Social Media Marketing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Media Marketing - Research Paper Example Social media marketing refers to the concept of gaining traffic and attention through launching and running promotional campaigns, through identifying and engaging with influencers and interested parties through social media. Social media marketing is most especially effective and vital for businesses, institutions and organizations that rely heavily on referral and the word-of-mouth as their marketing and communication strategies, considering that there is no easier ways to make referrals or pass word of mouth, than through the social media, owing to its extensive coverage and accessibility. Social media marketing is thus a category of internet marketing, which applies the social media networks as the platforms for communicating and achieving the branding goals of an institution. Fundamentally, this form of marketing entails sharing of written content, audio, images and videos through the social networks, to make such contents accessible by other parties within the social media netw orks, for marketing and branding the institution. Posing for a moment to dissect the assertions that Social Media Marketing is effective for referrals and word of mouth communication, it is apparent that there is no better way to market an educational institution, than through referrals and the word of mouth. Social media is the most effective channel of discovering and combining news with promotional content, while also serving as the most effective tool for building links to different other networks. Thus, finding and responding to online conversation can be the most effective way of marketing, since social media enables even small business which has no established systems and channels of advertisement, as well as those facing resource shortages to reach more customers. (Deis & Kyle, 2010). Therefore, social media does not only offer an opportunity to advertise and promote a brand, but also an opportunity to combine and reinforce the branding content with more informative news, and in a more entertaining and interactive way, that is rarely offered by other communication and promotional channels. Thus, despite the concept of Social Media Marketing being a comparatively recent phenomenon, its role in the current business world has shifted from that of a trendy presence, into a necessary marketing and advertising platform for any business that seeks to remain relevant both in the traditional and the digital marketing (DeMers, 2013). According to a report published by the Forbes Magazine, the 2012 Social Media Marketing Industry indicated that 94% of all businesses that had a marketing department utilized the social media as one of their major

How to keep your body in a good shape Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How to keep your body in a good shape - Essay Example However, one should only read that which has substantial depth and those that have mind stimulating qualities. It is also crucial to take time off cognitive activities to improve memory and other cognitive skills. This is concerning taking beaks and recesses from time to time, as they help in building one’s retention and attention span. This way, cognitive skills such as critical and logical thinking remain sharp at all times and boosts quick learning. This works hand in hand with improved task coordination, concentration, and planning. Physically, it is crucial to keep the body in good shape through physical exercises as they increase the flow of blood in the body. The first and easiest way to keep one’s body physically in shape is taking a walk in the yard or walking the dog, if you have one (Templeton). Moreover, Yoga and tai chi are good techniques for keeping the mind in motion and stretching respectively. These physical exercises not only keep the mind and blood flow active, but also ward off certain illnesses, which include Alzheimers and dementia, as well as signs of aging. This occurs due to the relationship between the brain and the cardiovascular system. The use of drugs has profound effects on our bodies concerning maintaining health. As a result, to remain in good shape it is in our best interests to control our ailments such as colds and other personality disorders without the use of drugs or medication. Because of this, the body does not develop dependency on the drugs and medication meaning that one can act and live normally in their absence. In addition, failure to use drugs cuts back on the risk of developing resistance for mainstream medication thus, boosting health. In addition, at times, drugs and medication result in treating symptoms and not the condition that one suffers from resulting in worsening of the condition. Finally, in case of safety, one should avoid

How to predict the size of the medical school applicant pool for the future Essay Example for Free

How to predict the size of the medical school applicant pool for the future Essay Many approaches can be used to predict the size of medical school applicant pool. To predict the size of the medical pool, several techniques can be used to address the problem. However, the results of the different techniques may vary from one to another. Thus, one should identify the proper technique to be used in the said scenario. Based on the problem background, the predicting technique the can be used to address predicting the size of medical school applicant pool is regression analysis. Regression analysis is statistical technique which has a goal of predicting, modeling and characterizing a problem. Regression analysis was chosen as a technique to predict the applicant pool because regression analysis rely on factors that can affect the result of the prediction model. Regression analysis can be used to identify factors that have great influence on the dependent variable being predicted. In this case, one can use regression analysis to predict applicant pool size depending on the factors that can influence the variable. Being able to determine factors that have great influence on the predicted variable means that the regression model created will give a better prediction of the variable being predicted (Cohen, Cohen, West, Aiken, 2003). Several variables are considered to have an influence on the medical school applicant size. Some of the variables considered include seats given for incoming first year medical students and the quality of the applicants based on their GPA and MCAT results. Other factors can also be included in order to predict the applicant pool size such as the applicant-to-matriculant ratio. The ratio is an important factor identified as it is an indicator of whether medical schools are capable of filling their classes (Garrison, Matthew Jones, 2007). With the use of regression analysis, one can identify factors given above that have great influence on the size of medical school applicant pool. Identifying such influential factors can create a better model that can predict medical school applicant pool. Thus, regression analysis can be used to address the problem of predicting size of medical school applicant pool.

Factors Determining Work-Life Balance

Factors Determining Work-Life Balance The main objective of study was to know that what Factors determine the work life balance and what causes may be hurdle in work life balance practices in pharmaceutical sector in Pakistani culture. The questionnaire technique was used in conducting for this study. The results show that high rate of absenteeism cause work life unbalance and time management practice leads to work life balance activities. Furthermore, the study shows that demographic variables for employees play an important role for work life balance. Key Words: Work-life balance, Absenteeism, Time Management, Human Resource. Introduction Decenzo, Robbins Verhulst have written (2008) that Human Resource is the most important resource for organizations irrespective of; they are commercial or non-commercial organizations. This is because the organizations having a lot of buildings and latest equipment, cannot achieve their goals without well talented human resources. Nowadays in global perspective, organizations compete with each other. They try to get such advantages which cannot be attained and achieved easily by other organizations. In order to get some competitive advantages, they use different techniques and try to satisfy their employees. Eikhof, Warhurst Haunschild have studied (2007) that organizations need to maintain competent and satisfied workers to achieve their goals. Work Life Balance (WLB) plays important role in employees performance. In these days, it is considered as an important and hot Issue which is explained in meetings and conferences whether these are conducted by governments, practitioners and academic forums is work life balance. In order to get competitive advantages, the talented, well happy and satisfied employees are needed to the organizations. They satisfy their employees to provide different facilities. But nowadays work-life balance system is being practiced to satisfy their employees. Gregory Milner (2009) say that the Work life Balance is an important for employees. That is why the representative (Unions) of employees demands for such policies which maintain the work life balance for employees. It has been discussed that work-life balance influences employees performance and their satisfaction level. During of making policies for employees in developed countries, the work life balance is being paid specific attention (Gregory Milner, 2009). Scholarios Marks (2004) have studied that work life unbalance is considered as most important issue which has impact on the employees performance. Managing and maintaining work life balance increases employees performance and satisfaction. There has been choosing only two factors time management and absenteeism to examine the factors that influences work life balance. There may be other factors. For example, Worker easiness, satisfaction etc. This is because that I have observed my roommates doing in pharmaceutical company. They were in trouble due to work life unbalance. They told these factors. That is why I chose only these two factors. The objective of study is to explore that the work efficiency, absenteeism and time management can be made determinant factors for work life balance or not? This study will provide solutions to these problems which are created by not to be work life balance. There are three dependent and independent variables. Dependent variable is Work- Life Balance. Independent variables are Absenteeism and Time Management. Literature Review Work Life Balance According to Redmond, Valiulis Eileen Drew (2006) the work-life balance it may be different for different persons. The term used in the literature to refer to policies that attempts to achieve a greater complementarily and balance between work and home responsibilities. Beauregard Henry (2009) stated that numerous organizations are paying significant attention to provide work-life balance practices to facilitate their employees. Having work-life balance practices, they are attracting worker to themselves and are enhancing their employees performance. Promotion and improvement of work-life balance is the most hot issue which is presently being debated among governmental departments and all other persons and departments which have concerns to the employees (Fleetwood, 2007). White, Hill, McGovern, Mills, Smeaton, D (2003) have studied that Politicians and policymakers are exploring solutions. There are some new concepts which are related to employees, are emerging all over the world. One most new of them is Work-Life Balance. Greenblatt (2002) has studied that Achieving and maintaining employees work life balance has become a strategic part of many organizations. In perspective of global competition for personnel, some industries have attracted talented human resources to provide them the facility of work life balance. Attracting them, the industries are getting competitive advantages to compete their competitors (Greenblatt, 2002). There is a thing in which employer support influence on which it is out of work activities and responsibilities. The employer support influences the extent to which graduates cant balance between home and work. Due to unbalance between them, the graduates face conflict between home and work. It shows two things: positive and negative. (Struges Guest, 2004). Employees as well as the managers demand solutions to solve problems that create due to work-life unbalance practice. As a result, the work- life- balance has considered as a worldly serious topic in government and corporate meetings as well conferences. In next decades, work-life-balance would become the most debatable topic which will be managing by executives and human resources professionals (Bird, 2006). There are much discussion about work-life balance and family-friendly employment used to conduct among politicians and businessmen. Some workers do their work at home. Doing working at home, usually is not considered as an included within such these practices (Felstead, Jewson, Phizacklea Walters, 2002).It has been studied that work-life balance practices have significant impact to improve their job satisfaction level both for male and female. Due to having doubt in high level job satisfaction for gender gap, they dont want to explain it. These practices cause the getting benef its which increase the workers satisfaction level regarding to basic and salary perspective. There are several policies and rules and regulations by which the use of work-life balance practices are encouraged (Asadullah Fernandez, 2008). The most important issue is Work life balance. The organizations recognize this issue as a most important part of their strategy. The employees also consider it as a most important thing for themselves (Guest, 2002). The employer has an own view is that work-life balance makes people happy with their job. The employees are satisfied with it. Due to having work-life balance practice in organizations, they do their work and responsibilities very well. Using work-life balance, the employer can have support in recruiting and retaining of its staff. Work-life balance practices have m any benefits both for employers and employees (Manfredi Holliday 2004). It has been discussed, the organizations are urged to follow completely rules and regulations that are lay down from code of Corporate Social Responsibility. This concept of CSR considers it as a most important factor. Now organizations understand that WLB can have a most important role in enhancing employees performance and satisfaction. They can observe and then compare to previous figures the benefits of this practice, if the employers have practices of work-life balance (Welford, 2008). Absenteeism Traditionally definition of absence is non-appearance for scheduled work. It means not to be physically an employee in the workplace. Due to do working in virtual offices, the appropriate meaning of absence has become changed and has become difficult to understand absence (Kristensen et al., 2006). There are many factors which increase the expenses of establishment. One of them is absence with team production. The absence rate can be reduces through additional monitoring. But it is too much expensive. And it results in lower absence rate (Heywood Jirjahn, 2004). In spite of notifications from organizations to the employees due to be absence, the workers are not paying attention to minimize their absenteeism (Vardi Wiener, 1996). It has been discussed that increasing rate of absenteeism is a big problem not only in United State but also throughout the world. Making absence from class, the students miss a lot of instructions and learning materials which are delivered from their respected teachers. Figures show that absenteeism can cause the students truancy which leads later students to the young crime and law-breaking (Yepern Hagedoorn, 1996). Until few years, a lot number of economists not used to consider absenteeism as an important issue. But nowadays it has become as an important issue and it almost is discussed in every conference conducting on labors related problems (Frick Malo, 2008). Due to increasing rate of work absence in work place in many European states, the owners attention are attracting to this issue. In developed countri es, the maximum employees are protected by insurance companies and laws (Brostrà ¶m, Johansson Palme, 2004). The greatest factor among blue-collar employee which creates a trouble in the assembly lines is absenteeism. It has a negative impact on value and operations expenses (Mateo, 2008). It may be nature that worker demand some days of vacations. But the entrepreneur influences the vacations of worker. He can make more costly to take leaves for workers or he can make workers schedule very tight (Jaarsveld Yanadori, 2011). Lishchinsky Rosenblatt (2009) have taken results that there are four moral ideas. These are helpful climate, proper environment, inclination to behave badly and technical fairness. Helpful environment is related to absence period and others are related to absence frequency. Due to demand of absence policy from employees, the employees absence policies and procedures are being developed. They may make getting absenteeism easier for employees and may make most benefits for them (Dalton Perry, 1981). If absenteeism increase in high level in short term, it will lead to decreasing of employees performance in long term (Harrison, 1998). absenteeism leads to decreased performance in the Time Management Time management involves the process of determining needs, setting goals to achieve these needs, prioritizing and planning tasks required to achieve these goals (Lakein 1973). Claessens, Eerde, Rutte Roe (2005) stated that the importance of practice of time management is growing. Time management training is being conducted in competing organizations. Vasiliadou, Derri, Galanis Emmanouilidou (2009) have written that the usage of schedules and guidelines and the application of time and instruments play a most important role to increase the usage of session time. Organizations must have more interest in time because of it is a scarce resource and it involves the various resources of the Organization, if time wasnt managed, nothing else will be managed. And a good management of time is useful in providing the resources and the costs of the Organization (Alsarayreh , 2012). Time management is a good technique to check up more patients in less available time. This technique can be used by using centralized Data Stream Management System DSMS(Srivastava Widom ,2004). It has been studied that teachers abilities can be improved if different kind of time management trainings are provided to teachers. Studying in parallel manner affects the students ability and achieves. It would lead in more complete conclusions. He effect of the program on student achievement or on teacher (Vasiliadou, Derri, Galanis Emmanouilidiou , 2009). Clinical physicians are facing some major issues in todays wellbeing care atmosphere. One of them is lack of time management practice. Due to lack of time management practice, cost of some activities is increasing gradually (Kleshinski, Dunn Kleshinski, 2010). Time management, and its impact on performance and achievement, has been researched extensively over the last few decades. Many people believe that time management is the key to success in academics, business and many other aspects of life. However, previous research on time management has not produced consistent findings as to whether or not time management is imperative to academic success (Time Management). The use and understanding of time-based structures is an important component for good individual time management. Four properties of individual time management include planning, meeting deadlines, sensing a lack of time control and engaging in procrastination. Scott (2011). Anand (2007) 26 urged that if employees are skillful at a beginning stage then time management designs are implanted in them and they remain during their workplace lives. Methodology This study was conducted in pharmaceutical sector. That is why the population of this study is the worker of vision pharmaceutical company. The questions used in this study were an adaptation from different articles. Questions of work life balance used in desertion of Chaney (2007) which is written to fulfill the requirement for the degree of doctor of Education Alpha thornback reliability is 0.78. Questions of time management were used in thesis of Vander hall (1995) which was submitted in partial fulfillment of the re quitrent for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Alpha thornback reliability was 0.7. Absenteeism questions were used by Lishchinsky and Risenblatt (2008). Cronbachs Alpha Reliability is 0.75. In order to make this study, 150 questionnaires were floated in vision pharmaceutical company. 113 filled questionnaires are understood reasonable to make this study. A questionnaire which is used in this study consists of purpose of this study. There are two part in questioners. First consists of demographics: gender, age, education, marital status, family size and income level. In this part likert scale was used. Second part consists of 24 objects to measure Work-life balance, Absenteeism and Time Management. 5 items were used to measure Work-Life Balance, 11 were used to measure Absenteeism and 8 for Time Management. All the items were supported with 5 point Liker scale ranging from 1. Strongly Disagree to 5. Strongly Agree. Cranachs Alpha values of each variable are mentioned in table. Theoretical framework Absenteeism Work-Life Balance Independent Variable Time management Dependent Variable In order to check the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, two hypotheses were developed. H1: Workers high rate of absence causes work-life unbalance. H2: Time management practice will lead to work-life balance. Data Analysis Demographical analysis shows that out of sample of 113, 85 are men and 18 are women. Due to womens lack interest to do job in Pakistani culture; womens length is less than men. Most of them are between 36-45 years old. Most of them are those who got Intermediate education. There are two specific questions that were used in questionnaire. These questions have most impact on work life balance. These are about marital status and monthly income. Descriptive statistics is used to determine the main features of the collected data in quantitative terms. It is used to examine the central tendency of the data in terms of mean, median, mode and standard deviation. All the items used in the instrument (questionnaire), were based on 5-point Liker scale therefore, the mean values greater than 3.00 for all the three variables. (Work life balance, Absenteeism and Time Management are showing the significant positive trend. The correlation analysis is used to find out the strength of the relationship between several variables. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). The regression analysis is used to determine the dependence of Work life balance upon the Independent variables i.e. Absenteeism and Time Management. The results showed that up to 0.49 of the variation in criterion variable (Work life balance) is explained by two of the predicting variables i.e. Absenteeism and Time Management. The values of coefficients of coefficients were found as 0.352 for absenteeism and 0.398 for time management. Hence, the results found that adjusted R Square of absenteeism is 0.116 and of time management is 0.151. Discussions and Findings Work life balance is a most important among employees. This is because that lack of work life balance practice causes the employees satisfaction. The main motive of this study was to check that what factors can determine the work life balance. Results show that all the selected elements affect the work life balance. The results of this study of employees of pharmaceutical company shows that if the employees absenteeism rate is less in company, work life balance can be achieved here. Time management practices determine the work life balance. Descriptive results shed light on the positive trend of each of the variables selected for the study. Time management also plays a major role. If a time management is being practiced in company, work life balance can be achieved here. Pharmaceutical sector is the most important sector in which time management practice can provide work life balance for employees. The research study has shown that most of the time management practitioners are influenced. Time management and Absenteeism are found having positive relationship. This study also validates this notion as if there is less absenteeism rate in company; work life balance can be attained in this company. Conclusion The research study has shown that independent variables that are Absenteeism and Time Management play a very important role in getting work life balance practices. Each independent variable influences dependent variable in this study. The human resources are the most important and most valuable assets in each and every organization. That is why the organizations want, try and struggle very well to make their workers satisfied. Satisfied employees would be able to make long term profitable relationship with company. This study was conducted to determine the factors that influence and have impact on work life balance. There are many factors available in this field that can be chose for this study. But only two factors were taken for this study. Due to having observation regarding to these two factors. The results show significant relation among independent and dependent variables. Time management has a positive and significant relation to work life balance. It means that if time management practices were being practiced in organization, then their employees can have work life balance practices. This practice will lead to enhance organizations performance. Similarly second independent variable is time management. It has positive impact on work life balance. It means that if absenteeism rate is high, it will lead to work life unbalance. It will create troubleness among employees work life balance. There is significant effect of absenteeism on work life balance. If there is high absenteeism rate in organizations, it will cause work life unbalance. The employees cannot manage their work life balance activities.

Ernest Hemingways Code Hero in For Who The Bell Tolls and A Farewell T

Ernest Hemingway's Code Hero in For Who The Bell Tolls and A Farewell To Arms They were American innocents negotiating the river of life wherever it took them: to Italy, to Spain, to Africa, to the Caribbean, wounded men laughing through the pain, sometimes risking their skins but never sacrificing their honor. It was a river into which countless writers would thrust their paddles.(Papa) Ernest Hemingway is arguably one of the most important writers in American history. Though this is disputed, Hemingway has undoubtedly had a major influence on contemporary American literature. One aspect of Hemingway's famous writing that shines in almost all of his works is the hero. Hemingway created the famous Hemingway code by which all of his heroes, often called code heroes, lived. One critic asserted that, 'Hemingway invented more than a style he invented the Hemingway hero.' (Papa) Hemingway attempted to live by this code but did not enjoy the success of his fictional characters. In fact, critic Joseph DeFalco states, 'The type of hero that can accomplish such a feat [living up to the Hemingway code] is rare in any area of life.' (195) The code hero was not rare, however, in Hemingway writing. Robert Jordan in For Whom The Bell Tolls and Frederic Henry in A Farewell To Arms are perfect examples of the Hemingway code hero. The Hemingway code is, ?a grace under pressure. It is made of the controls of honor and courage which in a life of tension and pain make a man a man and distinguish him from the people who follow random impulses.? (Young 63) Additionally, this ?grace under pressure? can be expressed as, ?an ability to be in difficult situations without succumbing to either panic, enthusiasm, or indifference, is the hall... ...back Fiction, 1929. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls. New York: Scribner Paperback Fiction, 1940. Molesworth, Charles. ?Hemingway?s Code: The Spanish Civil War and World Power.? Blowing the Bridge. Ed. Rena Sanderson. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1992. 83-97. Norton, Charles A. ?The Alcoholic Content of A Farewell to Arms.? Hemingway in Italy and Other Essays. Ed. Robert W. Lewis. New York: Praeger Publishing, 1990. 309-313. ?Papa and All His Children,? U.S. News & World Report: 1 Jun. 1998, Vol. 124: Issue 2. Mas Full Text Premiere. Rehberger, Dean. ?I Don?t Know Buffalo Bill?s; or Hemingway and the Rhetoric of the Western .? Blowing the Bridge. Ed. Rena Sanderson. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1992. 159-184. Young, Phillip. Ernest Hemingway: A Reconsideration. University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1966.

Educational Philosophies Essay -- Philosophy Education Psychology Essa

Educational Philosophies Many different ideas of the correct educational philosophy exist. Highly acclaimed psychologists and educators developed these varying philosophies. Each of these philosophies have their strengths and weaknesses and have their positives and negatives in different situations. It is our job as educators to sift through this list of philosophies to find our own style and philosophy. We must research the pros and cons of each philosophy and pick and choose which sections of each idea to take out and make our own. Our job is also to familiarize ourselves with the philosophies that we do not agree with. So that we have a clear picture in our minds of what we want and do not want as part of our educational thinking and to have the knowledge to back up these opinions. After reading through different writings on each of these philosophies, I have begun to take on the task of sorting out which I choose to support and which I strongly oppose. Once having a clear idea of which philosophies appeal to me and which do not, I hope to have the groundwork laid to then analyze the philosophies and take from them what I need to develop my own personal philosophy. Sometimes to find out what you are or what you find true, you must first learn what you are not and what you do not find as truth. Therefore, in beginning my search for my own personal philosophy, I began with ruling out the philosophies that I am strongly opposed to. These philosophies are perennialism and behaviorism. Perennialism is a very conservative and inflexible philosophy of education. It is based on the view that reality comes from fundamental fixed truths-especially related to God. It believes that people find truth through reasoning and revelation and that goodness is found in rational thinking. As a result, schools exist to teach reason and God’s will. Students are taught to reason through structured lessons and drills. The teacher’s role is a fountain of knowledge, put in place to regurgitate the wisdom of the past and pass it down to the next generation. To begin with, I find this philosophy extremely outdated since church and state have been separated for quite some time now. Perenialism leaves no room for progression, which seems to be it’s objective. Students in these schools do not learn to think independently. They do not learn creativity or how... ...personal satisfaction. I most identify with this philosophy and strongly agree with the majority of its principles. As stated above, the most important lesson a teacher can teach a child is the importance of learning, the enjoyment of learning and how to learn. Above all, this is the most important lesson. I agree that students are self-motivated if the desire to know something. The job of the teacher is to make the student want to learn, not make the student learn. I agree that self-evaluation and self satisfaction should weigh above grades. Grades should be a measure more for the teacher, not the student. The humanistic philosophy can be effectively applied to literacy mainly with its ideas of choice and desire. Students will be more inclined to write to their best ability and read at a high level if they are the ones choosing the topic to write on or the book to be reading. Humanism parallels with my strongest conviction of teacher and once again I will repeat what I have repeated throughout this entire paper. The goal of literacy learning is to instill a love of reading and writing within them and to give them the tools to continue with that love.

The Hero And The Crown Part One Chapter 1

To Terri The Hero and the Crown takes place some considerable span of years before the time of The Blue Sword. There are a few fairly dramatic topographical differences between the Damar of Aerin's day and that of Harry's. Part One Chapter 1 SHE COULD NOT REMEMBER a time when she had not known the story; she had grown up knowing it. She supposed someone must have told her it, sometime, but she could not remember the telling. She was beyond having to blink back tears when she thought of those things the story explained, but when she was feeling smaller and shabbier than usual in the large vivid City high in the Damarian Hills she still found herself brooding about them; and brooding sometimes brought on a tight headachy feeling around her temples, a feeling like suppressed tears. She brooded, looking out over the wide low sill of the stone window-frame; she looked up, into the Hills, because the glassy surface of the courtyard was too bright at midday to stare at long. Her mind ran down an old familiar track: Who might have told her the story? It wouldn't have been her father who told her, for he had rarely spoken more than a few words together to her when she was younger; his slow kind smiles and slightly preoccupied air had been the most she knew of him. She had always known that he was fond of her, which was something; but she had only recently begun to come into focus for him, and that, as he had told her himself, in an unexpected fashion. He had the best – the only – right to have told her the story of her birth, but he would not have done so. Nor would it have been the hafor, the folk of the household; they were polite to her always, in their wary way, and reserved, and spoke to her only about household details. It surprised her that they still remembered to be wary, for she had long since proven that she possessed nothing to be wary about. Royal children were usually somewhat alarming to be in daily contact with, for their Gifts often erupted in abrupt and unexpected ways. It was a little surprising, even, that the hafor still bothered to treat her with respect, for the fact that she was her father's daughter was supported by nothing but the fact that her father's wife had borne her. But then, for all that was said about her mother, no one ever suggested that she was not an honest wife. And she would not have run and told tales on any of the hafor who slighted her, as Galanna would – and regularly did, even though everyone treated her with the greatest deference humanly possible. Galanna's Gift, it was dryly said, was to be impossible to please. But perhaps from the hafor's viewpoint it was not worth the risk to discover any points of similarity or dissimilarity between herself and Galanna; and a life of service in a household that included Galanna doubtless rendered anyone who withstood it automatically wary and respectful of anything that moved. She smiled. She could see the wind stir the treetops, for the surface of the Hills seemed to ripple beneath the blue sky; the breeze, when it slid through her window, smelled of leaves. It might very well have been Galanna who told her the story, come to that. It would be like her; and Galanna had always hated her – still did, for all that she was grown now, and married besides, to Perlith, who was a second sola of Damar. The only higher ranks were first sola and king; but Galanna had hoped to marry Tor, who was first sola and would someday be king. It was no matter that Tor would not have had Galanna if she had been the only royal maiden available – â€Å"I'd run off into the Hills and be a bandit first,† a much younger Tor had told his very young cousin, who had gone off in fits of giggles at the idea of Tor wearing rags and a blue headband and dancing for luck under each quarter of the moon. Tor, who at the time had been stiff with terror at Galanna's very determined attempts to ensnare him, had relaxed enough to grin and tell her she had no proper respect and was a shameless hoyden. â€Å"Yes,† she said unrepentantly. Tor, for whateve r reasons, was rather over-formal with everyone but her; but being first sola to a solemn, twice-widowed king of a land with a shadow over it might have had that effect on a far more frivolous young man than Tor. She suspected that he was as grateful for her existence as she was for his; one of her earliest memories was riding in a baby-sack over Tor's shoulders while he galloped his horse over a series of hurdles; she had screamed with delight and wound her tiny hands in his thick black hair. Teka, later, had been furious; but Tor, who usually took any accusation of the slightest dereliction of duty with white lips and a set face, had only laughed. But whenever she decided that it must have been Galanna who first told her the story, she found she couldn't believe it of her after all. Having told it for spite and malice, yes; but the story itself had too much sad grandeur. But perhaps she only felt that way because it was about her mother; perhaps she had changed it in her own mind, made a tragedy of nothing but sour gossip. But that Galanna would deliberately spend enough time in her company to tell her the story was out of character; Galanna preferred whenever possible to look vaguely over the head of the least of her cousins, with an expression on her face indicating that there was a dead fly on the windowsill and why hadn't the hafor swept it away? When Galanna was startled into speaking to her at all, it was usually from a motive of immediate vengeance. The tale of Arlbeth's second wife would be too roundabout for her purposes. Still, that it had been one of the cousins was the best guess. Not Tor, of course. One of the oth ers. She leaned out of the window and looked down. It was hard to recognize people from the tops of their heads, several stories up. Except Tor; she always knew him, even if all she had to go on was an elbow extending an inch or two beyond a doorframe. This below her now was probably Perlith: that self-satisfied walk was distinctive even from above, and the way three of the hafor, dressed in fine livery, trailed behind him for no purpose but to lend to their master's importance by their presence pretty well assured it. Tor went about alone, when he could; he told her, grimly, that he had enough of company during the course of his duties as first sola, and the last thing he wanted was an unofficial entourage for any gaps in the official ones. And she'd like to see her father pulling velvet-covered flunkeys in his wake, like a child with a toy on a string. Perlith's head spoke to another dark head, the hafor waiting respectfully several arms1 length distant; then someone on a horse – she could not distinguish voices but she heard the click of hoofs – emerged from around a corner. The rider wore the livery of a messenger, and the cut of his saddle said he came from the west. Both heads turned toward him and tipped up, so she could see the pale blur of their faces as they spoke to him. Then the horseman cantered off, the horse placing its feet very delicately, for it was dangerous to go too quickly across the courtyard; and Perlith and the other man, and Perlith's entourage, disappeared from her view. She didn't have to hear what they said to each other to know what was going on; but the knowledge gave her no pleasure, for it had already brought her both shame and bitter disappointment. It was either the shame or the disappointment that kept her mewed up in her rooms, alone, now. She had hardly seen her father or Tor for the week past as they wrestled with messages and messengers, as they tried to slow down whatever it was that would happen anyway, while they tried to decide what to do when it had happened. The western barons – the fourth solas – were making trouble. The rumor was that someone from the North, either human or human enough to look it, had carried a bit of demon-mischief south across the Border and let it loose at the barons' council in the spring. Nyrlol was the chief of the council for no better reason than that his father had been chief; but his father had been a better and a wiser man. Nyrlol was not known for intelligence, and he was known for a short and violent temper: the perfect target for demon-mischief. Nyrlol's father would have recognized it for what it was. But Nyrlol had not recognized anything; it had simply seemed like a wonderful idea to secede from Damar and the rule of Damar's King Arlbeth and Tor-sola, and set himself up as King Nyrlol; and to slap a new tax on his farmers to support the raising of an army, eventually to take the rest of Damar away from Arlbeth and Tor, who didn't run it as well as he could. He managed to convince several of his fellow barons (demon-mischief, once it has infected one human being, will usually then spread like a plague) of the brilliance of his plan, while the mischief muddled their wits. There had been a further rumor, much fainter, that Nyrlol had, with his wonderful idea, suddenly developed a mesmerizing ability to sway those who heard him speak; and this rumor was a much more worrying one, for, if true, the demon-mischief was very strong indeed. Arlbeth had chosen to pay no attention to the second rumor; or rather to pay only enough attention to it to discount it, that none of his folk might think he shunned it from fear. But he did declare that the trouble was enough that he must attend to it personally; and with him would go Tor, and a substantial portion of the army, and almost as substantial a portion of the court, with all its velvets and jewels brought along for a fine grand show of courtesy, to pretend to disguise the army at its back. But both sides would know that the army was an army, and the show only a show. What Arlbeth planned to do was both difficult and dangerous, for he wished to prevent a civil war, not provoke one. He would choose those to go with him with the greatest care and caution. â€Å"But you're taking Perlith?† she'd asked Tor disbelievingly, when she met him by chance one day, out behind the barns, where she could let her disbelief show. Tor grimaced. â€Å"I know Perlith isn't a very worthwhile human being, but he's actually pretty effective at this sort of thing – because he's such a good liar, you know, and because he can say the most appalling things in the most gracious manner.† No women rode in Arlbeth's army. A few of the bolder wives might be permitted to go with their husbands, those who could ride and had been trained in cavalry drill; and those who could be trusted to smile even at Nyrlol (depending on how the negotiations went), and curtsy to him as befitted his rank as fourth sola, and even dance with him if he should ask. But it was expected that no wife would go unless her husband asked her, and no husband would ask unless he had asked the king first. Galanna would certainly not go, even if Perlith had been willing to go to the trouble of obtaining leave from Arlbeth (which would probably not have been granted). Fortunately for the peace of all concerned, Galanna had no interest in going; anything resembling hardship did not appeal to her in the least, and she was sure that nothing in the barbaric west could possibly be worth her time and beauty. A king's daughter might go too; a king's daughter who had, perhaps, proved herself in some small ways; who had learned to keep her mouth shut, and to smile on cue; a king's daughter who happened to be the king's only child. She had known they would not let her; she had known that Arlbeth would not dare give his permission even had he wanted to, and she did not know if he had wanted to. But he could not dare take the witch woman's daughter to confront the workings of demon-mischief; his people would never let him, and he too sorely needed his people's good will. But she could not help asking – any more, she supposed, than poor stupid Nyrlol could help going mad when the demon-mischief bit him. She had tried to choose her time, but her father and Tor had been so busy lately that she had had to watt, and wait again, till her time was almost gone. After dinner last night she had finally asked; and she had come up here to her rooms afterward and had not come out again. â€Å"Father.† Her voice had gone high on her, as it would do when she was afraid. The other women, and the lesser court members, had already left the long hall; Arlbeth and Tor and a few of the cousins, Perlith among them, were preparing for another weary evening of discussion on Nyrlol's folly. They paused and all of them turned and looked at her, and she wished there were not so many of them. She swallowed. She had decided against asking her father late, in his own rooms, where she could be sure to find him alone, because she was afraid he would only be kind to her and not take her seriously. If she was to be shamed – and she knew, or she told herself she knew, that she would be refused – at least let him see how much it meant to her, that she should ask and be refused with others looking on. Arlbeth turned to her with his slow smile, but it was slower and less of it reached his eyes than usual. He did not say, â€Å"Be quick, I am busy,† as he might have done – and small blame to him if he had, she thought forlornly. â€Å"You ride west – soon? To treat with Nyrlol?† She could feel Tor's eyes on her, but she kept her own eyes fixed on her father. â€Å"Treat?† said her father. â€Å"If we go, we go with an army to witness the treaty.† A little of the smile crept into his eyes after all. â€Å"You are picking up courtly language, my dear. Yes, we go to ‘treat' with Nyrlol.† Tor said: â€Å"We have some hope of catching the mischief-one did not say demon aloud if one could help it – â€Å"and bottling it up, and sending it back where it came from. Even now we have that hope. It won't stop the trouble, but it will stop it getting worse. If Nyrlol isn't being pricked and pinched by it, he may subside into the subtle and charming Nyrlol we all know and revere.† Tor's mouth twisted up into a wry smile. She looked at him and her own mouth twitched at the corners. It was like Tor to answer her as if she were a real part of the court, even a member of the official deliberations, instead of an interruption and a disturbance. Tor might even have let her go with them; he wasn't old enough yet to care so much for his people's good opinion as Arlbeth did; and furthermore, Tor was stubborn. But it was not Tor's decision. She turned back to her father. â€Å"When you go – may I come with you?† Her voice was little more than a squeak, and she wished she were near a wall or a door she could lean on, instead of in the great empty middle of the dining-hall, with her knees trying to fold up under her like an hour-old foal's. The silence went suddenly tight, and the men she faced went rigid: or Arlbeth did, and those behind him, for she kept her face resolutely away from Tor. She thought that she could not bear it if her one loyal friend forsook her too; and she had never tried to discover the extent of Tor's stubbornness. Then the silence was broken by Perlith's high-pitched laughter. â€Å"Well, and what did you expect from letting her go as she would these last years? It's all very well to have her occupied and out from underfoot, but you should have thought the price you paid to be rid of her might prove a little high. What did you expect when our honored first sola gives her lessons in swordplay and she tears around on that three-legged horse like a peasant boy from the Hills, with never a gainsay but a scold from that old shrew that serves as her maid? Might you not have thought of the reckoning to come? She needed slaps, not encouragement, years ago – she needs a few slaps now, I think. Perhaps it is not too late.† â€Å"Enough.† Tor's voice, a growl. Her legs were trembling now so badly that she had to move her feet, shuffle in her place, to keep the joints locked to hold her up. She felt the blood mounting to her face at Perlith's words, but she would not let him drive her away without an answer. â€Å"Father?† â€Å"Father,† mimicked Perlith. â€Å"It's true a king's daughter might be of some use in facing what the North has sent us; a king's daughter who had true royal blood in her veins †¦.† Arlbeth, in a very unkinglike manner, reached out and grabbed Tor before anyone found out what the first sola's sudden move in Perlith's direction might result in. â€Å"Perlith, you betray the honor of the second sola's place in speaking thus.† Tor said in a strangled voice, â€Å"He will apologize, or I'll give him a lesson in swordplay he will not like at all.† â€Å"Tor, don't be a – † she began, outraged, but the king's voice cut across hers. â€Å"Perlith, there is justice in the first sola's demand.† There was a long pause while she hated everyone impartially: Tor for behaving like a farmer's son whose pet chicken has just been insulted; her father, for being so immovably kingly; and Perlith for being Perlith. This was even worse than she had anticipated; at this point she would be grateful just for escape, but it was too late. Perlith said at last, â€Å"I apologize, Aerin-sol. For speaking the truth,† he added venomously, and turned on his heel and strode across the hall. At the doorway he paused and turned to shout back at them: â€Å"Go slay a dragon, lady! Lady Aerin, Dragon-Killer!† The silence resettled itself about them, and she could no longer even raise her eyes to her father's face. â€Å"Aerin – † Arlbeth began. The gentleness of his voice told her all she needed to know, and she turned away and walked toward the other end of the hall, opposite the door which Perlith had taken. She was conscious of the length of the way she had to take because Perlith had taken the shorter way, and she hated him all the more for it; she was conscious of all the eyes on her, and conscious of the fact that her legs still trembled, and that the line she walked was not a straight one. Her father did not call her back. Neither did Tor. As she reached the doorway at last, Perlith's words still rang in her ears: â€Å"A king's daughter who had true royal blood in her veins †¦ Lady Aerin, Dragon-Killer.† It was as though his words were hunting dogs who tracked her and nipped at her heels.