Disclaimer: I only own Carina and the plot. Everyone/thing else is TP's. Don't sue me.
~~~~~
She turned away and began walking again. He caught up with her. "They mean to do it, you know."
He nodded. "I know."
Again she stopped and turned to face him. "Dreams don't just disappear." She studied the floor.
He slipped an arm around her shoulder and they started walking again. "Maybe they'll change their minds. Or maybe it will take long enough that you'll still be able to win your shield." He was reaching, he knew, but he was doing it from the heart.
She looked up at him. "Them changing their minds is about as likely as Lord Wyldon making a public statement that girls and commoners can be knights," she said flatly. Neal had to agree. "And," she added, quietly, "There's no money."
They walked in silence for a bit longer, Kel thinking -- which was something she really needed to do right now -- about her parents. Why did they have to turn to her? Wasn't there any other way for Mindelan to get money? After all the hard work and sacrifices; all the friends and enemies . . . they were going to make her get married. Because they needed money. It's stupid, she thought, who would want to marry me anyhow? It's got to be someone pretty desperate. Plus, I don't have a dowry. I wonder if they thought about that -- though if they haven't, I'm not going to tell them.
Neal was close to tears. This was his best friend. And she had this dream -- of being a knight; of helping people. Would it ever become a reality? "If I have anything to do with it," he muttered, thinking aloud.
"What?" Myles asked from behind them: the three adults had sped up in order to keep pace with Thom, who was still walking quickly. "Have anything to do with what?"
"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking out loud."
Myles nodded, content to wait until they were alone to find out. George and Alanna were curious, but stifled it. They didn't want to pry into something -- especially since only a fool wouldn't have noticed that the reason Myles didn't already know was because they were there.
Kel stared at the ground, deep in thought. She looked so concentrated and focused that it made them a bit nervous.
Neal nudged her. "Hey -- Kel. Copper for your thoughts?"
"They aren't worth a copper," she told him, after jumping: he'd surprised her.
"Everyone's thoughts are worth at least a copper," Neal insisted, then continued, voice lightly teasing. "Surely yours can't be the exception."
"Seems to me that they are." Kel wasn't playing along with him anymore. She'd been perfectly all right until Neal had brought up her parents. She loved her parents and everything, but they weren't being fair. Or if they were, it hurt an awful lot. Knowing she was going to cry if she didn't calm down, Kel forced herself to think of new things. She turned her face to the side, away from all of them, and thought of Yamani Lakes, on cool, serene days where the breeze is nonexistent. It wasn't quite as calming as she'd hoped. Praying there weren't tears in her eyes and that she wouldn't begin sobbing hysterically, she slipped out of Neal's grip and walked ahead. She didn't trust her control.
"She's the most infuriating person," muttered Neal. Then, as he watched Thom slow down to walk with her, he brightened. "Now here's an interesting turn of events . . . "
"Neal," warned Myles. "You can't go around playing matchmaker -- "
"Matchmaker?" Neal's face was the image of innocence -- which only made Myles consider him all the more guilty. "I'm not playing matchmaker -- just curious observer."
Myles sighed. "You shouldn't mess with people's lives like that," he said sternly.
"You have no idea," murmured Neal, more to himself than anyone else. To his teacher, he said, "I stand rebuked." He glanced at the two ahead of them. "Anything that happens now is up to them."
~~~~~
The king had left, Numair had left, Daine had left, Duke Baird had left . . . They'd all left, and now Wyldon couldn't sleep. Gods curse it, but he was worried! Not only for their lives -- though now the danger seemed to have passed; he just couldn't let it go -- but for their feelings. What would people say if it got out, as it most certainly would. He had confidence in them that they could win their shields all on their own, but what would other's say? People who didn't know them -- never bothered to get to know them, just because she's a girl. It was embarrassing, but his thoughts about girls had been changed completely. He still wasn't exactly thrilled about the thought of more Lady Knights -- to him, Alanna and Keladry seemed a formidable enough pair -- but he wouldn't stop any other girls from trying. Keladry had somehow stolen a piece of his heart and, much as he wanted it back again, it seemed to have taken a liking to her and refused to come home.
~~~~~
Jonathan paced his chambers. "Thayet, what am I supposed to do?" he asked his wife, voice pleading. "Alanna is being stubborn and won't answer me, plus Keladry and Nealan are there, as well as Myles."
Thayet sat up in bed. After waiting an hour for her love to stop pacing, she finally decided to give up. "Seems to me, Alanna is being stubborn because you and Numair are pestering her for answers she doesn't have." She swiveled from side to side, cracking her back -- a most un-lady-like thing. "And from what I've heard of Keladry, she can take care of herself. You're worrying too much." And it was true; Jonathan had been preoccupied often of late. His black hair was acquiring even more silvery-gray threads.
Thayet patted the bed next to her. "Come dear -- sleep." And, sighing, he finally came to bed. Giving her a quick kiss, he lay down -- but didn't sleep. His mind paced for hours.
~~~~~
Thom took a deep breath. Him and Keladry had been walking in silent companionship for a while, but now he wanted to talk. "What are the Yamani Isles like?" he asked, considering it a rather safe topic -- he was still cursing himself for asking if she had any romantic interests.
"Quiet. It's beautiful there, though. Wonderful gardens and the sea . . . and the sunsets are brilliant." Her voice took on a calm tone when she discussed the place she'd lived in for six years. And something in her eyes -- or was it the tone of her voice? -- told him she missed it. So he went on that. "You miss it, huh?"
She nodded. "I love Tortall; I was born here, but the Yamani Isles will always be a part of my heart. It truly is wonderful there."
"It sounds it," Thom agreed. And it did -- it sounded beautiful. He wouldn't mind going there someday, and with the treaty Keladry's parents had instigated, it might even be possible.
Kel would have said something else to keep the conversation flowing, except Thom halted before a door, and said, "Here's Carina's place. I think we're all tired, and the sooner we get clothes for you and Neal, the sooner we can all go to bed."
Speaking of bed -- Kel stifled a yawn, making Thom smile. "See, I was right."
She smiled shyly. "Yeah. Yeah, you were."
Thom nearly fell over. She'd smiled -- at him! Wanting to assure her that smiling was a good thing, and that she could feel free to do it anytime around him, he grinned widely.
His parents, grandfather, and Neal were close, so he raised a hand and tapped the door firmly.
After a moment, and following a few bustling sounds inside, it opened. A medium-heighted girl with olive colored skin and deep brown hair that reminded Kel of the Yamani Islanders, stood before them. She wore a white shirt under a pale gray tunic, and gray breeches. She smiled at them. "Hello."
Wiping her hands on the towel she held, she asked, "What brings you here?"
She opened the door the rest of the way, allowing them to enter. Alanna grinned at the girl. "We were hoping you might have some extra clothes lying around that would fit these two." She gestured at Kel and Neal.
Everybody forgot to introduce them, and Carina was too polite to ask, so she pretended to be thinking, hoping someone might catch on and inform her of who she was retrieving clothing for. Someone did, but it wasn't exactly the someone she'd expected.
"Hi, I'm Neal. This is Kel," Neal told the girl, gazing into her deep brown eyes. Carina smiled at him, and held out a hand, but he beat her to it, bowing fancily and then kissing her extended hand. Carina turned bright red as Kel struggled with laughter.
"Making conquests already," Myles murmured to Kel, catching her eye. She giggled a little. Then, as Carina turned to her, she held out a hand, and the two shook.
"I've probably got some clothes around here somewhere that will fit," she mused, and began searching through the piles of clothes scattered about. "I patch them up," she explained to Kel and Neal. Then, winking at Alanna, she said, "Lady Alanna isn't much for sewing."
With a wicked grin, Alanna admitted it was true. "I'm not very good at anything involving thread, aside from thread magic."
Neal didn't know what that was, and was about to ask, when Carina turned to them curiously, and said, "You aren't nobles, then, are you?"
"I don't know . . . Sir Myles, are we nobles?" Neal asked, unsure of what else to say. Myles rolled his eyes. "Yes, silly boy, you are."
Obviously Carina had asked because she'd only been given first names. Myles realized that she hadn't been properly introduced, and informed her of who the guests were. "Nealan of Queenscove and Keladry of Mindelan," he told her, pointing out each in turn.
Very slowly, Carina said, "Keladry . . . Is that a girl's name?" Of course, she obviously knew the answer, but she was hoping someone might tell her who Keladry was -- Keladry of Mindelan, the one and only girl squire. Glancing at Sir Myles, Kel nodded.
"Ha!" Carina stood, triumphantly, presenting a pair of blue breeches and a blue tunic. She scrambled around until she found a paler blue shirt. She held them out to Keladry. "These should fit. I'm sorry they don't match your eyes better or anything."
"I don't mind," Kel assured her, wondering why it would matter if they matched her eyes or not. "Thanks."
"Do girls care about that kind of thing, Kel?" Neal whispered. He'd never considered the fact. His friend shrugged. "Beats me," she told him. "I'm not the one to ask."
"Carina!" a voice called from the hall. "Carina -- I've torn my clothes again. Will ye mend it for me?"
Alanna looked up. "Coram!" She ran out into the hall. "I was trying to find you earlier. Have you seen anything strange tonight?"
"Lass, not too much is stranger than ye wand'rin' 'round at night," he told her, fingering the rip in his tunic.
"Oh trust me. It's about to get much stranger," she assured him, cryptically. Then, eyeing the rip, she said, "That might not be able to be fixed. It's not on a seam."
Coram looked down at the tear and cursed. "These things need to be more hardy." Then he sighed. Looking at Alanna, he asked, "Why is it goin' t' get much stranger?"
She didn't say anything as she led him inside by his arm. He stopped when he saw Kel and Neal. "Now who might ye be?" he asked them. Then he did a double take. "Yer a girl!"
Kel nodded. Neal threw up his hands. "Can't somebody say something original? That's already been used by, about, a hundred people!"
Coram ignored him, and raised his eyebrows at Alanna. "What kind o' trouble are ye in now?"
"I'm not in any trouble!" she cried.
He shook his head. "I'm sure I'd believe ye . . . if ye knew how t' stay out o' trouble. But you don't." He smiled at the exasperated look she gave him, then turned to Kel. "I wish ye luck then, Lass. Though I don't know if ye need it."
She grinned, shyly. "Thank you."
The guardsman nodded, then turned to Alanna. "I think I know now why ye were askin' 'bout strange happ'nin's. Do ye know what happened?"
"No, but I will. Something's not right about all of this," Alanna said firmly.
George put an arm around her waist. "And you won't rest till you do, will you, Alanna?" She leaned against him. "Nah, probably not."
As Carina searched for clothes that Neal would fit into and the others drew into groups to discuss things, Kel wondered why Coram had bothered to wish her luck. He doesn't even know me; why would he care? It never occurred to her that maybe, just maybe, she had people rooting for her in relative silence.
Carina held out a brown tunic and breeches with a brown shirt to Neal. "Here; these should fit."
Carina suggested they try them on, and showed Neal to a door, then led Kel through her apartments to another room. After she'd opened the door, and pointed Kel's way in, she began to walk away. Then, she turned around and said, "If you need anything, you know, while you're here, then just ask me."
Kel met her eyes. "Thanks," she said. "I appreciate it." After glancing around to make sure no one was within hearing, she whispered, "You wouldn't happen to have any cloth pads, would you?" She blushed a little, and Carina said, "Oh!" and rushed past Kel into the room. She opened a drawer and dug through it a little, bringing out a handful. Kel sighed in relief. "Thank you. I was wondering who I'd have to ask."
Carina giggled at the thought of who else Kel might ask. "Well I didn't think it was so funny," Kel muttered, which only made Carina laugh harder.
After Carina had left -- still laughing -- Kel tried on her new clothes. Looking in the mirror, she adjusted the tunic until it lay straight, then nodded. They fit just fine. Carina returned, just as she was wondering whether she ought to wear her banquet clothes out, or the ones she was being lent. In her arms she carried more clothes of the same size and color. "I hope those fit," she told Kel, "because I don't think I've got any that will fit you if they don't." Kel smiled. "They do. Should I wear these, then?" she asked, "Or should I save them for Tomorrow?"
"Why don't you save them until tomorrow," suggested Carina. "The clothes you were wearing are already dirty -- no need to dirty another pair."
Kel agreed, and Carina gathered the clothes and pads into a bag while she changed back into her golden shirt and red tunic. She handed the bag to Kel. "I hope it's enough."
"I'm sure it will be," Kel said politely.
They went back to the room where the others waited. As they entered, Carina asked Kel, "What's your favorite color?"
"Brown," said Kel. Carina raised her eyebrows. "Brown," she repeated.
Kel nodded.
Carina turned to Neal for confirmation. "She also likes green," he said helpfully.
"Well brown is an . . . interesting color," Carina said.
Kel explained, "That's why I like it. It's simple." She had read right through Carina's words, and knew that the girl really thought it was a rather strange favorite color, but who was she to judge.
Carina looked surprised. "I didn't -- "
"Sometimes Kel does that," Neal said, looking up from his inspection of the contents of the bag he was holding. "She acts like she can read your mind. My Lord says she's good at reading people."
"My parents are diplomats; what do you think they do all day?"
Realization crept into George's eyes. "That's right!" he cried. "Your parents negotiated that treaty with the Islands, didn't they?"
Kel nodded. "Yessir."
"How did they get the Yamanis to agree?" he asked, eyes on her, interested. "They didn't seem to thrilled about the idea at first."
"It's kind of a long story . . . " She looked at him uncertainly. "And I'm not very good at telling them." But what a story it was! She still had dreams about that day, and she loved them. Loved the thrill they gave her and the feeling that she could be that way someday too. As long as her parents didn't marry her off first.
George wasn't put off. "I really would like to hear it," he said. "I wondered about that."
So Kel launched into the story of the day her and her mother had been looking at the swords and the raiders had come. How the Yamani had grabbed hold of her, only to get shot a moment later, and die. How her mother had then taken her hand, and the swords and run like crazy to the hall. How they'd been cornered by raiders in a rare wooden wall, rather than a paper one, leaving them trapped. How her mother had shoved the swords into Kel's arms and fought until guards came and helped her kill them off. How the Yamani guards had then bowed to them as if they were Gods. And how the emperor had then shown them favor for rescuing the most precious of all Yamani treasures.
"A bunch of swords were that important to them?" Thom asked, incredulous. "Why?"
"They're the God's swords," Kel informed him. "There's Justice and Honor, and Duty . . . "
Myles grinned. "Sounds like chivalry to me." He held up a hand. "Which, by the way, while we're on the subject -- "
"Oh no," Alanna told him, "we're not getting into this again."
"I think it is like chivalry," Kel said, agreeing with Sir Myles. "Their version, at least. They don't have knights, not like we do. They just have warriors."
Myles eyes crinkled with laughter. "Kel, tell them what it means to be a Yamani warrior."
She shook her head, thinking, It wasn't that funny. But to humor him, she said, "Lots of running up and down mountains in the rain and not complaining." She waited for their reactions -- it was always interesting to see what people thought of that. She knew for a fact there were few people, if any, in Tortall who could do that. I don't know if I could. I don't particularly like mountains, myself.
"Sounds . . . interesting," Alanna said, slowly. She hated being wet, and the mountains were cold. Definitely not my thing, she thought. Definitely not.
Neal grinned. "Don't worry -- none of us could do it either, Lady Alanna. We get all wimpy if it's just a bit of rain, and not even in the mountains. Or at least, most of us do," he amended, looking at Kel, who sighed. There he went, bringing attention to her again. Luckily, everyone was feeling more sleepy by the second, and Myles's yawn convinced Alanna that he -- and everyone else -- needed to go straight to bed. "No arguments," as she said.
No one had any. They were all bone tired. So, they all left Carina's after saying goodbye, and began to walk back to wherever they were going to sleep.
Neal groaned. "Kel, even you can't get up at dawn after a night like this." Kel shrugged. "We'll see, won't we?" He rolled his eyes. "A bag of sweets says you can't." They shook on it. "And no fair going back to bed," he added.
"Do you always get up at dawn?" Thom asked. Kel nodded. "If I don't do it everyday, I'll get out of the habit and it'll be near impossible to wake up."
Thom couldn't see himself waking up that early, and he said as much. "I've always gotten up early," she told him. "It's a habit -- and besides, it leaves me time to practice in the morning and I'm not rushing around like this oaf -- " she tapped Neal in the chest " -- every morning, trying not to be late."
"I still say you can't do it," Neal insisted.
"If you're so sure, why didn't you bet coppers on it, rather than sweets," Thom asked, thinking to make Neal admit that he wasn't sure. Instead Kel and Neal shared a look, and Neal said, "Ah, well, sweets are more fun. And hard to come by, since . . . " He began to mumble, and Thom said, "What was that?"
Neal sighed. "They're hard to come by since My Lord got, er, wine spilled in his lap at a banquet. It wasn't my fault!" he protested, when they all looked at him accusingly. "It was Kel's!"
"It was not. Faleron tripped over Lady Sari's skirt and pushed over Owen, whose platter hit Cleon on the head, and made him run into me. And you just happened to be standing right in front of me."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Excuses, excuses." Then he made a face. "We all got punished, anyhow. I don't think he could tell which of us had been involved. Which makes it oh-so-much-more-wonderful, considering, that everyone who got punishment and didn't do anything, is mad at us." He began to look angry. "And the worst thing is that Faleron didn't trip on his own. Joren pushed him -- or was it Vincent?" he asked Kel.
"Neither," she said. "It was Garvey." Neal waved a hand. "Same difference. They're all assholes." His eyes widened as he realized that he'd just cursed in front of some of the most important people it Tortall -- not to mention the fact that they were adults. It seemed to slip his mind that the Lioness had a famed temper, and was well known for her wide vocabulary of curse words. "Uh," he said. "I didn't mean that . . . "
"Yes you did," Alanna told him. "And if you meant it, then you should have said it." Neal began to laugh. "If Lord Wyldon had heard that, he'd have given me some speech about how a true knight never uses foul language, because it's not chivalrous in some way." At her raised eyebrows, he said, "I guess you disagree?"
"Some of the most avidly foul-languaged people that I know are knights, or warriors of some kind." She grinned. "A few are sailors."
Alanna, George, and Myles broke off from Kel, Neal, and Thom, telling the latter to take them to rooms -- they were too tired to notice which ones. The adults went to find Maude before going to bed -- Alanna was convinced that Myles needed to spend the night with a healer nearby. She didn't trust him.
Thom started walking purposefully. None of them talked anymore; they could hardly focus on their steps, let alone hold a conversation. Thom finally stopped before a door labeled "20" and said, "This is your room, Neal."
"Do all the rooms have numbers?" Neal mumbled, not really caring, just wanting to crawl into bed and sleep. Thom opened the door, and said, "I'll come get you before breakfast tomorrow." Remembering Kel and Neal's bet, he added, "She'll be right next to you, if you want to collect on that bet."
Neal said something incoherent and stumbled into the room, crawling into bed without even changing into the nightclothes that Carina had provided.
Thom shook his head, and closed the door softly, to the music of Neal's snores. Then he turned to Kel and said, "This one is yours." Her door was labeled "19". He opened the door, and gestured in. She thanked him, but didn't enter, she just studied him for a bit. Taking advantage of the moment, Thom studied her as well, forgetting to be self-conscious. Finally she turned and went inside. "Good Night, Keladry," Thom whispered. She faced him, smiled, whispered. "It's Kel. And good night, Thom." She shut the door.
Thom stood there for a few minutes, and then grinned. "Life is good, life is good." He skipped off to his room, only a few doors down the hallway from Kel's. Kel. He liked the sound of that. "Kel." he tried saying it aloud. It was nice.
Kel took off her shoes and flopped into bed. In a moment, she was asleep, though her dreams strangely resembled the thoughts that had been running through her head all day.
~~~~~
A/N: How on earth did I get eight freaking chapters outta one night?!?! It wasn't even a whole day! Just a night! Geez...I scare myself. (As I should...as I should...) pls review!
~Dani
~~~~~
She turned away and began walking again. He caught up with her. "They mean to do it, you know."
He nodded. "I know."
Again she stopped and turned to face him. "Dreams don't just disappear." She studied the floor.
He slipped an arm around her shoulder and they started walking again. "Maybe they'll change their minds. Or maybe it will take long enough that you'll still be able to win your shield." He was reaching, he knew, but he was doing it from the heart.
She looked up at him. "Them changing their minds is about as likely as Lord Wyldon making a public statement that girls and commoners can be knights," she said flatly. Neal had to agree. "And," she added, quietly, "There's no money."
They walked in silence for a bit longer, Kel thinking -- which was something she really needed to do right now -- about her parents. Why did they have to turn to her? Wasn't there any other way for Mindelan to get money? After all the hard work and sacrifices; all the friends and enemies . . . they were going to make her get married. Because they needed money. It's stupid, she thought, who would want to marry me anyhow? It's got to be someone pretty desperate. Plus, I don't have a dowry. I wonder if they thought about that -- though if they haven't, I'm not going to tell them.
Neal was close to tears. This was his best friend. And she had this dream -- of being a knight; of helping people. Would it ever become a reality? "If I have anything to do with it," he muttered, thinking aloud.
"What?" Myles asked from behind them: the three adults had sped up in order to keep pace with Thom, who was still walking quickly. "Have anything to do with what?"
"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking out loud."
Myles nodded, content to wait until they were alone to find out. George and Alanna were curious, but stifled it. They didn't want to pry into something -- especially since only a fool wouldn't have noticed that the reason Myles didn't already know was because they were there.
Kel stared at the ground, deep in thought. She looked so concentrated and focused that it made them a bit nervous.
Neal nudged her. "Hey -- Kel. Copper for your thoughts?"
"They aren't worth a copper," she told him, after jumping: he'd surprised her.
"Everyone's thoughts are worth at least a copper," Neal insisted, then continued, voice lightly teasing. "Surely yours can't be the exception."
"Seems to me that they are." Kel wasn't playing along with him anymore. She'd been perfectly all right until Neal had brought up her parents. She loved her parents and everything, but they weren't being fair. Or if they were, it hurt an awful lot. Knowing she was going to cry if she didn't calm down, Kel forced herself to think of new things. She turned her face to the side, away from all of them, and thought of Yamani Lakes, on cool, serene days where the breeze is nonexistent. It wasn't quite as calming as she'd hoped. Praying there weren't tears in her eyes and that she wouldn't begin sobbing hysterically, she slipped out of Neal's grip and walked ahead. She didn't trust her control.
"She's the most infuriating person," muttered Neal. Then, as he watched Thom slow down to walk with her, he brightened. "Now here's an interesting turn of events . . . "
"Neal," warned Myles. "You can't go around playing matchmaker -- "
"Matchmaker?" Neal's face was the image of innocence -- which only made Myles consider him all the more guilty. "I'm not playing matchmaker -- just curious observer."
Myles sighed. "You shouldn't mess with people's lives like that," he said sternly.
"You have no idea," murmured Neal, more to himself than anyone else. To his teacher, he said, "I stand rebuked." He glanced at the two ahead of them. "Anything that happens now is up to them."
~~~~~
The king had left, Numair had left, Daine had left, Duke Baird had left . . . They'd all left, and now Wyldon couldn't sleep. Gods curse it, but he was worried! Not only for their lives -- though now the danger seemed to have passed; he just couldn't let it go -- but for their feelings. What would people say if it got out, as it most certainly would. He had confidence in them that they could win their shields all on their own, but what would other's say? People who didn't know them -- never bothered to get to know them, just because she's a girl. It was embarrassing, but his thoughts about girls had been changed completely. He still wasn't exactly thrilled about the thought of more Lady Knights -- to him, Alanna and Keladry seemed a formidable enough pair -- but he wouldn't stop any other girls from trying. Keladry had somehow stolen a piece of his heart and, much as he wanted it back again, it seemed to have taken a liking to her and refused to come home.
~~~~~
Jonathan paced his chambers. "Thayet, what am I supposed to do?" he asked his wife, voice pleading. "Alanna is being stubborn and won't answer me, plus Keladry and Nealan are there, as well as Myles."
Thayet sat up in bed. After waiting an hour for her love to stop pacing, she finally decided to give up. "Seems to me, Alanna is being stubborn because you and Numair are pestering her for answers she doesn't have." She swiveled from side to side, cracking her back -- a most un-lady-like thing. "And from what I've heard of Keladry, she can take care of herself. You're worrying too much." And it was true; Jonathan had been preoccupied often of late. His black hair was acquiring even more silvery-gray threads.
Thayet patted the bed next to her. "Come dear -- sleep." And, sighing, he finally came to bed. Giving her a quick kiss, he lay down -- but didn't sleep. His mind paced for hours.
~~~~~
Thom took a deep breath. Him and Keladry had been walking in silent companionship for a while, but now he wanted to talk. "What are the Yamani Isles like?" he asked, considering it a rather safe topic -- he was still cursing himself for asking if she had any romantic interests.
"Quiet. It's beautiful there, though. Wonderful gardens and the sea . . . and the sunsets are brilliant." Her voice took on a calm tone when she discussed the place she'd lived in for six years. And something in her eyes -- or was it the tone of her voice? -- told him she missed it. So he went on that. "You miss it, huh?"
She nodded. "I love Tortall; I was born here, but the Yamani Isles will always be a part of my heart. It truly is wonderful there."
"It sounds it," Thom agreed. And it did -- it sounded beautiful. He wouldn't mind going there someday, and with the treaty Keladry's parents had instigated, it might even be possible.
Kel would have said something else to keep the conversation flowing, except Thom halted before a door, and said, "Here's Carina's place. I think we're all tired, and the sooner we get clothes for you and Neal, the sooner we can all go to bed."
Speaking of bed -- Kel stifled a yawn, making Thom smile. "See, I was right."
She smiled shyly. "Yeah. Yeah, you were."
Thom nearly fell over. She'd smiled -- at him! Wanting to assure her that smiling was a good thing, and that she could feel free to do it anytime around him, he grinned widely.
His parents, grandfather, and Neal were close, so he raised a hand and tapped the door firmly.
After a moment, and following a few bustling sounds inside, it opened. A medium-heighted girl with olive colored skin and deep brown hair that reminded Kel of the Yamani Islanders, stood before them. She wore a white shirt under a pale gray tunic, and gray breeches. She smiled at them. "Hello."
Wiping her hands on the towel she held, she asked, "What brings you here?"
She opened the door the rest of the way, allowing them to enter. Alanna grinned at the girl. "We were hoping you might have some extra clothes lying around that would fit these two." She gestured at Kel and Neal.
Everybody forgot to introduce them, and Carina was too polite to ask, so she pretended to be thinking, hoping someone might catch on and inform her of who she was retrieving clothing for. Someone did, but it wasn't exactly the someone she'd expected.
"Hi, I'm Neal. This is Kel," Neal told the girl, gazing into her deep brown eyes. Carina smiled at him, and held out a hand, but he beat her to it, bowing fancily and then kissing her extended hand. Carina turned bright red as Kel struggled with laughter.
"Making conquests already," Myles murmured to Kel, catching her eye. She giggled a little. Then, as Carina turned to her, she held out a hand, and the two shook.
"I've probably got some clothes around here somewhere that will fit," she mused, and began searching through the piles of clothes scattered about. "I patch them up," she explained to Kel and Neal. Then, winking at Alanna, she said, "Lady Alanna isn't much for sewing."
With a wicked grin, Alanna admitted it was true. "I'm not very good at anything involving thread, aside from thread magic."
Neal didn't know what that was, and was about to ask, when Carina turned to them curiously, and said, "You aren't nobles, then, are you?"
"I don't know . . . Sir Myles, are we nobles?" Neal asked, unsure of what else to say. Myles rolled his eyes. "Yes, silly boy, you are."
Obviously Carina had asked because she'd only been given first names. Myles realized that she hadn't been properly introduced, and informed her of who the guests were. "Nealan of Queenscove and Keladry of Mindelan," he told her, pointing out each in turn.
Very slowly, Carina said, "Keladry . . . Is that a girl's name?" Of course, she obviously knew the answer, but she was hoping someone might tell her who Keladry was -- Keladry of Mindelan, the one and only girl squire. Glancing at Sir Myles, Kel nodded.
"Ha!" Carina stood, triumphantly, presenting a pair of blue breeches and a blue tunic. She scrambled around until she found a paler blue shirt. She held them out to Keladry. "These should fit. I'm sorry they don't match your eyes better or anything."
"I don't mind," Kel assured her, wondering why it would matter if they matched her eyes or not. "Thanks."
"Do girls care about that kind of thing, Kel?" Neal whispered. He'd never considered the fact. His friend shrugged. "Beats me," she told him. "I'm not the one to ask."
"Carina!" a voice called from the hall. "Carina -- I've torn my clothes again. Will ye mend it for me?"
Alanna looked up. "Coram!" She ran out into the hall. "I was trying to find you earlier. Have you seen anything strange tonight?"
"Lass, not too much is stranger than ye wand'rin' 'round at night," he told her, fingering the rip in his tunic.
"Oh trust me. It's about to get much stranger," she assured him, cryptically. Then, eyeing the rip, she said, "That might not be able to be fixed. It's not on a seam."
Coram looked down at the tear and cursed. "These things need to be more hardy." Then he sighed. Looking at Alanna, he asked, "Why is it goin' t' get much stranger?"
She didn't say anything as she led him inside by his arm. He stopped when he saw Kel and Neal. "Now who might ye be?" he asked them. Then he did a double take. "Yer a girl!"
Kel nodded. Neal threw up his hands. "Can't somebody say something original? That's already been used by, about, a hundred people!"
Coram ignored him, and raised his eyebrows at Alanna. "What kind o' trouble are ye in now?"
"I'm not in any trouble!" she cried.
He shook his head. "I'm sure I'd believe ye . . . if ye knew how t' stay out o' trouble. But you don't." He smiled at the exasperated look she gave him, then turned to Kel. "I wish ye luck then, Lass. Though I don't know if ye need it."
She grinned, shyly. "Thank you."
The guardsman nodded, then turned to Alanna. "I think I know now why ye were askin' 'bout strange happ'nin's. Do ye know what happened?"
"No, but I will. Something's not right about all of this," Alanna said firmly.
George put an arm around her waist. "And you won't rest till you do, will you, Alanna?" She leaned against him. "Nah, probably not."
As Carina searched for clothes that Neal would fit into and the others drew into groups to discuss things, Kel wondered why Coram had bothered to wish her luck. He doesn't even know me; why would he care? It never occurred to her that maybe, just maybe, she had people rooting for her in relative silence.
Carina held out a brown tunic and breeches with a brown shirt to Neal. "Here; these should fit."
Carina suggested they try them on, and showed Neal to a door, then led Kel through her apartments to another room. After she'd opened the door, and pointed Kel's way in, she began to walk away. Then, she turned around and said, "If you need anything, you know, while you're here, then just ask me."
Kel met her eyes. "Thanks," she said. "I appreciate it." After glancing around to make sure no one was within hearing, she whispered, "You wouldn't happen to have any cloth pads, would you?" She blushed a little, and Carina said, "Oh!" and rushed past Kel into the room. She opened a drawer and dug through it a little, bringing out a handful. Kel sighed in relief. "Thank you. I was wondering who I'd have to ask."
Carina giggled at the thought of who else Kel might ask. "Well I didn't think it was so funny," Kel muttered, which only made Carina laugh harder.
After Carina had left -- still laughing -- Kel tried on her new clothes. Looking in the mirror, she adjusted the tunic until it lay straight, then nodded. They fit just fine. Carina returned, just as she was wondering whether she ought to wear her banquet clothes out, or the ones she was being lent. In her arms she carried more clothes of the same size and color. "I hope those fit," she told Kel, "because I don't think I've got any that will fit you if they don't." Kel smiled. "They do. Should I wear these, then?" she asked, "Or should I save them for Tomorrow?"
"Why don't you save them until tomorrow," suggested Carina. "The clothes you were wearing are already dirty -- no need to dirty another pair."
Kel agreed, and Carina gathered the clothes and pads into a bag while she changed back into her golden shirt and red tunic. She handed the bag to Kel. "I hope it's enough."
"I'm sure it will be," Kel said politely.
They went back to the room where the others waited. As they entered, Carina asked Kel, "What's your favorite color?"
"Brown," said Kel. Carina raised her eyebrows. "Brown," she repeated.
Kel nodded.
Carina turned to Neal for confirmation. "She also likes green," he said helpfully.
"Well brown is an . . . interesting color," Carina said.
Kel explained, "That's why I like it. It's simple." She had read right through Carina's words, and knew that the girl really thought it was a rather strange favorite color, but who was she to judge.
Carina looked surprised. "I didn't -- "
"Sometimes Kel does that," Neal said, looking up from his inspection of the contents of the bag he was holding. "She acts like she can read your mind. My Lord says she's good at reading people."
"My parents are diplomats; what do you think they do all day?"
Realization crept into George's eyes. "That's right!" he cried. "Your parents negotiated that treaty with the Islands, didn't they?"
Kel nodded. "Yessir."
"How did they get the Yamanis to agree?" he asked, eyes on her, interested. "They didn't seem to thrilled about the idea at first."
"It's kind of a long story . . . " She looked at him uncertainly. "And I'm not very good at telling them." But what a story it was! She still had dreams about that day, and she loved them. Loved the thrill they gave her and the feeling that she could be that way someday too. As long as her parents didn't marry her off first.
George wasn't put off. "I really would like to hear it," he said. "I wondered about that."
So Kel launched into the story of the day her and her mother had been looking at the swords and the raiders had come. How the Yamani had grabbed hold of her, only to get shot a moment later, and die. How her mother had then taken her hand, and the swords and run like crazy to the hall. How they'd been cornered by raiders in a rare wooden wall, rather than a paper one, leaving them trapped. How her mother had shoved the swords into Kel's arms and fought until guards came and helped her kill them off. How the Yamani guards had then bowed to them as if they were Gods. And how the emperor had then shown them favor for rescuing the most precious of all Yamani treasures.
"A bunch of swords were that important to them?" Thom asked, incredulous. "Why?"
"They're the God's swords," Kel informed him. "There's Justice and Honor, and Duty . . . "
Myles grinned. "Sounds like chivalry to me." He held up a hand. "Which, by the way, while we're on the subject -- "
"Oh no," Alanna told him, "we're not getting into this again."
"I think it is like chivalry," Kel said, agreeing with Sir Myles. "Their version, at least. They don't have knights, not like we do. They just have warriors."
Myles eyes crinkled with laughter. "Kel, tell them what it means to be a Yamani warrior."
She shook her head, thinking, It wasn't that funny. But to humor him, she said, "Lots of running up and down mountains in the rain and not complaining." She waited for their reactions -- it was always interesting to see what people thought of that. She knew for a fact there were few people, if any, in Tortall who could do that. I don't know if I could. I don't particularly like mountains, myself.
"Sounds . . . interesting," Alanna said, slowly. She hated being wet, and the mountains were cold. Definitely not my thing, she thought. Definitely not.
Neal grinned. "Don't worry -- none of us could do it either, Lady Alanna. We get all wimpy if it's just a bit of rain, and not even in the mountains. Or at least, most of us do," he amended, looking at Kel, who sighed. There he went, bringing attention to her again. Luckily, everyone was feeling more sleepy by the second, and Myles's yawn convinced Alanna that he -- and everyone else -- needed to go straight to bed. "No arguments," as she said.
No one had any. They were all bone tired. So, they all left Carina's after saying goodbye, and began to walk back to wherever they were going to sleep.
Neal groaned. "Kel, even you can't get up at dawn after a night like this." Kel shrugged. "We'll see, won't we?" He rolled his eyes. "A bag of sweets says you can't." They shook on it. "And no fair going back to bed," he added.
"Do you always get up at dawn?" Thom asked. Kel nodded. "If I don't do it everyday, I'll get out of the habit and it'll be near impossible to wake up."
Thom couldn't see himself waking up that early, and he said as much. "I've always gotten up early," she told him. "It's a habit -- and besides, it leaves me time to practice in the morning and I'm not rushing around like this oaf -- " she tapped Neal in the chest " -- every morning, trying not to be late."
"I still say you can't do it," Neal insisted.
"If you're so sure, why didn't you bet coppers on it, rather than sweets," Thom asked, thinking to make Neal admit that he wasn't sure. Instead Kel and Neal shared a look, and Neal said, "Ah, well, sweets are more fun. And hard to come by, since . . . " He began to mumble, and Thom said, "What was that?"
Neal sighed. "They're hard to come by since My Lord got, er, wine spilled in his lap at a banquet. It wasn't my fault!" he protested, when they all looked at him accusingly. "It was Kel's!"
"It was not. Faleron tripped over Lady Sari's skirt and pushed over Owen, whose platter hit Cleon on the head, and made him run into me. And you just happened to be standing right in front of me."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Excuses, excuses." Then he made a face. "We all got punished, anyhow. I don't think he could tell which of us had been involved. Which makes it oh-so-much-more-wonderful, considering, that everyone who got punishment and didn't do anything, is mad at us." He began to look angry. "And the worst thing is that Faleron didn't trip on his own. Joren pushed him -- or was it Vincent?" he asked Kel.
"Neither," she said. "It was Garvey." Neal waved a hand. "Same difference. They're all assholes." His eyes widened as he realized that he'd just cursed in front of some of the most important people it Tortall -- not to mention the fact that they were adults. It seemed to slip his mind that the Lioness had a famed temper, and was well known for her wide vocabulary of curse words. "Uh," he said. "I didn't mean that . . . "
"Yes you did," Alanna told him. "And if you meant it, then you should have said it." Neal began to laugh. "If Lord Wyldon had heard that, he'd have given me some speech about how a true knight never uses foul language, because it's not chivalrous in some way." At her raised eyebrows, he said, "I guess you disagree?"
"Some of the most avidly foul-languaged people that I know are knights, or warriors of some kind." She grinned. "A few are sailors."
Alanna, George, and Myles broke off from Kel, Neal, and Thom, telling the latter to take them to rooms -- they were too tired to notice which ones. The adults went to find Maude before going to bed -- Alanna was convinced that Myles needed to spend the night with a healer nearby. She didn't trust him.
Thom started walking purposefully. None of them talked anymore; they could hardly focus on their steps, let alone hold a conversation. Thom finally stopped before a door labeled "20" and said, "This is your room, Neal."
"Do all the rooms have numbers?" Neal mumbled, not really caring, just wanting to crawl into bed and sleep. Thom opened the door, and said, "I'll come get you before breakfast tomorrow." Remembering Kel and Neal's bet, he added, "She'll be right next to you, if you want to collect on that bet."
Neal said something incoherent and stumbled into the room, crawling into bed without even changing into the nightclothes that Carina had provided.
Thom shook his head, and closed the door softly, to the music of Neal's snores. Then he turned to Kel and said, "This one is yours." Her door was labeled "19". He opened the door, and gestured in. She thanked him, but didn't enter, she just studied him for a bit. Taking advantage of the moment, Thom studied her as well, forgetting to be self-conscious. Finally she turned and went inside. "Good Night, Keladry," Thom whispered. She faced him, smiled, whispered. "It's Kel. And good night, Thom." She shut the door.
Thom stood there for a few minutes, and then grinned. "Life is good, life is good." He skipped off to his room, only a few doors down the hallway from Kel's. Kel. He liked the sound of that. "Kel." he tried saying it aloud. It was nice.
Kel took off her shoes and flopped into bed. In a moment, she was asleep, though her dreams strangely resembled the thoughts that had been running through her head all day.
~~~~~
A/N: How on earth did I get eight freaking chapters outta one night?!?! It wasn't even a whole day! Just a night! Geez...I scare myself. (As I should...as I should...) pls review!
~Dani