Dia shook his hand. "I've come for you to train me, if you have the time."
"Oh sure! I don't really have anything else to do." "Dia, that's a his
majesty," Briar quipped, "We should bow and say your highness after every
sentence." "Hmph!" Dia noised at Briar.
"Why are you staring at me?" she asked Chris. Chris pointed to her stomach and asked, "Your genvee, I suppose?" "Quite right," she answered. "Yours?" she asked, pointing to his bracelet. "You know so," he countered. "Well," said Briar, stepping up to Chris, "Here." He mocked Chris with a deep bow. Chris frowned "There's really no need-" he started, but Briar interrupted, "Dia, your turn." Dia stepped up to Chris. "Please don't," he said to Dia, still a concerned look in his eyes due to her fall. "I'm fine now. Really, thanks. And you know I have to bow since you told me not to." She bowed, but not so deep as Briar's mock. When she straightened, her face was slightly red from the effort.
Briar tapped Dia's shoulder. "Your genvee is out." he said. "Oh." was Dia's reply. She pulled at her collar and when she grabbed her genvee and looked at it, she saw that it was glowing. That was not a good sign. She hurriedly tucked it into her shirt because she didn't want Chris to see it, or if he hadn't seen it and Briar did, she didn't want Briar asking any questions about it.
Chris was actually too busy examining her to do anything. Dia was tall, for a girl, about 5'11. She had light green pools for eyes, a pointed nose, level mouth, and her ears stuck out just enough for him to notice their existence. Her nose was not too large or too small, and was centered in her face. Her lips were a mix between mauve and red and shaped themselves like a heart as she talked. She had an almost flawless complexion with a few small freckles under each eye that you could only see if you were standing close or had unnaturally good sight. Her hands were medium sized, without scrapes or scars with slim fingers. She wore a silk mauve colored shirt with purple silk pantaloons, overcoat, and slippers. Her overcoat sported a pink rose embroidered on the right pocket (Thanks to Sandry). Her hair must be long, he thought, to have such a huge bun in the back. Dia had tried, and partially succeeded, to round all of her hair up and place it in a bun. It was about the size of both of his hands put together, and it was secured by green dragonfly pins that matched his outfit. A few curls had escaped confinement, four on each side. Each at least reached her hips.
Dia was also examining the prince. He's cute, she thought to herself. He's got a fair complexion, and his nose is sort of small, for a boy's. It looks good on him though. He has nice hands. Not at all wrinkly, and not huge and hard-looking. He had normal sized lips and mauvish lips. He had golden curls that reached to the middle of his cheek. His eyes were a deep, dark green.
Both of their eyes sparkled as they looked each other over, of in their own little worlds. Briar sulked in the background. He wore a long sleeved dark blue shirt and breeches. He also had, brand new, well made soft tan leather boots. His jade green eyes flashed. "Dia, we'd better get back to the carriages before they start to miss us." said Briar, breaking into the silence.
"Will you and your party come to my ball in three days time? It's for my birthday. I'd really like to get to know all of you." Chris said. "I'll ask." Dia said. ~Why?~ Briar mindspoke, ~You know that they'll say yes. Why not just tell him yes?~ ~I'm not sure that they'll say yes and it would be rude not to ask first. It would also be imposing that we don't have any guardians with us, or that we don't care or obey what they say to do.~ Dia mindspoke back. ~You're right, but I think you made all of that up just now, and at first you just wanted to leave him hanging!~ Briar replied. ~Yeah, right! I wouldn't do that.~ Dia said and broke the conversation off just before Chris said, "Dia, your cheek. Come here." She walked over to him and he cupped his hand over her slash wound. She could feel it healing. " Thank you. I'll see you later." she said happily over her shoulder, jogging off towards the crowd again, which had thinned because the royal family had passed.
Briar started walking towards Dia, but turned his back to her after only a few steps to talk to Chris. "Chris I-" Briar started, then stopped. He would let Chris find out about Dia's spitfire personality in his own. So instead he said, "I'll meet you tomorrow, an hour after midday, at your palace door. Dia says that's where we're staying anyway. Not at the door, the palace. You know what I mean." He caught up with Dia. Chris caught a part of the conversation. Dia said, "No, I did mean that we were staying at the door of the palace, really. You can actually go in if the guards let you past." Briar hit her upside the head, "It's you who have problems with guards, oh miss, 'I got cut by a dagger! Save me! Save me!'" "I did not say that!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Moving in was a cinch. Especially with Dia and her magic helping. She informed the gang that if she kept from using her power, she would get sick from having too much. All of the pets had come along with them. Evvy's cats seemed to deem Star worthy of their presence, and welcomed Star into their fold. Little Bear had developed a tendency to disappear into parts of the castle, following Galaxy. Dia said that it was puppy love and that she wouldn't tell where they were going. She would only smile and say, "It's a secret." The cats decided to have a sleepover in Evvy's room, so Evvy slept in Dia's. They stayed up pretty late. Evvy fell asleep in Dia's bed and Dia fell asleep while lounging on the couch.
In the morning, a knock on the door woke them. Evvy jumped up off of the bed warily and looked around. "Evvy, it's okay," Dia said soothingly and sleepily, "The door's locked." Dia got up and put on her robe, and opened the door. Standing there was Chris, looking nervous. "Let me in!" he said in a nervous whisper. His top lip was busted, and there was blood splattered all over his clothes. "Please!" he whispered. "Okay. Come in." She stuck her head out of the door to check that no one was in the corridor.
She turned and seated Chris on a tall stool and searched through her medicine cabinet. "Evvy," she called out, "Put on my robe! We have a visitor!" "Okay!" Evvy yelled back, "Which one?" "Whichever one you want!" Dia replied. She didn't want Chris to think that she had more stuff than him, even though she probably did.
"Ah, here it is." Dia said, pulling out a bottle of clear liquid. She also took a small square of cloth, a bandage, and some adhesive. "Okay now. Don't talk." "I won't." said Chris. "Shush!" replied Dia. She dabbed the liquid onto Chris's upper lip. She was surprised that he didn't flinch. This stuff stung. Then she remembered something that Daja had told her on the way there when Briar had decided to walk in the rain without a coat or hood, "Boys," she had said, "Forever trying to be tough."
Evvy came out in a long linen robe that she had to hold up to keep from stepping on. "What are you doing?" she asked when she saw Dia and Chris. "I'm cleaning up our friend here." Dia said. "Our friend?" asked Evvy, "He ain't my friend, 'cause I don't even know who he is." Dia introduced them, while trying hard not to laugh. The look on Evvy's face was enough to stop her. Evvy's face was a mixture of fear and confusion. "A-a prince?" Evvy stuttered nervously, thinking of Zenadia doa Attaneh. "Yes, Evvy. I know about you and Briar's adventure in Chammur. I can promise that Chris isn't like that. Chris, what were you doing to get so badly injured? And why?" Dia asked. "Well, I suppose I could tell you. But only if you can keep a secret." Chris looked at the two, who nodded. Then he said, "I tripped." "Liar!" announced Evvy, while smiling at Chris, who was also smiling. Dia sat straight-faced and solemn, her eyes hard. Chris had started laughing and rocking back and forth. Evvy just kept smiling, although, her eyes had diverted from Chris to the window. Dia stared hard at Chris, trying to draw his attention.
He finally turned to Dia, saw the warning look on her face, and stopped rocking and laughing at once. "Dia, what's wrong?" he asked. Dia just stared at him for a moment more before stating coldly, "It wasn't really that funny."
Dia looked out of the window at the dark-lilac colored sky. "Evvy, it's still really early," Dia said, glaring at Chris, "You can go back to bed if you want." "I think I will," Evvy replied, still looking out of the window. "You should have been up now anyway, Dia. Plus, I'm your teacher really, and your elder. 'Obey you elders, little child'," Chris said, smirking. Dia stood and walked towards the washroom. Chris resisted the urge to pull Dia around the waist into his lap. He quickly banished the thought. "Obey me, 'cause I'm your elder," he said again, "Get up when I say. Around this time everyday should be nice." Dia just kept walking and mumbled, "Hmph! Yeah right, jerk." Chris heard and remarked softly, not wanting Dia to hear, "It must be that time of the month, then." Evvy, who was sitting next to him, snorted, rose, and walked regally away, feigning offense at the remark. Evvy went into the bedroom and slammed the door closed. The noise prompted Dia to poke her head out of the washroom door. She glared at Chris once more, shut the door, and began to bathe. 'This should be interesting,' Chris decided, as he relaxed and drifted of to sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dia shook Chris's shoulder gently. He had been asleep since she got out of her dressing room. She admitted to herself that she felt much better after bathing, much more awake, and like she could tolerate more (of Chris). She came to he senses and quickly connected a mind-link with him. Then she pinched his nose with her fingernails. He yelled, and then pushed her off of him. He threw a fireball at her. She froze it. She felt something hot graze her cheek. She threw a small lightning bolt at him, which he caught. Dia watched it seem to melt into his hand, and quickly gave him an uppercut in the stomach. He lurched forward. "Al-alright," he sputtered, "I guess I deserved that."
Dia rose up and offered her hand to Chris. He accepted it and she pulled him up. ~Dia, what's wrong? ~ a voice mindspoke, ~Calm down. ~ Dia's eyes widened. ~Sandry? Where are you? ~ Sandry replied, ~Outside your door. When I knocked, I heard a ruckus. Open up. ~ Dia turned and opened the door to see Sandry in silk pajamas and robe. "Good morning," she said to Dia and Chris cheerily, "What are you doing? What happened? Where's Evvy?" "Chris came to escort me to wherever we're training. We just had a little. . . 'fight'-" "If that's what you want to call it." "Shut up, Chris. Evvy's asleep." Dia answered.
"Yes. Hello, Lady Sandrilene." Chris said politely. "Just Sandry, please." Sandry sighed. "Dia, I am so bored. May I come with you all and watch?" "Sure! I mean," she looked imposingly at Chris, "If my teacher permits." "Yes, of course Lady Sandril- I'm sorry, of course, Sandry." Chris said. "Great," Sandry squealed. "Uh, Sandry, before you get too excited, you might want to get dressed." "Oh." Said Sandry, blushing, "I suppose so." "We'll wait." Dia said. "Shouldn't you ask Chris first?" "Nope, I don't talk to people who consort with air." Dia responded, smiling lightly. "How do I consort with air?" "You tell me." Sandry smiled and left the room. "You'll pay for that." Chris said, smiling knowingly. Dia wore 'confused' like a dog, and followed Chris out of her room.
"First, we have to go up to my room to get supplies." Chris said. "Christopher! My dearest cousin, I see you've recovered from your training his morning." The speaker was a tall boy. His dark red hair was slicked back with a thick gel. He had shocking ice blue eyes, fair skin, high chiseled cheekbones, and was clothed in palace mages' uniform robes of silver and red. He looked about 19-years-old." And who is this beautiful young lady flower who graces your unworthy presence?" He bowed down low, took Dia's hand, and kissed it. "This is Lady Dia," Chris said, and hurriedly added, "We were just going. Come Dia." They walked up three flights of stairs before Dia said, "So you get training too?" "No," he said, his voice stern, "It's not training, it's hazing. He's just a big bully!" he finished, angrily shouting. He turned to look at Dia, whose face wore a shocked expression. "Sorry, about. . . that. He's my cousin. His name is Lord Brandon. He's the castle's chief defense mage. Even though he's only a year older than me, he feel compelled to push me around. "Is that what happened to your lip and clothes this morning?" Dia inquired. "You ask too many questions. Stop being so nosy." He said. "Yeah, stop being so nosy!" Sandry shouted from down the hall. "You copied my outfit!" Dia shouted. Sandry had put on a crisp white cotton shirt, a forest green shirt, and black dress boots. Dia had on the same, except for the fact that she had substituted the skirt for pants, and the dress boots for well-worn, knee- lengthy black boots.
They entered Chris's room. "Um, Chris, it looks like you have some pretty good stuff in here. Too bad your room's a mess!" Dia laughed and continued, "What happened to your bed? Do you sleep wild or what? I mean, you could have a least made up your bed! You didn't have to rush and wake me up and annoy me, you could've spent 5 minutes to straighten up your room!" Dia roared with laughter. Sandry couldn't help but to go into a fit of giggles, which she tried to disguise and muffle unsuccessfully with her hand clapped over her mouth. Chris smiled at Dia, "I wasn't coming to see you. I was trying to escape Lord Brandon." "Who?" asked Sandry, face alight with confusion. Chris explained, interruptions from Dia. Dia said, "Well ,I think he's nice" about six times.
"He sounds alright from Dia's point of view," Sandry concluded openly, "And he sounds terrible from Chris's. I guess I'll just have to meet him." Dia smiled and took in her surroundings for a second time. An open journal lay on top of a bookshelf which was the only neat thing in the room. Dia's fingers twitched as she looked at the diary. "Hey Sandry look! It's written in a lady's hand," she said, picking up the diary. She began to read it aloud,
"Life is forever untamed
Unruled, with those forever insane
Sorrows come, then some go
Happiness is a plague.
Rulers and monarchs govern my every breath
Taking everything that comes my way to the winds, good and bad
My heart distresses to see my children trampled under the feet of our people
Love grows bigger inside my heart, which seems to move farther away
How many times have I gone to my window and seen families of birds,
Catching their hopes on the roofs of distress
Then I wonder why I can't do the same
I look at my tired back and see my wings
Crushed under all f the burdens I carried day by day
How cruel fate has been to me!
Steering my life to an unwanted future
I look around for help and see no one.
My heart has retired; its steady glow has disappeared.
I fear I have been a burden to nature."
"Why are you staring at me?" she asked Chris. Chris pointed to her stomach and asked, "Your genvee, I suppose?" "Quite right," she answered. "Yours?" she asked, pointing to his bracelet. "You know so," he countered. "Well," said Briar, stepping up to Chris, "Here." He mocked Chris with a deep bow. Chris frowned "There's really no need-" he started, but Briar interrupted, "Dia, your turn." Dia stepped up to Chris. "Please don't," he said to Dia, still a concerned look in his eyes due to her fall. "I'm fine now. Really, thanks. And you know I have to bow since you told me not to." She bowed, but not so deep as Briar's mock. When she straightened, her face was slightly red from the effort.
Briar tapped Dia's shoulder. "Your genvee is out." he said. "Oh." was Dia's reply. She pulled at her collar and when she grabbed her genvee and looked at it, she saw that it was glowing. That was not a good sign. She hurriedly tucked it into her shirt because she didn't want Chris to see it, or if he hadn't seen it and Briar did, she didn't want Briar asking any questions about it.
Chris was actually too busy examining her to do anything. Dia was tall, for a girl, about 5'11. She had light green pools for eyes, a pointed nose, level mouth, and her ears stuck out just enough for him to notice their existence. Her nose was not too large or too small, and was centered in her face. Her lips were a mix between mauve and red and shaped themselves like a heart as she talked. She had an almost flawless complexion with a few small freckles under each eye that you could only see if you were standing close or had unnaturally good sight. Her hands were medium sized, without scrapes or scars with slim fingers. She wore a silk mauve colored shirt with purple silk pantaloons, overcoat, and slippers. Her overcoat sported a pink rose embroidered on the right pocket (Thanks to Sandry). Her hair must be long, he thought, to have such a huge bun in the back. Dia had tried, and partially succeeded, to round all of her hair up and place it in a bun. It was about the size of both of his hands put together, and it was secured by green dragonfly pins that matched his outfit. A few curls had escaped confinement, four on each side. Each at least reached her hips.
Dia was also examining the prince. He's cute, she thought to herself. He's got a fair complexion, and his nose is sort of small, for a boy's. It looks good on him though. He has nice hands. Not at all wrinkly, and not huge and hard-looking. He had normal sized lips and mauvish lips. He had golden curls that reached to the middle of his cheek. His eyes were a deep, dark green.
Both of their eyes sparkled as they looked each other over, of in their own little worlds. Briar sulked in the background. He wore a long sleeved dark blue shirt and breeches. He also had, brand new, well made soft tan leather boots. His jade green eyes flashed. "Dia, we'd better get back to the carriages before they start to miss us." said Briar, breaking into the silence.
"Will you and your party come to my ball in three days time? It's for my birthday. I'd really like to get to know all of you." Chris said. "I'll ask." Dia said. ~Why?~ Briar mindspoke, ~You know that they'll say yes. Why not just tell him yes?~ ~I'm not sure that they'll say yes and it would be rude not to ask first. It would also be imposing that we don't have any guardians with us, or that we don't care or obey what they say to do.~ Dia mindspoke back. ~You're right, but I think you made all of that up just now, and at first you just wanted to leave him hanging!~ Briar replied. ~Yeah, right! I wouldn't do that.~ Dia said and broke the conversation off just before Chris said, "Dia, your cheek. Come here." She walked over to him and he cupped his hand over her slash wound. She could feel it healing. " Thank you. I'll see you later." she said happily over her shoulder, jogging off towards the crowd again, which had thinned because the royal family had passed.
Briar started walking towards Dia, but turned his back to her after only a few steps to talk to Chris. "Chris I-" Briar started, then stopped. He would let Chris find out about Dia's spitfire personality in his own. So instead he said, "I'll meet you tomorrow, an hour after midday, at your palace door. Dia says that's where we're staying anyway. Not at the door, the palace. You know what I mean." He caught up with Dia. Chris caught a part of the conversation. Dia said, "No, I did mean that we were staying at the door of the palace, really. You can actually go in if the guards let you past." Briar hit her upside the head, "It's you who have problems with guards, oh miss, 'I got cut by a dagger! Save me! Save me!'" "I did not say that!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Moving in was a cinch. Especially with Dia and her magic helping. She informed the gang that if she kept from using her power, she would get sick from having too much. All of the pets had come along with them. Evvy's cats seemed to deem Star worthy of their presence, and welcomed Star into their fold. Little Bear had developed a tendency to disappear into parts of the castle, following Galaxy. Dia said that it was puppy love and that she wouldn't tell where they were going. She would only smile and say, "It's a secret." The cats decided to have a sleepover in Evvy's room, so Evvy slept in Dia's. They stayed up pretty late. Evvy fell asleep in Dia's bed and Dia fell asleep while lounging on the couch.
In the morning, a knock on the door woke them. Evvy jumped up off of the bed warily and looked around. "Evvy, it's okay," Dia said soothingly and sleepily, "The door's locked." Dia got up and put on her robe, and opened the door. Standing there was Chris, looking nervous. "Let me in!" he said in a nervous whisper. His top lip was busted, and there was blood splattered all over his clothes. "Please!" he whispered. "Okay. Come in." She stuck her head out of the door to check that no one was in the corridor.
She turned and seated Chris on a tall stool and searched through her medicine cabinet. "Evvy," she called out, "Put on my robe! We have a visitor!" "Okay!" Evvy yelled back, "Which one?" "Whichever one you want!" Dia replied. She didn't want Chris to think that she had more stuff than him, even though she probably did.
"Ah, here it is." Dia said, pulling out a bottle of clear liquid. She also took a small square of cloth, a bandage, and some adhesive. "Okay now. Don't talk." "I won't." said Chris. "Shush!" replied Dia. She dabbed the liquid onto Chris's upper lip. She was surprised that he didn't flinch. This stuff stung. Then she remembered something that Daja had told her on the way there when Briar had decided to walk in the rain without a coat or hood, "Boys," she had said, "Forever trying to be tough."
Evvy came out in a long linen robe that she had to hold up to keep from stepping on. "What are you doing?" she asked when she saw Dia and Chris. "I'm cleaning up our friend here." Dia said. "Our friend?" asked Evvy, "He ain't my friend, 'cause I don't even know who he is." Dia introduced them, while trying hard not to laugh. The look on Evvy's face was enough to stop her. Evvy's face was a mixture of fear and confusion. "A-a prince?" Evvy stuttered nervously, thinking of Zenadia doa Attaneh. "Yes, Evvy. I know about you and Briar's adventure in Chammur. I can promise that Chris isn't like that. Chris, what were you doing to get so badly injured? And why?" Dia asked. "Well, I suppose I could tell you. But only if you can keep a secret." Chris looked at the two, who nodded. Then he said, "I tripped." "Liar!" announced Evvy, while smiling at Chris, who was also smiling. Dia sat straight-faced and solemn, her eyes hard. Chris had started laughing and rocking back and forth. Evvy just kept smiling, although, her eyes had diverted from Chris to the window. Dia stared hard at Chris, trying to draw his attention.
He finally turned to Dia, saw the warning look on her face, and stopped rocking and laughing at once. "Dia, what's wrong?" he asked. Dia just stared at him for a moment more before stating coldly, "It wasn't really that funny."
Dia looked out of the window at the dark-lilac colored sky. "Evvy, it's still really early," Dia said, glaring at Chris, "You can go back to bed if you want." "I think I will," Evvy replied, still looking out of the window. "You should have been up now anyway, Dia. Plus, I'm your teacher really, and your elder. 'Obey you elders, little child'," Chris said, smirking. Dia stood and walked towards the washroom. Chris resisted the urge to pull Dia around the waist into his lap. He quickly banished the thought. "Obey me, 'cause I'm your elder," he said again, "Get up when I say. Around this time everyday should be nice." Dia just kept walking and mumbled, "Hmph! Yeah right, jerk." Chris heard and remarked softly, not wanting Dia to hear, "It must be that time of the month, then." Evvy, who was sitting next to him, snorted, rose, and walked regally away, feigning offense at the remark. Evvy went into the bedroom and slammed the door closed. The noise prompted Dia to poke her head out of the washroom door. She glared at Chris once more, shut the door, and began to bathe. 'This should be interesting,' Chris decided, as he relaxed and drifted of to sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dia shook Chris's shoulder gently. He had been asleep since she got out of her dressing room. She admitted to herself that she felt much better after bathing, much more awake, and like she could tolerate more (of Chris). She came to he senses and quickly connected a mind-link with him. Then she pinched his nose with her fingernails. He yelled, and then pushed her off of him. He threw a fireball at her. She froze it. She felt something hot graze her cheek. She threw a small lightning bolt at him, which he caught. Dia watched it seem to melt into his hand, and quickly gave him an uppercut in the stomach. He lurched forward. "Al-alright," he sputtered, "I guess I deserved that."
Dia rose up and offered her hand to Chris. He accepted it and she pulled him up. ~Dia, what's wrong? ~ a voice mindspoke, ~Calm down. ~ Dia's eyes widened. ~Sandry? Where are you? ~ Sandry replied, ~Outside your door. When I knocked, I heard a ruckus. Open up. ~ Dia turned and opened the door to see Sandry in silk pajamas and robe. "Good morning," she said to Dia and Chris cheerily, "What are you doing? What happened? Where's Evvy?" "Chris came to escort me to wherever we're training. We just had a little. . . 'fight'-" "If that's what you want to call it." "Shut up, Chris. Evvy's asleep." Dia answered.
"Yes. Hello, Lady Sandrilene." Chris said politely. "Just Sandry, please." Sandry sighed. "Dia, I am so bored. May I come with you all and watch?" "Sure! I mean," she looked imposingly at Chris, "If my teacher permits." "Yes, of course Lady Sandril- I'm sorry, of course, Sandry." Chris said. "Great," Sandry squealed. "Uh, Sandry, before you get too excited, you might want to get dressed." "Oh." Said Sandry, blushing, "I suppose so." "We'll wait." Dia said. "Shouldn't you ask Chris first?" "Nope, I don't talk to people who consort with air." Dia responded, smiling lightly. "How do I consort with air?" "You tell me." Sandry smiled and left the room. "You'll pay for that." Chris said, smiling knowingly. Dia wore 'confused' like a dog, and followed Chris out of her room.
"First, we have to go up to my room to get supplies." Chris said. "Christopher! My dearest cousin, I see you've recovered from your training his morning." The speaker was a tall boy. His dark red hair was slicked back with a thick gel. He had shocking ice blue eyes, fair skin, high chiseled cheekbones, and was clothed in palace mages' uniform robes of silver and red. He looked about 19-years-old." And who is this beautiful young lady flower who graces your unworthy presence?" He bowed down low, took Dia's hand, and kissed it. "This is Lady Dia," Chris said, and hurriedly added, "We were just going. Come Dia." They walked up three flights of stairs before Dia said, "So you get training too?" "No," he said, his voice stern, "It's not training, it's hazing. He's just a big bully!" he finished, angrily shouting. He turned to look at Dia, whose face wore a shocked expression. "Sorry, about. . . that. He's my cousin. His name is Lord Brandon. He's the castle's chief defense mage. Even though he's only a year older than me, he feel compelled to push me around. "Is that what happened to your lip and clothes this morning?" Dia inquired. "You ask too many questions. Stop being so nosy." He said. "Yeah, stop being so nosy!" Sandry shouted from down the hall. "You copied my outfit!" Dia shouted. Sandry had put on a crisp white cotton shirt, a forest green shirt, and black dress boots. Dia had on the same, except for the fact that she had substituted the skirt for pants, and the dress boots for well-worn, knee- lengthy black boots.
They entered Chris's room. "Um, Chris, it looks like you have some pretty good stuff in here. Too bad your room's a mess!" Dia laughed and continued, "What happened to your bed? Do you sleep wild or what? I mean, you could have a least made up your bed! You didn't have to rush and wake me up and annoy me, you could've spent 5 minutes to straighten up your room!" Dia roared with laughter. Sandry couldn't help but to go into a fit of giggles, which she tried to disguise and muffle unsuccessfully with her hand clapped over her mouth. Chris smiled at Dia, "I wasn't coming to see you. I was trying to escape Lord Brandon." "Who?" asked Sandry, face alight with confusion. Chris explained, interruptions from Dia. Dia said, "Well ,I think he's nice" about six times.
"He sounds alright from Dia's point of view," Sandry concluded openly, "And he sounds terrible from Chris's. I guess I'll just have to meet him." Dia smiled and took in her surroundings for a second time. An open journal lay on top of a bookshelf which was the only neat thing in the room. Dia's fingers twitched as she looked at the diary. "Hey Sandry look! It's written in a lady's hand," she said, picking up the diary. She began to read it aloud,
"Life is forever untamed
Unruled, with those forever insane
Sorrows come, then some go
Happiness is a plague.
Rulers and monarchs govern my every breath
Taking everything that comes my way to the winds, good and bad
My heart distresses to see my children trampled under the feet of our people
Love grows bigger inside my heart, which seems to move farther away
How many times have I gone to my window and seen families of birds,
Catching their hopes on the roofs of distress
Then I wonder why I can't do the same
I look at my tired back and see my wings
Crushed under all f the burdens I carried day by day
How cruel fate has been to me!
Steering my life to an unwanted future
I look around for help and see no one.
My heart has retired; its steady glow has disappeared.
I fear I have been a burden to nature."