Chapter Four

First day of Classes

Kethry woke up early the next morning. She yawned and stretched. "Wow. I missed dinner last night. I must have slept pretty hard." She chuckled. She looked on the end of her bed and saw that a couple pairs of her uniforms had been sent.

She stood up, and grabbed her bathing things and new uniforms, and headed to the bathhouse. She took a nice hot bath to wake her up, and washed her face. She changed into her uniforms. They fit really nicely. She strapped on her riding boots, since she would be having equitation first.

After that she headed to the dinning hall for breakfast. She could smell the sizzling bacon halfway down the hall, and it made her mouth water. For once SHE didn't have to cook breakfast. She got to the line and the cook smiled joyfully.

"Heyla! You missed dinner last night, you must be starved." He said, grabbing a plate, and loading it with bacon, sausage, fruit, eggs, and rolls. "There's some fruit pie down there, and wine, cider and milk to drink." He replied happily.

Kethry grinned. She had never seen so much delicious food. Her family would only have this much on rare, or celebratory occasions. She took her tray over to the table and began eating. This food had to be the best in all of Valdemar. She sighed happily.

"Heyla. You must be new." A handsome boy greeted Kethry.

Kethry looked up. "Heyla, yeah I am new." She replied.

"I'm Trevor, I was chosen by Gyatha." He told her.

"I'm Kethry, I was chosen by Vryna." She shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you. What class you have next?" Trevor asked.

"I have advanced riding." Kethry replied.

"Wow, so do I, fancy that." He smiled. He sat down next to her to finish his breakfast.

"What's your last name?" Trevor asked curiously. "It's just you sound sorta familiar…"

"Beltran…." Kethry said hesitantly.

"Oh yes… the Beltrans from Kettlesmith?" Trevor started. "I'm from the noble family Deltrine, we live in Horn… just south of Kettlesmith…maybe that's why you seem familiar…my father was good friends with your father."

"Oh yes… that name sounds familiar now…" Kethry smiled. "Wonder why my father never chose to set us up." Kethry said sarcastically.

"Yeah… I don't know…" Trevor shook his head. "Well I was chosen about a year ago… so maybe that's why."

Kethry nodded. "Well, I'm going to head to class… want to meet Vryna?" Kethry asked.

Trevor nodded. "Sure, you can meet Gyatha too." Trevor said happily.

Trevor and Kethry headed out to the stables to get their companions ready for equitation. Vryna trotted up happily to the both of them.

:Good morning Kethry, I see you had a nice sleep last night.: Vryna chuckled.

"Oh silly girl, yes I did." Kethry chuckled.

:Now who is this fine young boy. I really must meet him.: Vryna said happily. :A new love interest?:

"Oh Vryna, your funny. This is Trevor Deltrine, Trevor this is Vryna." Kethry introduced them.

Trevor bowed a low bow to Vryna. "Good morning pretty lady." He smiled. "Nice to meet you Vryna."

:I like him.: Vryna chuckled, doing a little girlish prance, and a bow back.

"Kethry…. Vryna, this Gyatha, my companion." Trevor introduced as well. A white female companion trotted up next to Vryna and bowed.

"Gyatha likes you." Trevor smiled.

"Yeah, Vryna likes you too." Kethry replied, chuckling. She grabbed a brush and began brushing Vryna down.

"So you've obviously ridden a lot." Trevor observed. "If he put you in the advanced course right away."

"Oh yes, I rode all the time back home… that was the one thing father let me do that was "unlady-like"" Kethry replied with a grimace.

"We should go riding after class. I'd like to see how good you are." Trevor proposed.

Kethry nodded. "Sure, that would be fun." She said, as she was throwing the saddle over Vrynas back. She strapped on the bridle, and mounted just after Trevor. They both rode over to the riding arena to meet the others. Kethry couldn't help but feel giddy every time she heard Trevor even talk, she had never felt this way about anyone before, but every time there eyes met, she felt herself flush.

Trevor smiled at Kethry and she felt herself blush again. Thankfully the teacher began class, so Trevors attention was turned away. Equitation turned out to be really fun. They practiced certain moves while cantering, and just getting used to being in the saddle at a fast pace. When Equitation was over, Trevor and Kethry trotted the opposite way near the woods.

"Uh… so Kethry…" Trevor began. There was a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"Yeah?" Kethry said, glancing at him.

"Well… I…" He stumbled on his words.

:Oh for heavens sake, just spit it out.: Vryna said amused. She walked closer to Gyatha, so Kethrys leg brushed against Trevors. Kethrys stomach did a jump, and she looked away.

Trevor finally got up the courage, and placed his hand lightly on Kethrys chin, turning her head to look at him. He leaned in to give her a light, quick, kiss. "I… like you…" He said, blushing slightly.

Kethry felt her face burning. "I… like you too…" She said nervously. They stared at each other for a few moments, unable to speak. She stared into his big brown eyes and felt herself melting. He grabbed her hand, and held it lightly as the two companions walked side by side.

Eventually the two companions headed back to the stables. As they reached the gate, Kethry and Trevor dismounted. Kethry was pulling Vrynas saddle off her back, when she tripped and fell. Trevor caught her and pulled her closer to him. Kethry looked up in his eyes again, holding him close. She rested her arm on his shoulder. She couldn't believe this was happening… so soon. She had never really loved any man before. This felt wonderful though, her first love.

:Ahh… young love.: Vryna sighed happily, talking to Gyatha.

:Yes, isn't it wonderful.: Gyatha replied warmly.

Finally Trevor and Kethry let go of their embrace, and finished un-tacking the companions. They said goodbye… if a bit regretfully, they still had their next class to attend to. Rather quickly too. Kethry heard the first bell for the next class, and quickly darted back to the collegium.