7Chapter Two: Week Two
AN: Enjoying it yet? **Silence** I knew you didn't like me! Wahhhhhhhhhh! **Runs away** **a little girl that looks like a female harry potter, but younger and with long hair pops out ** Umm. well this is chapter two. hope you like it. it took -chan has school . bye.**chibi Nikki-chan walks away**
1.1.1 Day Eight
I thought I should write one little thing down before I head off to fight Trec. I'm wearing a dress. A simple one, one of my own, but still a dress. It's to prove that even I, a girl, can beat him. Must go now.
*Later*
Well, it's over. And I won. And Trec followed me around like a duckling all day asking who would teach a girl to swordfight and I just said I learned by watching everyone else learn, which is the truth, but he will not believe it. I have finally disposed of him and am now in my room. I do hope he does not come here asking more questions. I so wish I could pose as a boy for a little while. I could act just like a boy and when everyone is convinced I am one, I'll show I'm not. I've learned how to pin my hair up under a hat and pin the hat to my hair so that it stays on. Allegra says it would be splendid to watch me fool them all, but she forbids it. It might get me into more trouble. Unfortunately, I had to agree. It could get me in a lot of trouble. Girls and women can get in trouble with court for pretending to be boys or men. We are inferior and must act as so. That is what they say. Oh well, I suppose I'll visit him at Silver Meadows when we return home and pretend to be a boy. If his parents agree with mine, then I can pull a mean trick on him. But if they do not agree, I cannot pose as a boy.
I can still sense an approaching crossroads, and I am thinking of doing some candle magic. That is when you concentrate on a candle's flame and let your subconscious rule your body. You see images and things that your conscious mind blocks out. The future is there to see, but we block it out with our conscious minds. If someone catches me, I'll just say I was wondering what makes fire red and orange. They'd think I'm a witch if they knew the truth. Everyone at home aside from my family believes I have an amazing fascination with fire. Uh oh, someone is knocking at the door. Bye. Sixty-two days left.
Day Nine
Last night, it was Allegra at the door. She wanted to play cards. When I said I didn't know how, she taught me. Cards are quite fascinating. I read Tarot Cards sometimes. I did this for Allegra and she was surprised at how accurate I was. I am very good at reading Tarot Cards. She told Trec and so I had to do him and his friends this afternoon. He says I am very talented. He wished to know what other boyish things I could do. Tomorrow is Saturday and I said I would show him then, in the courtyard. He looked amused, agreed, and then left me alone the rest of the day. I honestly think he does like me. I am quite sick of him. You know I am honest, so I could very barely lie. I can lie, actually, but I feel incredibly guilty about it when I do, so I tend to avoid it. No one reads my diary that I know of so I see no reason to lie in these pages.
I should stop writing now. My candle is nearly run out. I shall have to ask the servants for a new one tomorrow. Sixty-one days.
Day Ten
Oh it was so fantastic today! I can climb trees better than Trec and almost all of his friends. I can ride better too, and they were very surprised that I didn't ride sidesaddle. I can drive a wagon, hunt with a gun, and even do archery better than they do. I really prefer hunting with arrows because guns scare away the rest of the game in the area. They asked me if I knew to play soccer. I did not. I watched them play a short game, then I played against Trec and won. All this in a dress! Oh how Trec is amazed! He shall never underestimate me again.
More good news, a real sorceress arrived today and she said I would be perfect for training. She has been traveling for nearly a month looking for a student. So now she will teach me and no one else. I am to meet her every day at one on the indoor training courts for the boys. There is one they never use, and we will have lessons there. I cannot wait! To use magic without fear of witch accusations is a dream. Oh yes, her name is Sanora, Lady Sanora. She is very kind. The first thing I am to learn is healing because it is most important. A few of the boys have broken limbs and lots have sprains so they are volunteering to help. I do hope Trec does not come, for he would tease me out of my mind about doing women's work. Most sorcerers do not heal, usually only sorceresses do. However, I do wish he would severely injure himself and have pain.
On another point, Allegra has been rejoicing. Her betrothed has died. She is now to marry the handsome prince of the Koyo Isles. The Isles are a peaceful country off the coast of Priessa. Allegra is so overjoyed that she has been singing all day. I have to go now, Allegra wishes for me to play the harp whilst she sings. Sixty days.
.1 Day Eleven
Allegra has thankfully gotten over the singing. Some of the royal tailors are coming to fit her wedding dress. She wishes for them to make me a bridesmaid dress as well. She does want me to be a bridesmaid, so I shall.
Lady Sanora says I am very good at healing and we will practice on worse injuries tomorrow. There have been many crossroads, but still I feel the one looming ahead of me. I shall have to ask Lady Sanora tomorrow.
I am still sick of Trec and he seems to want to make the prophecy true because he follows me. I cannot wait to go home. Those three boys will get it when I'm back. I should take them to court for false accusation. Allegra caught me writing the other day and said, "Liana, dear, if you write about such things, make sure you explain everything so that if you read it later on in life you know exactly what's going on, just in case you forget. Times change, regretfully enough." And I said that it was a good idea, and so I now promise to explain everything I talk about, if it's possible. And if you are I reading this years from now, I sure hope you're smart and pretty, although I know I am being far too selfish in those wishes. I will start with explaining everything that I mentioned without an explanation so far.
First off, I'm a tomboy because I have three older cousins that live with my family. All they ever talked about was boys when I was little. It disgusted me so I acted like a boy to show them how dumb boys were. They were appalled that I would even go outside barefoot, let alone climb a tree in a dress. They never climbed trees. Since I was an only child then, my parents thought I was amazingly funny and called me the boy they never had. Now I have two younger brothers and a younger sister. My father tells people he has seven children, three boys and five girls. Then they usually say that that's eight, and my father'll say no, it's seven, one's a girl that's like a boy.
Second, I liked to spy on people because I learn things from it. Allegra asked me once if I knew what was happening that evening in the banquet hall, and I told her I'd be right back. I spied on the lord and found out that there was just a conference for various lords. She was very pleased that I found out and thought it hilarious that I was such a good spy. I think I'll start spying again today. I haven't since I almost got caught. It is so fun and there is a bit of spare time every day after lessons.
The boy's training master for swordfighting heard about me beating Trec and wanted to see for himself so I fought him then and there and won in thirty seconds. Now he's so amazed by me that he suggested to the lady to get me an expert teacher because I deserve the lessons. She said she'd think it over. She's a tomboy too, just not as much now that she's a lady. The master asked me if I would like to take over his job and I burst out laughing. I would never try to teach boys. They are too disrespectful of girls and women. The tiger in the zoo likes me. She lets me pet her through the cage's bars. She purrs very loudly when I do that. I did a spell on her with Lady Sanora's help and now I can talk to her and understand her. She is very interesting. She is very sad that she was taken away from her three kittens, but that I am her fourth. Tigers are very maternal. Her name is Sienna.
Oh yes, if someone other than my future self might be reading this, they might be from a different country. So I shall explain the Fairy Blessings and the Prophecies. In Priessa, there are Fairies that live in a hidden forest. The eight members of the Fairy Council visit chosen infants and each member grants the child a gift. The Fairy Queen or King chooses who shall be blessed. Many of the blessed ones also receive their own magic. I received more than most people because the first fairy that held me was the most magical of the eight. Her name is Adalissia, and I was named after her. Liana is the second fairy that held me, and also the first to hold all the royal daughters for as long as anyone can remember. She is the second most magical. Strangely enough, The fairies gifted me in the order of their magical ability. I am the first who has been gifted this way; even the history books say so. I have much magic because of this. That is very hard to explain so I hope you will forgive me for not doing so. The Prophecies are really premonitions that sorcerers and sorceresses get from time to time. The more magic they have, the more accurate their Prophecy. I really must go now because Allegra wants me to help her pick out the flowers for her wedding. Fifty-nine days.
1.2 Day Twelve
Ooh, I am so angry! I was spying on the lady today because I wanted to find out if she knew about the surprise birthday party she was getting tonight. After she turned the corner, I was about to leave when Trec came up behind me and covered my mouth. I kicked him hard in the leg, not even caring that it could have been anyone. He didn't say a word, just looked hurt and limped away. I am so mad at him! What possessed that boy to do that? He, of all people, should know better. Allegra heard and is also wondering, although I expected her to laugh hysterically. When I told her so, she said she'd had a lot more things to think about since I came. I do hate it when people answer cryptically like that. I never quite understand what they mean until it doesn't matter any longer. That is also why I love to answer cryptically. Usually it's something of an inside joke that others do not understand.
On a lighter point, Allegra has bought me a present since my birthday was just before I was exiled. It is a spy kit, consisting of countless costumes and accessories and makeup and a handbook. There is also a book for recording your observations. I was very pleased but Allegra and I both agreed it would be best to keep it a secret so the other residents and visitors wouldn't suspect anything. After magic lessons with Lady Sanora, I dressed in my practice dress that I wear for training. It's a soft leather skirt and a white cotton blouse with short sleeves. On my arms are leather guards and gloves. I stopped wearing a helmet long ago; I simply tie my hair back. I put on my riding boots and took a sword with me to a clearing in the surrounding forest. The sword is very special. Sanora gave it to me today and told me that it was magic and could cut through anything I wished it to. If anyone else used it, it wouldn't cut a blade of grass. So I practiced slicing through trees, chanting incantations to heal the trees before they fell. Then I climbed to a branch about ten feet off the ground and sliced branches off of nearby trees, also while chanting. This helps my balance, especially because there were high winds today. I fell off after only a minute or so, but I went back up. I'm not used to so many branches. I fell time after time, and the ninth time I fell, I didn't think I could get up. I had broken my arm and sprained an ankle. But I got up anyway and made it back up, and stayed there for almost ten minutes, not bothering to chant. The tenth time I fell, I used my magic to replace all the fallen branches. I sat down with a sigh. Then I said, "If you boys wanted training help, all you had to do was ask," and five bewildered boys crowded around me and stared. So I had five new ducklings for the rest of the day. None of the other boys believe in what those five said I did. I told the boys that an opponent wouldn't stop just because you can hardly stand. I am so sorry, I must be rambling. Fifty-eight days.
2 Day Thirteen
There will be a ball tomorrow and everyone is invited. Most of the boys have invited girls from their homes to come and join us. The ball is to celebrate because all the boys made it through two whole weeks. It's really just for entertainment, seeing as hardly anyone's ever died or gone home before two weeks were up. I'm going to wear my favorite gown. It's one that Allegra gave me last week. It is pastel pink and it looks good with my black hair. I don't think I mentioned it earlier, but I change my hair color with my magic. I only just started, but it's fun. It's especially good for spying, because it's harder to notice me in the shadows when my hair is black. Lady Sanora is perfectly brilliant! I especially love the lessons she is giving me on changing the color of my eyes and skin. Once I master them, she will teach me how to change my hairstyle and clothes. Oh dear, I have to go to lessons now. I've been practicing a lot after yesterday's lesson, so maybe she'll teach me something new today. I hope so!
*Later*
Ooh, I was lucky! Lady Sanora taught me how to grow my hair longer and shorter. She also taught me how to change jewelry and clothing. But the most important thing she taught me today was how to change my facial features. We were practicing all day, from lunch to almost ten o'clock! Of course, we did stop for a quick dinner. It hurts a bit to change my face, but after fourteen years of painful healings, it's not too bad. Lady says I shall get used to it in only a few days, especially since she knows I'll be practicing a lot at the ball. She said she probably will be too. I laughed. Somehow, it is easy for me to imagine my happy-go-lucky teacher do something so. so. childish, I suppose. I had forgotten to ask her about my feeling of an upcoming crossroads all those days ago, but I did ask her today. She said that the best thing to do is to let it take its course. The feeling has gotten much stronger and I believe it may occur at the ball.
Sienna, the tigress in the zoo, talks to me a bit less than before. The lady has found her a mate, a beautiful golden and black tiger named Rennin. He loves me dearly, just as he loves Sienna. He has also 'adopted' me as his kitten. They have accepted Allegra as my friend, though I must play translator for them to converse.
On another point, the twin children of the lord and lady of Golden Creek Point are to attend the ball as the lord and lady's guests. Golden Creek is a creek that flows from an enormous lake in the mountains. Golden Creek Point is on one of the mountains it flows down. It is one of the small, broad mountains; it's nearly completely covered with the large community. I've been to Golden Creek Point once in my life, back when I was almost six years old. I met the twins, one a girl, one a boy. I liked to play with the girl, Marisanna, because she also was a tomboy. Her brother, Lule, played with me as well during my family's two-week visit. Our parents are friends. Risa, as I called Marisanna, was always so very elegant. Pretty and beautiful had not been strong enough words to describe her. She had perfect, unblemished skin, which was pale despite her years playing outdoors. Her fiery hair was in thick waves, but she had the strangest bright blond highlights that framed her face. The color was completely natural. Her eyes were even stranger. One was blue, the other sea green, both speckled with brown, hazel, and gray-violet. She was as thin as naturally possible, just as I was and still am. Her bizarre appearance was nearly the same for her brother, though they had different hair. His hair was straight and blond, like his mother's, but with a thin red streak on either side. Their eyes were exactly the same, except his left eye was blue, and his right was green, and Risa was the opposite. I simply cannot wait to see them again.
I must go now. I shall not be able to write tomorrow until after the ball because Allegra wants to make me look perfect. Magic lessons are canceled. I so wish they were not! Fifty-seven days are left to go.
Day Fourteen
I cannot write much longer. Such a surprising thing happened tonight! You won't believe me, even though you know I don't lie. Oh the whole evening was just fantastic! But I'm afraid I mustn't be caught writing now. Oh it was such chaos! Fifty-six days!
Author's Note: I am soooooooo mean! All that waiting for this chapter, and now there's a cliffhanger! Once again, so sorry for the delay! I'm currently failing volleyball in gym class, don't ask me how cuz I don't know. My friend's birthday is next week, I have a MAJOR science test on Friday, I have a MAJOR science project due Friday, AND I got a fifty-six on my math test yesterday! Oh yeah, there's also that Spanish project due next Thursday that I haven't even started! Please review! Maybe I'll feel better about making you poor people wait soooooooo long. Flame me if you want, just please review!