A/N really sorry for the long update.

Duke Roger of Conte paced his bedchambers, thinking hard. His plans were changing yet again.

Roger thought back over the past year. He had sent the sweating sickness to Tortall in order to kill the prince. Roger had succeeded in killing many others but his cousin had survived, thanks to the help of the then Page Alan, who had since turned out to be nothing more that a lying girl. At the time Roger had believed that Sir Myles of Olau had directed the boy, with Page Alan a mere passage for the magic that had flowed into Jonathon and cured him from the sickness. Roger had cursed the boy but resolved to try again.

Roger had then used his magical charm to persuade Jonathon to face the Ysandir. He knew that his untrained cousin was no match for the deadly spirits. However, Page Alan had gone with the Prince and both children had arrived back unscathed yet again. Roger had been furious until an idea occurred to him.

It seemed to Roger that he had aiming entirely too low. He had only been trying for the Totallen throne. Now, he had a different idea, one far more mighty than the last.

Roger smiled to himself. Oh yes, his plans were mighty. And there was no way they could go wrong.

"She doesn't look like a knight," someone said. Then, in more hushed tones, the voice added, "I don't know how she got away with it. Maybe she was bribing them." Alanna looked around, trying to find the speaker. She had already been nervous, and now she was angry. Why did everyone think she wasn't good enough to be a knight? Her fists clenched. She knew exactly how this would be settled at the palace, but she couldn't fight anymore of the girls or she'd be back at Trebond with a furious father to keep her company.

"Be quiet, Katriona," another voice said from the same table as the speaker. "Can't you see she's nervous already?" The girl now talking stood up. "Lady Alanna. Come and sit over here."

Alanna gratefully moved toward the girl, thankful that someone didn't seem to hate her. The girls sitting at the table moved up to let Alanna sit down. Immediately servants rushed to Alanna with cutlery and food and set her a place as the girls around began to talk amongst themselves. Steaming hot food was placed before her and suddenly Alanna felt as though she had never been so hungry in her life. She picked up a knife and food and began to dig in.

"Uh…" The girl next to her began. Alanna stopped eating to look at her. "Sorry, it's just that…"

"You're using the wrong knife and fork," Katriona said bluntly. Alanna looked down and blushed hotly.

"Oh, I didn't know," Alanna said, putting them down. She gazed at the row of cutlery sitting in front of her.

"You want that pair," said the girl next to her, pointing at the last ones. "My name's Brianna by the way. Sorry about Katriona. She says what she thinks."

"The Daughter's are always trying to stop me," Katriona put in. "They say I'll never get a husband."

Alanna forced a smile. She felt terrible. There were so many things that she didn't know. The girls all knew proper table manners, proper speaking and how to behave in many situations. They took many things for granted. How was she ever going to catch up?

After the meal Katriona, who was turning out to be quite friendly, took her up to the dressmaker to order the clothes. She left Alanna there, telling her to come to the common room when she had been fitted. Alanna wriggled uncomfortably as the dressmaker took her measurements. I wish this part was over, she thought crossly. As soon as she was fitted she hurried from the room, heading along the passageway to where her common room was. In such a hurry, Alanna wasn't looking where she was going and was surprised when a shadow fell across her. She looked up to find Lady Delia and two other girls in front of her, all smirking.

"Well, well," Lady Delia said, her tone sickly sweet. "What do we have here?"

A/N hey guys, I am truly sorry for this chapter. I hated it but I wanted to get something up. I'm kind of stuck, I don't really know what I'm doing here, so if anyone has any ideas please feel free to give them to me. Thanks for reading!