Disclaimer: As you all are well aware, anything you recognize belongs to the almighty Tamora Pierce not me, the only thing that does is Rosie, Roe, Tabby and Val . . . You will soon find out who they are, there may be more but I'm not to sure at the moment . . . Happy Reading MC Now on with the story!

Chapter 1

Moonlit Castle

I stopped riding and looked back at my home. It looked so peaceful in the moonlight, but in the morning all hell will break loose just because I'm gone. Golden flags with green phoenixes blew in the soft wind. No lights were on except for the torches that lit the watchtowers and battlements. My life in a stone cage was ending, no more having to wear certain items of clothing that cut off the circulation of air to my lungs. No more maids having to watch me and stop me from doing things that regular people did themselves. And the best things in the world that I am able never to wear again are heals, they're the worst things that were ever invented and the person that did should be shot in the head. (A/N I totally agree with this)

I could just see it now; my personal maid Tabby would come into my room. My wine red curtains would be drawn closed; the fire would just start to die down giving all my oak belongings an eerie red glow. First thing that Tabby would do is open the curtains letting the sun come in. Then she would walk over to my bed and try to wake up a pile of pillows that was in my place at the moment. She would scream and run as fast as she could to the other side of the castle to wake my parents and tell them the bad news in their case, but in my own it would be good news.

My mother's blue eyes would start to tearing up, messing up the face-paint that her own maid Val applied not too long ago. In no time at all her brown braided hair would be messed up no long looking like the queen that she usually was in the morning. Her pale complexion would go even paler if that is even possible. My father would waste no time calling the guards, making his face turn all purple from the yelling at the guards and my maid. I know I should feel sorry for Tabby and the others seeing how their life is going to get vary interesting in a short while. But the stone cage that my parents put me in for the last eleven years of my life is not one that makes me feel sorry for people.

They won't be able to find me though; I would be in the last place that they would expect a princess to be. I must say I am quite proud of my self for thinking of this. Training to become a knight would just suit me fine seeing how I like swords and things like that. But like always people thought woman were weak as kittens and thought princesses should not touch something sharp unless it was a needle. Disguising myself as a boy I might just be able to get though the seven years of training. That's if my parents don't find me by then . . . wait a sec . . . if I disguise my self as a boy I wont be able to wear face-paint or dresses, not that I like them or anything. I would also have to cut my hair, Oh Mithros; there is no way I'm cutting my hair. It took me my whole life to get it to its knee length that it is today.

"Come on Blue." I told my white andalusian mere, dismissing my previous thought. "Time to go, were not going to waste anymore time here."

Blue neighed in agreement and I could just hear what she would say if she could talk. 'We've spent too much time here as it is Princess Rosie time to leave. Move before I bite you in the butt.'

I sighed and turned Blue toward the forest. It would only be a few hours before they came out looking for me.

I closed my eyes tight as I brought the dagger up to my hair. Despite of what I said before, my hair would be a dead give away, so I just have to cut it. I sawed at my hair and after a while my head fight lighter, almost felt like I had wings and no longer needed to use my legs.

Blue seemed to laugh at my pitiful nature, I glared at my mare, trying to get the message across that one day her beloved tail would be cut short. It is not my fault that I'm a princess and that I loved my hair. But the only way that would happen is if I passed my knights training before my parents found me. Actually at the moment they would kill me for cutting my beautiful hair, I m just glad I got away as soon as I did.

Going over to the river I looked at my reflection, I looked like a girly-boy one that would get beat up in a few minutes. My green eyes would be a dead give a way if one of my parents would come looking for me, but there is no way on changing that now is there? But anyone can cut their hair and still get caught; luckily the maids at my home always dyed my hair to brown. Breathing in I held my breath as I dunked my head into the freezing cold water. It didn't take that long for my hair to go back to its original shade of black.

"Alright Blue," I said when I took my head out and dried it. "Time to start walking before I freeze to death, or die of some weird illness."

I walked toward Blue taking her reins into my hand, despite what I said earlier my hair had to go I thought looking down at the bundle of hair that was in my hands. There is no way I am parting with it . . . No way . . . By now me and Blue were already into the forest as I stuffed the lock on hair into one of my saddle bags. It was not long after that, that we made it to the gates of Tortall capital, Corus. (A/N at least I think that's the capital . . .) It was much like the Cria, the capital of my home, Galla though Corus was a much more beautiful place; servants went from store to store getting what their mistresses and masters needed. A few Knights walked the streets with ladies at their sides fawning over their battle scars. I kept an eye on my bags, even if I was in another place does not mean that thieves do not thrive here as the do in Cria.

The ground began to rise as I neared the castle, it was much like the same as my own, guards dressed in royal gold and red surrounded the walls ready for anyone to attack them. But the guards at my home wore green and gold not the red and gold that they wore there. I would say that their color combination is way better then out own.

"Who are you and what need do you have at the castle?" a guard asked when I was a few feet away from the gate.

Shit why oh why did I not come up with a name before I came here? I thought. "Roe of, um . . . Galla here for knight training."

"And what would a youngin' from Galla be doing 'ere in Tortall when you have your own trainin' camps?" He asked trying to by the sounds of things, see if my story was actually true. I'm so glad I lived at the castle where I could find out any information just by asking the right people.

"Our camps are no longer working because of the trouble that Tusaine has caused for Galla." I lowered my head to make it seem like I was sad, which in fact I really was. I had to come to another Country just to become a Knight, but in the long run it's going to be worth the look on my parents face when they see that I went against all they told me to do.

"That's alright youngin' we know all to well how Galla operates. Duke Gateth of Naxen runs this 'ere trainin' camp, go on in, he'll accept anyone who's good enough to stand up to his harsh trainin'."

I nodded my head in thanks as I walked toward the stable doors. Harsh training? What did I get myself into?

Foreshadow of next chapter :

"You know, how amazing that sounds I prefer not to be friends with you. Someone who tries to take advantage of Galla's Princesses does not deserve my attention." I just started turning around just as he grabbed my shoulder and pushed me up against the wall to where my feet were off of the ground.

"Too bad you have no choice in the matter page, what I say goes, If I say jump you say 'How high' Get it?" Have any idea who it is? You people will get it no problem.

A/N hey you see that button at the bottom? Yeah that one . . . You know you wanna review If you review Ill never forget you I swear (Well actually I don't but hey . . .) Thanks MC