Disclaimer: All characters belong to Tamora Peirce in the Protector of the Small series.
Kel arrived at the largest indoor training court before her friends were due to duel. She was incensed that her friends would be fighting for her honour, after all, she had spent many years training so that she was able to defend herself and others. She paced anxiously for some time: scuffing her feet in the freshly swept sand, running her fingers over the walls elaborately decorated with frescoes of wrestling, fencing and jousting, and muttering under her breath about the nerve of her friends.
Taking up a blunt practice sword that had been left unceremoniously in the sand, Kel began a series of complex exercises she had learnt from Sir Alanna during the Scanran War. The exercises were designed to build muscle and increase speed – they demanded total concentration and were enormously exhausting. Today they didn't seem to work. She was not only mad at her friends for suddenly treating her like a porcelain doll; she was anxious that they may not come out unharmed.
Neal had slapped Sir Charles hard at the ball last night, causing him to stagger in the middle of the ballroom. Kel was quite sure that he would not tolerate the knock to his pride. She was also worried that Neal had said they would all want a go. Were they really expecting to duel Sir Charles one after another?
Sweat was dripping from Kel's forehead by the time her friends arrived at the training court. Her sword was a blur and her feet moved with a precision she was sure even the Stump would applaud. Kel realised that Sir Charles and his friends were amongst them and giggled – after nearly an hour of fierce activity Kel certainly didn't appear to be the court lady she had last night.
Kel came to a came to standstill to observe Sir Charles and his companions. She held back a laugh as their faces transformed into masks of shock. It would seem that Sir Charles had expected her to sit prettily on the sidelines of the duel at the duel, oo-ing and ah-ing at his bravery and fussing over his injuries. He certainly hadn't expected to see the Lady Knight swinging a broadsword.
Kel saw Neal mutter something to Owen, and he strolled into the centre of the court to meet her.
"Hey Kel. How did you sleep?"
"I could have slept better." Owen's grin lit up his face at this.
"I was excited too! What with the war and everything, I haven't been in a proper duel over a lady yet! Pity Neal gets to go first." Kel was horrified at this but Owen remained oblivious.
"Owen! I am not a lady and you are not fighting over me." Owen simply smirked at this.
"Sure we are Lady Keladry," Owen dropped a bow as he flirted outrageously with his eyes, "Now come sit in the stands with us as Neal fights for your honour."
As Owen led Kel from the field, Neal and Sir Charles met in the middle, shaking hands and selecting their seconds. Kel turned to watch as Cleon, Neal's second, handed Neal his sword. The live weapon had been a gift from Sir Alanna at his Ordeal and, despite all of his protests to fighting, it felt good to hold the deadly, rippling blue steal in his hand. Kel had not been able to pick Sir Charles' second from amongst his friends as they walked in. Kel took the chance to scrutinize him as he handed over a Raven Armoury sword: he was far smaller than Cleon but it was evident from the angry red scar on his neck that he had seen his fair share of fighting during the war, he stood up straight with the confidence of a man who knows he can win.
The two men stepped forward to shake hands, squeezing slightly too hard if the grimace that flitted across Sir Charles' face was to be believed. Then they bowed, according to custom, though the bows were shallow and neither man's eyes left the other.
Neal was the first to strike. The clean, clear ring of steel on steel rang through the practice courts as Neal struck again and Sir Charles parried, his footwork flawless even if his grip on his weapon was slightly too weak. Kel sat absolutely stiff on her seat as Neal slashed, blocked, parried and thrust. It was apparent that the two men were fairly evenly matched to all in the practice court but those who knew Sir Charles' fighting style could tell he was avoiding a body-to-body clash with his taller opponent.
It was only by chance that Neal drew first blood – it was barely a scratch across Sir Charles' left shoulder but Neal had won the fight. Neal turned, smiling widely towards Kel in the stands, as Sir Charles dropped passed his weapon to his second and lunged wildly forward.
"Neal! Behind you!" Owen had stood in the stands to yell a warning to his friend but Neal wasn't quick enough. He turned just in time to receive a punch to his right jaw. Neal retaliated, fury flitting across his face as he through accurate punches. Owen whispered a hurried "Stay here" before he was the first of the spectators to dive in, fists flying wildly.
The fight was soon out of control and Kel was desperately trying to drag her friends out. It seemed a useless task – as soon as she left one friend on the sideline they would rush back in. Kel eventually settled for pulling Neal out and keeping him out, yelling at the others to stop in her best imitation of Lord Raul.
Kel was an inch away from yelling every swear word she had ever learnt when Lord Wyldon arrived on the practice court.
"Cease and desist." At the sound of his livid cry, the young men came to an abrupt halt, releasing their opponents and frantically trying to right their tunics as they faced a very red Lord Wyldon. Kel immediately realised what she lacked while trying to stop the scuffle – the innate ability to strike fear into grown men.
"Can anyone enlighten me as to why some of the finest young knights of the land are involved in a school-yard scuffle?" Lord Wyldon's voice was now cold and calculating as he examined the bruised and bloody young men standing before him.
"We had an ethical disagreement," came Seaver's voice, slightly strangled as he tried to speak and hold his blood nose.
"No it wasn't! We were fighting over Lady Keladry." Everyone turned to stare as Sir Charles elbowed his friend hard in the in his already sore ribs. It was clear from this outburst he had never been a page.
As Lord Wyldon's eyes turned piercingly to Kel, "A fight over the Lady Knight? But sir, many of your opponents are married, or engaged to be married."
Owen's temper got the better of him, "We didn't start fighting till Charles took a cheap shot at Neal. Neal drew first blood, he won the duel!"
Lord Wyldon appraised the young men before him. He knew their tempers had been running high for some time now. They were not used to peace and had had no outlet for their aggression in weeks, instead forced to sit around the castle. Many of these knights and been thrown into the war as soon as they achieved their shields and some before that. Their anger was understandable but their behaviour was despicable. Unfortunately, he thought, he no longer had the power to dole out any punishment for their indiscretions.
"Boys, you will all visit the infirmary now. You will all take a trip to my office for a chat at noon. You are dismissed." Kel turned to leave but Wyldon called her back, "Keladry, since you seem relatively unharmed, you will accompany me to my office now." Kel's looked like they were going to object to this but Kel shushed them with one look.
***
"Kelady, I am sure you are wondering why I called you here." Lord Wyldon began as he invited Kel to sit down in the hard backed chair opposite his own.
"No, Lord Wyldon, I was called here for fighting, or at least causing a fight." Kel answered back daringly.
"Kelady, you were not here for fighting because when I arrived on the scene you were busily trying to stop that childish nonsense. Nor were you called in here for causing that particular brawl. Your friends were wound up and wanted a fight, you just happened to be the excuse." Lord Wyldon poured out some apple cider as he thought how to continue delicately. "The fist fight was appalling behaviour and I will be talking to your friends about that later. At the moment I am more concerned about the duel." The long pause that followed sent chills of fear down Kel's spine.
"This is not the first duel that has been held over 'Lady Keladry'. It seems that your friends have been fighting, with different people, over your honour for some time. I have invited you into my office to ask that you put a stop to these barbaric displays before one of your friends is seriously injured."
Kel took this as a dismissal and stalked out of the office.
***
Kel hammered loudly against Neal's door, "Neal, I know your in their, open the door." She had spent some time calming down before deciding to see her friends, she wanted to talk rationally about this issue, but first she had to see Neal.
Neal's door swung open revealing all of her friends from the brawl that morning squished into the tiny palace quarters. "Boys, can you please excuse us. I'd like to talk to Neal alone." Neal lounged against his desk as his friends walked out, muttering apologies for getting her in trouble.
"I'm not going to apologise Kel, that fight was not my fault."
"And that fight wasn't why I was called to the Stump's office. I was called to his office so he could ask me to put a stop to the numerous duels that have been fought for my honour!" Kel took another deep breath, "Why have you all been fighting over me Neal? Why have I never known about it?"
