Chapter 1: The New Students to Finishing School

Headmistress was going from room to room to see which beds were available. She darted in and out and counted the linens, sewing supplies, and anything else that needed counting. We were told that two students would be joining us and to make them feel welcomed.

Gee, no one did that for me and I one of the wealthiest girls there. That just goes to show you money can't buy class or friends! My father was the wealthiest man in Bast and Jenn combined. Maybe that was the reason why they gave me the cold shoulder- they knew my family name and was jealous of all we had. If they had even dared to make an effort to talk to me, then perhaps they would've figured out that money wasn't important to me. Hopefully, these two additions would be much more friendly and intelligent than the current occupants at Madame Edith's.

We were in the middle of sewing class, when I heard the sound of a carriage pull up to the house. I listened carefully while embroidering my flowers onto my material. I heard Madame Edith talking in the entry way, followed by high-pitched voices bickering back and forth. I rolled my eyes as I listened.

"Great, two more selfish, airheaded twits to add to the shallow waters of this brood," I thought.

However, Madame Edith's irritated voice broke my thought. Obviously, there was a third arrival.

"I'm Ella of Frell." She said "My father, Sir Peter of Frell, sent me with money to cover my education."

The way she said it sounded like she was ready to walk into a prison, which was how it felt on most days. Madame Edith hated not being in control of situations, but she could also be persuaded with a bag full of coins, too. It did not matter if it was Ayorthian currency or KJ's, if it jingled she would welcome it.

The new girls came in and joined us for sewing class. Madame Edith introduce the blonde curly one as Hattie and the one with the blank face as Olive. Hattie reminded me of a pig and Olive reminded me of a boring rock. The third was Ella. She was the prettiest of the three and looked intelligent and interesting. Sewing mistress sat her by Arieda and the other two sat by me. I was almost done with my project and decided to observe the third girl. The first two confirmed my first impression of them. Dumb, shallow, and greedy. But, Ella was different. She seemed like she would rather dance on hot coals than to be in this prison.

She and Arieda took up quite quickly. That was good, for Arieda needed friends. I had talked to her a few times and even stood up for her when the other girls made fun of her thick Ayorthian accent. Madame Edith said that I should have been born a boy because I was so blunt and brutish.

"A young lady never raises her voice and a young lady does not resort to using brute strength to end an altercation," she hissed.

Something told me that this Ella could hold her own and that we had similar goals.

She apparently was far worse than I was at being a lady because Sewing Mistress scolded her for her lack of talent at sewing and sent her to her room without dinner or breakfast.

After dinner, I made my way to the Lavender Room. I wanted to change while everyone else was occupied so I could practice some archery in the woods by the school. I walked in to see Arieda and Ella talking. Ella was eating a roll that Areida had obviously taken from dinner. They looked up as I made my way to my trunk.

"Leigh, please don't say anything about the roll. I knew Ella had to be so hungry, I couldn't let her starve," Areida pleaded.

"Your secret is safe with me as long as you don't tell anyone that I've gone to the woods again."

Ella straightened up. "What's in the woods? Why are you going there?"

"I go there to get away from these self-absorbed twits," I grinned. "I also go out there to practice archery. It is a skill that the wealthy women of Bast took great pride in years ago, but has now been dubbed as a fashion don't with recent trends. I guess men don't want adventurous wives."

"In Ayortha, we do not pay any mind to such things. Only if you can't sing, do we mark you as odd. Singing is the most important part of our culture."

"What do they do in Frell, Ella?"

"Depends on who you talk to. If you were to ask Prince Char, I'm sure he would say that he didn't care for a young lady who keeps up with the latest fashions and trends. However, my father would say that wealth and manners is everything a lady should be."

I knew it. She and I would get along splendidly! "Well, I will see you two later. I think I have an hour left of daylight to enjoy some freedom." I climbed out of the window and onto the lattice.

I made my way every night to the same spot where my bow and quiver were hidden in a hollowed out tree trunk. I had a makeshift target to aim with and a nice spot close to the school but hidden from sight. I began my target practice immediately and started planning my escape from this ridiculous school.