I am so sorry you guys!! I had a church retreat and one act play competition with my school's drama. And after a cliff hanger! Anyways, back to the story. Oh yeah, I am open to suggestions, I have plenty ideas for her squire years, but none for page years. Oh, and to my reviewers, Thank you, please, bear with me, I am the worst speller in the world, if you haven't noticed already. I just ask that you be patient, I really am trying. Oh! And I was informed that the pages didn't fight with swords, just staff. So just replace sword with staff!

Disclaimer: You know which ones belong to Tamora Pierce, I shouldn't have to tell you!

The story....

Chapter 4

When Kat came back to consciousness, a dark figure loomed over her. A moment of panic and fear ran through her. Then she realized that the dark figure was only Neal. He looked worried. "What happened?" he demanded.

"I don't know," replied Kat, confused. It seemed that she was a little groggy from the fall and the whole tiring day.

"Who beat you up? I know you had to of seen and taken some chunks out of whoever hurt you."

"Neal, do you honestly think that someone who could make me unconscious didn't leave a blood trail. No, Neal, no one beat me up." She paused, seeing him eye her with doubt. "Hey, what are you doing?" She fussed as he picked her up.

"I am taking you to father, I am certain that you have at least one broken rib. Tell me the truth, what happened?"

"I truthfully don't know. I was just walking down the hall, I was dead tired, and I have never had very good balance anyway, I guess I just tripped. I was all my fault. I just need to learn to pay attention to where I am going." Kat didn't tell Neal about the feeling she had that someone was following her or the leg she saw sticking out only when it was too late. Kat just got chills thinking of it. Then she remembered what she had to tell Uncle Baird. "by the way, Neal, Master Numair said that I have the Gift. He says that I am strong, but limited, like him. I'll tell you more later, when I am not so tired." With that, Kat let out a huge yawn and fell sound asleep in her older cousin's arms.

Kat woke up in the infirmary in the morning with her uncle, Duke Baird standing over her looking worried. "What's the matter, Uncle, you weren't worried about me were you?" Kat asked with a mischievous glint in her blue eyes.

"Katherina, kindly do not give me a scare like that again," Duke Baird said dryly. "I would hate to be the one to tell you father that you got yourself killed the first day of page training. In fact, I would be terrified. You know perfectly well what he is capable of when he is in a rage."

"Well I am alright now, so I will be on my way." Kat hopped up and started to bounce out of the room.

"Hold it right there, young lady" Kat winced at the sound of her uncle's voice. Why did everyone in her entire extended family feel the need to interrogate her at the slightest bruise? "We have to talk. You must tell me what happened last night. I want the truth. Like it or not, you are the king's cousin and you must be treated as such. So?"

"The story I told Neal was true, uncle. I was asleep on my feet and I fell down the stairs. Now, can I go and be on time for breakfast so it doesn't get out what an idiot I am?"

"I suppose so, just be careful; the last thing I need is the king and your father after me. I am supposed to keep an eye on you."

"I promise to be a good little girl, uncle, thanks and bye!" Kat said as she raced to the door.

As she got to the mess, in time, for breakfast, she saw a look of slight disappointment from Lord Wyldon. He must have been hoping she would be covered in bruises by now. But Kat knew no one was mad enough to anger her father by hurting her. She couldn't help but smile in amusement as she thought of this.

Lessons went rather well that day. Kat had made friends with Neal's group, or should I say Kel's group. Joren and his cronies were shooting deadly glares at Kat the whole time, but never did anything more. "They must have this insane idea that you are related to the king," Neal commented sarcastically after witnessing those glares. Kat just hit him extra hard during the next drill, and ignored the killer glances, and regarded them with slight annoyance. Any REAL man would have challenged her already if they had a problem with her, not resort to looks that only make you look silly.