ten facts about

MIRI FISHER

1. Miri was about nine years of age when her village was attacked by bandits. The people who came to rid the village of them were riders; the first group commanded by her majesty in person.

The way Queen Thayet rode her horse into battle and held a blade was enough for Miri to have dreams of grandeur.

She just never believed that she'd actually ever be in the saddle.

2. In March of her sixteenth year, Miri rode a horse for the first time, in order to make it to rider training on time. It was bumpy, she fell off, and she was sure that she would be the worst rider in the entire court.

Of course, it didn't help that Evin Larse looked like a complete natural on his.

3. Miri liked Sarge – he reminded her of a man at her village.

When she told her fellow rider trainees this, they balked. "How could anyone like Sarge?"

Of course, it would have been advisable for them to make such comments out of earshot of the big Carthaki man.

4. When she was younger, Miri could name every single fish that they'd ever caught. She was also extremely adept at cutting and filleting them.

When she visited her home after a few years of being a rider, she was extremely clumsy when her father asked her to fillet. Her brother had a good laugh about it.

Miri showed him what she learned up at rider training.

5. Miri was clumsy – she fell, she couldn't keep her feet in the stirrups, she would never be a good rider.

These thoughts often went through Miri's head when she sat in the mud after being dislodged from her pony.

And always, the lanky blonde hair youth would come by and pull her to her feet, before giving her words of encouragement. "Next time, Miri, next time."

6. Sailing through a storm had been bad; however Miri was sure that the assault on Pirates' Swoop was the worst thing that happened to her.

They had been standing along the wall, bow at the ready. Miri looked to her left and saw Evin; his mouth was a thin line. "Are you scared?"

He attempted a silly grin. "Witless." He grabbed her hand a held it. The warmth and hope spread through her body like wildfire, and for the first time that night, Miri had felt as if they were actually going to make it.

7. When rider training ended, and Miri was assigned a group for her trial year, she had never felt more alone. For the first time in months she and Evin were split up, and Daine had to go gallivanting off North for some important crown mission.

"Girlie are you ready for this?"

Without Evin's words of encouragement, Miri couldn't feel she was.

But she made it, and so did he. Together as they were officially inducted a year later, Evin muttered in her ear; "this time, Miri, this time."

8. He flirted with the court ladies, and their suitors were unimpressed. Every time he turned his eye onto Miri (which she had convinced herself was just for practice or as a fun joke) her heart fluttered a little, and she blushed a little red.

He never seemed to notice, and Miri made no point to mention it to him. She was convinced, as Commander Buri had mentioned more than once, that Evin was a lost cause.

Even though she wanted him to not be.

9. Miri had thought that being a rider meant she would go around helping rid Tortall of bandits. She had never thought it would mean fighting in a war, especially fighting her first war before she was twenty.

She regretted that aspect of her work, because no one needed to see friends fall on a battlefield, especially that young.

But she wouldn't change her profession for anything.

10. Miri had been sitting in her tent, finishing a letter to her pesky brother when someone blocked her light.

She saw little of Evin Larse these days, but he still managed to make her heart jump regardless. He told her that Buri had gone north to get married, and before she left, she had promoted him.

Miri had leaped up in excitement and hugged her lanky friend tightly. He told her he needed her to help him celebrate, which resulted in Miri quirking a brow.

"Celebration" consisted of many kisses, all of which proved to Miss Fisher that maybe Commander Larse wasn't so lost after all.

I must admit they were a ship that I never put much thought into, but thanks Shang Leopard for putting me onto them! They're adorable. I just hope I did them justice. So next up, I think will be George or perhaps Jon. And then after that, possibly Daine. I'm just about through Emperor Mage, which only leaves me Realm of the Gods. (:

Thank you for all your wonderful reviews; it makes it much easier to get inspiration. You guys are the greatest!

QUITERIE -