Kel's Summer: Part Four; Back to Corus.
DISCLAIMER: Tamora Pierce invented Tortall and all of the marvelous characters apart from the ones that are mine.
AN: Kel and co return to Tortall. I think that this episode will be a bit different but oh well. I finally managed to write a longer one. I wrote this in my limited freetime.
I would appreciate some ideas for the story, put them on a review or email me at ormemr@aol.com. I hope you enjoy this.
In the morning, Kel found that three of the horses had been taken despite their efforts. She was performing her morning exercises when Cleon stumbled out of his tent, he groaned "You're up already? Don't you sleep my glorious rose?"
Kel suppressed a laugh, Cleon hated mornings but noticed that this he was awake before the others. "I had enough sleep. Did I hear you sleep-talking last night?" She teased.
Cleon's cheeks flushed with colour and a look of panic and irritation appeared on his face. "What's Neal been telling you?"
"Nothing much."
He sighed heavily "It doesn't matter. What are we going to do about Joren?"
"I like him now he doesn't remember," Kel said breezily as she prepared some porridge.
"I don't mean that. I mean we need to warn the Scanran Ambassador in Corus and Joren's hurt, he'll slow us down. We need to go as soon as possible, Bright-eyed star."
"Maybe we can leave Joren at the castle, we could ask Neal when he wakes up.
Cleon gave a wry smile "I think that Neal will sleep for a while yet."
Kel thought fast "I'll sort the horses and we'll need to tell people about the bandits. We need to get to Corus to alert this Thoki, but we don't even know what he looks like or who the assassins are."
"How is the Takri organized?" Cleon wanted to know.
"It's divided first into Leagues, the League of the First Knife, the League of the Fifth Knife and so on. Each of these has a secret commander. Then it's divisions or Leagues or something. Anyway, the commanders are the best of the best and the First Knife Commander is the overall leader. They also deal in smuggling and thieves." She shrugged "Neal probably knows more about it than I do."
"How do they judge who is the best?"
"Shang fighting, but they rarely fight to the death, only to become First Knife." Kel always felt queasy at that thought.
The others stirred slowly, Joren was the last to get up.
"We could brainwash him," Faleron suggested hopefully "Maybe even turn him into a nice person."
This suggestion was popular but they reluctantly agreed to leave Joren behind and travel back Corus.
A week later they arrived in the capital.
The Princes stared towards the nearing land. She leaned on the rail and sighed wearily. Her feelings were mixed; she longed to see this strange land but was angry that she was being forced to marry it's Prince.
Her companion, Chika, understood the sigh "Tortall is very different from the Yamani Isles, Hiroko."
"Is it always this cold?" Hiroko demanded, but she didn't expect Chika to know. Chika was a Tortallan merchant's daughter, raised in the Yamani Isles. Chika looked almost like a Yamani herself, with her dark hair and tanned skin. But her eyes were different."
"It isn't always this bad in the summer." Chika smiled, Hiroko knew no other person who smiled.
Curiousity rose out of her resentment "What is Prince Roald like?"
"Nice enough, he's training to be a knight," Chika replied.
Hiroko thought for a moment "And they expect me just to agree to marry? Just like that?"
"It'll be alright, you may even love him. But while you're here why don't you just enjoy it?" Chika said gently.
Hiroko was still unsatisfied, she stared out at the city, tinted yellow by the evening sun "Why not."
Kel brushed her hair for the fifth time that evening and glanced at the scarlet dress "I can't wear that. I feel like such a Lump." She muttered.
Lalassa laughed "My Lady, you look wonderful, stop worrying. Do you want your face painted?"
"What?" Kel said, blinking.
"Make up." Lalassa said patiently "I can put your hair up and paint your face to make you look like a Lady."
Kel sat down and let Lalassa pin up her hair. Then Lalassa painted her eyes and lips "Look."
Lalassa had done the make up well; a pale blue on her eyelids made her brown eyes shimmer and her lips were a dark, glossy red.
"Thank you, but what will people think?"
"Don't worry! You look fine," Lalassa reassured her "Now hurry, there's only a few minutes before the Princess arrives."
Kel scurried towards the Great Hall as fast as her dress would allow. This year's Summer Solstice festivities were politically important with visiting nobles from Scanra, Galla and the Yamani Isles. A small group from Carthak had arrived earlier in the week and nobles who normally stayed away from court were there. Everyone was expecting the announcement of Prince Roald's engagement to Princess Hiroko. Kel planned to keep her eyes open for the Duke of Scholla and anyone who could be an assassin, she had visited the Scanran Embassy as soon as she had arrived in Corus, but they were turned away by the officials there.
"Kel!" She turned to see Roald, he looked unhappy "Do I look smart enough?"
She reached out and squeezed his hand "Perfect. Are you alright?"
He frowned "No but I'll be okay." He had a bitterness that Kel hadn't heard in his voice before. A moment later he said vaguely "You look nice."
Kel wished that she could reassure him "It'll be alright."
He looked unconvinced. They walked in silence to the Great Hall. The hall was beautiful, the walls were hung with garlands of flowers and the guests wore bright clothing.
"Prince Roald and Squire Keladry of Mindelan." The herald announced. Heads turned and Kel blushed, she wished that she hadn't entered with Roald.
She spotted Neal and felt her heartbeat quicken, he looked georgeous in dark green.
Her friends joined her. "I'm glad we don't have to serve anymore," Neal commented with a grin "It's nice to see other people struggling for a change."
Kel agreed "Have you seen anything yet?"
"This feast hasn't really started yet," He glanced around "None of the foreign delegations are here yet. I like your dress by the way, it suits you."
Kel tried not to blush and caught Faleron's eye, he looked at her and Neal with an amused smile. He knows, Kel realized. She glared at him but he continued to beam cheerfully.
When the Yamani Party arrived, Kel spotted Princess Hiroko, dressed in an elegant green silk robe. She was beautiful by Tortallan and Yamani standards with dark eyes and full red lips. She approached the King and Queen to be formally introduced.
Kel was surprised to find herself seated at the Yamani Table, she guessed that Master Oakbridge was behind it. She was annoyed that she couldn't sit with her friends and decided to sit quietly.
"Why do they allow women to fight beside men here?" One young man protested in Yamani "Women would distract men and they are too weak to survive in battle."
Kel was unable to hide her anger "Would you be referring to the Lioness or her majesty?" She asked, her face still as a mask. Only a fool would insult the Queen on such an occasion, he was making a big mistake.
"No, not the Queen, but the Lioness and the girl squire? Have they no virtue?" He looked at her expectantly, any normal Tortallan Lady would probably nod and agree with him.
"We do, both of us." Kel said, struggling to keep the edge out of her voice and her face disciplined.
The young man's expression showed brief panic as he exchanged glances with a man who seemed to be some kind of teacher, it was clear that he was in trouble. He switched to Tortallan manners and offered her a small, polite smile "I am truly sorry. I spoke of a matter of which I am ignorant."
"You're the girl knight!" Blurted a girl who was clearly Tortallan, she spoke with a light Northern accent. She calmed down and introduced herself as Chika.
Kel chatted to Chika for a while and later the young man joined in, introducing himself as Han, the Shang Wolf.
Despite their company, Kel found the banquet tedious and almost wished that she was serving.
The King stood, clearing his throat. The chatter died down.
"I would like to announce a joyous event, the engagement of my son, Prince Roald, to Princess Hiroko of the Yamani Isles."
Kel's eyes flickered to Roald's face. He was pale. Before anyone could stop him he ran out.
Kel found herself standing, she knew where he would be going.
DISCLAIMER: Tamora Pierce invented Tortall and all of the marvelous characters apart from the ones that are mine.
AN: Kel and co return to Tortall. I think that this episode will be a bit different but oh well. I finally managed to write a longer one. I wrote this in my limited freetime.
I would appreciate some ideas for the story, put them on a review or email me at ormemr@aol.com. I hope you enjoy this.
In the morning, Kel found that three of the horses had been taken despite their efforts. She was performing her morning exercises when Cleon stumbled out of his tent, he groaned "You're up already? Don't you sleep my glorious rose?"
Kel suppressed a laugh, Cleon hated mornings but noticed that this he was awake before the others. "I had enough sleep. Did I hear you sleep-talking last night?" She teased.
Cleon's cheeks flushed with colour and a look of panic and irritation appeared on his face. "What's Neal been telling you?"
"Nothing much."
He sighed heavily "It doesn't matter. What are we going to do about Joren?"
"I like him now he doesn't remember," Kel said breezily as she prepared some porridge.
"I don't mean that. I mean we need to warn the Scanran Ambassador in Corus and Joren's hurt, he'll slow us down. We need to go as soon as possible, Bright-eyed star."
"Maybe we can leave Joren at the castle, we could ask Neal when he wakes up.
Cleon gave a wry smile "I think that Neal will sleep for a while yet."
Kel thought fast "I'll sort the horses and we'll need to tell people about the bandits. We need to get to Corus to alert this Thoki, but we don't even know what he looks like or who the assassins are."
"How is the Takri organized?" Cleon wanted to know.
"It's divided first into Leagues, the League of the First Knife, the League of the Fifth Knife and so on. Each of these has a secret commander. Then it's divisions or Leagues or something. Anyway, the commanders are the best of the best and the First Knife Commander is the overall leader. They also deal in smuggling and thieves." She shrugged "Neal probably knows more about it than I do."
"How do they judge who is the best?"
"Shang fighting, but they rarely fight to the death, only to become First Knife." Kel always felt queasy at that thought.
The others stirred slowly, Joren was the last to get up.
"We could brainwash him," Faleron suggested hopefully "Maybe even turn him into a nice person."
This suggestion was popular but they reluctantly agreed to leave Joren behind and travel back Corus.
A week later they arrived in the capital.
The Princes stared towards the nearing land. She leaned on the rail and sighed wearily. Her feelings were mixed; she longed to see this strange land but was angry that she was being forced to marry it's Prince.
Her companion, Chika, understood the sigh "Tortall is very different from the Yamani Isles, Hiroko."
"Is it always this cold?" Hiroko demanded, but she didn't expect Chika to know. Chika was a Tortallan merchant's daughter, raised in the Yamani Isles. Chika looked almost like a Yamani herself, with her dark hair and tanned skin. But her eyes were different."
"It isn't always this bad in the summer." Chika smiled, Hiroko knew no other person who smiled.
Curiousity rose out of her resentment "What is Prince Roald like?"
"Nice enough, he's training to be a knight," Chika replied.
Hiroko thought for a moment "And they expect me just to agree to marry? Just like that?"
"It'll be alright, you may even love him. But while you're here why don't you just enjoy it?" Chika said gently.
Hiroko was still unsatisfied, she stared out at the city, tinted yellow by the evening sun "Why not."
Kel brushed her hair for the fifth time that evening and glanced at the scarlet dress "I can't wear that. I feel like such a Lump." She muttered.
Lalassa laughed "My Lady, you look wonderful, stop worrying. Do you want your face painted?"
"What?" Kel said, blinking.
"Make up." Lalassa said patiently "I can put your hair up and paint your face to make you look like a Lady."
Kel sat down and let Lalassa pin up her hair. Then Lalassa painted her eyes and lips "Look."
Lalassa had done the make up well; a pale blue on her eyelids made her brown eyes shimmer and her lips were a dark, glossy red.
"Thank you, but what will people think?"
"Don't worry! You look fine," Lalassa reassured her "Now hurry, there's only a few minutes before the Princess arrives."
Kel scurried towards the Great Hall as fast as her dress would allow. This year's Summer Solstice festivities were politically important with visiting nobles from Scanra, Galla and the Yamani Isles. A small group from Carthak had arrived earlier in the week and nobles who normally stayed away from court were there. Everyone was expecting the announcement of Prince Roald's engagement to Princess Hiroko. Kel planned to keep her eyes open for the Duke of Scholla and anyone who could be an assassin, she had visited the Scanran Embassy as soon as she had arrived in Corus, but they were turned away by the officials there.
"Kel!" She turned to see Roald, he looked unhappy "Do I look smart enough?"
She reached out and squeezed his hand "Perfect. Are you alright?"
He frowned "No but I'll be okay." He had a bitterness that Kel hadn't heard in his voice before. A moment later he said vaguely "You look nice."
Kel wished that she could reassure him "It'll be alright."
He looked unconvinced. They walked in silence to the Great Hall. The hall was beautiful, the walls were hung with garlands of flowers and the guests wore bright clothing.
"Prince Roald and Squire Keladry of Mindelan." The herald announced. Heads turned and Kel blushed, she wished that she hadn't entered with Roald.
She spotted Neal and felt her heartbeat quicken, he looked georgeous in dark green.
Her friends joined her. "I'm glad we don't have to serve anymore," Neal commented with a grin "It's nice to see other people struggling for a change."
Kel agreed "Have you seen anything yet?"
"This feast hasn't really started yet," He glanced around "None of the foreign delegations are here yet. I like your dress by the way, it suits you."
Kel tried not to blush and caught Faleron's eye, he looked at her and Neal with an amused smile. He knows, Kel realized. She glared at him but he continued to beam cheerfully.
When the Yamani Party arrived, Kel spotted Princess Hiroko, dressed in an elegant green silk robe. She was beautiful by Tortallan and Yamani standards with dark eyes and full red lips. She approached the King and Queen to be formally introduced.
Kel was surprised to find herself seated at the Yamani Table, she guessed that Master Oakbridge was behind it. She was annoyed that she couldn't sit with her friends and decided to sit quietly.
"Why do they allow women to fight beside men here?" One young man protested in Yamani "Women would distract men and they are too weak to survive in battle."
Kel was unable to hide her anger "Would you be referring to the Lioness or her majesty?" She asked, her face still as a mask. Only a fool would insult the Queen on such an occasion, he was making a big mistake.
"No, not the Queen, but the Lioness and the girl squire? Have they no virtue?" He looked at her expectantly, any normal Tortallan Lady would probably nod and agree with him.
"We do, both of us." Kel said, struggling to keep the edge out of her voice and her face disciplined.
The young man's expression showed brief panic as he exchanged glances with a man who seemed to be some kind of teacher, it was clear that he was in trouble. He switched to Tortallan manners and offered her a small, polite smile "I am truly sorry. I spoke of a matter of which I am ignorant."
"You're the girl knight!" Blurted a girl who was clearly Tortallan, she spoke with a light Northern accent. She calmed down and introduced herself as Chika.
Kel chatted to Chika for a while and later the young man joined in, introducing himself as Han, the Shang Wolf.
Despite their company, Kel found the banquet tedious and almost wished that she was serving.
The King stood, clearing his throat. The chatter died down.
"I would like to announce a joyous event, the engagement of my son, Prince Roald, to Princess Hiroko of the Yamani Isles."
Kel's eyes flickered to Roald's face. He was pale. Before anyone could stop him he ran out.
Kel found herself standing, she knew where he would be going.