(-a/n- Hello again all my amazing reviewers :D Thanks yet again for your wonderful comments you all deserve lots of chocolate and cookies :D )

SarahE7191, Luna Dust, Erytha, x17SkmBdrchiczxx, Misled Nymph, Aly the Spy, a random browser, oirishgoddess & jj.

Warrior by heartyeah, basically I listen to them and stare into space (for hours) imagining everything in my head and how I'm going to portray everything, then when I write it down I know what I want to write and just fill in the details…but the music is the source of all my inspiration…that and lots of chocolate nibbly things!

Pie of DoomehI love the song too :D Thanks for the complimentary review :D

Jennyvre Mossthanks, I'm glad you think it's different that's precisely what I was aiming for :D

Mrs. Dom MasbolleI'll try and make it longer, but the trouble is I always find that I need 'inbetweeney' chapters, but I don't want to make them to long as I would just waffle…still if I move the plot on a bit then the chapters will lengthen…hopefully…

On top of cloud 9hehe! I had never seen it until about six months ago, when my horsey-mad friend Jess showed it to me and I loved it :D I love loads of disney movies, especially the Lion King :D

shamrockgirl07I'm afraid that there won't be much Neal for quite a while, but you might have a few snippets of him here and there…

Me lol! But it would spoil everything hehehe anyway surprises are good for you, so you'll have to keep guessing a little longer…

Confusedknight xx

Six days later the train of carriages arrived in the City of the Gods. It had been six lonely days and nights for Kel. Shut away in the carriage she was left to reflect on her life, staying for many hours on end in one position, too lost in her own thoughts to notice her aching, stiff body. She didn't even practise any pattern dances with her glaive as it served of a painful reminder of her dismissal from Page training. She couldn't concentrate on anything and her mind floated constantly, as active as her body wasn't. Kel had been a wreck of emotion this last week though she'd never once let it show on her face, nor let a single tear spill from her hazel eyes. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

Whilst the rest of the coaches and wagons halted in the main street of the City of the Gods, the wizened man who had been driving her coach and bringing her meals, continued up a cobbled hill, to where a large grey building stood. Steel gates opened to allow the carriage to make its way up the hill.

I am a lake, thought Kel, I am as smooth and as calm as the surface of a lake.

That morning Kel had tried to wash the journey's grime off of herself in a small stream near to where they had stopped for breakfast. It hadn't been very thorough, but at least she felt a little less sweaty and dirty. She had then dressed in a simple dress, folding away her shirt and breeches, a wave of sorrow flooding her, as she felt like she was giving in. But in her heart she knew that she wasn't. I'll put on a brave face for everyone's sake. I'll try my hardest to be a lady, then at the end of the year at least I'll have learnt something, even if it's not what I wanted to be learning. Then I'll go to the Yamani Isles and become a warrior there.

She had reached the conclusion that becoming a warrior in the Yamani Isles was her next choice of lifestyle. Over the past lonely days she had considered the Queen's riders, Shang and even disguising herself as a boy like Alanna had done to re-enter page training. After a few dreamy minutes in which she envisioned herself proving to Lord Wyldon that he was wrong, she promptly dismissed the idea as ludicrous. For one thing Alanna had been a twin and had someone to swap with. Kel couldn't just invent an identity and even if she did manage to then she would undoubtedly be recognised. The thought of becoming a Shang warrior also filled her mind with future scenes, but Kel knew that she was far too old to become Shang. The Queen's riders on the otherhand worked far too closely with knight's for Kel to become a rider. It would be incredibly awkward being under the command of a Knight, her knowing, and them knowing that she had once tried, and failed to become a knight.

So the best option it seemed was to become a warrior for the Islands, and then, maybe if by some miracle, Lord Wyldon retired then she could try again for her shield. It was this thought that would pull Kel through the next six months of her life.

She tied her hair up, so that people couldn't see the tangles or dirt that had accumulated there during the journey and placed a necklace around her neck. It was made of a silver chain and the charm that hung on the simple chain was a sapphire Yamani cat, not unlike her ornamental ones. It was to bring good luck and had been given to her by her mother before she'd entered Page training. Kel was not sure why she had worn it, maybe to make her remember that she hadn't given up and was merely biding her time until she could train once more.

The carriage shuddered to a halt and Kel peered out into the dreary courtyard. The sky was overcast, and as Kel stepped out of the carriage she could feel spots of rain on her cheek. A sister dressed all in black hurried over to her.

'You must be Lady Keladry of Mindelan,' she said in a stern voice. 'I'm to take you to the First daughter of the Convent.' To the carriage driver she said, 'If you would be so kind as to leave Lady Keladry's belongings in the entrance hall, we will have a maid take them to her room.'

The woman turned abruptly and strode away, Kel hurrying after her. It felt good to stretch her legs after the long journey, thought Kel as she made her way down corridors and up staircases. They came to a halt outside an oak door on which had a brass plaque that read 'First Daughter.'

'This is where I leave you Lady Keladry,' she said and strode away.

Kel, like thousands of Noble women before her, knocked nervously on the door of the office.

'Come in,' called a haughty voice.

Kel pulled open the door and entered the office. It was a plainly furnished room, to match the plain face of the First Daughter. Her skin was wrinkled and her eyes dull. Everything about her and her belongings was simple and rather boring. She wore the black habit of a Sister of the Convent and the only thing that showed her position was a white belt and shawl. She appeared to be waiting for Kel.

Kel was about to curtsy and realised that she wasn't sure how a noble woman should curtsy. So instead she compromised and bowed Yamani style, her palms flat on her thighs. There were three types of greeting in the Islands. The one which she had just demonstrated, was used when wishing to honour a person, thanking them for something, or just as a formal greeting, it was the most common greeting. The second greeting was when the person knelt on the ground and bowed, though the size of their bow reflected the importance of the person they were greeting. (If they were greeting the Emperor they bowed until their head touched the floor!) The third greeting was more informal, or was used for a person of higher status to greet or acknowledge a person of lower status. In the current circumstances Kel felt that her formal bow was polite enough for the First Daughter. Although as soon as she rose, she knew it had been a mistake.

The First Daughter's face registered disapproval.

'In future, Lady Keladry, you will great me with a curtsy, only men should bow.'

Kel gritted her teeth, 'Many apologies First Daughter, I was taught to greet people like this in the Yamani Isles, where it is acceptable for women to bow.'

The First Daughter's eyes narrowed and Kel knew that she had made herself unpopular already.

'Your apology is accepted Lady Keladry, let us hope that in future you will be more acquainted with Tortallan customs,' she replied, icily polite.

'I have called you here to not only welcome you to the Mother of the Mountains Convent, but to decide which year group to place you with. Can you play an instrument?' Inquired the older woman.

'No First Daughter.'

'Can you sing?'

'No First Daughter.'

'Can you embroider?'

'No First Daughter.'

'Can you dance, sew, draw, cook? Do you know the etiquettes required at court? Do you know how to accept tokens or compliments? Can you apply face paint to magnify your beauty?'

'No First Daughter,' replied Kel woodenly.

'I thought not,' said the First Daughter coldly, 'Your parents might have neglected your upbringing in favour of your childish fantasies of Knighthood, but we most certainly will not. You will not embarrass them or us any further, you will become a fine young lady, though Goddess help us it will take time.'

She looked at Kel through narrowed eyes as though expecting anger or tears. But Kel's face was smoother than silk, and she replied serenely.

'Yes First Daughter.'

'I will be placing you with our youngest group,' she said, again looking at Kel and waiting for an objection.

'Will that be all First Daughter?' she said smoothly although longing to punch the First daughter's ugly face.

'I shall call for a sister to show you to your room. Dinner will be in two hours and we will start your instructing immediately, as you are so far behind. Here is your timetable.'

Kel took the proffered piece of paper, said 'Good day First Daughter,' serenely and left the office with a grim sense of satisfaction. It'll take a lot more than that to get emotion out of me, thought Kel savagely.

A sister robed in black appeared and led Kel to her room. It was slightly large than the one she'd had as a page and the walls were a dull, pale pink in colour. The floor was wooden and had a large fleecy rug laid across it. There was a window from which she could the City of the Gods and below the windowsill was the sloped roof of a small extension to the building, on the other side of which lay the small stables.

Kel's trunk had already been brought up and laid by her bed. Looking around Kel also noticed that small door led off into a tiny privy where a bathtub lay. She heard the door to her room swing shut as the Sister left her. She stared around hopelessly, wondering how many other people would be prejudiced against her for her desire to become a Knight. She had hoped that she might find at least one friend.

Well you'd better make a better first impression on them than you did on the First Daughter, she told herself sternly.

And so she undressed and went into the bathroom. The bathtub was positioned beneath two large copper taps which she twisted. Out of the first gushed steaming water and out of the second, ice cold water. She wasn't quite sure how the water got there but she assumed that it must be controlled magically. When she had filled the bath tub to nearly the top she climbed in, some water slopping over the sides onto the tiled floor.

She tilted her head back and lay there, allowing the hot water to ease her muscles and completely remove all the grime that had accumulated over the last week of travelling. Then she washed all the knots and tangles out of her hair, which was now long enough to fall just past her shoulders. Feeling altogether a lot nicer and cleaner, she stepped out of the bath and wrapped herself in a soft cotton towel.

Kel then selected the least creased dress she owned, and got dressed, towelling her hair dry until it hung in damp curls on her shoulders. She put on some Yamani slippers and then began to unpack. When the dinner bell rang, she took a deep breath, willing herself to be calmer than calm. Like a stone, and took the first steps of the new life at the convent, out into the hallway, following the corridor until she came to a stair case. Once on the ground floor she followed Kel other girls, keeping her head down, making herself inconspicuous as possible.

(-a/n- Sorry about the delay in updating. I've discovered that I can only write at night…I tried yesterday during the day and it just wouldn't flow, I kept getting distracted…-sighs- anway…at least the chapter was longer...Please review :D )

Confusedknight xxx