[Author's notes: 'k, I've kinda given up on the Shang Mouse, until I get the impression anybody really wants me to finish it; you don't have to read it, it doesn't really matter too much to this story. Anguis is a big, rich country that has recently established diplomatic relations with Tortall, Sayo is a former princess of Anguis who is now married to Raoul of Goldenlake. I think that's all you need.

None of the characters that Tamora Pierce made belong to me. Characters that I made do. Anguis is my creation. Please review this. I'll love you if you do.]


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"...They will practice the fighting arts with fourth year pages, and they will be in many of your classes. They are here to learn as much as they can about Tortallan history, culture and politics, as well as martial arts. Please welcome them."

The three Anguan youths all had the same skin tone; a deep, rosy tan that they shared with Lady Sayo of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, and the few Anguan ambassadors that the pages saw everyday, and they all had brown eyes, but their hair color differed. The tallest boy, Devan, had smooth, medium brown hair. He was thin and dignified, with high cheekbones and arched brows visible even at 13. He had the bearing of an aristocrat, but he looked open and friendly. The second boy, shorter and slightly less slender, had a very friendly expression and a face that stated dignity had no place with him. His hair had a decided red tone, and his eyes were light, golden-brown, like Lady Sayo's. The girl, for the third one was a girl, had dark brown hair, nearly black, and her eyes were dark. She was medium hight, slender, and extremely pretty. Her expression, however, made clear she was not here voluntarily and her opinion of Tortall was not flattering.

The training master left them to eat their lunch, the three foreigners grouped together defensively, at least a year older than anyone present. Bolder fourth year pages initiated contact, appreciated by two of the three Anguans.

"I'm Devin," said the taller boy. "This is Corick," -the shorter one bowed- "And Jaina."
The girls expression did not lighten as her gaze fell on the intruders.

"Girls don't belong here!" someone said from the 4th year tables. She didn't even turn around, which undoubtedly did not win her any points from the offendor. Devin and Corick chatted, accented but flawless, with the pages, while she finished her meal. A perceptive watcher would have noticed she wasn't particularly fond of her fellow Anguans, either. A boy who tried to trip her going to her room at meals end was amazed to find his own momentum sending him crashing into a doorway, as an unfazed Jaina continued on her way.

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"We've been here 3 days now," Devin told her.

"I'm amazed. You can count," she replied nastily.

"And you haven't done a good job at making friends," he continued as if he hadn't been interrupted.

"I didn't choose to come here to make friends. Oh, hmm. In fact, I don't think I chose to come here at all!"

"Jaina..."

"Oh shut up. You too," she snapped at Corick.

"I haven't said anything!"

"That's new. Go talk to the darling Tortallans."

As Jaina finally got around to talking to the pages, they realized that while her grasp of the language was not the best, she was an amazing fighter. The gifted students in her class reported that she was the most strongly gifted they'd ever seen, except true mages. Rumors were half-heartedly spread that she, like the Lioness, used magic to cheat, but it was hard to torture someone who truly did not care what you thought of her, and could ground you into the floor with a hand tied behind her back. Hazing and teasing traditions were rewritten in her favor, as was bullying, because the vicious, arrogant foreign girl did not take kindly to people trying to trip her. Lord Wyldon, the training master, did not pretend to like her, nor she him, but he was forced to accept she was a magnificent fighter.

"Is everyone in your country that good?"

"Gods, no!" Corick responded. "She's the best we've had in years. Scary, isn't she?"

The pages affirmed that she was, indeed, scary.

"Why does she have such a bad attitude?"

"Oh, the crown assigned her to be here. She's not too hot on this country. Devin and I were volunteers. But really she doesn't like anyone much. Its just the way she is. She'll be a hell of a fighter."

"Mithros, she's beautiful, though, isn't she?" a new voice added.

Jaina had happened to be passing by during the conversation in the library, and while the comments on her attitude did not offend her, she managed to break two of the last speaker's fingers during staff practice later that day.

And she was enjoying herself, in a way, loath as she was to admit it. She enjoyed beating up people, and enjoyed a solitary life she had never been able to in Anguis. Of course, she still hated the pages, and Corus, and the food and the language, but...

"Hello. Jaina, isn't it?"

Jaina turned to see a smiling figure she recognized from a long time ago.
"Sayo?"

"Of Goldenlake," Sayo said proudly, holding up a hand with a golden band to display the mark of her new life.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you. But that's not why I'm here. You don't seem to be doing too well here."

Sayo was trustworthy. Jaina knew that. "I don't do too well anywhere, my lady. I am learning. There are worse options."

"Yes, I know that."

"I am starting to enjoy myself."

"Indeed?"

A sly, dark grin was all she needed for an answer.

"Ah, well," Sayo said. If you need someone to talk to, stop by. I'll give you knews from Anguis, if you like.

"Anguis? Not 'home'?"

"Not for a long time."

"Lucky," Jaina sighed. "Ah well. I will see you. Goodbye."

Sayo watched the girl retreat, and decided that Jaina was quite satisfied. She was too moral to be a bully, but she was a solitary cat, and she seemed to be nothing more than very good at hiding her enjoyment. There a minor worry to relieve of Kel, anyway. Good.