Chapter 2: Friends

Lianne stared at the window into the palace grounds below, where pages were filing into the royal stables. Three familiar heads were among the group: one brown, one dirty blonde, and one black like herself. A brisk hand on her shoulder spun her around so she could no longer see the window.

"Arms strait out now miss," Latti said. "How am I supposed to measure you if you're all slumped over like that?"

"But I'm tired of all these dresses and measurements. I'm tired of smiling and curtsying and trying to be polite. I just don't think I was meant to be born a princess."

Latti tutted softly at her complaints. "My lady, we've been through this already. You are a princess, whether you like it or not. Besides, I would turn old and grey if I had to sit up here and worry about you being beaten and bruised by all those boys down there. You wouldn't want that now would you?"

"There are girls down there too," protested Lianne. She frowned for a moment, and then giggled. "And it wouldn't matter anyway – you're already old and grey."

"Run off now, you're too much for me as you are. Try to stay out of trouble though."

Lianne smiled at her maid's worries and skipped past to the door, pulling it open with a jolt. She would have the rest of the morning to herself now that the fitting was complete. She had nowhere to be until her dreaded dancing lessons that afternoon.

She sat on the topmost rung of the fence, watching closely as pages lined their horses up and took runs at the quintain. Lianne was careful to note the slightest movements of the pages: how they sat in the saddle, how they held their lances, how they approached the target. She was intent on memorizing the proper technique, that she might duplicate it on her own at a later date. So deep was her concentration that she failed to notice a small, golden haired page bring his horse up next to her.

"Princess Lianne, what turn of events brings you down to visit us this fine day?" he asked with mock seriousness. He half bowed from his saddle, causing his shaggy hair to fall over his face covering charismatic green eyes and freckled cheeks.

Lianne laughed and nearly fell backwards off the fence. "Stop that Bryn!" Then, in a more solemn tone, she added, "You had better get back to the quintains or Sir Arnoc will see you. It's best if you don't get in more trouble with him than you already have. There's simply not enough time in the day for you to deal with more punishment work."

Bryn made a face at her. "Since when are you worried about getting in trouble? It was your idea to sneak out after hours so we could teach you weapons techniques. Oops, looks like Arnoc has noticed my absence. I must go see what he wants now. I'll see you at lunch." With those words he turned his mount back towards the practice courts and kicked him into a trot.

Lianne winced as she saw her friend met halfway with the knight Arnoc. The training master was not a large man, but he was fast and strong with a sword. Veins stood out on his arms when he was angry and his glare froze pages where they stood. He hated lack of discipline, and therefore Bryn felt his wrath more often than others. Lianne was relieved when a bell sounded to signify an end to the class and to release her friend from his lecture. She turned and jumped off the fence, landing neatly on the path that ran parallel to the practice courts.

"Watch out!" a voice behind her shouted.

Lianne spun around in time to see a large silver stallion thundering toward her. The rider managed to steer his mount to the right to avoid crashing into her, but as the pair galloped past they still managed to knock Lianne off balance. As she toppled over into the grass and lay there, she heard the hoof beats slow and come to a halt.

The young man dismounted and walked over to her, clearly worried. With an effort, Lianne pushed herself up into a sitting position and looked up at the man. She recognized him immediately: Prince Kalir.

"My lady! Princess Lianne, are you alright?" He sounded genuinely concerned.

"What? No. I mean yes. Yes I'm fine." Lianne stumbled over her words. Just when she thought she had momentarily escaped the confines of the palace, royalty ran into her. Or at least I was fine until you came along, she thought inwardly.

Kalir smiled warmly. "I'm glad. I was afraid I had hurt you. Come; allow me to escort you back to the palace. It is nearly time for lunch anyway."

I would rather die, she told herself venomously, and then felt quite ashamed of herself. This man was a guest of Tortall and had treated her with nothing but respect. Lianne had no reason to take her anger out against him. She smiled back at him as she climbed to her feet. "It would be a pleasure to walk with you."

When the two of them reached the corridor that led to her bedchamber, Lianne politely excused herself, claiming a need to wash up before lucnk. Prince Kalir bid farewell to her there as she slipped into the room, closing the door softly behind her. She waited until she was sure he had left, and then walked back into the hallway, alone. She turned and made her way quickly to the pages' dining hall where her friends would be waiting for her.

Lianne set her tray of food down beside a tall first year page with black hair and tanned skin – clearly showing his Bazhir heritage.

"Hey Payton. Where are the others?"

"The two of them are probably making trouble again." Payton's voice was warm and dark. "What did you expect?" When Lianne didn't respond he spoke again. "I suppose Queen Thayet has been keeping you busy."

"My mother hasn't been that bat, in fact, she's very sympathetic. It's Dad who's bothering me. It's not enough for him that I can't be a knight – I have to be a lady too. He just won't leave me alone. Every other word from him is 'a true princess wouldn't do this' or 'a lady should not talk like that.' I don't know what I would do if it wasn't for you guys being here for me. You're my only sanity." Lianne sighed and sat back in her chair.

Payton remained quiet, allowing her to finish her short tirade. It wasn't the first time all of Lianne's feelings toward her situation as a princess had spilled out over lunch. "If we are your only sanity then your situation is indeed dire," he noted sagely.

Bryn appeared on the scene abruptly. He was followed by Aideen, another of the pages. She was old for a first year page, having just turned thirteen the previous summer. Her curly brown hair was partially tamed into a long braid, but some strands had escaped to frame an olive tone face. She and Bryn sat down with their trays across the table from Lianne and Payton.

"We didn't keep you waiting too long I hope," whispered Bryn jokingly over the table before being interrupted by Sir Arnoc.

The training master's icy voice cut off all conversation in the dining hall. "Pages Brynnen and Aideen are to come and see me after they have finished their meals." He said nothing further on the topic, and instead he spoke the customary prayer to the gods that was a prelude to every meal. As soon as he had finished, conversation began anew.

"So what have you done to get on his nerves this time?" asked Lianne curiously, wishing she had been there to take part.

A mischevious grin spread across Bryn's features, but Aideen cut in before he could speak. "This one was my idea," she said proudly. "You know how jumpy Sir Arnoc can be around cats? Well, I decided it was our duty as future knights of the realm to aid him in overcoming this weakness."

"So I caught one of those cats that hang around the barn – that big orange one with white paws," continued Bryn. "We put this cat in his study earlier this morning, so when he returned there after teaching weapons lessons you can imagine the surprise he got."

"He kept muttering to himself afterward, something about evil pages and chaining children in the dungeons. But we know for a fact they hardly ever use the dungeons anymore, so we're probably safe," finished Aideen with a flourish.

The usually quiet Payton spoke up. "The two of you should be more careful," he cautioned. "Sir Arnoc is just waiting for his chance to get you kicked out and be done with you. These antics of yours give him just the ammo he needs."

"You worry too much, Payton. Besides, even if he tried, Arnoc couldn't get me kicked out. I am Brynnen Lotus Pajulien Drallon IV of Pearlmouth, I beg you to remember. And my family is in the Book of Gold. I have no reason to fear for my position here at the palace."

"Brynnen Lotus? Hah! Bryn's named after a flower," chuckled Aideen, who then flinched as Bryn kicked her under the table. Lianne joined the fun momentarily but halted suddenly.

"My dancing lessons!" she started, and jumped to her feet. She waved a farewell and hurried out of the dining hall as fast as her feet could carry her. Goddess, if father finds out I've been late again I'll be the one chained in the dungeons.