Children: Chapter 2

How They Got Along

Six Years Later, on the Fief of Mindelan

'C'mon, Alex! Were gonna be late!' an eight-year-old girl yelled at a younger boy, seemingly her brother, who ran behind her.

'Im the one who told you we should leave earlier, Morgan!' the six-year-old boy yelled after her. 'And why do you care? It's my riding lesson! And Grandda wont be mad if I'm a few minutes late! Why can't we walk?' he complained, trying to keep up with her. He knew this was impossible, but he always tried.

'You can walk. But I'm running! Ma said that she had to run all the time as a page. And seeing as I'm going to be a page, I'd better start now!' the hazel-eyed girl stopped at Mindelans castle gates, so Alex could catch up. He came, and gratefully stopped, leaning against the wall while he panted. Morgan grinned. She was about four ten, with green-hazel eyes like her mother's. Alex was shorter than his sister, with short-cut brown hair and bright blue eyes like his father's.

'You'd better start running too, if you want to be a knight,' they started walking together towards the stables, where Alex was to have his first riding lesson. 'Maybe you should consider becoming a sorcerer. Uncle Neal said that you could if you wanted to. And seeing as your to weak to be a knight...'

'No way! I'll be a knight, a famous one,' the boy said, waving his hand around, as if he held a sword. 'I'll fight ogres, and horrocks, and Stormwings. I'll command whole armies, and be stronger than any man or woman alive!'

Morgan smiled. 'Of course. Except me.'

Alex made a face at his sister, then asked, 'When did Ma say she was coming back?'

'The second week of June. That's...'

'Next week,' Alex finished for her. 'Thats a long time. I don't mind staying here with Grandma and Grandda, and playing with the village children, but I miss Ma and Da.'

'Me too. But at least Grandda is teaching you to ride, and not the Lioness, like me,' Alex and Morgan both shivered. Learning from the Lioness was... interesting. And often painful.

They arrived at the stables a few minutes late, but their Grandda wasn't there. Only...

'Uncle Anders!' the children yelled. They ran up and hugged their favorite uncle.

After hugs were finished, Morgan asked, 'Where's Grandda at?'

'He and your Grandma are going back to the Yamani Islands week after next, and he had to take care of some things for the trip. He asked me to come teach you to ride, boy,' he smiled at his favorite sisters son, and said, 'C'mon. I've picked out a mare you'd like, Alex. She's waiting in the stables. Morgan, you come too.'

They followed the knight inside to a stall that housed a white mare. The only thing that wasn't white was an odd, tear-drop shaped splotch of brown on her rear, right leg.

'She's beautiful,' Alex said, eyes wide. 'What's her name?'

'She hasn't got one,' Anders answered. 'The man who sold her to me said that she was too beautiful for any name he could think of.'

'What will you call her?' asked Morgan.

'I think I'll name her Quicksilver.'

'A fitting name. Now, the first thing you learn is how to saddle her up. Morgan, will you show him?'

'Of course.'

A Year and a Half Later, on Masabolle

'Again?' Morgan exclaimed. 'I thought you were done!'

Kel sighed. Explaining to her ten-year-old that she was going to have another baby was worse than informing the king she would need some time off soon. 'No, I'm not done yet. I may be thirty years old, but I can still have children, and I am. I'm sorry I didn't inform you earlier, but I didn't know for sure until yesterday.'

Morgan made a face. Her mother was having another baby, and she didn't tell her until two days before she went to the palace. Figures. But what was she to do? 'Sorry, Mother. I'm just, well, it's just that I think it'd be odd having a little brother or sister ten years younger than I am. That's all.'

'I know. But you won't see the baby much, any way. You'll be busy with page training. But won't you like having another little brother or sister? Alex is fun, and trust me, babies are just as fun. I've had two of them.'

Morgan smiled, and leaned against her mother. 'All right. You win. But if I have to change it's diapers. . .'

Kel laughed. 'Let's get you packed, girl. Then maybe we can go riding.'

Page Training

Kel smiled as she and her daughter rode up on Corus. The city was beautiful, especially in the pale light of dusk. She looked at her daughter, who gazed at the city in wonder. As many times as she had been here, she still goggled at all the city had to offer, compared to Masabolle, where she had been raised. Kel felt the youngster's excitement, and suddenly yelled, 'Race you to the city gates!'

She kicked her mare into a gallop, and heard Morgan laugh, then follow. Her daughters swift gelding caught up with her soon, as he was much younger than Kels mare. Morgan won the race, if only by a hair. Kel smiled at her only daughter, and Morgan smiled back. They rode into Corus, heading to the palace where King Jonathan reigned as king of Tortall.

The next day, in the Training Master's office

The training master smiled. 'Hello, Lady Knight Keladry, Page Morgan.'

Kel smiled back. 'Are you enjoying your new post, sir?'

'Of course. I get to stay here in the palace most of the time. You for one know how much better the food here is than on the road. And a nice warm bath every day, and a comfortable bed every night. This is the life. Although there is the slight drawback of having to train these youngsters. But all in all, it's worth it. I actually enjoy it.'

Morgan stood silent beside her mother while the two conversed. She had only met Lord Alan once, before he had taken over the post of training master. Her mother was good friends with him, having to work with him so often.

The Lionesss son turned his attention to Morgan now, looking her over. 'How old are you, Page?' he asked, kindly.

'Ten years old two months ago, my lord.'

He nodded his head in acknowledgment. 'Do you have your own maid?'

'No sir.'

'Very well. A palace maid will be assigned to you. And as a girl, there is a certain rule regarding boys in your room. If there is a boy in your room, your door is to be open. The same applies if you are in a boys room. A maid isn't a chaperone. The door is to stay open even if there is a maid in the room. Understand?'

Morgan nodded.

'Other than this one rule, you will be treated like all the other boys in regard to your training. I believe there is one other girl starting her page training this year. Maybe the two of you should become friends. There are still very many boys and men, and even women, who believe that girls belong in a convent. Don't let them discourage you. I recommend that you make a lot of friends. Believe me, you'll need them.'