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.
AN: Thank you for the lovely new reviews. To answer the question that was asked, yes, I will be continuing the story to the end of the Protector of the Small Series.
Summer-Winter 458/459
When they left Blue Harbor finally, they moved north up the coast. Then they pitched camp on the edge of Fief Mindelan. It was Joren's first time seeing Kel's home fief. It was supposed to be a sign of favor to her family for negotiating the treaty with the Yamani. Joren watched with interest as Kel interacted with her nieces and nephews, of whom there were quite a few. It was amusing to see that Kel was the same height as her eldest brother and a relief that he wasn't the only one who matched heights with her.
Joren also had the pleasure of spending Kel's birthday with her while they were at Mindelan. He gave her the Carthaki dagger he had bought her in Pearlmouth and earned an enthusiastic kiss for it. He was happy he had chosen to present it to her in private. There was a small party for her as well and Joren found himself on the receiving end of extensive questioning from Kel's elder brothers and sisters-in-law. Cleon had a blast, playing with Kel's nephews and nieces, having spent time at Mindelan as Inness's squire.
Just before the Progress moved on, Scanran wolf-ships were sighted off the coast of Fiefs Seabeth and Seajen but hadn't attacked yet. The same day, a messenger from Northwatch arrived, informing them that Scanrans had crossed the border and General Vanget haMinch was requesting troops and supplies immediately. The monarchs were also instructed to move the Progress away from the now embattled border.
Joren and most of the new knights were called into a meeting with the King and Queen. After some discussion, Joren was startled to realize that he wasn't being sent north with the other knights of his year, Third Company was also staying with the Progress, so he wasn't separating from Kel, but he was still confused. When the others had filed out, all that was left was Joren and Lord Raoul.
"Your Majesty, I'm not questioning your authority or anything, I am just curious, why am I not being sent north with the rest of my year-mates?" Joren asked, Raoul was clearly waiting for Joren to leave so he figured he get the question out of the way and then find Kel.
King Jonathan sighed, "Frankly? You are from an old, conservative family but, well honestly, everyone knows you have taken a rather progressive stance. That is useful to me, it means that some older families that tend to look to yours might take a leaning towards the progressive too if it means being in your good graces. Lord Joren, you are too politically valuable to send into war. It would also be damaging if a four-year-old was the Lord of a fief that controls a hefty portion of our opal and silver exports. You're an adult with good, sound advice coming from your mother and uncle. That provides stability that we need too. In short, you're more valuable to me away from the fighting, I'm sorry."
Joren nodded slowly, "I see. So, that means I won't be a true knight." It was a blow in a way, but he understood the king's reasoning. He bowed and left.
He sought out Cleon who was just a floor below and heard Raoul and the king and queen arguing as a result. Once they heard the fight end, they went to go find Kel. She was out by the nearby river sitting on a log. Cleon and Joren sat on either side of her, Joren taking her hand firmly in his own.
"Half of us are off to Northwatch. We leave tonight at moonrise. The ones to defend the coast are going now. They're taking three of the Rider Groups… not Buri's Seventeenth, though," Cleon stated.
Kel glanced at Joren in concern. Joren smile weakly, "Oh, not me. According to the king, I am too important a political chess piece to be thrown away in random violence. I don't like being coddled but I don't get much of a choice."
"My lord?" Kel asked, glancing between the men on either side of her.
Cleon shook his head, "The King's decided that First Company of the King's Own had been at court too long and needs to remember why they wear the pretty mail. Glaisdan and his men are on their way to the coast. My lord Raoul and Third Company stay with the progress."
"Maybe I'll sleep here tonight. He'll be angrier than a stung boar," Kel shudder.
Joren wrapped his arm around her shoulder and smirked, "The queen sent him to his room."
Kel looked stunned by the information, "She what?"
"Not in front of anyone. They were in that tower of yours. We wouldn't have heard anything if I hadn't needed to… well I was on the floor right below and Joren had come looking for me. The queen said if Raoul was going to squall like an infant cheated of a sweet, he could go to his room until he grew up," Cleon clarified. Joren couldn't help smiling a little bigger at the reminder of what the queen said.
Kel hid her face in Joren's chest before speaking, "Definitely staying out here tonight. Did he go?" She looked at them suddenly very curious.
Cleon nodded, "Sooner or later he'll realize the monarchs will want to see thing for themselves. Then he will have to keep them safe with one hundred men. Maye he's figured it out by now. That it's why Commander Buri didn't squeak about her staying with the progress."
Kel nodded her understanding, cuddling closer to Joren, "How long will you be gone, Cleon?" She whispered. He was her friend, Joren knew that and didn't begrudge Cleon Kel's concern.
"All summer at least," Cleon stated before standing. "I should go and rest a little before I leave with the others tonight."
Kel stood and gave Cleon a quick hug before he departed. Then, Joren let her snuggle with him a little before coxing her back to her home to sleep in a real bed. The much smaller progress was east of Mindelan when Cleon's prediction came true. Joren grumbled as he was sent on with Roald and Shinkokami in the Progress while Kel and Third Company stayed behind with the monarchs, a few mages and a Rider group.
It was roughly three weeks later that they rejoined the progress at Fief Hannalof. Joren couldn't help but feel relief. He heard from Kel, with a great deal of amusement, of the monarchs being scolded by General Vanget. After this, they traveled east through the lands held by the ancient Minchi clan, north of Fief Dunlath on the Gallan border.
The progress then went south and west. There were a lot of tournaments and Kel seemed determined to compete frequently. Joren was happy to cheer for her from the stands, though he did occasionally joust if incited. There were less knights to joust against, but it was a bit of fun for him all the same.
When the Progress finally returned to Corus, the weather had turned, and the leaves were almost completely gone from the trees. Just days after they had settled into the palace, Kel sought Joren out and hugged him. She refused to let go for a full hour and never told him why. Eventually, just before she left for the night, she informed him that she was glad he wasn't going to be sent to fight the Scanrans.
She seemed to deflate a little when they reached Midwinter and Cleon, Neal and Owen were still in the north. Kel almost clung even tighter to Joren during the winter, when she wasn't in lessons with Lord Raoul. During Midwinter, Joren gave her a gift that was really a lot more expensive than he let on. A set of knives that were attached to fitted arm and leg guards. All of them came from Raven Armory. He had decided she would need something a little more combat ready as he suspected that come spring she would be heading north.
There was some level of excitement about the Ordeals, the Chapel being rather full during them, after the events of Vinson's Ordeal the year before. When the holiday had passed, Kel was often dragged off with Third Company into the royal forest to help the villages there. Joren, meanwhile, had found himself increasingly dragged into political meetings with the king, queen and other nobles, all of whom were conservatives. The king explained that Joren was the perfect mediator for such talks because he came from such a conservative background, but he now held progressive views. This meant he could give the king insight on how far he could push for something before angering conservatives.
Joren found himself quickly studying laws in more intimate detail and praying for a reprieve whenever Kel was in the palace. After one such meeting, he and Roald, who had also been attending the meeting, were talking.
"I think father is preparing you to be my Prime Minister eventually. If you think about it, it makes sense. We're friends, have similar political viewpoints and you have a powerful holding in Fief Stone Mountain with a lot of influence, even now. Sir Gareth the Younger had to pick up the slack, according to father, when his aunt, my grandmother, died and his father didn't have the heart for it anymore. I understand it was difficult for him and father at first," Roald commented while they drank tea.
"So, he wants to have someone prepared, just in case. Some 'under' prime minister in the event of Sir Gareth's or his death? Makes sense. You're right, I would make a prime option. Especially with my openly courting Kel. It is common knowledge, which means he doesn't have to worry about my stance on women in the military. Not if my goal for a wife is a female knight," Joren sighed. "I suppose I will have to settle for Kel getting to be the one to earn all the glory in battle while I learn a new form of combat."
"You won't resent her for it?" Roald looked at Joren curiously.
Joren shook his head, "No, she has worked harder for it than any of us. It would be petty of me. Besides, I love her too much for resentment to take hold. I do believe we will have to settle for being the most powerful couple of your court. She can lead the King's Own for you, seems to be what Raoul has her training for anyways, and I will lead your government."
Roald nodded satisfied, "Mine and Shinko's government. She and I are planning to go the same route as father and mother on that front."
"Good. Your bride is a bit too intelligent to be used as nothing more than a court ornament and broad-mare. You should talk to your mother about having Shinko get involved with the Riders, they are called 'the Queen's Riders' which would imply they have a similar purpose for the queen that the King's Own has for the king," Joren pointed out.
"Hmm… see, you're already proving to be a valuable source of ideas. Between fFther's generation and mine, we should have Tortall singing a new tune about women warriors in no time. On that note, aren't Lord Wyldon's two youngest girls and another girl in page training now?" Roald changed to another topic.
"Yes, Fianola and Katilan are apparently thriving. Lord Wyldon has tasked me with keeping an eye on them because he blames me for having to allow them to learn. That said, he wrote me just before the roads closed-up for the winter. Apparently, the girls aren't facing the same level of discrimination that Kel did. I have been keeping an eye out and that seems to be true. I guess when three pages are female rather than just one, it is harder to target them, especially if they are all grouped together and have such powerful family ties. Apparently, Kel's nephew has joined in their little group of friends, them all being in the same year and Lachlan being well-aware of females being capable of fighting, what with his aunt being prepared for her own knighthood," Joren shrugged.
"And if there aren't any bullies in there either," Roald pointed out, eying Joren.
"Oh, I didn't say that, Sir Ansil of Groten's son, Coran of Groten and Muirgen haMinch, are two years above them and cause a bit of mischief, Sir Padraig, however, doesn't hold for his nephew to anger the king and is strict with them about it as a result. He seemed dead set on holding each of the pages to the same exacting standard. No favoritism permitted," Joren commented.
Roald nodded his understanding. They moved on to other topics and eventually parted, though Joren began taking things more seriously than before. When Third Company switched from visiting villages to resupplying, Joren was pleased that Kel was around more and amused at her frustrations with the crown suppliers. Joren felt a little surer that Kel would be going north in the spring and he accepted the idea reluctantly.
He knew that it wouldn't be for more than until late fall at most, because Kel had her Ordeal the next winter, and he silently hoped, also a wedding, though he didn't bring it up. He could tell she still wasn't ready for marriage, though he hoped when she came back, and he made it clear that he wouldn't let their marriage hold her back, that she would be happy to agree with the idea.
Joren found himself being dragged to Lord Raoul's rooms with the king, Flyndan and Sir Myles one day. He was a little disconcerted to be drawn into a political meeting this important but didn't challenge it. As they approached the rooms, Raoul's door was open, and they could hear talking within, "…has another three clans under his banner. It's rare that Scanrans unite, but they do manage every twenty or thirty years. I guess they forgot what happened the last time."
"It's worse than last time," Myles stated, standing in the doorway with the others. "Is yours a private party, or may anyone join?"
Kel made tea as they sat and once they had been served, Myles spoke again, "We have news from the north. It's not good. Join us, please, Kel."
Joren was smirking even as the King and Flyndan scowled. After glancing around, a nod from Raoul had Kel sitting between him and Joren. The king may not be as aware of how much influence Kel would have in the future just yet. Her lack of knighthood didn't deter from her intelligence.
"Every night, I thank the gods for Daine," Myles commented as he adjusted the taste of his tea with a touch of sugar. "Since she came to us, we have sources of information year-round. We're not blind in winter. Maggur Rathhausak has been a busy boy. He now has nine clans under his banner. The remaining clans on their Great Council brawl over trade monopolies and blood feuds, while this southern wolf munches them up one by one."
"I don't understand, I thought it was impossible to get three Scanrans to… eat together, let alone fight. How did he unite nine clans sworn to drink each other's blood?" Flyndan's change in wording had Joren hiding a smile.
"Warlord Maggur is clever. He keeps hostages," Myles supplied.
This led to a chorus of surprise and Sir Myles explaining how the warlord managed it. This resulted in a brief discussion of the hostages and why Myles's people couldn't free them. It then transitioned to how Raoul was attempting to resupply Third Company using Kel to conceal his plans.
"It's an exercise in logistics and supply," Kel's face was almost too innocent as she spoke and Joren had to fight to keep his expression clear of amusement. "He makes me study such things."
Myles laughed a little, "Very good, my dear. Very good. If you ever want to work as an agent, I hope you'll come to me."
The king shifted and started scolding Raoul for not telling him in person. This resulted in what could amount to a childish bickering match that lasted until it was revealed that Glaisdan of Haryse, the head of First Company was dead.
"What happened?" Raoul asked.
"He heard of a late autumn raid on Carmine Tower. He thought two squads would be enough to capture the raiders. One man made it back. He said that Glaisdan misinterpreted trail signs and took them into the middle of a three-clan war party," Sir Myles supplied.
Raoul paused before speaking quietly, "I told you he wasn't fit for a field command."
King Jonathan deflated, "You were right. I let my temper get the better of me, and now twenty men are dead. I'm sorry, Raoul. I think you know how sorry I am."
Raoul acknowledged that he did, and the King informed the Knight, Squire and Captain that they would be leaving at the start of spring and all but ordered them not to get killed. Sir Myles asked for every prisoner they can managed to take so that they could gain more information.
"We are getting wild reports of strange machines… Metal beasts and walking stones. None of ours who are still alive have seen them. I need something definite," Sir Myles explained and gave warning. Kel and Raoul were informed they had more money for supplies and then Myles departed.
Joren cringed at the idea of Kel possibly facing such a creature but knew that if anyone had the intelligence to face one and survive, it was her. The next few weeks, whenever Kel wasn't working on supplying Third Company and Joren wasn't in meetings, they tried to garner a little time to themselves. He dreaded her departure but knew it was unavoidable.