5 years later
It was nearly mid winter and the girls that inhabited the room were noisy. For the past 6 or 7 years each of them had been training for this moment. The moment where they completed their training and where sent home women. All except one girl. She sat in the corner of the room a book held firmly between her nimble fingers. Her black hair hung loose and curly down her back. Her green eyes were not on the book. They were on the servant that had entered the room.
The woman walked up to her and said, "Lady Trebond? Please come with me." She turned away and Andrea of Trebond reluctantly got up and followed her. Moments later Andrea found herself standing before the Head Mistress. Head Mistress Trig was a woman to be feared. Follow the rules and she would be your best friend. Break them and she would be your worst nightmare. Andrea curtsied and said, "Good evening Head Mistress. How shall I be of service to your ladyship?"
The Head Mistress frowned at her snapped, "flattery is most unbecoming of a young woman Lady Trebond. Now sit down." Andrea bit back a grin and sat before the Head Mistress. The older woman gave her a look over and said, "Well as you know you've been with us for the past 6 years. It has come to my attention that you have finally completed the necessary training. Is this true?" Andrea nodded and said, "Yes ma'am."
The Head Mistress sniffed and said, "Very well. As you know when ladies have completed their training they are usually sent to their homes so that their parents may arrange a suitable marriage for them. Due to the case that you're mother and father are deceased I shall be sending you to the palace. You shall reside there until you're older brother Thom completes his training. You leave tomorrow at daybreak. Goddess bless my child."
A little while later Andrea was slipping out of the convent. She pulled her cloak tighter around her and ran to the barn. Once there she whistled a tune. Almost immediately her friend Gustav's head popped out from the hay loft. He grinned at her and dropped down. Gustav was six feet and most people would think of him as scary considering the fact that his left eye was missing but that hadn't mattered to Andrea. Ever since she had met him 5 years earlier he had become her closest friend.
"'Ello Andrea. I'm guessing that you've come to bid me farewell." Andrea nodded and said, "Yes. We set out tomorrow at dawn so I wasn't going to have time to…to say farewell." Gustav laughed and said, "Don't look so sad lass! If I could go I'd go but we both know that I'm need here." Andrea nodded again. Gustav was in many ways her father. He had taught her much and loved her the way hers never did. "Wait here lass, I've got somethin' fer ya."
He disappeared into a stall and came out a moment later Cradled in his left arm was a strange wiggling bundle. He handed her the bundle saying, "I found 'em last night when I was fishin'. Little tyke was all alone." Andrea vaguely heard Gustav. All her attention was on the puppy she held in her arms. Not just any puppy. A wolf puppy. A wolf puppy that would grow up one day and become dangerous. "Gustav! This is a wolf puppy! I can't take him. He'll grow up and he'll surely bite someone."
Gustav said seriously, ". Not if you train her and you told me yourself that you have a special gift with dogs. I figured you'd take better care of her than I could.." Andrea rolled her eyes but shifted the puppy in her arms. It was about a month old. It's fur was gray ad black and her eyes we're a nice golden color. It wimpered slightly and Andrea said, "Well i guess i'll be naming her Gaoth." Gustav smiled and said, "well that settles it. Come here." They hugged and Andrea slipped out of the stable and made her way to the convent.
"Well here we are mum. We'll take your bags to your rooms and Timon will take you the Lady Catherine of Yolkier." Andrea stepped down from carriage and gave a sigh of relief. 3 weeks by carriage was not agreeable travel. Timon bowed and said, "This way milady." He turned and walked into the palace. She followed saying, "Gaoth come along." A semi large puppy bounded out behind her. The other servants gasped and immediately began whispering among themselves. Ignoring them Andrea continued to follow Timon through the palace corridors.
A little while later they arrived at a set of doors. Going to the one on the right Timon knocked and a maid opened up. Timon bowed and said, "I've brung the Lady Andrea of Trebond who's to stay with the Lady Catherine of Yolkier." The maid admitted them and Andrea whispered to Gaoth, "Don't you dare leave my side or I'll skin you myself." The wolf sighed as if saying, why on earth would you tell me that? Andrea frowned at her and Gaoth gave her an innocent look.
At that moment a lady entered the room. Her hair was upswept and her dark blue eyes took in every wrinkle on Andrea's person. She glanced once at Gaoth and her lip curled slightly. "Well, I am the Lady Catherine of Yolkier. Who are you?" Andrea curtsied saying, "I am Lady Andrea of Trebond. I believe I am to reside with you until my eldest brother Thom completes his training." The Lady Catherine smiled. "Oh yes, I remember now. Well I'm very pleased to meet you my dear. Now, why don't you be seated so we can have some tea?"
"Well Lady Trebond I do hope that the tea was to your liking." Andrea nodded and said, "Yes milady, I've been on the road for three weeks and this has been my first proper tea." Lady Catherine gasped. "Oh you poor dear! You must be exhausted! I insist you take a nap at once!" Andrea smiled. "Thank you milady but first I need to know where the pages and squires dine…" Lady Catherine gave her a puzzled look. Andrea explained, "Well you see my brothers and I are triplets. Thom went to the City of the Gods to become a sorcerer and Alan came here to the palace to study knight training. I of course went to a convent."
"Oh is it that so? Rachael come here a moment." A timid looking maid stepped forward and curtsied. "Yes mum?" "Take Lady Trebond to the page and squire mess. It's nearly lunch so they should be there." A few moments later Andrea was following Rachael through yet another series of corridors. After what seemed like forever Rachael stopped before a set of large double doors. From within Andrea could hear people talking loudly. Taking a deep breathe she pushed the doors open. Almost instantly the room quieted and Andrea stepped onto the dais and curtsied before the men sitting there.
One of them stood and bowed back. "Good day. I am Duke Garath of Naxon, the training master. How may I assist you?" Andrea curtsied again and said, "I am Lady Andrea of Trebond. I'm terribly sorry but I was hoping that you could tell me where to find my brother. A squire Alan…?"
Well, it seems as if Andrea finally arrived to court. The search for Alanna is on but what will happen when she actually finds her? Thanks for the reviews!