ahh yes you might be wodering why I'm putting this chapter out so quickly... well to tell you the truth I have no idea.. I guess I should have waited for a few more REVIEWS.. but I decided to be nice and update... so next time review or I'll be adding more cliffys and I absolutely hate that...
nativewildmage: yeah it's good for the girls to stick together... boys can be so immature some times (sorry boys) so you have to have a girl to lean on... oh and thanks for liking my character Jonathan (though he won't be in this chapter really at all)
Jamie Lynn: THANKS I LIKE TALKING IN CAPITAL LETTERS TOO...I APPRECIATE YOUR REVIEW... PLEASE REVIEW AGAIN.. AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT... MY STORY IS YOUR OYSTER (WHATEVER THE HELL THAT MEANS)
ohh yeah my disclaimer... I wish I could brighten this moment up for all of you... but here it goes (takes a deep breath) I own absolutely NOTHING... you know they should make a little song to go along with a disclaimer... I own nothing lalala (sorry if you don't know I'm really musically challenged... I took drums and I think a grizzly bear can sing better than me)
"Block higher!" the Shang Fox barked his voice crisp and smooth in the autumn air. Jzet groaned and blocked the Shang's attack again with more force.
"Much better wolf that was good." said the Shang Fox and then they repeated the drill again. It had been two weeks since the start of classes and Jzet had finally found the free time to practice with the Shang Fox. Her second weeks of training at the Academy showed no mercy for the fifteen year old, sucking out every last piece of energy she had, mind and body.
After another hour of relentless drills the bell finally rang.
"I shall see you the next time free time crosses your path." said the Shang Fox.
"Which won't be anytime soon." mumbled Jzet then gulping down her water flask. The Shang Fox laughed almost wickedly.
"We shall see." he said. "Just continue to work hard in your studies and your training and free time might be available sooner than you think." Jzet bowed Shang style to the older man and then made her way inside the castle.
The next few days consisted of her regular routine; get up early, practice Shang drills, go to classes, eat dinner, do homework, and then strait to bed to rest for the next day. Jzet began to grow restless and snappy.
"You looked stressed." Kearney commented on their way to dinner.
"Yeah I could sure need a break from this busy life style." said Jzet with a sigh. "Does anyone in this palace have any fun?" She wanted to know.
Before Kearney could answer they were in the mess hall and Lord haMinich was signaling it was time for prayers. Jzet and Kearney quickly ran over to their regular table next to Cole, Audrey, and the occasional appearance of Prince Jonathan (even though he was not there tonight).
"Mithros and the Great Mother goddess guide us in our training and studies and help keep us safe from our enemies. So mote it be." said the training master. The page's then chorused 'so mote it be.' and were about to take a seat when they noticed the training master was still standing.
"Please be seated I have an announcement to make." said Lord haMinich. The page's sat down obediently wondering what the training master would want to say to them.
"I wonder what the Rattler wants." Kearney whispered to Jzet. Jzet ignored him and continued to stare up at the training master.
"In two days the following pages are permitted to visit Corus because of their good work and lack of punishments:" he read of a list of pages that included Jzet, Audrey, Cole, and Kearney. Jzet hadn't felt so happy in weeks. She was finally going to spend some time with he friends without the constant pressure of school, training sessions with the Shang Fox, and the bullies that plagued her. But then it dawned on Jzet. This was her free time and she knew what that meant, another training session with the Shang Fox. She did a mental sigh. Maybe I could ask him if we could train another day.
Jzet then told Cole after dinner that she was going to meet him and the others in his rooms as soon as she was done taking care of some business.
Jzet ran as quickly as she could to the Shang's room on the top floor. When she reached the Shang Fox's room she pounded on his door.
The door opened several seconds later revealing the stern faced Shang Fox. When he saw Jzet his face relaxed.
"Ah Shang Wolf it's good to see you. Please come in." he beckoned her inside. She nodded and stepped inside.
"Sit down please." he insisted. "Tea?"
"No thanks, I'll only be here for a few minutes." said Jzet sitting down. She took time to observe the Shang Fox's room. It was plain with no bright paint on his walls and the window shades were pulled down completely. His rooms were much bigger than Jzet's containing weights and a bookcase along with a series of maps and scrolls scattered on the floor.
"Now what do you wish to talk to me about?" the Shang asked sipping his tea.
"Well sir my lord Padarig told us pages over dinner that we were invited to go into the city in two days." Jzet said not looking at the older man. "And to tell you the truth sir I really don't know if this will be my only day of free time to go Midwinter shopping and do other things." The Shang's gaze narrowed.
"I understand Shang Wolf." said the Shang Fox his voice showing a hint of disappointment. "Maybe another time then?"
"Yes sir any other day is fine." said Jzet feeling excited that she finally was free of that burden.
"Thank you Shang Wolf for telling me this ahead of time." said the Shang Fox sincerely.
"Well I need to finish my class work." said Jzet getting up. She bowed politely and then hurried out of the room without looking back.
Another day went by without any major occurrences when finally it was the day to go to Corus. Jzet woke up later than usual feeling content with herself. She threw on an emerald green shirt and tan breeches and then went down to the mess hall. Audrey and Cole were already there eating breakfast when she entered. Audrey was wearing a light blue dress with white stockings and Cole was wearing a long sleeved red shirt with a pair of dark breeches. Jzet grabbed breakfast and then slid down the bench next to Cole.
"Good morning guys." she said a little too cheerfully.
"Wow we should record this in the history books, Jzet actually is happy." announced Cole. Audrey giggled girlishly. Jzet threw Cole an odd look on Audrey's behavior, but he just shrugged.
"Audrey what happened you put on a dress and now you turned all girly." said Jzet scooting over like Audrey was a disease of some type. Jzet didn't notice the end of the bench and fell right off landing on her behind. A burst of laughter erupted from Cole and Audrey. Jzet scowled and got up feeling an ache in her bottom.
Kearney finally showed up ten minutes later. He looked to Jzetlikehe just rolled out of bed. His light brown hair was sticking up and his clothes were all wrinkled like he slept in them.
"Good morning." Audrey, Cole and Jzet said in unison to the half awake Kearney.
"Nothing good about it." said Kearney yawning. Everyone knew Kearney wasn't a morning person and that was the reason he usually stumbled into Sir Myles class, late.
Jzet and Cole then helped Kearney shove food down his throat so they could get into Corus early. After feeding Kearney the four friends got up to leave for Corus. They certainly were an odd group; a fifteen year old, a thirteen year old, a ten year old, and an eleven year old all walking to Corus together.
They started the early morning by going to the Raven Armory on Cole's request. Jzet and her friend's inspected all the shiny daggers and swords that were glistening on the shelves. Jzet was in a state of awe at all the beautiful weapons, but knew she could never have them.
"One day when I become a knight and do great deeds, the king will give me a purse and I'll buy something in there." said Audrey as they left the shop. Jzet almost laughed at the small girl's cockiness. She failed to notice her cousin and Kearney look dreamily into the sky and say 'yeah.'
The next stop was a small trinkets store where Jzet did some of her midwinter shopping along with the others. The sun soon was high in the sky signaling noon time.
"So where should we go for lunch?" Cole asked licking his lips and rubbing his hands together.
"But I'm not hungry yet-" Kearney began, but suddenly his stomach let out a loud grumbling noise.
"Well I propose we go there." said Audrey pointing to a random restaurant. It was called Demonte's, and it looked prettyreasonable, price-wise to Jzet.
They walked inside and quickly found seats. Jzet had only begun reading her menu when someone caught her eye. She put her menu down and looked over to see her father sitting at a near by table with a boy who looked to be around thirteen. Jzet wondered to herself who that boy could be she studied him comprehensively. He had flaming red hair that stuck up untidily and he hadplenty of freckles. He had a long nose almost hooked remind Jzet of her father's nose. But when Jzet looked into the boys eyes she dropped the glass of waterthat was in her hand sending it falling to the ground causing it to shatter. Jzet ignored her friend's sudden reactions to the glass breaking and sat there in disbelief. The boy's eyes were the exact shade of emerald green as her own. Not even any of her cousin's eyes were emerald green. It was her family alone that had that trait. She stood up abruptly without a word to her friends and walked right over to her father's table.
"Jzet!" exclaimed her father his voice sounding nervous and edgy. "What are you doing here?"
"How do you know her father?" the boy asked.
ohh a cliff hanger... it looks like Neal has a lot of explaining to do... hehe.. I am so evil for leaving you a cliffy... aren't I?... so I appreciate any suggestions... grilling.. even a compliment or two..or three... thatwould be absolutely nice... so have a nice time pondering who the hell that kid is and why neal's his father...this reminds me of some kind of soap opera or it could turn into some kind of Jerry Springer...
Please Review it would make me so chipper... lol...
Caiti
P.S. I apologize for making this chapter so short... It's not that I don't love you people... It's just I love being absolutely EVIL... but please don't stop reviewing it hurts me like a thousand daggers piecing through my cold heart... whatever I'll stop right now...