Sorry about the wait. I kept writing the story but I kept forgetting to type it up and upload it. Disclaimer: If I was Tamora Pierce this story would be so much better than it is. Reviews are appreciated.
Jon was at a loss for words. He apparently needed to pick up where the last teacher left of: just before King Roald the Peacemaker's death.
He wished Thayet was with him, but no, she was in their suite. He sat on a stool at the front of his new classroom. The stool looked old enough for Myles to have sat on it when Jon was a page.
Slowly the pages began to file in. At the back of the line were two boys, one with reddish black hair and another with reddish blond hair. The strawberry blond boy winked at Jon so fast he wasn't sure if he had.
A coppery red haired boy was joking with the boy that was Jon's descendent. The King, Jon thought.
"Now, my name is Sir Jonathon. I am your history teacher. I do not know your names so you have to formally introduce yourselves." Jon said, noting the groans.
" I am Prince Jonathon of Conte." the small boy stood and bowed. There was a mischievous twinkle in his eye that Jon had only seen in George's before. Jon wondered as to why the boy hod introduced himself as prince, and then bowed. He had no doubt this had something to do with the trickster.
"Sir, Alan of Pi – Pi – Pirates Sw – Swoop, Sir." the tall red haired child stood. He had an awful stammer. Jon wondered if it was always there or if it was speaking in front of others.
The boy nest to the prince was tall and built like a boxer. He introduced himself as Matthias of Nond. His shaggy head of hair and rumpled appearance reminded Jon of Myles. The next boy had Matthias as a sponsor. He introduced himself as Alex of Gorse and his tall companion was his brother, Nathan of Gorse.
After those boys it was blur of names and fiefs. Jon had trouble concentrating on the onslaught of names. After everyone had introduced themselves Jon began his teaching.
"King Roald the Peacemaker was reknown for establishing peace after King Jasson's conquests." everyone looked at him enraptured "When his Queen, Lianne, died he was heartbroken. His son, Prince Jonathon of Conte, began to be his unofficial regent. Some weeks later the King was on a hunting expedition and tried to jump a gorge. His horse fell short." His voice cracked "Prince Jonathon was to be crowned a few months later so he sent for his best friend. Does anyone know who that was?"Jon looked at Alan " Do you know who it is, Alan?" the page shook his head " Alanna the Lioness was best friend to both Jonathon IV of Conte and Thayet I of Conte." when he saw their confused faces he sighed " Were you ever told of Alanna the Lioness?" they shook their heads. He expected as much. "Keladry of Mindelan? Thayet of conte? Alianne of Pirates Swoop? Burrikam Tourikam? Veralidaine Sarrasri?" the pages shook their heads at each name.
"What have they been teaching you?" Jon roared. The door opened and in walked Gary. His muscles bulged against his tunic and he towered over all the students.
"Jon. I can hear you ranting about their lack of knowledge of female warriors down the hall. Rant quieter." Gary said before closing the door and leaving.
Alanna was astounded by the lack of skill the pages showed in fencing.
"Fencing is an art." She lectured. "The sword is an extension of your arm. It will never leave your side. You eat, sleep, study, and study some more with your sword. Now, who is the best fencer in the class?" A tall red head was pushed to the front. The page's violet eyes widened in surprise when he noticed Alanna's own violet gaze.
"Guard up!" Alanna circled him like a cat. She watched every move he made, every twitch told her something.
Enough of the theatrics, Alanna thought and struck. Instead of being on the defensive as Alanna expected the page lunged back, twisting his blade so as to disarm her. Alanna held tight and did something no one of the time had ever did anymore, she hit the boy's hand with the pommel of Lightning. Not to hard, just hard enough for him to drop his blade.
The page dropped his sword in surprise. The doors flew open and in walked Jon in full battle armor.
"Ala – n! Every man fit for duty is to report to the parade ground by order of the King's Champion! Come on!" The doors slammed shut behind Jon as Alanna ran towards the doors.
Alanna ran straight to her room and grabbed her armor. But her gold washed armor she received for her 18th birthday.
She raced to the stables picking up a blank shield from the armory along the way. The horse she had been given by the Goddess was pure white, a calm stallion. Scratched onto the tack and saddle was the name Helios.
Alanna mounted the horse when it was brought out by hostler. Jon walked up at that second.
When the new fencing instructor ran out of the indoor practice court Jonathon Began to worry. When a serving man came and told the third and fourth year pages to pack and suit up he realized what was happening. An emergency Call to Arms.
An emergency Call to Arms. Only happened if the army has be pushed back past their own border, if an enemy was approaching the capitol or if a high ranking courtier was convicted of treason.. Jonathon refused to think of the other reason his adoptive uncle would issue an emergency Call to Arms. The king would have to die in the war.
Jon and Gary rode to the parade ground. Upon arrival they noticed the coppery hair over the gold washed mail immediately. Gary broke into a gallop an caught up with Alanna.
"What do you think you're doing?" Gary hissed. He was seething. Alanna was going to give them all away, and something just didn't seem right in the palace. He wanted to find out what.
"Relax, I cast an illusion so that you see the gold armor only if you know my true identity." Alanna said, not looking at him. She was surveying the lines of knights she had joined.
Alanna kept glancing to the back of the parade of shields. Gary looked and he saw the squires and older pages lined up with Prince Jonathon at the head upon a chestnut gelding. Gary looked disapprovingly upon the wicked looking spurs the prince was fingering nervously. The prince's face was pale and he was chewing his bottom lip.
Gary wished fervently that he could reassure the prince.
Alan saw her prince begin his tedium of nervous idiosyncrasies. She rode her gelding forward until it nudged the boy's leg. The prince looked back, startled.
"Henri said I will command the pages and unchosen squires as we ride to Sarain. What if they don't listen to me? What if I'm not a good leader? What if-" he was cut off by Alan drawing her sword and beckoning his three other lieutenants, Nathan, Alex, and Matthias. They quickly dismounted, drew their own swords, touching the pommels to their foreheads and, sword points to the ground, saying,"Our lives and swords are yours, Highness. Should it be day or night, dawn or dusk, our allegiance is yours, and our lives are yours to take or let thrive. Please accept our tribute of allegiance and let us stand by your side as your Knight Paladins."
Jonathon heard a voice in his ear whispering, "Repeat after me. Rise Dux Belli, and show your tribute for the people's approval." Jonathon dutifully repeated, only letting his voice crack once.
"Your highness,our tribute is a magical means of protection. A companion of sorts, that is an animal that embodies your personality completely. If I may, I will call yours using your own Gift, so it may be bonded to you." Matthias said. The prince nodded and Matthias took his hand and spoke one word, "Venis."
Out of the Royal Forest came the sound of running feet. A man yelled and the prince turned to see a wolf running towards him. This wasn't an ordinary wolf those, this wolf was a s large as a small horse and it's fur blue-black.
The wolf ran right up to look the prince in the eye.
:I choose and bond to you.: The prince heard in his mind. Slowly but surely his mind melded with the beast's and he could feel Luparch's reassuring presence in the back of his mind.
Luparch? Where did I get that name? Jonathon thought.
:From me: he heard the deep, masculine voice again and he knew it was the wolf. Luparch slowly inclined his great head and a roar filled Jonathon's ears. It took Jonathon a second to realize that was the crowd roaring with approval.