Disclaimer: I don't own anything by Tamora Pierce. The new characters are copyright by me!

A/N: This is supposed to come after the Protector of the Small books…but there might be mixed info cause I'm currently reading book 4 of Song of the Lioness, and I just finished book 2of the Immortals, so hey cut me slack. Yes, I know that in the epilogue of "Lady Knight" it says they go back to Tortall and people get married. Let me put it this way. They're going back again. Raoul and Buri are married etc. but they are returning again. I'm changing that, so deal. R&R!

Kel Takes on a Squire

Kel waved goodbye to her people – the people of Haven. They had begun work on New Haven as they liked to call it. Kel smiled.

"Lady, we should be moving." Kel turned to see Dom appear with his squad. Kel, mounted on her horse Hoshi, a gift from Raoul, rode over to him and shook hands. Her faithful servant Tobe, rode at her side, mounted on Peachblossom, her other, temperamental horse. Kel waved one last time.

"G'bye Lady!" she heard someone yell. She turned to see Fanche waving furiously. The tough woman had finally expressed her gratitude in a more pleasant way, in stead of the grudging remarks Kel was used to. Kel grinned. Lord Wyldon galloped beside her, his face grim.

"We must be going Lady Kel. You are to have your own home near the palace. Raoul will see to it."

"Thank you, m'lord." The troupe galloped away. Tobe looked in a solemn mood.

"What is it, Tobe?" asked Kel. She hoped her young friend was alright – he had seen a lot in the past months. She hoped the kraken hadn't had too much of an affect on him. He sighed.

"It's really nuthin' m'lady. Jus' thinkin' really." Kel frowned.

"What are you thinking about."

"Aww, nuthin' much. Jus' that I feel kinda lonesome without my friends." Kel sighed.

"Do you want to stay with them?" she asked him quietly. He shook his head.

"Naw. You need me m'lady, beggin' your pardon." Kel grinned.

"No, Tobe you're probably right." It would be good to have the company, and she had to admit, Tobe was helpful.

"If ya don't mind me askin', where're we goin'?"

"Back to the palace."

"Why?"

"Because, we're going to look over the new squires," she said happily. Tobe's face became expressionless. From his months of working for Kel, he had learned to imitate her expressionless Yamani face. If she takes a squire, where will that put me? he wondered forlornly.

Presently, Kel turned to see her former knight-master Raoul trotting up to her on his horse. He smiled at Kel.

"So, your destination is the palace? For a squire of your own and your own residence?" Kel nodded.

"Will you chose another squire?" she asked him curiously. He shrugged.

"Possibly. Although, I would probably expect them to live up to your standards, and that could prove difficult." Kel laughed as he tousled her hair.

"D-do you think that any squire would want…well…a lady knight for their knight-master?" Raoul sighed.

"Most girls probably will, I'm sure most of the boys wouldn't mind…" he looked at Kel. If there was anything that Kel had learned about him from her time as his squire was he was patient and honest. He sighed again. "Kel, there will be some who will say no if you ask them, so be prepared for that, if it happens. It's nothing against you; it's just how they were raised to think." He looked at Kel, searching for signs of regret or sadness. He grinned. The face he knew so well remained expressionless. Tobe, feeling uncomfortable with the awkward silence began to whistle softly.

"TORTALL!" came a yell from the front of the patrol. Kel looked up to see the palace standing tall before her. The sun was high in the sky, reflecting off of the lake. The grass was bright green. Memories came flooding back to Kel. Her dream of becoming a famous knight like Alanna the Lioness had come true. She smiled as she rode with her friends to meet King Jonathan and Queen Thayet.

Kel flopped down on her bed after a long afternoon. Her head whirred with congratulations and thanks. She sighed.

"We had better get to rest, Tobe." She turned to see Tobe tending to the sparrows, Jump, and her adopted cat-friend. She didn't know his name yet, and expected to consult the castle wild mage Daine, who had a way of conversing with animals. Once Tobe was done with them, Jump, the gray-and-orange cat and the sparrows fell asleep.

"Yes m'lady," he answered finally. Kel saw a flash of sadness in her companion's eyes.

"Tobe, what's troubling you now?" she asked him as she began to unpack.

"There ain't nuthin botherin' me."

"If there 'ain't nothing' than what is the something?" Tobe scowled. He never liked to lie, and had thought he could trick his mistress. His months of grammar lessons that had seemed to be in vain had almost provided some use for him.

"It's nothin' important."

"It's important to me," she said sincerely. He looked at her curiously.

"Really?"

"Really." She smiled.

"Well, ya see; with you gettin' a squire 'n all, well, I wasn't sure…w-what I could do," he finished lamely. Kel frowned.

"You'll have plenty to do, don't worry. Also, Daine wanted to take you as a student. She thinks you have some Wild Magic in you." Tobe brightened at this.

"Why didn'tcha tell me afore?" he asked excitedly.

"Well I wanted it to be a surprise…I'm sorry I made you sad." Tobe shrugged her apology off.

"Wait. How come I can't talk to the animals though?" He began to sulk.

"I'm no mage. Ask Daine," she replied simply.

"But when am I gonna go?"

"Tomorrow. Now let's get some sleep." Tobe smiled and got into the bed in the next room. Kel got into be herself. Jump lay at her feet and the sparrows dozed in different perches around the room. The green-eyed cat curled beside her purring loudly. I think I'm going to like being a knight she thought as she drifted off to sleep.

Okay, well that's done. This is kind of a lame chapter, but hey, I need to start somewhere. What do you think of Tobe's dialogue? Is the plotline making any sense? I would ask more, but that would take up the page.

WELL? R U GOING TO REVIEW OR WHAT???