A/N: I own nothing in this story (so far) except the plot and various names besides Maude, Thom, and Alanna ! No, I own Alanna!!! Really, I do! Just joking.

~*Arrival at the City*~

The girl bound her copper hair fiercely in a knot at the back of her head, and streamed curses silently to herself as the rain began falling in sheets around she and her old nurse, Maude. 10-year-old Alanna of Trebond was riding to the City of the Gods to become a lady-an idea that she quite thoroughly detested. She scowled darkly: her twin brother Thom was going to the royal palace to become a knight. Alanna envied him, and he her, but their father was quite strict in this sort of situation, so they had no choice but to obey.
Maude gazed at the looming walls ahead, and spoke gently to her young charge-she knew Alanna too well to risk an outbreak of the girl's temper. "I will leave you at the main gate to the convent. Your father gave me this letter for the High Priestess-," Alanna took the document sullenly, "-and you will be assigned to a dormitory with the other noble girls."
The girl's frown deepened at the thought of living with noble maidens, twittering and preening themselves, but rode forward into the City, leaving Maude alone at the gate.

Alanna grinned half-heartedly at the hostler in the stable, then headed for the High Priestess's study in the main convent building. She walked slowly down a stone-flagged hallway, took a deep breath, and shoved open the walnut door at its end. Damn, she said to herself, why did I do this?! At a plain desk in the center of the small chamber sat a woman wearing rigid robes of midnight- blue, and a stern glare like the sun's shining rays-beautiful, but deadly if you get too much of them. Alanna clasped her hands behind her back before remembering the letter, and handed it to the woman-who was obviously the High Priestess. "Alanna of Trebond, at your service, ma'am. That's a letter from my father, who informed you of my arrival, I believe?"
The priestess nodded, and gave a shadow of a smile. "Yes, Lord Alan sent a messenger by last spring. Now, my dear, you will not call me ma'am, but Mother will do for the time being."
Alanna blanched at the thought of calling this woman "Mother," but smiled falsely as the woman continued.
"You shall sleep on the fourth floor, room number five, which you share with three other young maidens such as yourself. I have already had your trunk taken up there. Your roommates will be waiting for you, and they will fill you in on the schedule and like topics. And, please, miss, change into proper novice attire, not that.thing you're wearing, all right? Off you go then!"
Still blushing at the jab about her jerkin and leggings, Alanna ducked her head and fled into the hall.

When Alanna entered number five, she found a small but comfortable room, equipped with four each of beds, nightstands, and pitchers. Three dove-eyed girls sat expectantly on their cots. One of them, with silky chestnut hair, rose. She smiled gracefully, and clutched her hands passionately together . "Welcome, Alanna of Trebond, welcome to the Convent of Arrelle. I am Feila of Cape Opaes, and these are Hannah of Dialin-," a short, sandy-haired girl with lashes an inch long bowed her head, "-and Rosa of Tirrsmont." Rosa turned out to be a tall, willowy girl with short black hair and dark hazel eyes. The three watched as Alanna sat on the edge of her cot and looked about her surroundings. Her mouth seemed hopelessly dry. "Er-hello, thank you. Um, could you tell me about the schedule ,and meals ? Things like that?"
Hannah nodded. " Well, we have breakfast at 7 o'clock, then classes begin around an hour later. Then we take supper around 8 o'clock, and lights out is 11. We do not get lunch, except for on holidays." She smiled widely, and folded her hands in the most lady-like manner that Alanna hated.
Alanna blinked her violet eyes, and lay back on her thin coverlet. Damn, she thought again, this is completely insane. Her lids grew heavy, and she fell deeply asleep.