From the book, it says, "The week's punishment left everyone too worn out to do anything but classwork. Kel knew that was temporary. Joren, Vinson, and another third-year named Garvey had not given up their harassment of the first-years completely: during the day they took every chance to bump, casually push, or thump the younger pages"

From the book, it says, "Well, she as good as said we agree with, with Joren and his pack," stammered Merric.

From the book, it says, "They climbed to the landing between that floor and the teachers' floor to find Joren and Vinson pushing Quinden up and down the steps as Garvey watched."

From the book, it says, "Kel, Neal, and the three senior pages, not wanting to be heard by anyone on the teachers' floor, went cautiously down the stairs. At the bottom, Joren threw a punch at Kel, who ducked. Vinson tackled Neal, who threw him into Garvey. They were in the thick of combat, giving and exchanging blows, when the air seemed to grow as heavy as velvet, weighing their limbs and shoulders down."

From the book, it says, "A tall man - a very tall man, Kel realized - with tousled black hair and large, dark eyes stood there, hands braced on either side of the door frame. He was dressed in a flowing white shirt and black breeches. The sparkle of magic glittered in the air between him and them."

From the book, it says, "There was no sign of Joren and his cronies that night, or the next. The third night they found Joren and Vinson in a courtyard, forcing Esmond of Nicoline to do bows made to a monarch over and over."

From the book, it says, "At the end of March, another thaw was followed by a blizzard that laid more than two feet of snow on the ground. Three days later it had all melted, creating seas of mud everywhere. Planks laid on the mud to provide dry footing sank and disappeared. Weapons and unarmed combat practice were held indoors. When they were done, Lord Wyldon demanded their attention. "I won't have good horses lamed from riding in this if it isn't necessary," he told the pages. "Instead we'll go for a run, from one end of the curtain wall to the other."

From the book, it says, "Waiting bores me!" she heard Wyldon roar from the open door above. "Get those legs moving!"

From the book, it says, "Fresh as rosebuds in May," growled Merric."

From the book, it says, "I hate the Stump," Merric said tightly. He liked Neal's term for Wyldon."

From the book, it says, "Horse blood," guessed Merric. "There must be some in the Queenscove family."

From the book, it says, "Keep moving!" ordered Wyldon, running in place as he watched the pages. "Don't stop, you'll cramp. If you throw up, do it outside of the wall - the wind can't blow it back in your face."

From the book, it says, "Wyldon had come to a halt. As the pages drew within earshot, he said, "You might one day command an attack on a walled fortress. How would you approach this position? Quinden of Marti's Hill?" "I'd go around the back," he said, and smirked as the other pages laughed.
108 "Very true," Wyldon said frostily. "With no attacks on this palace in centuries, previous monarchs who wished to expand knocked out the rear wall. We are discussing a hypothetical, Page Quinden, a chance for you to use your imagination. "

From the book, it says, "I'd still go around back, m'lord," replied Merric, who had caught his breath. "With the Royal Forest there, you can get men and catapults and rams really close before you're seen. Here in front, there's all that open ground between us and the Temple District."

From the book, it says, Wyldon motioned for her to step up to one of the square notches between the tall stones in the wall. "Before we grow old, probationer." Kel's legs trembled, and not just with exhaustion from the run. She forced one foot forward, then the next. "I hope you are quicker to advise your lord in a combat situation," Wyldon told her. Stone halted her advancing steps. She had reached the wall. Kel took a deep breath and looked out through the opening. Straight ahead the city was a jeweled blanket on both sides of the Oloron River. It was a very pretty sight. Kel didn't feel as if she were high up, but as if she were looking at a complex tapestry. "Our attackers have already overrun the city and put it to the torch, girl," Wyldon said over-patiently. Kel heard the other pages snickering. She was taking too long. "How must they come at us?" It's all right, Kel thought. This isn't so bad. Then she looked down. Kel's ears roared; she could not catch her breath. The broad moat that passed in front of the wall was a long drop below. She heard nothing, did not feel hands prying her grip from the stone. The fear gripped her as tightly as it had on the day

109 Conal held her over the tower balcony. Her whole body crawled with a weak, paralyzed itch. A clean-shaven face thrust itself before hers. "Look at me, girl," a stern voice ordered. "Nowhere else. Look at my face. Whose face do you see?" Kel blinked. That hideous drop was gone, replaced Her eyes darted to red furrows of scar at the corner of his right eye. "Lord Wyldon," she croaked. "Exactly. Look at my face and turn with me." His hands on her arms tugged, twisting her body to one side. She had to move her feet or be wrapped around her own spine. She turned, her eyes locked on his. "Now. We're on a flat place. There's stone under your feet, do you understand? Look down." "I'll fall," she whispered. "You can't. You're on solid ground. Just look. Curse it, girl, do as you're told!" Instinctively - they'd all learned to jump for that tone this winter - she looked down. The only thing that she saw was stone, flat, gray, and wonderfully close. A boy snickered. "Ooh, I'll fall," someone squeaked in a falsetto voice. Kel closed her eyes, close to tears with humiliation. Wyldon let go of Kel. "All of you, back to the practice courts," he said. "We've time for a few rounds of staff work." A few boys passed her, giggling. A friendly arm was slung around Kel's shoulders. "Come on, Mindelan," Neal's husky voice murmured in her ear. "We'll get you inside." "But you're not afraid on stairs," Seaver remarked. She cleared her throat. "Most are narrow and twisty. You can't see far in either direction. The rest of the time I just look at the next step."

From the book, it says, "Huzzah, huzzah!" The prince, Merric, Seaver, Faleron, and Cleon were all clapping and cheering.

From the book it says "The night after that, Cleon put his book aside with a sigh as Kel got up. "I'd better come keep you children out of trouble," he said with a grin at the older, taller Neal."

From the book it says "A racer," agreed Seaver, panting. "The family keeps it hushed up."

From the book it says ""Now, wait," protested Cleon. "You can't go setting tradition on its ear. Hazing is the way new boys become pages. They have to earn respect from the older ones, and we teach them to obey orders."

From the book it says "You better pray he never makes you climb Balor's Needle," Cleon advised as they entered the tower stairwell closest to the pages' wing.

From the book it says "Cleon shook his head. "None of us are allowed up there. A page failed the
examinations about six years ago and jumped off the Needle."

"Huzzah, huzzah!" The prince, Merric, Seaver, Faleron, and Cleon were all clapping and cheering.

From the book it says "Kel and Neal turned toward his door. At some point during their argument the boys inside had eased it open a crack to listen."Merric, you dolt!" they heard Faleron say.

Merric, Seaver, the prince, Faleron, and Neal himself were there when she came in.

From the book it says "He sat with Neal at the writing desk, talking about a paper the third-years had to write for Master Yayin."

From the book Kel says " "None of you ever spoke against it," she replied, picking her words carefully. "Even when it was you being picked on," she rested her eyes on Seaver and Merric.

From the book Kel says ""once it was over, you didn't say how it wasn't right and ought to be stopped."

From the book Seaver says ""But you're not afraid on stairs," Seaver remarked."

From the book, it says "You run like a lamb, probationer!" The boom of Wyldon's voice in her ear made her jump. "Open your stride, put some distance between your knees. Plant those feet - don't touch on your toes and kick up your heels. I hope your precious Yamanis don't run like this."

From the book, it says "Go!" Wyldon bellowed. "Don't wait for permission, I told you run the wall, so run it. Smell that fresh air! Don't make a face, Queenscove, air is good for you. Breathe it!"

From the book, it says, "She raised her lance and drew back on the reins, guiding Peachblossom into a gentle turn. She was almost certain that the gelding congratulated her. "Extra oats for you tonight," she murmured, slowing him to a walk. Wyldon watched her, arms crossed over his chest. "Good," he said. "When you can do it reliably, instead of once or twice, you will have something."

From the book, it says, "After her fifth perfect tilt, she stopped in front of Lord Wyldon. "Very good, probationer." Wyldon sounded as if his teeth hurt to say it. The other pages had all stopped what they were doing to watch her last three passes. "You are released for the remainder of the morning."