Hello again, sorry for the delay, school has been a killer this week. Anyway, forgot my disclaimer, as you know, the characters that you recognize are not mine, they are Tamora Pierce's. Ok, now, on to the reviews.

Alvios: I made it Roald for a reason. He will come into play later, she really grew up with all of them, I suppose. There is an age difference, I know, but I am thinking only 4 years or so. He is kind of a big brother figure at the present. Thanks for the review, though.

Chapter 2

It was a cloudless summer day and Keledry of Mindelin and Nealan of Queenscove sat talking out near the practice courts at the Tortallan Palace in Corus. They came to keep their skills sharp because they were about to begin their third year as pages, but they talked more than practiced.

"So Kel, by the way, have you heard, or do I have to tell you." Neal asked with a mischievous glint in his green eyes.

"What are you talking about Neal?" Kel looked exasperated, thinking Neal was teasing her about something. Neal just kept a smile on his face and refused to answer. "Tell me Neal, or I will hit you with something."

"Well, since you have lowered yourself to the use of brute force, I am forced to tell you." Neal's dry voice made Kel want to hit him even more.

"Tell me, Neal or I will really hit you with something!!!"

"Well, if you must know, a certain cousin of mine is trying to start page training. She was supposed to have arrived. Know her, she was here early enough to berate the king before supper. She is ver feisty. Oh, and she is coming to find me to tell me what happens after King Jonathan reaches a decision." Neal grinned at the shock obvious on his best friend's face.

"SHE?"

Kel expressed this shock as a small, blue-clad shape raced across the court toward them. "NEAL, Neal!!!" It screamed.

Kat reached them barely panting, she seemed to be in good physical shape. "Neal, they're letting me do it. Mother isn't too happy, but she will get over it. Father finally convinced Jon. Oh Neal, I am so happy! I get to be a knight. My dreaming finally became something! I-" She paused as she noticed Neal's companion.

If Kel hadn't been shocked before, she was definitely shocked now. The girl was small and delicate. She was also beautiful. No wonder the king didn't want her training, thought Kel, she would distract the pages and squires greatly.

"Hello, I'm Kat, and you must be Keledry of Mindelin, Neal has written ever so much about you. I only have one question to ask you, how do you put up with him?" Kat smile at her older cousin. Kel couldn't help but grin at the younger girl's question.

"I believe I hear your nurse calling you, Kat, maybe you should go now," Neal suggested, trying to sound mean, but the smile on his lips gave him away.

"Are you going to try to make me Neal!" laughed Kat. "I would really like to see that!" Neal then lounged, trying to grab the girl, and in a flash, Kat had Neal pinned on the ground with a small dagger to his throat. Kel, couldn't help it, she laughed at her best friend's wounded pride.

"I told you not to mess with me Neal!" Kat teased her stunned cousin. "I guess that I will be seeing you two around. Bye!"

Kel laughed at Neal as she moved to help him up. "It seems that I am not the only one to keep you in line now."

"I should have known. Kat is known for the innate skill of wielding sharp objects: knife, sword, and tongue," Neal commented dryly. "So, can you see the family resemblance?"

"She looks sort of like the king. Why does she call him 'Jon' and not 'the king' or 'His Majesty?'" Kel asked, very confused of the young girl's behavior toward the monarch.

"First of all, Kat is a cousin to the king. Her father is of the Conte blood, which accounts for her looks. Also, the king is like an uncle for her. You know, she is the next in line for the Throne, should something happen to the Royal children. That is one of the reasons that the king didn't want for her to be a knight. She could be a valuable pawn in foreign alliances. Men will be tripping over themselves to get a marriage with her. Then of course, they would meet her." Neal sounded smug as presented this information to Kel.

"Then, do you have Conte blood, since you are related to her?" inquired Kel.

"No, I am related to her through her mother's side. I am related to the king through his mother, my father's sister." Neal didn't sound the least bit jealous in having such a powerful cousin.

I know, it is short, but all I can think of right now, please review, and keep in mind this is my first fanfic, so I need as much help as I can get. Thanks! God Bless everyone!!!