**A/N: Thanks for the reviews you guys! They're really appreciated. Give me some minute amount of self-confidence. ^.^ [the names of users not logged in are put in single quotes]
To 'Alanna', 'anonymous', and magewhisperer-su: Thanks a lot! I'm really glad you like it. ^.^ If you see the update and read this chapter, I hope you like it!
To Vane2: Yeah…the whole sidesaddle thing. ^^;; Don't know much about horses. For the future of the book…I intend to maybe cover the first year or two in this story, and then start up a second one for a few later years, just to break it up. The first year'll be the longest, much like in the real Alanna books. The other years will be less detailed, for the most part. Hmm…I never really thought about the Gift class as punishment. In the next chapter I think I can use that idea. *ponders plot ideas*
To LTC: Thanks! Glad you think my OCs are believable. I actually have more problems with writing Alanna than them, though. Keep worrying that I've got her basic character wrong. ^^;;
To 'Nala': Well, I wasn't quite sure how to organize the years, and the whole year organization of Hogwarts sort of evolved into what I used…
Don't worry, there's a plot coming, I promise! During the Corus trip things start to heat up. Promise. ~_^
Thanks for reviewing!
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Chapter 2: Classes, Copper Isles, and Corus
Sister Emera entered the room at the crack of dawn the next morning – around five o'clock, by Alanna's estimation. Hurriedly she threw on a green dress, simple and plain, ornamenting it only with a simple white sash. She had been expecting the other girls to have dresses finer than the simple things she preferred, and prepared herself for it, but was on this account surprised – ladies they might be becoming, but they were sensible. This fact forced Alanna to rapidly redefine several preconceived notions of nobility, and vapid nobles' wives. Or those intending to become them.
Jess whispered in her ear, "Breakfast time, now. Don't bother grabbing your books – it's always buffet-style, except on the seventh days. Every seventh day is also when we get the day off – usually to catch up on homework." Alanna gave a mute nod, and dropped the book bag she had been about to pick up, hurriedly tugging on some soft dark brown slippers (Maude had insisted they hid stains well, and Alanna wasn't about to disagree with such a color – meaning one the opposite of more garish hues). Lamia left first, and Mett and Jess were mere seconds behind. Alanna wasn't taking any chances of getting lost; she stayed to the right of her fellow first year, and kept up with their quick pace easily.
The "mess hall" was much like every other room in the Convent of the Daughters of the Goddess – stark and plain. Long picnic-esque tables (as Alanna would have described it, had she been in our times) were laid out, and covered with a dark brown cloth. Alanna imagined that after the days' meals it was probably cleaned and washed, soon ready for tomorrow. To the side were other tables, lacking the bench seats of the others, and covered with platters of simple, but hearty food. Jess rushed over to a particular table, and Alanna hastened to follow; and, watching all the girls bow their heads, Alanna did the same.
"Silent prayers for your food, now," the First Daughter announced, before bowing her own head. The prayers were thankfully short, and soon Alanna could fill her grumbling stomach. Jess insisted she would save their seats, so Alanna thanked her, only insisting that she would get Jess' food as well. Many girls already in the line had one or two plates, so she had hazarded a guess that it wasn't an uncommon act. Heading over to the buffet, Alanna saw there was a long line – gloomily, she took her place at the back. Luckily, the line moved rather quickly, and in ten minutes' time she was three away from the front; until a large girl stepped casually in front of her. From the murmurs and downward glances (along with the fact that none of the other girls said anything), Alanna assumed it to be Imurah of the Copper Isles – it wasn't so easy to distinguish her from the back as from the front.
Raising a hand, now that Jess wasn't there to stop her, Alanna gave the girl a light tap on the shoulder with her finger. "Excuse me," she said quietly, loud enough that Imurah would hear her, but softly enough that the Sisters wouldn't, "I believe you've taken my spot in line." A hush descended on the girls immediately to the front and back, and soon the whole line was still. The Copper Isles noble turned around slowly to face her opponent, and Alanna had a feeling she was hiding a giggle. No wonder, Alanna thought gloomily. I'm short, while she's tall for her age and two years older. Me challenging her with this height difference must be something of a laugh, she thought gloomily. But even while her thoughts were melancholy, her temper was rising.
"I won't tell on you," Alanna said shortly, "but if you won't give me my place back, I'll start a scene." Imurah's eyes blazed with fury – but in front of all the Sisters and the First Daughter, there was little she could do.
"I'll get you later, redhead," she said quietly, going off to cut some other poor girl. Alanna had no doubt that she would keep well to her promise. Violet eyes and red hair were not common enough that she would be soon forgotten. Swallowing away her own nervousness, Alanna stepped up to receive her food.
Returning to hers' and Jess' table with plates laden with sausage, fruit, and thin cakes coated with a sweet syrup, Alanna glared at Jess' look of horror. Sliding her plate in front of Jess, she said bluntly, "It's time someone stood up to her." She proceeded to dig in, spearing a piece of fruit on her fork, stuffing it in her mouth, and chewing quietly.
"Alanna!" Jess hissed. "I told you what happens if you don't just ignore what she does!" A frantic, panicked look had crept into the first year's eyes. Alanna just shrugged it off. She would deal with that when it came.
"Not a smart move, coppercurls," Mett suggested from across the table, where she was sitting next to Lamia and another second-year that Alanna didn't know. Once again, the redheaded first year delivered a shrug to the statement, and proceeded to hurriedly clean her plate of food, motioning that she would be back at their dorm room, while silently praying she could find it.
Like a rat-trap, this place is. Half these halls lead to dead ends, Alanna grumbled a few minutes later. Luck was with her, however; she ran into Sister Emera, who was glad to direct her. Alanna began to gather her books, remembering Jess had said first was math, then sewing, and then etiquette.
First class of the day was basic math – Alanna got the feeling it was not very well respected. For one, there were blankets, dresses, tapestries…many things pertaining to sewing, on the walls. She would find out in an hour and a half's time or so that this classroom was primarily the sewing classroom, and only doubled as the math one. While the subject was not considered seriously (math was little-needed, Alanna assumed, for ladies-in-training), the teacher who taught it was. Sister Heffen was very strict. Since there was no book for this class, all that Sister Heffen told them was put on the board. Alanna saw others writing the occasional phrase down on some scrap paper, and copied them. By the end of the lesson, Alanna was reasonably sure she could do the seven problems assigned to them for that night; she'd always been good at math. Too bad it only lasts a year, she grumbled to herself. I doubt I'll be good at much else.
The second class of the day was sewing – for this class, they had a book of patterns. Alanna was mildly surprised to find that they not only did tapestry embroidering (or at least Sister Emera hinted they would, in years to come), but also how to simply spin wool, which was what they were working on today. Alanna found, to her embarrassment, that she was unbearably clumsy at it. After she ruined her wool for the fifth time, and Sister Emera had to help her (again, for the fifth time), the Sister was suggesting she come in for extra lessons during the dinner hour. Numbly, Alanna agreed. Already, the good feeling that had surrounded her after their math class was fading. Since today's sewing lesson required classroom equipment, Sister Emera had been good enough to say there would be no homework.
Etiquette's teacher was exacting: she expected every curtsy to be performed exactly as it should be, and would accept no shortcomings. Curtsies were the topic for today, and after an hour and a half of repeating it in front of a mirror, while listening to the Sister teaching it criticize her and every other girl in the room, her legs and head were aching. The Sister was also kind enough to inform them that she expected the new ones have read Chapter 1: An Introduction to Basic Courtesies in their course book, and to have mastered the curtsy by tomorrow. Alanna inwardly groaned.
Lunch hour wasn't really a lunch at all for Alanna, or many other students. Jess and Mett both suggested they head back to the dorm room to work on homework, and Alanna didn't want to be left alone – she knew few others in the Convent, so far. Her lunch hour was spent working on the first four problems in math, and reading through the first half of An Introduction to Basic Courtesies.
"Reading and writing, history, varied arts, and Gift," Jess intoned, filling up her bag and sighing blissfully before saying loudly and with a large grin, "I'm so glad I don't have the Gift. A whole hour and a half, free to myself." Alanna just grinned at her friend, before rolling her eyes. Reminded about this class, though, Alanna rotated her head so that her eyes were facing Lamia.
"Is Gift class easy, Lamia?" Alanna dared to ask, but was rewarded (once again) with a grunt. Jess shrugged, indicating that that was all she was likely to get, and Alanna despaired of ever having a real conversation with the Viscont noble.
In reading and writing, which was taught by the First Daughter herself, Alanna was first tested to see if she could do both of the above. Afterwards, she realized it was taught to both the first years and second years at the same time; they read passages from books written by well-known Tortallan authors, before working on penmanship, which seemed to make up the bulk of the 'writing' portion. There were three groups: advanced, intermediate, and novice. Alanna was shuffled into novice, having had no tutoring on the proper way to write, or any of the specific styles. She was surprised to see Jess shuffled into the advanced group. Evidently, her fellow first year had had far more practice than she had. Alanna asked the girl Mett had been sitting with at breakfast for help on her b's, and the girl (a fellow redhead, with periwinkle eyes) had been glad to help. She found the girl's name to be Oletta of Geneau; she seemed to think most things humorous, and laughed good-naturedly at some of Alanna's attempts, drawing a smile out of her, but also causing the First Daughter to keep coming over and checking to see whether they were actually doing the work. Homework was, for the novice first years, to be able to do their lowercase a's through l's perfectly. No reading homework.
History was supremely boring for Alanna. The Sister who taught the class seemed to have a gift for making it dull. She was, in fact, herself dull-looking, and not a great speaker, either. Several times, Alanna had to prod Jess, who was sitting to her right, awake. Homework was to read up on Jonathan the Conqueror's reign.
"Varied arts is my favorite," Jess announced. "Even better than reading and writing – I may be good at penmanship, but it's still boring."
Alanna found varied arts surprised her; she enjoyed the class immensely. Today's lesson was on drawing, and she was partnered with Jess; they were doing portraits of each other in turns. Jess' sketch was amazing, and Alanna's violet eyes widened over the likeness. "That's good, Jess." Apparently the Sister who taught the class was impressed by Jess' work as well; the first year seemed a favorite of hers. She was also very lenient, and let the pairs talk while they painted. Alanna next did a sketch of Jess, but it ended up looking more like a monkey, and therefore not doing much justice to its subject. They were all assigned to read up on the proper way to sketch in their art book, and on the way out, the Sister in charge gave Alanna a gentle tap on the shoulder, suggesting, "Maybe you should have this period free…?"
Great, thought Alanna sullenly. Another thing I'm terrible at. At least I can make up some of my homework.
Jess said good-bye to Alanna at their dorm room, while Alanna nervously followed Lamia to the Gift class – all the years had Gift together. The teacher was not a Sister – in fact, he was the only male teacher in the Convent. Their teacher for Gift was a mage, by the name of Surden. He started the lesson by genially insisting that they didn't have to call him "Brother Surden", but that "Master Surden" would do much better. He started by calling those new arrived – Alanna and a girl with blond hair – to the front, and testing them to see if they had enough of the Gift to make the class worthwhile. He pronounced both of them carrying a sufficient amount of the Gift, and proceeded to talk about uses of the Gift in conjunction with material objects.
As the rest of the class filed out for dinner, Surden caught Alanna by the shoulder on her way out, requesting her to have a talk with him. He waited until the rest of the students were out, before looking shrewdly at her. "Alanna of Trebond, my list says. Well, Alanna, you've probably the strongest Gift in this school, of the students at least – I've not met the infirmary's healer yet, so I don't know their position, Gift-wise. A Gift is a powerful thing, Alanna; a thing that's important to master and use appropriately. Your Gift requires more training than the others'; if you want, I'll give you extra tutelage during your dinner period."
"Thank you, Master Surden, but I'm already taking extra sewing." Alanna mumbled the last between gritted teeth; it wasn't a fact she was proud of. She also decided not to mention the fact that she had Varied Arts free, now.
Master Surden seemed to understand that she needed her lunch and breakfast periods free of homework, but said one last thing: "I understand. However, if you find you no longer need that extra sewing period, I'm always open for lessons with the Gift."
Alanna gave a mute nod, before running to her dorm, packing her bags full of sewing and prayers material, heading to Sister Emera's classroom. The next hour was spent with her learning to successfully deal with wool. At last, Sister Emera dismissed her ten minutes early so that she could grab some dinner. Alanna took only a roll or two, and some of the meat course laid out, hurriedly eating, dumping her plate, and running to find the prayers classroom. She would have been horribly lost, if not for running into Jess, who, after questioning where she'd been, led her to the proper classroom. It was a research period, so Alanna started reading up on the Hag and Carthaki religious practices.
On the way back, Alanna was expressing her frustration about the curtsy to Jess, whose eyes immediately lit up at this declaration. "Ask Lamia! Mett's told me; she seems rude, but she gets perfect marks in etiquette. She knows every type of delivery to every different class, every different type of greeting…it's amazing. And she might talk to you," Jess finished with a hopeful shrug.
Back at their dorm room, Alanna steeled herself for another grunt when asking Lamia for help with her curtsying, but was pleasantly surprised; the Viscont noble's eyes lit up (much as Jess' had earlier) and in fifteen minutes more of practice, Alanna had mastered the curtsy. She managed to finish her chapter of etiquette homework, read the chapter on sketching in their art book, and look up Jonathan the Conqueror (although mostly out of respect for the assignment – she already knew a bit about him, from Coram's tales and Trebond's library). Alanna put off her prayers work for the seventh day, as Mettrinne had advised, but simply gave up on her penmanship homework when Sister Emera came in to tell them ten minutes until lights-out. She flipped through a few pages in their Gift course book, before placing it all away, and taking out a sheet of paper to write to Thom:
Dearest twin,
How are things there at Corus? The only thing that keeps me from despairing over here is considering the miserable time you must be having, O dearest brother. You must tell me how many times you've fallen off your horse.
If it's any consolation, I'm doing abominably at sewing over here – I already have to take extra classes. The girls in my dorm room are nice, though. Do the boys over there bully you, O best-loved twin? If so, tell them you have a sister who appreciates their deeds.
Either way, we (first and second years) get a trip to Corus some time in the year here, so try and save a rest-day or something for that week. I'd like to see my honored sibling at least once a year.
Give Coram my regards, since he's staying there with you. Made any new friends? I've made a few. After my fifth year here, I get to spend two years at Court under the watchful eye of a family. Probably not my own, since father's…well, distant.
Alanna
She signed the letter quickly, rolled it up, and turned towards Mett. "So how would I get this sent?"
"Give it to the First Daughter," said Mettrinne distractedly, flipping through her art book.
Alanna began to get up, but a snort from Mett caught her attention. The second year was rolling her eyes. "First years are gullible. I got Jess with that same trick. You think the First Daughter wants to be disturbed by a first year with a letter?" A grin twitched on the brown-headed girl's features. "Just give it to Sister Emera when she comes for lights-out."
Narrowing her eyes in annoyance at being tricked, Mett leaned over the top bunk-divider and gave her a light punch on the shoulder. "Lighten up."
Alanna was forced to grin, before she leaned on her penmanship paper, and groaned. "When am I supposed to do all this?"
Mett struck a thoughtful pose. "During lunch. Or dinner. Or breakfast."
"But they're for eating," Alanna murmured, frustrated. "And I already have extra sewing classes because I'm so…" to demonstrate, she made a few wild hand gestures, "…bad."
"We think the Sisters don't understand a concept such as 'food'," Mett replied. "Lamia suggested the other day that because of their service to the Goddess they need never eat. They've forgotten the needs of us unenlightened folk beneath them."
Alanna pinned Mett as the sarcastic type; the merchant's comment brought a slow grin to her features.
Sister Emera stuck her head in through the door, and announced a cheery, "Lights out!" After handing the Sister her letter to Thom, and specifying that he lived at the palace, rolled over in her bed. The day, for the most part, had kept her too busy to think about what she was missing at the palace, but it came back full-force, now that she was in her nightshift and tucked underneath her covers. I'll never be a knight, she thought miserably, a tear threatening to come out of her eye. She ruthlessly brushed it away, and focused on her anger at Thom for not just taking a chance. As sleep began to take a hold of her, Alanna remembered she had Imurah's vengeance to look forward to tomorrow, and with a groan, closed her eyes.
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The second day passed much as before; Alanna finished up her penmanship and math during breakfast. There was no trouble from Imurah through the first part of the day, but Alanna was assigned extra homework in math. For even though she'd completed the problems assigned, she'd gotten one of them wrong. However, in etiquette the Sister commented on her wonderful curtsy, and she silently thanked Lamia. By lunch, Alanna had decided she needed a break, and asked Jess if she was allowed to go to the Stables.
"Oh, of course. Just go out that back door near our dorm room. You don't need to ask anyone; the guards are out, so you'll be safe."
"Right," said Alanna. Following Jess' instructions, Alanna went out to the stables, were she found the horse that had been kind enough to transport her to the Convent. "I still can't believe that Thom got Chubby. Chubby always hated him," she mused, while running a brush over the horse's coat. "Essel, your name was, right? You're a good mare," she said soothingly to the horse. Suddenly, Alanna heard footsteps, and immediately tensed.
"Thought you could cut in front of me and get away with it, Trebond?" she heard a steely voice ask. Alanna didn't doubt it was that of Imurah of the Copper Isles.
Alanna didn't say anything, she merely turned to face Imurah, who was drawing back her fist for a punch. Alanna tried to dodge, but she was slow; Imurah's fist glanced off the side of her face. Wincing, she leaned back, and judged her opponent, dismayed to realize it was a ridiculously unfair fight in terms of size. Despite the biased situation, Alanna was determined to land a punch on the girl, and slammed a fist towards Imurah's stomach.
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"Now; what happened to give you a broken nose, among several other bruises, Alanna of Trebond?" First Daughter Undilia asked frostily.
"Furbst Daubber, I abologize, I –"
"Get this girl our healer," the First Daughter snapped. "I can't understand a word she's saying." Sister Emera, who was attending because she was in charge of Alanna's dorm-room, bowed and headed to the left hallway, returning moments later with a bustling woman who sent her pink Gift through Alanna's nose, speedily returning it to its previous condition. Alanna masked a wince at the brief but intense pain conveyed by her nose rearranging itself. The healer bowed, and then left, while Sister Emera stayed to hear Alanna's punishment, later to make sure it was enforced."
"First Daughter," began Alanna, surprised at the own improvement in her nose already, "I apologize, but I tripped in the stables."
The First Daughter directed a look of disgust mingled with faint pride towards Alanna – the disgust coming from the believability of the lie, no doubt. "You…tripped?"
Alanna gave a mute nod, split lips pursed; the healer had been instructed to heal her nose, and nothing had been said of the rest of her injuries.
"Very well. For lying to me you are sentenced to two hours of work scrubbing the bathrooms on the coming seventh day. Dismissed." First Daughter Undilia bowed her head, and began to occupy herself with other matters.
Sister Emera didn't say a word as she escorted Alanna back to her dorm room, but she thought she caught a tiny smile of encouragement on the Sister's face. Alanna was fairly sure that she knew what had caused the problem.
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The next month passed much as the first had for Alanna; she settled into life at the Convent, and began to do better at sewing. Each day, she thought less and less of what she was missing at the Palace – time has a way of bringing acceptance. Imurah of the Copper Isles was not done with Alanna. In hallways, she'd shove her, or pinch her; sometimes, when there were no Sisters around, even go so far as to aim a well-placed kick at her shins. Alanna never let her get near her books, however, and avoided her the rest of the time. She had a plan; Imurah might be a decent fighter, but she was by no stretch of the word 'good'. Alanna would bide her time until the Corus trip, then beg Thom to teach her some punches that could scare the Copper Isles girl off of picking on the first years forever. She confided her plan to no one, however; not even to Jess, Mett, or Lamia.
One seventh day, Jess, Mett, Lamia, Oletta, and another shy first year named Tremma (a merchant's daughter like Mett) were sitting comfortably around a mess hall table. Supposedly they were working, but they kept breaking up the studying with conversation.
"Corus trip is soon," said Jess brightly.
Oletta chuckled, curling a lock of red hair around her finger. "We're kept at the palace. S'not all that interesting. Except for the two market days."
"You all may occupy yourselves with the pursuits of youth," said Mett, putting on the air of an older lady. "I will be experiencing 'palace high life'. At least, that's how my father puts it," she finished, rolling her eyes while wearing a smile.
Alanna just grinned, and practiced her upper-case 'K' for penmanship. Occasionally, she'd slide it over to Tremma, who was in intermediate, to check it; the two had become friends during Gift classes.
Their calm was abruptly shattered by the heavy footsteps of another entering. By now, Alanna could easily recognize them as Imurah's. Gritting her teeth, she waited for the inevitable. Only this time, instead of a pinch, the Copper Isles girl slid a piece of paper in front of Alanna.
"My history homework. It's all down there – the requirements for the report. Just have it done for me by tomorrow." And with that, she was gone, tramping down the hallway.
Oletta, Mett, and Lamia began to snarl and made as if to get up out of their seats, but a fierce glare from Alanna had them subsiding. "I'm sure you all three would certainly be a match for her, but this is my fight."
Mettrinne sighed and slipped back in her chair, eyes turning in the ceiling as she recited dully, "We know, Alanna, we know. At least she won't be coming on the Corus trip, since that's for first and second years only. What're you going to do about the assignment?"
Alanna, by way of answer, crumpled up the paper and tossed it over her shoulder, and into the trash. The five with her pursed their lips, but said nothing, and Tremma continued to adjust the position of her hand until her 'K' was close to perfect. Soon, the conversation returned to Corus, and the dresses that could be bought, the jewels that could be seen. Alanna thought briefly of the small amount of money that the Lord of Trebond had sent her way when he had written her of the trip. Smiling briefly, she found herself looking forward to the Corus trip. And, hopefully, fighting lessons from Thom, she thought quietly, a serious frown intruding on her features, before she inwardly laughed. Fighting lessons from Thom! Seems like an oxymoron in itself. Still – Thom has to have learned something.
To 'Alanna', 'anonymous', and magewhisperer-su: Thanks a lot! I'm really glad you like it. ^.^ If you see the update and read this chapter, I hope you like it!
To Vane2: Yeah…the whole sidesaddle thing. ^^;; Don't know much about horses. For the future of the book…I intend to maybe cover the first year or two in this story, and then start up a second one for a few later years, just to break it up. The first year'll be the longest, much like in the real Alanna books. The other years will be less detailed, for the most part. Hmm…I never really thought about the Gift class as punishment. In the next chapter I think I can use that idea. *ponders plot ideas*
To LTC: Thanks! Glad you think my OCs are believable. I actually have more problems with writing Alanna than them, though. Keep worrying that I've got her basic character wrong. ^^;;
To 'Nala': Well, I wasn't quite sure how to organize the years, and the whole year organization of Hogwarts sort of evolved into what I used…
Don't worry, there's a plot coming, I promise! During the Corus trip things start to heat up. Promise. ~_^
Thanks for reviewing!
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Chapter 2: Classes, Copper Isles, and Corus
Sister Emera entered the room at the crack of dawn the next morning – around five o'clock, by Alanna's estimation. Hurriedly she threw on a green dress, simple and plain, ornamenting it only with a simple white sash. She had been expecting the other girls to have dresses finer than the simple things she preferred, and prepared herself for it, but was on this account surprised – ladies they might be becoming, but they were sensible. This fact forced Alanna to rapidly redefine several preconceived notions of nobility, and vapid nobles' wives. Or those intending to become them.
Jess whispered in her ear, "Breakfast time, now. Don't bother grabbing your books – it's always buffet-style, except on the seventh days. Every seventh day is also when we get the day off – usually to catch up on homework." Alanna gave a mute nod, and dropped the book bag she had been about to pick up, hurriedly tugging on some soft dark brown slippers (Maude had insisted they hid stains well, and Alanna wasn't about to disagree with such a color – meaning one the opposite of more garish hues). Lamia left first, and Mett and Jess were mere seconds behind. Alanna wasn't taking any chances of getting lost; she stayed to the right of her fellow first year, and kept up with their quick pace easily.
The "mess hall" was much like every other room in the Convent of the Daughters of the Goddess – stark and plain. Long picnic-esque tables (as Alanna would have described it, had she been in our times) were laid out, and covered with a dark brown cloth. Alanna imagined that after the days' meals it was probably cleaned and washed, soon ready for tomorrow. To the side were other tables, lacking the bench seats of the others, and covered with platters of simple, but hearty food. Jess rushed over to a particular table, and Alanna hastened to follow; and, watching all the girls bow their heads, Alanna did the same.
"Silent prayers for your food, now," the First Daughter announced, before bowing her own head. The prayers were thankfully short, and soon Alanna could fill her grumbling stomach. Jess insisted she would save their seats, so Alanna thanked her, only insisting that she would get Jess' food as well. Many girls already in the line had one or two plates, so she had hazarded a guess that it wasn't an uncommon act. Heading over to the buffet, Alanna saw there was a long line – gloomily, she took her place at the back. Luckily, the line moved rather quickly, and in ten minutes' time she was three away from the front; until a large girl stepped casually in front of her. From the murmurs and downward glances (along with the fact that none of the other girls said anything), Alanna assumed it to be Imurah of the Copper Isles – it wasn't so easy to distinguish her from the back as from the front.
Raising a hand, now that Jess wasn't there to stop her, Alanna gave the girl a light tap on the shoulder with her finger. "Excuse me," she said quietly, loud enough that Imurah would hear her, but softly enough that the Sisters wouldn't, "I believe you've taken my spot in line." A hush descended on the girls immediately to the front and back, and soon the whole line was still. The Copper Isles noble turned around slowly to face her opponent, and Alanna had a feeling she was hiding a giggle. No wonder, Alanna thought gloomily. I'm short, while she's tall for her age and two years older. Me challenging her with this height difference must be something of a laugh, she thought gloomily. But even while her thoughts were melancholy, her temper was rising.
"I won't tell on you," Alanna said shortly, "but if you won't give me my place back, I'll start a scene." Imurah's eyes blazed with fury – but in front of all the Sisters and the First Daughter, there was little she could do.
"I'll get you later, redhead," she said quietly, going off to cut some other poor girl. Alanna had no doubt that she would keep well to her promise. Violet eyes and red hair were not common enough that she would be soon forgotten. Swallowing away her own nervousness, Alanna stepped up to receive her food.
Returning to hers' and Jess' table with plates laden with sausage, fruit, and thin cakes coated with a sweet syrup, Alanna glared at Jess' look of horror. Sliding her plate in front of Jess, she said bluntly, "It's time someone stood up to her." She proceeded to dig in, spearing a piece of fruit on her fork, stuffing it in her mouth, and chewing quietly.
"Alanna!" Jess hissed. "I told you what happens if you don't just ignore what she does!" A frantic, panicked look had crept into the first year's eyes. Alanna just shrugged it off. She would deal with that when it came.
"Not a smart move, coppercurls," Mett suggested from across the table, where she was sitting next to Lamia and another second-year that Alanna didn't know. Once again, the redheaded first year delivered a shrug to the statement, and proceeded to hurriedly clean her plate of food, motioning that she would be back at their dorm room, while silently praying she could find it.
Like a rat-trap, this place is. Half these halls lead to dead ends, Alanna grumbled a few minutes later. Luck was with her, however; she ran into Sister Emera, who was glad to direct her. Alanna began to gather her books, remembering Jess had said first was math, then sewing, and then etiquette.
First class of the day was basic math – Alanna got the feeling it was not very well respected. For one, there were blankets, dresses, tapestries…many things pertaining to sewing, on the walls. She would find out in an hour and a half's time or so that this classroom was primarily the sewing classroom, and only doubled as the math one. While the subject was not considered seriously (math was little-needed, Alanna assumed, for ladies-in-training), the teacher who taught it was. Sister Heffen was very strict. Since there was no book for this class, all that Sister Heffen told them was put on the board. Alanna saw others writing the occasional phrase down on some scrap paper, and copied them. By the end of the lesson, Alanna was reasonably sure she could do the seven problems assigned to them for that night; she'd always been good at math. Too bad it only lasts a year, she grumbled to herself. I doubt I'll be good at much else.
The second class of the day was sewing – for this class, they had a book of patterns. Alanna was mildly surprised to find that they not only did tapestry embroidering (or at least Sister Emera hinted they would, in years to come), but also how to simply spin wool, which was what they were working on today. Alanna found, to her embarrassment, that she was unbearably clumsy at it. After she ruined her wool for the fifth time, and Sister Emera had to help her (again, for the fifth time), the Sister was suggesting she come in for extra lessons during the dinner hour. Numbly, Alanna agreed. Already, the good feeling that had surrounded her after their math class was fading. Since today's sewing lesson required classroom equipment, Sister Emera had been good enough to say there would be no homework.
Etiquette's teacher was exacting: she expected every curtsy to be performed exactly as it should be, and would accept no shortcomings. Curtsies were the topic for today, and after an hour and a half of repeating it in front of a mirror, while listening to the Sister teaching it criticize her and every other girl in the room, her legs and head were aching. The Sister was also kind enough to inform them that she expected the new ones have read Chapter 1: An Introduction to Basic Courtesies in their course book, and to have mastered the curtsy by tomorrow. Alanna inwardly groaned.
Lunch hour wasn't really a lunch at all for Alanna, or many other students. Jess and Mett both suggested they head back to the dorm room to work on homework, and Alanna didn't want to be left alone – she knew few others in the Convent, so far. Her lunch hour was spent working on the first four problems in math, and reading through the first half of An Introduction to Basic Courtesies.
"Reading and writing, history, varied arts, and Gift," Jess intoned, filling up her bag and sighing blissfully before saying loudly and with a large grin, "I'm so glad I don't have the Gift. A whole hour and a half, free to myself." Alanna just grinned at her friend, before rolling her eyes. Reminded about this class, though, Alanna rotated her head so that her eyes were facing Lamia.
"Is Gift class easy, Lamia?" Alanna dared to ask, but was rewarded (once again) with a grunt. Jess shrugged, indicating that that was all she was likely to get, and Alanna despaired of ever having a real conversation with the Viscont noble.
In reading and writing, which was taught by the First Daughter herself, Alanna was first tested to see if she could do both of the above. Afterwards, she realized it was taught to both the first years and second years at the same time; they read passages from books written by well-known Tortallan authors, before working on penmanship, which seemed to make up the bulk of the 'writing' portion. There were three groups: advanced, intermediate, and novice. Alanna was shuffled into novice, having had no tutoring on the proper way to write, or any of the specific styles. She was surprised to see Jess shuffled into the advanced group. Evidently, her fellow first year had had far more practice than she had. Alanna asked the girl Mett had been sitting with at breakfast for help on her b's, and the girl (a fellow redhead, with periwinkle eyes) had been glad to help. She found the girl's name to be Oletta of Geneau; she seemed to think most things humorous, and laughed good-naturedly at some of Alanna's attempts, drawing a smile out of her, but also causing the First Daughter to keep coming over and checking to see whether they were actually doing the work. Homework was, for the novice first years, to be able to do their lowercase a's through l's perfectly. No reading homework.
History was supremely boring for Alanna. The Sister who taught the class seemed to have a gift for making it dull. She was, in fact, herself dull-looking, and not a great speaker, either. Several times, Alanna had to prod Jess, who was sitting to her right, awake. Homework was to read up on Jonathan the Conqueror's reign.
"Varied arts is my favorite," Jess announced. "Even better than reading and writing – I may be good at penmanship, but it's still boring."
Alanna found varied arts surprised her; she enjoyed the class immensely. Today's lesson was on drawing, and she was partnered with Jess; they were doing portraits of each other in turns. Jess' sketch was amazing, and Alanna's violet eyes widened over the likeness. "That's good, Jess." Apparently the Sister who taught the class was impressed by Jess' work as well; the first year seemed a favorite of hers. She was also very lenient, and let the pairs talk while they painted. Alanna next did a sketch of Jess, but it ended up looking more like a monkey, and therefore not doing much justice to its subject. They were all assigned to read up on the proper way to sketch in their art book, and on the way out, the Sister in charge gave Alanna a gentle tap on the shoulder, suggesting, "Maybe you should have this period free…?"
Great, thought Alanna sullenly. Another thing I'm terrible at. At least I can make up some of my homework.
Jess said good-bye to Alanna at their dorm room, while Alanna nervously followed Lamia to the Gift class – all the years had Gift together. The teacher was not a Sister – in fact, he was the only male teacher in the Convent. Their teacher for Gift was a mage, by the name of Surden. He started the lesson by genially insisting that they didn't have to call him "Brother Surden", but that "Master Surden" would do much better. He started by calling those new arrived – Alanna and a girl with blond hair – to the front, and testing them to see if they had enough of the Gift to make the class worthwhile. He pronounced both of them carrying a sufficient amount of the Gift, and proceeded to talk about uses of the Gift in conjunction with material objects.
As the rest of the class filed out for dinner, Surden caught Alanna by the shoulder on her way out, requesting her to have a talk with him. He waited until the rest of the students were out, before looking shrewdly at her. "Alanna of Trebond, my list says. Well, Alanna, you've probably the strongest Gift in this school, of the students at least – I've not met the infirmary's healer yet, so I don't know their position, Gift-wise. A Gift is a powerful thing, Alanna; a thing that's important to master and use appropriately. Your Gift requires more training than the others'; if you want, I'll give you extra tutelage during your dinner period."
"Thank you, Master Surden, but I'm already taking extra sewing." Alanna mumbled the last between gritted teeth; it wasn't a fact she was proud of. She also decided not to mention the fact that she had Varied Arts free, now.
Master Surden seemed to understand that she needed her lunch and breakfast periods free of homework, but said one last thing: "I understand. However, if you find you no longer need that extra sewing period, I'm always open for lessons with the Gift."
Alanna gave a mute nod, before running to her dorm, packing her bags full of sewing and prayers material, heading to Sister Emera's classroom. The next hour was spent with her learning to successfully deal with wool. At last, Sister Emera dismissed her ten minutes early so that she could grab some dinner. Alanna took only a roll or two, and some of the meat course laid out, hurriedly eating, dumping her plate, and running to find the prayers classroom. She would have been horribly lost, if not for running into Jess, who, after questioning where she'd been, led her to the proper classroom. It was a research period, so Alanna started reading up on the Hag and Carthaki religious practices.
On the way back, Alanna was expressing her frustration about the curtsy to Jess, whose eyes immediately lit up at this declaration. "Ask Lamia! Mett's told me; she seems rude, but she gets perfect marks in etiquette. She knows every type of delivery to every different class, every different type of greeting…it's amazing. And she might talk to you," Jess finished with a hopeful shrug.
Back at their dorm room, Alanna steeled herself for another grunt when asking Lamia for help with her curtsying, but was pleasantly surprised; the Viscont noble's eyes lit up (much as Jess' had earlier) and in fifteen minutes more of practice, Alanna had mastered the curtsy. She managed to finish her chapter of etiquette homework, read the chapter on sketching in their art book, and look up Jonathan the Conqueror (although mostly out of respect for the assignment – she already knew a bit about him, from Coram's tales and Trebond's library). Alanna put off her prayers work for the seventh day, as Mettrinne had advised, but simply gave up on her penmanship homework when Sister Emera came in to tell them ten minutes until lights-out. She flipped through a few pages in their Gift course book, before placing it all away, and taking out a sheet of paper to write to Thom:
Dearest twin,
How are things there at Corus? The only thing that keeps me from despairing over here is considering the miserable time you must be having, O dearest brother. You must tell me how many times you've fallen off your horse.
If it's any consolation, I'm doing abominably at sewing over here – I already have to take extra classes. The girls in my dorm room are nice, though. Do the boys over there bully you, O best-loved twin? If so, tell them you have a sister who appreciates their deeds.
Either way, we (first and second years) get a trip to Corus some time in the year here, so try and save a rest-day or something for that week. I'd like to see my honored sibling at least once a year.
Give Coram my regards, since he's staying there with you. Made any new friends? I've made a few. After my fifth year here, I get to spend two years at Court under the watchful eye of a family. Probably not my own, since father's…well, distant.
Alanna
She signed the letter quickly, rolled it up, and turned towards Mett. "So how would I get this sent?"
"Give it to the First Daughter," said Mettrinne distractedly, flipping through her art book.
Alanna began to get up, but a snort from Mett caught her attention. The second year was rolling her eyes. "First years are gullible. I got Jess with that same trick. You think the First Daughter wants to be disturbed by a first year with a letter?" A grin twitched on the brown-headed girl's features. "Just give it to Sister Emera when she comes for lights-out."
Narrowing her eyes in annoyance at being tricked, Mett leaned over the top bunk-divider and gave her a light punch on the shoulder. "Lighten up."
Alanna was forced to grin, before she leaned on her penmanship paper, and groaned. "When am I supposed to do all this?"
Mett struck a thoughtful pose. "During lunch. Or dinner. Or breakfast."
"But they're for eating," Alanna murmured, frustrated. "And I already have extra sewing classes because I'm so…" to demonstrate, she made a few wild hand gestures, "…bad."
"We think the Sisters don't understand a concept such as 'food'," Mett replied. "Lamia suggested the other day that because of their service to the Goddess they need never eat. They've forgotten the needs of us unenlightened folk beneath them."
Alanna pinned Mett as the sarcastic type; the merchant's comment brought a slow grin to her features.
Sister Emera stuck her head in through the door, and announced a cheery, "Lights out!" After handing the Sister her letter to Thom, and specifying that he lived at the palace, rolled over in her bed. The day, for the most part, had kept her too busy to think about what she was missing at the palace, but it came back full-force, now that she was in her nightshift and tucked underneath her covers. I'll never be a knight, she thought miserably, a tear threatening to come out of her eye. She ruthlessly brushed it away, and focused on her anger at Thom for not just taking a chance. As sleep began to take a hold of her, Alanna remembered she had Imurah's vengeance to look forward to tomorrow, and with a groan, closed her eyes.
* * * * * * * *
The second day passed much as before; Alanna finished up her penmanship and math during breakfast. There was no trouble from Imurah through the first part of the day, but Alanna was assigned extra homework in math. For even though she'd completed the problems assigned, she'd gotten one of them wrong. However, in etiquette the Sister commented on her wonderful curtsy, and she silently thanked Lamia. By lunch, Alanna had decided she needed a break, and asked Jess if she was allowed to go to the Stables.
"Oh, of course. Just go out that back door near our dorm room. You don't need to ask anyone; the guards are out, so you'll be safe."
"Right," said Alanna. Following Jess' instructions, Alanna went out to the stables, were she found the horse that had been kind enough to transport her to the Convent. "I still can't believe that Thom got Chubby. Chubby always hated him," she mused, while running a brush over the horse's coat. "Essel, your name was, right? You're a good mare," she said soothingly to the horse. Suddenly, Alanna heard footsteps, and immediately tensed.
"Thought you could cut in front of me and get away with it, Trebond?" she heard a steely voice ask. Alanna didn't doubt it was that of Imurah of the Copper Isles.
Alanna didn't say anything, she merely turned to face Imurah, who was drawing back her fist for a punch. Alanna tried to dodge, but she was slow; Imurah's fist glanced off the side of her face. Wincing, she leaned back, and judged her opponent, dismayed to realize it was a ridiculously unfair fight in terms of size. Despite the biased situation, Alanna was determined to land a punch on the girl, and slammed a fist towards Imurah's stomach.
* * * * * * * *
"Now; what happened to give you a broken nose, among several other bruises, Alanna of Trebond?" First Daughter Undilia asked frostily.
"Furbst Daubber, I abologize, I –"
"Get this girl our healer," the First Daughter snapped. "I can't understand a word she's saying." Sister Emera, who was attending because she was in charge of Alanna's dorm-room, bowed and headed to the left hallway, returning moments later with a bustling woman who sent her pink Gift through Alanna's nose, speedily returning it to its previous condition. Alanna masked a wince at the brief but intense pain conveyed by her nose rearranging itself. The healer bowed, and then left, while Sister Emera stayed to hear Alanna's punishment, later to make sure it was enforced."
"First Daughter," began Alanna, surprised at the own improvement in her nose already, "I apologize, but I tripped in the stables."
The First Daughter directed a look of disgust mingled with faint pride towards Alanna – the disgust coming from the believability of the lie, no doubt. "You…tripped?"
Alanna gave a mute nod, split lips pursed; the healer had been instructed to heal her nose, and nothing had been said of the rest of her injuries.
"Very well. For lying to me you are sentenced to two hours of work scrubbing the bathrooms on the coming seventh day. Dismissed." First Daughter Undilia bowed her head, and began to occupy herself with other matters.
Sister Emera didn't say a word as she escorted Alanna back to her dorm room, but she thought she caught a tiny smile of encouragement on the Sister's face. Alanna was fairly sure that she knew what had caused the problem.
* * * * * * * *
The next month passed much as the first had for Alanna; she settled into life at the Convent, and began to do better at sewing. Each day, she thought less and less of what she was missing at the Palace – time has a way of bringing acceptance. Imurah of the Copper Isles was not done with Alanna. In hallways, she'd shove her, or pinch her; sometimes, when there were no Sisters around, even go so far as to aim a well-placed kick at her shins. Alanna never let her get near her books, however, and avoided her the rest of the time. She had a plan; Imurah might be a decent fighter, but she was by no stretch of the word 'good'. Alanna would bide her time until the Corus trip, then beg Thom to teach her some punches that could scare the Copper Isles girl off of picking on the first years forever. She confided her plan to no one, however; not even to Jess, Mett, or Lamia.
One seventh day, Jess, Mett, Lamia, Oletta, and another shy first year named Tremma (a merchant's daughter like Mett) were sitting comfortably around a mess hall table. Supposedly they were working, but they kept breaking up the studying with conversation.
"Corus trip is soon," said Jess brightly.
Oletta chuckled, curling a lock of red hair around her finger. "We're kept at the palace. S'not all that interesting. Except for the two market days."
"You all may occupy yourselves with the pursuits of youth," said Mett, putting on the air of an older lady. "I will be experiencing 'palace high life'. At least, that's how my father puts it," she finished, rolling her eyes while wearing a smile.
Alanna just grinned, and practiced her upper-case 'K' for penmanship. Occasionally, she'd slide it over to Tremma, who was in intermediate, to check it; the two had become friends during Gift classes.
Their calm was abruptly shattered by the heavy footsteps of another entering. By now, Alanna could easily recognize them as Imurah's. Gritting her teeth, she waited for the inevitable. Only this time, instead of a pinch, the Copper Isles girl slid a piece of paper in front of Alanna.
"My history homework. It's all down there – the requirements for the report. Just have it done for me by tomorrow." And with that, she was gone, tramping down the hallway.
Oletta, Mett, and Lamia began to snarl and made as if to get up out of their seats, but a fierce glare from Alanna had them subsiding. "I'm sure you all three would certainly be a match for her, but this is my fight."
Mettrinne sighed and slipped back in her chair, eyes turning in the ceiling as she recited dully, "We know, Alanna, we know. At least she won't be coming on the Corus trip, since that's for first and second years only. What're you going to do about the assignment?"
Alanna, by way of answer, crumpled up the paper and tossed it over her shoulder, and into the trash. The five with her pursed their lips, but said nothing, and Tremma continued to adjust the position of her hand until her 'K' was close to perfect. Soon, the conversation returned to Corus, and the dresses that could be bought, the jewels that could be seen. Alanna thought briefly of the small amount of money that the Lord of Trebond had sent her way when he had written her of the trip. Smiling briefly, she found herself looking forward to the Corus trip. And, hopefully, fighting lessons from Thom, she thought quietly, a serious frown intruding on her features, before she inwardly laughed. Fighting lessons from Thom! Seems like an oxymoron in itself. Still – Thom has to have learned something.