A.N: Sorry it's taken so long but I'm home now so I should be able to
update more regularly. This one's extra long (by my standards anyway) to
make up for the long wait. So here it is!
DISCLAIMER: TP owns the Palace, Ha Minch and any one else you recognize. The rest is mine.
~*~Chapter Eight~*~
The next morning Yali woke before dawn, she wasn't used to such early starts, but she was too exited to go back to sleep so she got up. Ha Minch had told her as she was leaving his office the day before that she wouldn't be going to classes today and that she could wear what she wanted for her tour of the Palace. So, when a servant brought her water and she had washed she got dressed in one of her dresses. She chose a simple, green dress that was a few shades lighter than her eyes. She did her hair up in its usual braid but a couple of flyaway strands slipped out to frame her face. Yali silently cursed her hair; she hated it. It never stayed completely up for more than two seconds.
She had heard all about sponsoring from Baird and Kel and also a little from her father so she knew what to expect. Even so, that didn't stop her being nervous. She just hoped somebody would actually pick her and if they did they weren't some one like Joren of Stonemountain had been.
Because she had woken up so early she was ready well before the Dawn bell even rang. To distract herself from getting nervous while she was waiting for it to be time to go out into the hallway and get sponsored she took out the sewing she had been doing before she left Queenscove. She had been repairing a pair of her breeches. Yali enjoyed sewing and although Ladies were not supposed to do mending she enjoyed it much more than embroidery so she did all her own mending and even some of Baird's when she had time.
She knew it was unusual for a girl who wanted to become a Page to enjoy feminine things like wearing dresses and sewing but she couldn't help liking these things. And she didn't want to stop liking them anyway, so why would she try?
She was roused from her thoughts when she heard noises outside her door. She could hear people emerging into the hallway. Yali put away her sewing and prepared herself to step out into the corridor.
As she opened her door she heard a few people mutter ". . . new girl. . ." But they went silent when she stepped out and closed the door behind her. The first thing she noticed was that they were a lot of boys, this made sense because the girls' end of the corridor was the end closer to the mess hall so all the boys walked past on the way. But what surprised her was that they were all boys - there weren't any girls. She looked across the hallway to the door opposite and saw that the chalk board on the door read 'Evelyn of Hollyrose'. So there must be at least one other girl, Yali thought relieved, maybe she just hasn't come out yet.
Just then the door opened and out stepped a tall, red haired girl with deep blue eyes. Yali could see she was well muscled and she looked very agile. She had a somewhat boyish figure with slightly narrow hips and small breasts. The girl, who must have been Evelyn, was just finishing tying a mass of thick, curly hair back into a practical ponytail as she stepped out of the room. Evelyn started talking to one of the boys who looked about her age. The boy, who had unruly black hair and was very lanky looking, said something, gesturing towards Yali and Evelyn looked up at Yali. She smiled. Yali smiled back. Evelyn went back to talking to the boy. Again, the boy said something which made her look at Yali. She laughed and a sly grin appeared on her face. She said something and the boy went bright red. Yali felt uncomfortable, it was obvious Evelyn and her friend were talking about her and she wasn't sure she liked being the topic of conversation.
Before Yali could say anything though, Ha Minch appeared at the end of the corridor. As he walked down the corridor the Pages clustered around him. The only ones still standing in front of the door were Yali, a blonde girl in the room next door to Yali who had just rushed out of her room as Ha Minch arrived and three boys further down the hallway. Yali knew they were all the first years who were to be sponsored.
Yali watched as a group of what looked like third years offered to sponsor the three boys and waited. She wondered if girls were allowed to be sponsored by boys because if they weren't then either her or the blonde girl would have to miss out because, as far as Yali could see, there was only one girl who was not a first year. Then it was the blonde girl's turn. Ha Minch asked her what her name was. "Lady Athena of Carmine tower" replied the girl. She was of average height with dark hazel eyes and dimples. She was obviously a late starter because she looked to be about Evelyn's age. She wore a dress that showed enough of her ample chest to make Yali wonder if it was within the bounds of what Ha Minch would call 'reasonable'.
A few of the boys snickered; Yali guessed that it was at the use of the title 'lady' when Athena was supposed to be a Page. Ha Minch ignored the snickering and continued. "Who will sponsor Athena of Carmine Tower?" A few of the boys volunteered but they obviously weren't serious because Ha Minch said, "You know perfectly well it is against the rules for boys to sponsor girls."
"Then sir," one of the more adventurous, or stupid, as Yali preferred to think, boys said. "Why did you ask? Only Evelyn can sponsor her."
Without giving the Training Master time to reply Evelyn spoke up. "I'll sponsor her."
Ha Minch gave the boy who had spoken a stony look, then turned to Evelyn. "Very well. Evelyn of Hollyrose will be sponsor to Athena of Carmine Tower."
He then turned to Yali. He frowned slightly, wondering how this could work. Ha Minch asked her what her name was and she replied. "Yalinni of Queenscove, my Lord, and I do not need a sponsor if one cannot be found; I know my way around the Palace."
"No, no we must find you a sponsor. Who will sponsor Yalinni of Queenscove?" He asked the assembled pages. Some of the boys tried again, they kept volunteering until Ha Minch said. "Very well, Evelyn of Hollyrose shall be sponsor to Yalinni of Queenscove." And with that he turned and walked in the direction of the mess hall, and breakfast.
Yali waited until the crowed had cleared a little before walking over to Evelyn. She smiled at her and said. "You don't have to sponsor both of us you know, I can find my own way around. I spent a lot of time at the Palace when I was younger. Evelyn shook her head. "It's fine really, Yalinni. If I'm going to show one of you around I might as well show you both. They only don't let boys because I have to show you the baths and stuff."
"Ok. Thanks." Yali replied. "Oh and it's Yali by the way. Only my grandmother calls me Yalinni." Evelyn laughed. "Oh, sorry." They looked around for Athena. She was standing talking to some of the third year boys. ". . . Yeah. I'm old enough to be a third year but I started late." She was saying as she twirled her long blond hair around her finger.
"I would have preferred not to have had to sponsor her though, I've heard of her. She's a flirt. Rumor says she's only doing this to try to find a husband because they wouldn't have her at the convent." Evelyn told Yali as they waited for Athena to finish with the boys. Yali was intrigued despite herself. "Why wouldn't the convent have her?" She asked.
"I don't know. The rumor didn't say." Evelyn obviously wanted to get to breakfast because she went and tapped Athena on the shoulder and said. "Hi, I'm Evelyn. Are you coming?" Athena turned around. She looked Evelyn up and down and said. "Yeah. In a minute." And with that she turned back to the boys. Evelyn looked disgusted. "Let's go." She said to Yali and they walked away in the direction of the mess hall.
~*~
Everyone, including Ha Minch and the Squires who weren't out in the field, had to wait for breakfast because Athena and a couple of the third years hadn't arrived. Yali and Evelyn had gotten trays and sat down and Yali had been introduced to Evelyn's friends, this included the black haired boy who had been talking about her with Evelyn, whose name was Evan of Heatherfield and still Athena hadn't arrived. After a while Ha Minch lost patience and demanded of Evelyn why she hadn't taken better care of her charge. Evelyn replied. "I tried to get her to come with me, my Lord, but she said she was busy and would come later." Ha Minch demanded that Evelyn go and find her and the boys.
So Yali was left alone with Evelyn's friends. She wasn't sure what to say. There was an awkward silence in which the boys seemed just as unsure of what to say. "Is it true that you're half Yamani?" One of them, a short, blond boy whose name Yali thought was Samuel asked abruptly. Evan elbowed him as if to say he shouldn't have asked her that. "Yeah." She answered easily. "My mother was one of Queen Shinkokani's Ladies before she got married."
"Do you know any Yamani etiquette? I'm totally failing that at the moment. Like, what kind of bow would you give to a third class Prince? He asked us that the other day! Can you believe it?"
"Yeah, I know some etiquette. Um. Let me think. . .third class Prince. . . you would bow with your hands on your thighs and it would be about as high as you would give a Duke. . . I think. . .or maybe that's a fourth class. . ." she trailed off when she realized they were staring. "What?" she asked. There were exclamations of "Wow, that was cool." And "How did you know that?"
She was confused, hadn't they learnt all that already? "It's easy once you get the hang of it. I had to know for when I went there two years ago."
And that broke the ice. They started asking her questions about her life before she came to the Palace and about the Yamani Isles and what they were like. She answered them all happily, she enjoyed talking about the Yamani's, it brought back good memories. Evelyn came back followed by two blushing third years and Athena. They all got given extra duties, including Evelyn, who Ha Minch said should learn to be responsible. Athena sat with the third year's she had been talking to. Finally everyone was allowed to eat. As they eat the questions kept coming until Evelyn finally said. "Guys, let her eat."
After that they all looked embarrassed and mumbled apologies. Yali said it was fine but they had gone to being quiet so she asked them things about the Palace, the training and their lives before the Palace. Eventually they loosened up and began to talk freely once again.
Once they were finished eating Evelyn took Yali and Athena to hand their trays to the servants. Then they started the tour of the Palace. Most of the places Yali already knew but she paid attention none the less.
~*~
As they approached the page's wing, at the end of their tour, Yali asked, "Are you the only girl here?" She was curious, she had been told that it was not uncommon for girls to train for knighthood however Evelyn was the only other girl she had seen, beside Athena.
"Well, I was last year, but in my first year I was sponsored by a fourth year page, a girl called Rosalyn of Queensreach, in her year there were three girls and she told me there were a couple in the year above her. I've been stuck without anyone but boys for a year though, I was hoping there would be a girl this year and here you are, two of you at that. Come to save me from the male race! I'm looking forward to having an intelligent conversation with someone; I've been deprived for a year. stuck with the inferior intellect of the male gender. Speaking of which."
She smiled at someone behind Yali, she turned and saw a group of boys coming towards her, most of them looked to be the same age as Evelyn, some of them Yali had already met at breakfast and a couple were younger. One was a year mate of hers, Cedric of Molay she remembered from when he was sponsored.
"Hello," smiled a boy who looked too similar to Evelyn not to be related, he had the same curly red hair, however his was cropped to the earlobe. He also had the same blue eyes and tall, well muscled build, although his shoulders were broader. He had his sister's delicate nose; although it was obvious he had broken it for the set was slightly off. However he was handsome despite the breakage. "We haven't been introduced," he glared at Evelyn, "but I'm Joshua, I'm Evelyn's better half."
Of course! Thought Yali, twins! Before she could say anything Evelyn interrupted. "Better half; you wish! Had it ever occurred to you, dear brother of mine, that I may have avoided introducing young Yali to you for a reason? No of course it didn't," She answered herself, not giving Joshua time to reply, "because as soon as you catch sight of a pretty face any other thought that you may happen to have had, which I have to admit must not be many, sweeps cleanly from your mind."
Yali blushed, she heard the other boys chuckle, they didn't seem very put out by Evelyn's rude behavior to her twin, this was obviously her usual manner towards him. Joshua was not put out in the slightest either, he continued, "As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted," he mock- glared at his sister, "I'm Joshua, you can call me Josh." He stuck out his hand, as she took it she told him, "My name's Yalinni, but nobody calls me that, I'm Yali."
Instead of shaking her hand he lifted it to his mouth and kissed it softly, "A pleasure to meet you, Yali." He said, his blue eyes twinkling. Again, before Yali could reply, Evelyn reached over and grabbed her hand away from Josh's.
"You shouldn't do that you know! It's completely improper!" She scolded her brother, glaring. She turned to Yali, "Don't let him make you uncomfortable, it's just his idea of being funny." She advised her.
Yali couldn't help but smile, despite the slight blush that rose on her cheeks, "We'll see who can make whom uncomfortable on the practice courts; that's where it really counts."
Josh looked amused at the thought of fighting her, "Ooh, feisty!" he laughed. The two things Yali hated most were being laughed at and being assumed weak because she was a girl, Joshua had just succeeded in doing both; she was angry. Being raised by her Yamani mother she knew the advantages of keeping her expression blank so she hid her anger behind her Yamani mask.
Instead she smiled, "If I were you I would wait until you see me on the courts before you judge." She told Joshua with all the politeness she could muster. He raised an eyebrow, however instead of commenting he changed the subject, "Well, Yali, I've heard a lot about you, it would seem your father is a friend of my father's."
"Yes, it would seem so." She replied evenly, although she had met Merric of Holyrose many times, she was not sure she liked the idea of him talking about her to his son.
A slight pause followed, Josh had obviously expected her to say something more, when he saw that she was not going to elaborate he said, "I heard some very interesting things."
Yali was curious, "And what very interesting things would they be?" She asked, copying his tone exactly, gently mocking him.
"Oh, not to worry. it wasn't anything too bad." He teased. She did not reply, the one thing she hated as much as being laughed at and being assumed weak was being teased, instead she simply raised an eyebrow, the message was clear; what did you really hear about me? He smiled, "Well, for one thing I heard that you trained as a Yamani Court Lady?" He said it like a question.
"And what is so interesting about that? My mother is Yamani, she wanted me to learn." She replied, slightly defensively. Before he could reply Athena, who was obviously bored of this conversation, thrust her hand in front of Joshua's face and said huskily, "Hello, I'm Athena."
Joshua looked at the hand for a moment, as if he was reluctant to touch it, then he took it and shook it quickly, "Nice to meet you, Athena, I'm Joshua of Holyrose." Yali almost burst out laughing at the look on Athena's face as Joshua let go of her hand and turned back to talk to Yali, her Yamani control stopped her but the corner of her mouth quivered slightly all the same. She glanced at Evelyn and saw that she was also trying her hardest not to laugh, although she wasn't being quite as successful as Yali.
~*~
A.N: There! Done! I hope you like it! Please review and tell me what you think! Oh and I'd like to say thanks to all the people who reviewed. I really do like constructive criticism so please let me know if there's something you think I could change or improve. Thanks! Love imogenhm
DISCLAIMER: TP owns the Palace, Ha Minch and any one else you recognize. The rest is mine.
~*~Chapter Eight~*~
The next morning Yali woke before dawn, she wasn't used to such early starts, but she was too exited to go back to sleep so she got up. Ha Minch had told her as she was leaving his office the day before that she wouldn't be going to classes today and that she could wear what she wanted for her tour of the Palace. So, when a servant brought her water and she had washed she got dressed in one of her dresses. She chose a simple, green dress that was a few shades lighter than her eyes. She did her hair up in its usual braid but a couple of flyaway strands slipped out to frame her face. Yali silently cursed her hair; she hated it. It never stayed completely up for more than two seconds.
She had heard all about sponsoring from Baird and Kel and also a little from her father so she knew what to expect. Even so, that didn't stop her being nervous. She just hoped somebody would actually pick her and if they did they weren't some one like Joren of Stonemountain had been.
Because she had woken up so early she was ready well before the Dawn bell even rang. To distract herself from getting nervous while she was waiting for it to be time to go out into the hallway and get sponsored she took out the sewing she had been doing before she left Queenscove. She had been repairing a pair of her breeches. Yali enjoyed sewing and although Ladies were not supposed to do mending she enjoyed it much more than embroidery so she did all her own mending and even some of Baird's when she had time.
She knew it was unusual for a girl who wanted to become a Page to enjoy feminine things like wearing dresses and sewing but she couldn't help liking these things. And she didn't want to stop liking them anyway, so why would she try?
She was roused from her thoughts when she heard noises outside her door. She could hear people emerging into the hallway. Yali put away her sewing and prepared herself to step out into the corridor.
As she opened her door she heard a few people mutter ". . . new girl. . ." But they went silent when she stepped out and closed the door behind her. The first thing she noticed was that they were a lot of boys, this made sense because the girls' end of the corridor was the end closer to the mess hall so all the boys walked past on the way. But what surprised her was that they were all boys - there weren't any girls. She looked across the hallway to the door opposite and saw that the chalk board on the door read 'Evelyn of Hollyrose'. So there must be at least one other girl, Yali thought relieved, maybe she just hasn't come out yet.
Just then the door opened and out stepped a tall, red haired girl with deep blue eyes. Yali could see she was well muscled and she looked very agile. She had a somewhat boyish figure with slightly narrow hips and small breasts. The girl, who must have been Evelyn, was just finishing tying a mass of thick, curly hair back into a practical ponytail as she stepped out of the room. Evelyn started talking to one of the boys who looked about her age. The boy, who had unruly black hair and was very lanky looking, said something, gesturing towards Yali and Evelyn looked up at Yali. She smiled. Yali smiled back. Evelyn went back to talking to the boy. Again, the boy said something which made her look at Yali. She laughed and a sly grin appeared on her face. She said something and the boy went bright red. Yali felt uncomfortable, it was obvious Evelyn and her friend were talking about her and she wasn't sure she liked being the topic of conversation.
Before Yali could say anything though, Ha Minch appeared at the end of the corridor. As he walked down the corridor the Pages clustered around him. The only ones still standing in front of the door were Yali, a blonde girl in the room next door to Yali who had just rushed out of her room as Ha Minch arrived and three boys further down the hallway. Yali knew they were all the first years who were to be sponsored.
Yali watched as a group of what looked like third years offered to sponsor the three boys and waited. She wondered if girls were allowed to be sponsored by boys because if they weren't then either her or the blonde girl would have to miss out because, as far as Yali could see, there was only one girl who was not a first year. Then it was the blonde girl's turn. Ha Minch asked her what her name was. "Lady Athena of Carmine tower" replied the girl. She was of average height with dark hazel eyes and dimples. She was obviously a late starter because she looked to be about Evelyn's age. She wore a dress that showed enough of her ample chest to make Yali wonder if it was within the bounds of what Ha Minch would call 'reasonable'.
A few of the boys snickered; Yali guessed that it was at the use of the title 'lady' when Athena was supposed to be a Page. Ha Minch ignored the snickering and continued. "Who will sponsor Athena of Carmine Tower?" A few of the boys volunteered but they obviously weren't serious because Ha Minch said, "You know perfectly well it is against the rules for boys to sponsor girls."
"Then sir," one of the more adventurous, or stupid, as Yali preferred to think, boys said. "Why did you ask? Only Evelyn can sponsor her."
Without giving the Training Master time to reply Evelyn spoke up. "I'll sponsor her."
Ha Minch gave the boy who had spoken a stony look, then turned to Evelyn. "Very well. Evelyn of Hollyrose will be sponsor to Athena of Carmine Tower."
He then turned to Yali. He frowned slightly, wondering how this could work. Ha Minch asked her what her name was and she replied. "Yalinni of Queenscove, my Lord, and I do not need a sponsor if one cannot be found; I know my way around the Palace."
"No, no we must find you a sponsor. Who will sponsor Yalinni of Queenscove?" He asked the assembled pages. Some of the boys tried again, they kept volunteering until Ha Minch said. "Very well, Evelyn of Hollyrose shall be sponsor to Yalinni of Queenscove." And with that he turned and walked in the direction of the mess hall, and breakfast.
Yali waited until the crowed had cleared a little before walking over to Evelyn. She smiled at her and said. "You don't have to sponsor both of us you know, I can find my own way around. I spent a lot of time at the Palace when I was younger. Evelyn shook her head. "It's fine really, Yalinni. If I'm going to show one of you around I might as well show you both. They only don't let boys because I have to show you the baths and stuff."
"Ok. Thanks." Yali replied. "Oh and it's Yali by the way. Only my grandmother calls me Yalinni." Evelyn laughed. "Oh, sorry." They looked around for Athena. She was standing talking to some of the third year boys. ". . . Yeah. I'm old enough to be a third year but I started late." She was saying as she twirled her long blond hair around her finger.
"I would have preferred not to have had to sponsor her though, I've heard of her. She's a flirt. Rumor says she's only doing this to try to find a husband because they wouldn't have her at the convent." Evelyn told Yali as they waited for Athena to finish with the boys. Yali was intrigued despite herself. "Why wouldn't the convent have her?" She asked.
"I don't know. The rumor didn't say." Evelyn obviously wanted to get to breakfast because she went and tapped Athena on the shoulder and said. "Hi, I'm Evelyn. Are you coming?" Athena turned around. She looked Evelyn up and down and said. "Yeah. In a minute." And with that she turned back to the boys. Evelyn looked disgusted. "Let's go." She said to Yali and they walked away in the direction of the mess hall.
~*~
Everyone, including Ha Minch and the Squires who weren't out in the field, had to wait for breakfast because Athena and a couple of the third years hadn't arrived. Yali and Evelyn had gotten trays and sat down and Yali had been introduced to Evelyn's friends, this included the black haired boy who had been talking about her with Evelyn, whose name was Evan of Heatherfield and still Athena hadn't arrived. After a while Ha Minch lost patience and demanded of Evelyn why she hadn't taken better care of her charge. Evelyn replied. "I tried to get her to come with me, my Lord, but she said she was busy and would come later." Ha Minch demanded that Evelyn go and find her and the boys.
So Yali was left alone with Evelyn's friends. She wasn't sure what to say. There was an awkward silence in which the boys seemed just as unsure of what to say. "Is it true that you're half Yamani?" One of them, a short, blond boy whose name Yali thought was Samuel asked abruptly. Evan elbowed him as if to say he shouldn't have asked her that. "Yeah." She answered easily. "My mother was one of Queen Shinkokani's Ladies before she got married."
"Do you know any Yamani etiquette? I'm totally failing that at the moment. Like, what kind of bow would you give to a third class Prince? He asked us that the other day! Can you believe it?"
"Yeah, I know some etiquette. Um. Let me think. . .third class Prince. . . you would bow with your hands on your thighs and it would be about as high as you would give a Duke. . . I think. . .or maybe that's a fourth class. . ." she trailed off when she realized they were staring. "What?" she asked. There were exclamations of "Wow, that was cool." And "How did you know that?"
She was confused, hadn't they learnt all that already? "It's easy once you get the hang of it. I had to know for when I went there two years ago."
And that broke the ice. They started asking her questions about her life before she came to the Palace and about the Yamani Isles and what they were like. She answered them all happily, she enjoyed talking about the Yamani's, it brought back good memories. Evelyn came back followed by two blushing third years and Athena. They all got given extra duties, including Evelyn, who Ha Minch said should learn to be responsible. Athena sat with the third year's she had been talking to. Finally everyone was allowed to eat. As they eat the questions kept coming until Evelyn finally said. "Guys, let her eat."
After that they all looked embarrassed and mumbled apologies. Yali said it was fine but they had gone to being quiet so she asked them things about the Palace, the training and their lives before the Palace. Eventually they loosened up and began to talk freely once again.
Once they were finished eating Evelyn took Yali and Athena to hand their trays to the servants. Then they started the tour of the Palace. Most of the places Yali already knew but she paid attention none the less.
~*~
As they approached the page's wing, at the end of their tour, Yali asked, "Are you the only girl here?" She was curious, she had been told that it was not uncommon for girls to train for knighthood however Evelyn was the only other girl she had seen, beside Athena.
"Well, I was last year, but in my first year I was sponsored by a fourth year page, a girl called Rosalyn of Queensreach, in her year there were three girls and she told me there were a couple in the year above her. I've been stuck without anyone but boys for a year though, I was hoping there would be a girl this year and here you are, two of you at that. Come to save me from the male race! I'm looking forward to having an intelligent conversation with someone; I've been deprived for a year. stuck with the inferior intellect of the male gender. Speaking of which."
She smiled at someone behind Yali, she turned and saw a group of boys coming towards her, most of them looked to be the same age as Evelyn, some of them Yali had already met at breakfast and a couple were younger. One was a year mate of hers, Cedric of Molay she remembered from when he was sponsored.
"Hello," smiled a boy who looked too similar to Evelyn not to be related, he had the same curly red hair, however his was cropped to the earlobe. He also had the same blue eyes and tall, well muscled build, although his shoulders were broader. He had his sister's delicate nose; although it was obvious he had broken it for the set was slightly off. However he was handsome despite the breakage. "We haven't been introduced," he glared at Evelyn, "but I'm Joshua, I'm Evelyn's better half."
Of course! Thought Yali, twins! Before she could say anything Evelyn interrupted. "Better half; you wish! Had it ever occurred to you, dear brother of mine, that I may have avoided introducing young Yali to you for a reason? No of course it didn't," She answered herself, not giving Joshua time to reply, "because as soon as you catch sight of a pretty face any other thought that you may happen to have had, which I have to admit must not be many, sweeps cleanly from your mind."
Yali blushed, she heard the other boys chuckle, they didn't seem very put out by Evelyn's rude behavior to her twin, this was obviously her usual manner towards him. Joshua was not put out in the slightest either, he continued, "As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted," he mock- glared at his sister, "I'm Joshua, you can call me Josh." He stuck out his hand, as she took it she told him, "My name's Yalinni, but nobody calls me that, I'm Yali."
Instead of shaking her hand he lifted it to his mouth and kissed it softly, "A pleasure to meet you, Yali." He said, his blue eyes twinkling. Again, before Yali could reply, Evelyn reached over and grabbed her hand away from Josh's.
"You shouldn't do that you know! It's completely improper!" She scolded her brother, glaring. She turned to Yali, "Don't let him make you uncomfortable, it's just his idea of being funny." She advised her.
Yali couldn't help but smile, despite the slight blush that rose on her cheeks, "We'll see who can make whom uncomfortable on the practice courts; that's where it really counts."
Josh looked amused at the thought of fighting her, "Ooh, feisty!" he laughed. The two things Yali hated most were being laughed at and being assumed weak because she was a girl, Joshua had just succeeded in doing both; she was angry. Being raised by her Yamani mother she knew the advantages of keeping her expression blank so she hid her anger behind her Yamani mask.
Instead she smiled, "If I were you I would wait until you see me on the courts before you judge." She told Joshua with all the politeness she could muster. He raised an eyebrow, however instead of commenting he changed the subject, "Well, Yali, I've heard a lot about you, it would seem your father is a friend of my father's."
"Yes, it would seem so." She replied evenly, although she had met Merric of Holyrose many times, she was not sure she liked the idea of him talking about her to his son.
A slight pause followed, Josh had obviously expected her to say something more, when he saw that she was not going to elaborate he said, "I heard some very interesting things."
Yali was curious, "And what very interesting things would they be?" She asked, copying his tone exactly, gently mocking him.
"Oh, not to worry. it wasn't anything too bad." He teased. She did not reply, the one thing she hated as much as being laughed at and being assumed weak was being teased, instead she simply raised an eyebrow, the message was clear; what did you really hear about me? He smiled, "Well, for one thing I heard that you trained as a Yamani Court Lady?" He said it like a question.
"And what is so interesting about that? My mother is Yamani, she wanted me to learn." She replied, slightly defensively. Before he could reply Athena, who was obviously bored of this conversation, thrust her hand in front of Joshua's face and said huskily, "Hello, I'm Athena."
Joshua looked at the hand for a moment, as if he was reluctant to touch it, then he took it and shook it quickly, "Nice to meet you, Athena, I'm Joshua of Holyrose." Yali almost burst out laughing at the look on Athena's face as Joshua let go of her hand and turned back to talk to Yali, her Yamani control stopped her but the corner of her mouth quivered slightly all the same. She glanced at Evelyn and saw that she was also trying her hardest not to laugh, although she wasn't being quite as successful as Yali.
~*~
A.N: There! Done! I hope you like it! Please review and tell me what you think! Oh and I'd like to say thanks to all the people who reviewed. I really do like constructive criticism so please let me know if there's something you think I could change or improve. Thanks! Love imogenhm
