Hey everyone, it's me again. Yes, this story is still alive, and I hope to finish it sometime this summer. It's not the plot that's making me slow, it's getting the time and will to write it all down. Anyway, here's chapter 12, enjoy!

Disclaimer: The character, places and events in this story are from the Lioness Quartet, Alanna: the First Adventure and belong to Tamora Pierce. Direct quotes from the book are in double quotation marks (""Like this"").


Classes that day were a rather hazy blur of teachers smacking him on the head to wake up during morning classes and sloppy mistakes that earned him even more bruises during afternoon training. The sensible part of him tried to remember that as a knight, he would have to survive many sleepless nights, but this of course was only a small, annoying part of him that he tried to shut up. Francis was nothing less than dead on his feet. His friends had themselves a good laugh over his clumsy sleep-deprived state, asking him what or who exactly had kept him up all night, but he was too exhausted to even be embarrassed.

As Francis striped his sweaty practice clothes slowly off his aching body, he heard a smart rap upon his door. Muttering nonsense about unwelcome guests, he quickly slid his uncomfortably sticky shirt back on and shuffled over to answer the door.

"Good eve', my lord," said a brightly dressed palace messenger with a bow. "A message has arrived for you." He unceremoniously stuffed the letter into the bleary-eyed page's hand and bowed again.

Before Francis could offer his thanks, the messenger hurried off to deliver the rest of the large bundle of letters under his arm. Shaking the sleep from his eyes, Francis closed his door and plopped down onto his bed. He flipped the letter over slowly in his hands.

At first, Francis believed that someone had already replied to his letter, but he quickly abandoned this thought when he recognized the neat and flowery lettering of his mother's script on the envelope. He unsheathed his belt knife and slit open the envelope. Francis was sure that there couldn't be any more pressing matters from Nond since he had received his weekly update two days ago, yet here was another letter from his mother. Two slips of folded paper slipped out of the envelope, each sealed. The first was addressed to Duke Gareth and the second to himself. Francis shook his head and felt his palms become sticky. He didn't have a good feeling about this; anything that required explanation to the training master could not be a pleasant matter. Puzzled and shaking slightly, he began to read.

Dearest Francis,

I'm sure you will share in my joy upon hearing that you elder sister Felicia has graduated from her studies at the convent and will soon be arriving home before she is to be introduced at court this autumn. Once she arrives, you will have the honor of presenting her to the royal family. I have yet to arrange a satisfactory marriage for her, so I am sure that you will do your best to introduce her to all of the young heirs and lords at court.

Francis squirmed in his seat at the thought of formally approaching the royal family, let alone finding the right words to introduce someone else without sounding like a bumbling idiot! The thought of trying to sell his sister off to every bachelor at court sat even worse in his stomach. On the bright side, it seemed as if his worries were all for nothing. He wouldn't enjoy standing in front of everyone, but at least his mother and sisters were all well. Duty, he thought with a sigh as he shook his head and continued the letter as he changed his clothes.

I'm terribly sorry that this responsibility falls upon you, as I know that these sort of social measures make you uncomfortable, but you are our family's only tie at court. We need to secure a good marriage alliance for Nond, especially after the whole fiasco your brother caused, leaving his training like he did. I suppose that without your father's influence keeping him there, he saw no reason to waste his time. If it weren't for the fact that your father had just passed, people would realize that Franklin left the palace on account of his laziness as opposed to the inability to handle his dear father's death. Imagine how much more difficult this presentation would be if only they knew! As much as I love your brother, it is quite a relief that he has decided to stay with my brother-in-law for the time being. The Cavalls are an honorable and disciplined clan, perhaps they will rub off on him.

At this Francis nearly laughed. Lord Wyldon the Elder of Cavall was indeed a formidable man. One need only look at his young son Wyldon the Younger to see what his discipline could produce. Francis's cousin Wyldon, even at the tender age of 6, was as obedient and stern as his father. Even so, Francis was unsure whether such influence would have an effect on Franklin, who could easily sleep until noon if his curtains were undisturbed. Still chuckling, Francis flipped the sheet of paper over and continued to read his mother's letter.

Speaking of the Cavalls, my sister Margaret sent me the most delightful let… Here the letter was cut off by a series of cross-outs and blotches for a line or two before his mother continued her correspondence. Francis felt his pulse quicken; His mother's neat and tidy script here became rushed and urgent.

Francis, your sisters and I require your assistance immediately. Fires from the plains of southern Scanra have traveled over the border. The dry and hot summer we have had here has only worsened our situation. I can see the glow of the fires every night now. I fear they will reach Nond before we will be able to properly prepare for them. When I think of the villagers' homes, covered with dry thatch, and of the wilting wheat fields… I can only pray to the Goddess that we will be able to do enough to at least save the crops. I hate to disrupt your training, but I'm sure you understand that we will need every hand available to salvage some of what we will need to survive the winter. I have enclosed a letter to your training master explaining the situation and requesting permission for you to ride to us immediately. May the gods give you speed and protect you on your journey.

Francis blinked and read the last part of the letter again. His home, his family, his people were in danger.

In a moment he was revived from his stupor and leapt up from where he sat on his bed. Quickly he stripped off his page's uniform and changed into clothes more suitable for travel, all the while thinking of the damage the fire could do to the already failing crops at Nond.

This mess was all his fault; he had received news about the fires in Scanra before they had even been close to the border. He had thought nothing at all of it! Francis ran his hands through his sweaty hair. He had also known far too well of the dry conditions and of the steady winds from the north from the reports sent to him in the weekly weather log. Why hadn't he realized the threat!

Anxiously, Francis began to throw money, clothes, and anything else he thought would be useful into his travel packs. His father would have realized the danger of the fires. He had always known what was best for the fief. Had his father been alive, he would have already had trenches dug around the village and fields. He would have already alerted the villagers and arranged for them to stay in a neighboring village if the danger came too close. He would have already had every bowl, barrel and bathtub filled to the brim with water, ready to douse an attacking blaze.

And here he was, his father's hand-chosen successor, the son whom he had trusted with the fruits of all his labor, the last to realize the threat to Nond! Francis had failed him. Nond would have been better off with Franklin as its lord. Even he would have been some help!

When everything that he could think of to pack in his frenzied state was safely tucked away in his travel bags, Francis grabbed the letter addressed to Duke Gareth and left his room, slamming his door behind him for the first time he could ever remember doing so. He ignored Alex's cheerful greeting as he passed him in the hall and stalked off in the opposite direction towards the training master's office.

Before he knew it, Francis found himself standing in front of Duke Gareth's door. He raised his fist, hesitated, and finally knocked. The training master's voice from within told him to enter. Francis struggled to turn the door knob with his sweaty fingers, but finally managed to successfully unlatch the door and enter.

Duke Gareth was seated comfortably behind his desk, looking over a rather large stack of papers in front of him. Upon seeing Francis, he removed his reading glasses and nodded at the chair in front of him.

"Good evening Francis," he said, "I would have expected you to be preparing for dinner down at the kitchens at this hour." Francis reddened slightly as he sat, remembering another way in which he had failed to uphold his duties. Not meeting the duke's eyes, he wordlessly handed Gareth his mother's letter.

With a sigh, the training master broke the parchment's seal and leaned back in his chair to read. Francis shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Duke Gareth learned of his inability to properly care for his fief. He stared at his folded hands, twisting in his lap.

A few moments later, Duke Gareth cleared his throat and placed the letter down on the desk in front of him. When Francis finally risked a look at his expression, he found it not filled with disappointment, but with understanding.

"I'm terribly sorry to hear of this threat to Nond, and of course, I will excuse you from your training until all is settled at home."

"Thank you, your grace. If you will give me permission, I would like to leave immediately." Francis stood to wait for the training master's answer.

"Of course, of course," replied Duke Gareth thoughtfully, "I will arrange for some food for the journey to be brought directly to the stables. I wish you the best of luck Francis." He stood up and placed his hand on Francis's shoulder. "This sort of responsibility shouldn't fall on such a young lad. You should only have to worry about your training, like the rest of the boys your age. Even so, I hear of the way you take care of the needs of Nond on top of your duties as a page, and I must tell you Francis, I am very impressed. I'm certain your father would be very proud of you. You handle the fief just as he would himself, were he still with us. He chose wisely when he decided to leave Nond in your hands."

Francis felt himself redden and muttered his thanks for the training master's understanding. Duke Gareth chuckled. "You also receive a compliment just as your father did. You are dismissed. I wish you a safe journey and of course rain for Nond."

Francis bowed himself out of the training master's office and ran back to his room to gather his things. After locking his room and leaving a note of explanation for Raoul, who he was sure would inform the others, Francis made his way to the stables and rode due north out of Corus with about two hours of light left to travel.


That's it for now. Please leave some CC in a review. It's much appreciated, thanks.