Disclaimer: Anything you do not recognize is Mine, the rest is the glorious Tamora Peirce's.

Chapter 1- Yazlia

"I cannot believe him!" Two voices said at the same time. Lia looked at her mother, who for a born and bred Yamani looked like a furious Tortallen, just like she felt. Lia couldn't help it, she smiled. It wasn't often her mother lost face in front of her.

"Your acting like a Tortallen."

"Just as long as I don't act like your father. Stubborn pig."

"Mom!"

"You know you where thinking it to."'

"What am I going to do? I can't go to the convent, there's no reason for me to go. I know everything they would teach me anyway. And I'm sorry but I won't go to Yaman."

"Don't worry about it Yazlia, I'll see what I can do, okay?" She turned around and walked into her fathers study. Lia sighed, she loved her father, but, some of the days Nealan of Queenscove was a 'stubborn pig', to quote her mother.

She had a wonderful mother; Yukimi had been a Yamani lady to the princess, who had married the prince of Tortall. She had never met Shinkokami or Roland, but she was sure they where lovely people.

Actually, now that she thought about it, she had never met any of her parent's friends, Owen, Merric, Raoul, Buri, Diane, Numair, or Keladry. Kel was talked about the most. The second Lady Knight. It had always been her dream to become a Lady knight. But after a year of begging and pleading with her father he had said no, and Lia was furious.

There had been a third girl page, but she had quit after her second month!  I wouldn't quit, I'll never quit. No one can make me, I'll run away and pretend to be someone else if I have to.    

That decided, she stalked to her room. Lia loved her room, the walls where a soft purple. The bed pushed against the wall facing the balcony was covered by a yellow throw embroidered with birds and flowers. In the corner was her bookshelf filled with volumes given to her by her father, most of them he had written little things to her in the cover.

She pulled one out, in the cover read-

        

To my little Yazlia,

I love you,

Enjoy!

Why did have to make being mad at him so hard? She didn't understand why he wouldn't let her be a knight. She had wanted to be a knight all her life and then he went and said absolutely not. She had worked for this all her life.

At the age of four she had started working for this. She had started learning Yamani etiqette. At seven she had started learning Tortallen etiquette. And now she was two years over the usual acceptance age, and he wouldn't even let her try?

"Lia," she looked down at her seven-year-old brother Maxwell. "Why are you sad?" he asked her, she had been ready to tell him to get out, but he looked so small and innocent.

So she picked him up and put him on her lap as they sat on the bed.

"Because he won't let me be a knight Maxi."

"I would let you be a knight, you'd be a good knight." He said smiling at her. She smiled back.

"I know, thanks for the vote of confidence." At the same time her brother's wolf walked in and looked at him.

"Saigou says there's a rabbit caught, I have to go help him, and I'll see you later Lia." He said as he ran out the door. She smiled, Max had wild magic, he couldn't do more than talk to animals, but when he was ten they where going to send him to the Wild mage for training.

Still fuming about her father's lack of consideration Yazlia grabbed her bow and marched out of the complex towards the archery range. Archery was by far what she was worst at and so she would practice that. Some how fighting with the bow always calmed her down. Pretty soon she was about ready to fall over laughing at her terribleness. If that was the word for it, though she was getting better at it. It was about time though she had been practicing for months now. She heard a horse's whiney coming out of the woods in front of her. She began to worry; nobody ever came to Queenscove, ever. So it was very odd that someone would come, and without sending further notice.

She slunk into the woods, bow loaded and drawn at her side, she spotted the horse and rider coming towards her She waited until the horse was five paces in front of her and stepped out in front of it bringing the bow up at the same time.

The horse reared. Why am I noticing just now that this is a really big horse? A really, really big horse. She stood her ground; of she was to be a knight she would have to have courage. 

She watched as the rider got his-no scratch that her horse under control, big big horse. She mentally shook herself, get over the horse Lia.  She took a deep breath,

"Who, may I ask are you?" She asked boldly.

"Who are you?" The knight responded.

"I asked you first." Nice one Lia, she said to herself, just brilliant. That was the best thing she could come up with.

"Yes, but you see I've got a sword" Lia knew the knight was smirking beneath his helmet. And having great fun with the village girl.

"And I have a bow." She said haughtily.

"Ah, yes but I'm wearing armor."

"Lia." She spat, giving her name.

"Well, it's nice to meet you Lia. But now if you'll excuse me I must be going." With that final statement the rider carefully guided the horse past her. She gasped; the rider was headed to the castle. And they had just met up with another person who had been standing behind her.

Lia bolted through the under brush of the forest toward home. Long ago her mother had asked her to play hostess for the castle, which basically meant that when the local artisans had a complaint about the neighbor's dogs she was to escort them to her fathers study.

She was panting by the time she reached her room again. Grabbing the closest dress she pulled off her dirty breeches and tunic and yanked on her dress. Quickly she ran a brush through her hair, glancing in the mirror she saw her green eyes sparkled beneath a fine layer of dirt. Smiling she walked over to her basin of water she washed her face and arms.

Maybe that rider wasn't coming here. She thought nonchalantly. She didn't notice someone knocking on the door. She was to busy watching the water trail down hr arm and slowly drip off the tips of her fingers.

"Milady, your father is wanting you to escort a knight to his study for dinner." One of their more mousish servants said.

"Oh, alright, thank you, I'll be right there." The maid gave her a weird look as she left and Lia realized she hadn't made much sense. Quickly she dried her arm off and walked out of into the hallway.

Authors Note- Hi! This is my first fanfic and I'd really like to know what everybody thinks. So please leave a review. Flames are welcome, so if you find this completely repulsive please say so. :o)

~Ana~