This is a fan made story. I don't own the rights to the Protector of the Small series, any of its characters belong to Tamora Pierce… Much to my disappointment. This goes AU about midway from the book Page. Fair warning. Constructive criticism is welcome but if you don't like it simply because you don't like the line of thinking, please don't attack me for it. This is mostly centered on Joren. This is also a slow build Kel/Joren.
Fall 456
The next morning, Joren felt at ease when he went down to breakfast with Neal and Cleon. They were all a little surprised when Zahir sat with them rather than Garvey. The Bazhir didn't bat an eye when Cleon and Neal looked incredulously at him. Joren asked him how he was.
"I believe that, much like yourself, I can no longer tolerate the behavior of Garvey or Vinson," was the only response that he got. Joren had to resist the urge to chuckle while Neal and Cleon stared with their jaws wide open.
"Yes, Zahir can be blunt. You'll get used to it," Joren stated simply making them both switch to staring at him. He shrugged in response. "He always was the voice of reason."
The presence of Zahir and the late night before resulted in a quiet breakfast. When they finished, Zahir followed Joren back to his room to talk. Joren actually felt a sense of relief. While he did enjoy Cleon and Neal's company, Zahir had probably been his closest friend before everything else had happened.
The teen was much more intelligent than he let on. Zahir ibn Alhaz was also the first Bazhir squire and squire to the king himself. The two started talking and ended up spending most of the morning getting caught up. The king had apparently made it quite clear that Lady Knights would return and Zahir had to agree that if any female would truly break the barrier that stood in the way of that it would be Keladry of Mindelan. Joren was relieved that he could retain at least one of his friends from before.
Zahir made a clear display of entering the mess hall for lunch with Joren and they both gave Garvey a wide berth and sat with Neal and Cleon. Garvey scowled but refrained from commenting. It was one thing to verbally attack Joren but Zahir was virtually untouchable. He was under the king's guidance and had the king's ear.
When they finished their lunch, Joren suggested, much to the surprise of all, that they all talk to their knight-masters about sparring together for the afternoon. All agreed, though Neal and Cleon looked a little skeptical about the likelihood of Zahir being able to join them. Sir Paxton smiled and readily agreed to the suggestion.
When they entered the training fields, which were empty with the pages at their afternoon lessons, Joren and Sir Paxton were the first there. Zahir and the king arrived next with Neal and Sir Alanna. Neal was surprised about the King's willingness to come but as Sir Alanna acted as if it wasn't of much import he let it go without remark. Cleon and Sir Inness arrived last. Both looked surprised but made the proper bows to the monarch.
Joren, Neal, Cleon and Zahir were all ordered to practice with swords while on horses. Sir Alanna stated bluntly that it was imperative that a knight be able to fight with extreme skill while on their horse. Joren had to resist laughing at Neal's expression over the practice as much as Sir Alanna's response to the expression. The king made no such consideration and chuckled softly. Neal eventually accepted his fate and they went about their practice.
After sword work came tilting at rings. Half way through the afternoon their collective knight-masters called a halt and told them they were done for the day. Surprisingly, all the squires had enjoyed themselves and so after a little discussion it was decided that Sir Inness and Sir Paxton would oversee future afternoon practices since King Jonathan and Sir Alanna were often buried in work.
They were then ordered to clean up and not to be late to supper. They all made a quick trip to the bath house and once they finished what ended up being a prolonged affair, headed to the mess hall. By this point they were all starving. Each headed directly to the serving lines. Joren was the first to notice Kel and when he did, he pointed it out to Neal and Cleon. Zahir wasn't particularly interested but still followed the other three over to where she sat.
"Mithros defend us, it's the King's Own squire!" Neal practically shouted as they approached. Joren could see the amusement on Kel's face. They all greeting the other two who were at the table before taking seats as Neal continued. "When did you get back? Where's your fledgling?"
When Neal picked an orange feather off Kel, Joren became thoroughly confused. He clearly hadn't heard all the news yet. Cleon stood in the spot next to Kel and asked to sit next to her. Joren resisted the frown he felt as she agreed and he sat next to her.
"When did you get back?" Cleon repeated Neal's question. "We weren't sure how long you'd be gone…"
"Or if you'd ever eat here again," Neal interrupted. "We heard you mostly take meals with the King's Own."
"Because my friends were away," Kel responded logically. "When did you get back?"
"I've been here a week, hiding from my lovely knight-mistress. She doesn't need a sword. That temper sharpens her toungue just fine. This red-headed giant's been in three days and the ice queen returned yesterday."
Joren glared at Neal but didn't respond as Cleon had started talking, "Scanran border's cooled down. All the weather auguries are for a bad winter. Bursetin Pass is already snowed shut. Sir Inness decided if we were to reach the palace this year, we'd best go now."
"You see much action up there?" Asked Balduin of Disart, who had already been at the table when they sat down. "We've been on the Gallan border, not that it's a picnic, mind."
This resulted in Cleon recounting his summer more elaborately than he had the night before. Joren felt contented in his being accepted into this new circle of people. When the talk shifted to Kel, he paid a lot more attention though. He also noticed the spark in her eye when she began talking about Neal's cousin, Sargent Domitan of Masbolle. The conversation got interrupted with the arrival of Lord Wyldon and Kel's brother Sir Inness.
"So what's this about a centaur?" Balduin asked to restart the conversation. "You fought one?"
"Oh, that," Kel was focusing on her food despite the conversation being focused on her summer. "Yes, on foot, and he nearly kicked my belly through my spine. I'd rather hear about Scanra."
"Did you use a sword or spear?" Prosper questioned, not letting it go.
"My lord lets me use my glaive. All the men carry some kind of pole arm," She turned to Cleon. "So, who's this new warlord?"
Cleon started in about the Scanran but was interrupted when the door opened. A woman Joren immediately identified as Yamani walked in and up to the dais where Lord Wyldon and Inness sat. The lady's ornate dress kimonos and beautiful hair had the pages and squires stunned into silence. She bowed to the men on the dais before speaking, "Please excuse me. I come at the request of my mistress, Her Imperial Highness, Princess Shinkokami." If her looks and dress hadn't given her away, her accented common would have. Still her formal address made Joren realize that Kel's mannerisms when she arrived at the Palace were definitely Yamani, though they had all guessed at it.
Lord Wyldon got up and bowed to the Yamani Lady and spoke after stepping off the dais, "I am the training master, Lord Wyldon of Cavall. How may I assist you and your imperial mistress?" Joren smirked when he realized Wyldon was being just as formal. Kel, however had already set aside her napkin and seemed to be readying to stand herself.
"My mistress says that she has been told that Squire Keladry of Mindelan is here," the lady bowed again before continuing. "Might this unworthy servant of the princess be permitted to speak with her?"
Keladry slipped out of her seat and was already headed over when Lord Wyldon beckoned her. Joren realized that the Yamani might be even more formal than Kel ever was. Kel bow traditionally to Lord Wyldon and then in the Yamani manner to the lady.
"Please excuse me," Kel was speaking in Common much to everyone's relief. "But have I the honor of addressing the Lady Yukimi noh Daiomoru?"
"You have changed very much too, in six years, Keladry of Mindelan. There is more of you than there was," Lady Yukimi's name was undoubtedly being filed away by all the pages and squires present, Joren only because he figured if Kel knew the lady and was smiling than she was probably a friend.
"If you will excuse me? I know you have much to discuss with Squire Keladry," Lord Wyldon was polite in his interruption. "Outside, perhaps?"
Yukimi bowed to him again, "My Lord, may I ask if Squire Keladry is permitted to visit my mistress when her meal is complete?"
"Keladry must ask her knight-master," Wyldon replied before bowing again and going back to his table.
Kel and Lady Yukimi spoke in Yamani for a moment before the Lady bowed to the room which meant they all had to stand and bow in response. Joren did so quickly before reseating himself as Kel escorted the lady out. A short while later Kel reentered alone and was besieged by the others about details of the Yamani Ladies. It was Cleon who silenced them and then Neal drawing their attentions away by talking about his knight-mistress. His offer to trade was received and responded to by Kel telling them about her jousting lessons with Lord Raoul. More than a few of them shuttered at the idea of facing such an activity. The conversation changes to the fact that Kel will likely spending the evening with the Princess and Yamani Ladies before teasing Neal about his poetry.
Joren was sorry to see that other than meals, Kel's time was frequently dominated by the Yamani Ladies and Princess. Then, as the season turned, the Own departed once more to the south to deal with rebellion and various other matters.
When Kel left with the Own, Joren found himself cornered by Cleon in his own room. The bigger male didn't seem hostile, just determined, "We need to talk. Alone and it needs to be a talk that is between just the two of us." Cleon shut and locked the door to ensure they wouldn't be interrupted.
"You see. I have this theory. It is possibly a theory you share. The theory is that we are surrounded by a bunch of blind bats. There is a single female, beautiful in both personality and her own unique sort of graceful way, surrounded by a bunch of blathering idiot men who can't see her for the gem that she is," This last bit caused Joren to smirk as he sat on his bed.
"What makes you think I hold the same theory?" Joren's voice was bland.
"Because, unlike all the other blind bats who are capable of only seeing the traditional thin veneer of pretty of the court ladies, you seem unmoved by even the beautiful Yamani ladies that accompanied the Imperial Princess," Cleon took the seat in front of Joren's desk and turn it to face the other squire before sitting in it.
"Is that so? How are you sure that I am not simply taking a page out of Kel's book and hiding my interest in those court beauties?" Joren resisted the urge to chuckle at Cleon's expression of disbelief.
"Because while you show no interest when a court or Yamani lady is present, you do have a keen interest when Kel is so much as mentioned. Never mind that you've probably spent more time around her despite that little terror in her care than anyone other than myself and Kel's Yamani friends," Cleon now wore a smirk at Joren's chuckling.
"Much as you do yourself. My, my, we do have a predicament don't we," Joren smiled more easily now.
Cleon's expression however turned serious, "Very true, however, the way I see it, we can look at this one of two ways. A rivalry, which I would rather not deal with, if we're being honest. The way I see it, I'm also at a serious disadvantage to you as well. You may not know this, but I have an arranged marriage, one I doubt I could get out of with ease, if at all. My lands, as you may know, are in need of a revival and my family lacks the finances to do so without that marriage. Now, if no one else had shown interest in Kel I might have thought to try and do so. I care for her deeply. However, you, as far as I know, have no such issues. Stone Mountain is wealthy, prosperous and there are no arrangements necessary to ensure it lasts," Cleon's commentary had Joren's eyebrows raised.
"What exactly are you suggesting?" Joren asked cautiously.
"That I back off in deference to you, with the assurances that you respect and treat Kel right. I know that neither of us can dictate her life but at least we can offer her someone who sees her for the beauty that she is," Cleon spoke clearly, making his position on the matter clear.
"So, we give her the choice of me if she wants it?" Joren questioned cautiously before sighing. "I intended to wait until she gained her knighthood. She herself has stated she wants that first and foremost. I don't want to distract her from that."
Cleon sighed his relief, "I doubt anything could, and I'm not implying that you should even make a move just yet. You're right that she probably wouldn't want even the possibility of distractions. You can still show her subtle interest, so she doesn't think that she is unwanted though."
"Oh, I'm ahead of you on that. You know those lovely weaponized hair pieces Kel received last year?" Joren smirked at Cleon's surprised expression.
"That was you? Very clever, but you couldn't do anything more romantic? Flowers maybe?" Cleon asked.
Joren shook his head, "You know so little of warrior-maids. The theme I believe I will go with is beautiful but deadly. The Yamani are actually very useful for that. I got her this fancy fan that's bladed alone the spines. Here, take a look." Joren pulled out a thin box and opened it to reveal the unfurled fan.
Cleon carefully examined the fan before smirking and nodding, "Beautiful and deadly you say? I suppose it is a fitting theme. What's this called by the way?"
"Shukusen is what the shop owner said. A Yamani 'lady fan' to be carried when they don't want to be seen carrying a weapon. A practical gift for someone attempting to be a lady knight when you think about it," Joren's smirk made Cleon groan.
"You are going to be insufferable with this aren't you?"
"You're the one who wanted to talk about it," Joren pointed out, chuckling.