Chapter 2:

Arriving at the door to Lord Padraig's office the servant entered and announced, "Count Davyd of Sylverden and his daughter, Sophia."

With that both father and daughter entered the office and came face to face with the training master.

Chapter 3

Padraig nodded warmly at Davyd, ignoring at first Sophie. "Davyd, good to see you again, I trust that your trip was pleasant."

"It was thank you. It's been a long time. I don't think that you have met my daughter, Sophia yet. Sophia here as you know wants to try for knighthood. I am glad that the training master is a good and fair one otherwise I might have objected." The Count said to Padraig pleasantly as though they were discussing a topic such as the weather.

"I am honoured to be instructing one from such an honoured household. Sit down, please." Both Sophia and Davyd sat and the Count handed the training master a letter.

"In there is all the information that was requested by you and his majesty."

Lord Padraig accepted the letter and in stages oped it. He carefully read the cautiously written sentences written by the Count's own hand. Finally he put the letter down.

"It says here that you do not posses the Gift, is that correct?" Padraig said directing the question to Sophie.

"That is correct, my lord." She replied in the same pleasant voice as her father's.

"Then you will study about magic with the magicless pages and squires as the king has decreed. You will first be learning about immortal creatures with the basilisk Tkaa. Is that understood?" Sophie nodded. " If there is a boy present in your room, your door must remain open. The same conditions apply when you are in a boy's room. You are also required to run errand for any lord or lady who ask it of you. Is that understood?"

"Yes, my lord."

The next question was directed to her father. "Does she have a servant with her?"

"No she doesn't." Davyd replied.

"Very well. One of the palace servants shall see to your rooms. Do you have any questions?" Padraig asked.

"No, my lord."

"One of the older pages will sponsor you. This page will show you around the palace until you familiarise yourself to your new surroundings. When the supper bell rings you will wait in the pages' hall so that we can organise sponsors. There is a room across the hall in where you can say your farewells. Salma will then show you to your room."

With that Davyd and Sophie excited the room back into the hallway.

After Sophie had said her goodbyes, Salma showed her to her room explaining all the rules along the way. "That's my room," she said, pointing. They were waling down a long hall. Each door bore a slate with a name written in chalk. Salma came to the end of the hall and brought out a chain of keys.

"This was Lady Kel's room. She had to have a special lock on her door as to stop the other pages from playing tricks on her. It was thought that it would be best for you if you had the same lock on your door to stop causing any trouble. To open the door you place this key in and whisper your name," she explained, showing her. "To unlock the big shutters you use the other key. You have to shut them when you leave other wise the boys might sneak through them. You don't have to worry about the small ones though. Only a monkey would be able to fit through that."

"Thank you," Sophie said.

"You have about four hours before My Lord Padraig comes to choose sponsors for the first years." Salma said then closed the door behind her leaving Sophie alone in the room she would be spending the next four years in.

Sophie looked around. The room was small but looked relatively comfortable. There was a bed with a pair of night tables on each side. The desk was large and two chairs surrounded it. A bookcase was beside it.

Sophie decided that she should dress first. She took out the things she needed to change and went into the adjoining room. This room would serve as a dressing room and bathroom. There was also a section that was closed off for the privy. As they could wear what they pleased for dinner and study time, Sophie slipped on some green breeches, a white cotton shirt and a matching green tunic although it was a deeper green than her pants. She wore her hair in a loose braid.

Sophie then set to work to unpack all her belongings that had been brought to the palace before her father and she had come. First taking out her clothes and hanging them up neatly in the dressing room. Sophie came back and unpacked the books she had brought and put them lovingly onto the bookshelf. Half the books were filled with more pictures than words and the other half were music books. She then sat her harp on one of the bedside tables.

Taking out her drawing tools she put them in one of her desk drawers. Her staff, bow and arrows went into the adjoining room. She then set about putting in other belongings into drawers and under the bed.

A loud bell rang loudly three times when she was just putting the last of her Farewell gifts on the table. Sophie heard the laughter and talk of boys outside in the hall as the boys assembled. She opened her door and stepped out of her room, then closed and locked her door softly.

It took a while for the boys to k=notice her presence but when they did the general chatter died down and murmurs could be heard. "There she is, the Girl." Sophie heard one of the boys say. Another said, "Isn't she a Sylverden?" The only boys who were silent were a group of boys at the back and the Bazhir. Sophie looked at a Bazhir page that looked to be in his fourth year. He bowed his head in acknowledgment. She returned the gesture.

Just then the training master walked down the hall. The boys quickly stood together in a cluster. The only ones who remained in front of their doors were the new pages – Sophie was one of them. Everyone bowed as he stopped in front of them.

"Before we head down to the mess hall we need to organise sponsors for the new pages. When I point at you I want you to step forward and say your name and family holding." Lord Padraig had directed this last comment to the new pages. He pointed to the one at Sophie's far left.

"Philip of Jells Creek, my lord." The small boy announced nervously. Philip had brown hair that was cropped to his ears. He was a short a boy and of a slight build. His eyes were a sea green and over his nose was a sprinkling of freckles.

"Who will sponsor him?" He asked the surrounding boys.

A tall boy who had blond hair stepped forward. "Please, my lord. I can sponsor him." He suggested calmly. Padraig nodded.

"Page Kieran of Blue Lake will sponsor Philip of Jells Creek." Kieran walked over to Philip and placed a hand on his shoulder to comfort the nervous boy. Lord Padraig pointed to another boy.

The boy swallowed before answering "Michael of Stone Ridge, my lord." A chubby boy with warm brown eyes stepped forward.

"Page Gordon will sponsor Michael of Stone Ridge." Declared the training master.

Adam whose sponsor was Ryan followed him. Eric took charge of the new page Matthew. Then it was Sophie's turn.

Lord Padraig pointed at her. In the calm, clear and pleasant voice that reminded the Training Master so much of her father she declared, "Sophia of Sylverden."

There was silence for a minute before Padraig asked the surrounding pages, "Who will sponsor Sophia of Sylverden?"

The question rang through the silent hall, echoing.

That's all for this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it and if you did please review!!!!

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