Penelope of Whitehorn, the young lady knight, had come back from traveling Tortall to visit the palace where she had been trained for her shield and to see old friends (including her horse friends). She had just finished visiting the stables, and was going to take a walk before going inside to see her friends at lunch.

She was glad to be back: she enjoyed the birds chirping from the trees around the palace, the vast, flowered gardens, and the warm sun on her back. On her journeys in Tortall and the Kingdoms around it, she had missed her daily walks in the court yards and gardens.

Penelope looked around and saw various knights her age that she remebered from her palace days. She also saw many pages and squires talking and laughing with others. She almost wished she had not been so solitary in her youth: she hadn't had much fun with others, and had not laughed often.

Caissa of Whitehorn was walking about, just thinking her thoughts. Suddenly, she saw a flash of dark hair. The young woman that had just walked past looked extremely familiar. Caissa thought hard as she tried to place her.
"Penelope! Cousin!"

The exclamation came out of her mouth before she could stop it. "It's been forever, or at least a year!" Caissa gasped.

Hearing the cry, Penelope turned around to see her cousin. She was somwhat reluctent to run to her: she had almost forgotton about her cousin with the death of her father and her mother taking over their estate. But she ran all the same, fast. It was good to see a farmiliar face."Hello" Penelope said," I just came for a visit, but now that your here, I might stay for a while."She embrased her cousin.

Reluctantly, Caissa wriggled out of the embrace that was holding her in a locked position. "So, have you acheived your dream of becoming a lady knight?" she asked. "Last I saw you, you were two years away from your Ordeal!"

Cracking herself up, she commented, "I've certainly acheived my dream of becoming a bookseller. You can drop by Caissa's Books at 19 Market Way anytime, whether to meet friends or read!"

"Ugh, don't I just sound like a walking advertisement?"

Catching her breath, she waited for her cousin's answers to the many question she had laid down.

"Yes,"Penelope said, "I have achieved my goal to become a lady knight. And I'm glad you acheived your goal too." Penelope smiled, then said "I really like books, and reading helps me think and gives me ideas. I'm trying to think of something to do for Tortall.....so I can prove my worthyness as a knight, and to do something good....but I guess I'll have to be more social and connect with the world more. I'll stop by you book store so, one, I can read, and two, I can socialize and make more friends. " Penelope laughed, and then asked, "Do you want to walk with me? Then we could catch up, after all, as you said, we haven't seen each other for years."

"Very well," Caissa replied. She started up her brisk walk. "So, how was your Ordeal?" Then she hit herself on the head. "Sorry, knights can't talk about the Ordeal. Never mind!" She searched her mind for a new question. "Aaanyway...have you found a squire yet?"

Penelope laughed. "Yes, well, thaaat, um, I really havn't found anyone, but I'm trying to continue my search. I've been looking in both the squires mess and the great hall." She sighed, and then said, "Anything going on with you?"