Chapter Three
"Crystal Room"

"This party is way too grand for me." Danica whispered with a look of fear in her eyes.

"Nonsense. This is the perfect party to introduce you to all the right people. Come along, Danica." Uline ushered everyone into the room and watched as her husband wandered off to see his friends. Uline walked over to the where the queen sat in beautiful black velvet and a silvery overcoat with the king in white with gold trim. "Your Majesties." Uline curtseyed low when she reached the Royal couple. "May I present Lady Danica of Kestral and Lady's Lake?"

"Your Majesties." Danica murmured, curtseying as well.

"Welcome to Corus, Danica." The queen smiled. "How do you find town and Court so far?"

"To be truthful, Your Majesty, I find it to be completely overwhelming. It's not often that a country girl like myself travels to large towns." Danica answered with a smile.

"You'll get used to it. Just think, the Grand Progress will be off soon. Then you won't have to worry about large towns. You will be traveling with the Progress, won't you?" King Jonathan asked.

"Oh, yes, Your Majesty. I look forward to it. Papa, er, Lord Sheldon of Kestral wishes to present my stepsister, Lady Celadine during the Progress."

"Only Celadine? Surely you are old enough to be presented?" Thayet asked.

"Oh, I am old enough. I'm seventeen. But my papa will not be presenting me. Lady Uline will be." Danica flashed a smile at Uline.

"Really? How wonderfully sweet of you, Uline. And how is your family? You did bring your son, did you not?" Thayet turned her attention from Danica while the King continued his conversation with her.

"Your mother was Countess Dayna, wasn't she?"

"Yes, sir. She was the Countess of Lady's Lake."

"Tortall lost a wonderful woman when she died." The king said, looking into Danica's eyes.

"Yes, she did. Mother was a wonderful woman. I only hope I can be half of what she is."

"I'm sure you will. Have you met my son, Roald, yet?"

"No, your Majesty. We've only just arrived here."

"Well then why are you conversing with an old man? You should be off with people your own age." Danica's eyes grew wide.

"Oh, you aren't old, your Majesty. I would much rather be here."

"Nonsense. The King is an old man. And you really don't enjoy spending time with us when you could be with the Prince and Princess Shinkokami." Thayet laughed. "Go on. I'll just keep Uline for a little longer. Go on. They won't bite. And if they do, you have every right to bite back." Danica smiled and curtseyed to the monarchs.

"Thank you, Your Majesties." Danica turned to leave. As she walked off, she heard the king say,

"What a delightful girl! She'll marry a duke, or a first-born son, she will. I'd have her for Liam, if he wasn't so young."

"A drink, my lady?" Danica turned to find herself face to face with a squire dressed in Goldenlake colors of green and yellow.

"Oh, thank you." Danica smiled, taking a drink. "Are you Kelandry?" The squire flushed as she answered.

"Yes, my lady."

"Congratulations on everything thus far. You're making such a wonderful impact on the lives of girls everywhere. I wish I could do what you are. I wanted to be a page, but my mum was sick when I turned ten and I was too busy caring for her. She had promised me after she got better I could be a page, but she never got better and timed passed and by the time there was a chance for me to try, I was already fourteen."

"You wouldn't have been that badly off, my lady. Squire Nealan didn't start as a page until he was fifteen."

"Oh, of course I could have started. I wanted to, but Papa went and remarried and his new wife decided that I wasn't to be a page because she didn't want the 'disgrace' on her name. There was loads of trouble so I finally told them I'd rather study to be a healer or a Seeker, which is where my Gift is. Oh, my name's Danica of Kestral and Lady's Lake, incase you didn't know." Danica grinned, knowing that she was babbling.

"If I was in your situation, I would have gone for knighthood anyway." Kel grinned back. Danica shrugged.

"Then I wouldn't know what I know now. I wouldn't be able to heal. It's become very important to be. Healing, that is. Because my mum was a healer. Healing was her life, right up until the very last days. Besides, if I was a page, I'd have to wear that cursed red and gold, which looks horrible." Danica laughed. "At least that's what I've convinced myself."

"Well, I have to agree. It looks horrid." Kel smiled.

"Danica! There you are. Oh! Hello, Kel." Uline smiled, coming up behind them.

"Uline! What a pleasant surprise." Kel offered her a drink.

"How are you, Kel?"

"I'm good. And you?"

"I've had a baby. A few months ago. A little boy. His name is Kief. In fact, he's with his father if you find Kieran, he'll show you. I'm actually here to present Danica in Court. She's looking for a husband." Kel made a face.

"I'm not too interested in marriage right now."

"I've noticed. Say, you're a second year squire now, aren't you, Kel?"

"Yes. Why?"

"That boy. The one with the green eyes. He's a second year, too, right?"

"Neal? Yes. Why?"

"Squires are allowed to court ladies, aren't they?"

"Oh no. No, no, no." Danica said with her eyes wide.

"Danica's looking for a good man and this Neal is probably a good man-"

"Neal? I guess that would be a nice match. I think. You'd have to speak to the Lioness. She's his knight-master." Kel made a face as the thought of Uline trying to match Neal with a girl.

"Uline, don't do this. You know this is very wrong. Very, very wrong. Uline, don't-" Danica pleaded as Uline dragged her off to find Neal.

"Squire Nealan?" Uline asked as she came up behind him.

"Yes, my lady?" He turned to face her and nearly dropped his tray. "Lady Uline! How are you?"

"Wonderful. Look, my husband wants me to go meet some of his friends but my friend, Lady Danica of Kestral and Lady's Lake wouldn't be too comfortable with them. I was just wondering if you could take her around and introduce her to people closer to her age. Not that I'm not her age, I'm just thinking more along the lines of unmarried people her age. She doesn't know too many people her. Its her first night here in Corus." Danica groaned, rolling her eyes at Uline.

"Thank you for making me sound so much like a country bumpkin." Danica glared at Uline, who only laughed. "I do too know people he-ee" Danica ducked behind Uline. "Tell me she didn't see me. Please." She whispered as Celadine made her way across the room.

"She saw you." Uline answered. Danica muttered a curse and straightened up.

"Hello, little sister." Celadine said, looking Neal over.

"Good evening, Celadine." Danica bobbed a curtsey.

"Introduce me to your friend, Danica." She said in a sweet sickly voice.

"Um, Squire Nealan of-"

"Queenscove." He offered, looking at Danica with admiring eyes.

"Yes, Queenscove. Thank you. My stepsister, Celadine of Kestral."

"A pleasure to meet you, my lady." Neal bowed and kissed her hand. "Please excuse me. I have my duties to attend to." Neal turned to bow to Uline. Then he leaned forward to kiss her cheek and whispered, "When I get off duty in a few minutes, I'd be glad to show Lady Danica about." Then he bowed to Danica and kissed her hand and left.

"What a pleasant man. Isn't he a bit old to be a squire, though?" Celadine watched Neal leave. "Oh well. I have to go stand in front of the king and make myself unforgettable. Perhaps he'll see me and dump that Yamani trash for his son. And realize that a Tortallan maid is perfect for the next Queen."

"Keep dreaming." Danica muttered before turning to leave. Danica stood for a moment, taking in the sights of the grand Crystal Room.

"Is she gone?" A voice whispered very close to her ear. Danica gave a little yelp and jumped about a foot of the ground.

"Don't do that! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" She turned around and punched Neal on the arm.

"Ow. You hit hard. Do you normally hit everyone?"

"No. Only stupid people who are dumb enough to sneak up on me. And yes, she's gone."

"Good. She was eyeing me like a piece of meat or something. It was very disturbing."

"I'm sure it was. But you don't have to worry anymore. She's set her sights on being the next Queen. She's off making a fool of herself in front of the King in hopes that he will either leave his wife, or break the Yamani contract."

"Fat chance of either one happening. Come on. I want to introduce you to my friends." Danica nodded and followed Neal into the serving room where he deposited his empty tray.