Disclaimer: Ferdinad, Nacean, and Katei are mine-- NO ONE ELSE.
Author's Note: This is the sequel to You Never... and it takes place four years later after the last chapter of the other series. Kel is twenty, Katei is twenty-four. Oh, and Kel's life is a little different than expected.
Don't Ever Underestimate a Yamani
Division 1: Mindelan, Home of the Incompetent
If you were to travel far to the North of the realm of Tortall, over the grassy, rolling hills, and near the Grimhold Mountains, you will find the fief of Mindelan, small, but opulent.
Entering the fief by the stone gate with vines that creep up and around the pillars, you will come to the castle that houses the second woman knight ever. Walking further, into the castle, you will come across rooms that Sir Keladry has live in.
But if you were to come on the first of March, in the year of 461 H.E. (human era) during the rule of King Jonathon the fourth of Conte' and his Queen, Thayet of Conte'-- you would find this vigorous knight sitting on a sofa, impatiently listening to her husband.
Yes, against her will, Keladry of Mindelan had been married off by her elders at fief Mindelan (not in any relation to her) to Ferdinad of Olau. Ferdinad of Olau was Sir Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau's second son. Since Thom, the first son, would be inheriting the Swoop, Ferdinad would get Olau.
At first, Keladry was excited; she would be marrying a relation to the Lioness and King's Champion-- but how wrong she was. Ferdinad, to put it delicately, was the biggest effeminate man she had ever met. He loved to shop and buy new clothing, and hated to touch any sort of weapons or dirty objects. He complained if his food was not just right, and looked at himself in the mirror almost 24/7. And on top of all that, he was a pansy.
Ferdinad couldn't be any more opposite of Kel; he hated the outdoors, animals, and fighting. He was also very big with politics. Kel had no problem with that, she had come from a very big political family.
Ferdinad was also shorter than her by two inches, and handsome (mostly to himself). With slick red hair cut neatly (so neatly that it annoyed Kel) and glimmering purple hazel eyes-- he was vain.
The only reason she had been forced to marry him was because Mindelan needed the money, and Ferdinad was rich. Ever since Kel's parents had been killed, the economy of the fief had decreased. And for the first time in her life, Kel was so annoyed that she felt like placing her hands around the annoying weakling of a man's neck and squeezing.
~~
March 1, 461 H.E. Mindelan:
"Keladry?" Ferdinad caroled as he paced slowly about the room, looking at his ravishing wife, "My dear, we have had these talks before, and I--"
"Ferdinad, I'm sorry, I'm not ready to." Kel said, forcing the aggravation out of her voice. As she looked up at her husband, she saw disappointment flit across his intelligent, vain face.
"But Mindelan can not go without a heir, again! And the only way to have a heir to Mindelan is to have a child!" he pointed out diplomatically. He knew Keladry couldn't resist him when he spoke so wisely.
Quite the contrary, Kel muttered something to Ferdinad and took her leave. Walking out of the room, Kel decided she needed to blow off some steam; talking with Ferdinad always agitated her.
She changed into some practice clothing and walked to the training yard of Mindelan, knowing that Nacean, a Shang Eagle, would be there waiting to fight her.
She had met Nacean when she went traveling after her Ordeal, and rivaled him in many tournaments. Nacean had the characteristics of an eagle, hence his ranking; very competitive, merciless, swift and strong. When they had first met, Nacean had been cold and curt with her, but as they competed, he had became her friend. But one very odd thing was that both Nacean and Kel seemed to be at the exact same level of fighting, every time they fought, they tied. Sometimes one of them would win-- but only to lose to the other in the very next fight.
Sure enough, Kel arrived at the training yard in time to see Nacean knock out a guard he had been training against. She grinned and lounged against one of the posts in the yard.
Without turning his back, Nacean sensed that Kel was behind him and said, "It's about time, Kel, I've already knocked out three guards. I think the rest of them are cowering in the kitchens."
Kel laughed and Nacean turned around grinning, "Will you help me get this guard out of the way before we train, if you please."
After the poor man had been shoved roughly (mostly by Nacean) out of the way, the two fighters took their stances.
Nacean was taller than her by three inches, roughly around six foot one, and in perfect fighting condition. He had very short hair that was a pale, 'dirty' blond and icy azure eyes. Nacean was more of a practical person, and to save himself the trouble, he kept his face beardless. His nose was strong and skin flawless. Sure, he was handsome, but his attitude kept most women away. He was to focused on his fighting for relationships anyway.
Kel moved her right foot slightly foreword and balanced her weight evenly between the two legs. Nacean moved his left foot back a bit and placed balance mostly on his right, preparing to kick his leg up.
With a silent voice between them whispering, "Go", the two started to contest. Kel feigned a cut to the left, but hurled her knee up and snapped out her leg. Blocking the kick just in time, Nacean threw Kel over his shoulder, turning around and kicking her as he did.
Kel leapt back to her feet and twisted around, leaping up and kicking Nacean in the chest. Nacean's stance faltered, but only for a moment, long enough for Kel to grab his leg and twist it, sending the Shang flying. Nacean rolled over and slapped the floor as he fell, tumbling to his feet again.
Nacean dropped to the floor again and side-kicked Kel just as she was about to step back. She dropped to the floor and a loud, clamorous gasp was heard behind the two fighters.
Nacean's icy eyes flashed with annoyance of a fight behind interrupted, and the two turned to glare at the shocked Ferdinad.
"Kel! My darling, if you wanted to train so badly, you could've told me. I know a little fighting, we could've done this together."
Nacean had a sudden fit of coughs, and Kel knew he was covering his own laugh. Slapping her on the back, Nacean walked out of the yard, shaking his head in silent amusement.
Kel fought to smile at Ferdinad, "Right Ferdinad, right."
~~
That night, at dinner, third person narration:
Kel had friends over for dinner that night, a big red-head (Once again, has anyone noticed that we don't have the slightest idea of what Cleon looks like? We don't even know the color of his eyes!) man named Cleon of Kennan, and the tall, green-eyed man named Nealan of Queenscove.
They began dinner in silence, an awkward one at that. Near the middle of the third course, Neal cleared his throat and asked, in hopes of making conversation, "So Fred-- "That's Ferdinad"-- "Yes Ferdinad, what exactly do you do here at the fief?"
Ferdinad straightened proudly and said, "I am into politics, Nealan." He pretended not to notice that 'Nealan' cringed after he had said his full name.
"So Kel, where is that friend of your's, uh, Nacean? You know, the Shang Eagle who is visiting you." asked Cleon, deciding not to attempt conversation with Ferdinad, even if it was rude.
Kel was wearing (against her will) a elegant green dress with a white shift, and even had her hair done up (also against her will). Ferdinad and the Mindelan elders had also forced Kel to grow her hair down past her shoulders! Cleon and Neal, both who had had relationships with her back in their early squire years, could barely take their eyes off her now.
Ferdinad noticed this and placed a hand on her shoulder gently, "Nacean will be leaving...soon." Kel stared at him in horror, "But how am I supposed to train here without Nacean? The guards are unsuitable, they are all weaklings!"
"Plus Kel would fall over laughing if she had to fight them, with those new uniforms you make them wear, Ferdinad." Neal added. Ferdinad glared at the knight, he knew now that he very much disliked this fellow and even more disliked the way he looked at Kel.
"My uniforms are elegant and makes Mindelan look good."
"More like a laughing-stock." muttered Cleon, glancing about. Ferdinad stood and announced, "My, my, it is getting late isn't it? You two must be getting back to your homes, goodnight."
The two startled knights took their leave, hugging Kel good-bye, but swiftly, for Ferdinad was constantly watching the two. Kel slumped back in her chair mournfully, what had her life came to?
It had taken her years to get over Katei of Nirason and move on with her life, and she still missed him sorely. She was trapped at home, only able to go to Corus at Congress time with Ferdinad. And to top it all off, Ferdinad was almost consistently trying to persuade her to have a child with him!
As she thought, she did not notice-- nor care-- that Ferdinad had gone off down the hallways to talk to someone. She thought briefly on what would've happened if she had married Katei, would her life be so much better. She also remembered their departing moments, and closed her eyes to block any tears. She had not cried in years, and promised herself never to do so ever again.
Five or six years ago, a young man from the Yamani Islands had become enraged over the death of his lover, Princess Chisakami, and found the solution of killing her betrothed, the Crown Prince of Tortall, Roald of Conte', and the entire Mindelan family who had helped with the treaties. A year later, Katei had killed the entire Mindelan family except for Kel. Kel was searching for Katei, wanting to avenge her family. When the two had met up, though, they didn't know eachother's real identities and had fallen in love. When they went to Corus, they and found out and dueled. Later, Kel had helped Katei escape execution, and told him that he must never come back to Tortall ever again, for his own safety.
Kel still remembered every single detail about him, and would probably never forget. She had hoped to meet up with him when she went traveling after her Ordeal, but the hopes were futile. And now she was married, married to Ferdinad--
Kel's thoughts were interrupted as Ferdinad entered and sat across from her.
"My dear," he said soothingly, "Nacean is leaving for Corus right now." Horrified, Kel tried to get up; Nacean was the only competent person in this castle that she could count on! What would she do without her friend?
"It's too late to say good-bye, I had the guards escort him to his horse and out of the fief. He said good-bye." Ferdinad paused, "Though he didn't seem very happy."
An hour later, long after Ferdinad had gone to bed, Kel sat vigil in the same chair. Her life, that she had dreamed to be so great, was a joke! And what was the cause?
She only found one cause of all her problems; Ferdinad. It was he that got rid of all her friends, and made sure she couldn't do any knight duties.
Kel made a decision then, a decision that changed everything. She had to get rid of Ferdinad of Olau and Mindelan.
~~
Author's note: I read some of the chapters of my last series with Katei, and realized something. THEY SUCKED. Some parts were incredibly rushed and all-in-all some (probably most) of the chapters really sucked. So I've decided to do my best with this next one and revise EVERY chapter so when I upload it, it's not as bad as the last series. REVIEW, please.
R