Chapter 1 – Penance

Disclaimer - Tortall and its characters, etc. are the property of Tamora Pierce. For fun, not profit.


Joren blocked Zahir's thrust and returned the favour. Zahir, smirking, struck high. Again Joren blocked the strike with his staff. Before he could return the strike, Zahir struck again, hitting Joren in a place he had never thought the other boy would have the audacity to hit, at least not in their practice duels. As Joren recovered from the blow, Zahir struck again, just below his left knee. Regaining his balance, Joren looked up. As his senses registered that his opponent was no longer in front of him, Zahir struck him behind the knees and Joren fell to the floor. As he rose, Zahir sneered. "I win."

Joren inwardly groaned. Both boys were very competitive, and while Joren won more often than not, they were evenly matched. Joren arched an eyebrow at his friend. "Name my penance," he replied impatiently. The loser of their practice rounds had to do whatever task the winner instructed. Usually that meant doing a favour for the winner or making a fool of themselves in front of a lady. Sometimes though, it involved playing a trick on the Lump and her friends. Zahir watched him thoughtfully. "Tonight, Zahir," Joren prompted.

"Well Joren, I have a penance which I'm most certain you will enjoy," Zahir began. Joren looked at him warily. He was beginning to get a bad feeling about this. "You have to kiss a girl." Zahir looked at him expectantly.

Joren almost sighed with relief. "Yes, I'm sure I'll enjoy my penance," he drawled. "Who's the chit?"

Zahir smirked. "None other than Lady Keladry of Mindelan."

Joren's jaw dropped. "You want me to kiss the Lump?" The boy scowled. He'd been perfectly fine until heard 'Mindelan'.

"Yes, and a proper kiss, not just a peck on the cheek or anything. And I have to be witness to it." The look on Zahir's face was triumphant.

"You've been planning this, haven't you?" Joren accused.

"Whatever would make you think that?" Zahir replied, feigning innocence while barely containing his glee. He thought he had proved himself to be the better player, finally finding a task Joren would refuse. Well, he was wrong.

"I'll do it," he thought for a moment, "tomorrow, after morning practice in the stables. Make sure you can see into her monster's stall." With that, he stalked out of the practice courts.

Early the next morning Joren went to the stables. He'd had very little sleep the night before, mostly because of nightmares involving him kissing the Lump. Unfortunately, his predicament was real, so he decided to spend most of the morning riding in the forest. By the time he returned, the Pages' morning practice was over. He was heading towards the stables when Garvey appeared at his side and winked.

"I heard you lost yesterday. I'll take the horse, your Lump is waiting." With a malicious grin, Garvey lead their horses away. Turning back, Joren saw Neal nearby, eyeing him suspiciously. He almost groaned aloud. The last thing he needed was for the Lump's friends to find out. Everyone would know then, ruining his plans for the Lump's demise. He intended to keep this episode between the Lump, Zahir and himself, and Garvey and Vinson, seeing as Zahir had seen fit to tell them as well. Joren walked to the stables slowly, so that all the pages were in their horse's stalls by the time he reached them. Spotting Zahir, he raised an eyebrow in silent question. Zahir gave him a small nod. Drawing in a breath, he walked toward the arduous task ahead of him.

Kel lifted her head as the door to Peachblossom's stall opened. She smiled to herself, thinking of Neal. "I'm not done with Peachblossom yet Neal, I'll meet you at the mess hall."

"And what makes you think I'm Queenscove?" A voice behind her enquired, silkily.

If it hadn't been for her Yamani training, Kel would have jumped. "Joren," she said, a statement more than anything else. Her face was bland as she looked over at him. He smiled. It was a beautiful smile, she conceded, just like the rest of him, but she wasn't fooled. "What do you want?"

"I just thought to come by and say I saw you with the lance this morning. You were doing really well." Seeing the disbelief on Kel's face, he hastily added, "Isn't that what friends do?"

Kel was shocked. Joren, complimenting her? Reluctantly, she replied, "Thank you." She put Peachblossom's comb away. The gelding, who had been eyeing Joren suspiciously since he had come in, lunged at the boy as he moved closer to Kel. Turning, Kel saw Joren glare at the horse as he stepped out of reach. "You don't have to wait for me," she said as he tried again to move closer to her.

"I know." She looked up at him, realising too late what he was about to do. Warmth touched her lips, and she felt one strong arm snake around her neck, holding her head in place, while the other wound around her waist, pulling her to him. Surprised, she gasped against the kiss, her lips parting. Joren didn't wait for an invitation. Sliding his tongue inside her mouth he taunted and teased, until, finally, she responded in turn, hesitantly at first, but more confident as he encouraged her. Finally Joren broke away from the kiss, and with one final brush of his lips against hers, left the stables. Kel just stood there, completely perplexed.

Joren walked out of the stables feeling strangely satisfied. He had completed an impossible task, in a way Zahir never could have. As he reached his rooms, he made a mental note to thank Zahir. The kiss in the stables might even help his master plan along. He smiled to himself.

The Lump would never become a squire.

A/N - Thanks to Rubber Duck and Shattered Amethyst, for originally betaing this for me. Also, a big thank you to Treanz-Alyce for the giving this another beta and helping to tidy this dusty old fic up. :D