Squire Keladry
Keladry of Mindelan rolled out of bed, moaning. Sir Raoul, Kel's knightmaster, called cheerily through the door separating their rooms. I wish I hadn't stayed up so late last night celebrating with my friends, she thought grimly. Normally, Kel was a morning person, but last night all the new squires had had a miniature party celebrating the new squires. Kel tried to be calm and nice to Neal, but it was hard since he was the one the Lioness had chosen as her squire. At first, Kel had felt a little jealous, but now she was full of questions about her favorite heroine. Neal described her as "charming, short, historian, and definitely someone to never insult near a fencing court." Raoul, completely excited over being the substitute for the Shang Wildcat who was sick this morning, knocked and said, "Ready, Kel? We don't want to be late."
I don't believe it's possible to be late when we're up this early, she thought. Oh well. But I can't say I'm exactly thrilled to be running that hill.
When she reached the training court, she stood with Nealan of Queenscove, her closest friend at the palace. He looked as tired as she felt.
Neal saw her and smiled, saying, "Let me guess. You're wondering what Sir Alanna uses to brush her teeth, right?"
She smiled ruefully. She had been pestering Neal about all of the Lioness's habits, likes and dislikes.
"Alright, everyone. Let's pay attention here. My partner and I will show the patterns for the new squires. Would Cleon and Garvey show the drill?" a booming voice behind them said. They turned around to see Hakuin Seastone with that same unusual grin.
Kel ran the drill with Neal and then Seaver. She thought she did well, and both instructors told her she was performing excellently.
Throughout the morning, they refreshed their memories and learned new things. By the time supper came, Kel sank gratefully into a hard-backed chair and listened while the group at their table chattered away. Suddenly, a cold wind swept around her, and she turned around to see her enemy, the beautiful yet hateful Joren of Stone Mountain. His cold voice rang like a bell throughout the dinner hall. "So," he said. "You haven't realized that this is what men do, not lazy and unfit women."
I am a lake on a calm summer day, she thought furiously. He is only a storm cloud that will pass.
"I believe that women can be just as, if not more, strong than a man, and women can do this just as well as men can."
"I'm sure they are," he replied in a voice you would use to speak unbelievingly to a younger child.
Kel turned away, and only turned round again when he left. "Don't listen to him," Neal said. "He's a jerk, to say those things about you. You've proven over and over that women are just as good as men."
Kel rolled out of bed, ready for the start of a new morning. She did a few practice dances, then a few floor push-ups. The great bell clanged, and she hurried down to the mess hall.
As soon as she had gotten her food, she sat with her friends at the small table they had sat in ever since her first day. They gadded about, gossiping like birds.
Neal pulled her aside, whispering, "I need to talk to you. Now."
He pulled her into a side hall and said, "I don't think you should stay here any longer. I'm only saying this because there's danger out there, and I don't want you getting hurt."
Kel stared at Neal in furious astonishment and said firmly, "No. And I can't believe you'd betray me like this!"
Will Kel find out why Neal was acting overprotective and insulting her by acting as if she couldn't take care of herself here in the palace? Watch for the first chapter to find out!
Keladry of Mindelan rolled out of bed, moaning. Sir Raoul, Kel's knightmaster, called cheerily through the door separating their rooms. I wish I hadn't stayed up so late last night celebrating with my friends, she thought grimly. Normally, Kel was a morning person, but last night all the new squires had had a miniature party celebrating the new squires. Kel tried to be calm and nice to Neal, but it was hard since he was the one the Lioness had chosen as her squire. At first, Kel had felt a little jealous, but now she was full of questions about her favorite heroine. Neal described her as "charming, short, historian, and definitely someone to never insult near a fencing court." Raoul, completely excited over being the substitute for the Shang Wildcat who was sick this morning, knocked and said, "Ready, Kel? We don't want to be late."
I don't believe it's possible to be late when we're up this early, she thought. Oh well. But I can't say I'm exactly thrilled to be running that hill.
When she reached the training court, she stood with Nealan of Queenscove, her closest friend at the palace. He looked as tired as she felt.
Neal saw her and smiled, saying, "Let me guess. You're wondering what Sir Alanna uses to brush her teeth, right?"
She smiled ruefully. She had been pestering Neal about all of the Lioness's habits, likes and dislikes.
"Alright, everyone. Let's pay attention here. My partner and I will show the patterns for the new squires. Would Cleon and Garvey show the drill?" a booming voice behind them said. They turned around to see Hakuin Seastone with that same unusual grin.
Kel ran the drill with Neal and then Seaver. She thought she did well, and both instructors told her she was performing excellently.
Throughout the morning, they refreshed their memories and learned new things. By the time supper came, Kel sank gratefully into a hard-backed chair and listened while the group at their table chattered away. Suddenly, a cold wind swept around her, and she turned around to see her enemy, the beautiful yet hateful Joren of Stone Mountain. His cold voice rang like a bell throughout the dinner hall. "So," he said. "You haven't realized that this is what men do, not lazy and unfit women."
I am a lake on a calm summer day, she thought furiously. He is only a storm cloud that will pass.
"I believe that women can be just as, if not more, strong than a man, and women can do this just as well as men can."
"I'm sure they are," he replied in a voice you would use to speak unbelievingly to a younger child.
Kel turned away, and only turned round again when he left. "Don't listen to him," Neal said. "He's a jerk, to say those things about you. You've proven over and over that women are just as good as men."
Kel rolled out of bed, ready for the start of a new morning. She did a few practice dances, then a few floor push-ups. The great bell clanged, and she hurried down to the mess hall.
As soon as she had gotten her food, she sat with her friends at the small table they had sat in ever since her first day. They gadded about, gossiping like birds.
Neal pulled her aside, whispering, "I need to talk to you. Now."
He pulled her into a side hall and said, "I don't think you should stay here any longer. I'm only saying this because there's danger out there, and I don't want you getting hurt."
Kel stared at Neal in furious astonishment and said firmly, "No. And I can't believe you'd betray me like this!"
Will Kel find out why Neal was acting overprotective and insulting her by acting as if she couldn't take care of herself here in the palace? Watch for the first chapter to find out!