Chapter Two
In the mess hall, Eslpeth, Fianola, Stephan, and Alan had a table to themselves, because none of the other pages would sit with them. Yvenne would have sat with them, but Jasson had chosen to sit with another group and so she had sit with her sponsor. After Lord Padraig had said grace and they all began eating, Stephan explained, "Jasson sits with different groups of pages at mealtimes so as to appear that he doesn't favor anyone. I heard his oldest brother Prince Roald did that too and I guess Jasson picked it up."
Alan said, "There are a couple of other pages who don't really mind having girls try for their shield, but I don't expect they'll be eager to flock to the two of you."
"Because of me," said Stephan glumly. "Alan and Jasson are the only ones willing to spend any time with me. Jasson because he spends time with all the pages and Alan because he doesn't automatically assume that because my uncle was a traitor I might turn out to be one as well."
Fianola looked sympathetic. "It's not your fault if your uncle turned traitor. No one should look down on you or avoid you for what your uncle did."
"It doesn't matter," spat Stephan. "Uncle Alexander disgraced the family name and now most of the pages expect that I'll either fail the Ordeal and prehaps be found dead like that Joren of Stone Mountain or I'll end up betraying the royal family. I decided to try for knighthood in hopes of clearing the family name. But I don't know if I'll ever succeed."
"Well, me and Fianola don't think like that," said Elspeth. "You're going to succeed and become a great knight, Stephan."
"Fianola and I," corrected Fianola. "Anyway, I'm sure the king doesn't blame you for what your uncle did. You'll prove yourself."
"Maybe he doesn't blame me," snapped Stephan, "but he's still taxing Tirragen, Malven, and Eldorne heavily and having them host the royal family and guests during Grand Progresses to keep us out of trouble. It's as if he expected us to plot treason if we weren't busy coming up with the money to pay for all those things. And when it's time for me to marry, I'll likely have to marry a girl from the Malven or Eldorne lines because no other noble family is going to want to marry any of their daughters to a traitor house."
"My mother would be willing if Alianne wanted to marry you, Stephan," said Alan.
Stephan shook his head and laughed. "Like your sister would want to marry me, Alan. She's three years older than me! And you told me that she's interested in spying like your grandfather Sir Myles." He and Alan changed the subject and began telling the two sisters about the classes and training.
After supper, King Jonathan came in and welcomed all the pages. He gave a speech, which Elspeth paid little attention to, and then all the pages were allowed to leave. Two pages stood in front of Stephan's door, sneering. "Well, well," said the dark-haired page. "The trash from a traitor house can't sponsor anyone except a girl."
The other page, who had dark blonde hair, looked at Elspeth. "And you're so pathetic that nobody was willing to sponsor you except for a traitor spawn. Why don't you just leave? Girls and traitors don't belong here."
"Oh shut up!" snapped Elspeth. "Stephan's much better than you! He doesn't go around insulting others. And just because his uncle was stupid enough to commit treason doesn't make Stephan any less a person! He's not a traitor and has no intention of becoming one. And I'm not leaving either! Lady Keladry proved that regular girls can make good knights and I'm going to be one!"
Fianola put her hand on Elspeth's arm. "Calm down before you lose your temper and get into a fight, Elspeth."
Stephan nodded. "I can defend myself, Elspeth. Leslan and Brandon, please move aside so I can go inside my room."
Leslan and Brandon exchanged looks, then said at the same time, "Not yet. We're not done with you."
Jasson appeared, with Yvenne behind him, and asked calmly, "What is going on? I hope you're not trying to start a fight, Leslan and Brandon. Do you want to be summoned into Lord Padraig's office for fighting on the first day?"
Leslan and Brandon exchanged looks again, then shrugged and walked away, but they both glared nastily at Stephan, then at Fianola, Elspeth, and Yvenne as they left.
Jasson sighed. "It would be nice if we could all get along. I don't blame you for your uncle's actions, Stephan." With a shake of his head, he left for his room.
Elspeth went to her room, wondering how Lady Keladry had dealt with annoying pages who had been against her training. I should have asked her when I met her last year, she thought. Did she ignore them? She lived in the Yamani Islands for several years and Mama says the people there don't show their emotions. Lady Keladry could have ignored them and not shown what she felt. But I've heard that she also got into fights. Was it because the other pages teased her and said she didn't belong? Or was it for some other reason?
Elspeth sighed and sat down on her bed with a book, deciding to take her mind away from such thoughts with some reading.