Princess Joanna's apartments - 598 AC

[Marie]

"So, you think them unready," Joanna murmured. "Well and good. I learned all these things when I was a girl but I have no notion how to teach them. Your judgement is sound, I'm sure of it."

[Viea Greyjoy]

"Well then, if there is nothing else Princess, I have to talk to Cassana."

[Marie]

"Yes, best it comes from you. Please let me knwo if you have any problems."

[Viea Greyjoy]

"I will do." Aalina smiled sweetly, then turned on her heel to go upstairs.

She unlocked Cassana's door and stepped inside, shutting it behind her.

[Marie]

Cassie heard Aalina but poitedly ignored her. She sat with a length of silk in one hand, twining it round and round her fingers and humming a sad little tune under her breath.

[Viea Greyjoy]

"Cassana, that is not how you greet someone." Aalina said softly to the girl. "Do it properly or I shall treat you like the baby you are behaving"

[Marie]

Cassie looked up with a scowl.

"You all treat me like a baby anyway."

[Viea Greyjoy]

"No we dont." Aalina said, then crossed the room and sat beside the girl.

"Alright, tell me how you would like to be treated?"

[Marie]

Cassie sat and stared at her hands for a minute or two.

"Don't know," she mumbled. "Don't like it when everyone says Eleyna's better at things."

[Viea Greyjoy]

Aalina sighed.

"I used to feel like that when I lived with the sisters." She said. "There was one girl, Janette was her name, who was the best at everything. She was two years older then I and yet she used to pick on me because I couldnt do my work as well as she could do hers. Yet here I am teaching you and Eleyna and she is up North in some lonely keep up there."

[Marie]

Cassana thought about that for a moment.

"The North sounds scary. Did you beat her at something?"

[Viea Greyjoy]

Aalina smiled.

"No, I just worked on being better then her, and letting all the comments brush me by. I learnt no to be so wild as most in my family and settled down. It is no bad thing to do what you do little one, of course Eleyna will be better then you at the moment, but she is older and has been learning with me for a tiny bit longer."

[Marie]

"And she's the perfect little lady. Everyone says so. i try but I'm not very good," Cassana said, choking on a sob.

[Viea Greyjoy]

"Cassana, your sister is not the perfect little lady, she will be in time, as will you but she has a long way to go yet. You are getting better, but you are better at other things that Eleyna isnt as good as."

[Marie]

"Like what?" Cassie asked.