Well last chapter I know I said that Joren and Kel were going to go help build a fort for the Own but this is before I seriously began to research how much happened in Kel's first year as a squire. It was a TON. She was one busy girl. So if you go back one chapter to the letter to Neal you will then be caught up to where the duo are off to. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Without much ado—here's the next installment

Summer of 457 H.E.

"Kile, you've joined our ranks?" Kel looked over to eye her giant red-headed friend who was grinning wickedly. Kel couldn't help but let the infectious smile spread across her face.

"At least you have the title and the work." Kel's smile lowered a smidge before her eyes looked down to see her usually happy friend looking glum. Owen's bouncy curls didn't appear to have the usual muster to them as they usually did. But this was probably due to his lack of having a knightmaster which was apparent from his blue shirt, hose, and silver tunic that gave the telltale story of him being a squire attached to the palace services.

Kel frowned a bit and tried to think of a diplomatic response that wouldn't further dampen the boy's mood. But Cleon beat her to it with his ever blunt question, "You still don't have a knightmaster Owen? I thought for sure you'd be picked up by now." Kel rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to knock Cleon upside his head. 'Surely Inness would have taught him some tact…'

"No I haven't had a single talk with a knight. Milord says its due to the gods cursed Progress. It was the congress last year and now it's the Progress this year. I never thought that a squire would a burden to a knight. I just want to go bandit hunting!" Owen ended with a huff of annoyance and Kel tried to keep a sympathetic smile off her face. If she had been in Owen's boots she wouldn't want sympathy.

Kel gave him a reassuring squeeze on his shoulder before saying, "I'm sure something will come up Owen. You'll get a bandit chasing knight soon."

Owen merely scoffed, "Easy for you to say, you were the first page chosen from our year, by one of the best green knights to come out of the palace in ages no less."

Cleon's brows rose a bit. It was a bit uncanny to see Owen so melancholy, "I wouldn't go so far as to say he's one of the best." Kel now rolled her eyes at the argument that was sure to ensue. As the two began to argue Kel waved and set off to change before dinner service began.

Kel and Joren had met up with the Progress as it neared Whitethorn. She was now responsible for serving her knightmaster along with whoever else was at his table. She donned the grey and blue clothing that were Stone Mountain colors and quietly tapped upon her adjoined door that led into Joren's room, "Come in." Kel pushed on the door to find her knightmaster meticulously combing his hair back into a horsetail. Kel had to smother a laugh at the comical absurdity of how much concentration he was putting into his horsetail.

"Did you require any assistance milord?"

Joren gave her a quizzical look, "I am twenty, squire. I learned how to dress myself ages ago. You may report for your duties." Kel nodded before closing the door behind her. The close proximity with her one-time enemy was unnerving.

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Kel had not yet stumbled with any of her serving dishes. Joren had been matched with a young woman who he seemed to be enjoying immensely. The pair's chairs seemed to get closer and closer together with every passing course. The lady was pretty enough but her high pitched laughs made Kel want to cringe. The other two people were none other than Daine and Numair. They seemed content to speak with one another. Numair had almost slipped up with Kel's name but a good elbow in his side from Daine had solved Numair's forgetfulness.

She had been concentrating so hard on not messing up that she had not allowed herself to take in the dining hall. But now that she was almost done she felt confident enough to look around the room on her way to retrieve the desserts. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw that Cleon, well Sir Cleon, was sitting beside her parents and brother, Inness. Kel's legs wanted dearly to walk over to her family and give them a hug but that would not do. Kile of Trebond had never met Keladry of Mindelan's family. But gods, she hadn't seen them since her funeral! That in itself was a strange thought. She finally was able to force herself to begin walking in the opposite direction to retrieve the dessert, "Kile are you alright lad? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

Kel nodded mutely and gathered the shaped gelatin. The Whitethorn staff and chefs had really outdone themselves with these creations. She loved seeing the mixed shapes that had been created. She arrived at her table and placed one small gelatin in front of everyone at the table. Kel then left the table to get the refreshments that she would serve in the ballroom while everyone danced and talked until Joren was ready to leave or the festivities were over. At the rate that Joren was socializing this evening, it would be the latter.

The evening dragged on as she served bubbly drinks to a mix of different people. Progressives and conservatives alike seemed to be having a good night and she didn't receive any glares or whispers as she walked away. She briefly wondered what she would be doing if she had been able to continue on her first path to knighthood. In the end it didn't seem to truly matter because she was here and well on her way to becoming a knight. Joren surprised her by going in early without the pretty woman accompanying, "I have to turn in early because I am entered in the swords contest tomorrow. You were good at tilting, were you not?" Kel had a faint flashback when Joren had handed her the leaded lance with too happy a smile on his face.

"I was decent milord."

Joren nodded his head in thought briefly. They had reached their rooms, "Well you will be helping me suit up and we will be watching my old knightmaster joust. From what he told me, he was a bit outspoken at the last meeting of lords regarding a trade dispute and now some conservatives are feeling the urge to challenge him. So I will see you after your morning meal. Don't bother setting out clothes for me to wear. That would be just plain silly. You will help me with arming up but never with my own personal hygiene."

"Yes my lord."

"Oh now really Kile, it's just Joren."

Kel gave a ghost of a smile before replying, "Good night sir."

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Kel rose before the sun began to peak into her window. Jump slowly woke as she dressed and he stretched his stiff joints as she pulled on her boots. Kel grabbed her new voulge that was propped beside her bed and continued outside. As she walked around outside the sparrows and parakeets found her and followed dutifully behind her while sometimes dive-bombing into bushes to find berries.

Despite the fact that the sun was not yet up, Whitethorn was alive. There were servants setting up tents that would serve as check-in locations for the people that wanted to compete in various competitions. Kel walked further to try and find an opening where she wouldn't have to worry about hitting an innocent servant. She passed the jousting runways that had stands erected on both sides. She also passed where the swords would be dueled. A practice court was finally found and she began to slowly stretch out her taut muscles. Jump merely sat and watched from a distance as she went through her usual routine stretches. When she was finally ready she grabbed her voulge that had been leaning against a fence post. The unbalanced weight was still something unfamiliar to Kel but she would just have to trainer harder so she could adapt.

She had not yet had the chance to truly experiment with the weapon because her and Joren had been traveling to catch up to the Progress. She put the weapon through the paces that she would have with her glaive but at a much slower pace. She had to be more conscious of the blade at the end of her weapon. During her glaive dances she never truly had to worry about harming herself since the blade was almost as straight as the pole it was on, while this voulge had a more prominent curve to its blade. Of course she had been working with her glaive for so long that it no longer felt like a weapon but a part of her when she wielded it. Kel continued to slowly speed up her work with the voulge and began the simplest pattern dance that she had learned when she was very young in the Islands.

Kel absorbed herself in concentration as the blade became alike another appendage for her to control. It wasn't until after she stopped that she realized that she had an audience. Three women stood with glaives in their hands and a man stood behind them. Kel momentarily stumbled as she realized her error in doing a pattern dance from the Islands. She continued to stare at the women and they stared at her. Their blank faces were pristine of emotion except for the smallest bit of curiosity in their almond shaped eyes. Kel was speechless until one of them spoke, "How is it that a boy Easterner has learned a pattern dance that was made for a lady weapon?" This question was posed by the lady wearing a peach inner kimono and a silvery outer one. She seemed to be about five feet seven inches tall and her complexion was a rosy- bronze. She wore no rice powder or lip paint. Kel had only seen her from a distance but she knew it to be Princess Shinkokami, Roald's intended. Kel's eyes widened once more as she realized how rude she was being as she went into a low bow that was proper for a second rank princess of the Yamani Islands, "No, please rise. I am to be an Easterner. Greet me as you would one from here." Kel rose slowly and bowed as she would to Princess Lianne. She received a small nod in return, "Now how is it you have learned pattern dances?"

Kel fumbled for an answer, 'Why did this girl look so familiar?' The smiling eyes were tickling the back of her mind, "I learned from a friend that went to the Islands princess." This was as close to the truth that she could manage. But blast it if only she could remember why Princess Shinkokami looked so familiar!

"Who would this friend be? Your style reminds me of a friend I had in the past."

Kel mentally shrugged before charging on, "Her name was Keladry of Mindelan." If it had not been for the fan that snapped open in front of her eyes then Kel would have seen the faint lines of shock stretch across her features.

The fan snapped shut when Princess Shinkokami was back under control, "May Yama watch over her."

Kel frowned in puzzlement, "Were you and Keladry friends?"

"We were in the same learning group as we were taught glaives."

Then it clicked, "Cricket?" The words had escaped her mouth before she was able to even realize she had spoken aloud. But the damage was done. Princess Shinkokami seemed shocked that this unnamed person knew her childhood nickname.

"How do you know that?" The question was spoken softly but Kel heard clearly. Jump had walked over to her and shoved his damp nose into her unoccupied hand. She scratched his head while her mind scrambled.

"We became friends when she came back from the Islands."

The quiet Yamani nodded her head before speaking, "Kel always had good judgement. A friend of Kel's is a friend of mine. I could use all the friends I can get in this Eastern land. What is your name?"

"Kile, Kile of Trebond." Kel bowed to the princess.

"As I'm sure you know I am Princess Shinkokami. This is Haname noh Ajikuro and Yukimi noh Daiomoru. The man behind us is a palace guard named Taybur." Kel recognized the second lady instantly. The peppery Yamani had formed a friendship with her when she was at the Islands with her mischievous nature. Kel bowed to each of them in Yamani fashion and straightened up. Before anything more was said Jump trotted over and seemed to want to introduce himself to the ladies. Their eyes crinkled in amusement as he playfully grinned while they cooed at him. Kel couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. Jump always knew when to make his presence known.

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Kel watched as her knightmaster bowed to his opponent. The crowd had quieted considerably from when the pair had been announced. Now the observers watched with bated breath as they waited for the two to cross swords. Joren was facing his longtime friend Zahir. The two seemed to have filled out similarly in their years apart. Each had lithe muscle as opposed to bulky. Zahir had grown a couple inches taller than Joren over the past years. It would be interesting to see what each had learned while away from each other.

She had not yet seen her knightmaster duel anyone. This was the first match of the tournament. She briefly wondered how much Zahir would have trained with the king as his knightmaster. The pair bowed to one another and crossed blades, and then Joren attacked.

Zahir parried the quick blow easily and side stepped. The two seemed to be analyzing each other by routinely trading blows. Each man was searching for a mistake or opening. Kel watched in awe as combinations were used that she had not been taught at the palace. The Bazhir had adapted a new style that she had not seen while Joren seemed to use small styles here and there. The traveling with the Own must have allowed Joren to pick up a wide variety of moves. The two continued to trade quick blows.

Neither seemed to be tiring but as Kel examined their faces, Joren's appeared to be frustrated. His parries seemed to be more and more reckless until one jab proved to be too daring. He left an opening that he wasn't able to recoil into in time and Zahir triumphantly found it. Joren's sword was released from his hand and he was forced to yield to his friend. The crowd cheered as the victor was named and Zahir would go on to face his next opponent in a couple bells. Joren looked a bit put out as he left the ring. He went to his room and Kel followed dutifully at his heels.

Kel helped him take off his padding that he had opted to wear instead of his armour. When Kel had just finished taking his things off there was a knock on the door. When Joren made no motion to rise Kel went to answer the door, 'If I was a girl this could easily be a scandal.' A man that was well over her own height stood before her. He had ruddy curls and a tanned grinning face, Sir Raoul of Golden Lake and Malorie's Peak—Commander of the Own. The door was opened wide enough for Joren to see his old knightmaster and motioned him to come in. The famed giant killer walked through the doorway and Kel moved out of the way in awe, "Thanks for making me some coin Joren."

"My lord, you bet against me?" Joren's face had turned pink in embarrassment and his voice had squeaked a bit when he went into a higher octave, 'Most ladies would kill for his cheekbones and skin.'

This caused Raoul's grin to increase in size, "I knew you'd get impatient going against Zahir. If you weres against any other green knight I'd expect you to win. You never were patient when you wanted to upstage your friends." He paused and looked down at Jump, "I always told you I would make money off of you. Now look, I'm making money and you're not even my squire! I should have thought of this ages ago."

Joren's face had been neutral but it seemed that he couldn't stay upset long with his easygoing knightmaster and cracked a smile, "It's not your fault my lord. Progressives have always been on the slower side."

"I should have thrown you to the spidrens when I had the chance," this was met with a rousing amount of laughter. Kel shook her head in dismay, 'How had Joren become this easygoing in the amount of four years? He doesn't even seem like the same person.' She left the room to retrieve an assortment of beverages for her master and his guest.

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"Now watch carefully. Lord Raoul is one of the best jousters in Tortall. He has a fast horse, a steel bum, and strength to boot." Kel watched as Raoul took on Sir Wayland of Darroch. The two ran their horses down their prospective lanes and smashed their lances against their opponent's shield. Both of the men's lances broke on the first run. The second run ended with Sir Wayland flying off his horse and Raoul collecting fifteen gold nobles, "In the old days you got to keep the man's horse and armor, but now a day it's just the betted amount of money. It's simpler." Kel nodded her head. She couldn't imagine ever jousting. It seemed like a waste of time when there were problems much larger than egos and scores to be settled. Someone could easily be injured and the Crown would be down one knight. Tilting was one thing, jousting was a whole other, "Let's go congratulate my lord."

Kel followed dutifully with her feathered friends and Jump following dutifully behind her. They neared where the Third Company was camped and found Raoul brushing down his black mare, Drum. There were two other men talking to him as well. They seemed to be in an animated conversation before Raoul noticed her and Joren standing to the side, "Hello boys."

"Congratulations my lord, that was a fine hit."

"I'm sure it wasn't enough to knock some sense into him, but it will have to do. What'd you think Kile?"

Kel was shocked that he was addressing her. The famed giant killer wanted her opinion, but she didn't much agree with jousting. She would have to settle for a diplomatic answer, "You did exceptionally well Sir Raoul."

"You're a tight lipped one aren't you? So was Joren. It seems you picked someone to your likeness." He said addressing Kel then Joren.

"By the end of the third year we wanted to put a bag over his head to end our misery." This came from one of the two men. He had an easy grin with dimple and sapphire blue eyes, 'He must be popular in court.' There was something oddly familiar about this coal haired man, "I'm Domitan of Masbolle, Dom for short. I'm sorry you're stuck with Joren for four years, not sorry enough to take him back though." His grin never left his face.

Joren smiled and quickly put Dom into a wrestling choke hold by putting one of his arms around the older man's neck, "I see you have some feather dusters. I'm Quasim ibn Zirhud." The Bazhir man had a kind smile and a tanned complexion.

"Kile of Trebond," Quasim had his hand stuck out to be shaken and she noticed the multitude of scars littered all over his hand. She shook his hand with a curious expression on her face, "Don't worry, I get those looks a lot. I took care of a baby griffin for a year. The little beast loved to bite me while I tried to feed him food."

"At least you made out like a bandit with all those feathers." This came from Joren who was still struggling to hold the black haired man. The two continued to grapple until Dom freed himself with a triumphant cry.

"Now Joren, I was thinking maybe you and I will sit together tonight and we can re-enact the Surgrove banquet."

"My lord you know we can't, not with the king being so close. He'll know that something is suspicious."

"If it gets me out of the majority of the pleasantries with matchmaking mothers I'll take my chance. Jon should have us out in the field anyways. I will not be dressed up like some fussy court lady just to appease him."

Joren sighed, "I'll talk to my squire tonight."

"Very well, I will see you tonight." Joren led the way back to their rooms while Kel followed behind with the birds and Jump in tow.

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"You want me to spill soup on Sir Raoul?" Kel was hoping she had misunderstood. She couldn't pour soup on one of the most famous knights in Tortall!

"Yes, its how he used to get out some of the balls when I was his squire. He wants you to do it."

"But—but its Sir Raoul! I can't do that."

"Kile, he despises these pleasantries. Personally I enjoy them. All the ladies coming to adore me and the men respect me for my deeds and nobility. It's all good fun."

"Sir, I don't think I can."

"So you're more afraid to pour soup on Lord Raoul than to face bandits."

"No, I never said that."

"Then do it."

"I can't.'

"You will do it."

"Is that an order, sir?"

"Yes."

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The night had been going well but it was now time for the soup course. Kel did as she was told and dumped soup on the famous commander. He left the dining hall and Kel turned pink as people muttered about clumsy squires. But the night was not completely ruined. Two young women had been set up with Joren and Raoul. With Raoul's leave of absence the girl that was not sitting by Joren moved to take up Raoul's vacant spot. Joren was enjoying himself to say the least.

Dinner ended with little mishap after her soup incident. She then was busy serving refreshments to all the guests after the dinner. Kel kept her eyes on Joren who had not touched any beverages beside water. His two companions had been sipping wine all night. Needless to say Joren was much more sober than the two ladies. Kel continued to circle the dance floor and refresh the parched mouths of dancers. While her body was occupied her mind wandered and she found herself wondering if Jocelyn would be joining the Progress. The Progress was just another way to introduce ladies to eligible bachelors and she was almost of age to begin looking for a husband. But it wouldn't have surprised her if Lord Burchard had already sold her off to a suitable man, but Jocelyn would surely have told her if anything big had happened to her through letters.

She circled the dance floor once more before starting to offer the drinks to people sitting at tables. One of the tables held Princess Shinkokami and Prince Roald. She smiled at Roald who lit up at a friendly face. Princess Shinkokami also smiled at the sight of Kile. She talked with the engaged couple briefly and then regretfully had to return to serving. She observed the couple from further away and cringed from their obvious discomfort. They were both politely smiling at one another when the other talked. They would then search for something else to say. If someone came to talk the two would become animated. Kel frowned. The two weren't comfortable around each other at all; anyone should be able to see that.

She looked around the room and found Joren trying to catch her eye. Kel put her tray away and caught up with Joren, "These two need to get to their rooms. But I can only shoulder one. Can you take the other?"

Kel tried to cover up her shock as Joren placed the court lady's arm around her neck, "What's yooour name?"

"Kile."

The lady giggled, "That's a funny name!" Kel didn't respond but continued to walk while supporting the lady. She remained quiet while the court lady continued to talk and talk, "You aren't nearly as fun as Joren." She then lowered her voice to a whisper, "He called me beauuuuuutiful." This then made her go into fits of laughter. By the gods' good graces Kel finally made it to the lady's room with her directions.

"Here we are."

"We sure are!" Kel opened the door for her and waited for her to go inside, "Aren't you going to wish me Midwinter luck?"

Kel grimaced, "It's the middle of August."

"Everyone could use a little luck." The court lady leaned forward and quickly kissed Kel's lips, "Midwinter luck." She giggled and closed the door behind her.

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Phew I did quite a bit that I realized I had holes in. So I hope you enjoyed it :]

Thank you to everyone that reviewed: Tishica, Mystic_Moon_Empress, Blood Tainted Angel, Dom-Loves-Kel, Catri Howlman-Carthaki spy, Kailun, Lady Arianne of Ambers Valley, and purpleeyednekoyoukai

Jedi Alanna- well Joren is not in the Own, I was just going to have them join the Own like Alanna does from time to time, but then I realized they don't start building Giantkiller for another three years! So then I sent them off to the Progress

Alenor- ah Neal, we shall see him next chapter I suspect

Book Qn- Joren has not yet figured out about Kel being Kile. He had his suspicions about Kile being a girl but hasn't further investigated since he talked to Tkaa. Wyldon has investigated more than Joren

Well definitely not as many reviews but hey I only gave you two weeks instead of a year right? REVIEW :]