This chapter is for all of my old fans that are still with me and for the new readers that I have picked up. I owe my inspiration to all the readers that never gave up on Eleni!

Two days passed until the other pages started to trickle into the hall. Schuylar was the first of Eleni's friends to return, much to Kyle's delight. Apperantly they had formed a really solid friendship during the trip back to the Corus.

At least, Eleni thought with a smirk, it means that he won't cling to my side for the entirety of the year.

After Schuylar's arrival, there was a blur of activity, with numerous pages returning to the palace at the same time. By midday of Eleni's third day back in the Palace all of her friends had returned from their home fiefs. The reunion was joyious and rowdy, and when it spiraled out of control and became too loud for Lokejo, they sought out a new gathering place.

Slowly, the group unconsciously gathered in their old den of mischief, but it felt hollow with members of their pack missing. Without Herne and Perci, there was a void, and they still didn't know how to fill it. They settled for chatting quietly about the separate adventures during the summer, none being too interesting.

Kyle certainly made an effort to make up for the lack of exciting conversation on the part of the older pages, but it only served as a contrast to the intelligent wit that Perci would have displayed. Also heavy on their minds was the tragedy of the summer trip. None of them had forgotten the very real death of Artan of Bjorn.

There was a heavy pause that night, when the light was seen behind Artan's door. Earlier that day, Lord Padraig had admitted a boy from Haryse into the training program. A small and timid boy, he was further intimidated by the looks he received from the older pages when he left his room that evening.

It was odd for many of them to see the small boy come out of a room that had once housed the giant that had been Artan. By the time all of them had returned to their own home fiefs, the palace maids had already disappeared all traces of Artan's inhabitance. It was normal to clean out the rooms had been vacated, but that usually only occurred when a page had become a squire. Death during the page years was unheard of.

There was a page among the crowd that looked ready to rip the boy to shreds. Pier, in yet another flattering gown, was practically growling at the boy. Alex had dealt with Artan's death in his own ways, but Pier had trouble coming to terms with the loss of her guard dog. She wasn't grieving for her old friend; she was annoyed that she would have to mold a new attack dog.

His large brown eyes misted over almost immediately when he saw how Pier was watching him and it appeared to Eleni that the boy was going to cry. Lord Padraig must have thought the same thing, because he quickly cleared his throat to call attention to himself.

However, by the way that he puffed out his chest and tried to strut in front of the pages, Eleni quickly recanted her rare good opinion of the training master.

The old fool just wanted all the attention on him, she thought scathingly. She couldn't help scoffing at his insatiatable pride, "Peacock."

Schuylar heard her and failed to stifle his laughter behind a cough.

"Something amuses you, Nicoline?" Lord Padraig did not enjoy having his moment stolen.

"Peacock," Eleni coughed out again.

It only made Schuylar laugh harder. The crow blood in her veins was enjoying this too much to stop. Although Schuylar had a history with Padraig, this was too great of an opportunity to pass up. How many times could she embarrass Padraig before he had a chance to 'impress' new pages?

"Three bells of stable clean up, Nicoline." Padraig also had a history of giving out punishment work to Schuylar on a regular basis. "And you as well, Pirate's Swoop."

Letting out a long string of curses she had learned on the docks of Rajmuat, Eleni could only bow her head in shame. She'd been caught and now had to spend her Saturday morning in the stables. It was a lovely way to begin the year.

A duet of "Yes, sir" was heard, and Padraig was content enough to properly begin his yearly speech about the responsibilities of a true and noble knight of the realm.

"…and the most important duty of a knight is to care for those who are unable to defend themselves, the elderly, the weak, womenfolk, the likes of which could never stand a chance against villainy."

A second curse escaped the glowering redhead. The man would never let up on his assail on female warriors. There were a few women she'd like to lock him up with, knowing that they would teach him a lesson he would never forget.

I can only dream, she thought with a sigh.

"A problem, Pirate's Swoop?" Padraig's hearing seemed to have improved over the summer, the old man would never of heard her before.

"Damn it."

"What was that? You want to volunteer your services at the stables for eight hours instead of three?" He had also grown more sadistic. "Wonderful! I'm positive that the stable hands will appreciate your help."

There was an odd twickle in his left eye as he sentenced her. Eleni had seen that small light in the eye of a divine acquaintance, and it unnerved her that he would start mischief so early. Kyprioth coming to her never meant good news. It usually meant disaster for her and her alone.

After the two new pages had been 'chosen' by sponsors, they were all dismissed until supper. Eleni didn't bother to move, she knew what was coming. She mentally counted down the seconds.

At five, she heard the summons.

"Pirate's Swoop," he called, trying to be inconspicuous. Kyprioth was never too subtle. "A word in private, if you will." As if she had any real choice in the matter.

She followed the wicked Trickster to Padraig's office. His presence never preceded anything pleasant, and Eleni could see how this time good be different. Asking the gods for help would have normally helped anyone else, but the gods usually ignored her plees for help and sent Kyprioth.

It was strange to see Padraig grinning like an idiot at a cardtable. It didn't suit his features at all, and now Eleni understood why the old man didn't smile as often as a normal person.

Eleni didn't bother to sit down when she was offered a seat. What was the point of even pretending that the man before her was really her training master? The Trickster wanted to play with her, but she wasn't in the mood, not now. When Kyprioth left Padraig's body, she would still have twelve hours worth of stable work. She didn't enjoy his pranks as much as he did.

"Not going to sit?" The smile was making her uncomfortable now. It was more than odd, it was unsettling.

"Why should I?" she shot back. "Just tell me what you want already, idiot. I've never felt as if anything you've ever said has any true value."

When the words left her mouth, she regretted them instantly. Damn him!

"Trust me," he said, the smirk slowly easing off his mouth and transforming into a twisted scowl. Gone was the Trickster god, and Eleni was left with a disaster before her.

Padraig decided that Myles would have more than a few weeks of stable duty for this one. Insulting a superior was not something a future knight did, especially if that susperior was their commanding officer. Eleni had never known that a person could turn such an awful shade of puce. Three months of 'volunteer' work mucking out the stables. It would serve to humble the overinflated ego of Pirate's Swoop.

The man was a sadist, but Eleni was not at war with him. Her enemy was Kyprioth, and Eleni vowed to get back at him for every injury sent her way. There was no useful purpose behind his actions this time, and she had done nothing to incite him.

A small voice whispered otherwise in her head. Do not initiate trouble, nestling. I am a master of the craft, and trust me when I say that it can burn you. Even though it was only his voice in her head, Eleni knew that the Crooked God was smiling down on her. It was not a benevolent smile.

"Trust you, indeed," she muttered miserably.

Eleni started her miserable walk to the dining hall, hoping she wasn't late and gave Padraig another excuse to punish her further. Her friends would not be amused. There would be more than one lecture from the more 'mature' members of the group, and was already cringing at the thought.

I love how Kyprioth screws with Eleni. I'm betting that she'll be less than sane by the time she gets her shield. I could be kinder to her, but that would make Kyprioth sad... Tell me what you think so far, I 3 detailed reviews!