Disclaimer: I still don't own anything. Unfortunately.
Chapter Two: Corus
Kel sat in her carriage as it bumped and jostled along the Great Road North toward Corus, the capital of Tortall. She had no one to accompany her, as all of the priestesses were busy with their own affairs and none of the other girls were ready to be presented at Court.
Well, she thought, at least Court will be better than that stuffy old Convent.
The carriage lurched to a stop and her footman opened the carriage door for her. She quickly smoothed out her emerald silk gown and straightened her hair, which she had left down.
She took the hand the footman offered to her and stepped carefully out of the carriage.
Placing a hand over her eyes to shade out the sun, she surveyed the scene before her. There were several people, most of whom were young men, but that wasn't what caught her attention.
In the front of the crowd stood a man and a woman, both raven-haired and blindingly beautiful.
The King and Queen!!, she thought, gasping, But they never greet ordinary visitors!!
She had heard stories about Court and the rulers from her sisters.
"Lady Keladry of Mindelan, welcome to Court.", King Jonathan said in a deep voice.
"It is such an honor to have you here. Your family did us a great service when they establish the treaty with the Yamani Islands.", Queen Thayet added, smiling.
"Thank you for such a wonderful and gracious welcome, Your Majesties. It is an honor to be here.", Kel responded, curtsying gracefully.
"I'm sure you're exhausted after such a long ride.", the King spoke again, "Lord Wyldon, would you be so kind as to suggest an escort for this lovely young lady?", he smiled and winked at Kel.
Kel felt her knees go weak and it took all of her Yamani training to keep her blush under control.
"Of course, Your Majesty." a tall man with a scar on his cheek replied.
Looking around in the crowd, he barked "Queenscove!"
Two men stepped forward at the same time. The younger of the two said "I think he is referring to me, Father."
Of course, son.", replied the elder with a smile and a mocking bow.
The son grinned and bowed back before stepping forward .
"My lord, it would be my honor and greatest pleasure to be the escort of such a lovely young lady......" he said with a dramatic air.
"Queenscove!! That's enough!!", the man called Lord Wyldon shouted.
"But, your excellency, I was only expressing my eternal gratefulness to you......."
"One week stable duty!! Now keep your mouth shut!!"
"But, my lord........."
"Two weeks!!"
Laughing, the King held up a hand to silence them.
"Thank you very much Lord Wyldon. And you, too, Nealan of Queenscove."
Both of the men bowed.
"Now I'm sure everyone has duties to attend to, so if you will please continue as you were...." he waved his hand absently in dismissal.
The gathered crowd, including Kel, bowed (or in her case, curtsied) and began to leave.
The Royal Couple turned to Kel, bowed and curtsied, then turned and left.
Finally, the only people left in the courtyard were Kel and the man called Nealan of Queenscove, who was looking at her, curiously.
He noticed her returning his gaze and immediately bowed gracefully.
She curtsied in return, looking closely at him.
He had chestnut colored hair that formed a widow's peak and emerald eyes. He was also very handsome.
"My lady, if you would please allow me to escort you to your rooms?" he asked, offering her his arm.
She took his arm replying, "Of course, Sir Nealan."
"Oh, please, call me Neal. My least favorite aunt calls me Nealan."
"All right, Neal, then I'm Kel."
"Kel, then."
"And I would love to see your training courts, actually."
"Really? Most ladies prefer to see the gardens or the Hall of Crowns."
"I'm sure you've had the honor of escorting these ladies?", she joked, feeling comfortable with him.
He laughed and they set off for the training courts.
Along the way, he asked her about the Yamani Islands and they had a wonderful conversation about Yamani weaponry and combat.
By the time they reached the training yards, they were laughing and joking like old friends.
Chapter Two: Corus
Kel sat in her carriage as it bumped and jostled along the Great Road North toward Corus, the capital of Tortall. She had no one to accompany her, as all of the priestesses were busy with their own affairs and none of the other girls were ready to be presented at Court.
Well, she thought, at least Court will be better than that stuffy old Convent.
The carriage lurched to a stop and her footman opened the carriage door for her. She quickly smoothed out her emerald silk gown and straightened her hair, which she had left down.
She took the hand the footman offered to her and stepped carefully out of the carriage.
Placing a hand over her eyes to shade out the sun, she surveyed the scene before her. There were several people, most of whom were young men, but that wasn't what caught her attention.
In the front of the crowd stood a man and a woman, both raven-haired and blindingly beautiful.
The King and Queen!!, she thought, gasping, But they never greet ordinary visitors!!
She had heard stories about Court and the rulers from her sisters.
"Lady Keladry of Mindelan, welcome to Court.", King Jonathan said in a deep voice.
"It is such an honor to have you here. Your family did us a great service when they establish the treaty with the Yamani Islands.", Queen Thayet added, smiling.
"Thank you for such a wonderful and gracious welcome, Your Majesties. It is an honor to be here.", Kel responded, curtsying gracefully.
"I'm sure you're exhausted after such a long ride.", the King spoke again, "Lord Wyldon, would you be so kind as to suggest an escort for this lovely young lady?", he smiled and winked at Kel.
Kel felt her knees go weak and it took all of her Yamani training to keep her blush under control.
"Of course, Your Majesty." a tall man with a scar on his cheek replied.
Looking around in the crowd, he barked "Queenscove!"
Two men stepped forward at the same time. The younger of the two said "I think he is referring to me, Father."
Of course, son.", replied the elder with a smile and a mocking bow.
The son grinned and bowed back before stepping forward .
"My lord, it would be my honor and greatest pleasure to be the escort of such a lovely young lady......" he said with a dramatic air.
"Queenscove!! That's enough!!", the man called Lord Wyldon shouted.
"But, your excellency, I was only expressing my eternal gratefulness to you......."
"One week stable duty!! Now keep your mouth shut!!"
"But, my lord........."
"Two weeks!!"
Laughing, the King held up a hand to silence them.
"Thank you very much Lord Wyldon. And you, too, Nealan of Queenscove."
Both of the men bowed.
"Now I'm sure everyone has duties to attend to, so if you will please continue as you were...." he waved his hand absently in dismissal.
The gathered crowd, including Kel, bowed (or in her case, curtsied) and began to leave.
The Royal Couple turned to Kel, bowed and curtsied, then turned and left.
Finally, the only people left in the courtyard were Kel and the man called Nealan of Queenscove, who was looking at her, curiously.
He noticed her returning his gaze and immediately bowed gracefully.
She curtsied in return, looking closely at him.
He had chestnut colored hair that formed a widow's peak and emerald eyes. He was also very handsome.
"My lady, if you would please allow me to escort you to your rooms?" he asked, offering her his arm.
She took his arm replying, "Of course, Sir Nealan."
"Oh, please, call me Neal. My least favorite aunt calls me Nealan."
"All right, Neal, then I'm Kel."
"Kel, then."
"And I would love to see your training courts, actually."
"Really? Most ladies prefer to see the gardens or the Hall of Crowns."
"I'm sure you've had the honor of escorting these ladies?", she joked, feeling comfortable with him.
He laughed and they set off for the training courts.
Along the way, he asked her about the Yamani Islands and they had a wonderful conversation about Yamani weaponry and combat.
By the time they reached the training yards, they were laughing and joking like old friends.
