Ebony to Knighthood
Chapter 1 – Spidrens and Pages.
468, The Realm of Tortall
The spidrens lazed round, full after that last meal. There was around fifteen, all crammed into a small clearing in the forest. None of them noticed shadows outside their fire, they were full and gloating.
"Are you sure?" was the hurried whisper.
"Light it" the hard, calm reply.
Fire blazed but the shadow wasted no time. The torch landed right on the front legs of a young female. She screamed and panicked as flames erupted across her view. Knocking into the still half-asleep males in front of her flames spread quickly.
No time was wasted. Three more torches had hit before all the spidrens were properly awake. They had no chance. The whole clearing was on fire in seconds. Light flickered across the shadows face, illuminating a look of no emotion. It turned it's back and walked away, ignoring shrieks of dying spidrens.
No one saw silver streak away.
472, The Realm of Tortall
"That's the last box" Ebony called happily, dropping it onto her new bed. She ran a hand through her black curls, pulling a few forward out of their leather band.
Her Father appeared in the doorway to her quarters, carrying two wooden boxes under each arm.
"For you maybe" he muttered, "Who thought dresses could be so heavy"
"That's not my clothes box" she replied chirpily, "That's my weapons box"
"Now I understand why I cannot feel my arms. What have you got in here exactly? Stones?"
"No. Mother thought I should be prepared for every class with my own equipment, made especially for me. Alanna told her it would help speed my progress"
"Well by the weight of these it looks like she bought you everything for the next eight years. Where do you want them?"
"Just leave them on the floor there" Ebony said, waving an arm vaguely behind her as she dug into a wooden box. "I am going to make this room so cosy. Mother bought me all sorts of matching decorations for it"
"I know" her Father said dropping onto a rocking chair in the corner, "I paid for them"
She laughed and smiled over at him. "You don't mind, do you, Father?"
"Come here" he said, holding out a strong arm to her. She walked over and he wrapped it round her waist pulling her onto his knee.
"Anything for my baby daughter" he whispered into her curls as he kissed the top of her head.
"Father" she mock-moaned, wrapping her arms round his broad shoulders to give him a quick hug.
"Sorry" he said, laughing, "Aren't Fathers allowed to get sentimental once in a while?"
"No. Especially when I need them to start moving furniture," she said jumping up and making her way back to the box.
"Your Mother said she would be here this evening so we have got plenty of time to get the room to her standards. I asked Chandra to come to, so she can help."
"Ok, good" Ebony said turning to him. "Well" she gave him an exasperated look.
"Well what?" he said, slightly confused.
"Get to work" she laughed.
Three hours later and Ebony's new quarters were perfect. The walls and floor of the room were sturdy oak beams and the ceiling was stone. Her quarters consisted of a main room with fireplace, desk, bed and washbasin and two smaller rooms, one with a large tub for bathing, the other a smaller maid's quarters with bed.
Ebony's room now was far from the cold, strict Page's quarters it had been before. Chandra, her maid, had lit a fire in the hearth when she arrived and had placed vases of red flowers on either side of it. Her father had hung a portrait of Ebony, himself and her Mother above the fire. Her bed had been moved to underneath the window and the plain white sheets had been replaced with her own deep red ones. Chandra had sewed matching material into curtains and her Father had used his gift to hang them.
A tapestry of a forest scene was hung over the dark desk, now decorated with parchment, a quill and ink. There was also a framed picture of Ebony with another, flamed haired girl, painted only a few weeks ago. Two pictures decorated the windowsill, one again of the flame haired girl and Ebony, aged around eight, and one of two young girls, both faces surrounded by a cascade of black curls.
A red rug had been placed in the centre of the room and the rocking chair was decorated with red velvet cushions. Her Father had also found her a cabinet to keep her clothing and placed it against a wall, and placed another in the washtub room to keep towels and soap in.
On hooks and shelves near the door Ebony had placed her amazing array of weaponry, consisting of a crossbow, longbow and her favoured smaller bow, sword and small shield, axe, wooden staff, spear and a shelf of different sized and shaped daggers.
Ebony's Father sat stretched out now on the rocking chair. Chandra had gone to decorate her own room after her master had used his gift to magic her furniture to her new room. Ebony lay curled in the comfort of her bed, surrounded by cushions and quilts and a few soft teddy bears. Her Father loved to buy them for her and she had quite a collection. She had brought five with her, her favourites and some the most expensive. She held one to her chest now, a small, brown and cuddly thing many years old, which was not totally hers. She sighed and let her gaze move out of the window, to the small shelf outside which she knew was going to bring many nights sat outside for her, and many nights worry for her Mother.
"Well this looks beautiful," a woman's voice said from behind her.
Ebony jumped upwards, "Mother. Do you like it? I thought you would."
"It's really cosy. Was he useful" she said motioning to the mage stretched out in the corner with her head. Her own curls bounced.
"Only when we needed heavy objects lifting," Ebony laughed.
Her Mother bounced over and dropped onto the mage's knee. The rocking chair rocked wildly as he jumped out of his slumber.
"Daine I'm getting older now, you know I don't like surprises," Numair moaned grumpily.
Mother and daughter laughed the same laugh.
Authors Note – Yes it was short but this and the 2nd chapter are structured this way so I'm sorry. If I could have made it longer I would have. The next chapter should be longer though. Thank you.