"You're late," Amalia commented.

Kel unlocked her room scowling. "You try getting away from those guys!"

Kel had been hurrying away from dinner for the past couple nights, excusing herself with a weak explanation about extra practice or the need to study alone. The boys had become curious to say the least and tried to pry her secret out of her every time they saw her despite her attempts to change the subject and glares.

"It doesn't really matter," Amalia assured her. "Want to just get to work?"

"I suppose," Kel assented, not sounding overly enthused.

"Okay, so we've already worked on pretty much everything you need for the ball. You have your dress and face paint. You don't really need any coaching on etiquette since for the most part you learn that being a page. So, lastly, you're going to need an escort."

Kel looked at Amalia oddly. "What? No I don't.I'm a page, remember? I don't need an escort because I have to serve."

"Did I leave that part out? This ball is fairly special in that leaders from all over the lands are coming and the King and Queen thought it best not to use pages to serve for this particular ball."

"Oh.I see...What is the ball for anyway?"

"To tell you the truth, I don't really know. Queen Thayet was rambling on about peace and unity in the land while I was doing her hair this morning and I just kind of nodded along. Politics aren't really my thing. Anyway, what does it matter? So, yes, you'll need an escort to the ball."

"Well, who do you propose I ask? All the pages are going evidently, and I don't know anyone that isn't from the castle, really."

"Who said all the pages are going? Did I say that?" Amalia asked, with the mischievious twinkle in her eye that Kel had come to dread.

"Well...no, I just assumed that since I was going that..."

"I asked Queen Thayet if you could attend, she didn't seem to mind after I explained."

"Explained what?"

"That now that you are 13, you have come to an age suitable for marriage."

"But, you're 14 and aren't married."

Amalia shrugged. "Not everyone has to be. My father and brother just happen to be particular. Anyway, that's beside the point. So, I persuaded her that since you are a girl you should be allowed to come since you don't have much experience in any aspect of the average girl's life."

"But, I thought I wasn't allowed any special treatment."

"Well, you went through probation because you were a girl and now you will go to the ball because you are a girl. Makes sense to me."

"I don't know about this. Balls aren't exactly my preferred recreational activity..."

"Come on, you've learned so much."

"Well, who are you going to go with?"

"I don't know. I hadn't actually thought of it. I don't know if ladies in waiting are supposed to bring escorts."

"Then why do I have to?"

"Because, it isn't suitable for a woman to go in unaccompanied."

"But I'm a knight in training!"

"Well, for that night you will be a woman. Now, can't you think of anyone you would like to ask?"

"No," Kel stated, stubbornly. "Infact, I don't want to go."

"Too late for that, the Queen has already invited you. Protocol insists that you accept. Look, what if I found you an escort?"

"Like who?"

"Joren?" Amalia asked, feigning innocence.

Kel bestowed her with the iciest glare she had ever given.

"I'm just kidding! What about my dear old brother?"

"Trent?"

"That's the only brother I'm aware of."

"I don't know...I've never really talked to him..."

"Well, I can vouch for his character. Besides, you guys would be great.you'd both sit in silence all night and enjoy it. Please, wont you? Besides you wont have to worry about acting like a court lady all the time because my brother would prefer you to act how you usually do."

"I still don't know..."

"Please? It will give you a chance to try something new with no pressure since it's just my brother."

Kel though about what Amalia was offering her. A chance to be accepted for all of herself; a knight and a woman. "How do I really know he will, though" Kel pondered. "He could be different around Amalia than women he's escorting. I am tired of just being thought of as a boy, though. No one here seems to even realize that I'm a girl anymore. I might as well give it a try and just hope that Trent is as nice as Amalia says."

"All right, I'll do it," Kel announced.

"Really? Amalia questioned, seeming shocked. "I mean, great! I'll tell Trent about it."

"So what am I supposed to do?"

"Nothing, until the day of the ball, I suppose. I'll be really busy helping Queen Thayet make preparations for this. Not exactly my ideal task, but it will suffice. Queen Thayet wants everything to be traditional and what not, so it will be a grand affair. So, I probably wont be able to see you until the day of the ball. I'll sneak away sometime so that I can help you get ready."

"Okay, but..." Kel started, but the last bell rang.

"Darn, I better get going," Amalia explained, hurriedly. "I'm always late and one of these times I'll get in trouble for it. The other ladies are likely to think me a whore for always coming in so late and out of sorts from running."

Kel started to say goodbye, but Amalia was out the door before she could. So, she sat down on her bed and was left to think about what she had gotten herself into.