Chapter 3.
Kally kept pushing through the crowds, not even stopping to apologise to the people she almost knocked over in her hurry. Where had that boy gone? After about five minutes of searching blindly for the boy she reached the end of the crowds and entered a small clearing where there were very few people but no sign of the boy. She swore in a very unladylike fashion. She had been pulling Majesta behind her and she now led her over to the most respectable looking inn she could see. She was about to go through the front door but out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of white.
She turned, the Shang novice was turning, about to go away. "Wait!" she called out. The boy spun around to face her. "I...um...are you a Shang novice?" she asked. He gave a jerky, half bow and nodded. "I am! And who's asking?" "I'm uh...I'm" Kally mentally kicked herself; she'd forgotten to think of a name to call herself! Suddenly, on the spur of the moment, she thought of one of her middle names, Sadira, meaning star in some language or other. "I'm Sadira, my name's Sadira." She said.
She expected the boy to give her his name in return but instead he just said, "And what do you want with me Sadira?" "I...I was just wondering, well...you see...the thing is I... um..." She took a deep breath and said slowly, "I want to become a Shang novice." She stood there, waiting anxiously to see what the boy would say. His face showed no expression and he gave no sign of emotion.
Finally, he shook his head and said, "No, it wouldn't work." And turned to walk away. Kally stood frozen for a moment but then chased after the boy again. She grabbed his shoulder and spun him around, hard. "Why not?" she demanded, "Why wouldn't it work? What wouldn't work?" She stood there with one hand on her hip and the other waving about in the air for emphasis. She repeated the questions, her dark eyes flashing dangerously.
"You're too old!" he said simply and started to walk away again but Kally was ready for him this time and grabbed his arm, forcing him to stay where he was. "What do you mean?" she said innocently. She had expected this and so had taken a great deal of care with her appearance and character. She knew that Shang warriors only took young children on as novices, from about four years old to seven at the eldest. Kally was short and had managed to make herself look younger than her thirteen years. She now had rosier cheeks and she had been born with dimples, which added to her 'cuteness'! She told herself she could easily pass for seven.
The boy shook his head in amusement. "Look, I'm sorry but your cute child's lisp and all the face paint in the world won't fool me. You may think you look like you are seven or eight years old but it's easy to tell that you are at least twelve years old. Although, you did do a good job with the face paint!"
"Look, could you just give me a chance! I know I'd do well as a Shang novice and I...I just want a chance. Please!" she finished helplessly. The boy studied her thoughtfully, then beckoned with a finger for her to follow and turned and walked again into the crowd. Kally followed, dragging Majesta along next to her. She caught up with the boy and fell into step with him. As they walked, the boy talked to her.
"My name's Kai, I'm fourteen, I've been a Shang novice for about two months now and let me tell you, this is extremely hard work, not for the weak of heart or determination." He started but Kally interrupted. "Two months?! But if you're fourteen, how is it possible that you've only been a novice for two months?" she said incredulously.
"I was wondering if you'd notice that. You see I was already experienced in the art of Shang fighting. I had been doing it on and off since I was five so I had experienced quite a bit, not much but a bit. There was a Shang master in my father's...house who taught me some. The Shang masters took me in as an exception and as a favour to my father."
"But...Well...I've had some experience too!" Kally spluttered in protest. "Don't you think they might take me in as an exception too?" she pleaded. Kai looked her up and down and said, "It's doubtful, but stranger things have happened. I'm not saying you should get your hopes up though so don't blame me if they don't accept you."
Nevertheless, Kally started to see a glimmer of hope shine through the darkness of her despair. There were other problems too, she knew. One problem was her gift. She had really strong healing magic and Shang warriors wouldn't accept people with the gift. She knew she wouldn't be able to disguise it though, they would have magic-seers but she hoped she'd find a way to get past all that. In other words, she'd deal with that problem later. Kai looked at her nonetheless hopeful face, shook his head in despair and expertly mounted Majesta. When Kally looked at him in surprise he said, "It's quicker this way and I want to get out of the town. I don't um, like having so many people around." He took Kally's hand and she pulled herself up in front of him in the saddle with great difficulty as she was trying to avoid kicking him in the face...it didn't work.
"Ow! Was that absolutely necessary?" he asked in a muffled voice, (His hand was covering his nose in protection from further accidents) "Sorry!" Kally replied, wincing as she imagined his pain. "Don't worry" he said, "Just try not to do it again okay? I get enough injuries at training! And the Shang masters won't let us get a healer unless it is a matter of life or death!"
Kally gulped, the Shang way of life sounded harder to her than she'd imagined. But she stubbornly set her jaw, she had chosen this path and she was going to follow it. She wondered if she should tell Kai about her gift; he seemed like he could be trusted. She was so deep in thought that she barely even noticed when Majesta started moving; cantering down the street creating a path through the sea of people gave them a wide berth for fear of being trampled by the mare. Eventually Kally decided to keep the secret of her gift to herself for a while. She didn't know Kai very well and she was worried that if she told him about her gift, he might think her whole idea of being a Shang novice was hopeless and would send her away.
When Kally concentrated on her surroundings she realised that they were cantering through the countryside, there were green fields all around her and they had left the cacophony of the city behind them. A few minutes later Kai, who had his arms wrapped around Kally's waist and was holding the reins at the same time, slowed Majesta to a walk.
"The Shang headquarters are just outside the city, we need constant provisions and we don't like to be too far away from other people." Kai explained. He turned right and Majesta started walking up a steep hill. As they got further up and started to be able to see over the top of the hill, Kally saw a big, plain white building a little further away. The hill wasn't so steep on the other side so Kai nudged Majesta to a trot. They arrived at the bottom of the hill within minutes and reached flat ground.
The ground was obviously the front lawn of the house and directly in front of them was a large, very long path leading up to the front of the house. Majesta cantered down it until they reached the top where it broke off and went in two directions, creating a large circle around the house. Kai turned Majesta right and she trotted up the path leading to the back of the house.
Around the back of the house was another large lawn but to either side of it were large practice courts. Built on to the back of the house were large stables where Kai jumped off Majesta, gave his hand to Kally to help her do the same. He took the reins and led Majesta to an empty stable. He loosened the girth and promised Kally that he would come and untack her in a few minutes, just as soon as he had arranged for the head Shang master to speak to her.
"Now, for future reference, you are never to use the front door ok? The front door is only for visitors and the Shang masters. You get in loads of trouble if you use it. All Shang novices have to use this door." He said, pulling open the oak back door. Inside the large house was as plain as outside it, white walls everywhere and minimum amount of furniture. Kai guided Kally into one of the long corridors, stopping at a large wooden door with 'Shang Unicorn' written on a brass plaque nailed on the door.
"Now listen." Said Kai, turning to face Kally with a serious look on his face. "You might already know this but the highest ranking Shang warriors are named after mythical creatures. Right now, the highest ranking warriors are the Shang Unicorn and the Shang Griffin. A few years back Alanna the Lioness was in the company of the Shang Dragon. The title of Dragon has always been given to the most powerful Shang warrior in the world and this one was apparently the best Shang warrior ever known to man. He died at King Jonathan's coronation ceremony, protecting the king. He took seven arrows to the chest before he fell. He saved the king's life."
Kally nodded, she had heard the story before from her father and from the Lioness. Also, one of her younger brothers was named for the Shang Dragon, Prince Liam. "Anyway, the Unicorn is the head of this school. Her name is Kylaia al Jmaa, but address her as Lady Unicorn or just Unicorn...actually, just let me do the talking, it will be easier that way. Okay, are you ready?" he asked. Kally nodded.
Kai raised his fist and knocked on the door. A voice called out 'enter!' Kai opened the door and walked in. Kally composed herself, ignoring her nerves, took a deep breath and followed him.
******************* Okay, so what do you think? I really want reviews 'cause I need to know how I'm doing on this fanfic. So please, please, Please review! Even if it's only a word, I'll really appreciate it.
*******************
Kally kept pushing through the crowds, not even stopping to apologise to the people she almost knocked over in her hurry. Where had that boy gone? After about five minutes of searching blindly for the boy she reached the end of the crowds and entered a small clearing where there were very few people but no sign of the boy. She swore in a very unladylike fashion. She had been pulling Majesta behind her and she now led her over to the most respectable looking inn she could see. She was about to go through the front door but out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of white.
She turned, the Shang novice was turning, about to go away. "Wait!" she called out. The boy spun around to face her. "I...um...are you a Shang novice?" she asked. He gave a jerky, half bow and nodded. "I am! And who's asking?" "I'm uh...I'm" Kally mentally kicked herself; she'd forgotten to think of a name to call herself! Suddenly, on the spur of the moment, she thought of one of her middle names, Sadira, meaning star in some language or other. "I'm Sadira, my name's Sadira." She said.
She expected the boy to give her his name in return but instead he just said, "And what do you want with me Sadira?" "I...I was just wondering, well...you see...the thing is I... um..." She took a deep breath and said slowly, "I want to become a Shang novice." She stood there, waiting anxiously to see what the boy would say. His face showed no expression and he gave no sign of emotion.
Finally, he shook his head and said, "No, it wouldn't work." And turned to walk away. Kally stood frozen for a moment but then chased after the boy again. She grabbed his shoulder and spun him around, hard. "Why not?" she demanded, "Why wouldn't it work? What wouldn't work?" She stood there with one hand on her hip and the other waving about in the air for emphasis. She repeated the questions, her dark eyes flashing dangerously.
"You're too old!" he said simply and started to walk away again but Kally was ready for him this time and grabbed his arm, forcing him to stay where he was. "What do you mean?" she said innocently. She had expected this and so had taken a great deal of care with her appearance and character. She knew that Shang warriors only took young children on as novices, from about four years old to seven at the eldest. Kally was short and had managed to make herself look younger than her thirteen years. She now had rosier cheeks and she had been born with dimples, which added to her 'cuteness'! She told herself she could easily pass for seven.
The boy shook his head in amusement. "Look, I'm sorry but your cute child's lisp and all the face paint in the world won't fool me. You may think you look like you are seven or eight years old but it's easy to tell that you are at least twelve years old. Although, you did do a good job with the face paint!"
"Look, could you just give me a chance! I know I'd do well as a Shang novice and I...I just want a chance. Please!" she finished helplessly. The boy studied her thoughtfully, then beckoned with a finger for her to follow and turned and walked again into the crowd. Kally followed, dragging Majesta along next to her. She caught up with the boy and fell into step with him. As they walked, the boy talked to her.
"My name's Kai, I'm fourteen, I've been a Shang novice for about two months now and let me tell you, this is extremely hard work, not for the weak of heart or determination." He started but Kally interrupted. "Two months?! But if you're fourteen, how is it possible that you've only been a novice for two months?" she said incredulously.
"I was wondering if you'd notice that. You see I was already experienced in the art of Shang fighting. I had been doing it on and off since I was five so I had experienced quite a bit, not much but a bit. There was a Shang master in my father's...house who taught me some. The Shang masters took me in as an exception and as a favour to my father."
"But...Well...I've had some experience too!" Kally spluttered in protest. "Don't you think they might take me in as an exception too?" she pleaded. Kai looked her up and down and said, "It's doubtful, but stranger things have happened. I'm not saying you should get your hopes up though so don't blame me if they don't accept you."
Nevertheless, Kally started to see a glimmer of hope shine through the darkness of her despair. There were other problems too, she knew. One problem was her gift. She had really strong healing magic and Shang warriors wouldn't accept people with the gift. She knew she wouldn't be able to disguise it though, they would have magic-seers but she hoped she'd find a way to get past all that. In other words, she'd deal with that problem later. Kai looked at her nonetheless hopeful face, shook his head in despair and expertly mounted Majesta. When Kally looked at him in surprise he said, "It's quicker this way and I want to get out of the town. I don't um, like having so many people around." He took Kally's hand and she pulled herself up in front of him in the saddle with great difficulty as she was trying to avoid kicking him in the face...it didn't work.
"Ow! Was that absolutely necessary?" he asked in a muffled voice, (His hand was covering his nose in protection from further accidents) "Sorry!" Kally replied, wincing as she imagined his pain. "Don't worry" he said, "Just try not to do it again okay? I get enough injuries at training! And the Shang masters won't let us get a healer unless it is a matter of life or death!"
Kally gulped, the Shang way of life sounded harder to her than she'd imagined. But she stubbornly set her jaw, she had chosen this path and she was going to follow it. She wondered if she should tell Kai about her gift; he seemed like he could be trusted. She was so deep in thought that she barely even noticed when Majesta started moving; cantering down the street creating a path through the sea of people gave them a wide berth for fear of being trampled by the mare. Eventually Kally decided to keep the secret of her gift to herself for a while. She didn't know Kai very well and she was worried that if she told him about her gift, he might think her whole idea of being a Shang novice was hopeless and would send her away.
When Kally concentrated on her surroundings she realised that they were cantering through the countryside, there were green fields all around her and they had left the cacophony of the city behind them. A few minutes later Kai, who had his arms wrapped around Kally's waist and was holding the reins at the same time, slowed Majesta to a walk.
"The Shang headquarters are just outside the city, we need constant provisions and we don't like to be too far away from other people." Kai explained. He turned right and Majesta started walking up a steep hill. As they got further up and started to be able to see over the top of the hill, Kally saw a big, plain white building a little further away. The hill wasn't so steep on the other side so Kai nudged Majesta to a trot. They arrived at the bottom of the hill within minutes and reached flat ground.
The ground was obviously the front lawn of the house and directly in front of them was a large, very long path leading up to the front of the house. Majesta cantered down it until they reached the top where it broke off and went in two directions, creating a large circle around the house. Kai turned Majesta right and she trotted up the path leading to the back of the house.
Around the back of the house was another large lawn but to either side of it were large practice courts. Built on to the back of the house were large stables where Kai jumped off Majesta, gave his hand to Kally to help her do the same. He took the reins and led Majesta to an empty stable. He loosened the girth and promised Kally that he would come and untack her in a few minutes, just as soon as he had arranged for the head Shang master to speak to her.
"Now, for future reference, you are never to use the front door ok? The front door is only for visitors and the Shang masters. You get in loads of trouble if you use it. All Shang novices have to use this door." He said, pulling open the oak back door. Inside the large house was as plain as outside it, white walls everywhere and minimum amount of furniture. Kai guided Kally into one of the long corridors, stopping at a large wooden door with 'Shang Unicorn' written on a brass plaque nailed on the door.
"Now listen." Said Kai, turning to face Kally with a serious look on his face. "You might already know this but the highest ranking Shang warriors are named after mythical creatures. Right now, the highest ranking warriors are the Shang Unicorn and the Shang Griffin. A few years back Alanna the Lioness was in the company of the Shang Dragon. The title of Dragon has always been given to the most powerful Shang warrior in the world and this one was apparently the best Shang warrior ever known to man. He died at King Jonathan's coronation ceremony, protecting the king. He took seven arrows to the chest before he fell. He saved the king's life."
Kally nodded, she had heard the story before from her father and from the Lioness. Also, one of her younger brothers was named for the Shang Dragon, Prince Liam. "Anyway, the Unicorn is the head of this school. Her name is Kylaia al Jmaa, but address her as Lady Unicorn or just Unicorn...actually, just let me do the talking, it will be easier that way. Okay, are you ready?" he asked. Kally nodded.
Kai raised his fist and knocked on the door. A voice called out 'enter!' Kai opened the door and walked in. Kally composed herself, ignoring her nerves, took a deep breath and followed him.
******************* Okay, so what do you think? I really want reviews 'cause I need to know how I'm doing on this fanfic. So please, please, Please review! Even if it's only a word, I'll really appreciate it.
*******************
