* A Song Of Ice And Fire *
Disclaimer: I don't own the title (oh shame!) it's actually the name of the George R R Martin series I'm reading right now… But it fits so perfectly! Hehe…
I don't own Tortall ^o^ what a shock!
A bit of info: This take place B.H.E., when there were still Immortals about… which means that I just might have something about them being trapped or something… Just keep in mind that things are different, and Immortals are accepted parts of life…
Lady Tarianna of Dunlath stared out the window, completely lost in her own thoughts. The embroidery in her hand slipped until the needle slammed into her finger.
"Goddess' Bones! That hurt!"
She threw down the embroidery and sucked on her finger in pain. Her rust-colored hair fell around her face in curled cascades, hiding her bright green eyes. Suddenly, she noticed a deep crimson drop of blood spreading on her green wool gown. She muttered under her breath and stood quickly. At the Priestess' glare and her mother's disapproving look, she curtsied quickly and asked for permission to withdraw, which was given. Tarianna swept quickly out of the room, making sure to walk gracefully so that she would not have to repeat it over and over again, as Priestess Miltda often made her. When she was clear of the room, Tarianna sprinted down the steps and into her rooms. She quickly stripped and re-dressed in her riding breeches and tunic. When she had dressed appropriately, the young lady exited the manor and took off at a dead run towards the barns.
"Ria! There you are! I was wondering if you'd show up for our lesson."
"Gods, I forgot. I'm sorry, Phey, I didn't mean to. My mother tried to keep me penned up in the solar. She's such a proper lady." The face that accompanied that statement showed clearly what she thought of that.
Lady Knight Phedre of Tasride laughed and gestured impatiently towards the barn. She was a good five or six years older than Ria in real age, but her fit body and browned skin made her look younger. Her haunted blue eyes seemed strange in her delicate, though weather-beaten face. The eyes of a fifty-year-old who has seen spidrens tear her friends apart in the face of a twenty-two-year-old. Ria returned quickly, with her mount, a young mare who had as free a spirit as Ria wished hers was. Phey's stallion pranced in place, trying to impress the mare, until Phey glared at him and sent him a mental push of annoyance. He immediately quieted and stood meekly. He knew well enough what happened when she was angry.
The two young women mounted their horses with practiced ease and set off at a quick trot towards the woods.
* * *
As Phey and Ria rode through the cool forests, Prince Areyanth Iliniat of Carthak squirmed in the heat of the autumn day.
"I hate this heat! I hate it, I hate it!"
"Relax, Arey, it's no big deal. This is mild compared to how the summer has been. And you'll be going to Tortall soon enough for their Midwinter festivities. You have nothing to complain about!"
"I just hate this heat!"
Hirath tedré Metholis sighed and reflected on his friend's peculiar temperment. He hated the heat, although he was born, bred, and raised to rule in Carthak. He seemed open and warm, but often, they would be talking, and Arey would suddenly stop and would refuse to discuss that particular subject ever again. He was so hard to understand. With an air of routine, the young nobleman ordered another fruit drink for his friend and lord, and waited for the fall of the cool night sky.
* * *
A/N: Maybe I should explain, no? There are Lady Knights, although they are still pretty rare, as most young women are encouraged to become ladies. Phedre is one such. Remember Seaver? His fief is the same as Phey's. Yup… Anyway, women doing physical things is much more encouraged than in the TP books, although women strengthening their mental prowess is frowned uipon more than in her books. With so many immortals, women need to protect the home when their men are away, but most feel that an education gets in the way of the woman's duties in the home, with a few notable exceptions, Ria's father being one. Of course, that meant that she had to give up any chance of being a Knight in exchange. Understand? Right… As for the Iliniat thing, that is actually Kaddar's last name. I checked. We'll just say that they are old dynasties, eh? And the whole tedré thing? It denotes the second son of a noble family. Tedrá is the oldest son, and the rest don't really matter, but I'll explain if need be… Anything else? I think that about covers it. I'm obsessed with blood, I think. It's a huge theme in my other fic (With Ev'ry Drop of Blood, it's R…) yup.. I think.. R/R!