The bearded man stared at the wiggling bundle in the dim room. He sat with a crease
between his brows until a hand touched his shoulder causing himto jump. The midwife, a
strong and short women, graying from age and hard winters, let her face soften. "she's dead
an this litt'lun be all you have left. Treat her well." she whispered, and left the room.
Years later, a girl of eight? possibly nine, sat on the steps in front of a
once grand manor. The child's round face reflected the uncertainty and confusion swirling in
in her thoughts. The door behind her opened and the maid beckoned the girl. She stepped in
to the fire lit room timidly. "Yes, father?" The man sighed behind his desk. "sit." he com-
manded. "No doubt you've been wondering what mischief I could have possibly caught you at?"
The girl reddned and immediately began trying to say several things at once. The mans eyes
crinkled in a smile for a split of a second, not un-noticed by the girl, who stopped talking
and her eyes widned in wonder. The man grunted and cleared his laughter from his face. "How
old are you, child?" He waited for his answer. The girl squirmed in the tense atmosphere
before timidly answering "...eight." her voice gained stength as she said "What of it?"
Inwardly the man chuckled at his daughters show of bravado. "just...curious." he said. there
was a pause in the conversation. The man closed his eyes, deep in contemplation and the girl
studied her leather boots annoyed by her reaction to the ackward silence. The man's eyes
whiped open "I trust you are not completely oblivious to the fact that you are the only heir
to this estate." he lifted his hand to keep her form replying. "And perhaps you've wondered
why youve been dressed as a boy, raised as a boy, and treated as one." She glanced at the
door behind herin longing, sensing unpleasent news. Some time later the girl exited her
fathers study. She cradled a grey cat that had been weaving through her legs. "I thought for
sure cook told him 'bout the worms i let loose, or governess told him about her..." the
girls round, thick-lashed eyes closed in amusement and evil glee. "...night-time visitors.
Her smile was replaced by a confused frown. "but what he did he mean im to be a knight?
can't only boys be knights?" She looked at the cat, as if expecting an answer. It purred in
reply. Shrugging her shoulders, she pushed her fathers strange words from her head and left
to go torment the scullery maid.