“You left me behind with them. Why didn’t you come get me? Do you know how many times She made me wear pink dresses?”

Okay, I over-reacted. But lets start at the beginning. I woke up before dawn and reached the city gates an hour after dawn. I got in by saying I was looking for my sisters, which was very true. They told me all this cool information like where they live and how to get there. I think that they thought that I was too young to do too much damage if I tried something anyway.

I went to their apartment. The landlord said that they weren’t there. So I wandered around for a very long time. I got to see the canals, the ponds, the aqueducts, the fountains, and pretty much everything to do with water. The canals were beautiful, but really, the fountains they use for decoration are just frippery. There was a gorgeous practice field though. Cushioned benches and everything, it was just beautiful.

It was about four hours after sunup that I ran into Alex. So I said what I wrote up above. It was mean. I shouldn’t have said it. But I was and still am cranky with her for LEAVING ME when she ran away. She was shocked. I mean, she was walking around in a daze as she led me to, well, somewhere. I had no idea where the heck she was taking me.

We got to this place that was kind of creepy. I mean, you think of a famous parlor, and you get the waiting room. You think of dungeons and you picture the workrooms. It was freaky. Alex kept calling it the ‘evaluator’. Do not ask me what that means. I went into the waiting room. It was furnished in pink and green. Ew. I waited for a couple minutes and was then called into a workroom. This freaky tiny guy who looked too frail to walk took one look at me, and wrote something down. He then sent me out. It was a bit rude, actually.

The paper, which he gave to me, said ‘Macilnur’. I have heard legends about Macilnur. More, accurately, heard rumors and read legends. But they sounded amazing. They had nicknames, like sword saints and stuff like that. Do you understand why I'm thrilled that that's what my paper said? If you don't, I swear to the gods that you're being slow.

Then Alex took me someplace called the 'scheduler'. At least I recognize that word. I think that I would rather schedule my own time rather than pay someone to do it for me. But it wasn't a choice. When I got there, I realized exactly what it meant. They had all the schedules for everything, and they could tell you when are where to go. So, they didn't tell you what to do, but had all the necessary information. I would assume that the only other place to have all that information would be the government records. If you don't know how boring those are, count yourself as lucky. I had to study them for a bit. That was the most boring season ever.

On the other hand, I now realize why lawyers, government scribes, and librarians get paid so well. Swords are so much more interesting. So, anyway, this guy told me that in three days I need to be in the general commander's tent. Don't give me that dirty look. All of the aspiring Macilnur will be there. So then Alex dropped me off at her apartment and ran off somewhere. So I'm sitting here. On her bed. Writing.

Cat has gotten this song stuck in my head. I saw her for less than twenty minutes today conscious, and she got a song stuck in my head! I'm going to be doomed to sing it for the rest of my life. And it's creepy and sad. I hate it. She's also been talking about magic. Today I asked her how they know if a girl really is a virgin, so that they can use her in a spell. I think she got offended. Alex was ready to laugh her head off, though.

I met one of Cat's teachers today. She's awesomely cool. I want to be like her when I grow up, except more me-ish. She's a bit too soft and motherly. She's great for Cat, though. Cat's the kind of person who needs a nice mother figure in their life. She certainly didn't use to have that.

I also met Cat's magic teacher. Of the really weird Tree-walker magics. I think he's what most girls my age would describe as a 'Hot hunk of man-flesh'. When he came in, Cat just got that look in her eyes. Seriously, she's easier to read than a . . . a . . . sign the size of a dragon. You know, I've never seen a dragon. Tomorrow I go to the Macilnur meeting in the general's tent.

It's been over a day since I last wrote. I remember the whole meeting thing in high detail. But if I took the time to write the whole thing down, my hand would cramp. And then in the morning I wouldn't be as able to use my sword. So I'll write the short and simple version. Anyway, I don't want to sound like a government official. Even here, they're boring.

So I was awake a few hours before dawn. I wanted to impress this guy. I couldn't do that if I was stiff with sleep. So I got up around the same time Cat did. I was stretching when she came back from the privy. She gave me a weird look and disappeared. You know, she's cut her hair. I didn't really notice until know. It used to be really, really long, and now it's like six inches shorter than mine.

I'd memorized a map of Rheicaran. So, it's kind of weird. But it's easier than carrying one around or waking up Alex. Trust me, she is really hard to wake up. It's just easier. It's also creepy the way you know where you are. So I went to the General's tent. I got there before any of the other students did. He was watching the way I walked, held myself, and held my hands.

A little bit later more kids started coming in. Most of them were boys, and most of them were my age and a little bit older. There was this blond girl who looked about seventeen with a great big scowl. We should have a glaring contest. It'd be cool. Anyway, the general started to tell us of his life as a Macilnur. How he had started little better than a common soldier, barely survived, and become the best swordsman, and eventually a good leader. He then told us of his devotion to his swords, how much he cleaned them, took care of them, and talked to them. At this point a couple of the other kids were repulsed.

I guess it might be kinda weird to talk to your sword. But I've done it ever since Tom got me one. In fact, I spend almost as much time with my sword as he said he did. Is there something wrong with that? So . . . then the general gave us a choice. We could leave, or we could become part of the Macilnur order forever. I let two seconds of silence pass before I said, "I'll stay." Everyone looked at me in surprise, except the general. He just looked at me and nodded. A couple of people left, and then the general told us a bunch of Macilnur secrets. I'm not going to write them down. So then he sent us off to the trainers for organizing. I turned to look at him as we left. He had a really sad look. He doesn't like sending young people off to die. Which is very likely what would happen to us. So I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to die in battle. I promise.