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.
Author's Note: I am going to start jumping between Joren and Kel's perspectives from this point on as it isn't possible to fully convey the rest of the story from just Joren's perspective.
ANN: Thank you to PerseusRex for the lovely review. Reviews tend to incite me to put up the new chapters sooner because they motivate me write! Also, for your questions, you shall see the answers, in time. I already have the full story planned out so you will just have to wait to find out.
Winter 460
The next two weeks were a blur of activity for the couple. There were last minute fittings for the wedding and arrangements that needed to be made. Lady Ilane and Lady Verene were keeping Kel locked away with the Princess and Lalasa as they completed the finishing touches. Joren grumbled to Neal, who had been decided on as his best man, what with Cleon in the north, about how little he was seeing of Kel.
"I swear, when my sisters married, there wasn't nearly this level of fuss," Joren muttered the day before the wedding.
"Well, tonight, you are going to have to allow yourself to be distracted. We have a night of celebration to participate in. We're going to get drunk as can be and enjoy ourselves. No need to worry about hangovers either as I already have packets for a tea to relieve them in the morning and have already given them to the appropriate people," Neal responded firmly.
Joren reluctantly obeyed. He had only agreed to a stag party because Kel had insisted on it to help relieve the stresses of his responsibilities in politics these days. He had insisted that there be no women, not even for entertainment, present. Such women held little appeal and, in his mind, would be garish the night before he married the woman he loved. The others had agreed easily, none wishing to face the wrath of a lady knight, much less one of Kel's caliber.
He followed Neal down into the city were a small eating house had been rented out for the evening. There, the others were already present. Raoul, Zahir, Merric, Paxton, and surprisingly Garvey had drinks and were waiting. Zahir had come over to Joren and explained that Garvey had asked to join them in order to repair their former friendship. Joren nodded uneasily but accepted the man's presence.
Raoul offered a toast as the eating house staff brought out food for everyone, "Tomorrow, one noble in Tortall will prove he is one of the wisest men in the kingdom. Lady Knight Keladry is kind, compassionate, beautiful and a master strategist. She will, I have no doubts, lead our country to new heights of respect and allow us to move forward into a new era. One which will see greater equality and progress for our people for generations to come. Lord Joren has chosen to marry Lady Keladry, proving that he has outwitted a great number of men in his choice. To Lord Joren and Lady Keladry."
Everyone, even Garvey, raised their glasses and drank to the toast. After this, they all ate and then the drinking and discussions continued. Frequent toasts were made. Some teasing proceeded as well until Garvey stood and held his glass up, indicating he intended to make a toast. Everyone fell quiet, Neal's expression was concerned but Joren waved for him to allow it, "I have to admit some surprise that a day like today should have ever come. Once upon a time, Joren made every attempt to bully Lady Keladry into quitting in her quest to gain knighthood. Looking back, I think those in our group of friends had no idea of what she would be capable of, what the new Lady Knight would exhibit in skills these days. Let it never be said that I can't admit to being wrong. Joren has certainly admitted it. So, while I still can't say that I believe ladies belong in combat, Lady Keladry, much like Lady Alanna, has proven that sometimes, one's gender can be overcome if effort, determination, and the circumstances are right. So, to Lady Knights, Gods know there are going to be a lot more to come now that two women have proven it possible and even more ladies are already putting concentrated effort into making it a new fact of life."
Everyone seemed surprised by the toast, but none would refuse to toast to Lady Knights. Joren nodded at Garvey that he accepted his middling offering of a truce and the other knight left soon after, not nearly as drunk as the rest were becoming. Neal eventually called a halt for the night and they all stumbled back to the palace, piss drunk.
Joren woke the next morning with a pounding headache as his valet opened his curtains and groaned when his valet came over to him with a cup of tea, still scalding hot. Joren was coaxed into drinking it quickly and then sighed in relief when it began to work immediately. Once the pounding in his head passed, a tray of food was placed in front of him. He ate it slowly, still waiting for his stomach to fully settle, though he knew that it wouldn't today. He was simply too nervous.
Kel paced back and forth in her rooms when Yuki, Shinko, Lalasa and her mother entered. She had pure panic in her eyes which made the women giggle a little at her. Ilane set the tray of food they had brought with them aside and forced her daughter to sit.
"Now, tell us, what is wrong?" Ilane asked, sitting next to her daughter and taking her hand.
"What if this is a mistake? I'm so young, I just got my shield, what if I regret marrying Joren?" Kel's voice was in panic.
"Do you love Joren?" Yuki asked suddenly.
Kel nodded mutely. She knew that she loved him, he had become one of her pillars of support along with her friends and family. The difference was that he was different than the others. She couldn't fully understand how he saw her as beautiful, even though he had made it clear in multiple ways that he did. He had never pushed her for more than she was ready for. Even this, the wedding, he had told her he could wait if she wanted. She was the one to push for it to be before she headed off for war. She had been allowed to initiate their more intimate moments. He had made his love obvious and unconditional, he had shown patience, waiting three years of courtship to marry her, even while she was on the border the past summer. Of course, she loved him.
"Then it can't be a mistake. Most young ladies are married by your age and they without the benefit of years of knowing their spouses in advance. Joren has taken every precaution to ensure that you don't feel trapped. Your marriage contract gives you freedoms that most noblewomen couldn't even dream of. He has shown you a level of devotion that would make other women the country-wide envious of you. He doesn't even look twice at other young women, even when they flaunt themselves before him. I doubt you will come to regret it. You will be too happy with him to do so," Ilane stated, feeling her daughter relax.
Keladry nodded her agreement. Joren had never strayed from his affections once he had declared them. He had never hesitated to show her that he loved her. She glanced over to his first presents to her, weaponized hair sticks, something both beautiful and deadly. It recognized the warrior and the woman in her. She had specifically requested for her wedding dress to match with them.
Lalasa placed the food in her lap and Kel nibbled slowly at the meal, knowing that she had to eat now for she would need her strength to fortify her. She didn't really taste anything she ate but she ate it all the same. After that, a bath was prepared, and she blushed while her friends and mother remained present while she bathed. The water was scented with lavender and they ensured that she fully cleaned herself before letting her out. When she was done, Kel was dried off and forced into her small clothes, shift, and a dressing gown.
Lalasa sat her down in front of her dressing table and began to work on her hair, which had grown out to a little past her shoulders. She knew that it would need to be cut before she left for the border, the Chamber's task still firmly in her mind despite the excitement of her wedding. Lalasa was tugging out the tangles from Kel's sleep and bath while Yuki had sat in front of her, opening different face paint lids. Kel didn't usually wear the stuff as she found it a waste of time but today it was to be expected.
Lalasa finished combing Kel's hair out and took a curling iron from its place very close to the hearth fire. The seamstress used a cloth to wipe any potential soot off the iron, a second was still by the fire, and carefully began to wrap Kel's hair around it so as to not burn Kel or herself. Each section of hair was curled and then pinned up, being added to an intricate design. The two curling irons were alternated as Lalasa worked. When she was finished, Kel's hair was a mass of curls contained in a low bun. Yuki had also finished but wasn't allowing Kel to see her face just yet.
Ilane forced Kel to stand and then tugged off her dressing gown. Lalasa had taken hold Kel's wedding dress and was now standing on the chair Kel had been sitting on before. Kel was ordered to raise her hands above her head and obeyed. Together, the four other women carefully guided the wedding gown over her head without disturbing their work on her hair and face. Once they finished with the difficult part, Lalasa tightened the ties of the dress and then checked Kel's hair to ensure it hadn't been disturbed.
With a nod, Lalasa handed over the elegant hair sticks and Shinko and Yuki slid them into the appropriate places. Ilane slid garnet earbobs into Kel's ears, having insisted on piercing them weeks ago. Then, a delicate gold and garnet necklace went around Kel's neck to complete the ensemble. When Ilane finally turned her daughter to face the full-length mirror, Kel gasped. She could hardly recognize the young lady she saw in the mirror. For the first time, she got a glimpse of what she would look like had she taken the route of most noblewomen. It was clear that she, in truth, was very similar in appearance to Patricine, though perhaps a little taller than her eldest sister.
Yuki had kept the face paint light and simple, enhancing what was there. Her hair pulled away from the face just enough to show her strong features and accent it just right. The dress's long flowing sleeves concealed her well-muscled arms but showing almost to the shoulders and the dress cut to show that she did have a figure, even if it wasn't as curvy as most of the court ladies, and then flared out into a flowing skirt. It was clearly a combination of Yamani and Tortall styles that fitted Kel surprisingly well.
"Well, if half the men in attendance at the wedding aren't envious of Lord Joren after seeing you like this, it is only because they are infatuated with their wives or lady loves," Lady Ilane smiled smugly at her daughter in the mirror. "I personally think it is quite a shame your elder brothers and their wives can't attend. Adalia and Oranie should be here soon though and I suspect they will be just as smug about this towards other ladies of the court as I am."
Kel blushed just as a knock on the door sounded. Ilane opened it to let in her sisters and father. Piers let a few tears slide at the sight of his youngest daughter in her wedding dress. Adalia and Oranie did appear smug as Kel's mother predicted. Oranie made Kel sit for a quick sketch so that it could be sent to Patricine and her husband, Demadina and her husband, and their brothers and their wives. Oranie was quite skilled at drawing like her mother and finished quickly, informing Kel that she intended to make it into a painting to be sent to their siblings.
By this point, it was almost time for the wedding and her sisters both gave her light pecks on the cheek before exiting to go to the Mithran and Goddess Chapel in the palace that was often used for noble weddings. A veil, the first Kel had ever worn, was carefully fixed onto her head and the rest escorted her to a chamber near the Chapel that was intended purely to hold the brides before the start of a wedding. Lalasa and Kel's mother gave her light pecks before leaving. Kel was now with just her father and her bridesmaids.
They heard people walking past their chamber, obviously going into the chapel to observe the wedding. Kel was once more a bundle of nerves, pacing back and forth in the room. Her nerves weren't uncertainty anymore, they were more to do with her wondering how others would think when they saw her, what Joren would think.
Joren paced, dressed in a tunic of blue and gray, his family colors. Neal, Roald and Lady Verene waited with him as he paced. Once and a while, Neal would glance out the door of the chamber to look into the chapel. When it was mostly full, Neal escorted Lady Verene to her seat at the front of the side for Joren's family and friends. He then returned and he, Roald and Joren entered the chapel. The three of them went to the right of the Mithran Priest and Goddess Priestess that stood at the alter in the room. The palace bell chimed, indicating the time was an hour before noon.
Joren shifted, straightening as the musicians began to play and the doors to the chapel were opened. Princess Shinkokami entered with flowers in her hands, followed by Lady Yuki, both moving to the left of the priest and priestess. The music changed a bit and then Kel entered with her father. The veil covered her face partially, but Joren's jaw dropped slightly before he recovered his dignity and straightened himself further. When Kel and her father finally reached him, Joren was already fighting the fidgeting, his desire to go to her nearly overwhelming.
He nearly sighed in relief as Kel's callused hand was passed into his own. He gripped it possibly a little too tightly as they turned and knelt before the priest and priestess for the opening prayers. Kel's grip on his hand was also strong though, so Joren didn't loosen his own. After the prayers, the priest and priestess anointed them, and they then stood. They exchanged vows and then rings. When the veil was finally lifted for the kiss to seal their marriage, Joren gasped lightly, not noticing that those closest to the alter also gasped at Kel's beauty. If his kiss was just a little beyond what was appropriate, he didn't care, even if Roald did have to clear his throat to break the spell that Kel had Joren under.
He beamed, gleefully at Kel as they turned to the crowd attending their wedding and the Priest and Priestess presented them as the Lord and Lady of Stone Mountain. Joren clung to her hand on his arm while they walked down the aisle and the wedding feast seemed to pass in an almost haze. He absentmindedly accepted congratulations from the guests and barely registered the toasts in their honor. Joren could barely take his eyes off Kel all afternoon and when they made their exit, to the teasing and cheers of their wedding guests, Joren felt his pulse quicken.
This night wouldn't be like those before. Kel wouldn't have to leave before dawn, hiding their interactions. While they had celebrated, Kel's things hand been transferred to his rooms and he would be waking up to her in his arms in the morning and for every morning until she left for the north. When they reached their rooms, Joren kissed Kel intensely before pulling away and then sat her at her dressing table.
He pulled out the hair sticks, gently putting them aside before taking off the earrings and the necklace, if his hands lingered on her neck and shoulders it wasn't commented on by Kel. Once they were placed into Kel's jewelry box, Joren got to work on removing the numerous hair pins until her curls tumbled down, caressing her shoulders. He grabbed her comb, running it through her hair carefully, undoing any potential tangles.
Kel had wiped the face paint off while Joren worked and stood when he was done. He made her face away from him as he loosened the ties on her dress and assisted her out of it carefully. He then laid it over the chair she had been sitting on before pulling her close and kissing her with a fiery passion. Within seconds, Kel was tugging his tunic and shirt off while he pulled off her underdress. The two were quick to finish undressing each other and falling into their bed with a tumble of giggles. Both were passionate in their love making that night.
The two had been promised two days of privacy after their wedding before they both had to get back to their duties. Once they were truly sharing a bed, Joren noticed that Kel had nightmares several times a week. He asked her about it, but Kel would tell him nothing more than that she couldn't talk about it, making it clear that they were from her Ordeal. Joren had several other things to become accustomed to as well. Jump and Kel's sparrows had apparently slept with her during her training and her marriage didn't seem to impact that arrangement in the minds of the animals at all. It was odd but Joren accepted it as a part of being with Kel, even if he had to be more careful getting out of bed in the mornings.
She had also become increasingly restless. Her training as a knight took up much of her time during the day and Joren was often in conference with the king and his other advisors. Kel often woke early and had a routine that Joren was getting accustomed to waking up to. Her pattern dances meant that he didn't risk getting out of bed until she was done with them, even if he did need to use the privy.
One morning, just before dawn, Kel's tossing and turning woke Joren. When she got up and carefully slid out from under the blankets, a few muffled cheeps of protest made Joren smile tiredly as she whispered sorry to them, not realizing he was awake. She went to the shutters and opened them, revealing that the sun hadn't risen yet, only a little light came through to frame her tall figure. She had cut her hair short again after the wedding but Joren didn't mind, it was part of who she was. Her strong figure made him smile warmly, even as he tugged the blankets up further, only wearing a loincloth underneath them.
He heard Kel gasp, before a male voice asked if he startled Kel. Kel glared before speaking, "Get out of here, you nasty thing! Shoo!"
Joren raised his eyebrows at this before the male voice sounded again, "Is that any way to greet a future companion? You people are getting ready to stage an entertainment for our benefit up north. You'll be seeing a lot of us this year."
Joren rose up in the bed at this and began to slide out from under the covers despite the cold air let in by Kel's having the shutters open, "Not if I can help it," Kel responded before walking across the room and retrieving her bow and arrows.
She had stubbed her toe so Joren grabbed a candle before taking it over to the hearth to light, bringing light into the room as she returned to the window. She sighed as she unstrung her bow after looking outside again.
"Sorry to have woken you. There was a Stormwing outside," Joren joined her at the window to see it now on the stable roof. It cackled as it flipped its tail at them before flapping off awkwardly. "I hate those things."
Joren wrapped his arm around her shoulder briefly before shuddering in the cold air. He went to stir up the fire before putting more clothing on. He sat on the bed while Kel took down her glaive and began her morning pattern dance. Jump went out one of the windows as she worked to empty his bladder and the sparrows all vacated the bed as well while the sun rose. When she finished, they went to breakfast before going their separate ways for the day.
Joren was researching inheritance laws for the king and Kel went to her lessons with Raoul. The man was seeing to her continuing education in command. Joren had made a side quest for himself while working on the king's pet project. King Jon wanted to change the laws of inheritance for the royal family to the first born regardless of gender. Joren was considering presenting a proposal to widen that to all the nobility, or at least, loosen up the laws that required sons for inheriting certain titles. It was an idea he had been thinking on for a while and he had worked hard on how he would present it to the King and other nobles. They had attempted it a few years before, but there were too many conservatives against it at the time as it wasn't well planned out. Joren had done in-depth research for it this time, though.
He knew that he would have to put it forward in a way that would make the whole of the nobility agreeable to it. He knew of at least a few conservative families that would now jump at the chance of backing the idea. Wyldon of Cavell had no sons, Duke Turmont of Wellam's only son had died two years before with only a daughter from his marriage and the Duke had no other children, so his only heir was a ten-year-old girl by the name of Belinda who had started her page training this year under the Duke's own orders. Three other families without sons had done the same, one of them was conservative. With Wyldon's two girls, their friend and these new young ladies, there were now seven girls in page training. Kel had broken the stalemate between conservatives and progressives, the favor had tipped steadily towards the progressives now.
Joren had a list of names, people he had written either letters or notes to, depending on how far away they were from him. He had recorded the information on inheritance laws and the precedents set for each and every family. This day, he was finally prepared on both projects and had asked for an audience with Duke Turmont and King Jonathan. He carried his papers and the books for the laws in question with the right pages marked, down the halls of the palace to the room that Jonathan had agreed for the meeting to take place in. He chuckled at the thought that he had become such an academic and politician, as when Kel had first arrived for page training, he had struggled with his lessons.
It was still early in the day when he arrived, the other two not joining him just yet. He set his things down and joined the meeting in an adjacent room. There he was informed that Maggur Rathhausk was the new king of Scanran. It was unfortunate news. It meant that the risks that summer would be greater, especially for Kel, who would be on the front lines. When the meeting ended, Duke Turmont and Jon followed him into the room he left the books and papers in.
Joren started off with what the King wanted. Turmont frowned as he listened to Joren's explanations of what King Jonathan wanted and then showed him the precedent for it. The duke nodded slowly, reluctant to agree but knew that it was a sound argument and agreed to look further into the possibility of changing the law. Then Joren slid his proposal for his idea over and they looked at him in confusion before taking the papers and beginning to read them.
Turmont's expression turned thoughtful as he read. Joren took that as a good sign. Jonathan looked surprised as he read. When both finished Jonathan set the papers down, "You do realize there is going to be a lot of resistance to a legal change of this proportion."
Joren shook his head, "Not as much as you'd think. This is the list of the noble families without male heirs or their sons have no male heirs. Some of them lost their only sons in the Immortals war, some to illness, and even more simply didn't have any to begin with. A lot of them have cousins, brothers or nephews that they really don't want to inherit their Fiefs. Duke Turmont, you have such a situation, correct? Your son died two years ago of an illness that wasn't caught in time, he was your only child and your only grandchild, Belinda just started her Page training?"
"You did your research. Well, your Majesty, Lord Joren does have a very good point. He has even written in ways to protect family linages. I suppose it could be sold as a way to preserve older noble houses in the event that a male heir isn't born. That the law is being put forth by Stone Mountain will also place a bit of pressure on families that are arrogant enough to pretend that they would never go without a male heir, given his recent marriage to a strong, healthy young woman of fertile background and having a younger brother to inherit if needed," Turmont's ready agreement startled the king.
"Well, you certainly have a solid argument. If you can get enough noble backing for it, Lord Joren, we will put it to a vote at this summer's congress. A word of advice though, before it gets presented to congress, make sure you have every defense possible for it. The idea that if a woman is to inherit the full title, she must have her Knighthood or have a proven skill in combat is a clever one. It will keep men from claiming those women aren't fit for the titles they claim. It also backs the precedent that most male heirs also have knighthoods themselves," Jonathan nodded his approval.
Joren relaxed as they all stood. Turmont informed Joren and the King that he would have his scribes looking into the finer details of the laws that would be changed and refine the proposals. Joren saw Kel briefly during lunch, though she was clearly uncomfortable, but he didn't have time to talk with her before rushing off to council meetings and she went to her lessons on learning the Scanran language. Joren focused on the issue at hand, the reports from the border and the like.
That evening, he filled in Kel and their group of friends on what was happening during supper. He could only share so much information, but he let them know what he could. He didn't want them caught off guard. That night, Kel stayed up reading, making Joren go to bed on his own. He frowned at the unusual behavior, but he let her have her peace for now, hoping that she would talk to him when she was ready.
Joren was well asleep by the time Kel left their rooms. She was careful to slip out quietly to ensure she didn't wake him. The Chamber had set her a task, but she needed to know more information. The dreams of the killing machines and the nothing man woke not only Kel but Joren as well, though only because she would thrash in her sleep. She had to visit the Chamber again, as much as she disliked the idea. Quite simply, she needed more information and she needed it now, before she received orders from the king. Jump had followed her and wagged his tail as she entered the Chapel of Ordeal.
Kel looked around the room and took in all the details before ordering Jump to stay in the aisle and then walked up to the Chamber of Ordeal slowly. The iron door opened for her silently. She shook with fear but entered the cold windowless room.
She stood in a bare plain without anything to be seen, just bare earth, "Where is this place? Do you live here?" She asked aloud. This wasn't her Ordeal, so she could talk this time, or at least she thought so.
It is as close as your human mind can perceive it. The Chamber's eerie voice sounded in Kel's head though not her ears.
"I don't see why you haven't done something with it. No furnishings, no trees or birds. If you're going to bring people here, you ought to make things look nicer," Kel blurted out before mentally kicking herself for criticizing the thing that held her within its power.
Mortal, what do you want? The Chamber seemed to lose patience with her. Its face formed in the dirt in front of her. It was lined and sexless, lips so thin they might as well not be there at all. The task you have been set is perfectly clear. You will know it when you find it.
Kel shook her head, "That's no good. I need to know when and where. Also, I need another look at the little Nothing Man, please."
Immediately she found herself in a living image of a room that she had only gotten a corner view of before. Unlike the previous vision and her dreams, this place felt solid and real. Behind her there was a forge with fiery coals. An anvil and metal working tools nearby, a wall of mage tools, a large stone worktable with gutters on the sides. The table covered in black stains. The room smelt of herbs, damp stone, mold and hints of old blood.
Among it all was the scrawny and fidgeting Nothing Man standing next to the worktable, chewing on a fingernail. Kel recoiled before the Chamber assured her that she couldn't be seen. The Nothing Man was exactly as she remembered him. Nothing new was learnt from this viewing of him.
A killing machine came out of the shadows dragging a dead child. It also looked exactly as she remembered from her Ordeal and her own encounter with one. It was the stuff of nightmares, particularly hers. She got a good, close look at all the parts of the killing machine as it moved about and cringed. With a flap of the Nothing Man's hand the killing machine left the room.
Then a big man came in, tall enough to have to bend a little to get through the door. His gray-blond hair hung past his shoulders, a carefully maintained beard, brown eyes, long straight nose, a woodsman's clothing with a leather jerkin. The man had an axe and dagger. He stopped before the Nothing Man.
"We just shipped twenty more to King Maggur. That leaves us with ten, Master Blayce," He spoke in Scanran. "Barely enough to make it to spring."
Kel memorized the man's features and Blayce's name, "It'll do, Stenmun." Blayce replied. His voice was whiny and Scanran horrible. "Maggur knows…"
Kel appeared back in the Chamber's dreary home. She glanced around and thought she saw a tree in the distance. She glared at the face in the dirt, "Where is he? Look, Maggur Rathhausak is king now. He'll march once Scanra thaws out. The king will be sending the army, that includes me, north as soon as he can. You have to tell me where to look so I can leave before that happens! If I go now, I won't be disobeying the king. We mortals call that treason."
I cannot, the Chamber replied. Kel swore, the Chamber explained. I am not a part of your idea of time. You mortals are like fish swimming in a globe of glass. That globe is your world. You do not see beyond it. I am all around that globe, everywhere at once. I am in your yesterdays and tomorrows just as I am in your today and it all looks the same to me. I only know you will find yourself in that one's path. When you do, you must stop him. He perverts life and the living. That must not continue. I thought you would like the warning.
Kel crossed her arms, "So, you don't know when I'll see that piece of human waste. The Nothing Man, Blayce. Or that warrior of his, what's his name? Stenmun?"
No, The Chamber was blunt.
"And you don't know where they are?" Kel questioned.
Your ideas of countries and borders are meaningless to me.
"But you thought I'd be happy to know that the one who's making the killing devices, who's murdering children, will come my way. Sometime, someplace," She questioned, annoyed now.
You must right the balance between mortals and the divine. That balance is my reason to exist. That creature defiles life and death. I require you to put a stop to it. Your satisfaction is not my concern.
Kel fought the urge to scream. The Chamber forced her out of it as she asked if she could speak of this encounter. He said she could but informed her that they already knew the name Blayce, they just couldn't find him. She cursed again.
Kel and Jump went back to her suite of rooms shared with Joren. She stood over their bed and hesitated before stripping down and climbing under the covers. He shifted and wrapped his arms around Kel. When they woke in the morning, Kel told him about her conversation with the Chamber. Joren's expression changed several times but eventually settled on resignation. They had agreed that while the King might not let him fight, Kel shouldn't be denied the right. He now had no choice but to accept that and provide her with everything he possibly could.
He did question her about the details she had gotten from the vision and cursed. Kel looked at him in concern, "What is it?"
"Every encounter we have had reports of, the killing machines were animated by children's souls. Any refugee children on the border will be an appetizing target for Maggur and Blayce. We need to get them away from the danger areas as quickly as possible. I'll talk to Mother and when you all head north when the snows thaw, I will head to Stone Mountain and see about what space we can make for them, it won't be as far as they should be from the border but Stone Mountain is damned near impregnable as a fortress and can fit all three surrounding villages within its walls if needed," Joren stated as they dressed. "We should be able to relocate the most vulnerable refugees sooner rather than later. I just need to make sure everything is arranged properly and to get other lords to do similarly."
Later that morning, Kel, along with her year-mates and any other free knights in the palace were summoned to the throne room and informed they were now in the crown's service for the length of the war. Joren set aside funds for Kel and reviewed every piece of equipment she owned. If any of them were in less than perfect condition, he purchased replacements. He even went so far as to buy her a new, Raven Armory crafted Glaive. A week later, he and Kel were packing their things, the Army could move out, though it would be hard going. Joren would travel with them most of the way north before breaking off and going to Stone Mountain to assess what he had available in terms of resources.