Lady Keladry

By Elvensmith

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, settings, or main ideas. All credit goes to Tamora Pierce, author of "the Protector of the Small" quartet, on which this is based.

Keladry of Mindelan awoke, the sun blaring in her eyes, and cursed. Riding late into the night had rendered her too sleepy to wake at dawn. She'd promised her mother, Yuki and Shinko that she'd join them in glaive practices. Quickly, she dressed in simple breeches and a quilted shirt, fed the sparrows perched on the window sill and grabbed her glaive, a deadly souvenir from her years in the Yamani Islands and her favorite weapon, and rushed out to one of the various practice courts in the palace.

Ilane of Mindelan, Princess Shinkokami, and Yukimi stopped their efforts to look at the large young woman running down to meet them. Indeed, she was big for her age, with dreamy, hazel eyes, a firm, full mouth, and mouse brown hair cut to her earlobes and across her forehead. Her muscles fit snugly under her shirt, and her arms were scarred and callused from encounters with a baby griffin. Behind her trailed an ugly dog called Jump, whose triangular head sported to black little eyes and one ear that stood erect. Kel and her friends knew, however, that he was the meanest animal that one would ever hope to see in a battle.

Kel spun the glaive around in her fingers and joined Yukimi, who was a dear friend and betrothed to Kel's best friend Neal. She jumped into her practice stance and brought the weapon up to the guard position.

"I am glad you are back, Kel. We've missed you since you went North to fight those monsters," she said to Kel in Yamani as she cut at her waist.

Kel blocked swiftly, wincing as her muscles creaked, stiff from sleep. "I don't deserve to be missed. Anyway, you were probably thinking more about Neal then me."

Yuki crinkled her eyes to signify laughter, "Nonsense. We were very afraid for you when you ran away to save those of Haven. It was something only you would do, and we are all very grateful for it."

"If Blayce the Gallan hadn't been right there, I would've been content with retrieving my people," Kel retorted, always modest.

Yuki didn't reply to this and hanged the subject. "I am very excited for Raoul and Buri's wedding. It is strange that, after so many years of being alone and commanders of two of the Crown's greatest forces, they can still find someone," she said thoughtfully.

"You're still very young, though. When will you two get married, though?" Kel asked, having actually set Buri and her old knight master Raoul up, though unknowingly.

"Neal is still just starting his knighthood, though, just as you are. He needs time before he can really settle down in his duties. I am content simply to know that it will happen one day," Yuki smiled, obviously day-dreaming of her knight whilst she spoke.

"What is it you see in Neal?" Kel said, though she herself had had a crush on him while she was a page.

"There is nothing that is not charming about him to a cultured and tolerant woman, as I am," Yuki scoffed.

Kel giggled, returning the Yamani Lady's blow to the stomache after blocking it strongly. In her mind, she almost wished she herself could have a man whom she could defend. Her previous lover, Cleon of Kennan, had gotten married to benefit his fief which had recently sported severe flooding, and she had, to her shame, lost interest in him. Before that, she'd had a strong crush on Domitan of Masbolle, Neal's cousin and one of her good friends, which she'd never been entirely sure was gone.

"Still no one, then?" Yuki asked softly, seeing the expression on Kel's face change.

Kel put on her Yamani mask, envisioning herself as clear lake, and shook her head. "Nor do I want anyone. Men are much to confusing."

"Say what you will. You came in only yesterday, no? Then you have not seen your friends, have you?" Yuki panted slightly, bringing her glaive down to support herself on.

Kel brought hers down, too. "No. I was looking forward to see Dom. I was commanding his squad when we were going to Scanra last time I saw him. It'll be nice to talk to him without the heat of battle, you know?"

Yuki smiled knowingly and nodded. "Shall we go eat then? I am starved."

Kel followed the Yamani into the mess hall.

Note from the author: This is NOT the whole story, but merely chapter one. Nothing of Kel and Dom's romance has really been mentioned yet, but be PATIENT! I'm trying to ease in to it, okay? Please review, so I'll post more frequently. I hope it's written like Tamora Pierce would write it… ENJOY!