Cora's P.O.V.

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It was the day before the choosing, when all my wardmates and I were going to choose our futures.

My brother, Horace, already knew what he was applying for. Battle school. He had the strength, and he was already thinking like a warrior. Alyss was already garunteed a spot as an apprentice to Lady Pauline, the head of Redmonts couriers. Alyss was great with words, and could end any argument.

George was planning on applying to be a scribe. I don't know how it will work, with him not talking very much, but Alyss says most scribes start that way, and then the problem is getting them to shut up. I'm not so sure about George though.

Jenny is a great cook. She will be applying to be apprenticed to Master Chubb of Redmont's kitchens. She's more likely to get accepted than not. She made us dinner tonight, and I can't believe Will isn't eating.

Will. He is small. He wants to apply for battle school like Horace, but he won't make it, he's too small. He won't be able to join battle school. Sir Rodney, the Battlemaster, will not let him. Will and Horace constantly fight though. I don't pick sides though. I get along with them both, so I'm good. Horace doesn't want me involved.

Then there is me. I want to go to battle school with my brother. I'm strong enough, and I'm only a little smaller than Horace. George is still taller though. Horace is skeptical about me being the only girl in battle school. Why do I care? George tried to talk me out of it last night, and so did Alyss and Horace. Jenny actually helped them too. I was pretty mad. I got so upset I started to walk away crying, even when Horace tried to stop me, I kept walking. I yelled at Alyss, Jenny, George, and Horace when they tried to follow me. After all, they are the ones who ticked me off in the first place.

Will did end up following me. I climbed the tree Will had shown to me earlier, and he did to. He sat beside me on one of the top few branches and put an arm around me. He was like another brother to me. Everyone in the ward was like a sibling to me. Everyone but George for some reason.

"You ok?" Will asked.

"I don't know. I expected Alyss to try to talk me out of it, and Jenny, but Horace is supposed to support me, I mean, he is my brother!"

"What about George?"

"I don't know. He said he would support me, but I don't know what happened to that."

" He doesn't want you to meet any other guys." Will said simply.

"Why would he care?"

"He's liked you for a very long time."

"And you know this... How?"

"He told me...(I gave Will a disbelieving look) Ok maybe he talks to himself and I over heard."

"I just thought Horace was supposed to support me."

"He is, he just doesn't want you to get hurt."

"Thanks for the support Will."

"You're welcome, Cora. We should probably be getting some sleep."

"Ok, come on."

As we were getting out of the tree, he went first, and my shirt got stuck. He wasn't that far below me, but I did not like the helpless feeling.

We got back to the Ward, and Horace said, " Why the hell were you gone so long Cora? And you, what the hell were you doing with my sister?"

"At least I care whether she gets upset or not. I'm not the one who is pressuring her out of her dream. I wanted to make sure she was ok." Will snapped.

"Would you two stop?" I shouted, waking the others.

I ran again and didn't come back till the next day, today.

And yet again, Jenny said, " Are you sure you want this Cora?"

"Yes I'm sure, and unless you gag me,  I am applying. Horace can just deal with it." I replied, glaring at my brother, who just kept stuffing his face full of food. I was sitting between Will and George, and Horace was across from me.

"Will, you should really eat." I said softly.

He just gave me a nervous smile.

"Being nervous is nothing to be ashamed of." George told us.

"We're all nervous. We'd be stupid not to be." I smiled because I knew what Horace was going to say.

"I'm not nervous!" he exclaimed. Then he turned red and glared at me. At least I got Will to laugh.

The next morning,  we all got ready for the Choosing Ceremony. While we were walking to the castle, Horace kept glaring at Will. I elbowed him.

"What was that for?"

"Stop being mean to Will. He didn't do anything wrong."

"Fine."

We all were lined up by hight and the order was:

Horace, Alyss, George, Me, Jenny, Will

Then all the craftmasters came out. Sir Rodney the Battlemaster,  Lady Pauline of the Couriers, Ulf the Horsemaster, Master Chubb of the kitchens, and the scribes master who's name I cannot remember. The ranger Halt was standing behind the Baron.

Horace was first.

"Name?" the Baron asked.

"Horace."

"What is your school of choice Horace?"

"Battle school, my lord."

"Rodney?"

"He has the right build. I will accept him for the usual 3 month trial period." Rodney said. I saw my brother's eyes light up at his words.

Next was Alyss.

"Name?" The Baron again.

"Alyss, and my choice is the Diplomatic services, my lord."

"I have already spoken with Alyss, my lord. She will be an excellent apprentice." Lady Pauline replied.

Next was George. He was really nervous, so I lightly squeezed his hand and gave him an encouraging smile.

"Name?"

"George, my lord." he stuttered. I giggled silently. He was funny when he was nervous.

"Choice of school?"

"Scribes school, my Lord."

"Well?"

"I accept." said the unknown craftsmaster.

"He can hardly form a sentence!" exclaimed Rodney.

"Scribes school will cure that."

Next was me. I was shaking very badly. I couldn't think straight.

"Name?"

"Cora, my lord."

" If I remember correctly, you have a brother, do you not?"

"Yes my lord. Horace is my brother."

"I thought so. Your choice?"

"Battle school, my lord." Everything stopped.

"What?"

"Battle school."

"But you're a girl."

"So? What's that supposed to mean? I'm just as strong as my brother, if not stronger!"

"Rodney?"

"Prove your strength. Punch me." Rodney ordered.

"I won't get in trouble, will I?"

"Cora, just punch him already!" Horace yelled at me.

I swung straight with my left, and a hook with my right. Rodney was thrown back 10 ft. His eye was swollen and his lip bloody like his broken nose. I just stood there innocently.

"I accept her as an apprentice, and that hurt like hell!" Rodney laughed.

I just blushed and went to stand by Horace and George.

"Nice job, Cora." George whispered. I just giggled.

"He told me too."

Later that day, everyone had been picked, except Will. They were trying to find somewhere to put him.

"See? Battle school runs in the family! " Horace was bragging about how I made it into battle school as the first ever girl.

"You were the one telling her she wouldn't make it 2 days ago!" George exclaimed.

"Yeah, and you were the one trying to talk her out of it so she wouldn't meet any other guys, and fall for them!" Jenny giggled.

George turned really red as we all started laughing, even him and Will.