Seven hard years had indeed past by and the now eighteen years old Ghada stood ready and alert for Landis to attack. Today was the day that would either pass her or force her to continue another possible year of training. Ghada would rather clean all a hundred rooms of her estate than go through another year of hellish onslaught. Landis had kept true to his promise and had taught her anything a knight ought to know.

She had mastered the bow and arrow, had fairly good swordmanship and footwork to go along with it, could ride a horse bareback without any problems and was fairly accurate at jousting.

Ghada measured up her opponent warily, having to face him for the eighth and possibly last time today. Landis had thrown her from her horse in a jousting competition, previous to this moment and Ghada wanted to soak her sore limbs rather than a sword and shield combat.

Landis ran at her with full speed, which was quite quick but not as fast as he used to be Ghada noticed. She feinted left and held up her shield to block a blow that was clearly aimed to dislodge her arm had this been a real fight. Ghada swung her sword swiftly to the side of his head and heard a surprising "oof" of an impact, which she thought he would block. Taking this to her advantage, Ghada shied to the right of his sword and in a powerful movement lifted her sword up and split apart the old shield neatly into two pieces.

Landis cursed at how badly he was doing, usually accustomed to winning by now and tossed his now useless shield to the side, surprisingly he watched Ghada do the same.

"What are you doing? You would have had an advantage over me had this been a real battle."

Ghada smiled at her tutor, "I wanted to make this fair, so once I am victorious you can say it was by pure skill."

Landis chuckled, and launched himself again towards Ghada, this time having a successful impact when he aimed for her shoulder, weakening her sword arm.

He heard Ghada grumble about something as he backed off and waited for another chance to attack. A moment later Ghada ran at him full force and a lot faster than he himself had been earlier and imitated the blow she had just received. Instead of backing off she swung her wooden imitation of a blade at the back off his head, and hit hard enough for Landis to become dizzy. Taking this moment to end it Ghada smacked her sword face down onto his hand, which made him release the wooden sword.

Ghada shrieked out loud and jumped up in victory. Tired and bruised, but she had won and would no longer need to have lessons. Landis, took a moment to collect himself then took it upon himself to congratulate the first ever female to beat him in a match. Amory, who had been watching secretly from inside the stables came running out cheering to her little sister. Landis looked over in surprise and laughed out loud.

"My first match losing to a woman has to be witnessed, figures."

Ghada grinned over at the old knight.

" You've shrunk," she stated.

"Either that or you've grown," replied Landis.

Ghada laughed at that statement.

" I wish!"

For it was true, over the years Ghada secretly hoped to grow tall and strong but was immediatly let down when her growth spurt was declared over after she had reached the height of 5 feet and 5 inches. Her hair had grown also but Ghada insisted on cutting it back to its rightful place of above her shoulders. Her charcoal black hair had seemed to taken on a personality of its own and started to wave softly and grow very slowly now instead of quickly as it used to.

Amory ptted her sister on her back and noticed the wincing it created.

"I made sure a hot bath was prepared for you," said Amory.

Ghada thanked her and decided to go ahead to relax. Amory was now engaged and Ghada found it almost depressing that her last sister would soon be leaving her nearly empty estate. Soon only Ghada would be the last daughter to remain in the household. Over the years her father had changed and grown distant while the cushion display remained unused and hidden away. Ghada decided to go there now as the water drained from the tub.

Although Ghada disliked that place as it was the last time she had seen her sister Amaryllis, she liked to go in there to think. She tried not to dwell on the past, but to think more of the future, and the promise she had made to her sister that she would find her. Amaryllis would now be 21 and Ghada wondered if she would still recognize her. She hoped dearly that her sister was safe and being treated right. The door creaked open and Landis peered his head in clearly looking for her.

"Ah there you are," he said, "You ran off on me before I could tell you the news."

"What news?" asked Ghada sitting up hopefully.

" A tournament is going to be held in four months time, and I heard that Slade is going to be there, issued as one of the judges."

Ghada narrowed her eyes at the name of the man she had sworn to kill.

"Of course I would have only told you about this tournament if you had beaten me, which I may add you did."

She grinned inspite of herself.

" I would like to see you down there as soon as possible as knights who want a name for themselves are coming from all over. I have sent for a carriage and you will leave this evening."

Ghada sat there staring at her old master in shock until she finally found her voice.

"Are—Are you insane? I'm not prepared at all, and I've hardly fought a real battle before in my life! These are real men you're talking about here. Men who will be a foot taller and more than likely twice as strong!"

Landis looked caringly at his student, " Aye, it would be a difficult task indeed, but this tourny is a bit of a weird one if you ask me. Instead of one on one battles from the beginning you will be in teams, which will then be reduced to small groups then finally into a group of two, which will then lead to a final one on one battle. So you will be receiving some help, and even second and third rankings are better then no name at all."

Ghada though over his words carefully, and imagined herself being crowned the winner in front of a huge crowd little knowing that she was female.

" I'll do it."

"Good, Good. I already took the preparation of packing your bags and getting out the necessary funding you'll be needing."

Ghada walked out of the doors with Landis and saw all of her belongings firmly packed and waiting.

" How do you know I wouldn't say no?"

" I've trained you for seven years, a master should know his deciple well enough by now."

As the carriage arrived Ghada walked down under the heavy wait of her belongings and began to load them onto the back.

"Landis I'm going to miss you," said Ghada looking tearfully at him.

"I don't see why you should. I'll be going with you," replied Landis with his eyes twinkling.