AN: Well I know I shouldn't be starting something new until I've finished some of my other stories, but I had this idea and it wouldn't leave me alone. It's really developing into it's own story all of a sudden. It is about an original character, although some of our favorites will be making appearances, as well. Some are in for the long-haul, while other's involvement will be short-lived, though they're still there. I want to experiment with my own characters here among Tortall's settings and plots, to gain practice towards my perspective novel. Reviews would be very much appreciated!

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters that originated in the works of Tamora Pierce. I'm just taking them out to play; I've given up my Barbie-dolls.

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Prologue
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The fair at Fief Hapinu would not have been considered a big event in most parts of Tortall. But to the people who lived in the area surrounding the small fishing village, it was as important an event as Midwinter. Hapinu was far northwest of Port Caynn, on the Scanra side of the Grimhold Mountains. There was often a lot of snow in the winter and it usually stuck around until late in May.

But on this late summer day it was warm and sunny. People came from miles around to see the caravans and merchants from the south. Ambrosia of the nearby Port Emralín came with the child she was raising, Nadiana. Lady Ambrosia was an elderly woman, but she had plenty of room in her heart for the young girl.

Nadiana had been brought to Ambrosia's door when she was but an infant, orphaned and alone. Ambrosia took the baby in and raised her with a firm but loving hand. Already at five, girl could read and write, and calculate sums that were quite large in her head. Being their village's only healer, Ambrosia also taught Nadiana to use and control her Gift.

The two were thick as thieves, spending every day together. Nadiana called her guardian "Aunti," and Ambrosia called the girl "Nadia."

Nadiana was close friends with the heir to Fief Hapinu, Dennisin. Ambrosia allowed her to wander with her friend at the fair, but only if they were followed by a Hapinu family servant. The task usually fell to a guard named Uther Jakibsson.

On this day, Nadia and Dennisin tried their very best to lose their guardian, but Uther was always on his toes, and therefore beat them at their game. After awhile he let the children think that they had succeeded, falling back a ways. He had wondered where they would go.

Nadia took her friend's hand, pulling him towards the stables. Several knights from the south had come with the fair, and Nadia liked to look at all the pretty colors and seals that the men and their horses wore. Dennis just liked the swords. While they were admiring the big black gelding of a knight called Sir Ulrid of Jassi, they overheard two men talking nearby. One looked to be a blacksmith, and the other, a miller.

"Did ya hear about the new law that passed?"

"What new law?"

"Now it's legal for wimmen to be knights," the first man said with disgust.

"What's wrong with that?" Nadia interrupted.

"What's wrong with that?" the man's companion repeated mockingly. "Isn't one lady knight enough? Why encourage more wimmen to get themselves into trouble? It's unnatural. The only places wimmen belong are the kitchen and the bedroom."

"Guard your tongue, smithee." Nadiana looked up in surprise at the newcomer. She had expected to hear Uther, who had joined the children as the blacksmith spoke. Instead it was a stranger. This man was tall, with blond hair and pale green eyes. He wore a tunic of deep asparagus green with brown trim and leggings. His presence demanded respect even if you didn't recognize him as a knight.

"I am Sir Douglass of Veldine. You have no right to speak so crudely in the presence of children. And of such a topic. I trained alongside 'Alan' of Trebond. The King's Champion is one of my closest friends. You'd do well to get your tongue in check."

"You know the Lioness?" Nadiana asked. The knight smiled at her curiosity. He spoke to the man through the little girl.

"Very well. Alanna can do anything that a man can do. There are some things she's even better at. Our king is no idiot. There's a reason she was named Champion."

The first man spit at Sir Douglass' feet and walked off angrily. Nadiana watched him leave. When she looked up, Sir Douglass was smiling again. He recognized the fire in her gaze. Nadia met the knight's eyes.

"Someday I'll show him," the girl vowed, her face serious. "I'll be just like the Lioness. Someday I'll be a knight."