AN. Hey everyone. sorry it took so long. I only just got to a computer. where I'm staying there is nothing. NOTHING I tell you!!! I just looked back at that last chapter. sorry. it's not my best work. I'm sorry to say this one isn't either. Anywayz. I haven't got the books here so there's quite a few things that I'm not sure about. one of which is the Training Master's name. I'm going to give him a name as best as I remember. but you know the one I mean. the one that was appointed in Squire... when Lord Wyldon retired. Anywyaz. so here it is.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Tortall or ant of the places. I also don't own any of the adults in Tortall. but Yali and the other Pages. I do own! Ok?? Got that?? Good!

~* Chapter Six~*~

The next few weeks were a blur of activity at Queenscove. There were tailors sewing new clothes, blacksmiths forging new practice weapons, leathersmiths (AN. is there such thing??) making saddles and tack. It seemed everyone had something to finish before Lady Yali's departure.

Yali herself could be seen running frantically around the fief. If she wasn't checking on the progress of her new saddle then she was having fittings at the tailor's or she was in one of the feidls practicing her fighting skills. Every now and again, on her way between activities, she would burst into her father's rooms, throw her arms around him and say "Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou. Thankyou so much!" or "you're the best Da in the world! Did you know that?" She would then run away again - back to whatever she had been doing before. Leaving a rather dazed, but secretly pleased Neal behind her.

~*~

And so it was that only two weeks after Neal had made his decision Yali was ready to set off to the Palace.

Her mother had decided to accompany her as well as her father. Yuki said this was because she wanted to pay a visit to her old friend Shinko, the Queen. However Yali knew it was because her mother was secretly worried about her.

While they were away her parents were leaving Queenscove in the capable hands of Yali's older brother, Baird, who had completed his Knight's training the year before. (AN. I know I said she was the eldest child.. I changed my mind. sorry. but he needs to be in the story!!)

The journey was uneventful and they arrived in Corus on the third day (AN. I have know idea how far away Queenscove is from Corus), just as the last rays of sunlight were setting over the palace. They made their way to the stables, dismounted and leaving their horses to be taken care of, went to the guest quarters they were always supplied with while at the Palace, which had been prepared fro their arrival.

~*~

The next morning Yali and her parents went to see Padriag Ha Minch, the Training Master. Ha Minch had been training Pages for over twenty years and was becoming less enthusiastic in his training as he got older; however, he was still as active as ever. Although the Ha Minch family was a conservative family on the whole, Padraig Ha Minch was one of the less conservative and he had no issues with girls becoming Pages -which became clear to Yali as soon as they met.

"Yalinni, I understand that your father is good friends with Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan." Yali nodded, although she winced slightly as the use of her full name - only her Yamani grandmother ever called her Yalinni. Ha Minch continued, not noticing her discomfort. "I have no doubt she has told you stories of her treatment here - the bullying, the prejudice and such." Yali nodded again, surprised that he knew about and talked so openly of the horrible treatment Kel had received during her Page training. Ha Minch, seeing her surprise, smiled. "Yes, I am aware of Lady Keladry's treatment, does that surprise you?" when Yali didn't reply he continued, "I only bring it up because I don't want you to think that you will get the same treatment. You see Yalinni," again Yali winced, however she thought it would be rude to correct him so she stayed silent. "Times are changing; the Palace is now set up for girl Pages, the bullying has stopped and the prejudice has died down immensely - now that people can see that girls can, and do, make just as good Knights as boys do." Here he paused and looked at Yali, "I can see that you are a determined person and I wish you luck with your training. Not that luck comes into it all that much - it's a lot of hard work."

Here he paused again and when he continued his voice had taken on an automatic tone - as if he had said what he was saying many times before - which, Yali supposed, he had. "You will be given a room in the girl's end of the Page's wing. You are to wake at dawn and dress in your practice clothes - brown or black breeches and a white cotton shirt, if you do not already have something suitable you can get something at the Palace tailors. Breakfast is at one bell past dawn - no one eats until everyone is seated so, please, for everyone's sake, including mine, be prompt. After breakfast you have physical training. First you have hand to hand combat," here he paused, when he continued he spoke directly to Neal. "Yalinni has been trained to defend herself?" Noticing Yali wince again, Neal replied. "It's Yali - only her grandmother calls her Yalinni - and yes. She has been trained as a Yamani court lady; to some extent she can defend herself."

Ha Minch didn't seem offended by Neal's blunt correction; he simply smiled and continued - again in his automatic tone. "Very well, Yali. After hand to hand combat comes swordplay, then long weapons - glaive I presume," Yali nodded, "then archery and after that riding skills; each for one bell." Yali nodded her understanding. She was stunned at the amount of physical work she had to do - not that she hadn't known it would be a lot of work; she had been warned. Many times.

"Next," continued Ha Minch, "You go back to the Palace, you bathe - in the female baths set aside for Pages - and get changed. At one bell past noon we have lunch. Lunch, like breakfast, is half a bell long. After lunch are your academic classes for which you are allowed to wear clothes of your choice - be they dresses or breeches, they must be reasonable. No excessive jewellery or low neck lines." Yali, despite her Yamani training couldn't help screwing up her face at the thought and Ha Minch, seeing this, laughed. "No, you don't seem the type for that sort of thing," he continued, "Each academic lesson goes for a bell; just like your physical ones. Your first academic lesson is literacy. (AN. is that what they call it??) Can you read and write?"

"Yes, my lord" Yali replied, thinking it would be rude just to keep on nodding without saying anything.

"Good, you will need to show your teacher and he will go from there. Then you have mathematics, history-" Yali's face light up; she had heard the stories about Sir Myles. Ha Minch saw this and smiled sadly. "Unfortunately Sir Myles retired at the end of last year. However we have a replacement I'm sure everyone will enjoy just as much."

Yali doubted that - she knew all the other teachers were Mithran brothers (AN. is that what it said in the Alanna books. I can't check. sorry if they weren't but they are now.) and were boring, stuffy old men - she supposed they'd replace Myles with one of them. However she voiced nothing of her opinions as Ha Minch continued. "Then you have immortal studies, then etiquette - you study Yamani, Carthraki (sorry about the spelling??) and small amounts of Copper Islander and Scanran etiquette, however you focus on Tortallan. Then there's dinner, which is also half a bell. After dinner Gifted students have classes - you have the Gift?"

This question seemed to be directed at Yali even though Ha Minch was looking straight at Neal, so Yali answered. Hesitantly she said, "Yes, my lord, healing mainly."

"Very well, you shall attend these classes. Although Master Salmalin, who takes these classes when he can or Master Kelburri, who takes them when Master Salmalin is unavailable, may apprentice you to a healer if he sees the need." Both Yali's parents looked pleased with this arrangement, Yali didn't mind - she had quite enjoyed the little healing training she had done already. "After that you have free time until lights out which, for first years, is at three bells after sundown. If during free time, or any other time, you are alone with a boy in his rooms or he in you're the door must be left open." Neal made an outraged noise at the implication of what Ha Minch was saying and moved as if to protest but Ha Minch got in first. Saying, "Yes, I know, it's a violation of her privacy, she is only young and as if she would do something like that. I've heard all this before, and believe me, if it were up to me this wouldn't be the way - at least not until they're older. However changing this particular rule would upset quite a few of the more conservative members of Their Majesties' court." Neal glowered but Yuki put her hand on his arm and said quietly, "You know he's right. They did the same thing to Kel remember?"

Ha Minch, seeing his chance, continued. "Also, although you weren't be serving at formal functions until you are a Squire you will be required to help. For this you will require a formal Page's uniform which, for girls, is a dress. For this dress wearing is compulsory and you may not wear the boys' uniform of shirt, tunic and breeches. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my lord, I prefer dresses for formal occasions anyway." Yali relied truthfully. She actually preferred dresses all the time, except while trying to train and even then she preferred Yamani practice kimonos to breeches.

"Very good. Some of the girls who come here find dress wearing horrifying." He said, grimacing. "I can understand why; with all those petticoats and corsets - you wouldn't find me wearing one!" He chuckled and Yali had to work hard on her Yamani control to stop from laughing at the image of him in a dress that came to mind. "Beside that, there's not much more you need to know. If you have any questions at any stage don't hesitate to ask me. And welcome, Yali, to the Palace." With that he gestured for a servant to come forward and told them to follow him to the Palace tailor to get her uniform. Yali curtsied to her Training Master and followed her parents out of the room.

~*~

AN. By the way thanks for your reviews. I am aware that Yali didn't really act very honourably in deceiving Kel and lying to Neal, but hey she was desperate! Oh and Neal. I do realise Neal isn't acting very Neal like. but do you really think that Neal would act the same way he did like twenty years ago?? I tried to make him more responsible. I think he would have grown up a bit. what with having kids and all. sorry if you didn't like it. Anywayz. keep reviewing. I like your input. although it might be a while before I get to check for reviews. or update for the matter. sorry! Lots of love, imogenhm