Shae walked around the city until the clock tower announced that it was quarter to six. The marketplace in the lower city was loud and noisy, but there was so much going on to watch.

By the time she made it back to the dining hall, there were already a number of people there. Kwen immediately waved her over to a table that held half of its eight-person occupancy.

“This is my sister, Shaewynn.” Kwen said to the others as soon as they sat down. “This is Erinnen and Camthall and of course you remember Merai.”

“I’m glad to meet you all.” Shae responded.

“Linnath wouldn’t sit with us.” Kwen nodded toward the human who was currently sitting at one of the tables by herself. Shae was not surprised.

The other two candidates her sister had apparently quickly made friends with were both elves. Camthall had long teal hair, and Erinnen’s was a light orange.

“I’m still upset that we have to come here for our meals.” Camthall looked around.

“But they are feeding us.” Merai grinned. “The food smells delicious.”

“It really does.” Kwen agreed. “And at least they’re not making us cook it ourselves.”

“Oh that would be too much.” Erinnen shook her head. “Oh there’s my roommate. She’s a little thin looking. I suppose she could use the food.”

The other girl came over to the table, slipping into a seat shyly. Shae introduced herself and learned that the human girl’s name was Faynavia.

Most of the other tables held multiple people. Shae recognized the girl she had met in the castle at a table with three others.

“As it is the appointed time, I will now begin.” Shae turned to see the elf who had led the interview standing at the front of the room. “You are all here as candidates, hoping to be among the next of the queen’s handmaidens. This is not an easy process, nor is it one we take lightly. Any noble standing you have means nothing here. You are all servants to the crown.”

“Does she just expect us to forget that we are nobles? That seems most disagreeable.” Camthall commented with a frown.

Lady Gwethenn continued, “Tonight, Edhol Wutharda will come to your rooms and measure you for your uniforms. While you are candidates, these are the only clothing you will wear unless specified otherwise.”

Erinnen made a sound of disgust. Shae was quite sure that did not include headwear of any kind. By tomorrow everyone would know she and her sister were half-shisa. Their teachers might already know of their heritage, but she doubted their fellow candidates would be as understanding. She glanced at her sister who was looking at the elf with rapt attention.

“Beginning tomorrow you will attend classes meant to teach you everything you will need to know. We will use your successes and failures in these classes to choose who will remain a candidate. Now I will let your teachers introduce themselves and the subjects they will be teaching.” Lady Gwethenn nodded to the woman at the far end of the table before sitting down.

“My name is Aravalia Sirelia. I have been a courtesan for my entire life, having followed in my mother’s footsteps. I will be teaching you court etiquette and helping you to understand the politics that will become a common part of your life.” She smiled and sat.

The next up was the older angic. “I’m Kithnath Vulaye. I’ll be teaching you about the history of Graymane, both physical and mental aspects.”

Ninynn Gerrin, an elf, told them she would be teaching them about the spirits and magic. Edhol Wutharda, a chena, would be teaching crafts and other hobbies of proper ladies.

A younger human man stood up, his lips pressed together for a moment before speaking. “My name is Targrim Borfalk. Me and Tes…I mean Elentesa Lewlyth will be in charge of teaching simple weapon skills and horseman…er…womanship?”

“Weapon skills!?” Erinnen exclaimed what they were all thinking. There was a murmur of agreement from the other tables.

“Well not big weapons or…um…”

Miss Elentesa stood from her place next to the man. “As handmaidens to the queen you would be expected to be able to protect her. We will be teaching you to handle daggers and bows. Simple weapons that can be highly effective in earning you precious seconds that can mean the life of your monarch.”

“This might not be as boring as I thought,” Kwen said excitedly as the two teachers sat and Lady Gwethenn stood again. “Breakfast will be served tomorrow morning at six. Following that you will report to the stables behind the dorms. For now, you may come up and get your meal.”

“Wait? Go up there?” Camthall frowned.

A door to the right of the table opened and a woman in a white smock waved at them. One of the commoners at a table near the door got up and went to it, disappearing inside. She came out a door to the left of the teacher’s table carrying a tray filled with steaming food.

“You’re expecting us to go up there and get our own food?” A young noble stood up, facing Lady Gwethenn.

The older elf looked back calmly. “That is correct.”

“That is unacceptable. Make these commoners get out food for us.”

“Get it yourself,” one of the commoners said from the doorway where a small line had formed.

“You are all equal here.” Lady Gwethenn stated.

“My father is Lord of Narrows Creek and I am sure he would be most displeased to hear of this.”

“He send you here to become a handmaiden for the queen and this is part of that training. It would behoove you to calm yourself.”

“I will not! I refuse to be treated as equals with this trash.”

“I agree,” another noble called out.

“Poor nobles can’t do anything on their own.” One of the commoners in the line snickered.

“You will not speak to me in that manner.” The daughter of the Lord of Narrows Creek moved toward the commoner, hand clenched.

Madame Ethyth walked up, putting herself in the noble’s path. “That is quite enough. I believe you should return to your room and think over your behavior.”

“Don’t you dare take that tone of voice with me. You’re nothing but a filthy faerie.

There was a flash and a yellow circle appeared on the floor beneath the young noble of Narrows Creek. It was filled with symbols Shae had never before seen. In the next instant the girl was gone.

There was stunned silence.

“Did you see that!?” Kwen did not seem to be as stunned as everyone else. “That was amazing! What did you do?”

“I simply sent Miss Rerann back to her room.”

“Thank you, Madame Ethyth.” Lady Gwethenn nodded as the red haired woman walked back toward the entrance. “As for the rest of you, this is the only way you will receive your meal, though you are welcome to not eat.”

Shae glanced at the others at her table. Kwen stood up. “Well I’m hungry. I don’t see what the big deal is anyway. It’s like sneaking to the kitchen for a snack.”

Shae got up to follow her sister and the others at the table did the same.