Matches

The Continued Adventures of Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan

This story is for all of us who just want to spent a little more time with these characters. We all have had ideas about what could happen next… Perhaps it happens like this…..

Prologue

He needed to convince them this had to stop. He needed it to stop. This mixing. They were different. They were dangerous. Why didn't everyone understand? They needed to be kept separate. He would make everyone understand that. He was too late to stop Prince Roald and Shinkokami's wedding, but he would find a way to end it; a way to keep the race separate, safe and pure. He set the sign, the symbol of the importance of separation, against a cairn marking the hut.

The roadside hut was burning. The people inside were screaming. They couldn't get out. He had made sure of that before he set the fire. The sound of the flames, the smell of the burning wood and bodies merged with a memory of the same. He wanted to show them the horror. Show them what happened when the others invaded the land that did not belong to them. He sat transfixed, his eyes on the fire in front of him. His mind was on a fire from long ago, started by men who looked different, who had come to his land from across the water and destroyed his world.

Return to Corus

"I think the hardest part will be meeting my parents' friends and the people who do business with the fief. As a group, they tend to have more conservative views and are not as open to marriages… like Yuki's and mine. Some people just aren't comfortable with things that are different." Neal considered out loud.

Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan managed an "uh huh" to avoid getting caught daydreaming. She and her friend and fellow knight Nealan of Queenscove had left the fortified town of New Hope early that morning. They had help found the town with refugees from Tortall's long war with Scanra, which had officially ended a year ago. Today, they were headed to Corus with an assorted group of others from New Hope who had business in the city. Kel glanced over at a crash in the underbrush to see Jump as he leapt from the cover alongside the road. Jump was her longtime companion, a dog, who had been with her since she was in training for her knighthood. Kel marveled at his energy and enthusiasm. He looked up at her and grinned his delight in the change of scenery. Kel herself was enjoying the road trip, the creak of her saddle, the motion of the horses. It had been a while since they all had traveled together. She rode Hoshi, her saddle mount and led Peachblossom, her war horse. She was going to be gone long enough that she wanted them both with her. The sparrows that often accompanied her had stayed at New Hope, busy with raising the spring chicks. Kel didn't think she'd need their help as scouts on this trip and if she did there was a flock in Corus she could talk to.

"How do you think Hildi will do while you're gone?" Kel asked. Hildi was one of the refugees who had started training as a healer, but had her training interrupted with the war. Neal had continued her training in the camp and she was doing well. She was part of the group that would run the hospital while Neal was gone.

"She doing really well with different treatments and techniques. She'll probably struggle with the more administrative side, deciding the priorities of patients, scheduling, making sure the clinic is stocked. Things like that. It's probably time for her to learn to balance." Neal answered.

"The new hospital looks great." Kel praised her friend.

Neal nodded. "The northern wood workers did a beautiful job as usual. They didn't rush at all. They created the spaces we needed with shelves and desks where they were most efficient. They also made much of the equipment so it could be easily moved where it is needed." Pride could be heard in his voice.

"Lord Wyldon even mentioned it in his last update." Kel continued. "It just came with the last mail delivery. He said the inspection team that came out hadn't seen better. They'd like to use your design in other places. Maybe that will be your next assignment, building new hospitals."

Neal looked over at her and nodded thoughtfully. "I would enjoy doing that, or at least teach others what we learned. I just need to get things in place with Yuki first."

"Yes," Kel teased. "I've seen that far away look in your eyes more and more lately. We need to get you two married so you can focus again."

Kel and Neal had been working at New Hope for the past year, Building, training townspeople for various jobs, setting up basic services like Neal's clinic and hospital along with a school, storage for food, a post office and basic security. A year after the main fighting had officially ceased, it was time for them and many other knights who were their friends and classmates to return to Corus, make reports and have meetings regarding their next assignment. The open options, the possibilities, were exciting but they also made Kel uneasy. During the war, there were few options for anyone. what needed to be done was dictated by the war and was usually quite clear. After years with the clear goal of defeating the Scanran army and reconstructing and resettling those displaced by the war, the warriors faced the challenge of peacetime.

They had received some news from Corus while they had been at New Hope. It had been a good season for the farmers and the draw down from the war meant there were enough people to help harvest and preserve the bounty. People also seemed relaxed enough to start stirring up their own trouble now that the common enemy had been vanquished. There had been a recent and particularly troubling rumor of bodies found burned in a roadside shelter. There had also been stories of highwaymen and arson. Kel was anxious to verify what was rumor and what was fact. The news of the trouble had vexed her. What was it about some people that made them seek out the next bit of trouble? Why was it hard for some to just enjoy peace?

At least it was more peace than war now, and with that peace also came the chance for those things that had been put off during the fighting. That's where Neal's mind was. Kel smiled at her longtime friend. The easing of wartime responsibilities allowed room for him to think about finally marrying his betrothed and beloved, Yukimi noh Daiomoru or Yuki as Kel called her. Yuki was also one of Kel's dear friends. Kel and Yuki had met while Kel's parents were serving as Tortall's ambassadors to the Yamani island. Years later, Yuki had come to Tortall as a lady in waiting for princess Shinkokami, who two years after her marriage to prince Roald was enjoying their first born, a son now just over a year old. Yuki continued as a lady in waiting for Shinkokami, handling much of her correspondence and organization of official responsibilities. Neal and Yuki had first acknowledge their mutual feelings for each other on the day Neal passed his Ordeal for knighthood and was awarded his shield as a knight of the realm. Yuki had waited anxiously with Kel for Neal to emerge from the Chamber of the Ordeal and Neal had searched the crowd for her when he staggered out. But the troubles with Scanra had caused many plans to be put on hold. The Scanran war escalated soon after that, so they had continued their courtship long distance.

Now that the war effort was drawing down and new assignments were being discussed, Neal was looking forward to the opportunity to spend time with Yuki and talk to his parents about picking a date for their wedding. He didn't anticipate any resistance from his father. Duke Baird was content to let his children follow their own paths. His mother, Wilina, was a bit of a different matter. When his older brothers died in service to the king, it put more focus on Neal as the heir to continue the family line. Even though his parent had consented to his proposal of marriage to Yuki, Neal wondered if he would have trouble with his mother now that the time had come for the wedding. Following traditional practice, it would be Neal's responsibility as the eldest son to take on the management of the family estate, Queenscove. That would involve interacting with many other fief owners and businessmen who may not be as open to interracial marriages. That was what was causing Neal's concern about his mother. Watching the way Neal was rehearsing his discussion with his mother and calculating her response reminded Kel she'd been told Neal had picked up his dramatic flair from his mother. It would likely be an interesting discussion.

"It's going to all work out just fine." Kel encouraged her friend and then she teased. "You'll see, you and Yuki will be happily married and awaiting your first child before you know it." At least the thought of being a father distracted Neal from worrying about his mother.

Home at Last

Kel, Neal and their caravan rode into town as the sun was approaching the horizon. People branched off at various points, leaving the pack horses and the string with their war horses and the supply officers with them. For this time of summer, as the solstice approached, that meant it was fairly late the day, but Kel could see Neal was restless and not ready to call it a night. She was not surprised when he announced, "I'd like to go see my parents tonight, they will be sitting down to dinner soon, I think I can catch them if… He trailed off. Kel smiled at her friend, "Go, before your brow creases in that position permanently! I'll take your horse to the stable and have your gear sent into town."

Neal barely glanced back as he called his thanks over his shoulder and trotted off on legs that were wobbly from being in the saddle for many hours.

The supply team took the pack animals and supplies to unload. Kel took Hoshi, Peachblossom, and Neal's horses to the stable. Walking up she noticed unusual activity in the area where official guests would disembark their mode of travel. She noticed banners from the Copper Isles among them. She had heard the king was planning discussions with Tortall's neighbors,Kel wondered if this was part of it. She walked on, too hungry to investigate now. In the part of the stable where the King's Own kept their horses, it was quiet, most people having wrapped up their work and headed to dinner. Kel took a deep breath, enjoying the familiar smells of Corus and the quiet of the evening. She was startled when there was movement at the end of the breezeway, Peachblossom went on alert, she tied up Hoshi and Neal's horses but walked with Peachblossom to the end of the row where Kel could see a figure in the darkness. It stepped forward as they moved closer and bowed.

"Please to help this lost visitor." A young, male voice implored. When he stepped out of the dark corner Kel saw a young man in his late twenties wearing the Yamani apparel of mid level administrator. He carried no visible weapons. "I arrived with the delegation." He started to gesture to indicate where the delegation was but stopped and looked in another direction as if he was unsure where the delegation was. "I came to admire stables." He paused "I became lost." He finally admitted, shamefaced. Kel's reaction swung the gamut from skeptical that a member of the Yamani delegation would have left the group to sympathetic to the young man's admission of being lost, mistakes were hard to own to in Yamani culture, which strive toward perfection.

"I am Kumatsu. I am assistant to the Yamani ambassador to Tortall. I am here to assist General Toru Midashi." He stated with another deep bow.

"I am Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan," Kel replied with a Yamani accent that was nearly native, and returned his bow. Kel though she saw a look of surprise on his face. she wasn't sure if it was because she was a knight or because she knew his language.

"Ah!" He exclaimed. "Daughter of most respected Ilane of Mindelan! I am very honored to meet you." Kel smiled inwardly that his surprise had less to do with her than her notable mother. Kel knew she may never achieve the celebrity her mother acheived when she defended Yamani treasures from raiders while she was an ambassador in the islands.

"Yes, I am Illane and Piers' daughter." She replied with Yamani calm. "May I return you to the delegation?" She asked.

"Yes, yes. He replied. I am thinking they will be missing me."

Kel put Peachblossom in a stall where he stamped and snorted irritably. Kel felt similar unease, she would be glad to get to a bath and a meal.

The general's assistant ran ahead of her when the remains of the delegation came into view. She trudged up to an assistant of King Jonathan's whom she recognized. "I found this young man in the stables, apparently lost."

"Thank you the slim tall young man replied. I was just going to send someone to search for him.

"How many people are here? Kel asked.

"Three Yamani military officers and their support staff, about 25 people total. Prince Eitaro and his wife also came. I guess they wanted to visit some of the friends they made when Prince Roald was married." The Yamani Prince Eitaro and his wife had attended Princess Shinkokami when she can come to marry Prince Roald.

"They will be housed in the Auld house with similar delegations from Scanra, Carthak and the Copper Isles. The formal discussions will begin in a couple of days. The king thinks having them living together will help the delegates get to know each other in a more personal, and hopefully productive way. Tortallan delegates will be staying there too. Lady Alana, General haMinch and a naval admiral I haven't met yet. Their families will be with them as well . The goal is to discuss ways to insure peace and stability in the region, to make sure the end of the war doesn't leave a vacuum to be filled with pirates or war lords." Kel raised her eyebrow at the ambition of the undertaking, and for the inclusion of Scanra in the discussions. The recent memory of the lives lost on both sides might make discussions hard.

"See you Kel, I've got to get to work." the efficient young man waved to Kel as he hurried off, directing the movement of servants and supplies to the Auld House. Auld house was part of the original castle. When the current structure was built, some of the original, or "old" buildings were renovated. The Auld house was a large one of those buildings with multiple wings, a full kitchen and servants quarters. It served to house visiting dignitaries in comfort and close the royal family, but with some privacy for both.

Kel squared her shoulders and went to see to Neal's horses, Hoshi and Peachblossom, still feeling vaguely unsettled. Had she expected that nothing would have changed since her last visit? Was she bothered by having Scanrans at the peace table? She sighed. She was tired. Maybe she just needed a bath and a meal. And a good night's sleep. She'd at least start with that.

Neal's Stand

Neal hadn't intended to burst into his parent townhouse with such energy, but from the startled expression on his parents faces, he had done just that. They were so glad to see him the intrusion was immediately forgotten in a flurry of dusty sweaty hugs.

"I'm so glad you are finally home!" his mother exclaimed, gesturing broadly with fluttering hands. "I've been at such a loss worrying about you!" She declared with pressing her palm to her chest, her face the picture of a mother tormented by concern.

Duke Baird watched on, bemused at the dramatics and quietly did his own assessment of his son. He saw the hard won maturity in Neal's face, the new creases on his forehead and the intense look in his eyes of a man on a mission. The Duke knew what was coming before the impulsive words were out of Neal's mouth.

"Mother, father, can we have the wedding now?"

If the Duke was prepared for the announcement, the duchess was caught completely off guard.

"Oh Neal, don't you want to wait a while." She fluttered her fingers in a gesture of vagueness. "Sometimes long distance, war time romances go cold in the light of daily life. Why don't we just wait a year or so and see?" She smiled up charmingly. "Let's go have some dinner, I think the cook always keeps the ingredients for your favorite dessert around," she pitched a ploy that had so often worked to distract Neal in the past. But this time, The resolute look on Neal's face was the look of a man in control of his own life. He drew himself up calmly and said firmly,

"I have come to tell you the engagement has been long enough. I am going to marry Yuki as soon as possible. We don't want to wait any longer to start our life together." He looked evenly at his mother.

"Would you like to be involved in the plans?" He finished with marked politeness and distant tone. Though it was softly thrown, it was clearly a gauntlet.

More than a year before, when he had told his parents he was going to ask Yuki to marry him, his mother had clearly voiced her concerns over him marrying someone who was Yamani. She was concerned about how the other noble families would react. She was concerned it would be bad for the family businesses. She wanted her grandchildren to look like her or the Duke. How would if feel for them to look Yamani? What would people say?

But while Wilina may appear the picture of a noble detached from the realities of life, it was just a good act. It worked well in most of her circles. The duchess was a woman a man like the Duke could admire and she had many fine qualities. In this case her talent for clear assessment of people and situations came to the front. She was not inclined to maintaining illusions about about anything, including the amount of influence she had over her son's life. She read the look on Neal's face clearly, and her first priority in this situation was her son, his happiness and her relationship with him. She answered him straightforwardly, looking at the face she loved.

"I would love to help you plan your wedding to Yuki."