Disclaimer: I do not own any of Tamora Pierce's characters or settings
(well duh). Umm. Well, you all know the rest and know that the only things
that I own are the ones I made up. Okay. That was really obvious but oh
well. ( Enjoy the story!!
Authors Note: This story takes place after Kel becomes a knight. And I also wanted to let you know that I made a change in the history. All it is is that Joren never died. Okay. That's all!!
~*~
Prologue
Eleven-year-old Ashantei of Crescent Shine rode her mare, Twilight Glory, to the top of the hill that looked over her estate. More than anything she wanted to become a woman knight like Kel and Alanna, but all her mother said was, "It simply isn't done". And of course her father was out fighting in the war, so he had no say-so in if she could go or not.
Ashantei didn't think her mother was being fair. She wanted to help change Tortall into a better place, not go to some stupid convent to become a lady. Although her mother attempted to correct her behavior so she would be ahead of all the girls at the convent, her warrior and rebellious heart wouldn't let her. Her mother didn't give up.
So, finally realizing that her mother would never change her mind, she made the decision to go by herself. Her older brother by one year knew how to forge their parent's handwriting very well, so she had made him promise not to tell anyone that she was going then asked him to write a letter giving permission that she would be allowed to stay there.
She sighed as she took her last look for a long time at the place where she grew up, and the place she would always consider as home.
After sitting atop the hill for a while, she turned her mare away and headed off towards Tortall. She noticed that the sun was setting and decided to pick a place somewhere farther up the trail to set camp.
She had secretly learned how to fight hand-to-hand combat and how to use a sword, a bow and arrow, and small daggers while she had been living under her mother's unbearable rules. Although she knew how to fight well, she still felt that she had a lot to learn. And she did. She needed to follow her dream. She couldn't do that as a lady, and she couldn't do that at home.
Authors Note: This story takes place after Kel becomes a knight. And I also wanted to let you know that I made a change in the history. All it is is that Joren never died. Okay. That's all!!
~*~
Prologue
Eleven-year-old Ashantei of Crescent Shine rode her mare, Twilight Glory, to the top of the hill that looked over her estate. More than anything she wanted to become a woman knight like Kel and Alanna, but all her mother said was, "It simply isn't done". And of course her father was out fighting in the war, so he had no say-so in if she could go or not.
Ashantei didn't think her mother was being fair. She wanted to help change Tortall into a better place, not go to some stupid convent to become a lady. Although her mother attempted to correct her behavior so she would be ahead of all the girls at the convent, her warrior and rebellious heart wouldn't let her. Her mother didn't give up.
So, finally realizing that her mother would never change her mind, she made the decision to go by herself. Her older brother by one year knew how to forge their parent's handwriting very well, so she had made him promise not to tell anyone that she was going then asked him to write a letter giving permission that she would be allowed to stay there.
She sighed as she took her last look for a long time at the place where she grew up, and the place she would always consider as home.
After sitting atop the hill for a while, she turned her mare away and headed off towards Tortall. She noticed that the sun was setting and decided to pick a place somewhere farther up the trail to set camp.
She had secretly learned how to fight hand-to-hand combat and how to use a sword, a bow and arrow, and small daggers while she had been living under her mother's unbearable rules. Although she knew how to fight well, she still felt that she had a lot to learn. And she did. She needed to follow her dream. She couldn't do that as a lady, and she couldn't do that at home.