Adrienne looked back to see who was following her. There riding toward her at a very fast pace was strawberry blond. Adrienne recognized her mother right away. Adrienne reared her horse around to face the approaching Aly. Aly came was there a few seconds later.
"Where in the world do you think you're going?" Aly demanded of her daughter. "I came from the Copper Isles to make sure you don't want to kill me and you just leave?" Aly said even more loudly. People on the street looked there was. Adrienne didn't respond. She knew that her mother hated it when she didn't respond.
"I'm going to study like the Shang. Don't ask me to stay because I wont. And don't get mad at me for doing this, you caused it." With that Adrienne took one last glance at her gaping mother. Aly felt as though she had been slapped as she watched her only daughter ride off through the city away from her.
Soon Adrienne caught up with the Shang. She looked sideways at Adrienne. She saw hurting in the girl's eyes.
"Adrienne, I'm sorry that this happened to you." The Shang said with a quiet voice. Adrienne shrugged slightly.
"I'm used to lies and being left out of my own life." Adrienne looked over at the Shang who was staring in disbelief at her. She shook her head once and nudged her horse faster.
The days went by fast, and without much talk. Finally, on the last leg of their journey they started to climb mountains. The Shang caught up to Adrienne.
"Let's start your training now." The Shang woman stared at Adrienne waiting for some kind of response. Adrienne looked at the woman.
"What am I to call you?" Adrienne asked ignoring the woman's last comment. She would start training when she was ready and at the second she wasn't ready. The Shang looked annoyed, but answered Adrienne nonetheless.
"My name is Revive you may call me Rev if you like." Rev said her dark eyes dangerous. Soon they came to snow covered ground. Adrienne looked at it in awe. She had lived in Rajmuat her whole life and had never been able to touch snow before. Rev saw this look and laughed.
"You'll get lots of time to see that stuff." She said still grinning. Adrienne straightened back up and road on ahead again.
After a bit the mountain became flat, and Adrienne stared in wonder at the sight before her. There on the flat plain of grass frozen at the second stood a castle of sorts. It was all white and not just from the snow. It had columns lining the front and arches connecting them. The stone that made it was a little dirty and cracks sometimes went up the wall. Ivy was covering half the building. IT was tall with several towers, and domes. It was quite larger. Soon Rev joined Adrienne in gazing at the beautiful castle.
"It's good to be home." Rev said in a whisper. Adrienne looked over Rev she was smiling and sighing with relief. She really does love this place, Adrienne thought amazed. Rev started her horse forward and Adrienne followed close behind. Before long Rev was leading Adrienne out of the stables, and into the fortress. Adrienne was met by a sight she had never seen as she entered the castle. The top dome seemed to be painted in gold. Pillars stood at four sides of the room and a few lingered here and there around the room holding up the ceiling. The walls were painted in many different designs. There were pictures painted of battle scenes and warriors, all of them Shang of course. The Sides of the room had a few couches and tables, but the floor was made of some kind of marble. Adrienne gawked at it for a long time.
"Rev, why is this place so much prettier then the palace? I mean this isn't even really a palace it's just a place the Shang study." Adrienne said still looking at the paintings on the walls. Rev laughed yet again.
"Oh the Shang have their own special way of designing the places they teach." Rev smirked and led Adrienne through another door. This next room was not as splendorous as the last, but still beautiful. Rugs that had stories weaved into them hung on the walls, and the pillars had engravings that were in a weird language written on them.
"Revive' you're here." A cherry voice broke into Adrienne's thoughts. She turned to see and older man. He had a close chopped gray beard, coal black eyes, a thin mouth, and gray hair tied back into a ponytail. "You wanted more, did you." The man laughed after he said it. Rev smiled.
"No, I brought a youngster who decided she wanted to learn all I learned." Rev said pointing to Adrienne. At this moment the man stepped closer to Adrienne and inspected her. She was short for her age he guessed about eleven. She had black hair, and brown eyes deep with sorrow and suffering. But in the way she stood and held herself he saw a very promising student. Suddenly Adrienne bowed low. She couldn't help herself she felt she needed too. This was a great man who had done many good things she sensed. The man looked back at Rev. Then back to Adrienne.
"You have a Gift what is it?" The man stared straight into Adrienne's eye she wanted to cower under that gaze. She bit her cheek.
"Fear, sir, my Gift is fear." Adrienne said putting an emphasis on the second fear. He seemed stunned by this. Adrienne hadn't expected any different. According to Charlie only one other person in history ever had that gift. He nodded.
"She will do." The Shang man said evenly. Then with one swipe of his hand two servants from a corner of the room appeared.
"Get these two women baths, food, and rooms." Then with that the man was gone silent as a ghost. Adrienne swallowed hard when he had left. His presence had made her squirm. He was powerful. Rev smiled at Adrienne.
"You'll get used to the Shang Tiger. He is very intimidating though." Rev said slinging an arm over Adrienne shoulders. And this time Adrienne did not push away she merely sighed and followed the servants through many more doors and many more rooms that were gorgeous.
Adrienne found her room very comfortable. It had a modest looking bed. Her beside table and wardrobe were both a good wood. And the small room right off of her room served the same as it had at the palace. When Adrienne was done washing she found a cream-colored tunic and hose in place of her old ones. She put them on and found they fit rather nicely. Then she decided to have a look around. She found a library; the servants wash room, the kitchens, more Shang and Shang in training rooms. She finally found a servant and asked him were the practice courts were. He showed her how to get outside, and there she would find them. Though she followed exactly what he had said she still could not find her way outside. She was lost in a maze of rooms and hallways. Adrienne blew hot air through her nose in disgust.
"Can I help you, Lady?" A voice came from the back her. Adrienne turned slightly to see a boy about her age she guessed. She gaped at him she had not even heard him come up. She turned all the way around to face him.
"Yes, please. I'm trying to find the practice courts, but I'm afraid I'm new and horrible with me sense of direction." Adrienne pathetically said. The boy smiled a half smile.
"Don't worry I got lost the first time I was here too. Here I lead you to them." He said kindly, and before Adrienne could just offer to go herself with better direction he was off down the hall Adrienne had come from.
They made it to the practice courts within five minuets. The courts were mostly the same as the palaces except that the walls were made of arches going all the way around. Adrienne turned to the boy.
"Thank you. I'm Adrienne, by the way." Adrienne bowed her head slightly. The boy did the same.
"I'm Lanceth, but my friends call my Lance." Lance stare down at the very short feeling Adrienne. "So, why don't we practice while you tell me about the palace in Corus. I heard it's amazing." Lance started to stretch. Adrienne paused before lowering herself to the ground.
"Wait how did you know…"
"Word travels fast around here." Lance said smiling. Adrienne laughed, just like the palace. Adrienne sat on the ground and started stretches herself. She started to talk about the palace, and soon Lance was laughing.
Well, my wonderful, wonderful reviewers and readers. I hope you liked the arriving of Adrienne at the Shang courts. You see whenever I think of Shang this is what I see in my head so I tried to write it down as best I could, but maybe there's something that I should work on that you should tell me. So, weather you liked it, hated it, or just don't know what to think, Review! Thanks.