Okay- here it is. Kel is going to spend quite a bit of time at the palace, you know… Sorry if Wyldon is OOC. Heck, everybody is OOC (to some extent). But especially Wyldon. I'm saying he's maybe fifty (and still going strong!) but I don't really know how old he would be by then. Since Morgen still has my copy of First Test (I'll never get it back!!) and I'm too cheap to buy Page in hardcover, I can't remember Hakuin Seastone's animal title, though I am fairly sure that is his name! (you know, that guy who works with the Wildcat and trains the pages and squires). I will also probably get a bunch of stuff wrong, because of that dratted girl- she's had the book (and two others) for nearly a month! But I have hostages- two of her favorite books…. Heh heh heh… Also, what's the name of that Yamani princess? Metnami? Menasami? Mayasami? I give up! I can't remember!! But I'm pretty sure it starts with an M. Or is it a Y? Yisokami? Yesk- impossible! No! I got it! It's Chisakami!!! Yay!!
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Chapter 4: The Court
Kel inhaled the aromas of fresh baking, and was reminded by her growling stomach that she hadn't eaten four nearly half a day. She bought a pastry, and eating it, she made her way up to the palace. They said wonders happened at the Tortallan court. She also wanted to meet Eda Bell, who taught hand-to-hand combat to the pages and squires. They said the Wildcat could beat anyone in kickfighting. Approaching the gates, two guards stopped her.
"Business?" they asked.
"Ah," said Kel. "I'm on my name-year for Shang, but I have quite a while yet and I would like to see the Tortallan court that everybody is gossiping about. I also want to visit the Wildcat, I haven't practiced with a master for months and I'm probably getting rusty."
The guard accepted that, and let her pass. It was quite a way from the gates to the actual building, but Kel was tired of riding so she put her packs on Starshine and dismounted, walking beside her mare. Approaching the Palace she saw some young boys being drilled in staff fighting. Kel rested for a while and stopped to watch.
"No, No!" she yelled, seeing one slip. "You've got holes all over your guard, hold it like this!" she went into her stance, cupping her hands around an imaginary staff. The boy imitated her.
"Yeah. That's right."
One thing led to another, and soon she was correcting grips and swings and stances, and she didn't even notice when an aging man in his late forties, or maybe early fifties snuck up on her.
"Your halfway decent, woman." A voice growled, causing her to jump nearly three feet in the air. She turned around.
"Lord Wyldon. I train those pea-brains over there. Otherwise known as the pages and squires." He held out his hand. Kel took it.
"Keladry of Mindelan. One of the handful of nobles ever to go to Shang. I haven't quite passed; yet, I'm four months into my name-year. Glad to meet you."
He shook Kel's hand in a grip that almost made her wince. Fifty, and still going strong, she thought. Better not underestimate him.
"I just came to take a look around, and visit the Wildcat, I know she's taken up residence here." Kel said.
Wyldon snorted. "She's even older than I am- and still teaching hand-to-hand combat. I'd swear she's sixty, at least, and still as fit as she was twenty years ago. Though she only trains squires, now, her exact words were 'I 'm tired of teaching such bare beginners. It gives me a headache just thinking about it.'"
Kel let out a chuckle. "I can picture that. Is she around?"
"Sure. In the other outdoor training courts, on the other side of the building." He grinned wickedly. "It's quite a walk."
"I think I can manage it."
***
I think I overestimated myself again, Kel thought miserably as she trudged up the seemingly mile-long hill and all the way around the Palace. I'm beginning to regret leaving Starshine in the stables. Finally the courts came into view, and Kel picked up her pace. When she finally got there, she sat on the fence, taking a rest, and watched as the Wildcat went through her drills. She was good, very good. Not as good as the Unicorn by quite a bit, but Kel had the feeling that age had only sharpened this one's wit. Her hair was completely gray, and you could see weathered lines in her face, but her eyes were full of spry energy.
When she was done, Kel applauded from the fence.
The Wildcat turned to her. "Didn't know I had an audience," she remarked with a wide grin. "Maybe I should charge a fee. You probably already know my name, but I'm Eda Bell, otherwise known as the Wildcat."
Kel returned her smile. "Keladry of Mindelan."
"That name sounds familiar…" Eda thought for a moment. "Aren't you that noble who went to Shang? Been a long time since that happened, and I really can't remember any who were female."
Kel nodded. "I'm on my name year. Been to Tyra and Tusaine, so far it's been a picnic. The only down part is getting sore from riding."
The older woman laughed. "Yes- it's usually like that- for a while, anyway. The gods always manage to put something unexpected into the trip at one point or another, so be on your guard, especially if you're going to Scanra. You should always be careful there whether or not you're on name-year."
"Yeah, that's what the Unicorn said. Basically not to go to Scanra if I had any brains at all. I guess I was stupider than she thought, 'cause that'll be my last stop, after Galla."
"Bah, can't be any stupider than she was, because she went there. Nearly lost her head. But anyways, what brings you to Corus? It's quite a distance from Galla. Can't really say you're 'just travelling by'"
Kel jumped off the fence. "Came to see the 'wonders of the Tortallan court.' I've still got eight months, so I'm going to waste some time here. I also came, as you could guess, to brush up on my skills. In other words, to get my ass kicked."
Eda laughed. "Well you don't get any better standing there, girl! You want to learn from me, you stay on your toes!"
The Wildcat drilled Kel on her specialty, the kicks, and improved, if not perfected them. Then she taught Kel two new kicks as well as coaching her on her other fighting skills, with and without weapons. They ended with a little match, in which Kel's butt got whipped royally. But she did fine, for her skills.
"Pretty good!" came a call. "That's the best anyone's ever done against the Wildcat in years- not counting Hakuin Seastone- but he's Shang too." Kel squinted in the sun at the fence and saw two men sitting on it, both in their early twenties. They jumped off, and Kel could see them more closely as they approached. They were both tall, one with bright red hair and the other with brown. "I'm Cleon." Said the red-haired one. "Sir Cleon. I've been a knight for three years and it still sounds weird! This mister shyness is Roald, the Crown Prince. He's been timid as a mouse ever since he was married to that Yamani princess… Chit… Cim… Cass…"
"Chisakami?"
"Yeah. That's it."
Kel smiled. "I'm Keladry. Only call me Kel. Aargh, I hate being called Keladry. It sounds so… formal."
Cleon beamed right back at her. "You know, that reminds my of my friend, Neal. He always hated his full name. From his mouth: 'my least favorite aunt calls me Nealan.'"
Roald snorted. "You've been quoting Neal ever since her left on that damned border patrol. I don't know why he likes it. 'serving his country' he calls it."
"Now look who's quoting."
"Your quote was longer!"
"See right there, Roald. You're a nice guy if you just let down your hair a bit." Cleon said.
"I wish Chisakami would. She's always got it piled up in these gigantic beehives." Roald let a little smile through. "Dammit- I don't know why father had to do a bloody arranged marriage. He got to marry whom he wanted to, after all! I mean, the princess isn't awful or anything-"
"I heard she was pretty good in bed," Cleon joked.
Roald blushed and elbowed Cleon a little harder than necessary.
Kel smothered a giggle at their antics. "Well, I'm just around for a while, so why doesn't one of you gentlemen show me around?"
Cleon bowed, with only a hint of jest. "Why of course, Lady Kela- Kel." He offered his arm, which she took.
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That was pretty uneventful, but I had fun doing it. I'm getting into this. Remember to review!