Disclaimer: everything that you see here is Tamora Pierce's. The only things I own are Gwylla and Dylan

Author's Note: I know I said that this would be a one shot but I had several people ask me to continue it so I'll try. I forwarded the story 13 years so now Gwylla is a 13 year old. Oh, for those of you who were wondering over Aly's so called temper that I put in the first chapter, she was just teasing Dove.

Aly looked at her daughter fondly in the mirror. She had long hair that was a dark strawberry blonde, and purple eyes just like her grandmother, Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau.

"Ma?" Gwylla spoke up, interrupting her reverie. "When will I be able to travel to Tortall and become a page?" "Darling, your father and I aren't sure if it's safe with me being the spymaster and your father being the general of Her Majesty's army. We still have to decide." Aly answered gently.

Gwylla huffed to herself thinking, 'She never lets me do anything for myself. It's always safety this and safety that. Once her mother had left the room she made a decision. She was going to go whether her parents wanted it or not. Quickly she threw her essentials, including a small sack of gold that she had been given for her birthday, into a small cloth bag and changed into her most non-descript riding habit.

She ran down to the stables and quickly saddled up the fastest mare that her family owned. She had to get to the docks before anyone in Rajumat realized she was gone.

"Come on girl." She whispered as she led the horse out of the stables. She rode hard all the way to the docks, taking the shortcut through Honey pot even though she hated the place with all her heart.

Breathless, she stopped and asked a burly man where she could find a ship to Port Legann. Wordlessly, the man pointed to a large courier with royal blue sails. Steeling herself, she walked up to a slight young man, not much older than her, that was standing by the gangplank.

"Excuse me." she said politely. "Could you tell me where I can buy a passage on this ship?"

The boy smiled brightly and exclaimed, "Of course! My father is the captain. For a pretty lady such as yourself I would be happy to get you a passage."

Gwylla blushed and followed him onboard. "I'm Dylan of Masbolle." The boy offered. "Gwylla of Pines Peak. I'm going to the palace to become a page."

"Really?" he replied. "So am I. Did you know that you're going to be only the seventh lady knight in the realm if you get your shield? How old are you anyway? You look older than ten."

"I'm thirteen." Gwylla replied, blushing. 'Why can't I stop blushing?' she thought furiously to herself. 'He's just another normal boy just like the ones who get after me every day even though you would think that after the first slap they would get a clue. Oh well, I'm leaving that now.'

"How long will it take to get to Tortall?" Gwylla asked Dylan once his father had given her a passage on the ship.

"About half a month maybe longer if the weather's bad." He replied cheerfully. "You'll like the palace. It's nothing compared to the one here but it's very nice. Come on! It's time to go!"

Gwylla gulped as the ship set off. She was leaving her old life behind.

Ok. Did you like it? If I don't get three reviews I'm not going to continue. You can on the other hand, review more than once. I don't mind.