Part 1: Arrival in Corus
"Your name and fief." Lord Welliam of Marti's Hill ordered.
"Arishea of Marti's Hill." Ari said, trying not to pronounce her home fief like it was a curse word.
"Who will sponsor her?" Welliam asked sharply, surveying the older pages with a piercing gaze.
None of the older pages spoke. Most were boys, but Ari could see a few girls. Among the pages were Ari's brother Terence and his cronies. Terence was two years older than Ari and just as cruel and harsh as their other five brothers.
Finally, someone, or rather, two people spoke up.
"I will my lord." Terence said, as did a tall brown-haired girl. Terence looked at the girl with disgust on his face.
"Marti's Hill will take her." Welliam ordered.
Terence smirked satisfactorily at the girl, whose face was now blank and expressionless.
Terence motioned for Ari to follow him, which she did. As Ari passed the brown haired girl, she heard another girl's whisper.
"Are you crazy? She's from Marti's Hill! Be glad that Terence is sponsoring her."
Ari clenched her fists, but ignored the comment as she passed by. Just because most from Marti's Hill were despicable and detestable didn't mean she was.
When they had reached the outside, Terence stopped to face Ari.
"So," he said, smirking, "little Arishea has joined the ranks."
"Or at least she thinks so." A voice from behind Ari said.
Both Terence and Ari turned to see Colan of Stone Mountain, who was one of Terence's minions, and a younger boy who Ari had seen earlier.
"Wait till she begins training." Colan said sneeringly. "From what Terence says, you won't last two weeks."
Ari's face burned this time. At home, she was notorious for not finishing what she had begun. But this time she had really wanted to come. Maybe this was different. She hoped so.
Still smirking, Colan spoke again.
"Terence, this is my cousin, Cazelas of Darroch." He jerked a finger at the boy, who was standing timidly behind him. "Cazelas, this is Terence of Marti's Hill and his sister, Arishea."
After a bit more of useless talk, much of which contained words Ari had never heard Terence use at home, Terence and Colen, with Cazelas of Darroch trailing after them, left Ari to her own devices. Watching their retreating backs, Ari clenched her fists but said nothing. Typical. Leave her to figure everything out alone. Ari clenched her teeth and walked away, trying to figure out where the rooms were.
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Pronunciation Guide:
Arishea – air-eh-shay
Colan – col-inn
Cazelas – ca-zale-oss