Chapter 10: Remembrance
Kel yawned and stretched, sitting up and then getting to her feet. She took up her staff, washed her face, and padded down the hallway to the opening she had gone to almost every morning of the several years she had been at the Order of the Phoenix. She swung herself over the side of the edge, gripping handholds in a practiced manner as she descended. Her bare feet hit the rough ground, and Kel took the stave from her shoulder harness and stalked down the path to the well-known clearing. As she walked, she fondly looked back at all the memories she had of being a student at the Order. She remembered the rejection of Lord Wyldon. She smiled at the memory. It was probably better that she was now learning the secrets of Shang.
She studied from the extensive scrolls and books from the Order's vast historic library; she had mastered the use of the Yamani longbow as well as the Carthaki recurved bow. She was expert at wielding a katana, Tortallan swords, knives, spears, axes, her glaive, nunchaku, the shukusen, throwing stars (and knives), as well as using her staff to great effect. She was average at use of the halberd, crossbow, and various other instruments of war. For hand-to-hand combat, Keladry of Mindelan was no weakling. She was a ninth dan black belt in various types of martial arts and a seventh in others. The interesting thing was, was that she had picked up these skills with barely any training. She could flow into any pose, striking with fists and feet to devastating effect. It was as if she was born with the talent. Strength was no matter to her; the six foot tall brunette had not a single inch of fat anywhere on her body- she was shapely, but also incredibly muscular.
Her talents were amazing- others called her a prodigy. But weaponry and war were not her only expertise. She was fluent in Scanran, Yamani, Tortallan, and Carthaki. She knew a smattering of several other languages from the teachings she got from the crew of the Morning Sage, the ship that had first introduced her to the life of Shang. Kel was also incredibly resilient. She had been trained in the identification of poisons and the resistance of them. She was able to live alone in the wild for weeks with leaving little or no trace of her stay. She read books on logic, rhetoric, and grammar, as well as astronomy, geometry, music, art, and arithmetic. Though she was no expert, she knew a bit about potions and healing elixirs. She was able to construct a crude form of truth serum without the help of the Gift. She could bind wounds, and if necessary, stitch cuts closed, even if they were her own, without anything to numb the pain. Kel's thoughts were also on another subject.
Marcus Lyons. He was tall and cocky, funny, intelligent, as well as wiser than one would think for his age. For his recent 25th birthday, Keladry had sent him a gold pendant from the ancient wreckage of a Scanran death ship that had been unearthed on the Scanran coast. Because Keladry was closer in size to the native Scanrans of the area, she and Master Kasumi, in disguise, had traveled to investigate the area several months back. They had made various sketches of runes decorating the boat, as well as taking subtle samples of the wood. They had also taken some important-looking weapons, that seemed to have the touch of the Gift on them, and could be dangerous in the wrong hands. They took also some valuable Gift-touched items such as a golden chalice, a string of 6 quartered circles made of varying materials, as well as a harp and horn. Kel had seen the small chain and pendant beside the dead man's decayed corpse, and had taken it. Kasumi tested the pendant for possible Gifted power, and indeed it did possess some.
After investigation, it was decided that it possessed minor healing powers. Kel had been allowed to keep it, as well as a small golden ring that the Gift had passed out of long ago. She wore the ring on a chain around her neck. Marcus had written back that he liked the gift very much, and that he wore it all the time. He had been promoted to Ship's Healer, and he said that the pendant always gave him strength, especially when he thought of the person who gave it to him. She blushed when she read that portion of that letter. She was so confused about him, indifferent one moment then flaming red the next. With a sigh, Kel stopped thinking about him, thinking more about her past experiences.
As a test of her knowledge, Kel and Kasumi ventured out into the rural parts of the Islands. Kel learned more of diplomacy when mediating an argument, clearing up brawls, and assisting with trade. Kel also was introduced to many of the secret places on the island. For instance, there was the group of wildmages that spoke with creatures and had used an entire island for preserving several species. In the many years she served under Kasumi, she had only ventured with her Master to the main cities maybe once every two or three years. Sometimes, Kel found that her Sensei had disappeared to another part of the world for days at a time, leaving Kel to work with the other students under the other masters.
Because she had spent so much time with her Master, Kel didn't get to know the other students very well. They always stayed away from her, and anyway, they, as model Yamani Shang, didn't talk much anyway. She almost preferred that, so she could get on with her studies. But she still missed the companionship of that one year in Tortall. She learned however, and it helped immensely. Early in her training she sat by herself, just thinking about her Tortallan friends. She would try to write them letters, but the force of remembering was just too painful. After accumulating a pile of parchment at the base of the desk she used, she gave up, packed up her quill, and left. Kel sighed. The day that she left was still fresh in her memory. She thought back to another fond memory.
Often her dreary days without her Master were depressing and boring. But when the Morning Sage was there, it was no problem at all. She and Marcus would sit for long hours talking about anything and everything. She and Erich Waterstone would spend time working with mathematics, soon she was as good as he was. Once the quartermaster had looked her over and said, "If you decide to give up this mad Shang idea, come to me. I'm in need of a bright student like you. Imagine, a scholar like this going off to bash the brains out of her enemies!" Kel had smiled then, and she did so now.
Captain Matale was considering handing the ship over soon, he said that "these bones will soon go out with the tide, that's how bloody waterlogged they are." Vani was teaching her more about the Copper Islands, and told her great tales of all the places the Morning Sage went for trade. Kel wished that she could go half the places the crew went. They traveled to all the mainland shore countries as well as Jindazhen in the west and the Far Western Islands.
Kel also had her share of travels. She had gone to Tyra, Tusaine, and Scanra, as well as a diplomatic mission to Carthak. There she had learned of the condition of the rural areas, of the state of the court there, and of various other government workings. She had met with Ambassadors from Jindazhen, the Copper Isles, and other countries as a guard and Junior Representative of the Order of the Phoenix, for those who knew about it, such as members of the ambassadors' honor guards, to give them information and updates on their respective missions.
She enjoyed her job, even if she wasn't doing much. Yet for some reason, she did not go to Tortall. In her more than decade of training as a Shang, she did not meet any ambassadors from Tortall, nor venture anywhere closer than a swift sighting of the coast on the way to Scanra. She did not pass through Tortall, nor even go near the borders of it. She did miss her friends dearly, but she wasn't really affected by the loss. With the death of Princess Chisakami, she had seen her parents a few times each year, but only told them that she was under the training of a Shang master. They accepted that, and they often talked about other things. Kel sighed once more.
Kel had let her hair grow long. Well, she had let part of her hair grow long, and then braided the long portion so that it hung down almost to her hips. She played absentmindedly with her braid, walking swiftly from tree to tree.
She reached the clearing. Kasumi was waiting there for her. Kasumi had not changed much since Kel had first met her. Always when Kel thought she knew her Master, something different always came up. Kel remembered with a slight shudder the day she had first had experiences with the Association of the Dragon. They had been attacked openly twice in the Kel's knowledge and stay, not counting the first encounter.
There were internal talks of sabotage, but whatever it was was settled swiftly. Kel knew, from her talks with Kasumi, that the traitors had been killed and disposed of when information was taken. This was not decided in cold blood. The spies possessed vital Order information, and releasing them did no good. The Association also did not negotiate. Kel was not overly concerned. Their attacks were easily countered. But Kel feared that these were just diversions. From what no one knew. Kel pushed these thoughts aside as she bowed deeply to her Master.
"Sensei," she said respectfully. Kasumi bowed in turn. "Come with me, it is a matter of great importance," replied the woman. Kel towered over her Master, but she was still an intimidating presence, even when not infuriated. Kasumi walked over to the two horses saddled on the edge of the clearing. Kasumi had a slight limp, due to a shoddily healed torn muscle. But her limp was almost unnoticable to those who did not know her. It didn't hamper her at all, as Kel learned as often as she got beaten at the hands of her master. She followed Kasumi to the saddled Hoshi and Hikari, the two mares nibbling at the grass and whickering gently to each other. Hoshi was a gift to Kel on her twentieth birthday from the crew of the Morning Sage and her Master Kasumi. Kel figured that they were going on a walk through the woods, as Peachblossom was not there. Kel mounted up, wondering for what seemed to be the thousandth time in her life, has anyone ever mounted down? Kasumi sat, straight backed, on Hikari, beside her.
They set off in a companionable silence. Kel had learned to understand that her sensei preferred not talking, and in a way, so did Kel. They turned down what looked like an old game path. They rode for about an hour, talking of nothing. Kel kept her eyes on the trees, forever wary. They rode one behind the other, Kel in the back. Suddenly, Master Kasumi stopped, so abruptly that Hoshi also stopped and sent Kel forward in the saddle. Kasumi dismounted, and Kel followed.
"Today, you shall set eyes on the full council. Here I am to instruct you before you face Them. You have come far, young pupil, in the ways of the Shang. When you pass this line of trees, you will face the most powerful of our Order in the sacred rite of passage. In the Final Test. The Masters have found you worthy, young one. Worthy in prowess, and in wisdom. Do not think your kindness towards others was not heeded. They have seen, and They approve. I am your Guardian, and I will ask you The Questions, the first part of the Final Test. Are you ready?"
Kel was dumbfounded. The Final Test was reserved for those who would be Named. They would be given their title, such as the Shang Dragon, Wildcat, Horse, and others. Kel didn't even know where to start. With a wry grin, she thought back to the time she had first been introduced to Shang, by the messenger at Yukimi's house. The feeling she had felt then came back to her now, multiplied ten-fold. Gods preserve me! Mithros, Goddess! Is this true? Kasumi smiled. "I know the very thoughts that are passing through your head. I suggest you shut your mouth, a fly might venture near." Kel weakly closed her jaws, knowing and feeling that her face was blanched white. "Master Kasumi, I all fairness, I don't feel that I'm ready for this honor, or even deserve it! I have so much more to learn! There is-" Kasumi shook her head and gently laid a finger on Kel's lips. "Quiet, young one. Think. There is nothing more for you here. The Order needs you, Keladry. You have been a great joy to teach, and you will be an even greater comrade. It is your time." That- she's showing emotions! Kel thought to herself. Indeed, Kasumi looked almost like she was going to cry. Kel almost felt like crying too. It was such a big step. She'd miss Kasumi when she was off doing her missions. Composing herself, she sighed wearily. "I am ready." Kasumi then said, "Then, let us begin."
"What is the Shang Code?"
"Honor is my life"
"Do you live by the Code?"
"I do."
"Do you swear to use your skills in defense of others?"
"I do."
"What is it you strive for?"
"I strive to protect my country, my comrades, and my allies."
"Give name to those you give fealty to."
"I honor great Yama, Mithros, and the Goddess."
"Then proceed, student, to the Final Test."
Kel stood back, straightened her clothing, and stepped forward into the harsh sunlight.
Author's Note: Oooh! Cliffie! Sorry, I take evil pleasure in doing these things. Anyway, I'm sorry about the sudden year jump, I really needed to get to the important part. I'm thinking of doing another fanfic after this one, about what I'll term Kel's Lost Years. To any avid fantasy readers, find a list of things that may have been important parts of a popular fantasy series in my fanfic. Kudos to the person who finds them! Read and review, and tell me if you found the items.
-Lana Storm-born
; D
