Nadine - The Beginning

2. School

Age 180. (Human age 9.)

40 years later...

"What are you doing out here in the dark?"

"Mary shhh. I'm trying to hear my parents talk about sending me to school."

Mary crouches down beside me outside the door.

"Absolutely not. I mean this is why I agreed to the horses so she would forget about that school." Daddy does not like the idea at all.

"I think we should. For just 1 year. She's wanted it for so long. And soon she will have to put the veil on. She for sure wouldn't be able to then."

"She wouldn't be able to take her servant. The humans don't have servants. She wouldn't even know how to do anything with a servant."

"Some time away from the servants would do her good. And what's the worst thing that could happen anyways. I mean the guards would be around the school."

"She gets scared and kills all the other children."

"She is entirely..."

"Come on little miss you need to get some sleep and I don't think that conversation you should be hearing anyways. Let them discuss it and they will let you know."

"But"

"No come to bed. I will tuck you in. You need to get up early to feed the horses anyways."

I think about them and nod. "You're right."

Mary smiles and leads me to bed. "Good night little miss."

"Good night Mary."

I sneak out early the next morning and feed the horses. "You are so beautiful Shadow. Someday I'll be able to ride you. My parents say I need lessons first."

"What you doing out here so early Nadine?"

"Oh hi Tre. Just feeding them. I couldn't sleep anymore. What are you doing out here so early?"

"Going to take Greyson out for a ride this morning. I'm leaving for a few days. Wanted to make sure I get a ride in first."

"Where you going?"

He throws a cloth over Greyson. "Another kingdom with my dad. He says it's a safe trip. Just something about mates or something."

"Huh?" I am all sorts of confused.

He jumps on the horse. "I guess one of them found her mate was one of our vampires. My dad is just going to work it out." He holds his hand out for me. "You coming?"

"Really?"

"Yea, I'll take you for a little ride. Greyson is a good horse. You're safe with us."

I give him a big smile and grab his hand. He pulls me up and off we go. We ride all over the pasture. Tre's so strong and warm. I love riding with him. I feel so safe.

"This is amazing Tre."

"Yea figured you'd like it. You seemed a little down. What's going on?"

"I don't think my parents will let me go to school. My dad is scared I'll kill them all."

"Oh, I'm sorry." He picks up speed.

I grab on tighter to the horse and smile. "This is amazing."

He smiles. "Yea, it really is." Greyson runs all the way back to the barn and we hop off.

"Listen. Just focus on horses for now. Soon you'll be able to ride them on your own. As fast as you want."

I smile at him and nod. "Thank you for the ride Tre."

"Anytime princess. I'll see you after I get back from the trip."

I walk back to the house feeling a little bit better. Mom is making breakfast.

I sit down at the table with dad and Clay. "Good morning everyone."

Clay just keeps playing with this wooden puzzle thing he has.

"Good morning my princess. Where were you out to so early this morning?"

"I was feeding the horses daddy. Tre took me for a ride."

My mom looks up from the counter. "He's such a nice boy."

My dad looks up from his cup. "Yes he is. Good boy. Growing into a good man."

My mom sits some food down on the table in front of us. "Listen Nadine. Your father and I were speaking last night. We have agreed to send you to the human school for 1 year."

"FOR REAL?"

"Yes, but listen. You can not take servants there. No matter what. Humans don't keep servants like we do. We can not be found out. You have to keep our secret. I know we've been talking about it for 40 years or so, but do you honestly believe you can do it?"

"YES MOMMA, I DO!"

My dad takes a drink and looks at me. "Ok then you will go for one year. You will keep our secret and you will not take take your servant or any servant. Do you understand?"

"Yes daddy."

My mom gets some food off the plate for herself. "Ok it's settled then. Everyone eat. I will contact the school later today."

I get up and give my mom and dad a big hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"You're welcome my princess. But remember, keep the secret. Humans don't take to kindly to our kind."

"I promise daddy."

"Can I go to dad? I can learn stuff too."

"Maybe when you're as old as your sister. You're still quite young now."

Later that afternoon mom finds me out by the horses again. "Nadine I contacted the school. You will start in 3 days. The servants are picking up a few items for you."

I start jumping up and down. "Yay mommy thank you."

She sits down on our sitting rock. "Nadine the guards will be with you, but they will have to keep a safe distance from the school. So you will be there on your own. But if anything happens, just run outside. The guards will see you."

"Yes mom."

"Oh your teacher for the horses will be here this afternoon. You will have 2 meetings with him per week. He will teach you to ride them."

"This is the best day ever. Thank you mom."

She smiles and gives me a hug.

I run all the back to the house. "Mary, Mary." I see her cleaning in my room. "Guess what. I get to go to school!"

"That is so nice little miss. When do you get to go?"

"3 days."

"Oh wow. That's soon. We should pick out your first dress." She holds out a couple for me to see. "Which one are you thinking?"

"Definitely the yellow. It's so pretty and bright. Do you think I'll make friends in that dress?"

"I'm sure you'll make friends no matter what you wear. You are a friendly little girl."

"I don't know the white one looks friendlier. What if I'm not smart enough? What if they kick me out?"

Mary smiles at me and kneels down. "You'll be fine princess and they go to study reading and math. You already know all that stuff. Just go and be friendly, meet some girls to talk to. You'll be fine."

"Will you go with me?" She gives me a head tilt. "I mean the guard will already be hiding outside, maybe you could do that too."

"You know I can't princess. Your father forbade it. We have to keep our secret."

"But please. Just outside. It would make me feel better knowing you are close."

She looks at me and sighs. "Maybe just a couple days. I will stand with the guards until you get more comfortable."

I give her a big hug. "Thank you Mary. Oh guess what else."

"What child?"

"I get to start my horse riding lessons this afternoon."

"I'm happy for you princess."

"Do you want to learn too?"

"Oh no my dear. Those big things scare me. I'm afraid they will jump on me or throw me on the ground. You're so much braver than me princess."

"Will you come and watch?"

"I wouldn't think of missing it."

Me and Mary walk out to the barn holding hands that afternoon. My daddy is there with his advisor Dipak and some other man.

I can hear them talking as I get closer.

Dipak puts his hand on my dads shoulder. "A woman on a horse. You're a brave man Miculai."

"Ah she's a brave girl. One of the bravest I've ever known. And she'll be queen one day. I think she'll be better off learning how to ride."

Dipak nods. "Right you are sir."

"Hi daddy, Hi Advisor Dipak."

Daddy gives me a hug. "Hello my sweet princess."

"Well hello princess. I came out here to watch your lesson too. I hope that's ok?"

"It's fine Dipak. Do you think I'll be able to get on a horse today?"

The other man looks at me. "If the horse takes to you then I don't see why not. I'm Odinra, I'm the riding trainer. Which of the horses would you like to train on?"

I walk over and pet shadow on the head. "This is shadow."

"Shadow looks like a fine horse to start with. Have you been spending time with him and feeding him regularly?"

"Yes sir. Months."

"Well the horse seems to know you and like you so let's get you up there." He helps me up on the horse. "Ok for today. I'm just going to hold this cable and walk around a little bit ok? I'll be right here if you feel scared. I can get you down fast ok?"

I nod my head. "I'm not scared at all."

He smiles at me. "That's great princess."

We start walking around the pasture. He tells me how to get the horse to turn and speed up or slow down, stuff like that.

"You're doing really good princess. You are having the horse turn. That's not me. Do you want to try and walk the horse straight over to your dad with out me holding on? I will still be right beside you."

"Oh yes please."

He lets go. "Ok just go slow and easy."

I walk the horse over to my dad, Dipak, and Mary. They all start clapping when I get closer. "Good job princess." "I think you may be better than I am."

I am so happy and smiling so big. I feel so free up here.

"Let's walk back to the barn now and that will be it for today's lesson."

About half way back to the barn I see Clay. "Look Clay. I'm on a horse. They say I'm doing good."

"Yea good job. My perfect sister doing everything perfect. So surprising." He throws a rock at the horses foot and it makes the horse jump.

I manage to hold on but it still scares me. "What is wrong with you Clay?"

"Nothing. It was just a joke. I'm going for a walk."

I get the horse back to the barn and thank the trainer. Then I take off to find Clay. He's either in his cave or by the river.

I find him at the river. "CLAY!" He turns around and walks away from me. "Nicladie!"

"What?"

"What is wrong brother?"

"I'll never be as good as you with anything. My perfect sister."

"What do you mean?"

"I've had horse lessons for months. I still can't even walk a horse."

I give him a hug. "Clay, I work with Shadow every day. For months now. I feed, water, and brush him. Every day. I've never seen you at the barns. You need to spend more time with your horse. Horses are so smart. He will come around when you spend more time with him. He has to trust you first."

He plops down on the ground. "Dad won't let me go to school."

I sit down by him. "I had to beg for 40 years. Just keep asking for 40 years."

We both laugh.

"You just seem so good at everything on your first try. I'm quite jealous sister."

"I'm older and I'm jealous of you too brother."

"You are?"

I nod and put my arm around him. "Just think of all the things you will get to try that I won't. Like shooting a bow and arrow. I would love to do that, but there's no way dad would ever go for it. Swinging a sword. Horse riding in competitions. Girls are just supposed to stay in the house and cover up. Heck, in a few more years I'll have to put on a veil and hide my skin. You'll never have to do that. I really am jealous of you too Clay."

"I guess I never thought about it like that." He hugs me. "I'll show you how to shoot a bow someday sister. Once I learn anyways." We both laugh again. "We just won't tell dad."

I smile at him. "You have to shake on it." I hold my hand out.

He laughs and shakes my hand. "Deal."

"You're the best brother a girl could have Clay."

"And you're the best sister."

I smile and look around. "What's that pile of stuff over there."

"Some animals. I was just mad and thought I would practice hunting."

"That's a lot Clay."

He shrugs. "They're just squirrels and rabbits."

"Let's go get some food. I'm getting hungry brother." I hold out my hand to help him up.

The first week of school fly's by. I meet a few girls who look to be about my age. All they do is talk about the boys. I asked once what age they find their mates. I just got funny looks.

"So what are you 2 doing this weekend." One of the girls in the class asks.

"Apple picking." The one with brown hair says.

"I've got a horse riding lesson tomorrow." I pick up my books.

They both laugh. "Girls don't ride horses."

"Yea, that's a boy thing. We're not strong enough."

"Oh I ride. I have a horse named shadow. He's really gentle."

They both give me a funny look and walk outside. I think they're trying to get away from me.

I follow them out with tears in my eyes. Mary runs up as soon as she can. "What's wrong little miss?"

"What are you doing here?" That was my dad and he sounds mad. Oops.

"She's just walking me home daddy."

"I told you no servants. Humans don't have them. Servant, go home. I will deal with you later."

"She's just walking me home daddy."

"No more walking you home. She is not to be here at all. If I catch her here again you will never return. Do you understand?"

"Yes daddy."

"There will be no horse riding lessons for 1 month and you will help that servant of yours with the chores."

I nod and look at the ground as we start to walk home. "I'm sorry daddy."

He uses his hand to tilt my face so I'm looking at him. "Nadine, you will be queen one day. There are certain things you must learn to do on your own. And being brave and facing people alone is one of them."

"Daddy, do you think I'll be a good queen?"

"You'll be an amazing queen. You are so strong and brave. Everyone will respect you, as they respect me."

I kick a rock. "The girls were trying to get away from me cause I said I ride Shadow."

"Oh, is that why you were upset?"

"Yes."

"Well, it is odd for a girl to ride. But you're not a normal girl. You're a princess. And someday a queen. There are some extra things you will be able to learn as you grow up. Your real friends will accept you the way you are."

"Like bow and arrows?"

He chuckles. "Not that. We still need to make sure your mate is the one protecting you. It would be really weird if you were protecting him."

"Will he be strong?"

"Yes, he will be a king. He will be smart and strong. Kind and protective. But mostly he will be yours."

I smile. "Sometimes I wonder what he will look like."

"Oh it's to early for that. You will kill this old man talking about things like that. You still have a long time to wait Nadine." He walks a few steps to the side of the path. "Look at that."

"What is it, daddy?"

"That poor little rabbit has his foot caught by that rock." He moves the rabbit and he hops off. "There, that's better."

"Daddy, it was just a rabbit."

"Everything that's here has a right to its life. We should all work to protect the innocent. No matter how small or big."

I smile and grab his hand.

"Let's go home princess. Your mother is probably wondering why you're not home yet."