Kel carefully opened the door to her room, closed it gently behind her before striding across the floor and slamming her books down on the desk and slumping into the chair with her head in her hands. She was so sick of it. The whispers in the corridors. The glares at dinner while she was serving. Everyone thinking that she couldn't do it. What do they know about her? That she was the first known girl page in a century? But did they know that she would never give up?
Everybody's talking all this stuff about me,
why don't they just let me live,
I don't need permission,
Make my own decisions,
That's my prerogative.
All the rumours going around about her bedding every man in the palace. For Goddess sakes she was eleven! Didn't they understand that no matter what they said, she wasn't going to give up? Kel, even with her Yamani training, was finding it hard not to crack. But still, she wasn't going to leave. I'm going to show them that the Lioness wasn't a fluke, I'm going to be as good as the boys, better! With that thought in her mind she decided to go to the practice courts for a little extra practice.
It's the way I wanna live,
You can't tell me what to do.
She had just gotten her practice sword out and started a pattern dance, sort of like the way she did with her glaive, when she was shoved in the back by someone behind her. Knowing what to expect she turned to face Joren, showing no emotion having already hitched her Yamani mask in place. "I don't know why you bother, Lump", he sneered, "All women are good for is sewing, cooking and bedding." "That is one opinion, Joren, but there are others, I'm sure you've heard them." Kel replied coolly."Yeah, I've heard them and I've just come to prove them right, that girls are no good.I challenge you to a duel here and now." "And I accept, Joren."
Everybody's talking all this stuff about me,
Why don't they just let me live?
I don't need permission,
Made my own decisions,
That's my prerogative,Joren leaped at her, thrusting his practice sword towards her gut, but Kel easily dodged. She twirled around him as he kept moving forward from the momentum of his jump, and thrust at his back, but he was fast and turned in time to block her swing. They circled each other, waiting, until suddenly Joren moved in again, almost catching Kel, but not quite. And then Kel saw his weakness. He was over confident. He thought he had won already. Kel pretended to trip tilting to the left, and as he moved in, jumped onto one hand before handspring back onto her feet landing behind him. She placed her sword on the back of his neck, revelling in her victory.
Why can't I live my life,
Without all of the things ,
That people say
Oh oh
There was applause behind her and she looked around, startled. Standing there was most of the court that had been arriving over the last few days, in time for the Midwinter celebrations. At least a hundred lords and ladies and conservatives. How could she not have noticed them? You know you always get caught up when you're concentrating on something Kel, she thought to herself. A large man with an orange beard and hair stepped forward and said," Well Joren, a marvellous effort but I think praise must go to this young lady here, Keladry of Mindelan. Well done, girl Stone Mountain is a fine page, a fourth year even, and yet you beat him. You are obviously worthy of your training and I wish you good luck". The man then walked out of the courts followed by the other lords and ladies until finally she was alone again.
That's my prerogative.