Kel winced as the clock struck eight. She had taken too long, she realized, and would now had to rush.
"Come on," urged Nealen of Queenscove. "The Stump doesn't tolerate lateness. Mithros, Kel, what will the Stump think?" Kel sighed. She was wearing a Yamani dress, a kimono. Most squires wore tunics of red and gold. Then again, most squires were male.
"Lord Wyldon suggested it." Kel told her nineteen year-old friend. "He said, and I agree with him, that if I wear a dress all the time, it will show that I am female and proud of it. However, I can't do a thing in the practice yards in a Tortallan dress. I can fight just as well in a kimono as I can in breeches."
Neal sighed. "Well then, come on. We wouldn't want to be late for the first banquet that we get to attend as young knights." They swiftly headed towards the great hall, the size of their company growing as other friends joined them.
The banquet was better than they thought it was going to be. It was an odd feeling not to be among the pages serving, but as young knights they had no need to serve others.
They were heading back to their rooms, laughing and talking, when a young woman with wild eyes rushed towards them; Lalasa. Kel's former maid had a
bloody scratch on one arm, and was sobbing. Until just recently she had been visiting Tian, her friend, at Lady Adaila's home. Adie was Kel's married sister.
"Lady Kel," Lalasa gasped, hanging onto Kel's arm, "Lady Kel, bandits attacked. Your sister is alright, and her daughter Patricine, but the
others."
Kel set off at once, Neal accompanying her "To keep you out of trouble." When they arrived at the castle, villagers were wearily cleaning up.
"Where is my sister?" Kel demanded, not at all in the mood to be polite.
"Over there, milady." A wide-eyed girl pointed to the nursery. A weeping noblewoman was hugging a baby girl; Adie and little Patricine.
"Adie?" Kel asked tentatively. Never had she realized how loyal her sister was. "Are you all right?"
Adie turned. In one swift movement she was across the room and hugging her sister, crying hysterically. Neal and Lalasa made themselves scarce. "He was so brave, and so strong, even to the last." she wept. "He never
hesitated, even when they shot him in the arm. I miss him!"
"Adie?" Kel managed, afraid to ask, fearing the answer, "What. what of your other children? What of Jason, and Melanie, and Lily?"
Adie managed a watery chuckle. "They were on a picnic. They're fine."
"Kel," Neal began, coming back into the room, "I just wanted to tell you that what bandits escaped have been found. They are being executed."
"Thank you, Sir Nealen." said Adie.
"Neal, you go back to the palace. I can come back later. Right now I think they need me here."
Two years later, Adie and her children were mostly recovered. Adie, however, never remarried. Her husband lived on in her memory.
"Come on," urged Nealen of Queenscove. "The Stump doesn't tolerate lateness. Mithros, Kel, what will the Stump think?" Kel sighed. She was wearing a Yamani dress, a kimono. Most squires wore tunics of red and gold. Then again, most squires were male.
"Lord Wyldon suggested it." Kel told her nineteen year-old friend. "He said, and I agree with him, that if I wear a dress all the time, it will show that I am female and proud of it. However, I can't do a thing in the practice yards in a Tortallan dress. I can fight just as well in a kimono as I can in breeches."
Neal sighed. "Well then, come on. We wouldn't want to be late for the first banquet that we get to attend as young knights." They swiftly headed towards the great hall, the size of their company growing as other friends joined them.
The banquet was better than they thought it was going to be. It was an odd feeling not to be among the pages serving, but as young knights they had no need to serve others.
They were heading back to their rooms, laughing and talking, when a young woman with wild eyes rushed towards them; Lalasa. Kel's former maid had a
bloody scratch on one arm, and was sobbing. Until just recently she had been visiting Tian, her friend, at Lady Adaila's home. Adie was Kel's married sister.
"Lady Kel," Lalasa gasped, hanging onto Kel's arm, "Lady Kel, bandits attacked. Your sister is alright, and her daughter Patricine, but the
others."
Kel set off at once, Neal accompanying her "To keep you out of trouble." When they arrived at the castle, villagers were wearily cleaning up.
"Where is my sister?" Kel demanded, not at all in the mood to be polite.
"Over there, milady." A wide-eyed girl pointed to the nursery. A weeping noblewoman was hugging a baby girl; Adie and little Patricine.
"Adie?" Kel asked tentatively. Never had she realized how loyal her sister was. "Are you all right?"
Adie turned. In one swift movement she was across the room and hugging her sister, crying hysterically. Neal and Lalasa made themselves scarce. "He was so brave, and so strong, even to the last." she wept. "He never
hesitated, even when they shot him in the arm. I miss him!"
"Adie?" Kel managed, afraid to ask, fearing the answer, "What. what of your other children? What of Jason, and Melanie, and Lily?"
Adie managed a watery chuckle. "They were on a picnic. They're fine."
"Kel," Neal began, coming back into the room, "I just wanted to tell you that what bandits escaped have been found. They are being executed."
"Thank you, Sir Nealen." said Adie.
"Neal, you go back to the palace. I can come back later. Right now I think they need me here."
Two years later, Adie and her children were mostly recovered. Adie, however, never remarried. Her husband lived on in her memory.