I know, I know I am a horrible person and I haven't updated in weeks, I know you hate me now. I hope you will forgive me and read on.
Tuxie13-I'm glad you like the characters. I tried to make them different from each other even though they are sisters. Have you noticed how Tamora Pierces characters are so different from one another. I think that is part of what makes them great.
Lady leopard-Thanks. I know I really should have updated sooner. I'm not very good at finishing my homework on time.
Isabelle-Thank you, I like Gerald too.
Vicky-Nice to know who you are and that I'm not replying to someone different every time. You gave me some stuff to think about, thank you.
ONCE AGAIN I AM VERY VERY SORRY BUT PLEASE READ ON!
Fianola knocked on her sister's door.
'Claire, are you ready? We have to get to dinner!'
'Come in, I'm almost ready.' Fianola let herself into the room. The furniture and set up was the same but the room looked very different.
'You've only been here for ten minutes and already your room is worse than at home.' Clairinia's bedroom had clothes strewn across the floor, bags half unpack and the bed all rumpled.
'Oh picky, picky. We can't go to dinner until we get our sponsor. Remember Father told us about that. I have heard from other people that this place is a rabbit warren. We wouldn't be able to find the hall without someone showing us.'
'Oh yes of course.' Fianola had begun to fold her sister's clothes and make neat piles to be put away. 'How long does it take to put on some breeches? You don't need to change anything else.'
'I'm ready.' Clairinia came out and the two sisters exchanged nervous expressions. Than Fianola grinned.
'We'll be fine Claire don't worry.'
'I know I'll be fine,' She gave Fianola a shaky smile 'because I have you.' They released each other and, after giving her sister a final reassuring smile, Fianola left the room knowing that, even though she would never admit it Claire liked her quiet time.
Claire looked around her room, she liked it, it was simple and it wasn't pink. She grimaced at the thought. Yvenne had insisted that their room be pink, needless to say it was hideous. For the last three years she had gone to sleep with a look of distaste on her face. It was a cheerful thought, even if she was kicked out she could go back to her sister and her parent. With that on her mind she left her room confidently.
Standing out side her new room waiting for the training mast Fianola worried. She didn't worry about her sister, Fianola knew her sister would be fine, she was a natural at the sword and that was a knight's main weopon.
No, she wondered about herself. She did well with horses, she had always loved them but she had troubles with the sword. She was as good as her sister was with a sword but with a bow. Even on a horse she rarely missed. All three of the 'sisters' had taken Kelady of Mindelan's word to heart... well, for a few weeks in Yvenne's case. She had changed her mind after that and decided to go to the convent. Fianola and Clairinia had trained together, they had run through the forest and Fianola had helped Clairinia with her shooting, it still needed work...
BANG! Doors slamming shut broke Fianola out of her thoughts, she looked up and met the eyes of another girl. She was looking around nervously, her hands clasped in front of her. For a second her eyes met Fianola's, Fianola smiled and was rewarded. The girl visibly relaxed, Fianola knew what one friendly face could do for your confidence. She couldn't resist looking down the hall at her sister. She was standing tall, her hands by her sides. Her eyes were darting across the faces around her. No doubt she was sizing them up for a match tomorrow. Fianola rolled her eyes internally, and went back to worrying...
Oh no, oh no! Goddess, no Mithros give me strength! Claire was panicking. Here eyes were darting around her, worries that she had banished while talking to her sister now came to the surface. Compared to Fi I am good with a sword but she's not that good... I am awful with a longbow and I always miss with my crossbow. I bet Fi isn't panicking, she's probably going through how to set up her room up better or something useful like that. SHE would never panick like... Oh NO!
Lord Padraig had arrived. He was flanked by boys ranging from 11 to about 16. There were only three girls there, they were all in their second year. Most girls had held back until Keladry of Mindelan had become a squire before they decided to try for their shields.
The training master regarded the girls and boys in front of him. The new boys' rooms were next to the row of girls' rooms. He faced a girl at the opposite end of the corridor from Fianola, she breathed a sigh of relief that was until she saw that her sister would be second.
When the training master asked for a sponsor for the first girl two hands went straight into the air. The boy that Padraig picked claimed to be the girl's brother. Fianola pondered that... if I had started last autumn I could have sponsored Claire.
'Clairinia of Hunters Ridge.' Her sister's clear voice cut through her thoughts. That's happening a lot lately
'Who will sponsor her?' One boy raised his hand, he didn't hesitate. Fianola didn't know him precisely but she had met his aunt before. She looked over the boy that was to look after her sister. He was handsome, his light brown hair was cut short and looked ruffled, he was about Fianola's own height and looked to only be a year older. He walked over to Clairinia and smiled down at her, she grinned back. Fianola released a breath she didn't know she was holding, her sister would be well looked after by this charming boy.
The man faced the girl across from Fianola, 'Name and fief.' The girl stared up at him, with her huge blue eyes and blond hair you could guess that her home was towards the northern tip of Tortall.
'Kiniki of Ankorae, my Lord.' She sounded nervous although she didn't stammer. Ankorae was indeed to the north, it was almost at the Scanran border.
'Who will sponsor her?' Padraig turned to the older boys, one boy raised his hand. 'You Brornan?'
'Please sir, she's my cousin.' The training master nodded. A short youth pushed his way to the front of the group to stand beside Kiniki. She smiled at him, if he was short, she was tiny.
'You, probationer,' He had turned to Fianola. 'Name and fief.'
'Fianola of Hunters Ridge sir.' She could feel their eyes on her. A couple laughed when they saw no one was putting their hand up.
'No beginner may go unsponsored, ' Fianola blushed and looked down, because she was staring at her feet she didn't see the hand go up. 'Thank you Hollyrose. Stand with your probationer.' A boy came to stand next to her, she looked up but he didn't make eye contact. The group of boys focused on another girl as she introduced herself.
She studied her sponsor, he was tall and gangly but fit. He looked about thirteen, a third year probably.
He also had a scowl on his face, he didn't really look like the kind of person who would sponsor a girl without knowing them first. She sighed and looked back at Padraig, all the girls had sponsors and now he was starting with the new boys. Once he finished she turned to her sponsor, she didn't even know his name.
'Hello, my name is Fianola,' She held her hand out for him to shake. He finally made eye contact, glaring at her angrily although she didn't know what she could have possibly done to make him angry at her. She flinched, and he walked away trailing after the other pages. Fianola looked around for her sister but she had already gone. She sighed, she looked after her sisters but they always seemed to think that she could handle things on her own. Now she wasn't so sure if that was true.
I will really try to update quicker from now on. To take that long to put up something that isn't even that long is kind of pathetic. Please review and at least tell me how pathetic it is.
TPJ!
