-To BloodRoseOTDemon, PsychoLioness13, and Mango Sam: You guys are the best! Luv all of ya!!!!!

-Chapter Eight:

Mitzi was still in a daze the next day at her staff lesson. She wasn't sure what to think about last night, about her first meeting with Prince Roald. And there he was, practicing tilting with the fourth-years just in the next yard over. How was she supposed to practicing blockings when her betrothed was in her sightline?

And truth was, Princess Mitzi didn't know what to think about the Prince. She was relieved that he was at least good-looking...but it hadn't been love at first sight. In fact, she had been so nervous she didn't really remember anything that had happened. They had barely talked. He had never made eye-contact with her!

She had told these feelings to Kel, so Kel, looking over at the princess, who had just clumsily missed a block, knew why the girl was careless today. In fact, Prince Roald had also talked to Kel. Actually, Kel had stayed after the meeting to demand that the prince tell her what he thought of Mitzi. And here is what he said: "She's charming...but lacking something."

Kel knew what Mitzi was lacking. The princess had been nervous and had been cold...she was lacking what liveliness she usually had. In trying to hide her nervousness, the princess had also hidden her personality.

Thwap!

That sound was not unfamiliar in the practice courts. It was the sound of the wood of a staff hitting something other than the wood of another staff. Usually this sound came when a staff contacted fingers, arms, legs, and the occasional head.

"Ahhh!" came a shriek. A girl shriek. A shriek of pain from Mitzi who, in her carelessness, had gotten smacked right on the collarbone.

Practice did not stop. The other pages continued doing their own blocks. It happened all the time. When it had happened to Kel herself she had just gotten up and continued practicing...that was what the teachers expected.

But immediately two of the teachers rushed over to the princess and helped her up.

"Why do the teachers help her?" one page grumbled. "Yesterday I got hit on the head and they didn't even ask me if I was hurt."

"I know," agreed another voice next to Kel. "My fingers got all swollen and they told me to continue!"

"Look!" muttered another boy. "Now they're taking her over to the side! She's gets to miss practice?"

"It's because she's a girl."

"Why don't we get special treatment?"

Mitzi, leaning on a teacher who was helping her over to a bench on the edge of the practice courts, heard these comments made just loud enough so she could hear them. Her face burned but she tried to keep her head up even though it hurt her neck muscles to do it. How stupid she felt right now...sitting out because of a bruise on her neck when other boys continued! And how embarrassing that so much attention had been brought to her missed block...it seemed everyone knew that she was behind in all her combat classes.

"Grue! Partner up with Juvil!" shouted one of the staff teachers, taking the boy whom Mitzi had been paired up with and putting him with another boy. Mitzi knew that the Grue probably felt relieved at having a new partner. No one liked being her partner because she was not fast enough to keep up with the pace the teachers set.

If only she wasn't so weak and could tell the teacher she would continue! But it had been a hard day and she succumbed to the comfort of the bench, letting her tired muscles rest...and it felt good despite the throbbing muscles in her neck. And how tempted she was to tell the boys why she deserved this special treatment!

After all, she was a princess, and a princess shouldn't get hurt too much, even if she was under disguise. She deserved to be able to take a break...and rest!

Suddenly Mitzi noticed that there was an older boy across the court, staring at her. It was Joren of Stone Mountain. And he was looking at her darkly. Had he been here the whole time? Now Mitzi felt embarrassed. How terrible that he should have seen her get hurt after she had yelled at him for saying girls were weaker than boys. And here she was, sitting out because she was weaker.

"Here you go," said one of the teachers, handing Mitzi a cup of water. She took it and drank it thirstily.

As the teacher walked away, shouting at one boy to stay in tempo, another voice broke into Mitzi's thoughts. "Take it easy, princess." Mitzi looked up into Joren's blue eyes. "Don't like my new nickname for you?"

Mitzi was desperately trying not to panic. Did he just call her 'princess'? Had he found out? "You'll like my nickname for you even worse," she said, as airily as possible. It was probably just a coincidence.

Joren's eyes narrowed. "Why do you get to sit out?"

"I...I got hurt."

"And the teachers let you sit out?"

Mitzi didn't reply. She didn't want to admit how such a little thing was hurting her.

Joren was studying her. "You see," he burst out. "This is why girls shouldn't be allowed to train as pages. You can't take the stress of training...and the teachers favor you."

Mitzi turned her head away, trying to ignore the older squire.

"I've been talking to the other boys, and they all say that the teachers favor you...let you sit out. Give you easier chores to complete...even excused absences! And I want to know why! It's not fair that you girls can get off easy while we boys are working hard!"

Mitzi, who for once had no snappy answer, was relieved that the bell ran and she was able to leave Joren and go to her magic lesson.

"I'll find out why!" came Joren's voice behind her.