Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original characters from Tamora Pierce's books. Any other characters, however, are mine.
"That's Corus ahead!" Emi cried, urging her horse, Storm, into a gallop. Neal smiled at her from astride his own horse, Twilight. "I'll meet you at the gate," Emi continued as she streaked down the open road, her gray traveling clothes blending into her dapple gray's dusty coat.
I've only had her for ten short years, and now I'm giving her up. Neal thought to himself patting the dark gelding beneath him. I'll miss her dearly. He continued to think before catching up to Emi at the gate. He squeezed her shoulder gently, laughing when she jumped in her saddle.
"What's wrong?" She asked her father, twisting her braided hair around her finger and staring into his troubled eyes. He was laughing a moment before, she thought to herself. Neal glanced at her braid longingly; he had refused to let her cut it in case she did decide to go to the convent.
"Nothing is wrong my sweet. Just don't forget to remember your parents and dear brother and sister when y0u become a great knight." He winced slightly. "And don't be shy to use your Gift if you get yourself really hurt." Neal replied, his green eyes warm.
"I don't want to use my Gift as a crutch," Emi glanced at her father, her equally green almond shaped eyes challenging a response. Before Neal could make a comment, Emi had composed her face to reveal nothing.
"Well Emi, let's not waste anymore time. Lead the way, you know Corus almost as well as I." Neal said passing through the city gates, Emi right behind him. She trotted Storm ahead, her eyes trained on all the stalls set up on the side of the road. Neal was surprised that two straight days of riding hadn't tired her. Maybe she does have the determination to be a knight. He thought reluctantly.
"I'm so excited!" Emi cried, looking up at the palace. "I wonder if Jace remembers me, and of course Irani is staying with Daine so I will see her around!" She trembled with excitement as they passed the temple district and came upon the palace gates.
"I'm sure you will be remembered by all, darling," Neal remarked, passing through the gates. "You have been tumbling around the palace since you were only a few months old." He smiled down at his daughter to see her cheeks flushed and her eyes glaring accusingly.
Before she could make so much as a remark, Neal signaled two hostlers to come take their horses and bags. Dismounting, Emi patted Storm before following her father to the palace.
"Coming, Papa?" Emi asked as she followed a maid toward Lord haMinch's study. Neal didn't realize he had stopped; he was still thinking of his times as a page. She doesn't look like she belongs here, a voice in Neal's head kept whispering, even as he was ushered into the training master's study.
He looked at Emi, every bit as lovely as her mother. The boys here better not het any ideas, he thought grimly, greeting the training master formally. He entertained himself with visions of the unlucky boy who would cross him when it came to his dear Emi.
"I'll see to it that your daughter will be taken care of Sir Nealan," Lord haMinch said, his eyes appraising Emi. Emi met the training master's eyes defiantly, still managing to maintain some degree of politeness.
"I don't expect you to cut me any slack." Emi finally said. I just want to fit in, she thought desperately. She silently cursed being built as delicately as a flower. I'll show them all, she decided, glancing at her father.
"It's a good thing that you have accepted that, page Emiline," Lord haMinch replied, interrupting her thoughts. "You will be treated like all of the boys, no better, no less." He cleared his throat before continuing. "Dinner is the sixth bell of the afternoon. You will have physical training in the morning after breakfast which is the seventh bell of the morning. You will arise at the sixth bell. Lunch is at noontime, afterwards you will be educated in reading, mathematics, etiquette, history, magical theory, biology, and battle strategy. You have free time after the evening meal and lights out is the tenth bell of the evening." He paused to make sure Emi understood all of this. She nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"There is a chamber for farewells across the hall. Sir Nealan, I would be honored if you would join me in our evening meal." Lord haMinch sat down placing his hands on his desk, looking up at father and daughter.
"I would be honored to," Neal replied before bowing to the training master and steering his daughter to the adjacent room.
After Emi had said goodbye to her father, she followed the maid, Salma, the older woman had told her, into the tailor's shop where she was promptly fitted for uniforms.
"Wee little thing," the tailor remarked as he stitched a hem to all of Emi's clothes. "Good luck to yeh lass," he said, piling the clothes into her arms. Emi smiled at him briefly before being led out of the shop.
Salma then led her to her rooms. "Lass, this is where yeh are to stay. Wash up for supper and wait here once you are done. The pages amd the training master will be by. You have one bell to get ready. "With that, she opened the door, leaving a key on the desk just inside the door. "Good luck, page Emiline," she called, closing the door behind her. With a sigh, Emi glanced around hardly knowing what to do.
Walking into the dressing room, she saw a hot bath already awaiting her. Oh well, she thought, might as well get washed up. Save the worrying for later. After she had finished, Emi pulled on a loose shirt and breeches. "I'm here to fit in" she told her reflection, plaiting her hair in the process. Finished with that, she stepped outside her room, waiting for the other pages and Lord haMinch.
At last, the training master appeared at the end of the hall, the older pages falling into step behind him. Other first year pages stood near Emi, looking as nervous as she felt.
"Alright lads, these are our new bunch of pages." Lord haMinch commanded. "Who will sponsor Page Peter of Malorie's Peak?"
"I will," replied a burly page standing behind the training master.
`"Very good, Kennan of Jesslaw," Lord haMinch replied. This back and forth dialogue of who would sponsor each page continued until Emi was the only page left.
"Who will take Page Emiline of Queenscove and be her sponsor?" Lord haMinch finally asked. Emi turned a bright shade of pink as all eyes turned to look at her. The boys elbowed on another, looking at this new beauty who would be training with them.
"I said," Lord haMinch repeated sternly, "Who will sponsor Page Emiline?" Desperately, Emiline searched the faces of all the dumbstruck boys, looking for a friendly face. Was she destined to go home before she even began training?! Emi thought frantically, panic rising in her gut.
"I will," replied a voice from the very back of the group. Emi sighed in relief, but who had spoken up?
"Very well…You are not who I would have expected to sponsor her…Your Highness." Lord haMinch replied. Did I just hear right? Emi thought….Your….Highness?