Alternative version of PAGE
Part three
By Vashti
"Morning!" Cried out Kel cheerfully to Neal as she stepped out from her room. "Do you always have to be so gods-dammed cheerful in the morning?" muttered Seaver as he walked past and knocked on Tiaret's door. "Are you coming out today?" he shouted through the keyhole and was replied by a thud that sounded like a pillow hitting the door. "Fine" he replied exasperated and went off to get breakfast with Neal. "Tiaret?" asked Kel knocking at the door hesitatingly "Come in, It isn't locked" she called out from within the room. Kel pushed open the door and stepped into what looked to her like the result of a Scanran raid.
Multi-coloured shirts, tunics, breeches, and veils were flung everywhere. Glass models of animals and birds peered down from the shelves while lively pictures showing dolphins jumping and lion cubs playing covered the walls. In the midst of this rainbow of chaos sat Tiaret tying her shoelaces. She was wearing clothes similar to those she wore last night but more muted in colour and less flimsy. She had removed all her jewelry apart from a small charm necklace and gold studs in her ears. She looked up and noticed Kel staring at her room.
"Last night I remembered to unpack my ornaments but forgot to unpack most of my clothes" she said with a smile as she got up. "Do you like the pictures?" "They're so pretty!" replied Kel in wonder "But we're going to be late if we don't hurry" "One minute." Replied Tiaret as she grabbed an orange veil and wound it over her hair that was now braided and tied up. "You're not going to wear that while training are you?" asked Kel as they ran down the hallway "I'll take it off if it gets in the way" she replied as the swung round a corner and pegged it to get to the hall just before some squires. They got their breakfast smiling and chattering and sat at the usual table.
Breakfast passed and soon they were tacking up the horses for the riding lesson.
"Now you behave" Kel ordered Peachblossom before she mounted up "Don't show me up Ok?" Peachblossom snorted as she hoisted herself into the saddle as if to say 'It's not me who's an embarrassment.'
Tiaret led Teshi out and tried to calm her as she mounted up. It didn't work. Eventually she managed to jump on just as everyone had rode out. "At least you stay in a straight line most of the time" whispered Kel to Peachblossom as Teshi pranced along from side to side. "What's the matter with her?" asked Seaver as he hung back to talk to them, "Teshi isn't normally like that." "She's excited that's why – normally I can control her" replied Tiaret aggravated as Teshi threw her head up and side-stepped into Peachblossom who then tried to take a chunk out of her. "Don't let the Lord Wyldon see her like that or he'll send her home" warned Seaver concerned. "Actually I think The Stump likes making the girls ride maniac horses" said Neal cheerfully as he rode up to them whilst carefully keeping his distance from Peachblossom. "You'll better pray he doesn't make us jump without stirrups" he warned them "Stefan hinted he'd put the jumps out." They rounded a corner and came into the schooling field.
"Oh no!" cried Kel. "You don't know his going to make us jump without stirrups" protested Tiaret worried. "Tia, the two people next to him are Duke Baird and Alanna the Lioness. They are the two most powerful healers in the kingdom. You work it out." Seaver said as he wound strands of his horse's mane around his hands.
Kel suddenly sat up straight and pushed Peachblosson forward. At last! It was her chance to impress the Lioness! The short woman saw the pages come around the corner into the field and winked at her before turning back to Lord Wyldon. He noticed and scowled. "Form a circle in the lower end of the field and start to warm up. We've got a treat today. You're all jumping without stirrups." Everyone groaned. "I can't jump without stirrups with her like this" hissed Tiaret as Teshi leapt sideways. Kel noticed Joren and his pack staring at her with smirks on their faces. "Good luck" they all whispered to Tiaret as she started to trot.
Lord Wyldon called for Joren and Vinson to lower the jumps slightly then turned to the pages. "As a knight, much of your time will be spent riding off to help some distant village. Many times you will not have the time to open gates or go around other obstacles. To improve your balance, which is essential to good riding you will be jumping this without stirrups." He looked at Tiaret and Teshi who was standing and tossing her head up and down. "You first Clashing Rocks" Kel looked at Tiaret and saw her gulp. She pushed Teshi into a slow canter and circled once before bringing Teshi into line. All of a sudden, Kel saw a small piece of green material tied to the bottom of the left side post. Teshi hadn't seen it but just as she took off she saw it and leapt sideways in mid-air. Horrified, Kel could only watch as Teshi cat-leaped and twisted, throwing Tiaret off. She fell through the air and landed on her side with a sickening crack. Teshi had galloped to the other end of the field and was bolting round as the reins slipped down her sides.
Tiaret managed to lurch to her feet and started running off towards Teshi although she was limping and holding her right arm. Neal and Seaver cantered over to Teshi and managed to slow her down as Tiaret gamely tried to make her way there. When they brought Teshi over Tiaret spent a long time making a fuss of her before slowly and painfully mounting up. While all this was going on, the three adults were inspecting the ruins of the jump. When Lord Wyldon straightened up and held the green piece of cloth up everyone was silent. They stayed like that until Tiaret slowly rode up and dismounted then faced Lord Wyldon. She stayed leaning on Teshi while he spoke "When I find out who tied this piece of cloth to the jump I shall personally ensure that person is sent home. That was a despicable trick that I would more expect a common knave to do than those training to be knights." He then turned to Tiaret "when your wounds are healed will you jump that?" Kel gasped thinking he can't make her do that! But when Tiaret turned her level gaze to him and replied "yes sir" Kel understood. She had to jump that or she would lose her nerve. The Lioness and Duke Baird fussed over her until the Lioness looked up and said "Cavall, her arm is broken, we can't fix it here." He sighed and said, "Very well, she can jump it later." "My lord I can jump it now" Tiaret said as Duke Baird put her arm in a sling. "If I may use stirrups, I feel I can jump it now" "Very well" replied Lord Wyldon shortly as he was still looking at the cloth.
Tiaret mounted up and slowly walked Teshi over to now-repaired jump. She let her sniff it and wander around it until Teshi put her head down and started to graze. Everyone was watching as she walked Teshi around until she wasn't interested in the jump anymore. Then everyone held their breath as she trotted Teshi round in a circle. Although she was only using one hand, she looked as though she had full control. That didn't stop Kel muttering a quick prayer to the Goddess as Tiaret turned her horse round and cantered up to the jump.
Teshi pricked up her ears and easily went over the jump. Tiaret slowly brought her down to a walk and came back. "Well done" said Lord Wyldon with grudging respect. "You may go back to the stables. I want everyone else to go over the jump once and then go in. Without stirrups." All the pages groaned.
LATER ON
"Tia? Can we come in?" the pages knocked on the door hesitatingly. When there was no answer Kel pushed past them and barged in leaving the boys hanging around awkwardly outside the door. She saw Tiaret laying on the bed staring at the ceiling. Kel approached hesitatingly. "Tia? Are you all right?" "I nearly broke my neck less than an hour ago and you are asking if I'm all right?" replied Tia emotionlessly. Kel hesitated, unsure of what to say. Tia sighed "Sorry Kel I'm just a bit shocked at the moment that some people would stoop to that level. I could have easily broken more than my arm and now I'm scared of what they're going to try and do next. Were they this vindictive last year?" "No" replied Kel. "Last year they were very nasty but they never tried something like that. It almost seems that there is someone else trying to stop more girls wanting to become knights." Both girls thought about that for a moment until Tia spoke up. "I'll tell you one thing Kel, I hope Lord Wyldon is as honourable and fair as they say he is because I'm starting to have doubts. I'd rather be an uneducated Lady than a dead page."
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!
Love Vashti