Dear Diary-journal! I meant journal. (Why is my hand compelled to write things like this?)
I got diary-journal, (Why is it so hard to write journal?) from a man in the King's Own today. I could have sworn it was a faint white while he gave it to me. Ugh. He probably spelled this so that I would be compelled to write all my feelings in it. Don't tell Jon, Alanna, Gary or anyone else I spent my page hood with. They are so going to give me a hard time about it.
Now, I have a message for you, the person reading this. If you had the nerve to come into my tent while I was going riding or something, (That means you, Dom) then I will personally find out and kill you. I am the commander, and I can do whatever I want. (Although Jon told me I can't kill more then three people a month. Sigh.)
Today, I went looking at the palace. Jon had called me on important business.
I remember walking up to his door. "Jon?" I called. "You asked for me."
"Come in." He said in his usual tone. Nothing seemed wrong from the sound of his voice, usually, when we dealt with Scanrans, his voice would get all grave, so I hoped for the best.
I walked in and mentally groaned. Alanna was sitting right in there, looking red and flustered, like her and Jon had an argument. "Alanna, what did you do now?" I cried and she glared at me. "You'll hear from the King soon enough."
Jon shook his head. "She's just angry that she can't be knight master-" Alanna coughed. "Excuse me, knight mistress, to Keladry to Mindelan." Alanna stood. "I mean, it's not fair. She's had to spend four years as a page surrounded by boys." Jon shook his head. "Alanna, you know that that won't be possible. If you didn't have the gift, then maybe I could make something work."
Alanna grumbled as Jon said, "Raoul, I would like to make a deal. Alanna here promised to kill me in the most horrible way possible on the practice courts if I didn't do something." Jon leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "She probably means it. We both know her." I nodded, knowing Alanna's temper.
Jon leaned back into his chair once more, and tugged at the collar of his shirt. "To keep my head attached to my neck, I propose a deal. Raoul, I would like you to be knight master to Keladry of Mindelan, and Alanna, you can be knight mistress to her best friend, Nealan of Queenscove."
We both protested. "Jon, I haven't taken a squire for a while now!"
"I can't take her best friend! Then, she'll feel like her best friend gets all the special attention or whatever."
Jon sighed. "This will work, I promise."
"Jon-"
"I command you both to stop this at once. We have more important matters to discuss." He said with a look at Alanna.
"You started it." She muttered under her breath, pouting and not looking up.
I sighed. "Alanna, Jon, what happened now?"
Jon quickly explained. "Alanna decided that she was going to wear breeches and a tunic to the ball a few nights ago." He said with a glare to Alanna, who shrugged. "Dresses and corsets are uncomfortable." She explained.
"So?" I prodded, not really finding anything wrong with that situation.
"Looking like a knight, she got unsuspecting court ladies to dance with her. Then, she, erm, managed to seduce them, which I'm not sure is possible." Jon said.
I raised an eyebrow at Alanna. "It's like old times." She grumbled. "I hate dances, Jon."
"When the ladies found out, I was in some very hot water."
"So?" Alanna questioned.
"Alanna, can't you understand that you are the King's Champion and have to look and be presentable." He complained.
Alanna shrugged again. "That's your problem, not mine."
"Alanna-" But she had already walked out the door.
"Jon, I better be going too. Gotta go check out some squires."
Jon put his head in his hands. "Fine. Remember Keladry of Mindelan."
I stifled a smile. Knowing Jon, he would probably explode the next time he saw Alanna. I will have to make note not to get involved in this.
I walked down the palace halls, looking for Keladry. A boy stepped out of his room in the hallway I was in and bowed at first sight of me.
"My Lord Raoul of Goldenlake." He said crisply with a bow. "I am Joren of Stone Mountain."
I returned the smile and my first thought was, Wow. What a beautiful boy- Wait Raoul, don't think those kind of things! And I shook off the thought.
"What can I do for you, Squire Joren?"
"Nothing sir. I would just like to tell you something, though."
"Hmm?"
"If you plan on having a squire, don't pick Keladry of Mindelan. Believe me, she isn't worth it sir."
I tried to hid my startled look. "I will take your advice, Squire Joren."
He bowed. "Thank you, my Lord." Joren walked quickly out of the hallway, and I walked in the opposite direction.
Perhaps he doesn't like Keladry. Oh well, I will have to see for myself.
Memories of Keladry came back to me then, at that moment while I was in the hallway of the palace.
The spindren hunt. Her sparrows taking the lead.
Seeing her joust.
Her overly big gelding, who looks as if he wants to kill her best friend.
The way she serves at Midwinter.
The way that she is the only girl.
The girl.
From the Yamani Islands.
It all hit me now. I couldn't remember a thing about her, but when I stood in those hallways, it all returned.
I walked outside to see Squire Keladry practicing on her gelding. I stood by the fence and watched. She didn't notice until I said, "Looks like you're getting pretty good at it."
She turned at me, startled. "Thank you, my Lord." Keladry managed to gasp out. I smiled.
"I don't think I could of managed that on that horse of yours. What's his name, Peach, or something?"
She smiled. "Peachblossom, my Lord."
"Right. Peachblossom the Destroyer." That got a laugh from her. "Keladry-"
"My Lord, please call me Kel."
"Kel, I know this is sudden, but would you like to be my squire?"
She looked at me with genuine spark. What if someone already asked her? I almost freaked out, but she said, "I would be honored to." Kel slid off her horse, and grabbed the bridle, walking to the stables.
"Meet me here, tomorrow!" I called after her and I could barely see her head bob.
So that's done. Maybe I should go ask Alanna about her punishment.
I thought, but decided that that could wait for a later time.
So here I am, writing in this diary-journal. (I honestly think that it's spelled so that I say 'diary'. Wait-doesn't Dom have the Gift?)
Raoul
A/N: I'm probably going to have it be short diary-journal, (now it happens to me! Dom!) entries about what Raoul is thinking about when he gets Kel for a squire and everything that happens.
