Disclaimer: Everything is Tamora's, except what you don't recognise, like
Kaia.
Comments: Thanx for all your reviews! Ok, here are my replies to any Q's. Scarlet- you pronounce her name K -eye - ah. Lady Knight, Deadly Black Rose and DaeLily0- Thanx for the tip about spacing! This is my first fan fic, so I didn't know.
Chapter Two
Kaia entered her quarters and looked around. The room was plain and simple, clear of any ornaments or pictures. On her assignment she had learnt to have few possessions so they could travel quickly. A small dressing room contained her wash things, and a room off hers belonged to Ryan, she was told.
Once the servant had left Kaia sat down on the bed wondering if she had made the right decision. Shang life had been perfect- travelling, no hefty swords and that adrenaline rush before she killed someone. Should she just have returned when they found out? Returned to marry her groom and settle down as a Yamani bride.
Before she could decide a loud bell interrupted her thoughts, telling her she had 5 minutes to get dressed. This didn't faze Kaia. Shang life had taught her to get ready quick when your life was in danger.
She put on a dark blue kimono, with a silver obi belt and her dark boots. She decided her outfit was just right, not too girly, and a good contrast between the Yamani Kimono and Tortallan boots. "At least there are other girls here." She thought. She knew four other noble girls were currently in Knight training, and surely they would warn her of any pages to look out for?
As the dinner bell rang she stepped outside her door and looked down the corridor at the other new pages. Five boys stared back at her, taking in her long hair, slender body and Yamani kimono. She could see the look in their eyes, the look she first saw in her Shang contender's eyes before she struck the first blow. They thought she was a joke.
A column of pages brought her attention back to the training master, who led the boys. He halted in front of the new pages and surveyed them for a minute. "Your name and fief?" he asked a boy about Kaia's height, with red hair and a nervous face dusted with freckles.
"Jonathan of King's Dyke, my lord." He stuttered.
"Who will sponsor this page?" the training master asked the sea of boys.
A hand rose and asked, " May I my lord?"
"Very good, David of Pointscave." He looked at Kaia and motioned for her to speak.
"Kaia ya Maius, my lord." A boy laughed and another chuckled "We don't want no Yamani fairies here!" The boys who looked at her face, however, knew she was no fairy. Many frowned at her, and Kaia hoped they mistook her killing spirit for nerves. A boy walked forward and nodded to Master Padraig.
"Kieran of Hightree. Very well." He sighed. Once the other boys (Peter of Merryhill, Roald of Coniferlake and James of Boxfields) had their sponsors the pages made their way down to dinner. Kaia collected her food and sat next to Kieran. A short prayer was said and then everyone dug in.
"So," said Kieran through a mouthful of bread "You're a Yamani."
"Yes, I lived there until I was 8. My entire family still live there. We are a pure family, I was even arranged."
"Arranged?" the boy asked, confused.
"To be married. It's tradition."
A boy she recognized as Gareth of Topsail who had been listening asked "What did you do after your 8 years in the Islands?"
"I, I came to Tortall. To learn the language. My father thought it was an important part of my education." She decided triumphantly.
"Right" said Gareth, frowning slightly. Soon they were chatting readily and only stopped when dinner was over and they went to their rooms. "So," asked Kieran. "What do you think of the palace." "It's a lot different to the Shang- I mean the Sakyo palace. That's where I was staying." She quickly covered her tracks and left with a hasty "Goodbye!" Kieran was left watching this new page hurry down the corridor. There was certainly something strange about her.
Comments: Thanx for all your reviews! Ok, here are my replies to any Q's. Scarlet- you pronounce her name K -eye - ah. Lady Knight, Deadly Black Rose and DaeLily0- Thanx for the tip about spacing! This is my first fan fic, so I didn't know.
Chapter Two
Kaia entered her quarters and looked around. The room was plain and simple, clear of any ornaments or pictures. On her assignment she had learnt to have few possessions so they could travel quickly. A small dressing room contained her wash things, and a room off hers belonged to Ryan, she was told.
Once the servant had left Kaia sat down on the bed wondering if she had made the right decision. Shang life had been perfect- travelling, no hefty swords and that adrenaline rush before she killed someone. Should she just have returned when they found out? Returned to marry her groom and settle down as a Yamani bride.
Before she could decide a loud bell interrupted her thoughts, telling her she had 5 minutes to get dressed. This didn't faze Kaia. Shang life had taught her to get ready quick when your life was in danger.
She put on a dark blue kimono, with a silver obi belt and her dark boots. She decided her outfit was just right, not too girly, and a good contrast between the Yamani Kimono and Tortallan boots. "At least there are other girls here." She thought. She knew four other noble girls were currently in Knight training, and surely they would warn her of any pages to look out for?
As the dinner bell rang she stepped outside her door and looked down the corridor at the other new pages. Five boys stared back at her, taking in her long hair, slender body and Yamani kimono. She could see the look in their eyes, the look she first saw in her Shang contender's eyes before she struck the first blow. They thought she was a joke.
A column of pages brought her attention back to the training master, who led the boys. He halted in front of the new pages and surveyed them for a minute. "Your name and fief?" he asked a boy about Kaia's height, with red hair and a nervous face dusted with freckles.
"Jonathan of King's Dyke, my lord." He stuttered.
"Who will sponsor this page?" the training master asked the sea of boys.
A hand rose and asked, " May I my lord?"
"Very good, David of Pointscave." He looked at Kaia and motioned for her to speak.
"Kaia ya Maius, my lord." A boy laughed and another chuckled "We don't want no Yamani fairies here!" The boys who looked at her face, however, knew she was no fairy. Many frowned at her, and Kaia hoped they mistook her killing spirit for nerves. A boy walked forward and nodded to Master Padraig.
"Kieran of Hightree. Very well." He sighed. Once the other boys (Peter of Merryhill, Roald of Coniferlake and James of Boxfields) had their sponsors the pages made their way down to dinner. Kaia collected her food and sat next to Kieran. A short prayer was said and then everyone dug in.
"So," said Kieran through a mouthful of bread "You're a Yamani."
"Yes, I lived there until I was 8. My entire family still live there. We are a pure family, I was even arranged."
"Arranged?" the boy asked, confused.
"To be married. It's tradition."
A boy she recognized as Gareth of Topsail who had been listening asked "What did you do after your 8 years in the Islands?"
"I, I came to Tortall. To learn the language. My father thought it was an important part of my education." She decided triumphantly.
"Right" said Gareth, frowning slightly. Soon they were chatting readily and only stopped when dinner was over and they went to their rooms. "So," asked Kieran. "What do you think of the palace." "It's a lot different to the Shang- I mean the Sakyo palace. That's where I was staying." She quickly covered her tracks and left with a hasty "Goodbye!" Kieran was left watching this new page hurry down the corridor. There was certainly something strange about her.