Chapter One
Elspeth of Veldaine slammed shut the lid of her trunk and grinned at her older sister, Fianola. "There! I'm all packed. And tomorrow we'll be leaving for Corus to become pages."
Fianola smiled at her sister, but her smile was nowhere as wide. "It is exciting. We'll learn and hopefuilly will someday become great knights like the Lioness and Lady Keladry."
"I can't wait, Fianola! Lady Keladry was so nice to us when we met her last year. And the advice she gave us was really useful." Elspeth trailed off and thought back to that time.
Fianola interrupted her thoughts. "Elspeth, do you know why Yvenne is going to be page as well this fall? She's more of the type that jumps around from woinderful idea to wonderful idea. When she was six, she wanted to join the Shang. Then when she was eight, she wanted to be part of the Queen's Riders. Then last year she thought becoming a knight was wonnderful. I expected she would have latched on to some other idea that she thinks is just as wonderful now."
Elspeth shrugged. "I guess meeting Lady Keladry last year made her serious about becoming a page and trying for her shield, Fianola."
The next day, the two girls set out for Corus with their parents and servant. The next afternoon, they arrived at the palace and were taken to the office of Lord Padraig ha Minch, the training master. "Fianola and Elspeth of Veldaine? I am Lord Padraig ha Minch, the training master. Are you serious about your desire to try for knighthood?"
"Yes, we are!" exclaimed Elspeth. "My lord," she hastily added.
"Fine then. The two of you will be expected to keep up with the boys. I will not favor you simply because you are female. If you are caught breaking the rules, you will given punishment. If a boy is in your rooms or vice versa, the door must remain open unless you have a chaperon. Your servant will not be considered a chaperon, how-"
Lady Cordelia of Veldaine interrupted, "Surely it's not necessary. My daughters are here to become knights, not flirt."
"Your elder daughter is almost thirteen," said Lord Padraig coldy. "There will be those who will think badly of her. And of her sister. Now, do you have a servant?"
"Yes, Elspeth and I are sharing one, my lord," responded Fianola. Lord Padraig nodded and told her and Elspeth the duties requried of them regarding their servant. Then they were dismissed and Salma, who was head of the servants for the pages, led the girls to their rooms.
"Here are your keys. And a copy each for your servant." Then Salma told them how to unlock their doors and window shutters. "Ever since the other pages ransacked Lady Keladry's rooms her first day, such measures have been necessary. Oh, Elspeth, you have the room Lady Keladry had when she was a page."
Elspeth and Fianola's parents wished them luck and bid them good-bye, then left. Fianola and Elspeth entered their respectice rooms and began the duty of unpackiong. After half a bell, Fianola entered Elspeth's room. "Everything seems well so far. Elspeth, you said that Yvenne's a page as well. Why-" A knock on the door interrupted her and she opened it to Yvenne of Rosemark, a blonde girl who was eleven like Elspeth.
"Yvenne!" exclaimed Elspeth. "It's so nice to see you again! Isn't this amazing?"
"Yes, it's wonderful," answered Yvenne, grinning. "Everything here is wonderful. We'll be training and someday become wonderful knights like the wonderful Lioness and the wonderful Lady Keladry."
"Is wonderful your word for the week, Yvenne?" askled Fianola with a laugh.
"Oh drat! I have to stop that. It makes me appear flighty and girl-like. You know, Lord Padraig gave me a look when I was in his office and asked if I really wished to be a page. He said I seemed more suited to learning at the convent and becoming a lady. Well, I swore then and there that I was going to prove him wrong. Not out loud, of course. Lady Keladry gave us advice and seemed to think we could succeed, so I'm sure we'll all do fine and become great knights like the Lioness."
After some more talk between the three, Lord Padraig asked all the pages to gather in the hall. The new pages had to introduce themsleves and sponsors would be assigned. Lord Padraig pointed to a nervous boy with dark brown hair and brown eyes. "Name and fief?"
"Adrian of Disart," he replied.
"Who will be his sponsor?" A tall third year page with blonde hair volunteered. He was Kylun of Irenroha, his cousin.
Next was Eric of Falcon's Reach and a fourth year named Markus of Blue Pines was his sponsor. Third was James of Nond and his sponsor was fourth year Nicolas of Legann. Fourth was Yvenne and her sponsor was second year Jasson of Conte, the youngest prince. There were surprised looks among most of the pages, as they hadn't expected the prince to sponsor one of the three girls. Next was Fianola and a third year page named Alan of Pirate's Swoop was her sponsor. He was the son of the Lioness and appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen. He apparently had started page's training a bit late, like Fianola.
Elspeth was last and her sponsor was a second year page named Stephan of Tirragen. She stifled an exclaimation of shock, for she had heard that Tirragen was a disgraced noble house as one Alexander of Tirragen had commited treason and tried to dispose of King Jonathan. Lord Padraig did not look happy at letting Stephan be Elspeth's sponsor, but as no other page had volunteered unless he was willing to break tradition and let Alan be sponsor to two first year pages, he had no choice but to allow it.
As the pages went downstairs for supper, Elspeth asked blunty, "Why did you volunteer to be my sponsor?"
"I suppose I did you no favors, since my stupid uncle decided to commit treason and blacken the family name," responded Stephan. "I hope you won't judge me for my name. Jasson and Alan didn't. In fact, Alan was willing to be my sponsor. You and your sister will be ostracized by many of the pages, who aren't willing to accept lady knights, despite the Lioness and Lady Keladry. Since I'm ostracized my many of the same pages, prehaps you will inderstand things. Now let's hurry down to supper."
Elspeth thought over what Stephan said as she followed him down to the mess hall.
