Maria and Alice were in the school room of the large manor. Alice giggled as she played with dolls, while Maria's face was firm and set on her studies. The twins couldn't be less alike.

Alice was a tall girl who, at eight, was already destined for a life of dance school and fame. Alice was pretty, and that would serve her well in life.

Maria was a small black haired girl who read and wrote more often than not. Maria was a Renaissance Woman at heart, able to read, write, debate, farm, and fight.

Maria suddenly stood up with a map and walked over to her tutor. "Sir Liam, why is this section of the map blank? The part southwest of the cliffs?"

A Map Of Ardente by RIPTimeless

Her tutor glanced over the map. "That area is nothing but small farmland, nothing important."

"Then shouldn't it be listed with villages and individual properties?"

"Some people don't want to be found on a map, Miss Maria. Some of them want to be alone." Maria looked down at the paper.

"I would never want to be alone and unknown."

"You were born noble."

"Indeed, Sir Liam." Maria went back to her desk and doodled.

Her art bothered Sir Liam when he walked over later. It was a sketch of deformed men and women growling and ripping at an animal. He wasn't sure how she had come up with it, but it bothered him.