Disclaimer- Everything in this fic belongs to the wonderful author Tamora Pierce, except for any characters I have made up.
Chapter One
During dinner, Madeleine of Queenscove brought the subject of her becoming a page up. "Papa, I would like to be a page this fall."
Sir Nealan of Queenscove dropped his fork in shock."Excuse me, Madeleine? Did I hear you correctly? You wish to be a page?"
"Yes, Papa," responded Maddie. "So may I become a page and try for my shield like the Lioness, Aunt Kel, the Sisters of Lightning, and Aunt Kel's daughter, Corrie? Please, Papa?"
Sir Neal picked up his fork and waved it around as he answered, "My darling daughter become a page? You want to go off and learn how to fight and suffer with boys who won't be-"
"Enough," interrupted Lady Yukimi. "Neal, may I remind you that you are a knight? And you did let our son Jasson become a page."
"That's different. Jasson can handle it. And there were times when I thought myself foolish for giving up a university degree. Our beloved daughter might find herself regretting her decision of trying for her shield. And she is one girl among twenty or so boys."
"Papa!" protested Maddie. "Aunt Kel was your yearmate and you told her that you believed that women could become knights. And I won't be the only girl! There's Corrie and her yearmate Gwendline of King's Reach. And my friend Sabine of Hollyrose wants to try for her shield also and has convinced her parents to let her become a page this fall. She wrote me today with the news."
"Neal," said Lady Yuki, "Maddie is not-what is the word? Yes, stupid. She understands what the life of a page and squire is like. You and Keladry have told her about your years training to become a knight. Jasson has told Maddie about his two years. And Kel would be most displeased to find out that her goddaughter was not allowed to become a page. Remember the prophecy she told you about? The one made by the seer child Irnai? About how your daughter would try for her shield?"
Sir Neal threw up his hands, dropping his fork again. "Fine. I can't argue against prophecy or two women, And I have no wish for Kel to lecture me. Maddie, you can become a page this fall." He picked up his fork, wiped it with a napkin, and resumed eating.
After supper, Maddie ran to her room and wrote a letter to Sabine, telling her friend that she was to be a page as well. Two days later, Maddie's brother Jasson returned home. He told his sister all about the summer camp and was happy to find out that she was going to be page. He promised to help her if she needed it and warned her that there were still boys who didn't like the idea of lady knights, even though there were five of them.
A week later, Lady Knight Keladry and her husbandSir Domitan of Masbolle came to visit, bringing their children. Aunt Kel and Uncle Dom were Maddie and Jasson's godparents, along with King Roald and Queen Shinkokami. King Jonathan III and Queen Thayet had retired three years ago and had their son and daughter-in-law assume the throne.
Uncle Dom was Sir Neal's cousin and he and Aunt Kel had four children. The oldest was Elric and he was going to be a third year page, like Jasson. Next was Corrinna, Corrie for short, and she was a year older that Maddie. The youngest were eight year-old twins, Ilane and Anders. Anders wanted to be part of the King's Own, like his father, and Ilane was undecided between becoming a page like her older sister or joining the Queen's Riders.
Corrie was happy to hear that Maddie and Sabine were going to be pages and said that she and Gwenny would be their sponsors. Aunt Kel was pleased and asked Maddie how she had gotten her father to let her become a knight. Maddie related the conversation at supper.
"Well, I am glad that he finally said yes, Maddie," said Aunt Kel. "I am sure you will do admirably. Pay no attention to the close-minded people who still believe that women aren't much of fighters. And don't do anything I wouldn't do when I was a page."
Maddie said she wouldn't and asked Aunt Kel to tell some stories of her page years.
Next chapter: Maddie goes to Corus for her training. She meets the two other girls who are going to be yearmates with her and Sabine.