Hi all, this is my first fanfic, I have loosely based this on Tamora pierces book, so the only thing I own is my story and my oc characters. Please be warned that mot is a woman, a cove is a man, and a Mage is a witch.

The Little Boy

Chapter 1

It was a long hard walk up the valley to the palace. Rose's already sun kissed skin had been stained crimson from the sun, and her feet long ached for a rest. Pity little beggars rushed to her feet at the sight of the silver sword hilt against her hip. But she had no interest in giving them what small coin she may have. She knew that the money went to some big business man in the city, she'd much rather give it to the women at the Mother Goddess Temple.

A little lad who looked to be about the wee age of 6, ran toward her. He didn't look like your average looking cove. Blonde bouncing curls sat in tufts at the top of his head, and two small blue pools framed his dimpled cheeks and plush lips. "Only blue bloods look like him!" Thought Rose, but nay, she lied. Underneath her short brown men's wig (that the Mage back home was so kind to get for Rose), was long, straight blonde hair, that fell to her waist. But she was no blue blood. Not in the heavens. She had been raised in the countryside by her Older sister and the sisters at The Mother Goddess temple.

The little boy tugged on Rose's sword, knocking her awake from the deep pool of thought. "What is it Lad?" she asked in her manliest tone. The little boy smiled, the dimples on his cheeks deepened as he bore a big a big grin. "You sound Funny!" He giggled. Rose's cheeks went a deep scarlet.

"Now don't be makin' fun of a palace guard!" She frowned. Rose had lied, she wasn't a palace guard. Yet.

"Pardon me, Guardsman." Smiled the little boy. "Would you be so kind as to take me home? I don't want to worry my Nanny." He said politely.

"What good manners he has for a city lad!" Rose baffled. But then it hit her. The little boy wore a fine tunic made from purple silk, and little golden engraved shoes.

"My gods! He is a blue blood! He's from the palace!"

Thoughts ran through her mind of how he had escaped. But there was no time to waste. If a kidnapper found the little boy, no one would see him for months, if not years.

Rose bowed deeply toward the boy. "Please forgive my poor mannerisms, majesty. I did not think children of the palace were allowed past the gates?" She raised an eyebrow in question. But yet again the little boy bore an even bigger grin. "Well, I wanted to play with the commoner children, they always look to have so much more fun than the palace children." He smiled. Rose laughed, he seemed to be quite witty too.

"Would your majesty like me to escort him home?" She asked. The little boy frowned, and looked over to where three other dark haired children giggled and played amongst some poor mot's neatly trimmed garden. He turned back at Rose, "As long as I get to ride on your back." He smiled mischievously. With no time to waste, she heaved him onto her back, and he giggled with delight, then slowly trekked up the last leg of the valley path.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"This palace is amazing" she thought, she made sure her mouth wasn't on the ground before she examined the palace a little more. Towers of deep set grey stone laid pressed against the fading light of the auburn evening sky. At the top of each tower was the proud flag of Corus, and the grand palace gates were set in sterling silver that had a white aura floating in between each bar. It must have been magicked by the court mages.

The palace guards at the royal gates were shocked to see Rose and the little royal by her side, they mayhap thought she had kidnapped him, because one of the guards held a sharp blade to her throat.

Rose was still with shock.

The boy screamed in terror. "No! Don't hurt him! He's guardsman! He found me and took me home!" He yelled. The huge scar stained guard released the sickly clean blade from her throat, and the oxygen flowed back into her lungs. She began to think about why the blade looked like it had been polished so many times, but she put those bloody thoughts away, she had to be tough. Why she didn't stop the blade, she did not know. Back home she was the most talented in sword fighting and combat amongst all the boys.

A older man dressed in pure gold and silver armour (much more prestigious than the other guards) walked toward Rose. "Thank you, for returning our guest, young man." The little boy ran and stood behind him.

"Phew! He thinks I'm a boy." Rose was relieved. She bowed her head in return.

The man had what would have been a very handsome face in his day, deep brown eyes set in a tanned canvas and a well trimmed beard was its silver frame.

"What is it you wish for your reward?" He asked, and pulled out a small brown bag containing shiny gold nobles. Rose put up her hand in protest. " I wish not to take your monies, good sir." She said, puffing out her chest. The old man gave Rose a quizzical look. It was probably the first time a young 'cove' has refused money from the royal palace. Mayhap he thought she was mad.

"But, I wish for a position here at the palace as a guard."

The old man scoffed. "I'm sorry, but we don't hire pretty boys." He laughed and turned away with the young lad following cautiously two steps behind him. Once the other guardsmen saw their master laughing, they joined in, and Rose's cheeks went red once again. She wished the young boy would speak out for her again, but she thought he mayhap be beaten for speaking out twice, for she did not know if he was high up in the court.

Rose's blood began to boil, she had made it so far from the countryside to the main city of Corus. She had wagered debts in order to get from one place to another, and she had met kind people who helped her along the way. Yet she had also met many thieves and bandits who she battled for various jewels, food, and clothes. They were sneaky and dark, too much for her liking.

"When are they recruiting?" Rose said, trying not to sound too desperate. Her father had always told her that being desperate was one of a woman's weaker emotions. No one replied, or even gave her a second look. Except for the young boy. He ran to her and whispered in her ear:

"Tomorrow at noon!"

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::