by Maya, Tara
“Lessons commence the day after next promptly at nine o’clock. Can you read and write?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Excellent, otherwise you would have been given extra instruction. You will also find a schedule of classes awaiting you in your dormitory.”
“What about riding instruction? Where is my horse being kept?”
“We can go there now if you like.” Jenna followed Mrs. Hawes outside the palace past some manicured gardens until they quickly reached the stables. “This is where your horse should be.” Jenna went inside and darted past Mrs. Hawes to say hello to Bree, her chestnut mare. She looked well, but sent Jenna an image of riding, indicating she was restless. Jenna sent her reassuring images that she would soon take her out. Mrs. Hawes came up behind her with a slight frown on her face. “Is everything in order?” she asked.
“Yes,” Jenna meekly replied. She looked up and down the stables. “This cannot be all of the palace horses.”
“Heavens no. Only the Queen’s Ladies’ horses and some work horses are kept here. There are far bigger stables on the other side of the grounds.” Jenna was somewhat let down. She had hoped to get to see the Crown’s horses. Until her father had started trading with the Rahtani, the Crown owned the only horses in Sevalia with desert blood. They descended from several breeding pairs that had been a gift from her several times great-grandfather. Peter’s new horse was also from the desert, making Jenna extremely jealous. She did her best to keep that fact hidden from Bree, however.
Jenna was also given a look at the park with trails that she would ride Bree along regularly. It was pleasant enough, but not as exciting as the thought of riding through the woods on the other side of the palace.
Once back inside, they returned to the foyer where they had originally entered and began climbing the main staircase. Mrs. Hawes was talking about something. Jenna believed she was headed to where her dormitory was, but was having trouble focusing on everything Mrs. Hawes was saying because, with her new shoes, it took so much of her attention not to trip and fall on the stairs. “Miss Mallory, are you listening to what I am trying to tell you?” Mrs. Hawes had paused and was glaring at Jenna.
“Um, you were saying something about the Royal Suite?”
“Yes. The Royal Suite is on the second floor on that side of the staircase.” She pointed in the westward direction. “It is absolutely off limits. Is that clear?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
After walking down another hallway, they entered the dormitory chamber. It was all one long connected room with several beds along each side.
“Your bed will be here.” Mrs. Hawes pointed toward a bed in the middle of the chamber under a window. Jenna recognized her luggage. “You will have a chance to unpack this evening.” Jenna glanced around and everything seemed to have arrived safely. “You should also know that one of the proctors sleeps in the dormitory every night.”
“Do all of the Queen’s Ladies sleep here?”
“Either here or the other dormitory across the hall.”
“Then what are the other rooms we passed?”
“They are currently empty, but are generally used for palace guests.” Jenna sat on the bed to test it out; it was extremely soft. Mrs. Hawes gave her a quizzical look, but continued. “Servants do sweep and dust in here regularly and will take your laundry for washing, but you will be expected to keep your area tidy and your bed made. If you fail to follow this instruction or any instruction from the Queen, your teachers, or the proctors, you will face punishment such as cleaning duty or extra lessons.”
Mrs. Hawes then abruptly strode to the end of the dormitory and opened another door. “This is the bathing chamber. You should be pleased to find that indoor plumbing was installed during the recent renovations.” Jenna was happy to hear that since she had grown used to such luxury in her city home.
After leaving the dormitory, they went back down to the first floor, and Mrs. Hawes showed her the way to the Central Tower, where the central courtyard was bustling with activity as renovations were still proceeding around the outer wall. “This is where the King and Queen often have formal dinners as well as balls. There are two standard annual balls: one during winter and summer. The next will take place after the Midwinter Feast. However, Queen’s Ladies are not eligible to attend balls until after their fourteenth birthdays.”
Jenna was expecting this. She knew fourteen was the typical age for noble girls to come out in society. She also knew that the prime reason girls sought out positions among the Queen’s Ladies was to expand their social horizons at court and seek a good match. Competition would be fierce over the Queen’s three sons, now all teenagers. Jenna didn’t worry about that too much. She had a large dowry, and her parents would like it if she found a match among the nobility, but their main hopes for an advantageous match lay with her younger sister.
Mrs. Hawes indicated that most of the remaining parts of the Central Tower would be off-limits, though she pointed out the door to the throne room where coronations and royal weddings occurred. Jenna would only be allowed to see it if a major event took place during her stay.
There was one more part of the Central Tower she was allowed to see: the library. As they entered, Jenna was impressed by the number of books and scrolls, two stories worth. The room looked ancient, but was lit by many windows that looked newer. There were also mage lights along the walls. “You may come here in your free hours if you like. The Queen encourages her Ladies to expand their minds by reading.” Jenna caught from Mrs. Hawes’s tone of voice that she was not particularly fond of this arrangement. Jenna loved to read, however, and was glad she would have ample opportunity. “Most books may be checked out at the librarian’s desk over there.” She pointed to a large desk where some scribes were working at mending some texts. “But you must remember that past that desk there is a section of the library that is off-limits to you and is solely for the use of palace mages, scholars, and advisory staff. Is that clear?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. That should conclude the tour of the chambers you will normally deal with. I will now take you to where the Queen is at tea. You will also get the chance to meet the other Ladies.”
Mrs. Hawes led Jenna back into the East Wing of the palace. Overall, she was beginning to calm down. She liked what she had seen and started to think being a Lady wouldn’t be so bad. Mrs. Hawes opened the door into the sitting room where Jenna saw many young girls taking tea with the Queen. She had never seen so many nobles in one place before and was slightly awed by the sight of such elegant gowns, so much so that she did not see the step down into the sunken floor of the chamber. She tripped.