The study was nothing like the splendid rooms we had previously seen. Unlike the dining hall or the atrium the study was designed more for practicality rather than show, it was moderately decorated in tasteful colours of white and gold with a fireplace situated at the back of the room. Residing on each side of the fireplace were two chairs each and one window to a side, a small ebony table was placed beyond the chairs and upon the table were several papers and various scrolls. We were each ushered into the chairs had the sheets of paper were stowed beneath Pellen’s robes as we each took our allotted seats before the large fireplace which was cold and filled with silvery ashes. Pellen and Jaxon sat in the chairs to the right of the room and Anais and I to the left, the chairs were evidently old as the scratched black wood attested but they were soft and the black fabric padding them was comfortable and nice after such a heavy breakfast.
“ Anais Meldred?” Pellen asked and Anais spoke quietly into her chest in reply.
“ I am Anais….Sir….Pellen..sorry.” She stuttered embarrassed.
“ Fyre Imperious?” He questioned again and I answered looking him in the eye.
“ I am Fyre, Sir.”
“ Oh please ladies call me Pellen, this grandeur does not suit me.” He chuckled stroking his wispy grey beard. As if he had just remembered something Pellen hurriedly removed a scroll of parchment from his robes and proceeded to unroll carefully.
“ This is a letter from King Morfran giving your orders.” Pellen explained gazing at the scroll, “ In this letter he states that you will attend a private class five days a week with Master Lucas Nonton and Jaxon who will be your guide around the palace and grounds. He also states that you too ladies must learn self defense and proper etiquette the first of which will be taught by Master Kane Willard and etiquette by Lady Marceline Lile. Private studies and hobbies can be explored on one's own time and should not influence your studies or training in anyway. You are also expected to follow the rules laid down by Farren and be on time for lessons,meals and other obligations, other than those few simple tasks you are free to do what you wish.” Pellen finished closing the scroll at last and turning to Jaxon, “ I believe Prince Jaxon that you have given Anais and Fyre money for a wardrobe, since at the moment they have no clothes of their own please take them back to the atrium to buy clothes fitted to them.” Pellen concluded and then as an after thought added, “ here is your weeks pocket money girls, you are allowed to spend this on anything you wish.” He finished handing us each a small pouch containing a few good coins, several silver ones and a couple bronze tokens. Grinning in thanks we promptly left the study and exited the grand library chattering happily about the turn of events.
We re entered the atrium from a different set of doors and were instantly swept up by the swarm of bustling people. Grabbing onto my hand suddenly, Jaxon pulled me through a line of women, all in wide,colourful skirts in patterns that confused and amazed anyone who got in their way. Suddenly the crowd parted and Jaxon and I were left standing before a tent bedecked in colourful swathes of silks and satin in all the colours of the rainbow, it was a minute before we realized Anais was missing.
“Anais!” I yelled turning to face the swirling crowd, all at once I saw a small hand force it's way through a ruffled purple skirt and a blue,satin gown.grabbing it with both of my hands I pulled the limb and the body attached through the fabric, and suddenly Anais was with us again. We walked slowly up to the front of the colourful booth and watched the swirling ladies skirts and the men's clean doublets and elegant pants stride up and down, weaving in and out like an intricate dance involving hundreds of dancers,a dance that never stopped.
“Are you children lost?” The voice was pleasant and kind but nonetheless unexpected, startle I whipped around and gazed up at the woman staring down at us. She was tall and plump and had a round, rosy face and eyes that twinkled like stars as she smiled.
“No!” Anais squeaked, “we want to buy some clothes please... ma'am.”
“ Oh sugar, you don't have to call me ma'am, my name is Nellie and if you'll just follow me I'll help you get some clothes ms…?”
“Anais, and this is Car-Fyre and Jaxon.” Anis babbled at the woman as she turned to me smiling and then to Jaxon. When she saw him her entire demeanor changed, eyes widening in shock she curtsied, bowing her head and stared at the floor in an obvious sign of respect.
“ Prince Jaxon, I-I Sire, please come in, come in.” She stuttered in shock as she waved us into the interior of the tent. The inside of the canvas house was just as colourful as the outside with bolts of yellow taffeta, green and blue silks, glowered calico, black and red satin and delicate, pearly white lace covering every surface and even hanging on the sides of the tent.
Anais was the one who picked the clothes we were going to buy because with had no idea what I was doing, she and Nellie grabbed away about cloth and fabrics and the price of buttons while Jaxon and I conversed about the stupidity of lace in a back corner. We both were ushers behind a patterned screen by Nellie and an assistant named Elaine where we were measured from our arm length to our shoe size and everywhere inbetween. When that awkward experience was over we were shoved into a lengthy tirade of choices. Anais and I each ended up getting Four sets of undergarments, five underskirts, five padded overskirts, Several pairs of woolen stockings, one pair of practical black shoes, one pair of leather boots, and seven dresses. I let Anais pick the style, length and colour of the dress because I never really cared want I was seeing as long as it's covered everything. We were leaving the shop when I spotted a pair of pants on a table by the door, they were coal-black and had a sash of silver silk running along the waist. I suppose Nellie realized that I was looking at the pants because edge bustled over and snatched them off the table and suddenly thrust them out at me, no not me, Jaxon.
After paying for the clothes (we would pick them up in six weeks) we wandered through the marketplace Anis and I clutching each other, Jaxon, his pants. We eventually found ourselves before a baker's booth and , with the hefty amount left from our shopping trip we each bought a delicious pastry to enjoy as we walked. It was a surprisingly short time before we were licking the last crumbs and sugary sweetness of our fingers. Next came the fun part, browsing the countless booths and tents the atrium and to offer, Jaxon shaped us to his favourite shops and stalls and wherever we what we were followed by bows and curtsies. My favourite shop was one situated near the back of the atrium, it was silver in colour and there are almost no people crowding around this one. The stall was manned by a brutal looking man with a dark red beard and a scar running from his forehead to his lip, he introduced himself as Simon and pinched our cheeks and ruffled Jaxon's hair.
“ So what are you two lovely young ladies doing with our young Prince?” Simon questioned, “ I've never seen you two around before, come to think of it I don't even know your names!” He boomed happily and grinned at us his scraggly teeth glistening with saliva.
“ Well I'm F-”
“ My name is Anais and this is Fyre!” Anais interrupted grinning back at the intimidating man.
“ Well hello the Anais and Fyre, I am Simon the castles weapons master and Jaxon's teacher.” he replied leaning back and filing his arms. “ I suppose you young ladies aren't interested in my wares then?” He questioned waving his arm at an impressive array of weapons. There were gleaming steel broadswords, polished daggers in soft leather sheaths, gleaming rapiers in tough leather scabbards and thin throwing knives, dinner knives, hunting knives, arrows, darts and so many other beautiful objects of destruction.
“ I-I think we're good thank-you.” Anais answered timidly but I however was fascinated.
I left that day with less money than I expected. Against Anais’s wishes I had purchased a dagger, it spanned about eight inches long and an inch wide, tapering at the tip it was a weapon of prowess, sharp and slim it was perfect for both offense and defence and its size allowed me to swipe it perfectly. It was a gleaming steel grey and not a sign of craftsmanship was etched into its surface, the sheath was a dark brown leather etched with patterns of birds and trees entertained with spirits of light and darkness. Simon told me it was called 'Flygen’ and he promised it would serve me years, and I knew it would. Simon said he would meet us at 10 o'clock sharp the next day so Anais and I could start our defense training, and so, at last we left the booths.
What exited the atrium again each clutching a completely different item, me: a dagger in a sheath, Anais: needles and thread for embroidery, Jaxon: a pair of pants and a book given to him by Simon.
“ So what do you want to do?” Jaxon asked awkwardly in the sudden silence.
“ Well...we should probably put this stuff in our room.” I say slowly, looking at our collective items. Since nobody seemed to have a better plan, we headed off after Jaxon to return to our room and deposit our purchases.
“ These corridors must be getting longer every time someone walks on them!” I exclaimed after we had been walking for a solid fifteen minutes.
“ Who knows,” Jaxon panted, “ I really thought we would be there by now.”
Several minutes later we finally reached our room, and stumbling tiredly into our living space we deposited our various items on our separate night stands. “ So...now what are we going to do?” Jaxon questioned for a second time.
“ I don't know, what do you do around here for fun?” I replied in return.
“ Umm..well I ride horses, practice fighting with Simon, listen to my teachers blabber on about battles nobody cares about and generally make a mess of everything.” He answered smirking.
“ Well then...let's go see the horses!” Anais yells perking up instantly. I found the pair of pants on my pillow the next day.
The stables were filled with horses. They ranged in size from a bit taller then Jaxon to at least twice my height and six times my size. They ranged from scruffy ponies too sleek,proud warhorses with carefully groomed manes and tails. The colours, although less vibrant, were just as versatile as ten fabrics in Nellie's shop there were palominos, Paints, Pintos, Mustangs, Arabians, speckled little ponies, gangly colts with black and tan fur and old workhorses with large, plodding feet. Despite not really caring for the beasts I was enjoying myself up until Jaxon said, “let's go for a ride!”
“Really!” Anais shrieked, “Can we actually ride them!?”
“ Yeah, you can go chose which one you want to ride. The horses here are the ones for sale, if you want to you can save you allowance and buy one if you wish.” Jaxon answered, grinning at Anais eyes which were as large as dinner plates. Spinning around in the doorway she rushed down the horse lined corridor followed by a resigned and slightly disgusted groom. “ Well…? Are you going to choose one?” Jaxon asked smiling at me.
“ Well I've never really ridden a horse before…” I said embarrassed.
“ That's okay I'll show you, it's easy enough. Now, go pick a horse!” Jaxon assured me and without wishing grabbed my hand leading me through the stalls.
An hour passed before I found a horse I liked, Anais picked a silvery white mare with a long mane and tail and the sweetest face I'd ever seen on a horse. Before long she was out in the riding ring with 'Misty’, clad in a steel grey leather saddle with smooth, white reigns. “ It's okay,” Jaxon said, “ we have tons of time.” And then I saw him. A dark roan stallion with a black star etched on his sleek forehead. His fur was sleek and brushed and his name was clipped and fell smoothly over his strong neck, as if in a daze I approached the stall where he resided. Trance-like I pushed my small hand through the metal bars surrounding him and placed my cold palm against his forehead,
“ Him.” I commanded, “ I want him”
His fur was the color of a sunset and his name was a deep, shiny black that caught the light and just begged to be braided, the tack was also black, with silver filigree and small metal studs. As Jaxon promised riding was easy….sort of, as soon as the saddle and other tack was placed upon the horse one of the grooms hoisted me into the stirrups and instructed me to 'hold on tight’. Suddenly Anais was at my side and grinning, looked up at me, “ wow, that's a beautiful horse.” She said, green with envy, “ what's his name?”
“ Oh..um.. I actually don't know…uhhh..who can I ask?” I stuttered
“ Finn!” Anais called and the bored groom who had been assisting her ambled forwards.
“ Yes miss?” He sighed
“ I want to know what this horse's name is.” Anais demanded and the groom, still looking disgusted answers in a resentful voice
“ His name is Blaize miss.”
“ What thank you Finn!” Anais cooed as the poor groom shuffled quickly away. Turning back to me Anais grinned, “ me...you can ask me.”
Blaize was heavenly. After I learned the basics from Jaxon and Anais I practiced riding around the large enclosure at different places and then, riding faster. Even if I didn't know what to do Blaize did, he turned at the slightest touch of the reigns and changed speed with the touch of the heels. Soon I was keeping up with Anais and Misty and even with Jaxon and his black stallion Thunder, soon I was out pacing them, out jumping them, and generally out riding them. As the years passed Blaize became part of me, he was one of my best friends, we were a team, united in spirit and mind, body and soul. None of us saw it coming.
YOU ARE READING
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Fantasythis is a story I'm writing for school and I'm now gonna put it on Wattpad! let's see how it goes then!
