Chapter Three

The next morning, Maddie got up early and began her exercises with the glaive. When she finished, she did some exercises Aunt Kel had suggested she do, then got dressed and washed up. Corrie came for her not long after and they went downstairs for breakfast. It was mostly a silent affair, as most of the pages weren't fully awake or were awake but not exactly morning people. Other than Maddie, only Lianne and Corrie were awake and cheerful, which annoyed the others at their table.

After breakfast, everyone went outside for weapons practice. Two people, a man and a women, met them.The man was introduced as the Shang Wolf, the woman as the Shang Unicorn. Everyone was paired up, given staffs, and then a staff exercise was demonstrated, which everyone had to follow. Maddie was paired with Derran of Stone Mountain. He didn't look very happy being partnered with a girl and took it out by going harder on her.

As they sparred against each other, Derran muttered, "Why don't you just leave? It's because of a girl like you that my uncle died. I never had a chance to know him. My parents and grandparents said he would been a great knight if that Keladry slut wasn't around."

Maddie snapped, "Don't you dare call my godmother that!" She then put on her Yamani face and took out her anger by fighting back fiercely.

After a bell or so, all the pages practiced archery, then went to the stable. The new pages had to choose their mounts. Madie selected a brown mare named Bluebell. Everyone did some riding for a while.

A little before noon, practice ended. Maddie and the other girls went up to the palace to bathe, while the boys used the men's baths. In her room, Maddie found that her servant, Jessina, had a bath ready for her.

When she was done, she hurriedly got dressed and went downstairs for lunch. Both Derran and Rose came in late, both looking flushed and annoyed. Sir Robert frowned and said, "Tardiness will cost lives. See me after lunch for your punishment."

Rose took a tray and slipped into the seat next to Maddie. Sir Robert said grace, then everyone began eating. Sabine asked, "Why were you late, Rose?"

Rose answered, "Because of Derran. He cornered me in the hall and made very nasty remarks about lady knights andwomen in general. His friend was with him . He looked as if he did agree with most of what Derran was saying, but reminded Derran that they'd be late for supper. Derran wasn't paying attention and his friend left. I lost my temper with him and we got into a fight. We stopped when we heard servants coming."

"Derran is exactly like his late uncle," remarked Corrie. "Well, almost like him. He doesn't take hazing too far, like Mama said his uncleJoren did. But Derran hates girls training for their shield. Gwenny and I got into fights with him and his friend Leon all last year."

"Derran told me that I should leave, that I don't belong here," said Rose. "Well, that was a mistake. I might not have been very serious about becoming a knight, but I am now. I'm one of those people who are a little contrary."

After lunch was lessons. First was mathematics, Maddie's least favorite subject. While she did tolerably well in it, she still hated the subject. Corrie must have inherited her mother's fondness and ability in math, for she listened attentively to the teacher, who seemed to regard her as one of his favorite pupils.

After math was history, taught by Sir Myles of Olau, Lady Alanna's adopted father. He had been in his fifties when he taught Sir Neal and Lady Kel and was now in his seventies. Sir Myles liked teaching very much and had decided not to retire until he was eighty. Maddie hoped that he wouldn't turnretire until after she became a squire, for it would be boring if a Mithran priest took over the class.

After history was literacy class. For homework, Maddie was assigned to read a long poem and then report on what she read the next day. The next class was the study of plants and animals, taught by the mage Lindhall Reed. The class was interesting and Master Reed a kind and good teacher.

Maddie, who had inherited her father's Gift, went to the class for the mageborn after. Her Gift wasn't a healing one, like her father or grandfather, though. Her Gift was more like the king's and she also had the Sight. Jasson was the one with the Healing Gift.

The last class of the day was ettiquette. Maddie found it boring, but listened attentively to the teacher. Finally it ended and she went upstairs to deposit her books in her room. After locking her door, she went downstairs to the mess hall for dinner. Brian and Roy weren't sitting with the group that day, but instead had joined a group of fourth years. Like his father before him, Brian sat with different groups of people at mealtimes so as to not appear as if he favored certain people.

After dinner, Maddie gathered her books and things, then met with her friends in the library to work on homework. Her father had told her about the study group he had been in as a page and she thought it a good idea to continue it. Lianne, Sabine, Corrie, Gwenny, Rose, Roy, Jasson, Brian, Elric, Adian,Edward, and Kelan were all part of the group. They worked until the bell rang that signified bedtime.

Author's Note: This chapter is a little short and prehaps a bit boring. I promise that the future chapters will be more interesting.