Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me. Italic text indicates it has been written by Tamora Pierce.
Kel looked up at fort Giantkiller with awe. It was hard to believe this was the same fort she had helped third company to build the previous year. Since Wyldon had arrived, walls had been heightened, extra barracks put in and defenses generally improved.
Kel swallowed hard as she envisioned the man that had ordered these changes. Kel's old training master was strictly conservative and had always been against women in battle and Kel knew that he was one of those people she had to tell.
"Kel, Kel!" someone cried. Kel looked up just in time to see Owen of Jesslaw barrel into her and grip her in a fierce hug. He pulled back quickly, "Sorry Kel, I didn't mean to treat you like a girl."
Kel laughed as she looked down into the repentant face of the boy who she looked on as a younger brother. "I don't suppose the Stump lets you barrel into all of his guests then?"
Owen blushed but seemed to remember what he was doing, "I have been sent to show you all up to your rooms. Follow me."
The chatter was easy as all of the young knights caught up with their friend. As they delivered the last of Kel's friends to his room Kel whispered to Owen, "I don't suppose I could have a little chat with Lord Wyldon before you show me to my room?"
***
Kel was shocked as Owen introduced her to Lord Wyldon with perfect manners. 'The Stump's finally broken him to bridle' she thought to herself.
"Enter, Mindelan. I can "chat" with you now."
Kel watched as Owen walked out and shut the door. And then turned her attention back to Lord Wyldon.
"Spit it out Mindelan, I don't have time."
"It's about my posting sir, in the war." Keladry paused again, then in a smaller voice, "I'm pregnant, sir."
"What!" Lord Wyldon looked up, immediately flustered, "What are you doing at war, Keladry, in that condition? What do you think you're going to do? Just go off marching into battle as if nothing is different? Who's the father? Are you even going to get married?" Lord Wyldon was yelling at this point. He took a breath to calm himself, "Look, never mind any of that. Have you been seeing a healer?" His tone now was calm and kind.
"No." Kel looked down at her feet, "I haven't told anybody yet."
Lord Wyldon put his face in his hands and sighed before looking up. "I want you to see a healer. I'll find a position for you. You won't like it, but at least you won't be amongst those gossip-mongers at court. I think of you as one of my own daughters, Keladry, I don't want you to get hurt."
***
That night at supper Kel watched as Owen led her friends away to receive their posts one at a time. As she waited she tried to play chess but lost repeatedly due to her lack of concentration. She didn't want to be sent home. No matter how afraid she was of Blayce and the killing devices and of the war, she wouldn't be forced to give up her shield and go home a failure. She couldn't face everyone at home right now, not as a disgraced lady and a disgraced knight.
Finally Kel was the only one left in the room, waiting to be called. The butterflies in her stomach were flitting frantically, almost making her sick with worry. Lord Wyldon would call her a failure. He would regret ever letting her continue page training. She would be sent home, dishonouring her mother and her father. And she couldn't bare it.
Finally, Owen arrived to take her in to receive her fate.
"Good luck." Owen said with a firm hug as he ushered her into the office.
"I won't dance about," Lord Wyldon told her as she sat nervously in front of him, "I'm giving you the hardest assignment in the district. I think you will hate it."
Kel looked confused. She had not expected this. "My Lord?" She questioned, encouraging him to go on.
"Necessity has called for me to build and staff a refugee camp. There will be about 700 refugees by the end of the summer, of all ages," he tapped a map set in front of her, "and this is the only land I can get for it. My fort will patrol to keep Scanrans from getting very far, but there's too much empty ground and too much forest to plug all our gaps."
Keladry nodded, still confused as to what she could at with a refugee camp.
Wyldon looked at her and understood the look of confusion, "You're a good commander Keladry, and in times like these we cannot be picky about our commanders. It's work, Keladry, important work, though most of those around you will disagree that helping the poor is worthwhile. You'll see fighting, too, there is no doubt about that, and we can only give you minimal soldiers. What do you think, will you do it?"
Kel looked up shocked, "I didn't expect to be given a choice, sir."
"Sometimes it is better to have understanding than obedience.
"The truth is you're the only one I can trust to do the job. Most nobles would treat refugees badly, others are not cut out for leadership or needed elsewhere." Pause, "I heard you took a new servant, it was a good thing to do, to save him. It's acts like that that make me think you would be perfect. But I understand if you feel you would rather go home to Mindelan or …"
Kel shook her head, "No sir, I'll do it. I understand, I know my duty."
