Well, here's the second chapter.....Thanks to everyone for the nice, positive reviews! ^,^!!
I'm sorry it took so long for me to get this out, I'll try to get it done quicker, really^^
-------
Keladry of Mindelan was a far cry from an ideal lady.
She had a fine nose, for it was small, delicate and dusted with freckles.
Many people would have described it as cute.
The girl's eyes were a hazel colour and framed in long lashes. Her dreamer's gaze was a strange, yet not exactly unpleasant,
contrast to the spark glittering behind it.
Alanna's eyebrow raised in approval as the older boy, Nealan of Queenscove she believed, hit the ground with a thud.
Hakuin's laughter filled the yard as his mocking mouth stretched into a sickeningly cheerful smile, "See what happens when you
don't pay attention, Page?"
Alanna bit back a giggle at Neal's retort, which certainly shouldn't have been heard by a girl Kel's age. Oh well, what can
you do?
Alanna's eyes sparkled with mirth and pride as she watched Keladry continue her lessons. The girl may not
be as skilled as Liam had been, but she certainly knew what she was doing. It was such a tragedy...a shame that she herself
could not take the girl as her own squire!
It's true, the young Joren of Stone Mountain had caught her interest in the few minutes she'd seen him...and she was never one to turn down a challenge.
However, Alanna had been dreaming to take Keladry as a Squire for a long time, ever since the girl had applied to be a Page.
The spirited red-head should not have been where she was. It was forbidden for her to talk too or see the girl page at any time
what so ever. But, when one happens to be sulking in a tree, and the yamani training masters had decided that the first and second years pages'
lessons would be better off being held in the area under that same tree, who was she to draw attention to herself?
Alanna shook her head at those below her who paid no heed to her, You'd think they'd have noticed her by now. Time passed quickly and eventually
the fighting warriors-in-training were ready to retire from their hand-to-hand combat lessons for the day. The field was soon empty of people, page or
teacher.
Except for Hakuin of Seastone.
He was leisurely leaned up against the tree Alanna had placed herself in. A smile played upon her lips, and she jumped down, for the drop wasn't high,
and attacked. Punches were thrown, blocked and received. As expected, Alanna ended up on her back, Hakuin's plump lips grinning down at her.
For all his youthfulness, this man had obviously earned his title as The shang Horse.
"Good Day Lioness," he said. His height was above average, for an islander. His eyes were almond shaped and filled with laughter. He was one
of the most cheerful people Alanna had ever met, despite his Yamani origins.
"Good Day, Hakuin," Alanna replied, accepting his helping hand up. They had met previously, not too long before Keladry had come to the palace.
Although they weren't close and probably never would be, but he admired her spirit...and she was curious as to why his mocking glances never seemed
insulting.
"So, do her skills impress you?" Hakuin inquired, running a hand through his sweat soaked hair. The fight with Alanna hadn't been too taxing, but he'd
been in an "active" mood today AKA Some pages were getting a bit cocky about their skills in hand-to-hand combat. Hakuin, knowing this attitude could very
well get them killed one day, decided to teach some of them a lesson in humility.
"Yes." Alanna opted for honesty.
"Do you have permission to be here?" The Shang Horse was aware of the rules concerning Alanna and Keladry, as was the rest of the palace.
"Um..." Scarlet stained Alanna's cheeks...hmm...maybe honesty wasn't the best option at this point ...
Someone cleared their throat. It wasn't Hakuin. It certainly wasn't Alanna, who had been stuttering.....
Jon wondered if Alanna knew how much trouble she might be in.
"Hello Jon! Long time no see!" Alanna smiled brightly. Too brightly.
His eyes, the deepest of blues, narrowed. Oh, yeah. She knew.
--------
Jon frowned.
Thayet bit her lip to keep from smiling, doing her best to look stern. She, of course, failed miserably.
Raoul belched. Loudly. This, of course, set Buri into a fit of laughter.
Jonothan glared at them all and wiped the whipped cream from his face.
To make a long, boring story short, Jon had immediately informed Wyldon of Alanna and Keladry's almost encounter. Jonothan would have preferred to just
pretend it didn't happen, but Wyldon of Cavall had the uncanny habit of always finding everything out. Everything. It would work to the king's advantage to
have this man on his side.
Wyldon had disapproved and had voiced his opinion in that respectable, court speech that left one feeling rather insulted despite the extremely "respectful" words they had just received. He had, however, agreed that Alanna could hardly be to blame for the near-meeting between her and the girl page. Despite the sharpness of his words, he'd been as mellow as the training master could ever be. Jonothan hadn't been surprised. He'd been expecting the training master to try and convince him to release Joren from his decree. After hearing the training master out, he gently turned the man down. Wyldon's eyes turned to stone, and he nodded stoically and took his leave.
Wyldon of Cavall was, basically, a good man. Too bad he scared the heck out of half the people he met with is....overpowering personality. Jonothan wasn't one of these people, he was a king after all, but the man still made him feel a bit nervous. The feeling was akin to when he was a page and being scrutinized by HIS training master.
He voiced as much, in loud tones, to his red-haired champion. They were in a random conference room in the private company of Thayet, Raoul and Buri. This set a very at easy, comfortable atmosphere neither Jon or Thayet had been able to enjoy for a long time.
Anyway, Alanna didn't like being yelled at. Naturally, she saw nothing wrong with picking up the piece of cream pie she had been feasting on and shoving it in his royal highness' oh-so-dashingly handsome face.
"Is there any more pie left?" Raoul questioned, and grinned broadly when Buri gave him the rest of hers.
Gods, this was de ja vu. Jon couldn't help but miss the days of his youth when he could take part in the bantering and teasing with his friends 24/7. He doubted another day like this would arrive, and was determined to enjoy it.
He still refrained from sticking his tongue out at all of them. He may only be in the company of his friends, but he was still an adult...a grown, mature man with children of his own! That's right. He clenched his hand as itched to return Alanna the favour. No, he would be the bigger person and just leave this alone. By refraining from getting her back, he would be the true winner.
Even if it didn't feel that way when she sat back down and grinned triumphantly at Raoul.
"I can't believe the exams are such a short time away!" Thayed sighed. The pride shining in her eyes were mirrored in Jonothan's. Their son would soon be a Squire.
"I hear you'll be taking a squire, Lady Knight...Joren of Stone mountain, to be exact, "Uri said, sympathy laced in her voice.
Raoul blinked in surprise. Stone Mountains? But they were the most uptight, conservative..
"Why am I being ordered to take him as a Squire, anyway?" Alanan idly wondered. She had received a note from Jon simply ordering her to take the boy as a squire. There was no explanation, nothing.
"He' valuable." Jon stated.
"Valuable, he's but a child?" Buri's mouth twisted into a frown. She didn't like not understanding things.
"He's our Lord Wyldon' Prodigy, I hear" Raoul commented, "But still a Page, none the less."
Jon nodded in agreement," But he's clever, strong and a quick learner. He obeys orders and is in the top of all of his classes and.."
"Bullies other pages," Alanna cut in, "And, like his oh so great family, believes a women's place is at home pregnant and barefoot. He's particularly
fond of tormenting Keladry, from what I've heard. He sounds to be very cruel."
Thayet smiled wearily, "That, it appears, is his only flaw. Daine, however, appears to believe otherwise. She was the one who requested we order you to be his Knight Master."
Alanna blinked. She certainly expected that to be the reason, "Why?"
"She wouldn't tell us," Thayet sipped the goblet of grape juice she had been holding, "She just requested that we do it. We couldn't refuse her, considering it's such a small request considering all that she's done for us."
"I don't envy you," Raoul bluntly stated, "The Stone Mountains are some of the most pig-headed noble clans ever to have existed. They pound their stuffy ideals into their young before the tykes are walking."
Alanna cackled, "Oh, he'll change his tune before I'm through with him. I promise you that."
Jon sighed wearily. Maybe she was right, but....He'd met the boy several times and had heard about him from Roald. This Joren may be a child, but he still wasn't one to be underestimated.
But why on earth had Daine requested such a thing? Did she even know the boy?
---------------------------------
Joren of Stone Mountain blew out the candle lighting his room and stared blankly out of the window from his bed.
A full moon.
His skin shivered.
They'd always made him feel uneasy, but he couldn't for the life of him understand why.
Oh well, it didn't matter. He shifted into a comfortable position and closed his eyes. Sleep quickly claimed him.
Soft, plump rose petal lips brushed against his eyelids. The owner of the lips gazed down at the beautiful boy, her face expressionless.
With pale, smooth skin and perfectly proportioned face, she was frighteningly beautiful. She looked 18 or so, but her eyes of all colours were much, much older.
They matched well with her fine, so-blonde-it-was-nearly-white-hair.. It flowed freely down too her feet, curling slightly in some strands, with flowers of all
kinds intertwined into it....
"Why do you concern yourself with him?" A musical voice sighed...a twinge of jealousy destroying the nonchalant tune the speaker had been
going for.
The women ignored her companion and ran her delicate, graceful fingers along Joren's chin.
Her mouth pressed up against the boy's in a chaste, motherly kiss, then her and her companion vanished.
Elsewhere, the Goddess' lips curved into a smile. Things were going to get interesting.
I'm sorry it took so long for me to get this out, I'll try to get it done quicker, really^^
-------
Keladry of Mindelan was a far cry from an ideal lady.
She had a fine nose, for it was small, delicate and dusted with freckles.
Many people would have described it as cute.
The girl's eyes were a hazel colour and framed in long lashes. Her dreamer's gaze was a strange, yet not exactly unpleasant,
contrast to the spark glittering behind it.
Alanna's eyebrow raised in approval as the older boy, Nealan of Queenscove she believed, hit the ground with a thud.
Hakuin's laughter filled the yard as his mocking mouth stretched into a sickeningly cheerful smile, "See what happens when you
don't pay attention, Page?"
Alanna bit back a giggle at Neal's retort, which certainly shouldn't have been heard by a girl Kel's age. Oh well, what can
you do?
Alanna's eyes sparkled with mirth and pride as she watched Keladry continue her lessons. The girl may not
be as skilled as Liam had been, but she certainly knew what she was doing. It was such a tragedy...a shame that she herself
could not take the girl as her own squire!
It's true, the young Joren of Stone Mountain had caught her interest in the few minutes she'd seen him...and she was never one to turn down a challenge.
However, Alanna had been dreaming to take Keladry as a Squire for a long time, ever since the girl had applied to be a Page.
The spirited red-head should not have been where she was. It was forbidden for her to talk too or see the girl page at any time
what so ever. But, when one happens to be sulking in a tree, and the yamani training masters had decided that the first and second years pages'
lessons would be better off being held in the area under that same tree, who was she to draw attention to herself?
Alanna shook her head at those below her who paid no heed to her, You'd think they'd have noticed her by now. Time passed quickly and eventually
the fighting warriors-in-training were ready to retire from their hand-to-hand combat lessons for the day. The field was soon empty of people, page or
teacher.
Except for Hakuin of Seastone.
He was leisurely leaned up against the tree Alanna had placed herself in. A smile played upon her lips, and she jumped down, for the drop wasn't high,
and attacked. Punches were thrown, blocked and received. As expected, Alanna ended up on her back, Hakuin's plump lips grinning down at her.
For all his youthfulness, this man had obviously earned his title as The shang Horse.
"Good Day Lioness," he said. His height was above average, for an islander. His eyes were almond shaped and filled with laughter. He was one
of the most cheerful people Alanna had ever met, despite his Yamani origins.
"Good Day, Hakuin," Alanna replied, accepting his helping hand up. They had met previously, not too long before Keladry had come to the palace.
Although they weren't close and probably never would be, but he admired her spirit...and she was curious as to why his mocking glances never seemed
insulting.
"So, do her skills impress you?" Hakuin inquired, running a hand through his sweat soaked hair. The fight with Alanna hadn't been too taxing, but he'd
been in an "active" mood today AKA Some pages were getting a bit cocky about their skills in hand-to-hand combat. Hakuin, knowing this attitude could very
well get them killed one day, decided to teach some of them a lesson in humility.
"Yes." Alanna opted for honesty.
"Do you have permission to be here?" The Shang Horse was aware of the rules concerning Alanna and Keladry, as was the rest of the palace.
"Um..." Scarlet stained Alanna's cheeks...hmm...maybe honesty wasn't the best option at this point ...
Someone cleared their throat. It wasn't Hakuin. It certainly wasn't Alanna, who had been stuttering.....
Jon wondered if Alanna knew how much trouble she might be in.
"Hello Jon! Long time no see!" Alanna smiled brightly. Too brightly.
His eyes, the deepest of blues, narrowed. Oh, yeah. She knew.
--------
Jon frowned.
Thayet bit her lip to keep from smiling, doing her best to look stern. She, of course, failed miserably.
Raoul belched. Loudly. This, of course, set Buri into a fit of laughter.
Jonothan glared at them all and wiped the whipped cream from his face.
To make a long, boring story short, Jon had immediately informed Wyldon of Alanna and Keladry's almost encounter. Jonothan would have preferred to just
pretend it didn't happen, but Wyldon of Cavall had the uncanny habit of always finding everything out. Everything. It would work to the king's advantage to
have this man on his side.
Wyldon had disapproved and had voiced his opinion in that respectable, court speech that left one feeling rather insulted despite the extremely "respectful" words they had just received. He had, however, agreed that Alanna could hardly be to blame for the near-meeting between her and the girl page. Despite the sharpness of his words, he'd been as mellow as the training master could ever be. Jonothan hadn't been surprised. He'd been expecting the training master to try and convince him to release Joren from his decree. After hearing the training master out, he gently turned the man down. Wyldon's eyes turned to stone, and he nodded stoically and took his leave.
Wyldon of Cavall was, basically, a good man. Too bad he scared the heck out of half the people he met with is....overpowering personality. Jonothan wasn't one of these people, he was a king after all, but the man still made him feel a bit nervous. The feeling was akin to when he was a page and being scrutinized by HIS training master.
He voiced as much, in loud tones, to his red-haired champion. They were in a random conference room in the private company of Thayet, Raoul and Buri. This set a very at easy, comfortable atmosphere neither Jon or Thayet had been able to enjoy for a long time.
Anyway, Alanna didn't like being yelled at. Naturally, she saw nothing wrong with picking up the piece of cream pie she had been feasting on and shoving it in his royal highness' oh-so-dashingly handsome face.
"Is there any more pie left?" Raoul questioned, and grinned broadly when Buri gave him the rest of hers.
Gods, this was de ja vu. Jon couldn't help but miss the days of his youth when he could take part in the bantering and teasing with his friends 24/7. He doubted another day like this would arrive, and was determined to enjoy it.
He still refrained from sticking his tongue out at all of them. He may only be in the company of his friends, but he was still an adult...a grown, mature man with children of his own! That's right. He clenched his hand as itched to return Alanna the favour. No, he would be the bigger person and just leave this alone. By refraining from getting her back, he would be the true winner.
Even if it didn't feel that way when she sat back down and grinned triumphantly at Raoul.
"I can't believe the exams are such a short time away!" Thayed sighed. The pride shining in her eyes were mirrored in Jonothan's. Their son would soon be a Squire.
"I hear you'll be taking a squire, Lady Knight...Joren of Stone mountain, to be exact, "Uri said, sympathy laced in her voice.
Raoul blinked in surprise. Stone Mountains? But they were the most uptight, conservative..
"Why am I being ordered to take him as a Squire, anyway?" Alanan idly wondered. She had received a note from Jon simply ordering her to take the boy as a squire. There was no explanation, nothing.
"He' valuable." Jon stated.
"Valuable, he's but a child?" Buri's mouth twisted into a frown. She didn't like not understanding things.
"He's our Lord Wyldon' Prodigy, I hear" Raoul commented, "But still a Page, none the less."
Jon nodded in agreement," But he's clever, strong and a quick learner. He obeys orders and is in the top of all of his classes and.."
"Bullies other pages," Alanna cut in, "And, like his oh so great family, believes a women's place is at home pregnant and barefoot. He's particularly
fond of tormenting Keladry, from what I've heard. He sounds to be very cruel."
Thayet smiled wearily, "That, it appears, is his only flaw. Daine, however, appears to believe otherwise. She was the one who requested we order you to be his Knight Master."
Alanna blinked. She certainly expected that to be the reason, "Why?"
"She wouldn't tell us," Thayet sipped the goblet of grape juice she had been holding, "She just requested that we do it. We couldn't refuse her, considering it's such a small request considering all that she's done for us."
"I don't envy you," Raoul bluntly stated, "The Stone Mountains are some of the most pig-headed noble clans ever to have existed. They pound their stuffy ideals into their young before the tykes are walking."
Alanna cackled, "Oh, he'll change his tune before I'm through with him. I promise you that."
Jon sighed wearily. Maybe she was right, but....He'd met the boy several times and had heard about him from Roald. This Joren may be a child, but he still wasn't one to be underestimated.
But why on earth had Daine requested such a thing? Did she even know the boy?
---------------------------------
Joren of Stone Mountain blew out the candle lighting his room and stared blankly out of the window from his bed.
A full moon.
His skin shivered.
They'd always made him feel uneasy, but he couldn't for the life of him understand why.
Oh well, it didn't matter. He shifted into a comfortable position and closed his eyes. Sleep quickly claimed him.
Soft, plump rose petal lips brushed against his eyelids. The owner of the lips gazed down at the beautiful boy, her face expressionless.
With pale, smooth skin and perfectly proportioned face, she was frighteningly beautiful. She looked 18 or so, but her eyes of all colours were much, much older.
They matched well with her fine, so-blonde-it-was-nearly-white-hair.. It flowed freely down too her feet, curling slightly in some strands, with flowers of all
kinds intertwined into it....
"Why do you concern yourself with him?" A musical voice sighed...a twinge of jealousy destroying the nonchalant tune the speaker had been
going for.
The women ignored her companion and ran her delicate, graceful fingers along Joren's chin.
Her mouth pressed up against the boy's in a chaste, motherly kiss, then her and her companion vanished.
Elsewhere, the Goddess' lips curved into a smile. Things were going to get interesting.