-To many reviewers: Sorry about the terribly obvious mistake i made. I will do some editing soon but just to clear stuff up Kel is a third year page, Neal a fourth-year, Joren a squire...oh, and Mitzi a first year page. Thanks for pointing out that error...how embarrassing!
-Also, I have plenty ideas for this story, but also am looking for suggestions that maybe i can add...
-Chapter Three:
Keladry Mindelan took Princess Mitziarianna with her as they sat down at their usual table in the cafeteria filled with many tables crowded with pages and a few squires...all boys. Mitzi sat on the edge, across from Nealan Queenscove while Kel was wedged between Merric of Hollyrose and Seaver of Tasride; across from her was Faleron of King's Reach. All of the boys from red-haired Merric to black-eyed Seaver stared as the new girl page sat down.
Mitzi ignored their stares but as she placed her napkin on her lap she said quietly -but firmly-, "It's not polite to stare."
This got a chuckle from Neal and Mitzi turned her attention on him. He smiled widely at her but she only smiled back with an indifferent, princessy, smile. "Aren't you going to introduce us, Kel?" Neal asked.
"This is Mitzi, niece of the Baron and Baroness of Gurshew." Kel said, motioning to the slender chestnut-haired girl next to her. "Across from you, Mitz,i is Neal, next to me is Merric and Seaver, and sitting by Neal is Faleron." Mitzi greeted them all in turn.
"Where are your parents from, Mitzi?" Seaver asked.
"I'm afraid they are dead," Mitzi replied calmly. "They were killed in...in a small earthquake near the border of Norwestia."
"My sincerest apologies," Faleron said.
"Norwestia is pretty far from here," Seaver continued. "Have you traveled a lot?"
"No, not really. I grew up near...near Norwestia and didn't leave until I came to live with my aunt and uncle."
While this was going on Kel remained silent, listening carefully to the princess to make sure she didn't slip up. Mitzi was delivering this information very matter-of-factly and the whole time eating her meal daintily, only speaking once she had finished a small mouthful, never spilling a drop on her clothes, and holding her eating utensils properly.
"Probably a good thing that you came to Tortall," commented Neal shoveling food into his mouth and talking at the same time; Kel felt embarrassed for her friend. She could see Mitzi was trying to hide her disgust at the boys' eating habits; Kel could also see Neal had neglected to eat his vegetables. "From all the news we received the war is getting bad."
"You know information about Norwestia?" Mitzi said suddenly; her voice losing its levelness. She surprised everyone with her sudden interest as she leaned eagerly towards Neal; bad eating habits or not.
Neal too was startled but swallowed and replied. "Yes. Sir Myles has several spies stationed there. Why? Do you have friends there?"
Mitzi ignored the questioned and instead asked, leaning even closer. "Where is this Sir Myles? Tell me!"
"Here's over there sitting by Lord Wyldon," Neal answered, pointing to the largest table where the training master sat with the rest of the teaching staff. He seemed slightly intimidated by the tone that had entered her voice. For a little while Mitzi watched the slightly drunk history teacher with intent amber-brown eyes, until a strange feeling of being watched made her scan the rest of the pages and meet a pair of gorgeous light blue eyes. Squire Joren of Stone Mountain was staring at her with hatred.
"That's Joren of Stone Mountain," Faleron said, following Mitzi's gaze.
"But I thought he was a squire now!" Kel asked, surprised and annoyed. "I thought we had finally gotten rid of him!"
"No such luck," said Merric miserably. "The knight he is squire to is on duty here in the palace; we may be stuck with ol' Joren for a while."
"Joren doesn't like girl pages," Neal told Mitzi. "That's why he hates Kel...he also hates anyone who is more skilled in any subject than he is, which is why he hates me. He used to bully the younger pages with his group. I don't see any of them here but be certain that Joren will try something."
"He looks wealthy-" Mitzi said.
"but a spoiled rotten bully!" Seaver added.
Seeing that they had noticed him, Joren of Stone Mountain rose from the table of fourth-year pages he had been sitting at; Kel could see he hadn't wasted anytime in getting boys to back him up in fights. As he passed their table he said to the boy next to him, motioning to the two girl pages, "Look, they're multiplying...like cockroaches." The boy next to him sniggered.
Kel ignored the remark but Mitzi stiffened and replied, "I thought the chivalry of knights dictated that respect be shown to ladies."
Joren stopped and looked down at the princess. "You're not a lady. A lady stays at home taking care of the family and household. A lady wouldn't disgrace herself by losing all matrimonial potential by training amongst men for combat."
Mitzi placed a small mouthful of food into her mouth and swallowed before answering. "A lady wouldn't disgrace herself by insulting someone younger than her or who is of lower status than her. I am not a knight but I am pretty sure that the same rule goes for squires...and you, sir, are only disgracing yourself by your rudeness to me."
"Who do you think you are?" The boy next to Joren demanded.
"I'm Princes-" Mitzi started to say. But stopped herself and began again. "I'm only a lowly page."
"Than act like one?" Joren said. "Pages have to obey squires-"
"Leave her alone!" Merric said; he too had been bullied by Joren in his earlier page years. He and the other boys began to stand up.
"Well," said Joren, ready to leave. "I guess the girl's marriage potential might not dwindle as long as she continues her flirtations with you." Seaver and Faleron growled but Joren quickly left, satisfied to at least have the last word.
"Don't mind them," Neal said.
"So you guys don't mind having girls around?" Mitzi asked softly.
"At first I thought they shouldn't be here," Merric admitted. "I thought all women were weaker than men...but Kel proved me wrong and so did the Lioness. I guess the truth is that only a few women are weaker then men."
"Yeah," said Neal jokingly. "And I guess a few men must be weaker then women because I sure could use some help from Kel on my staff work." Kel smiled and blushed at the compliment.
The bell rang, telling people that lunch was over and the next part of the schedule had already started. The boys hurriedly picked up their plates and walked away. Mitzi followed Kel. "Speaking of marriage," she said. "Where is Prince Raold?"
"I'm afraid he's absent because of a sickness." Kel laughed at the alarmed look that came onto the princess's face. "Don't worry! It's just a slight cold."
"Will I get to see him soon?"
"We'll try."
