Parties
Nothing could hold her attention for long. Kel's mind constantly wandered, thoughts overlapping each other making her head ache. Being a server was always boring at these things, especially when you never had anything to say to those who sought you out. It seemed that this night was to be particularly tedious with the number of conservatives who tried to sway her from knighthood. Currently a blustering man in his thirties, Sir Ansil of Groten, was promoting to her the ways of a lady. In his mind this was all that these 'simple' women could do. You would think that these men would have better things to do than nag her like an old women. The conversation eerily reminded Kel of comments made by Joren after he had become a squire.
"Why do any of this?" he wanted to know. "It isn't at all needful. Did someone tell you that you had no chance to marry?"
Kel's hand jerked, smearing charcoal over her notes. She made a face, and rubbed it out.
Joren went on, "It's not true. You'd be a pretty thing, in the right clothes and after you'd lost some weight. After you stopped working so your arms are like a blacksmith's. You'd make a fine wife for one of those big fellows – Cleon, for instance. He seems fond of you. How about Lord Raoul? He can afford a wife. You could settle down and raise young giants…" he had said.
Finally Sir Ansil released her from his tedious comments, finding better sport in flattering some obviously silly young noble women. So, finally left to her own thoughts she wandered about the room.
Tonight she had shocked herself by gazing longingly at the couples around her; at the court ladies whose grace and beauty she could never claim. A wish was starting to form in her heart; one that she knew would never happen because she didn't fit in with the conventions of the nobility around her. Kel sighed. She would almost rather be getting fitted for her dress outfit again than walking around the Crystal Room. However, as Raoul's squire she must continue her rounds the pretty room, offering cups of mulled cider and grape juice.
All the squires present looked as bored as she felt. Even Prince Roald, the only one of them who didn't have to serve. He was standing beside his wife-to-be Princess Shinkokami, as handsome as ever. More and more Kel had found herself sighing over her friend, but quickly dismissed it as one of her fickle crushes; crushes that she felt as an up-an-coming knight she shouldn't be experiencing. At that moment Roald met her eyes and smiled, she could do nothing but return it and force her glance away. It was lucky that at that moment she was summoned by her Knight Master.
"My lord," Kel said bowing to him.
"Just thought you should know that I'm going to sneak out soon," Raoul informed her quietly.
Chuckling she raised an eyebrow to him, "Don't you mean try to sir?"
"I will be leaving this boring excuse of a party squire," he whispered forcefully.
"Bet you a gold noble that the queen catches you," she smirked.
"Done!" He whispered. "Bet you another noble that I can do it by the next bell."
"Well it seems I'm going to be getting some easy money this evening sir," she bowed and continued her round of the room.
Unwillingly Kel's eyes were once more drawn to Roald, 'Why do you always swoon over your closest friends!' she demanded of herself. For it was only just over the summer that Neal had stopped drawing her eye, and then there was his cousin Domitian who illuminated the weary days on the road with the Own. The sparkle in his blue eyes when he grinned at her never failed to make her stomach flip flop. But when she talked or just looked at Roald, she felt safe, at home; like anything was possible; her heart tightened and fire ran through her veins at the briefest touch. 'Am I really falling for him?' she wandered and sighed, 'I feel like one of those fickle court ladies, plus it's useless. He's betrothed, to one of my friends to.'
"Squires you may retire or join us," King Jonathan announced as the evening drew to a close.
"Sir Raoul I don't recall you being a squire," Queen Thayet commented as the large knight tried to enter the servants' entrance unnoticed. "You will stay until the last person leaves this room," she told him and all there knew it was a Royal command, not even Raoul would be silly enough to disobey.
"I just wanted to steal a last cup of grape juice your majesty," Raoul said quickly, trying to cover his escape attempt by swiping a cup from the closest squire, who happened to be Neal. Unfortunately he only carried wine and brandy. Raoul choked after gulping a mouthful of the brandy in his cup; he was not only renowned throughout the palace for avoiding every official event but also for not touching a drop of alcohol since his early days of knighthood.
"Nice one," Neal sniggered at the knight. "Saved yourself there."
"Hold your tongue Queenscove," Raoul warned. "Or you might lose it."
"Oh I can't have that! I love my tongue. It always is able to demonstrate my true genius and show…,"Neal's voice was cut off by a hand over his mouth.
"Has nothing taught you to keep your mouth shut?" Kel teased. "Your cousin is right you truly are a meathead. "Neal groaned at the detested nickname. "Now you owe me two gold nobles sir."
"Yes, yes; whatever…wait did you say Meathead?" Raoul laughed. "Suits you Nealan."
Neal rolled his eyes at the two of them, "Well seeing as you're determined to tell everyone about my cousin's hideously incorrect nickname for me; you, Keladry my dear friend, have to stay to the end to the party," he informed Kel and dragged her over to where Cleon was already talking to Roald and the Princess. Raoul waved goodbye grinning at her.
"Dear friend indeed," she grumbled under her breath as she poked her tongue out childishly in response to her knight master.
The conversation was strained and extremely polite when they reached the group. Whenever Shinkokami, elegant in a Tortallan-style gown of peach-coloured silk, spoke to Roald he would put a look of intense interest on his face and when he spoke, the princess leaned towards him offering him her attention. Cleon began to entertain everyone with his 'dashing' heroics all over the country, always seeming to end with his knight master, Kel's brother Inness of Mindelan, saving him from the claws of some wild animal or a mud hole; he had an allure for those apparently.
"I swear those two are going to have the politest marriage in the world," Neal whispered in her ear at one point.
Kel watched as Shinkokami smoothed the bronze silk fan in her lap and suspected that she was as bored as the rest, though it was hard to tell. Both Roald and Shinkokami were obviously thankful when the squires' duties had come to an end so that they could talk to people about their own age (apart from themselves of course). Yukimi, in a sky-blue kimono patterned with golden reeds joined them to save Shinkokami and Kel from Cleon's escapades.
"Your highnesses, Squires," Yuki said bowing to the Yamani style. "Could I please steal the attentions of the two ladies present?" He eyes crinkling in amusement at Kel's look of relief. She was afraid that she would soon be one of the characters in Cleon's stories.
From the first day of midwinter Cleon had been stealing kisses from her. Not sure how she felt about this she tried to keep an eye out for him so that he could be avoided, but to no avail. He always managed to turn up at the most unsuspecting moments where she would have her arms full or was so distracted that she didn't notice him until it was too late. She didn't mind the kisses but was unsure whether she liked his attentions and for the first time was consciously uncomfortable around her friend.
"Oh you can't take the shimmering mirage of delight from our side!" Cleon cried dramatically, grabbing Kel around the waist and holding her to him. "We would not survive without her shining maternal guidance."
"I'm also sure you wouldn't survive as a eunuch Cleon if you don't let me go," Kel warned dryly.
Roald laughed at this, "You'd better heed the lady's words my friend." Clapping Cleon's shoulder he deftly removed his companion's arm from about Kel. "You should know better."
"Yes she may have no bark to speak of but her bite is ferocious," Neal said eyes twinkling. "I should know from personal experience."
"I'm sure no one wants a visit to the practice courts in the morning," Kel said in amusement.
"Please my lady, don't torture us poor mortal men so!" Cleon laughed, and as he turned slightly so no one could see him pinch her bottom. Kel glared at him and took the offending hand, pinching the tender skin between the thumb and fore finger; he yelped. "The lady bites again," he murmured for her ears only.
"I'd stop it Cleon. It's no longer amusing." Kel whispered coldly.
It was lucky for him that Sir Inness signaled to him at that moment that it was time for them to retire, "And alas my friends I must depart. Your highnesses, Lady Yukimi, Nealan, my lady," he said bowing to Kel. "If I don't return by dawn, wear my handkerchief beside your heart for ever." He disappeared into the clump of guests, following his knight master.
"Has he kissed you for Midwinter luck yet?" Neal drawled in her ear.
"Did Princess Kalasin ask for a dance at the ball tomorrow night?" Kel retorted to Neal. "Cleon doesn't mean that stuff. He's just practicing." She said unconvincingly. Changing the subject she turned to Yukimi. "You wanted to talk to us?"
"Just a little girl talk is all," Yuki replied. "It was nothing important."
"Well we gentlemen would be glad to allow you the freedom to converse privately," Neal said gallantly. "If you beautiful ladies would please excuse his highness and I?"
"Go away already," Kel smirked at her friend. She saw that his eyes only questioned Yuki, but it was an entirely different one all together.
"I shall see you tomorrow evening?" Roald asked his betrothed.
"Of course," Shinkokami replied, polite as ever. Bowing Neal and Roald made their way to the remaining food.