Ariella of Trebond admired herself in the mirror. Her long red hair was pinned back by a beautiful gold pin and her green eyes shone brightly from under long eyelashes. She didn't like to think of herself as beautiful. Beautiful was for ladies who went to the convent to become ready to go to court and find husbands. No, for Ari there was no beautiful.
"Lady Ariella?" Ari's maidservant Tisha entered the room.
"Yes?" Ari answered, turning away from the mirror to look into Tisha's round youthful face.
"Your father wishes to see you downstairs."
Ari sighed. "Did he say why?" Her father was always needing her for one thing or another. Ari was the eldest in her family and lately her father had been rather ill.
"No, I didn't ask." Ari chuckled.
"I wouldn't either, Tisha. He can be rather… difficult." Ari and Tisha smiled at each other, sharing the joke.
"Father? You wanted me?" Ari bowed her head at the man lounging on the couch. In the past year, Lord Marron of Trebond had turned from a robust man into a skeleton. Hardly recognizable, his deep blue eyes were sunken and his long brown hair had turned white. His skin was withered and his hands shook as he sipped his tea.
"Yes, my daughter." He took a deep breath. It was difficult for Ari to stand in front of him. She felt powerless to stop whatever was ravaging his body. "I wanted to talk to you about entering the court. Several of my friends have brought to my attention that it is not suitable for a girl of your age to remain at home while others are learning to be proper housewives."
"But, father," she pleaded. "What good would entering the court be when I can do much more good from here taking care of you and Mother?"
"There is no one representing our family at court!" The excitement was beginning to be too much for him. He leaned back on the pillows, taking deep breaths. "Ariella, our family has been excluded from court affairs for the past decade. It has been brought to my attention… well…"
Ari sprawled heavily in a nearby chair. Her father sat up quickly, pointing a shaking finger at her. "You see! You have no idea how to do anything right! You can't even sit in a chair in a ladylike manner!"
Trying to rearrange herself, Ari scowled. "Well, if you agree that I have ladylike problems, why are you sending me off to court with no training?"
A grim smile slithered across her father's face. "We're sending you to train at the convent of the Daughters of the Goddess. You'll be there until they dub you ready to enter court."
"But father! All the girls there start at ten! I'm nearly thirteen!"
"Be a leader, Ariella. Be strong."
That was the last time she spoke to her father. How was Ari supposed to know that a certain Lady Nevie arrived at the gates soon after demanding to see her new charge? The next day, after goodbyes to her younger siblings, Ari stepped into the carriage, glancing back at Trebond for the last time.
