Emma's Viewpoints
Chapter 1-'First Day'
Viewpoints is a project my friend and I are working on. Originally, we both chose 2 characters each, and over the next little bit, we will both post these 'viewpoints' of life in the page's wing in 465 HE. The Lady of Lorraine is my partner on writing these. Give us feedback on what you think. Lorraine's probably gonna kill me for posting this before hers, so you know what happened if you hear no more from me.
Silvertree is a cold mountain fief in Tortall's Grimhold Mountains. It is, as the name might imply, a source of lumber, and silver. Lady Susanne of Silvertree, widow to the Lord Jessen, is one of the king's greatest supporters and one of the most liberal nobles in the realm. Before Lord Jessen died, she gave birth to triplets, three girls with emerald eyes and dark brown eyes. The oldest, Emma, had always shown an aptitude for combat. Next, Emelia, showed only a passion for ladylike arts, and somewhat of a cutthroat nature. Emily, the youngest, was always the best with animals. Even at the young age of nine, she joined the King's Couriers, a group of spies for the King under Baron George of Pirate's Swoop.
It was when they were nine that they truly parted ways. When riding on a hunt not long after Midwinter, Emma had an encounter was a unicorn and was cut by its horn. Her most unusual form of Wild Magic showed through in her ability to communicate with immortals.
When the Emperor Ozorne of the Carthaki Empire pierced his flesh with a stormwing feather, he turned into a stormwing. This wasn't what happened to Emma; it was something far different. Emma was counted as an immortal, just as much as a centaur or a unicorn. She only looked human.
She didn't tell anyone this, though. As she came to the Royal Palace to begin training as a page in the summer of 465, she learned the gods were once again in Tortall. She also learned that, for one reason or another, all the girls that came under Lord Wyldon's juristiction that year kept their secrets well hidden.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Emma dressed nervously. Reea, the new head servant in the page's wing, had shown her her room and told her to get ready for dinner. Reea had some sort of problem with girl pages, which showed through most obviously. Emma sighed as she pulled on her favorite green breeches, white shirt, and quilted deerskin vest. The top of her dark hair was pulled back, and tied with a braided string from the hair of the unicorn that had cut her. She smoothed her hair with calloused hands, took a deep breath, and went into the hall.
About six girls stood talking at one end of the hall, as well as a couple of boys. Emma made for this group nervously, and stood on the outside. A girl with an ugly face and soft hands Emma would bet had never touched a spinning wheel, let alone a spear, was talking.
"Every year more girls come. I didn't want to come, but mother and father said it was the only way for me to make something of myself." she spotted Emma. "Look, another one." she smiled in what seemed to be a friendly manner. "Hello. I'm Rhiannon of Rowan Branch. Who might you be?"
"Emma of Silvertree. How many first-years are girls?" she asked, curiously.
"Four." spoke a girl with blond hair and blue eyes, incredibly pretty, but with a haunted look. "I'm Laylia of Kirgiz Step. The other new girl is Clarinda of Green Mountain, and then there's Amice of Pirate's Swoop, the Lioness' daughter, a second-year. By Lady Song, she's good."
"Who's Lady Song?" Emma asked.
"One of the new goddesses in Mithros's court." it was a boy this time. (please note that the Lady Song is only my pen name, and I do not claim to be a goddess or anything more than a mere mortal who enjoys chocolate and writing) "She is the patron of warrioresses, unusual magic and child mages. My name is Padriag of Wainslirt."
"Pleased to meet you." Emma shook his hand. At this point the group was joined by a short, muscular girl with copper hair and violet eyes.
"Amice!" cried Rhiannon. Amice dressed in sensible white shirt and tan breeches. She didn't seem overly pleased at Rhiannon's greeting. Emma didn't blame her; Rhiannon seemed a skirt, through and through. Her dress was even more fasionable than Emelia's newest one, which was saying something.
"Lord Wyldon is coming." Amice said directly, not bothering to reply. "We'd better get ready. Rhiannon, I'd suggest you do something with your hair. Lord Wyldon's out of temper, and he'll give you a lecture. Your gown is far too fancy. Please, if you want to stay, my advice is to act like a boy and blend in with the scenery."
Rhiannon looked put out and gave a toss of her head, and all eighteen inches of hair, but did not reply. Lord Wyldon approached from the other end of the hall, and the group went to meet him.
Chapter 1-'First Day'
Viewpoints is a project my friend and I are working on. Originally, we both chose 2 characters each, and over the next little bit, we will both post these 'viewpoints' of life in the page's wing in 465 HE. The Lady of Lorraine is my partner on writing these. Give us feedback on what you think. Lorraine's probably gonna kill me for posting this before hers, so you know what happened if you hear no more from me.
Silvertree is a cold mountain fief in Tortall's Grimhold Mountains. It is, as the name might imply, a source of lumber, and silver. Lady Susanne of Silvertree, widow to the Lord Jessen, is one of the king's greatest supporters and one of the most liberal nobles in the realm. Before Lord Jessen died, she gave birth to triplets, three girls with emerald eyes and dark brown eyes. The oldest, Emma, had always shown an aptitude for combat. Next, Emelia, showed only a passion for ladylike arts, and somewhat of a cutthroat nature. Emily, the youngest, was always the best with animals. Even at the young age of nine, she joined the King's Couriers, a group of spies for the King under Baron George of Pirate's Swoop.
It was when they were nine that they truly parted ways. When riding on a hunt not long after Midwinter, Emma had an encounter was a unicorn and was cut by its horn. Her most unusual form of Wild Magic showed through in her ability to communicate with immortals.
When the Emperor Ozorne of the Carthaki Empire pierced his flesh with a stormwing feather, he turned into a stormwing. This wasn't what happened to Emma; it was something far different. Emma was counted as an immortal, just as much as a centaur or a unicorn. She only looked human.
She didn't tell anyone this, though. As she came to the Royal Palace to begin training as a page in the summer of 465, she learned the gods were once again in Tortall. She also learned that, for one reason or another, all the girls that came under Lord Wyldon's juristiction that year kept their secrets well hidden.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Emma dressed nervously. Reea, the new head servant in the page's wing, had shown her her room and told her to get ready for dinner. Reea had some sort of problem with girl pages, which showed through most obviously. Emma sighed as she pulled on her favorite green breeches, white shirt, and quilted deerskin vest. The top of her dark hair was pulled back, and tied with a braided string from the hair of the unicorn that had cut her. She smoothed her hair with calloused hands, took a deep breath, and went into the hall.
About six girls stood talking at one end of the hall, as well as a couple of boys. Emma made for this group nervously, and stood on the outside. A girl with an ugly face and soft hands Emma would bet had never touched a spinning wheel, let alone a spear, was talking.
"Every year more girls come. I didn't want to come, but mother and father said it was the only way for me to make something of myself." she spotted Emma. "Look, another one." she smiled in what seemed to be a friendly manner. "Hello. I'm Rhiannon of Rowan Branch. Who might you be?"
"Emma of Silvertree. How many first-years are girls?" she asked, curiously.
"Four." spoke a girl with blond hair and blue eyes, incredibly pretty, but with a haunted look. "I'm Laylia of Kirgiz Step. The other new girl is Clarinda of Green Mountain, and then there's Amice of Pirate's Swoop, the Lioness' daughter, a second-year. By Lady Song, she's good."
"Who's Lady Song?" Emma asked.
"One of the new goddesses in Mithros's court." it was a boy this time. (please note that the Lady Song is only my pen name, and I do not claim to be a goddess or anything more than a mere mortal who enjoys chocolate and writing) "She is the patron of warrioresses, unusual magic and child mages. My name is Padriag of Wainslirt."
"Pleased to meet you." Emma shook his hand. At this point the group was joined by a short, muscular girl with copper hair and violet eyes.
"Amice!" cried Rhiannon. Amice dressed in sensible white shirt and tan breeches. She didn't seem overly pleased at Rhiannon's greeting. Emma didn't blame her; Rhiannon seemed a skirt, through and through. Her dress was even more fasionable than Emelia's newest one, which was saying something.
"Lord Wyldon is coming." Amice said directly, not bothering to reply. "We'd better get ready. Rhiannon, I'd suggest you do something with your hair. Lord Wyldon's out of temper, and he'll give you a lecture. Your gown is far too fancy. Please, if you want to stay, my advice is to act like a boy and blend in with the scenery."
Rhiannon looked put out and gave a toss of her head, and all eighteen inches of hair, but did not reply. Lord Wyldon approached from the other end of the hall, and the group went to meet him.