Re-written and re-posted 01/02/2007
Hey everyone. Sorry the update took soooo long. I've been moving back to college after a six-week winter break and things are hectic.
Also, this will NOT be just another page-in-training story. Each chapter/scene will alternate between Kel or another character's point-of-view and Naomi's (the page-in-training). Sometimes both will appear in the same chapter. At the final chapter both will come together for the conclusion of the plot. Thanks to all my reviewers, I love you guys. J
Naomi Passim of Maren felt as if spiders were crawling down her skin. The way the cold stare of the training master, Wyldon of Cavall, was fixed on her made her stomach do flips. Sweat beaded on her skin and hidden behind her back her clenched hands were shaking. She forced herself to check, for the third time, that she had not stepped in mud or have mismatching hose.
"My Lord?" Wyldon looked over at her father, Kenneth of Maren. "If you continue to stare at her that way, I think she might faint." Naomi blushed fiercely at the comment, ready to protest that she had never fainted in her life, but Wyldon had already looked away from her.
"When I agreed to return as training master I did so as a favor to my King. When I agreed to let a foreigner, a girl foreigner, train here, I was obeying a commanded that I knew would bring needed supplies to our troops. But this-" he gestured at Naomi and did not continue. Naomi knew what Wyldon must be thinking. She was nothing like the Lady Knight Keladry who had saved her. She was not big, nor particularly strong, and she was terribly shy. Standing there, in a pink silk dress and brown traveling cloak, she must look like the complete opposite of a warrior.
"I've had weapons training, My Lord of Cavall." Naomi squeaked, trying to keep her voice even. Why was it she could face kidnapping, foul-smelling bandits with no fear, yet trembled under this man's scrutiny? She thanked every god she knew that he was only here for one year, while King Jonathan rushed to find a replacement for the last training master, who had collapsed suddenly from a heart problem no one had known he had. "Since I was seven." She continued. "Some of our manors are very isolated, and everyone needed training." She explained, feeling a little braver. Just because she was small did not mean she could not be a Knight. Lady Alanna was proof of that.
"I would ask you to reconsider." Wyldon went on, glancing at Kenneth and looking defeated, "but I can see you dote on her, and as she wants to be a Knight, I doubt I'll convince you of the foolishness of this action." He sighed. "A maid will show you to your quarters." Naomi bowed, only too happy to scurry out from under his piercing gaze and back into the hallway. She said a quick and tearful goodbye to her father, and followed a very tall servant woman to her new home.
Keladry of Mindelan woke, once more, panting for breath. Throwing her covers off, she paced around her quarters at the palace, bare feet padding softly as she went. Kel balled her hands into fists in a fight to stay calm. Her dream had been the same for nearly a week. In it, Kel followed a torch's light ahead of her, out of a castle, past a huge rock, down a winding deer path, to a lake that had turned completely black. Only when she reached the lake did she realize that it was not black, but the deep, dark red of fresh blood. Then a girl's face flashed in the torchlight. The last thing Kel remembered before she woke were the softly whispered words, "find it." Kel knew the Chamber's voice by now, and knew enough to realize the dream was the Chamber's doing. Fed up with sleepless nights and dreams that made no sense, Kel stumbled into her clothes, and out the door.
She walked with dogged determination down the corridors and into the sanctuary. She halted before the heavy stone door and shoved both palms flat against the cold surface.
Finally. The Chamber commented dryly. No, don't let loose your sharp tongue on me, child. Listen. Kel felt her throat constrict when she tried to speak, and after several seconds of incoherent sputtering, she shut her mouth. Good. He showed her the dream again. In her mind she screamed that she had seen this vision enough times, but it forced her to watched the dream to conclusion for an eighth time. Not now, or later, but soon, find it. I'll remind you again, when it is closer to the time.
Kel coughed, realizing she could speak again she demanded, "If not now or later, why did you show me the dream now? How long do I have to wait? A month, a year?"
I don't know. I thought you'd like the warning, in case it is sooner than I think.
"In case what is sooner?"
It. When you seek it, trust only the girl's eyes.
Kel threw her hands into the air, exasperated. "What girl?" The Chamber remained silent. Kel narrowed her eyes. Soon she had rolled up her sleeves, backed up, and with a bit of a running start, slammed her right shoulder into the door of the Chamber. "There! That is for being so…so vague!" She massaged a stiff arm, gathered herself together, and fled the room. When she fell asleep again, back in her own room, it was to thoughts that she really needed to rein in her temper, the Yamanis would be ashamed.
Naomi turned to thank the servant woman for showing her to her rooms, but stopped, mouth gaping open in shock. Gone was the servant garb, replaced by a flowing gown of silver. Deep emerald eyes held her own as the woman raised a finger to her full red lips, as if asking for silence. Naomi shut her mouth, certain she was dreaming. Soft fog entered the door around the woman. The Goddess grinned and raised both hands. Naomi shut her eyes and felt the Goddess' thumbs pressing gently against her eyelids. When the pressure was gone she opened her eyes, only to find the room empty.
Naomi, shaken and terrified, skidded into her dressing room. Only when the reflection in her mirror assured her that nothing about her appearance had changed did she let out a sigh of relief. A dream, that was all, maybe a vision, it hadn't been real. Naomi splashed cold water on her face and prayed for no more surprises.
There you go. Sorry this is so short. Next one will be longer. I hope you see a plot evolving, even though I'm not sure where this is going yet. I'm sure I can think up some kind of conclusion. J
As I said last time, please give me construction crit! REVIEWS MAKE ME HAPPY!!!
Oh and (hides her face in shame) I cannot apologize enough for spelling Keladry wrong in the first chapter. Forgive me? (I've reposted that part, correcting the error.)