I don't own any of the Tamora Pierce characters.
Ivy slept late, the healing from her wound taking its toll. She groaned when there was a knock at the door and heaved herself out of her bed, pulling on a pair of breeches. Opening the door she saw Matthew grinning at her.
"Eurgh . . . you're a morning person aren't you?" Ivy complained.
"Not at all. I hate mornings, but seeing as its now past midday, I don't think that really matters do you?" he winked at her then peered into her rooms. "Crikey, they aren't joking when they say a girl owns too much are they?"
Ivy looked around. There was a chest full of dresses and another of shirts and breeches. Her sword and other equipment stood in the corner, but Ivy knew it was the clothes he was complaining about."There isn't all that much in here you know, and just because we don't wear the same clothes day-in day-out doesn't mean we own too much!"
Matthew raised an eyebrow. "Whatever." he said. "When we get moving its practical clothes or none at all." Ivy glared at him. He realised what he had said and went on. "I didn't mean it like that . . . its just a figure of speech, well not exactly but . . . oh come on, I'm not going to hit on my Squire!"
Ivy rolled her eyes. She was hardly awake and not in the mood to complain.
"Anyway, we need to move your things, so I'll give you half an hour, then I'll be back and you better be ready!" he ruffled her hair and sniffed. "Glad you had that bath by the way. You smell like strawberries and cream!" he clasped his hands and faked a dreamy look as he drew away. Ivy shut the door just in time to stop him seeing her laugh.
"He's bonkers." she said to herself. "It wasn't even strawberry soap!" she dressed and began to pack up her things. When Matthew returned, several boxes covered the floor.
"Lots of trips back and forward for you then." he stated, picking up the heaviest one. "I'm only going there once!"
"What!" Ivy gasped. Matthew grinned.
"Now, now, never question a Knight-Master. Maybe I'll be nice, but only if you promise not to question me again. Understand?" Ivy nodded glumly.
"Moody git." she said under her breath. Matthew turned.
"What was that?" he asked with a frown.
"I'm a twit." Ivy improvised. Her Knight-master laughed.
"I know that, you don't need to tell me." He backed out of the room as Ivy grabbed a boot and flung it at him. It missed and hit the wall.He tutted.
"Terrible aim, I don't think I'll ever give you a slingshot or bow." He disappeared down the hall and Ivy followed with two lighter boxes.
"Well, at least it won't be dull with him!" she told herself.
Ivy developed many bruises over the next few weeks. Matthew was a fanatic when it came to keeping up his skills, and it seemed that he liked to have a practice partner. Ivy refused to allow him to heal anything except her greatest cuts, not wanting to be bed ridden fordays afterwards, so she was soon sporting several large cuts in several areas of her body. Her clothes were being replaced more often than they often had been, and Ivy was having to explain to the palace workers that she didn't rip her clothes for sport, at least once a week. A month into her service, Matthew was called to Meron, to take care of a group of spidrens. Ivy was to go with him,and although when he asked her she said she was fine, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous. She was no fan of spidrens, not because she was scared of them, merely because she thought that their eight legs were far too creepy. It was not so much the idea of killing them that worried her, but the idea that she would probably hear a spider-thing talking, something that she had always tried not to imagine. The night before they left for Meron, Ivy fell into a long exhausting sleep, and in the morning, instead of feeling refreshed, she felt even worse than she had before.
Matthew was already in the stables when she arrived. Both of their geldings were already saddled. Ivy managed a scowl at her Knight master for taking her job, before slinging herself into the saddle. Matthew yawned.
"Don't worry, I didn't do it, I got one of the stableboys and paid him a gold noble for it." he said. "I only just got here. I don't get up all that early you know!"
"Yes sir." Ivy yawned. Matthew shook his head and jumped onto his tall black geldings back.
"I want it slow ok? Magic isn't used to early mornings." he said,patting his horses neck. He looked at her then grinned. "It doesn't look like you are either though so I don't think I'll be too scared of breaking the speed limit."
Ivy nodded briefly, then kicked her palomino gelding, Thunder, into a trot. They left in silence, Ivy putting all of her concentration into staying awake, Matthew thinking of how best to get rid of the eight legged immortals he had come to be hated by.
Meron was quiet on their arrival. Most people were inside, eating breakfast. The few people who were out walking paid little or no attention to the two strangers arriving on horseback. The canvas covered shape that hung from Matthews saddle was enough to show that it was a noble and that they were either just passing through or here on business with the Lord of Meron. Matthew lead Ivy to the house where Geoffrey of Meron, her fathers old friend, lived. After tying their horses to two posts, Matthew knocked on the large oak door.It opened almost instantly, revealing the servant who sat by the door by night. Matthew nodded and spoke to him. The boy ran off and returned minutes later accompanied by a large man holding a knife.
"What's it ya' wan' with m' lor' sir. He' been worrie' sick fo' week' bou' those darned spidren. If you're 'ere on business it'll 'ave to wai'." The man said. Matthew nodded.
"I'm not here on business. I was asked to come by your Lord Geoffrey. I'm Matthew of Tirragen, I've come to sort out the 'darned spidrens' as you put it." He said courteously.
The man gave him a strange look then spoke again. "I've 'eard 'bout you. You're the la' whos grea' uncl' trie' 'o kill his majest'. There' no way m' lord wi' be a' talkin' to you sir. You may as well 'ave staye' at 'ome, wi' th' res' of your traitorous clan!" the man slammed the door halfway. Only to find that Matthews arm held it open.
"Don't think I haven't heard many accusations like that. You aren't the first and I daresay you won't be the last, but I can assure you now that my traitorous uncle was nothing like me. Now think what you like about me, but your lord did ask for me to come, and I am not going to leave until I speak with him in person. Understand?" Matthew gazed at the man with something between anger and command. Ivy could tell that he took the insult to his honour to heart, and admired his control. The servant nodded, then ran away. Matthew pulled the door shut and sat on the stone steps. Ivy walked over with concern and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"My Lord?" she asked quietly. Matthew looked up.
"I'm fine. I just hate it every time I get compared to . . . him." Ivy nodded as he went on. "I got it when I was a page, I took months to find a Knight master, and now I'm a Knight people still question it. Even though they all know that the bloody chamber shows us for what we are."
Ivy joined him on the step. "Why didn't your Uncle fail the chamber sir? It must have known he wouldn't serve the crown . . . musn't it?"
Matthew shook his head. "He was serving the crown. He was just trying to put it on someone elses head at the same time. I wish the chamber had killed the ruddy bastard, but it didn't and I have to live with his stupid screw up." He punched the stone step he sat on, causing his knuckles to bleed.
Ivy shook her head and took out her handkerchief, wrapping her Knight-Masters hand up to stop the bleed. "You shouldn't do that. There's nothing you can do now, and you weren't alive when he was, so nobody can say you were involved."
"It still doesn't make it any better. They'll always say it. Everyone knows it." he shook his head. "Maybe the chamber was screwed up that year. Gareth, his Majesty and Raoul deserved their shields. He didn't." he stood up and went to rest his head on the wall. Ivy stayed put, unsure what to do. She was just about to get up and talk to him when the door opened and a man with greying brown hair (A.N. I don't remember what colour Geoffreys hair was) walked out onto the steps. Matthew and Ivy both looked round, thenIvy jumped up and bowed, while Matthew walked forward and shook the mans hand, introducing himself and Ivy. Geoffrey nodded to them both before inviting them in. Ivy followed Matthew closely, feeling suddenly very youngagain. Matthew cast her a questioning look when she bumped into him, then grinned, waitinguntil Geoffrey was a few metres away before whispering, "aww,little baby!" in her ear. Ivy swiped at him, but he dodged andshookhisfinger at her.She scowled at him, but made an effort to stay a few metres behind him from then on.
They reached a small room, furnished with a varnished wooden table and several cushioned chairs. There were pitchers of apple juice and wine in the middle of the table, along with several glasses. Matthew and Geoffrey sat down as Ivy moved to pour the drinks. Geoffrey shook his head at her and motioned for her to sit down. When she didn't, Matthew grabbed her arm and pulled her down onto the chair next to him. He poured himself and Ivy a glass of apple juice. Geoffrey waved away his offer of one and began to talk.
"Its got worse since I contacted you. More of them than ever now, must be about a hundred or something. Half of Meron's here now, too scared to go out in case they come by. The other half thought they were good enough with weapons to kill them and ended up being their breakfast. I'm ashamed to say I wouldn't have asked you to come if it hadn't been so bad. You're greatuncle was . . . a disappointment. He used to be my friend before that you know? Anyway, I wouldn't have, but I did, I need someone who can kill them. Perhaps if you save my village I won't feel so cold towards the people of Tirragen."
Matthew nodded, and Ivy could see that once again he was trying to control the insult of being compared to his great uncle.
"They're nested in the caves of the hills. I have no idea how you can beat them, but if you can . . ." Matthew nodded again and stood up.
"Come on, Ivy." he said.
Ivy frowned. "Now?"
"YES!" Matthew snapped. He left the room, slamming the door behind him.
"I'm sorry sir!" Ivy said to Geoffrey. She bowed then headed towards the door.
"He isn't like his Uncle. Is he?" Geoffrey asked thoughtfully.
"His Great Uncle? No, sir, he's not. He just takes it to heart. She bowed again and left.
There, next chapter done, hope you like, i had to do that bit about Alex 'cause its been bugging me for years why he passed the Ordeal. Anyway, please review.
Mage of the Heart
