*All characters except the servants and family of Highridge are sole
property of Tamora Pierce, and the author of this story makes no attempt to
claim them as her own.*
The sudden stop of bouncing and jostling awoke Jocelyn. She had fallen asleep, the rocking of the carriage lulling her to sleep. Now she peered out the curtain of the carriage window, where her eyes met the place that would be her home for the next 6 years. After that, she would be presented at court and expected to find a suitable husband. The walls of the convent seemed to stretch for miles, blending with the dreary mountains that surrounded it. Jocelyn sighed, fingering her jade necklace.
Goddess give me strength, she prayed. The convent's guard came forward to open her door for her. She stepped out and thanked him. As she stood waiting for her bags to be unloaded, two women came from within the convent. The short, stocky blonde in a convent uniform reached Jocelyn first.
"I am Gedia Thendak, head of all the servants in the females ward. I'm here to help you get acquainted with some of the other girls, as well as show you to your room. Your bags should be there by the time you need them."
The taller, willowy redhead wearing a deep purple dress spoke next, "And I am Haessa Rhykon. I'll be in charge of your studies, similar to a training master for knights."
Jocelyn nodded.
"I'll turn you over to Gedia for now; I always try to introduce myself to the newest members of our 'family'. I'll expect to see you in the Great Hall by the time the seventh bell stops ringing. And welcome to the Mother of the Mountains. We are most happy to have you here with us."
"Thank you," Jocelyn said, falling behind the quickly moving Gedia.
"Now, you aren't to leave the convent walls without an escort or special permission. We've had several run-ins with spidrens, as well as a killer unicorn. There is the library. Should you require some addition materials for a project, you will find most everything you need. There is a strict curfew that is enforced by the convent guards. Here you have the Great Hall, where you and all the other students will gather for your daily meals. Do you have any special diet requirements?"
"Huh? Oh, no."
"Good. You wouldn't believe how many special meals we have to prepare already. Have you brought any servants with you?"
"No m'am."
"Then one shall be assigned to you. Down that hall are the classrooms. Basic Tortallan history, needlepoint, Gift-training, basic combat skills, dancing, etiquette, accounting, and various other things. Speaking of Gift-training, do you have the Gift?"
"No, m'am. My father and brothers are all Gifted, but I'm not. Neither is my mother nor my sisters."
"Alright."
After an eternity of walking and Gedia pointing out several other points of interest, she finally said, "And here is your room."
Gedia opened the door, revealing a plain, but cozy room. A warm rug covered the stone floor of the main sitting room, where a fire burned merrily. Two large chairs faced the fire place, and a window seat overlooked the courtyard. At the opposite end of the room, Jocelyn caught a glimpse of her bedchambers and washroom.
Father obviously pulled some strings for me this time.
Gedia consulted a chart she had pulled from one of the many pockets in her uniform, and announced that the servant to be in charge of Jocelyn's room was to be a young woman named Berina.
"She will change your sheets, make certain that your room is kept warm, that you have fresh candles, and take care of any soiled clothes you may have. It is not part of her duties to do mindless tasks for you, however, if she chooses to do so, that is her business. You may only take meals in your room if you are ill or have special permission."
Jocelyn could only nod her head. Despite her nap on the way to the convent, the only thing Jocelyn wanted to do was crawl into bed.
"And don't forget to change and be downstairs for the evening meal. Afterward, you will have an hour of free time, then you will be required to be inside your room with the door locked. The boys' quarters are off- limits to you, but you are allowed to visit other girls in their rooms." And with that, Gedia walked briskly out of the room, shutting it firmly behind her.
Jocelyn sighed, and began to look for her trunks. They turned up at the foot of her bed, which was covered in a warm bedspread of golds, blues, and reds. She selected her second favorite kimono, a deep maroon frock with golden embroidery around the edges. She slipped into her Tortallan boots, hiding them under the hem of the kimono. She piled her spirals on top of her hair and fixed them their with some pins.
Best make a good impression, she thought to herself.
Jocelyn nearly hopped out of her skin when the gong began to sound. She jammed the last pin into her hair and began to hurry towards the Great Hall, praying she could remember where it was. Luckily, she was able to just follow the great mass of girls in as much of a hurry as she was. The crowd thin considerably when she reached the actual doors.
Well, here goes, she thought, as she pushed open the doors and walked in.
The sudden stop of bouncing and jostling awoke Jocelyn. She had fallen asleep, the rocking of the carriage lulling her to sleep. Now she peered out the curtain of the carriage window, where her eyes met the place that would be her home for the next 6 years. After that, she would be presented at court and expected to find a suitable husband. The walls of the convent seemed to stretch for miles, blending with the dreary mountains that surrounded it. Jocelyn sighed, fingering her jade necklace.
Goddess give me strength, she prayed. The convent's guard came forward to open her door for her. She stepped out and thanked him. As she stood waiting for her bags to be unloaded, two women came from within the convent. The short, stocky blonde in a convent uniform reached Jocelyn first.
"I am Gedia Thendak, head of all the servants in the females ward. I'm here to help you get acquainted with some of the other girls, as well as show you to your room. Your bags should be there by the time you need them."
The taller, willowy redhead wearing a deep purple dress spoke next, "And I am Haessa Rhykon. I'll be in charge of your studies, similar to a training master for knights."
Jocelyn nodded.
"I'll turn you over to Gedia for now; I always try to introduce myself to the newest members of our 'family'. I'll expect to see you in the Great Hall by the time the seventh bell stops ringing. And welcome to the Mother of the Mountains. We are most happy to have you here with us."
"Thank you," Jocelyn said, falling behind the quickly moving Gedia.
"Now, you aren't to leave the convent walls without an escort or special permission. We've had several run-ins with spidrens, as well as a killer unicorn. There is the library. Should you require some addition materials for a project, you will find most everything you need. There is a strict curfew that is enforced by the convent guards. Here you have the Great Hall, where you and all the other students will gather for your daily meals. Do you have any special diet requirements?"
"Huh? Oh, no."
"Good. You wouldn't believe how many special meals we have to prepare already. Have you brought any servants with you?"
"No m'am."
"Then one shall be assigned to you. Down that hall are the classrooms. Basic Tortallan history, needlepoint, Gift-training, basic combat skills, dancing, etiquette, accounting, and various other things. Speaking of Gift-training, do you have the Gift?"
"No, m'am. My father and brothers are all Gifted, but I'm not. Neither is my mother nor my sisters."
"Alright."
After an eternity of walking and Gedia pointing out several other points of interest, she finally said, "And here is your room."
Gedia opened the door, revealing a plain, but cozy room. A warm rug covered the stone floor of the main sitting room, where a fire burned merrily. Two large chairs faced the fire place, and a window seat overlooked the courtyard. At the opposite end of the room, Jocelyn caught a glimpse of her bedchambers and washroom.
Father obviously pulled some strings for me this time.
Gedia consulted a chart she had pulled from one of the many pockets in her uniform, and announced that the servant to be in charge of Jocelyn's room was to be a young woman named Berina.
"She will change your sheets, make certain that your room is kept warm, that you have fresh candles, and take care of any soiled clothes you may have. It is not part of her duties to do mindless tasks for you, however, if she chooses to do so, that is her business. You may only take meals in your room if you are ill or have special permission."
Jocelyn could only nod her head. Despite her nap on the way to the convent, the only thing Jocelyn wanted to do was crawl into bed.
"And don't forget to change and be downstairs for the evening meal. Afterward, you will have an hour of free time, then you will be required to be inside your room with the door locked. The boys' quarters are off- limits to you, but you are allowed to visit other girls in their rooms." And with that, Gedia walked briskly out of the room, shutting it firmly behind her.
Jocelyn sighed, and began to look for her trunks. They turned up at the foot of her bed, which was covered in a warm bedspread of golds, blues, and reds. She selected her second favorite kimono, a deep maroon frock with golden embroidery around the edges. She slipped into her Tortallan boots, hiding them under the hem of the kimono. She piled her spirals on top of her hair and fixed them their with some pins.
Best make a good impression, she thought to herself.
Jocelyn nearly hopped out of her skin when the gong began to sound. She jammed the last pin into her hair and began to hurry towards the Great Hall, praying she could remember where it was. Luckily, she was able to just follow the great mass of girls in as much of a hurry as she was. The crowd thin considerably when she reached the actual doors.
Well, here goes, she thought, as she pushed open the doors and walked in.