.
"Sir, I will!" Someone called from near the back. Someone else called, until about half a dozen was interested.
"We cannot have more than one sponsor. I do not understand why you
weren't nearly as interested at another girl as you were with Page Keladry. And since you were the first to call, and also you would be a good friend, you're her sponsor, Keladry. But don't sleep together, like some girlies do." The Stump announced, then walked back to his study.
Sleep together? Gosh, he really does think girls are weak and emotional.
No wonder Kel hated him so much.
"You know, you look like Lord Sacherell. Not his age. His childhood looks, if
you know what I mean." Kel explained as they walked to the mess hall.
Why does everyone think I look like Sacherell?
*******************************************
The next night Keladry and I served at the banquet in the Great Hall. All the
important officials were there (you can change that to all of Jon's friends. It means the same people). We were lucky enough to serve a not-so-important important official if you know what I mean. Lord Sacherell. Just Lord Sacherell of Wellam, Commander of the Patrols against the Copper Islands and Carthak. A nice and short
title, compared with some of the other people here...
"Look at him. Don't you get why I say he looks like you?" Keladry proofed as they handed dishes out to the table, bowing every time a dish comes out.
He does, too. In fact, he would have passed as my father! None of my
parents and I have anything in common, except that we are humans. But he has my
stubborn chin, pointed nose and light brown hair!
"And he does. Hmm." I remarked, looking skeptical.
I passed a plate to Sacherell. He looked up. You can tell he was about to
smile, but he didn't. Instead, his eyes looked straight into my eyes, searching deep in
them. He came back to the world, looking bewildered.
"Who is your father?" He asked.
My father? Why tell you who my father is? It's supposed to be private!
"Aaron Keith, my lord." My voice was flat, flat on the ground.
I nearly grinned at my joke. I wish 'be as stone' happens for me. Then I won't
need to try that hard to stop grinning.
What if I tried? Keladry could teach me something. Yes! She is the One. She
would make a perfect teacher for that, having lived in the Yamani Islands for 6 years.
She might even teach me how to use a glaive, and how to do a pattern dance!
But more of that later. I need to serve. Serve Lord Sacherell.
The man who looks like my father.
*******************************************
After the banquet, I found myself called upon to stay behind.
What have I done?
As people cleared, Alanna motioned me to go to her.
"No offense meant, but have you realised your parents aren't your born
parents?" She asked mildly.
What?!
Not possible.
Well, I have heard of children who finds out their parents are foster, but surely that can't happen to me?
"Yes, I know what you're thinking. Your parents are foster. But they don't
know it. Memory had been inserted into their minds so they think you're their child."
Alanna said bitterly. "This was one of the experiments Roger did. He doesn't care
who gets harmed. Sacherell and Cynthera are your real parents. You were born into
this world, of beautiful ladies and marvellous knights. It is Roger who brought you
into the future, the year 2001. But you were born in 442 Human Era. Translated into
your way of years, 219 Before Christ."
How can...!? But I'm born on 1989! I have birth records to show for it!
"Roger researched on everything you'll need to qualify as a person in the
future, and forged them using illusions from magic. Although your world is very
advanced, and has many devices against trickery, it does not have any magic. Roger
is very cautious and clever." Alanna answered as if I told her that. I think her Gift lets
her read my mind. I guess I'll have to get used to magic all around me.
But the daughter of Sacherell! And that I was from Tortall!
That... that means... I'm a noble! What's my title? Ah. Lady Alexandra of
Wellam.
No, no, no. Page Alexandra of Wellam.
Oh, I am so lucky. One out of millions of New Zealanders, and I have been
chosen. No one else.
Ah, thank you, Mithros and the Goddess, ah, thank you for granting
me...
No time to pray now, not now. I've still got to talk to Alanna, then help
clean the dishes.
Once again, thank you to Alanna, who turned me into a noble, to
Roald, who let me become a page, to Mithros and the Goddess, who let this
happen...
Hmph. I warned myself. This is no time to say thank yous.
I opened my mouth, as if to speak, but no sound came out.
Alanna saved me, like she saved Roald. "You are excused. Of to your
chores now, Alex."
Phew!
*******************************************
Born into a world of dishwashers, I am not used to washing dirty dishes with
my hands.
I wonder what would happen if I brought over a dishwasher? People
would probably think it's a magical device or something.
Whoops! Lord Wyldon's calling!
*******************************************
Finally, after two whole hours of tedious dishwashing, I'm off to my
chambers. Duties as a page were more than I thought.
Why can't the dirty stuff be done by the palace servants? It's not like
they don't have enough money to hire more. Money pores in every day.
Ah. I remember. Alanna said that she was taught from birth that no
chore was too dirty for a true noble.
But that's no excuse for giving us dirty chores! In Alanna's case, most
of the servants got the Sweating Sickness, so the pages had heaps of work.
That's a good enough reason. But here, there is no reason.
Maybe they thought we had too much sleep. Six hours a day. A very
long time.
Or maybe they thought we had too much free time. -1 hour a day. That
negative there is used because we don't get free time ~ we owe free time to
the masters who teach us.
I thought I was going to pray before I sleep. Let's do that, before a
servant puts the candles out.
I walked on, watching early birds flying through the sky, chirping at its sleepy
friends to come out and play. There were trees in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, with some hanging halfway on the side of the hill, but never tumbled down.
Some were twisted after decades of harsh weather, enduring storms and hurricanes.
After a few minutes, there was a blinding white light ahead. I walked up to it. It was a hole. An oval the size of a half-meter diameter wide and three-quarters of a meter high. The hole had bright light shining out from inside, with black dust-like things sprinkled around floating in mid-air. The hole itself was floating itself, about up to my chin. I touched it. Instantly disappearing into the light, the force of pulling me in was so strong I fell.
*******************************************
"She's awake." A female voice called from outside a tent.
A tent? Who would need a tent in a 10 minutes bush walk?
I tried to stand up, but stumbled back down.
"We found you unconscious." The woman explained. "Here you are." She
handed me a mug. I looked up to see a short and slender woman in her mid-thirties,
with flaming red hair and violet eyes. She had some strange-looking clothes on, so
strange that it actually looked familiar. I also noticed she had a sword.
Just why does she seem so familiar, as if I'd known her for ages? As if I read
about her in a book or something. That's right. In fact, she looked just like Alanna the
Lioness I often daydreamed about!
A boy of about fourteen came up. He too, seemed familiar. "Hi..." he began
shyly. Alanna saved him. "I'm Alanna. This is Roald, err, Prince Roald of Conte."
Conte? Tortall! What?! But Tortall is just fantasy, three series of books written
by Tamora Pierce! I can't be in Tortall, not the real Tortall!
"I...I'm Alexandra Keith. Where am I?" I asked nervously.
"Why, you're in the Royal Forest, of course!" Alanna sounded surprised.
"Royal Forest?! But I was in Tauranga five minutes ago!" I cried
"Where's Ta - To - Tau... what is it?" The Prince squeaked.
No wonder he doesn't have many friends! He can't even go out to meet them!
Here I thought the Royal Families were all strong political leaders, and never stopped to think one of them could be shy and timid! In all the Tamora Pierce books I've read, he never was shy!
"Err, it's, err, in New Zealand, in Australasia." I stumbled out words.
What is the fitting term for a prince? I forgot. Ah, that's right. Highness. I
remembered. How could I have forgotten, after doing 4 year's research? I never felt so embarrassed before. Here I am, in conversation with the Lioness and the Crown Prince of Tortall, and I don't even know what to say! I feel so unprepared.
Wrong explanation. I am unprepared. I never thought I would journey into
Tortall.
Calm down, and don't make things serious. After all, they're only humans. My
other side argued back. You're not talking to gods.
Oh yes I am. It's worse than talking to gods. I'm talking to legends!
If you're going to be nutty, I won't argue. My other side shut down.
"You two talk, I'm off to find game. By the way, you look so much like Sacherell
when he was your age." Alanna walked off.
What? Leave me with the Prince? No way! Come back, Alanna, I need you!
At least Roald is just as nervous as I am. You can tell by the way he's fidgeting with his tunic.
We were silent for a long time, looking at each other, as if searching for
something. Finally the Prince found his voice and shyly asked, "Are... are you from another world or...or..." he faded away and blushed.
"I think I skipped between worlds, err, highness. " I managed to squeak.
"Please don't call me highness, my name's Roald." The boy argued, voice a
little more confident than last time, but still very soft and shy.
At once he seemed friendly.
The conversation eased, and we chattered away, talking about Tortall, New
Zealand, family, friends, everyday life. We were both very talkative.
To friends, that is.
"Dinner's ready," Alanna called from somewhere outside.
The Lioness cooking dinner? I know she's learning to weave, but cooking...
*******************************************
I had a vision.
Outside a castle, a girl of about twelve was tied to a pole, screaming. She
wore a nightdress and was barefoot. An executioner held out a torch (the fire ones) and walked over to the girl, ready to light the pile of hay beneath her feet. The crowds were shouting with hatred and fear.
Hmph. Who could that girl be, and what is that castle?
"I think you came because Numair placed a magic doorway. Is there a blinding
light, and you came here when you touched it?" Alanna asked.
I nodded. At least, I think so.
"Numair could get you back," Roald put in.
"No way! I like it here! No more work!" I cried.
"You can stay, and train as a page." Alanna answered, voice unusually
thoughtful.
What? I really can? Oh, this is beyond all dreams!
When I got my excitement down, I said, "That'd be great, if I'm allowed."
"Of course you'll be allowed. I'll talk to father about it, and he'll let you in. He always encourages me to make new friends." Roald offered, then added, "Besides, we have another girl page, so you won't be the odd one out."
I was speechless. To become a lady knight, a lady knight of the Realm of
Tortall!
"Of - Of course I want to!" I felt like dancing. This is the best day of my entire life!
That following morning, us three, with a company of a dozen of the King's
Own who was there the whole time without me noticing, went towards the palace.
The king, or should we say Jon, approved, as Roald said he would. That night, I
went to the tailor, a grumpy old man who preferred to be left alone, and he shoved a bundle of clothes under her nose.
"Ya rip'em, ya mend'em. And don't let me see ya for a'least 3 months!" He barked at her, almost shoving her out the door.
I tried the clothes on. The formal uniform was a royal red and gold clinging hose with a cloth-of-gold tunic and a slim black belt with a small leather purse and a dagger.
The dagger was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, and probably the most
beautiful I'll ever see. Gold-hilted, studded with an emerald and engraved with ivory.
It must worth at least $5000 NZD!
Probably even $10000 NZD.
The hose and tunic were beauties, too. You don't get cloth-of-gold from the $2
shop. The whole set of formal uniform must cost about $20000. The practice clothing and winter clothing, made of leather, wool and thick velvet, will cost about $10000.
Only nobles could afford those costs around here!
That made me think. Only noblemen's sons or daughters were allowed to become
pages. Does that mean I'll become a noble? Or am I going to be the first page in the written history of Tortall that is a commoner?
*******************************************
The following two mornings made the decision.
I didn't realise that I was nearly walking into the dreaded Lord Wyldon, or the Stump, as Neal calls him. He's supposed to get me a sponsor.
"Who will sponsor Page Alexandra?" Every word of the Stump's was chipped
from a granite block.
"Sir, I will!" Someone called from near the back. Someone else called, until about half a dozen was interested.
"We cannot have more than one sponsor. I do not understand why you
weren't nearly as interested at another girl as you were with Page Keladry. And since you were the first to call, and also you would be a good friend, you're her sponsor, Keladry. But don't sleep together, like some girlies do." The Stump announced, then walked back to his study.
Sleep together? Gosh, he really does think girls are weak and emotional.
No wonder Kel hated him so much.
"You know, you look like Lord Sacherell. Not his age. His childhood looks, if
you know what I mean." Kel explained as they walked to the mess hall.
Why does everyone think I look like Sacherell?
*******************************************
The next night Keladry and I served at the banquet in the Great Hall. All the
important officials were there (you can change that to all of Jon's friends. It means the same people). We were lucky enough to serve a not-so-important important official if you know what I mean. Lord Sacherell. Just Lord Sacherell of Wellam, Commander of the Patrols against the Copper Islands and Carthak. A nice and short
title, compared with some of the other people here...
"Look at him. Don't you get why I say he looks like you?" Keladry proofed as they handed dishes out to the table, bowing every time a dish comes out.
He does, too. In fact, he would have passed as my father! None of my
parents and I have anything in common, except that we are humans. But he has my
stubborn chin, pointed nose and light brown hair!
"And he does. Hmm." I remarked, looking skeptical.
I passed a plate to Sacherell. He looked up. You can tell he was about to
smile, but he didn't. Instead, his eyes looked straight into my eyes, searching deep in
them. He came back to the world, looking bewildered.
"Who is your father?" He asked.
My father? Why tell you who my father is? It's supposed to be private!
"Aaron Keith, my lord." My voice was flat, flat on the ground.
I nearly grinned at my joke. I wish 'be as stone' happens for me. Then I won't
need to try that hard to stop grinning.
What if I tried? Keladry could teach me something. Yes! She is the One. She
would make a perfect teacher for that, having lived in the Yamani Islands for 6 years.
She might even teach me how to use a glaive, and how to do a pattern dance!
But more of that later. I need to serve. Serve Lord Sacherell.
The man who looks like my father.
*******************************************
After the banquet, I found myself called upon to stay behind.
What have I done?
As people cleared, Alanna motioned me to go to her.
"No offense meant, but have you realised your parents aren't your born
parents?" She asked mildly.
What?!
Not possible.
Well, I have heard of children who finds out their parents are foster, but surely that can't happen to me?
"Yes, I know what you're thinking. Your parents are foster. But they don't
know it. Memory had been inserted into their minds so they think you're their child."
Alanna said bitterly. "This was one of the experiments Roger did. He doesn't care
who gets harmed. Sacherell and Cynthera are your real parents. You were born into
this world, of beautiful ladies and marvellous knights. It is Roger who brought you
into the future, the year 2001. But you were born in 442 Human Era. Translated into
your way of years, 219 Before Christ."
How can...!? But I'm born on 1989! I have birth records to show for it!
"Roger researched on everything you'll need to qualify as a person in the
future, and forged them using illusions from magic. Although your world is very
advanced, and has many devices against trickery, it does not have any magic. Roger
is very cautious and clever." Alanna answered as if I told her that. I think her Gift lets
her read my mind. I guess I'll have to get used to magic all around me.
But the daughter of Sacherell! And that I was from Tortall!
That... that means... I'm a noble! What's my title? Ah. Lady Alexandra of
Wellam.
No, no, no. Page Alexandra of Wellam.
Oh, I am so lucky. One out of millions of New Zealanders, and I have been
chosen. No one else.
Ah, thank you, Mithros and the Goddess, ah, thank you for granting
me...
No time to pray now, not now. I've still got to talk to Alanna, then help
clean the dishes.
Once again, thank you to Alanna, who turned me into a noble, to
Roald, who let me become a page, to Mithros and the Goddess, who let this
happen...
Hmph. I warned myself. This is no time to say thank yous.
I opened my mouth, as if to speak, but no sound came out.
Alanna saved me, like she saved Roald. "You are excused. Of to your
chores now, Alex."
Phew!
*******************************************
Born into a world of dishwashers, I am not used to washing dirty dishes with
my hands.
I wonder what would happen if I brought over a dishwasher? People
would probably think it's a magical device or something.
Whoops! Lord Wyldon's calling!
*******************************************
Finally, after two whole hours of tedious dishwashing, I'm off to my
chambers. Duties as a page were more than I thought.
Why can't the dirty stuff be done by the palace servants? It's not like
they don't have enough money to hire more. Money pores in every day.
Ah. I remember. Alanna said that she was taught from birth that no
chore was too dirty for a true noble.
But that's no excuse for giving us dirty chores! In Alanna's case, most
of the servants got the Sweating Sickness, so the pages had heaps of work.
That's a good enough reason. But here, there is no reason.
Maybe they thought we had too much sleep. Six hours a day. A very
long time.
Or maybe they thought we had too much free time. -1 hour a day. That
negative there is used because we don't get free time ~ we owe free time to
the masters who teach us.
I thought I was going to pray before I sleep. Let's do that, before a
servant puts the candles out.