Lord hiMinch peered down at the slight figure that sat before him. It was a girl, slender and of medium height. She was only the second girl who had applied to be a page, the first was Lady Keladry of Mendalin. The lord had no idea if she would do but he did see a determination in her eyes that would be hard to put out.

"Do you have the Gift or wild magic?" Lord hiMinch inquired.

"Yes, my lord. All of my family does?"

"Is your Gift talent orientated? Have you received any formal training for it?" Lord hiMinch asked in a rather flat voice- these were questions that he had asked every page ever since he took over the position of training master 7 years before.

"I have battle magic. I received a little training, but just enough to stop blowing up the house." She said with a grim smile.

The training master was not amused. "Here, we do not tolerate such behavior but I have seen worst. You will be receiving proper magical lessons with Master Numair Salmalin along with the other pages. I do hope you realize, Kira of Dragon's Hill, that this is no game. You will be treated like the other male pages. You will also be expected to carry the same workload as them—maybe even more. I cannot guarantee that you will be treated fairly. Now, this interview is done. I do believe your room is ready. I believe that one of the older pages will step up to be your sponsor. Now you may leave."

"Yes, my Lord." And Kira bowed clumsily and fumbled out of the room. Yashi was outside and ready to escort her young mistress up to her new living quarters.

"Well, how did it go?" Yashi asked as the two were unpacking.

"Not very well, I think. I may have gotten on the wrong side of the training master already." Kira admitted.

"You probably did, but it is not really your fault. Lord hiMinch is not exactly for the idea of female knights, however, he is said to be incredibly fair. I believe that you may have a chance to win his respect."

"I suppose so…"

Just then, a bell rung 5 times.

"What is that?" Kira asked.

"It is the bell telling that it is time for all of the pages to report to the main lobby. That includes you. I will see you when you get back from dinner, I'll also have your uniform ready." Yashi explained in her sensible manner and pushed the reluctant Kira out the door.

The main lobby for the pages was a severe looking room designed to make the pages feel edgy. It was completed about 4 years ago as a study hall to decrease the amount of fighting in the libraries—the maids had been complaining about all of the broken furniture. In this lobby, there was a hoard of boys. On the outskirts of this bunch, were the new pages, looking bewildered and scared. Suddenly, the training master entered the room and there was dead silence from all.

"As you may see, there are five new pages that are joining our little home today." Lord hiMinch said sarcastically. "All of them need sponsors. For those who are new among us, a sponsor is someone who will show you the ropes, get you to class and make sure you don't die the first couple of weeks you are here. You! State your name and fief." Lord hiMinch pointed to a small, mousy-haired boy who looked like he was about to wet his pants.

"Nathaniel of Brusher's Cove." The small boy squeaked out.

"Ahhh, yes your family is pirate hunters?"

"Yes, my Lord."

"Very well. Who shall be these lad's sponsor?"

After a few moments, a tall pale haired youth stepped forward.

"I believe that I shall guide this lad to greatness, sire." The tall youth said with a mock bow.

Lord hiMinch looked slightly perturbed. "Very well Seth of Placid Lake. You! State your name and fief." Lord hiMinch pointed to Kira.

"Kira of Dragon's Hill." Kira stated boldly.

Nobody said a word for a full minute. Kira had expected this and was fully prepared to find her way around the castle by herself. Then, a gawky looking boy spoke.

"I will be this page's sponsor, my lord." The boy stated.

"Very well, Bowen of Lark's Point."

Kira inspected her new sponsor more closely. He was extremely tall, more so then Seth of Placid Lake. He also had far too many angles and his wrists, which poked out of his sleeves, were incredibly boney. His hair was bright orange.

'Oh well,' Thought Kira. 'At least in the dark his hair will be a good light source.'

After the rest of the pages had sponsors, Bowen shuffled up to Kira.

"Hello I'm Bowen." Bowen said rather hastily.

"Why did you choose me? I mean you don't have to do me any favors." Kira said in a hostile tone.

"Oh, I just chose you because Seth was, once again, trying to out do me. He just cannot get through his thick skull that I am far more superior than him." Bowen said with, surprisingly, a touch of humor.

"Oh please, Bowen." Seth joined in on the battering. "I am the better one. You are a mere speck against my greatness."

Kira giggled.

"Ah yes, you are the poor child that my numb skull of a cousin has forced himself upon. I pity you, really I do." Seth said.

"Oh! You to are cousins?" Kira inquired.

"Yes, through our mothers." Bowen answered.

Then, the bell rang six times.

"Oh good," Bowmen exclaimed. "It is time for dinner."