I¹m really sorry about how long it took to update, but first I couldn¹t get my computer to work, and then the FF server crashed. Anyway, here for your enjoyment, is the next chapter. Oh, and sorry about name mistakes. I'm just going to go on as I have, because its easier. Sorry. R/R!!! Kaia led her horse, whose name, she had been informed, was Storm, into the riding yard. She led him over to a block of wood used for mounting. She put her foot in one stirrup, and began to swing herself up, when Storm, turned and looked at her, and as soon as she had shifted her weight, he sidled away. She fell to the ground in a cloud of dust. She felt her face burning as the other pages tittered. She pulled Storm back over to the block, and tried again. This time she was ready when he moved away, and she moved with him, landing on her feet. Trying to ignore the laughter of the surrounding boys, she pulled the horse back over to the block to try again, but before she could put her foot in the stirrup, she heard the training master¹s voice. ³Golden Nest,² He called. She stepped back onto the ground, and turned to face him. He was riding towards her on a beautiful bay. When he stopped in front of her, he studied her for a moment, and then said, ³If your horse will not let you ride him, you should request the assistance on Daine, the Wildmage. Or, you may choose a different horse.² Kaia recalled Storm¹s many virtues that Dennith had so proudly regaled her with, and how hard he had tried to get her this horse. She looked at the ugly beast who regarded her reproachfully. ³I would like to request the Wildmage¹s help, with my Lord¹s permission.² she answered. He nodded. ³Very well, you have until the next bell to fix the problem.² She bowed respectfully, and walked through the dust to the fence edging the yard. Ducking under it, she heard Lord HaMinch calling out directions to the pages, and the sound of many horses¹ hooves. Facing the steep hill up to the palace, Kaia decided that she didn¹t have any time to spare, and began to run. She was in fairly good shape for long distance running, but this hill really tested her endurance. Upon reaching the top, she stopped abruptly, and sat down. A moment later, she realized that she didn¹t want to cramp up, and pushed herself to her feet. By asking several servants, she managed to figure out where the Wildmage was. She climbed several flights of stairs, got lost twice, and finally the right room. The door was open, and she knocked timidly. A small child, only about two years of age, ran up to the doorway. She stared up at Kaia curiously, and Kaia, not knowing what to do, stared back. Then the little girl reached out, and grasped Kaia¹s hand. She turned around, and pulling Kaia behind her, she walked back into the house, calling ³Kitten, Kitten!² There was a small hall, and then a large room. Books where strewn everywhere, and Kaia noticed several animals sitting around. Mostly birds, but also a dog, and two cats. A frog sat on a map of Scanra. Kaia gave a start of surprise as a small dragon came through a door to her left. She was about three feet tall, and had blue scales tinged slightly with gold. Kaia stared openly as the dragon walked up to them, and the child proudly presented her, saying with an audible lisp ³Visitors!² The dragon whistled approvingly, and then turned back to the door, where she gave one deafening screech. Kaia heard a voice saying ³Al right, alright, I¹m coming.² A young woman walked through the door. She had long brown hair which was braided and wound around her head, and gray eyes. She was wiping her hands, which seemed to have some sort of white substance, on a cloth. Oh, thought Kaia, the birds. The woman looked at Kaia¹s bewildered expression, and smiled. ³Hello, I¹m Daine. And this,² she looked at the little girl, ³is Daenra. I see she took a liking to you.² She looked back up at Kaia again, and gave her a measuring look. ³You must be the new page.² she said. ³Where you looking for me?² ³Yes,² Kaia tried to find her scattered wits. ³It¹s about my horse. Storm. He won¹t let me ride him.² ³Well,² Daine said slowly, ³If he doesn¹t like you, I really can¹t do much to persuade him otherwise..² ³Oh no, that¹s not it,² Kaia said quickly, ³ He was trained not to bear any rider but one. If you could just convince him that I¹m his rider, I would appreciate it very much.² Daine smiled then. ³I would be happy to. I¹ll get down to the stables later today.² Kaia smiled back, very relieved, and just then, she heard the bell. ³Mithros,² she breathed. She was supposed to be back already. She bowed to Daine. ³Thank you. I am in your debt.² Daine bowed in return, and Kaia walked respectfully back to the door, beginning to run as soon as she had reached the hall. Lord HaMinch gave her one bell of extra work to do on Sunday for her lateness to lunch. She had bowed resignedly and went to load her tray. Having done so, she went to sit next to Sam and Dennith. They gave her sympathetic glances, and the looked up as the training master stood and said: ³Bright Mithros, Great Goddess, we thank you for our food and our safety.² He nodded briefly and sat down again. ³Where were you?² asked Dennith as Kaia smeared butter on her bread. ³The meeting with Daine took longer than I thought it would.² she shrugged. Dennith shook his head. ³Anyway, I wanted to tell you that you had better watch out. Some of the boys are going to try to bait you into a fight,² he took a bite of meat, ³You know,² he said in a muffled voice, and swallowed. ³To get you expelled. The ones sitting by those guys who look like they all ran into brick walls.² Kaia fought the urge to laugh. She tried to control her face and failed. Dennith looked at her closely. ³By the the way,² he said with a suspicious note in his voice. ³What do you know about that anyway?² Kaia was silent, but she couldn¹t keep the satisfied look off her face. ³Ha!² said Liam, ³You did it!² ³What?² Sam looked absolutely shocked, ³By yourself? But you¹re a g-² ³What?² asked Kaia disdainfully, ³A girl? Is that the word you¹re looking for? Does that mean that if attacked I curl up into a ball like a frightened hedgehog? Well, in the Ro-² She broke off and turned red. Dennith looked at her closely. ³In the what?² he asked. ³In the Shang,² she said into the waiting gap. ³In the Shang, if you do that, your teacher doesn¹t care. He¹ll attack you anyway.² Their mouths hung open. ³Well,² she said, ³You don¹t expect them to say Œoh, since your scared I¹ll leave you alone¹. Do you think that¹s what some bandit or thief is going to do when they attack you?² ³Well,² said Liam at last, ³I guess not.² ³Damn right.² said Kaia cheerfully. Sam laughed, breaking the silence, and they ate the rest of the meal talking about other things. Later, as she fell asleep, Kaia remembered her slip up, and hoped that everyone had forgotten. She would be in real danger if anyone found out what her secret was, and, come to think of it, so would her friends. With that uneasy thought, she fell into sleep.