SUMMARY: A bunch of short stories about Myles's class. Need I say more?
A/N: Wow. I feel spoiled. And rather guilty as well. Here I sit, in my big comfy chair saying how much my writing bites the dust and there you people sit in your big comfy chairs saying how unique it is and how talented I am. Honestly, I have the greatest urge to laugh. Forever. G But many thanks goes out for your compliments. I hope it doesn't look like I'm fishing for them, I really do think it sux. But I suppose this is good practice as I stupidly signed up for creative writing next year. Hope we don't have to write poetry. I can be creative enough with stories, but poetry is not my area. Enough of my rambling...
DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Tamora Pierce, except the ones that I make up of course.
DEDICATION: crosseyedbutterfly, you should feel so lucky. :D Thanks muchly!
NOTE TO THOSE WHO DON'T CARE AND SIMPLY WANT TO READ THE STORY: This chapter's 'plot' (sort of) was suggested by said crosseyedbutterfly. Perhaps now since I finally took a suggestion to heart people will make more! **HINT! HINT! HINT!**
Myles's Class - "Slamming" the Noble Girls
Alan had arrived to class surprisingly early. And surprisingly alone as well. He seemed to be in a sour state. Moments later hoots and whoops of laughter arose from down the hall. Myles hardly glanced up as fifteen pre-teenage boys filtered into the classroom.
"Did you actually see her?" asked Raoul of his friend Gary, "Or are you making it all up?"
"I'm telling you, I saw a noble girl trying to shoot a bow!" Gary cried, appalled that his friends thought he was lying.
"I saw it too. She was horrible. The stance was all wrong and the bow was much too big for her." said Alex with a devilish smirk. "I found it all rather humorous actually. I suppose it just goes to show that girls are meant for embroidery and men should do the fighting. I mean, if ladies fought, somebody's bound to break a nail!"
The boys laughed at Alex's joke and Myles stood up commanding the attention of the boys. They all took their seats. Jon, from his seat in the back corner, noticed that something was amiss with Alan of Trebond. The young boy was slightly flushed. At first, Jon thought the lad might be sick but by the way Alan seemed to be staring intently at his desk it was obvious he was embarrassed.
"I hope you boys aren't soiling some poor girl's reputation," Myles said kindly.
"Myles, do you honestly think that a delicate flower, such as a lady, should be messing with things like bows? The ones we use that is. Not the ones they use to decorate their hair." Alex grinned and the boys laughed again.
Before Myles could answer however Alan burst out, "Who says ladies can't use a weapon?" Jon glanced across the room at his friend, wary of the red-head's fiery temper.
Alex studied his young friend carefully. "Ladies aren't supposed to use weapons though Alan. It's not in their training. They're meant to sit around and---"
"Embroider and look pretty," Alan interrupted bitterly. "I know."
"Well there's no need to be snippy about it all," Alex said. "And how do you know?"
"Because I," Alan paused quickly, so quickly that most of the boys didn't notice. But the Prince, and Gary too, were being surprisingly observant that day and noticed the sudden conflict of emotions Alan seemed to undergo in his momentary silence. "I...I have a cousin."
"I have a cousin too," Gary said with a smile on his face and looked across the room at Jon.
"No," Alan sighed looking slightly distressed. "I have a cousin who wants to become a knight."
"Sometimes I think my cousin does to," Gary told him. "And sometimes, I'm not so sure." Jon glared at him.
Alan groaned and stared at his desk. "My cousin's a girl."
"My cousin's not."
"Gary," Jon said sternly, "Shut up before you hurt yourself." Gary did.
"You're cousin wasn't that girl outside was it?" snarled a boy from the back of the room. Alan and his friends turned to see that it was Ralon.
Anger filled Alan's eyes. "And if I said she was?" Jon winced at the sharpness of his friend's voice.
"I'd have to tell you to start denying it in the future," Ralon advised. Myles's eyebrows rose at the suggestion, and he became wary and ready for an outburst.
"Just because she's different and has a goal in her life?" Alan's eyes threw daggers at the boy but Ralon shrugged the look off.
"I have goals in my life," the boy said coolly, looking away from the fierce red-head's stare.
"And pray tell what are those?" Alan asked, a false serene look taking over his face. "Other than bedding every girl in court that is."
"Alan," Myles warned.
Ralon simply sneered at him. "Actually 'Bumpkin', I wouldn't bed your cousin if she offered. The whole lot of you are a bunch of inbred brats." (A/N: Ouch that had to hurt.)
Alan's eyes flared and Jon saw that the small boy would have leapt at Ralon if Gary and Raoul hadn't grabbed him. "He's not worth it Alan," Raoul whispered into his ear. "Let it go."
Myles knew it was time to interfere, and thankfully the bell rang just then. "That's enough. All of you. Sit down and take out your books."
The boys trooped to their seats but Alan wasn't through, despite the warning looks from his friends and Myles. "You're female relatives are no gems either Ralon." Ralon glanced sharply at Alan who had turned to speak to Alex. "I saw a painting of a cow once. I believe the artist named it 'The Lady Malven'."
Gary guffawed and the rest of the class chuckled. Ralon growled but didn't dare leave his seat. Verbal insults were one thing, but if he were to beat the boy now, he'd surely be in trouble. He'd have to wait until they were alone in the stables.
"Alan," Myles said so harshly the boys looked around as if expecting to find Duke Gareth standing in the doorway. "I believe I told you that was enough. This verbal battle is getting us nowhere and I am quite willing to move on with today's class. If you would like to continue however, there is a room down the hall with Duke Gareth's name on it. I'm sure he'd let you continue there." Myles turned around and took out the book. He turned to to a page in the middle of the book and smiled grimly. "Turn to page 356. Alan, read from the top."
Alan did so, his face full of shame for letting his temper get the better of him. He wasn't paying much attention to what he read until he came across to words that, according to Ralon and a large portion of the boys, with perhaps the exception of Jon, Gary, and Raoul, did not belong together. "In the years 278 H.E. to 315 H.E. the number of lady knights in existence greatly outnumbered the amount of male knights, with ten to fifteen female knights to every male knight."
"Myles, there must be a misprint in here," Alan could hear Ralon sneer.
"There is not Malven. Continue Alan."
Alan finished his portion and Myles asked other boys in the class to read. Ralon was never asked. The class flew by and Alan was completely enthralled.
"The most famous Lady Knight, was of course already discussed in this class," Myles was saying.
Gary sighed with a happy smile on his face, "Fair Juliana of Domrémy."
"What happened to Eleanor, Gary?" Jon asked, an amused look crossing his face.
"I am over her. Besides, she's related to you Jon, and there's only so many Contés I can deal with in one day."
"Gary's only upset because his one true love has already slept with fifteen other men and lost her head," the quiet, and practically invisible (A/N: at least in my stories), Francis of Nond pointed out.
Gary grumbled something unintelligible and a few boys smiled. "Myles," asked Gary, "Are there any other well known female knights and warriors?"
"You mean, ones that weren't burned at the stake?" he asked. Gary nodded. "Yes. In fact, female warriors exist in the art of Shang. The Shang Unicorn, one of the best, is female. There is also the Shang Wildcat, whom I have heard is quite good."
"What about female knights?" Alan asked quietly.
"None with so gaudy a name, though the Lady Felissa came quite close." The boys looked confused. "Felissa the Panther. She was however, named for her complexion and not her prowess. Nevertheless she was good."
"So, you agree with me Myles, that females can be warriors?" Alan inquired.
"For my own safety, yes."
"What about for my brain, which is thirsting for knowledge."
"I believe I would still have to go with yes." The bell rang and the boys left. Ralon was the first out the door.
"Alan?" Alex stood in front of him, a look of apology in his eyes.
"Yes?"
"Was that really your cousin in the yards?"
"No." He answered and as an afterthought quickly added, "My cousin's only six."
"Oh," Alex paused and thought. "You aren't angry at me for what I said earlier are you?"
Alan looked up surprised. "No. Of course not." Alex was the last person he expected an apology from. Well, second to last. The boys left, and Alan trailed after them.
I'll need a name like Felissa's when I'm knighted. Alanna thought to herself as she followed her friends to the mess hall. However will I think of a good one? One that will be remembered forever?
"Hey Alan! You're lagging and were all going to miss lunch! Hurry up!" Raoul called back to his friend.
Oh well. For now, I'm still Alan. I have eight years to come up with a memorable name, and with my luck, I'll be lucky if I survive that long. Alanna shrugged and smiled to herself and ran to catch up with them.
A/N: God, Ralon is mean, though I think I gave him some of Joren's characteristics unintentionally. And Alex is annoying at the beginning of this chapter. Not much information in this chapter I know. It was a fun chapter to write though. I'd love to do a men bashing one, but that would surely give Alan(na) away. That last bit was probably confusing. I won't do that again. But I've already written the cheesy ending, and I don't feel like changing it.
::whistles:: Having lots of reviews feels good. =D Thanks ever so much!
I have to cut back on Author's Notes. They'll end up longer than the story.
Notes:
crosseyedbutterfly: ::grins and laughs:: You already had yours. Don't be so selfish. :D
Eternitys Chick: Thank you for loving me. :) You put me on your favorite stories list!
Daemon: Well of COURSE she was a scandal. I had to make her interesting after making you people wait for the 5th chapter to learn anything about her, besides her birth year and the fact that Gary is in love with her that is.
Blue Eyes: Very good point. ::ponders a solution:: I know. They're psychic! ::chuckles:: No? Alright, how about it's written on the board. Is there a board? In my story there's a board. And of course everyone is in character. ::said jokingly:: I mean haven't you read the other reviews. I'm "talented." At least that's what they tell me. Thanks for the review.
Temptress: Thanks for the idea. I'll work it into a story. I'd also put in some king who owns a brothel, but I'd have to up the rating, and I'm too lazy to do that.
Lady Knight of Kennan: This story goes nowhere and to answer your question, random days of History class. My history class is almost this much fun.
Sapphire Dreams: Was this longer? I'm sorry if it's not. I would make them longer if I could think of more stuff to put in. There's only so much interesting history I can make up by myself. Er, interesting history that fits in this time period that is. I'm going to find another good scandal and write about that. Or I could write a story about a king that had eight wives. Either way it sounds kinda intriguing don'cha think?
Princess Sanidaylene: No. Gary is related to Jon through the Queen (Jon's mother = Duke Gareth's sister = Gary's Aunt). Jon is related to Eleanor through his father. And remember Eleanor existed about 200 years before Jon and Gary. So therefore, in that 200 year stretch of time, there were many marriages. And Eleanor would some form of aunt, not grandmother. And besides...it's really not all THAT ewwey. I'm sure you've had a crush on a cousin before. Like 5th cousin. You were probably eight or so and the thought of incest never crossed your mind. And, Eleanor Roosevelt was a distant cousin of FDR - her husband. And my 9th grade Social Studies teacher married a distant cousin of his without knowing it. Royals married cousins all the time so don't get me started on that. See, it's more common than you think. I'm done ranting now.
jilla kala: You're flattering me! ::blushes:: PLEASE KEEP DOING SO! G