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Eleni spent the remainder of her day trying to reclaim Lokejo. He never came back to her on his own, not after one of their fights. However, after hours of apologizing and promising that she wouldn't get caught again, Lokejo relented. He loved his little girl too much. Hugs followed the make up and all was right with Eleni's tiny world.

"Well, you couldn't have been all that lonely." Lokejo sat down next to Eleni on her bed. "I saw the boys come around when you came back from your little meeting. You weren't as lonely as you claim." Although he teased her, the part of him that saw Eleni as a daughter was worried. How long would it be before one of those boys snatched her heart?

"I wasn't going to go," she challenged. "I didn't want to, really, but Schuylar said something stupid again-"

"And you had to show him a lesson," Lokejo finished for her. "What have I told you about picking fights with that mage?" Lokejo hadn't forgotten how Schuylar had spelled him. "He's bigger than you lass, they all are. I don't want you hurt, lass." His tone had softened, truly worried for his small charge.

"As if Schuylar could ever hurt me. He may have improved, but I'm still quicker than him." Eleni's eyes glossed over for a minute. "And I really impressed one of the visiting squires!" The jolt she had previously felt returned to her stomach. "Ferenc of Nond said that my skills were impressive, and he's seen me practice my archery! I don't know when, but he said that we should have a contest at some point! Can you believe that a squire would be impressed by my skills?"

Her eagerness and joy was overflowing, catching Lokejo off guard. Sure, she'd admired the skills of her male friends, but something told him that the admiration she felt for this Ferenc was based on more than his skills with the sword. This was exactly the type of headache he had hoped to avoid.

"And you should have seen him! He said my swordsmanship was excellent, but he was amazing! For someone as young as hi-"

"Lad," his voice has higher and his tone firmer. It was his subtle way of saying that Eleni was getting the best of Myles. She was literally gushing about a boy, whether she realized it or not. Frankly, this side of her was entirely new and disturbing, and Lokejo needed time to figure out how to manage this new development.

"I think it's time you get to bed. You only have a few weeks until the examinations, and I'm sure you need tomorrow to practice." He got off her bed and readied it while Eleni changed into a nightshirt. When she was tucked in, Lokejo gave her a kiss on the forehead. Normally she would have protested the gesture, but they had just made up, and it was reassuring to know he still cared. He blew out the candle on her nightstand and left her to sleep. "Night, lad."

The morning dawned as bright and warm as Eleni's disposition. Lokejo was disappointed that a night of rest hadn't snuffed out her infatuation with the blonde squire. Again and again she regaled him with detailed accounts of his swordsmanship or about how strong his stance was when he fired an arrow.

She didn't realize that Lokejo was becoming irritated with her repeated accounts of his "impeccable skills". She also didn't realize that he followed her when she went to meet her friends in the practice yard. Lokejo wouldn't interfere, only watch from the shadows. After all, he had been hired to protect the small girl, and he would continue to do so until his dying breath.

When all of the pages had arrived, Ferenc was nowhere to be seen, and Eleni had the good grace to not ask. Who knew what her friends would think when a ten year-old boy kept asking after an older squire. The scandal would never end! Instead they went on to normal drills, the older pages directing the three younger ones.

Watching his little girl, his heart filled with pride. She really had improved, and it was visible. Eleni's decision to become a knight had not been a whim, she had truly meant it. Now, as she practiced her sword skills with her friends, he saw that familiar determination that he had witnessed in her parents and grandparents. Eleni would make an excellent knight one day.

By now, the pages had moved on to wrestling, and the larger boys had their advantage. There was no feasible way for Eleni to win any of this matches, but that wouldn't stop her from trying to win. She was faster than the boys, so at least she had that, but it wasn't enough. Barely a few minutes into her match with Simon, he had slammed her into the ground, pinning her small form beneath his.

It was all in the name of good sportsmanship, and Simon offered her a hand up. "You lasted longer this time," he joked. Eleni almost disagreed, when an audible snap was heard. Schuylar had fallen and broken his nose. "At least you're doing better than Schuylar," Simon added.

Practice was momentarily paused, and Eleni was glad for it. Wrestling just wasn't something she was good at, and she had admitted it long ago. She wished she could offer a better challenge, but her slight build wasn't made for something as physical as wrestling. But Simon was right, she was better than poor Schuylar.

Schuylar, though his skills had improved immensely during the months, was still pitiful. Everyone wondered whether he would pass the examination, but nobody said anything aloud. It would be devastating if he was failed. A voice jarred Eleni out her musings.

"What are you all doing just sitting around?" Ferenc of Nond had finally joined their little party, but by the glances he kept shooting over his shoulder, it was obvious he had snuck away from his master's side. "Well?" he asked Eleni. She hadn't even noticed that he was standing beside her and jumped. "Sorry, kitten." His nickname for her was worse than Alex's, but for some reason it didn't bother her. "So what happened here, kitten?"

"Schuylar broke his nose while wrestling," she explained in one breath. All of the sudden, she felt like she couldn't get enough air. Deciding it had to be the afternoon heat that was making her dizzy she went to sit down next to her year-mate. Eleni never noticed Ferenc's crestfallen look.

"I'm pathetic," Shuylar said without raising his head. "I'm a complete embarassment. I'll never be anything more than a hopeless failure who no one can be proud of, and I'll nev-"

Eleni punched him, hard. While he tried to regain his breath, she spoke softly. "You're not pathetic, Schuylar. Get that idea out of your head, right now." He finally sat up again, but didn't look at Eleni. "Schuylar," she whispered. "No matter what anyone has ever said, I know that you'll be a shining example of knighthood. I'd bet my life on that."

Schuylar couldn't help but smile at Myles' resolve. "You really think so?"

"I know so. Now, come on, I need someone to practice with." Eleni got to her feet and offered her friend a hand. They started this together, and they would end it together. There was no other possible alternative for Eleni.

The days rolled on, and turned into weeks. Without waiting for the newest pages to be fully ready, the day of the examinations had arrived. Eleni prayed that everything would work out, for her and all of her friends.

I know a bunch of the readers love Alex, but what fun would it be if there wasn't some competition? You know, besides being the grandson of the Lioness' old rival and the traitor who helped Roger... Ferenc is like a cuddly fox to me, and I needed to keep him around for one more chapter. Forgive me?

I wonder if Schuylar will pass the exams... I do love him, but he's not knight material. I know, I created him.