If Stratagor Ziras doesn't kill me, my training program will!
Every day I wake up and go through the motions, but they've figured out that I'm not a Knight. I can't ride, I can't fight, I can't do magic, and worst of all, I can't see whatever it is...
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The royal audience made me late for my second day of physical training; always tardy is going to be added to my permanent record. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I mean, I know I'm not doing anything right, but I don't know how to fix it. I don't have anyone to talk to about it, either. If Dathid were here he would support my dislike of Queen Ekecheiria. I could really use some of his snarky remarks and funny stories right now. But then again, he doesn't think I'm good at anything, either.
Jonah has faith in my abilities and believes I have what it takes to be a Knight, but he would defend the Queen. Not her insulting me, of course. He would just explain away all her evilness by only seeing the good side of her.
It doesn't matter; I agree with Ekecheiria. I'm not a Knight. I'm just not good at any of this. I'm not strong enough, smart enough, or brave enough to do what they need. I want to throw myself at her feet and tell her she's right about everything.
I wish I wasn't so alone. I wish someone could help me...not with learning magic or riding a unicorn, but with helping me figure out what I'm supposed to do. This is so important and I'm failing. The task is too big, too overwhelming, too everything. I am Agatha Stone, foster kid of two crazy hoarders who ignored and imprisoned me. I'm no hero.
I pull a muffin out of my pocket and eat my simple breakfast while I search for my riding instructor. I don't find her, but I remember that I'm supposed to get my own unicorn ready, so I retrieve Stryder from his stall. He nickers when he sees me and that makes a smile crack my sadness. I pet the wide white stripe traveling down his face, and he lifts his head so I can scratch his furry black neck. When my fingernails reach his shoulders he nods his head and smacks his lips.
"You're so silly," I say with a laugh I desperately need.
Stryder would let me scratch him all day, but we're already behind schedule so I put a halter on him and lead him to the cross ties. We're alone for only a short time when Levise finds us in a grooming stall and apologizes for being late.
"I had to give the stable master, Mr. Galnoy, assurances that it's fine having a pegasus live indoors," she says with a face that suggests she wasn't entirely truthful with him. We share a giggle about that while she helps me finish grooming. I ride the same three unicorns I rode yesterday and it goes about as well.
Levise still has to pick me up to get me in the saddle. It's just humiliating because we're the same size and she throws me up there like it's nothing. Then I spend all morning trying to get the unicorns to move, only to have them go the wrong way. Walks in circles needs to be added to my list of failings. I know it's just walking and stuff, but by the time I'm done and get the last one cleaned, fed, and in her stall, I'm whipped.
I'm supposed to meet some new instructor for more physical training, but I get lost again on my way back to the castle. I need a map of the grounds because these paths don't make sense. Add Gets lost all the time to the list. I'm close to the outer—I mean, the curtain wall. Albína insists I use the correct words. This wall surrounds the entire castle and is the opposite way I should be heading. Maybe I should turn around and retrace my steps, but I think up ahead is a path leading to the Temple.
