Princesses Don't Fight in Skirts

by Aya Ling

  "Arianna of Linderall, Your Majesty, and yes, Lady Matilda is my great aunt," Ari replied, at the same time wondering what cosmetics the queen used. If she had a son of twenty, surely she must be in her late thirties at least. Yet she looked remarkably young. Not a single spot marred her milky white skin.

  "An extraordinary woman she is," King Ronald said. He was good-looking as well, though not as stunning as his wife. "We have been expecting her, but it seems that she was called away on another mission?"

  Ari briefly explained about the ogre attack in Tintagel.

  "Ah, that is so like her," the king nodded. "Even at her age, she is still hale as ever. I remember when I was still a child, she was already at the Academy, disguised as a normal boy, and disarming knights by then. Ask anyone over forty—they can tell you all the amazing deeds she has accomplished, all the records she set. And what a shock it was when she turned out to be a girl! Quite a blow for some of the best warriors." He chuckled and grinned at Ari, inviting her to do the same, but she could only give a half-hearted smile.

  "That was a long time ago," the queen said. "Nowadays you can hardly register surprise when a girl can hold her own among boys. It is fortunate, Princess Arianna, that you do not have to suffer the same prejudice that Lady Matilda had before."

  Ari wanted to say that she had already suffered a lot, what with bugs in tents and lousy inn food on her journey, but naturally she didn't complain in front of the king and queen.

  After a while, the queen observed that Ari was growing weary, and bade Kay take her to Lord Darwar, headmaster of the Academy.

  Ari tried her best to keep up with Kay, but her heels were killing her. Even though she was accustomed to high heels, the amount of walking in the Rivieran palace was a lot more than what she did in the Linderall castle. There were many more flights of stairs, the corridors stretched longer, and the grounds behind the palace were massive.

  When going through a narrow corridor, a large group of servants and maids carrying fresh linen and pillows caused a gap between Ari and Kay. The princess had to crane her neck to see where the page was, while also trying to avoid the servants hurrying by.

  Ari dodged a buxom woman and as a result, stepped into another person.

  "Ow!"

  It was a good-looking young man, dressed in a silver-blue tunic of high quality. He wore a look of pain, and from his gaze on his feet, Ari guessed that she had stepped on his foot. Judging from the soft leather of his shoes and the special-made glass of her heel, it must have been painful.

  "I'm sorry," she quickly said. "I should have looked where I was going. Are you all right?"

  The young man blinked, and she could feel his gaze change from painful to appreciative.

  "I'm fine." He paused, cleared his throat, and spoke. "Excuse me, but I have grown up in court and I do not recognize your face. May I inquire who you are?"

  "Oh, I'm the princess of Linderall," Ari drew herself up proudly. "My name is Arianna." She disliked the distinct Linderall accent when she spoke the common tongue, hoping that she didn't sound too countrified.

  "Honored to make your acquaintance, Princess." The young man bowed. "I come from the Wesley clan—Simon Wesley is my name. I go to the University."

  Ari had picked up some information of Rivieran court during the trip. The Wesley clan, along with the Greenwoods and Quelans, were the three most prominent families in Riviera. While the Greenwoods and Quelans were known for their valiant warriors, the Wesleys turned out more academicians, many of them holding positions in the University.

  "Have you come as a royal guest, Princess?" Simon went on. "It is seldom that we receive people from Linderall."

  Ari didn't feel like answering. Here she was, clad in a fancy gown, supposedly a fine lady, yet the truth was she was here to learn the uncouth arts of fighting.

  "Milady," Kay said. By this time, the servants had long gone and the corridor was empty except for the three of them. "I beg your pardon, but Lord Darwar is expecting you."

  Drat.

  "Lord Darwar?" Simon said, looking confused.

  "Er..." Ari cursed her great aunt under her breath. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Simon, but I fear I should be going."

  The renowned (notorious, to Ari) Rivieran Royal Academy of Fighting Arts was situated behind the palace. It was essentially an assortment of practice areas, fighting rings, and archery courts. One large red-brick building was built at the edge of the Academy. Kay told Ari that it was where the armory was kept and where classes were held when it rained.

  A group of students was doing sit-ups and push-ups on the ground. Several girls were practicing their archery in the shooting area. There was a clash of metal; a middle-aged man (probably the instructor) was fighting three other students at the same time, using a gleaming sword.

  It all seemed very terrifying.

  Ari shivered and began to think what excuse she could use to get out of the Academy.

  Quite a few people stared when she walked by. At first she was unsure of the attention—did they know she was Lady Matilda's great niece already?

  Or maybe they were just attracted to her beauty. When Ari asked Kay if she could sit down for a while (her feet were aching again), a dark-haired young man passed by, carrying a sword. He stopped and stared at her for a few seconds before recovering.

  "Pardon me," he muttered, walking off.

  Ari couldn't help a self-satisfied smirk. That young man wasn't as good-looking as Lord Simon—his forehead was too high and his nose too big—but she could clearly discern admiration in his gaze.

  She continued in her narcissistic frame of mind until someone from the nearby archery courts made a terrible aim.

  Whoosh! An arrow pierced the air and flew over Ari's head. The princess let out a shrill scream.

  "AAAAAAH!"

  Several people heard her and came running up.

  "Did someone get hurt?" a bearded man asked anxiously. When he noticed Ari, all dressed up in her fancy gown and high heels, a look of surprise crossed his face.

  "Nothing of the sort, Master Giles," Kay said, trying to suppress a grin. "Princess Arianna had a fright, that's all."

  Another man appeared. He was large and broad-shouldered and fierce-looking.

  "What are you doing, bringing this fine young lady from court now? We don't have visiting hours today; she might be accidentally injured!"

  "This is Lady Matilda's great niece, Master Ulaf," Kay said. "Princess Arianna of Linderall will be joining the Academy. She just arrived today."

  "Lady Matilda's great niece!" exclaimed Giles. "Good god, I thought she was the relative of a foreign student. Has she come to tour our training facilities?"

  "No, Master Giles," Kay said patiently. "Princess Arianna is going to attend the Academy."

  "What?" Ulaf almost shouted. "This... you mean... her?"

  "Come, old boy, don't be so surprised!" Giles said, clapping a hand on Ulaf's back. "She is a princess after all. You know, young girls like to dress up a bit. Plus, you've heard she's Lady Matilda's great niece. You'd hardly be disappointed, with the legendary lady warrior as her mentor!"

  Ulaf gave Ari a searching look. His expression of doubt and suspicion made her feel rather uncomfortable, not to mention Giles' comment that she wouldn't disappoint them. Moreover, students had gathered around—hovering at a distance, however, straining to hear their conversation. Some whispered and pointed; others shook their heads and laughed.

  Ari's face burned, acutely conscious of their eyes on her. Everyone was wearing black-and-white uniforms; it looked ridiculous that she was standing in her fine gown and jewelry among them. She should have listened to Great Aunt Matilda and chosen a plainer dress.

  She had to get out of this place. There must be a way.

  Ignoring the curious glances thrown in her direction, Ari squared her shoulders and tilted her chin skywards. She was a princess, and she was not going to let herself be intimidated.

  Lord Darwar's offic
e was located on the highest floor of the main building. According to Kay, Lord Darwar had led numerous troops in the past to defend Riviera from the kingdoms across the sea. The victories he brought were crucial to Riviera's dominance. He had also led a troop with Great Aunt Matilda during the Great Wars. Now retired, he was appointed the position of leading the Academy in order to train future young warriors.

  The headmaster was sitting in his office when they arrived. His office was filled with books and suits of armor. On one side, there was a shelf filled with books titled Military Tactics and Best Weapons of the Century; on another, there was a wide wooden rack with a long row of swords in a variety of shapes and lengths.

  "Princess Arianna, Your Lordship." Kay reported.

  "Very good. Please enter, Princess." Darwar gestured to a chair in front of him. "Kay, you may leave us."

  Ari sat down. Darwar appeared to be around fifty, with a shock of bushy brown hair and brown eyes. A scar ran from his left cheek to the right, giving him a rather disjointed look.

  "Welcome to Riviera, Princess. I trust you had a pleasant journey?"

  Ari recalled the dirty cramped inns, the bland food, the caterpillar in her tent, and now her blistered feet. But she was too tired to argue.

  "Yes."

  "It is a pity that Lady Matilda was called away on emergency. I hope she is doing well?"

  If she had the energy and ability to go help a raided village, of course she would be fine.

  "Yes."

  "Very well." Darwar glanced over the letter that Great Aunt Matilda had written. "You are starting late, but with sufficient training, you might receive your shield in time."

  Ari didn't understand. "How long does it take to receive the shield? Is one year enough?"

  Darwar raised his eyebrows. "A YEAR? My dear, the average length of duration is five years. Lady Matilda, however, holds the record for passing the ordeals and receiving her shield in three years."

  If she were still five years old, Ari would have bawled and screamed. She did NOT want to be stuck in this horrible Academy for five years, or even longer.

  "You have just arrived on time—classes begin tomorrow. I am not sure if Lady Matilda has informed you—" Darwar glanced at her dress, "—but you will find it difficult to train in your current attire. Cotton shirts and trousers will be better for the job. I'll have the servants escort you to the tailor's wing for your measurements, so you can have your Academy uniform made."

  Urgh. She didn't want to be clad in such basic, simple clothing.

  "Yes."

  Lord Darwar frowned slightly. "Do you have any questions?"

  Ari searched for a way to ask how she could leave the Academy.

  "What are the rules we should observe here?" she asked.

  He looked somewhat surprised, but he merely answered, "No private dueling among students. While we aim to teach students how to defend themselves in a fight, it is not our intention to encourage petty brawls."

  "So there's no chance of being expelled?"

  Darwar looked concerned. "No need to worry, Princess. We take the students' education very seriously. Although Matilda has let me know that your fight training is inadequate, rest assured that we do not expel students even if they have trouble keeping up. Unless a student injures another seriously, which is a grave offense."

  Given her lack of fight training, it was very unlikely she would be able to cause someone serious injury.

  "Or if you yourself are seriously injured to the point you can no longer train."

  No. She could never hurt herself.

  "Any more questions?"

  Ari shook her head.

  "Very well, then. If you have any problems later, you only need to ask. Classes will be vigorous, but I suppose you have expected them to be so. Now you may go to your room." He summoned a servant maid, and bade her take Ari to the first-year students' bed chambers.

  The students' sleeping quarters was located in another building behind the main building. Ari was aghast to learn that she was to share her room with three other girls.

  "But I'm a princess," she began. "I should have my own room. I need my own privacy."

  The servant maid, whose name was Henrietta, shrugged apologetically. "Sorry, Princess, but it's the same for everyone. Even the crown prince shares his room with others."

  Ari had half a mind to turn back to Lord Darwar's office, but she doubted that he would listen. If even the crown prince could not have his own room, what could she, a princess from a small distant kingdom, expect?

  Almost every one passing by stared as they made their way down the hall. All girls were simply dressed in uniforms and many carried weapons. One girl tall enough to dwarf Kay was carrying a heavy mace over her shoulder.

  "Who is that lady?" someone whispered.

  "What's she doing? Court ladies aren't supposed to be here."

  "Look at her gown! All those bows and laces! I'd never be caught wearing such a frivolous thing!"

  "Are her eyelashes fake?"

  Ari held her head high. By now, she was quite used to the stares. She still wasn't comfortable with the attention, but it was easier to bear now.

  Finally, they reached the room where Ari was assigned. Henrietta knocked, and then opened the door. Ari slipped in quickly, thankful to be inside.

  The dormitory contained three bunk beds, three dressers, and a wash basin. No paintings graced the walls, no carpet covered the stony floor, no flower pots on the window sill. It looked plain, simple, and mundane, just like the Academy uniforms.

  Was she really going to spend FIVE years in this place?

  Sighing, Ari found her bags already lying in a corner. Two beds were taken; one girl was doing sit-ups on one of the beds. Her bright curly red hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, and there was a sheen of sweat on her neck. Her features were pretty, though her looks could be further improved. A bang, for example, would shield her somewhat large forehead.

  "Lady Georgiana Greenwood," Henrietta introduced them. "This is Princess Arianna of Linderall. She is going to be the last occupant of this room."

  Georgiana's eyes widened. "You are Princess Arianna? From Linderall, where the Lady Matilda came from?"

  "Yes," Ari said. Should she mention her connection to Great Aunt Matilda?

  "Oh!" Georgiana bounded up instantly. "I just heard that Lady Matilda's great niece is coming as well! Do you know her? Do you know where she is?"

  A soft giggle escaped Henrietta. She turned red instantly and edged towards the door.

  Ari rolled her eyes, but decided that it wasn't any use lying.

  "I am Lady Matilda's great niece."

  Georgiana's jaw dropped. "YOU? But you don't... I'm sorry, but you mean that the princess of Linderall and Lady Matilda's great niece is the same person?"

  "Unfortunately."

  Georgiana missed the sarcasm. "Oh, I can't believe it! Did Lady Matilda come with you? Is she going to teach a class here? I'd LOVE to meet her in person—it's been my lifelong dream!"

  "She isn't here. There was an ogre attack in Tintagel, so she went to take care of it."

  "Oh..." Georgiana looked disappointed. "How long have you been training with her?"

  Ari was prepared to say "never" for the last question, but seeing Georgiana's shining eyes, she said, "Not very long—er—she is always traveling around."

  "Ah," Georgiana nodded knowingly. "Is it because she's always traveling around, she decided to send you to the Academy instead?"

  "Er—" Ari didn't feel like telling the whole story, so again, she nodded. It wasn't completely untrue either. "Yes, that's right."

  "You're so lucky," Georgiana sighed. "I mean, I only had a couple of fighting lessons before. You see, my family is still new to the idea of girls becoming warriors. Almost every boy in my family is expected to be a knight, and every girl is to become a lady. I'm so glad that Lady Matilda changed all that. I'd hate to be cooped up at home all day and tied down to a husband and simply bear chi
ldren. So, how many adventures have you had already? Did Lady Matilda take you on her missions?"

  "No."

  "Oh, that's too bad," Georgiana said, patting Ari's shoulder. "I guess that her missions are too dangerous for girls of our age."

  Any mission would be dangerous for Great Aunt Matilda, given her age, but then Ari supposed that normal standards did not apply to the old lady.

  Just at that moment, the door opened. A tall girl carrying a mace entered. Her hair, like Georgiana's, was a shade of fiery red, though it was straight and short. She had an average-looking face that was as round as the moon. Ari wanted to suggest that she grow her hair longer to mitigate her large face.

  "Marcel!" Georgiana jumped up and dragged Ari over to the mace-wielding girl. "You're finally back!"

  "Marcel?" Ari asked. It sounded vaguely familiar; she was sure she heard it somewhere.

  "Yes. I come from Tintagel."

  Tintagel? Judging from the girl's thick accent and features, Ari suddenly remembered why she thought Marcel sounded familiar.

  "Are you Princess Marcella of Tintagel?"

  The girl made a noise of disgust. "Marcel, please. Marcella is so girlish and weak. My great grandmother was also called Marcella. They say she was such a wolf."

  "You mean waif," Georgiana put in.

  "Oh, yes, a waif. She fainted at the sight of a rat."

  "Oh, that is so typical of princesses in the past," Georgiana said, nodding. "Always waiting for a knight or prince to save them from a locked tower or fiery dragon. I'm so glad that we're not born in the past, thanks to Lady Matilda. Speaking of her, guess who our new roommate is?"

  "Our roommate?" Marcella said incredulously, sweeping Ari with a disapproving look. "Why are we sharing a room with a court lady?"

  "She is no court lady!" Georgiana said. "She's Princess Arianna, and her great aunt is THE Lady Matilda!"

  Marcella dropped her mace. Ari gave a small yelp, jumping out of the way. She wouldn't want to be hit by a weapon that size.