Disclaimer: All characters and places belong to Tamora Pierce

Teaching

Kel watched the Lioness complete a simple pattern dance with one of the Queen's spare glaives. As much as Kel didn't want to, she had to admit that this was not the Lioness's strengths. Alanna completed it and turned to Kel for comments. "Well, that was a good try. You're improving and all..." Kel trailed off not knowing what to say.

Alanna smiled, "You can say it. I was horrible, but in my defense it is hard to wield a weapon taller than you."

Kel looked at her and had to cover a smile because the long, silver blade was inches higher than Alanna's own head. "Well you just have more to learn you'll get it eventually," Kel said hopefully. She wasn't sure, Alanna was probably one of the worst beginners Kel had seen. Alanna looked awkward and didn't know how to handle the weapon. Kel hated thinking that after all Alanna was The Lioness, the hero of all girls.

"Kel, I know it doesn't look like I'll ever be able to use it, but I need practice. For some reason you think that I just pick up things magically and boom I have the skill. But I don't..."

"But you're the Lioness, Alanna. The woman that went against the odds. How can there be something you can't do?"

Alanna cackled, "First off you can ask Neal of what I can't do. Second of all Daine can out-shoot me without thought, George and my daughter Aly, can both handle knives better than me, and you Kel, you can use a glaive."

Kel looked at Alanna she could still not believe that she was talking to and teaching her hero, the woman she had looked up to all these years.

"Now," Alanna caught Kel's attention once more, "lets see your glaive against my sword."

"No! Don't do it Kel, save yourself while you can," a familiar voice called. Kel turned to see Neal standing with Raoul and some others.

"He's right you know, she's vicious," Raoul boomed.

Alanna looked at them indignantly, "I am not vicious don't forget Raoul that I can still chase you around these practice courts."

Raoul chuckled, "That you can Alanna, that you can."

Alanna turned to Kel once more and they parried off, it came to no surprise that Alanna won that match. She had knocked Kel down by surprise, and was holding her hand out to the young lady knight, "Seems that we both have stuff to learn from each other, doesn't it."

Ok, so I hope you like this and this would be BEFORE Lady Knight, when Kel is just new to being a knight.

henrychick