I do not own Tortall, any of it's cities, Gods, previous plots, or previous characters

I do not own Tortall, any of it's cities, Gods, previous plots, or previous characters. Those belong to Tamora Pierce. The new characters, however, are mine.

Excerpt from the journal of Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak. Midwinter's Day 481 H.E.

On such a sad day as this, it is good to hear some good news. Gary's son Rowland's wife gave birth today. Poor Milly died in childbirth, but the baby was perfectly healthy. A little baby girl named, at Milly's insistence, Malorie. Milly was born in my Malorie's Peak, and we were good friends.

Little Malorie is small, but not in an unhealthy way. She has a shock of coal black hair, big blue eyes, and the palest skin of any person I have ever met. She reminds me of Jon, Gods ease his passing. I almost asked who the parents were; she looks nothing like either of them.

I almost feel sorry for the girl, born amongst all this trouble. A year ago today Jon died in battle with Alanna, Kel, Gary, Thayet, and a few thousand others. Roald is a good king, but we all miss his father. I almost find it strange that all of Roald's children save one died that day as well. Even stranger, we once again have a King Roald and a Crown Prince Jonathan in Tortall. Oddness seems to thrive here.

Excerpt from the diary of Daine Salmalin. July 17th 481 H.E.

We all miss Jon and Thayet, and nothing will change that. Nothing. But we all love Malorie so much, she has made this easier. She was the only baby born in six months; no one seems to want to have children.

Numair sensed the Gift in her, and he says it is powerful for him to be able to feel it so early in her life. He recommends that Malorie become a Mage. I don't think that's what she has planned. I was watching her yesterday and she somehow got a hold of a toy sword. She wielded it like a natural, no trouble at all. I hope she becomes a knight. Oh, I must go a servant is calling me.

Raoul is dead. He died from a heart attack while tilting with Rowland. He managed to knock the younger boy right off of his saddle too! I can't believe this keeps happening. Why must everyone die?

I know the answer, of course. We are all getting old. Too old. Numair and I are grandparents. So I do believe the final list of everyone is as follows: Jon, Thayet, Raoul, Gary, Ouna, Alanna, Kel, Buri, Evin, Miri, Shinkokami, Cloud, George, Thom, Alan, and numerous animals that were all my friends.

Mira, unsurprisingly, is untouched by age. Numair says she has been preserved to inflict wisdom on several new generations. I still thank her every day for what she has done. Without Mira, Numair would never have told me that he loves me. He said so himself.

Malorie is crying, I must go tend to her. I'm watching her again today. Goddess bless her, Malorie of Naxen.

Excerpt from the diary of Malorie of Naxen. Midwinter's Day, 490 H.E.

Today is my birthday, same as every other year. My mother, he old King and Queen, the first two Lady Knights, and countless others all died today ten years ago. Most people might not let that affect them so, but it depresses me.

Father asked me what I plan to do with my life, as next year is the year I would start. I told him that I will be a Lady Knight like Lady Alanna and Lady Keladry. I told him that I would be squire to Prince Jonathan, and King's Champion too. I said I would be just like my hero.

Father will never tell me no. He says so himself. He says it is impossible because of my big blue eyes. But I tell him that my eyes aren't always blue. Since I was five, my eyes have changed colors. Father just laughs when I say that, and then he gives me whatever I want.

Father is the Lord Provost, so he lives in Corus and has a loyal friend rule Fief Naxen. I have been at the Royal Court since I was born, and I have many good friends there. Most of my friends are the boys I will be a page with, so I'm not worried about being the only woman trying for her shield. I'll be protected if I can't protect myself.

"A good knight knows when to fight, when to run, and when to let your bigger friends do the fighting for you." Or so says one of my godfathers, the King himself. He and I are both rather small people, but I not as small as he. I am skinny, yet very tall for my age. The king is short and skinny for his. I will be bigger than him when I am a lady knight.

Prince Jonathan is my best friend. When I was four and he was five, he got horribly bored with the way thing were done at Court. His father would talk to the many nobles, and the children all did nothing. So he had servants take chairs over to another side of the room. Two, the two biggest, were set on an upraised platform with the smaller ones in a semicircle around it. Then Jon led the children over to the chairs so we could have our own Court. Jon Said he was the Prince of the Children's Court, and that I was to be his Princess. He even asked Father if it was alright.

While the real Court talked about war, the Children's Court talked of the mock-fights we had seen done by pages and squires. When they talked about money, we talked about chocolate coins. They spoke of food and slavery; we spoke of lunch and animals. It was perfect.

After that, it was always done that way. The Children's Court acted just like the Royal Court, just on a children's scale. King Roald and many nobles complimented Jon on the idea and us on our behavior. Toy swords and shields started being worn by the boys, and the girls convinced their mothers to let them borrow jewelry.

Two days ago, at our Children's Court, Jon was late. He was going to start his page training soon, but I couldn't see how that would affect the present time. He came with a box behind his back, which he put between our chairs. He told the Children's Court "Soon I will be a Knight, so now I am King of our Court. This makes Malorie our Queen." Out of the box he pulled out a simple, yet very pretty, sapphire and silver tiara and put it on my head. I saw the Royal Court watching with smiles, and I wondered why.

The other things in the box were small adaptations of the King and Queen's scepters and bead necklaces that were in style for both men and women. Jon passed these out to our court, with the express direction to give them back at the end. He will make a good King of Tortall one day, the way they obey him. Goddess Bless Prince Jonathan of Conte.