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Chapter 6: Revelations

"Ahhh…" With a sigh of contentment, Cliona lowered herself into the steaming hot water of her bath. After a seemingly long day of intense workout, it was needless to say that this simple pleasure was altogether very welcome. After a long soak, she reluctantly got out of the now-cool water, put on a fresh pair of everyday breeches and a shirt, and fell on her bed to catch a few more hours of sleep.

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Knock, knock. Groggily, she tumbled out of her bed to open her door. Upon doing so, it revealed Fred, who promptly laughed at her disgruntled sight of her.

"I take it you have been a sleep all this while?" He inquired mildly, taking in her tousled clothes and hair.

"Well, I was, like any sane person, until you so rudely interrupted!!" Grumpily she let him in.

"It's a good thing that I did, because unless you want to be very late for dinner, I suggest that you freshen up within the next ten minutes."

"Oh my! Have I really been asleep that long?"

"It certainly seems so."

"Alright, alright. I'll hurry up." With that she shooed him out of the room.

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Not too much later she joined the pages on their way to the mess hall, pitying those who had just gotten done and hadn't had time to sleep or bathe. They must be feeling horrible right about now. I know I sure did as soon as I had finished.

"Hey, how'd it go?" Edward asked Cliona as she drew near their table. "Was it horrible going first?"

"Nah, it wasn't so bad going first. In fact, it was rather good because I've been able to sleep this whole time. How'd it go for you?"

"I think I did pretty good, 'cept for archery. I'm really horrible at archery."

"I didn't know half of the questions on the written exam." Interjected Dominic, who, for all of his imposing physique (for a ten year old, anyway), turned out to be a bit slow in the head.

"You were lucky that you two got to go together." Said Thomas, indicating Cliona and Fred. "I got stuck with some huge burly fourth year who looked about to run me through." He shivered.

"Yeah, I suppose we were."

The chatted for several more minutes in such a fashion, asking each other how they did and who's fief they wanted to end up it when the results came in. Each was starting to feel just a bit anxious. Nevertheless, that didn't stop any of them from devouring their supper rations.

"I want to end up at fief Elderwood. I've heard that the Duke there is very scholarly. He's written most of the books about our history, and there is a large section in the main library with all of his works. I find all of his stuff quite fascinating." Thomas said, causing Cliona to stiffen.

"Yeah, I've heard the same," said Fred, causing Cliona to pause and think.

I always knew that he was very scholarly, but I never knew that he had such a big reputation! Is it possible to continue this discussion pretending that I've never known him before? Little did she know, it was just about to get even worse.

"It must be terrible for him, just having lost his only daughter. Now there will be no direct heir to inherit for when he dies."

"Lost his daughter?" Cliona croaked out, trying to keep her racing thoughts and emotions under control. How much does everyone know?

"Yes. Haven't you heard? His daughter, Cliana or something like that, has recently gone missing. No one knows what happened to her, and both the Duke and Duchess refuse to comment on it. I hope she's okay though. Maybe she'll turn up some day. Nearly the whole army of Elderwood is out looking for her, and lots of mages have been scrying, but nothing of importance has turned up so far."

"She was my betrothed. Oh well." Dominic stated, unfeelingly. "I'll have more freedom this way. I hope she doesn't ever turn up."

"What!?! You are horrible! Don't you care at all?" All of the boys turned around to stare at him directly in the face, none with more loathing than Cliona herself, who had, one moment before, choked on her goblet of water.

Him? My betrothed?!? How horrendous! He doesn't even care at all! Oh, how horrid! Thank heavens I ran away! Imagine living with a person with such biased, loathsome ideas! And he is not in the least bit smart either! But how come I never knew? How did father fail to mention that to me? And how could he (and my mom) condemn me to such a horrid life with a person that I didn't even know? How…. She was jolted out of her thoughts to see Fred staring at her intently. And I'll have to watch myself more often. He's a smart one, and I'll bet that he suspects something already.

"No, I really don't." Dominic was spared any more reprimands from the other boys with the announcement of the coming of the Duke.

"Good evening. Right now the judges are completing their final evaluations of your skill levels. Once dinner is over, the fief you are to go to will be posted on a list outside of these doors. No one will be excused early. There will be absolutely no exceptions to this. Enjoy the rest of your meal."

They could hardly continue to chew and swallow, what with all of the anxiety that kept bubbling forward. The remainder of dinner, usually a merry affair, was melancholy and seemed to last for years. The hall was silent; the only sounds to be heard were the occasional clatter of a spoon or fork. When at last the end of dinner was called, there was an almighty stampede out of the great oak doors. Everyone tried to jostle to the front. When at last she could see the list, she nearly fainted from shock. Somebody that she didn't know (one Tameron of Seton), and her were to be posted at fief….

Elderwood.

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Meanwhile, many, many miles away, a man and a woman stood pacing anxiously in an expansive and luxurious study. It was paneled in oak, and covered with bookshelves from floor to ceiling. The desk was a mess of parchment and ink, rather a paradise to a bibliophile or an avid writer. But none of this finery was noticed by its two inhabitants, whose thoughts were far away.

"I just don't know what to do!" Wailed the woman, the Duchess of Elderwood. "Our precious daughter… our only child! Lost! Vanished! Like that!" With these words, she collapsed into tears once more.

The Duke looked away from the view out the window that he seemed to be so intently studying (when in fact, his eyes were glazed over, covering the emotions that he was feeling inside).

"I don't understand… Its not like she was truly kidnapped or anything. She planned it all out; all of her most precious belongings, her horse, and her cat are gone. Deliberately packed away in two saddle bags that are also missing."

"But what could've prompted such an abrupt departure? She didn't even say goodbye. It's not like her at all, and surely we would've noticed if she was truly that unhappy."

In that instant, a thought struck the Duke with all of the force and weight of a towering mountain. Catching the look of despair in her husband's eyes, the Duchess calmly asked,

"What is it dear?"

"I just remembered what she said to me the day before she left. About…" his voice trailed off. "About… wanting to become a knight."

The silence was absolute, each person staring open-mouthed in horror at the though.

"Do you think… do you think that she ran away to… to… go train for knighthood?" The duchess asked faintly.

"That's a possibility; the only possibility."

"We have to do something! If that's what she did, then we have to intervene! She can't continue; it's treasonous! And she'd never make it through; she'd be found out! You must go to the palace immediately and stop this nonsense!"

"No, I can't." His reply was almost inaudible.

"Why ever not? She could be killed! And she's our only daughter; our only heir."

"Because if I expose her, she will be killed; it's the law. We have to give her a chance. You know her; determination runs thick in her veins. She might be able to do it. She certainly has the will to do so; you should've seen how passionately she spoke to me about it. But I've been so foolish! All of this time, and I never guessed. We've watched her grow up, though; we should've spotted it."

"But… but…"

"That's the only way. I can see nothing else as a possibility. You know this to be true."

"Well… All right then. So what are we going to tell everyone? Rumors are spreading rapidly. The people need a story."

"We'll tell them that she went out riding, was kidnapped, and even our best trackers can't find her. In a way it's true. The people will believe that; they have to."

With that, both of their semi-calm and controlled features crumpled, and they fled to the comfort of each other's arms, trying to banish all unbearable thoughts about the fate of their one and only beloved child.

Their state of mourning was interrupted by a knock on the door. Quickly they straightened, regained their composure, and acted as if everything was all right. Years of such practice aided them in this.

"Come in." The Duke found his voice at last.

"Two messages from the king, your Grace." A royal messenger entered and bowed.

"Let's hear them."

"One: he wishes to extend his condolences for the loss of your child, and wishes that you will tell him the truth of the matter. Two: As is the new law, two new pages will be entrusted your care and guidance for the next few years until they become squires. Their names are Edmund of Hollybranch and Tameron of Seton. However, he says that this year you can resign from your duties if you wish to because of these aforementioned circumstances. He also wishes to know your reply immediately."

"I will indeed acquiesce to his request, but first of all, I need to know this: does he wish for me to convey this information through you, or shall I write him a formal letter?"

"Tell me, if that pleases your Grace."

"Alright. As to the first inquiry, thank him most sincerely for the care he has shown to both my wife and me at our time of need. Our daughter has been kidnapped while riding, after being somehow separated from her chaperones. As to the second, do let him know that I greatly appreciate the exception he will make for us, and accept it. Send all of this to him with the reminder that we are forever his humble servants. Do you have all of that?"

"Yes, your Grace."

"Very well then. Are you in need of refreshments or rest before you journey back?"

"No thank you, your Grace."

"Then you are dismissed with my thanks."