"Winapea of Hilltopshire, sir." The servingman ushered in the girl as his master stood to greet the incoming page.
The girl seemed timid and shy, her brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, but her eyes shone with determination. She quickly swept her pale green skirts out around her as she curtsied to the training master. He looked her over, trying to decide if she could cut it for a page's life. In return he bowed to her.
"Welcome to the palace, Lady Winapea. I believe I am correct in saying this is your first time to Corus?" He gestured to the seat across from him as he began to fill the cups in front of him with water.
The girl nodded, "You would be correct, your Grace. If I may be so bold as to ask why you asked to see me?" Her face showed polite concern, but her eyes let worry seap through.
Winapea of Hilltopshire, daughter of Frahariandra doh Nokiami (Rian to those who were close to her) and Vincent of Hilltopshire, had spent the past four years of her life at her mother's estate in the Yamani Islands, under the guardianship of her mother's cousin, Prince Eitaro, who had raised Winapea as his own grandchild. Besides studying Shang hand to hand combat, she was advanced for her age in the skills of the navigata, or glaive. Besides Winapea's look of fragility and softness, her muscles were trained to be solid and tough since she was a child. Knowing at an early age that the child would want to become a knight, her parents had her doing exercises that Nariko herself had trained Frahariandra with when she was a child. In the Yamani Islands, Winapea was at the same level as someone twice her age: she was able to fight amoung the greatest fighters in the kingdom.
"Well, Lady Winapea, I understand that you want to become a page. I'm just not sure that you know what you are getting yourself into. Your guardian Prince Eitaro has expressed his consent in your choices, but you do not have the look of-" He paused, trying to find a word that would not insult the girl, " the average page."
"Thank you for your concern Duke haMinch, but might I remind you that the "average page" is also considered to be a boy? I understand that you have some reservations about my abilities, but I think I will be able to handle myself." Her face seemed bland for someone who knew their abilities as a fighter were being questioned.
I am a stone. Words roll off of me like water. Nothing sticks. It just rolls... She repeated the Yamani mantra that her mother had taught her as a child. On the outside, she was the picture of an obedient page.
"If you and your guardian believe that you can keep up with the tasks of becoming a page, I have no reason to stop you. I just warn you, there are still many people who have yet to come to face that women are becoming knights. You are the first woman page to come since the knighting of Lady Keladry. As you can tell, many families do not think that this is the life of a noblewoman. I can only give you luck, and hope that you find your place, wherever that may be." He stood and bowed, Winapea knew the dismissal was the best she was going to get.
As she curtsied herself out the door, she wondered what her Uncle had written in the letter to make Duke haMinch think that her opinion could override his. Silently following her maids, they led her to her home for next four years. As she looked around, she found the perfect place to put her glaives, above the mantel near the door.
The room was the size of two practice courts and was furbished with a narrow bed, curtains that covered shutters to a spacious courtyard. As she opened up the curtains, she immediately noticed the cherry blossom tree whose branches seem to reach for her rooms. As she turned to finish she inspection of her quarters, she noticed some etching in the window seat. Down the line she saw, Gareth of Naxen, Harthen of Greenbriar, and at the bottom, she saw Keladry of Mindelan. She gasped. She had her hero's rooms. Keladry was one of the main reasons that her uncle had let her petition to become a page. He would not have allowed it if he knew that she would be the first girl since Lady Alanna almost 20 years ago. She quickly thanked all listening gods for this most fortunate oppurtunity to follow in such a hero's footsteps.
With all dignity, Winapea pulled out her boot knife. As she unsheathed it, she felt pride as her blue blade pulled in the light, catching her maid's eye. It was her mother's boot dagger, that she used when she was riding. Carefully she carved right underneath Lady Keladry's neat handwriting, Winapea of Hilltopshire. Once she finished, she felt accomplished, like carving it in the wood made it final.
"I hope their ready for me." She whispered in Yamani to her favorite goddess, Hoshikuru, the night mother. Ever since she had whispered a prayer to this goddess, she felt that everything would be ok.
Her maid, Hakineri smiled at her lady. "Shall I start unpacking, lady? I think I've found adequate places to store your things." She bowed to her lady as she nodded absently.
"On second thought- hold on. I want to do some of this myself. Please leave my weaponry and cats on the side... I need to find them a place on my own." Her glaives sat next to the door. Hakineri placed a small wooden box next to them.
"My lady, his grace told me to relay that once the next bell rings you are to stand outside with the other pages along the left wing wall. You will be met by the other pages and himmself." The man bowed to her, then went over to Hakineri to tell her about where she could find places, such as the mess hall, royal tailors, and stables. Soon after he finished talking to her, he let himself out of the door, easing it shut as he left.
"It's offical," Winapea said as she put her last waving cat on her bedstand, "I'm here."
Overhead, a large clank of a bell rang out. It's noise seemed to be able to reach the Islands, but Winapea knew it was just heard throughout the palace. Quickly she gathered up her daggers and put them away. Growing up in the Islands, Winapea was well educated on self presevation. She put her necklace that held a small vial and a dagger into her blouse. She put both her boot daggers back into her shoes as she slid the knife that sat at the small of her back. As she opened the door, she noticed people look at her. She expected this and decided to ignore them and stood next to her door, in ready position. After being enduranced in this position, her body naturally held it. It was much better for body energy conservation and circulation, or so her arms mistress had told her. Once people saw his grace Duke haMinch coming down the hall, they stopped staring at her and went into attention.
"Welcome. Do not think that this will be easy. Each year will be tough. Anyone who came here to dither about can leave right now." He paused to let anyone leave. No one moved a muscle. "As pages you will learn how to work. Work and work, even when you think you can't work any harder. It is now time for sponsors. Your sponsor will show you around and teach you the rules of the palace. You." He pointed to a boy two doors down from Winapea. He flinched then gulped. "Your name and feifdom."
"Leoron of Haryse, your grace." The boy seemed flustered by the duke's presence, but managed to say his name without difficulty.
"Who will be his sponsor?" Duke haMinch looked the right side of the wall of older pages who had lined up as the first years had. A blonde fellow, not much bigger than Winapea herself stepped forward.
"I will, your grace. We're kinsmen. Masbolle and Haryse go hand in hand."
"Ah, and they should continue to do so until the end of the kingdom." He then pointed at the boy next to Winapea, who jumped when he realized attention had been turned to him.
"Idernic of Greybeard's Cave, sir." He looked meekly down the line of older pages, looking for someone. Finally somone stepped forward.
"I will sponsor him, your grace. He's my younger brother." The boy did not look related except for the way both their pupils darted around in their emerald pools.
"As you should, or I'd have to explain to your father as to why you left your brother behind." Duke haMinch smiled at him then walked forward, raising his hand.
"Winapea of Hilltopshire, your grace." she said in a slightly accented Common, since she had just spent the last four years learning a new language. Winapea's trained face kept looking forward, but her insides were jumping up and down, hoping someone would pick her.
"And who will sponsor her?" Duke haMinch looked down the line of boys. After a pause that seemed like eternity to Winapea, a boy reluctantly stepped forward.
"Yes Fredderick of Paylulp? You will sponsor her?" The Duke looked him deep in the eyes, trying to find his reasoning.
"She's my next door neighbor?" He grinned as the other boys chuckled silently, many of their shoulders quaked.
"Perhaps I did not make myself clear when I said that this was a serious occasion. You shall report to the stables and clear hay for half a bell tomorrow night. Will no one else sponsor this page?" He looked even further down the line. As he was about to open his mouth again, a boy with jet black hair stepped off of the wall and in view of Duke haMinch.
"I will sponsor her, your grace. Her mother was my father's cousin." Duke haMinch looked at him thoughtfully.
His mind made up, he walked to the next boy in the line and pointed. Unfortunately, the boy was staring at Winapea with a wide eyed stare. His tan skin and round eyes promised Bazhir descent but his blonde hair screamed Scanra. Finally he realized that it was his turn, once the page on the other side of him nudged him with his elbow, he snapped back to reality with everyone else.
"OH! Grant of Belvhin's Bayside." The duke continued to ask for sponsors and names as his voice became background to her mind.
Her mother had family that had married into Tortall? Winapea had thought that all her family had thought her stupid or crazy for marrying a Easterner, even if it was arranged by the emperor. Many believed that Frahariandra doh Nokiami was being exiled, instead of part of a strengthening program that the royals of both the Yamani Islands and Tortall focused on. After the treaty and marriage, the program had been viewed to the public with the birth of Winapea. Many believed that the Yamani gods and goddesses had turned on her because she was not a full Yamani, and in "exile." Those who believed that soon found themselves shocked to see the child sitting with the Prince and his family at the emperor's table at parties.
"And they will show you where to go for the afternoon in two days hence. Now, let us retire to the dining hall." The Duke haMinch walked down the hall and led the rest of the pages to the hall. Winapea carefully caught up to her sponsor, who seemed uncomfortable with her appearance.
"What's your name?" Winapea was interested to find out that she had family in this strange home world.
"My name is Andrew of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak." He continued to quicken his pace, thinking he could out speed her.
"How come I've never heard of you?" Winapea asked politely, keeping up with his long stride.
"Because we're not related." He kept his voice quiet, in case he thought Duke haMinch could hear him.
"Then how come you volunteered to sponsor me and lie to his grace?" Winapea kept her voice pleasant, but her nerves were on alert. There was a phrase in the Islands about being near a person of deceit meaning to be a person of caution.
"It's… nothing, just be happy I did ok?" He quickened his pace to keep up with a tall youth who had red curls and a firm nose.
"Tell me right now, or I'll throw you from here to the Islands. I better not be a pity take, because I can handle myself without you if that's what it is. I better not be some joke to you either, because I will not allow that. Now tell me; why did you lie to his grace?" Winapea's tolerance for being in the dark was always small, she needed to know her situations inside and out. This boy was hiding something from her and she was going to find out, if it was the last thing she did.
He finally sighed with exasperation." You really want to know? My parents raised me to think that anyone could be a warrior, what with my mother and father always fighting enemies side by side. I know for a fact that Freddie there was raised by his overly conservative father and despises any woman of the warrior rank. It was obvious to everyone that he was going to run you out. I thought you might want a fair shot. Happy?" He stared her in the eyes, trying to decipher her reaction.
"Very much. Thank you. My name's Winapea, but my friends call me Wina. And you are?" She motioned towards the boy that had been walking with them silently, who didn't realize that she was talking to him. Andrew nudged him with a grin.
"This is Jeremy of Kennan. My friend here is cloud headed. He'll join us just as soon as we get some food in him." Andrew finally seemed to relax, seeing that Wina relaxed into her old self from before she left for the Islands. A few times during the long walk to the mess hall, Wina skipped a bit. This shocked Andrew at first, but then he laughed at it. Jeremy finally started talking, as soon as they were able to smell food. He seemed to be interested in the summer camp that they would be going to in a few weeks, after the first years had become accustomed to their new lives. They were to go to the mountain fiefs, Stone Mountain, Naxen and Wina's own, Hilltopshire. This would be the first time that Wina had come back to her estates since her parents' fatal accident.