"Squire Keladry, please see me when you're done with your meal." The tall, slim girl with brown hair groaned as she sat down. Only a week after the summer holidays and she already had punishment work lined up!
The green-eyed boy sitting beside her grinned. "Hey, I got punishment too. Maybe the Stump will let us do it together." Nealean of Queenscove, her best friend and fellow squire, often got himself in trouble with his wicked tongue.
"I doubt he will be so kind as to do that. Lord Wydlon really has it in for me," Kel said with a sigh. She finished her dinner and walked over to Lord Wydlon's table.
"Squire Keladry, why were you late for dinner tonight?" he asked. He looked at her coldly.
"Sorry, m'lord," Kel said simply. If you made an excuse, you got even more punishment work, plus humiliation and the Stump never accepted them anyway.
Lord Wydlon sighed. "Keladry of Mindelan, you will spend one bell of time tomorrow afternoon mucking out the stables. Nealean of Queenscove will be joining you—please inform him. Remember, a tardy knight costs lives!"
"Yes, m'lord, Kel said obediently. She walked back to where Neal was finishing his dinner and sat down.
"What did you do to deserve punishment, Neal?" Kel asked curiously.
"Remember yesterday, I sharpened my tongue at him," Neal told her proudly. "The Stump said he'd have to come up with a punishment for me."
"Oh Gods, see what I have to live with?" Kel said mockingly. Then she continued, "He made up his mind. We have to muck out the stables tomorrow afternoon for one bell," Kel said.
"Oh praise thee, Lord Wydlon!" Neal said, holding his arms up for effect. "We get to do it together," her best friend and crush said, putting his arm around her shoulders. They had recently discovered their love for each other, and spent most of their time together.
Neal finished his meal and gave his tray to the servants. Then Neal & Kel went to their rooms to gather their study supplies and went to the library, where Cleon of Kennan, Merric of Hollyrose, Seaver of Cathork, and Owen of Jesslaw were working on the day's math problems.
"Kel we are stuck on this problem. Will you help us?" Cleon asked. Kel was a math whiz, and often tutored the oth4r boys.
Kel smiled, "Sure!" Kel sat down next to Cleon, and started to explain the problem to the other squires and Owen, the only page among them. Neal sat down next to her with a sigh. He pulled out his history book and started to write a summary of chapters 7-12, for their teacher, Sir Myles of Olau. He was the king's spymaster, the Lioness, Sir Alanna of Pirates Swoop and Olau's foster father.
After they finished their class work, Kel and Neal went to one of the practice courts to work on Neal's pitiful staff work. Kel had to correct his stance and grip numerous times before he got it right. After that, Neal walked Kel back to her room, since it was getting late.
"G'night," Neal said, kissing her mouth lightly. It wasn't a long kiss, but it wasn't just a little peck, either. Kel walked into her room and flopped onto her bed. She lay there, thinking about Neal and their kiss.