This newest chapeter is dedicated to GinaStar and spazzysassyangel, the two that always review. Thank you everyone who reviews. It's not a cliche, it really does inspire us to write!
Also, thank you to those who contributed to my 500 hits.
It was obvious that Lord Paidrag meant to instill a sense of asceticism in his pages. Eleni's room was as barren as his office.
"Well this is charming," she said with as much sarcasm as possible .
George closed the door and gently cuffed her ear. "Don't be pert. Pages, and knights for that matter, do not complain about their quarters." Eleni, who had inherited her father's fondness for shinies, couldn't care less about that aspect of knighthood and it clearly showed on her face. "Alright, I'll have some things sent up from the market. Will that make her highness content?"
She pretended to be deep in thought, before a smile cracked. "Only if they're shiny. I like mirrors and glass pieces." Most people would have been offended, but George was glad to dote on the girl. Eleni realized that she might have sounded pert, once again, and moved to apologize. "I'm sorry, that came out wrong. I meant-"
"I know, little one. I don't mind, just remember that mirrors are for lasses, not young lads." He smiled at her blush and set to organizing her packs. "Come on, we've got to get this all sorted out. I need to know what you need from the city."
Eleni's blush intensified as she remembered the rather eventful morning. She sorted her clothes, almost mechanically before asking, "What happened? Earlier, I mean. I couldn't control Candy."
George didn't know what to say, because he honestly didn't know. He knew that horses shied at sudden actions, but Candy was one of the gentlest horse ever born, that was why he had bought her. "I don't know little one. Sometimes horses, like people, act strangely for no reason at all. It happens, but only rarely." He offered her a smile. "It's a good thing it already happened. It's happened and it's in the past. One less obstacle, in my opinion."
She mused over what he said, and responded, "In that case, I'm glad that boy helped out. He's a page, too?"
George blanched. Gods damn it! "Yes, Alexander is another page, although I think he might be in a different year." Eleni detected the unease that permeated the air, but couldn't understand why. He wanted to tell her, but it wasn't his story. Alanna would have to be the one to tell her. "Eleni, a bit of advice: don't get attached to any particular person, at least not just yet. You have years to know these boys, and they may not be all that they appear to be, and-"
"Grandfather! I don't about boys like that!" She was mortified. How could her Grandfather, of all the people in the world, be trying to have this conversation with her. "Mother already had that talk with me, almost a year ago. You don't have to worry."
He could tell that it was hopeless to explain in such a roundabout way. "Of course, I understand." Better to let the girl think that that had been a poor attempt at The Talk, than to try a second time. "Well, if you're settled, I'll leave you to get ready for dinner. Just remember, your grandmother and I are always here, if ever you need anything."
He placed a small kiss on her head, and made the effort to hug her, but stopped when she started to fidget. "Boys don't hug, Grandfather."
"Of course, Myles. Have fun."
She was alone. Alone with over a dozen boys. Gods, I must be insane. Me? Be like Grandmother? What was I thinking?Eleni slinked over to her bed and dropped face first into a pillow. At least the pillows are soft.And so, doubt gnawing at her ambitions, Eleni fell asleep.
"Sleep, nestling, you have had a difficult day. Rest, there is nothing to worry about."
"What do you think you are doing!"
"Taking care of my charge, naturally. I look after all of my chicks."
"You stay away from her, Brother. I won't hesitate to imprison you again."
"I am only all too aware of that fact, my Dearest Sister. Oh, but wait! You have no power over me!"
"I have power enough to deal with you. This child is special. And she is mine. Stay away, Brother, I will not repeat myself."
"As you wish, Sister. Just remember that I have complete control of three pieces, while you only have one. This one may not take too kindly to cages. Consider it a warning."
"Consider this a threat: Do not meddle, you silly crow!"
Elani awoke to sound of the palace bells with a pounding headache. Though she had rested for a couple of hours, she felt worse than when she had gone to bed. Reaching for the door with one hand and combing her short red hair with the other, Eleni took her first step into the world of pagehood.
Gods, help her, they were everywhere. She had never been around many boys, her only longterm companions being her brothers, and needless to say, these many boys, and at such close proximity, was a shock.
Breathe, Eleni, everything will be fine. Stubborn to the end, she willed herself to be an example of masculinity for the real boys, and almost giggled at the thought. Stop it! Boys do not giggle! Mortified at her lack of control, Eleni was unaware of the grimace she had plastered on her face.
"Hey," came from her right. A boy, of course. He looked rather sickly, his pale skin, contrasting greatly with his midnight hair, did not help a bit. Surely, he wasn't a page. "Don't look so scared, they can smell fear." A joke. The boy was joking on the eve of on of the most important moments in their training! "Relax, would you?"
Eleni was at her wits end with the lad and preparing to tell him off, when Lord Paidrag spoke, "Older lads, line up!" All of the boys, with the exception of two, formed two lines behind Lord Paidrag. It was Eleni's luck that the fool would be her yearmate.
"To train for knighthood is an honor and a privelige. Thank the gods that you are capable of honoring your families in such a way. Above all, I expect you to uphold three ideals of chivalry. The chivalry of a warrior to his King, the chivalry of a warrior to his gods, for they decide your fate, and chivalry to your womenfolk, for they need your protection."
That last ideal stung. Who is this stuffy conservative to say that women need defending? Eleni was outraged, to say the least. The Lioness doesn't need protecting, neither does Her Majesty or any of the Princess's ladies.
"When I signal you, you will state your name and home. After that, you will be appointed a sponsor, who will show you the ways around the palace."
The first lad signaled out was one two doors down from Eleni. "Devin of Disart, my lord."
"Who will sponsor Devin of Disart?" Not two seconds later, a large boy with curly brown hair raised his hand. "Simon of Kennan will sponsor Devin of Disart." The small Devin scurried of to his sponsor's shadow.
The next boy, the annoying fool, was Schuyler of Nicoline. "Who will sponsor Schuyler of Nicoline?" Another large boy, this one wider than the last, raised his hand. "Warren of Dunlath will sponsor Schuyler of Nicoline."
She was alone, again. Eleni could feel the eyes that were raking over her wraith like figure. Trickster don't let them find out. Don't let them treat me like the womenfolk he spoke of. With that small prayer, she took a step forward. "Myles of Pirate's Swoop, my lord." Now she was positive that all of the eyes were on her, taking her in a second time.
"Who will sponsor Myles of Pirate's Swoop?" Surprisingly, there were no hands raised, but, equally surprising a voice was.
"I will sponsor him, my lord." The boy from the market. Alexander of Tirragen had spoken up and broken rank.
Lord Paidrag's silent discomfort was evident. Had a blind fool walked by he would have known it. "A hand would have sufficed, Tirragen."
That same sardonic smile was gracing his features again. "Forgive my enthusiasm, my lord. It would be an honor to induct the Lioness' grandson into the fold of palace life and the way of knighthood."
Eleni felt sick. There was something about that honey sweet voice that scared her. True, it also attracted her, but something told her it was the same attraction a moth had for a flame.
"Very well, Alexander of Tirragen will sponsor Myles of Pirate's Swoop." Eleni knew she had no choice. She forced her feet to move her shocked body to the boy's side. "Now that that's done with, you have one bell before dinner. I suggest you get going."
For the third time that day, Eleni was alone. Only this time, she was alone with something dangerous, and the deadliest part, was that she only recognized a fraction of the danger.
I managed to write this all whil waiting for my flight. Wow, I'm impressed with myself. I was going to wait until next week, but I felt so loved, I had to post it early. Please allow another week before the next chapter. I'm reading Descartes now.