Children: Chapter 4

Family and Friends

'Are your parents coming to the palace for Midwinter?' Nat asked. They sat, once again, in the library after supper, doing their class work.

'I don't know. Mother's to have the baby soon, so she'll probably stay at home. My brother, Alex, may come with Uncle Neal. I know he and Selda are coming. Selda's a few years younger than me, but a year older than Alex, and she said she wants to be a page. The only thing is, she hasn't told her da yet. And I don't think Uncle Neal would be to fond of his only daughter becoming a knight.'

'Why not? He's Kel's best friend, and he was squire to my grandmother for four years! Surely he knows she could be a page just as fine as any boy,' Nat said, aghast.

Morgan shook her head. 'Ma says differently. I don't know why, but she's convinced he won't like it, and I believe her. I've said the things you just did, but she wont change her mind. I'm beginning to think that maybe a sage or something told her!'

Nat laughed at this, as did Morgan. Little did they know that she spoke the truth...

Selda was in her rooms at her father's estate, packing her bags. Her family was going to the palace for Midwinter, to attend the King's festivities. Selda was glad Alex was going; he would be more fun to talk to than her little sister, who was only two years old. And she couldn't wait to see her big brother, Bryce. He was in his fourth year of training as a page. As she thought of him, she remembered that she had to tell Da sooner or later that she wanted to become a page. But she knew he'd be upset. He never even let her go outside if it was raining, or if it had just rained, or if it was going to rain. In her opinion, he was a bit over protective.

Another upside to their visit was that she would get to see Morgan. It had been half a year since she had had someone her size to practice the glaive with, mostly because Alex wasn't any good, and she somehow always ended up on her butt several times when she practiced with Kel, and almost never got off the ground with her ma.

She thought back to her father. Maybe Morgan could help me figure someway to convince him to let me go...

An Adventure in the City

'Page Morgan, I have decided to award you for your hard work. You have tomorrow morning to go into the city. I expect you to be back at lunch, and no later. Since this is your first time in the city, you may bring one of the older pages to show you around and make sure you don't get lost. I believe Adelaide is behind in mathematics, so I recommend that you choose someone else.'

Morgan nodded. Now she understood what Adie had meant when she had told her, 'Pick Alianna to go with you,' when the younger page had told her that Lord Alan wanted to see her after supper. 'I'd like Alianna to go with me,' she told the lord shortly.

Alan nodded his head and wrote something down. 'I shall tell her. Now, off you go. I'm sure you have some class work you need to finish.'

Morgan bowed quickly and left. She ran down through the halls until she reached her door in the page's wing, and then opened the door and pulled out her class work from her small bag. Then, closing the door behind her, she set off for the library to help Nat with his math work.

Alianna laughed at her wide-eyed companion. 'Where have you been for the past ten years?' she asked.

'It's just... I've never been in the lower city, really, just to ride through it. I didn't know there was so much of it!' Morgan stopped walking for a second, looking at something that had caught her eye. Alianna rolled her eyes, smiling at the folly of her young friend. She dragged the girl away from the booth, saying anything there was too expensive for her.

'We're going to the Dancing Dove. We can get a drink there, and maybe someone will recommend a place to shop. And keep an eye on your purse. This place is full of thieves.'

Morgan nodded, checking her belt-purse subconsciously, and followed Alianna through the crowd.

A few minutes later they entered the Dancing Dove, a lively inn full of a variety of people, from rouges to merchants to, occasionally, a few noblemen. Alianna led Morgan to a table and ordered a glass of lemonade for each of them. They sat and enjoyed their lemonade for a few minutes, Alianna planning what to do for the rest of the morning and Morgan wondering what Alianna had planned.

'Hello. I don' believe I've seen the two 'o you 'ere before,' said a young man, a thin smile etched on his narrow face, pale gray eyes staring down at the two girls.

Alianna smiled at him. 'And who might you be?'

The boys eyes twinkled in amusement. 'Name's Jasson Matsson. Your's?'

Alianna smiled at him. She liked this boy. 'Alianna of the Copper Isles. I'm a page at the palace.'

Morgan introduced herself. 'I'm Morgan of Masabolle. I'm also a page.'

'Have a seat,' Alianna offered, and Jasson accepted. They soon learned that this mysterious gray-eyed boy was the son of a merchant who sold his goods in the Lower city.

'Why did you take an interest in us? Surely there's other people here that you don't know,' Morgan questioned him.

Jasson grinned. 'The two of you looked interestin'. And I thought you might need a guide. Ya know, someone to teach you the ins and outs of the city.'

'Maybe. Do you know a good place to find sweets? I thought it might be nice to bring some back for Adie.'

The three spent the rest of the morning running around the city, and Jasson showed the girls the best places to buy all kinds of things, from sweets to belt-knives.

Midwinter

'Morgan!' Alex cried happily. He almost tackled his older sister, he was so happy to see her. Morgan grinned and hugged her younger brother back. When Alex had let go, Morgan went to greet her Mother's best friend, and her Father's cousin. Bryce had already greeted his father, and was now talking to his younger sister.

'Hello, Uncle Neal. How are you?' Morgan asked.

'I'm doing just fine. Now, what's this about Alan telling stories about me? I'll have to go tell on him to his ma or something if he isn't going to behave,' Neal said in mock anger.

Morgan smiled. 'Oh, nothing bad Uncle. He just tells us about your wonderful riding. If you'll excuse me, Uncle, I'd like to speak to Selda,' Neal nodded, and Morgan went to speak with her favorite cousin.

'Hey, Selda.'

The younger girl grinned. Hey Morgan. I'm very glad to see you.'

Morgan had to smile back. 'Have you talked to your Da yet?'

Selda shook her head. 'I was, but I overheard him talking to Aunt Kel, saying he was glad that I hadn't said anything about wanting to be a page. And I heard Aunt Kel say something about a sage, or something. But, well, I don't think hell like it very much if I ask him. I'll have to figure something out.'

Midwinter for the youngest pages consisted of giving dishes to the older pages who were serving during the banquets, eating a late supper, and then falling into bed, exhausted. Morgan had bought gifts for her friends at the market, with Alianna to help with picking them out and Jasson knowing the best place to buy.

Her presents consisted of some sweets from Alianna, a belt-knife from her father, and a book on famous battles from Adie.

Nothing else major happened that Midwinter- besides one of the forth year pages spilling soup all over the queens new dress, that is. Neal, Selda, and Alex headed back to Masabolle two days after the festivities ended, and the pages were back to their same schedule as before.