Disclaimer: This "superlative" example of prose is instituted on populace fabricated by the exemplary paragon of particular journalism: Tamora Pierce. Ha! I knew I could make it interesting, but then, you all skip this part anyways. Maybe I'll do it in pig Latin next… For any of you who haven't yet, please read the squire fic by Saphron, It's one of the best! Oh, and I got the idea of the disclaimer from her…don't worry. I'm only using it this once, or maybe once more…o.O
Authors' Note: Please send something!!! As in feedback!!! This chapter was supposed to have a bit of mush—one of my friends forced me to try, she's a sucker for romance, but I don't think I did a great job. I can only write romance if I'm in a romantic mood. (I have to tell you, being held in a chokehold doesn't count as a romantic mood.) Oh! And an actual PLOT appears in the next chapter, so bear with me. So far, the summary of the next few chapters is (I just have to type them up.): plot appears in chapter five, writers block in chapter 6, and actual ACTION in chapter seven. My friends told me that we (mis amigos y yo.) have no life whatsoever, and I especially: necisita una vida. I told them that I'm not mental…but then they do have a point. I mean, I doubt normal people sing to brick walls, or bake cookies on the Chem. lab Bunsen burners. Ummmm… and if you see any reoccurring grammar mistakes (i.e.: a misspelled name, or a word that I always misspell.) please tell me, and I'll watch out in future chapters. However, I can't do revise any old chapters. If you seriously can't live with my horrible grammar, please e-mail me, and ask for a revised edition. E-mail: yanagi@fushigiyuugi,net. Right, any who…" I am a Pizza, I am a Pizza…"
Section 1: Summer
Chapter 4: Revelations
Kels' practice sword thwacked loudly against Merrics'. Her reflexes had long taken over her reason, as she parried and delivered blows simultaneously. Kel smiled. She decided that she liked Lord Wyldons new exercise; each squire would mock battle another, until one was disarmed, or "died". Then, as if in a contest, the winners' would battle, and so on, until one person stood as champion.
An opening! Kel flicked her wrist and sent Merrics' sword flying out of his grasp.
Grinning sheepishly, Merric was about to congratulate Kel when he was interrupted by a yelp from Neal, followed by an apology from his partner, Khari.
"Oops," She said, helping the fallen Neal up. "Does this mean you're 'dead'?"
'Stop flinching, Nealan!" Ezeko roared. "If you get hit, you get hit!"
Grumbling about something, Neal joined the other 'beaten' ones. He saw Kel looking at him and grinned.
Kel shivered, suddenly weak, and was barely able to grin back. She gave a weak wave, and turned to face her opponent: Khari (there, that was the romance…o.o, yep, that's it.).
"Surprised?" Khari asked. "I was. I thought I was never going to beat Neal. But I knew you would probably be the winner." Seeing Kels' puzzled look, she explained, "I saw your earlier work on Merric, and your accuracy at jousting." (Khari had watched the others practice during jousting, as she said it was too…new for her. Plus, she had told the squires, her filly, Nimue—a feisty and beautiful golden bay—was not strong enough to carry all the equipment.)
"But you're just as accurate," Kel argued, thinking about the other girls success in the archery range.
"Archery's different" Khari said, guessing Kels' thoughts. "'s easier."
"Stop chattering Khari!" Lord Wyldon bellowed. "Just because you're an ambassador, doesn't mean I'll go easy on you!"
Wincing, Khari muttered, "I prepare myself for defeat." Kel grinned back, and circled Khari, waiting for her to make the first move.
Khari lunged, sideswiping in a way that protected her middle. Kel leaned to the side, and brought her sword down and around, aiming for Khari's legs. However, Khari jumped over her attacks, and countered with two lightning quick butterflies', which Kel parried just in time. Kel soon found herself in a defense position, parrying Khari's strokes as best as she could. She was being modest, Kel thought, blocking another blow. She must be able to hold her own against many of the more experienced knights! Kel brought Khari into a hilt-to-hilt, hoping to press the weaker girl down. Just as it seemed to be working, Khari pulled her sword down, away, and up: catching the hilt of Kels' sword and knocking it out of her grasp. Kel stared, awestruck, still contemplating Khari's prowess with the sword.
Seeing Kels' stare, Khari stammered, "I…I'm sorry. I just got a bit lucky, that's all."
"Oh, no!" Kel said, smiling. "there's no need to apologize. You were wonderful! Have you ever had training before?"
Khari hesitated, and was about to answer when both girls were enveloped in a giant hug from their friends. Khari smiled from deep within the group, her heart leaping with joy at finding so many friends: friends who didn't care that she was who she was.
Later, as the group walked to dinner, Kel asked her question again. This time, Khari didn't answer at all, for Neal answered for her.
"Of course she has!" He exclaimed. "Don't you know? She's the Carthakian champion in Ral'shk!"
"Ral'shk?" Kel asked, stumbling slightly over the foreign words. "What's that?"
"Sword-dancing." Khari said. "It's an ancient form of sword technique."
"I've heard of it from the Bazhir." Seaver added. "It combines flexibility, hand to hand combat, and extreme aptness to the sword."
"It's also extremely hard to learn." Roald said. "You have to be trained from an early age."
"I started when I was five." Khari said. "Now, shh! The Stump's coming!"
After Dinner, Kel and the others went to say their goodbyes to Cleon and Faleron (many of the squires, including Joren, and Zahir, and Vinson, were leaving with their knight masters.) Kel raised her eyebrows at the ribbon clutched in Cleon's hand. Seeing her gaze, he turned red, and hid it behind his back. Faleron snickered, and Cleon jabbed him in the ribs. Faleron mouthed the word Kaliana, and puckered his lips into an exaggerated kiss. Kel and the others stifled laughter, and Jump barked excitedly (a bit of puppy laughter in his eyes.
Changing the subject, Faleron said, "For some reason, I think I'm going to miss this place." Cleon nodded in agreement
"Really?" Neal asked "Even the Stump?"
"No!" Cleon and Faleron chorused.
"
Never that much!" Cleon said."Yes." Faleron agreed. "Now that you've reminded me, I believe I've changed my mind."
"Yeah," Cleon answered. "At least you'll have me around instead of the Stump."
"We know you'll miss us." Owen said, grinning.
Cleon leaned down and patted Jump, who whined, obviously, the squires weren't the only ones who would miss the two.
"I'll miss you too," Khari said. "Even though I haven't known you for long."
"I know one girl who'll miss Cleon deeply…" Merric snickered
Cleon, in a fantastic attempt to change the subject, leaned down to kiss Kel on the cheek. Faleron grinned, and did the same. Kel gaped openly, and then grinned back—though a part of her mind wished it were Neal who did it, not Cleon and Faleron.
"Didn't think I'd do that, did you?" Cleon asked
"Thank God id wasn't on the lips!" Faleron remarked.
"Lady Kaliana and Cleon did that?" Roald asked.
Cleon turned a shade of bright red, and chased Faleron around the courtyard.
Author's Note: Sorry peoples, it was a pretty short chapter, but I think the next one will be longer. Oh, I plan to improve Kaliana's character sometime, so all you Cleon people shouldn't worry about Cleon being a…clown. I like him well enough, but my favorite character is Neal, so I'm a Kel/Neal person. Nimue, the horse, is named after the fairy (sorceress) that imprisoned Merlin in the King Arthur legends. No, the horse isn't evil, I just liked the name, and I was reading The Once and Future King by T.H. White. Why does the horse of all things have this name? I don't know, it just does. Now I'll go bounce on my nice white rubber walls…o.O
