Squire (My version)
Section one, Summer
Chapter One, Visitors
The hot summer sun set among the leafy oaks in the palace courtyards, like
burnished gold on rough, green silk. In the distance, a few hostlers took care
of the royal steeds. Lively yearlings pranced around, impatient for their early
supper of oats and barley. Their coats gleamed in the sun, the common browns and
blacks, dotted here and there with the rarer palominos. The older, mature,
horses stood by watching. Great, dignified beasts of honor, they stood calmly.
The stallions tasting the fresh air of a new summer to be experienced, the mares
eyeing their broods with pride. A distant bell rang in the temple of Mithros,
calling all priests and attenders in for the nightly worship.
However, Keladry of Mindelen (known to most as Kel) did not have time to
gaze at the simple beauty around her. She sighed as she looked at the hill, her
only obstacle to a nice bath and dinner.
"Sometimes." Kel said to herself. "I really wish that I had no morals."
Sighing again, she trotted painfully up the hill.
When she reached her room, Kel paused, and glanced around. First at the
floor, then the door, finally, she glanced at the ceiling. Seemingly pleased,
Kel unlocked her room and walked in. Thank the Gods, she thought, that Joren and
his cronies didn't feel to mess with me on the first day. Being the only girl
squire in the whole country of Tortall had taught Kel many things. First, and
foremost, was that many boys just did not want her around. Kel had spent the
first few years of her training dodging punches (of course, her opponents
weren't the only ones throwing punches) and slipping on oil left in front of her
door. However, by the time she and her yearmates became squires, most of these
who despised her had matured, and didn't bother to pick fights any more.
She had just finished dressing when someone knocked on her door. Actually,
several someones. Kel grinned when the knock was accompanied by a voice.
"Oh, my dewy daisy of delight!" Cleon's voice rang out. "Would you mind
opening you door? If you do not, I shall wilt with despair!" This announcement
was accompanied by another voice, obviously Neal's.
"Cleon, you dolt! Kel is not a plant, nor any inanimate object! Besides,
you've used "dewy daisy" before!"
Kel quickly unlocked the door, muttering, "Daisy my butt. If I were a
daisy, what would he be? A thorn bush?"
"Neal! Guys!" Kel exclaimed, after finally having opened the door. "What
are you doing here? It's almost dinner. You might be late."
"Oh," Neal replied, grinning. 'We stopped by to drag you with us." The
companions started walking to the mess hall.
"So that you wouldn't be late..." Merric added, brushing his red hair out of
his face, "Again."
"And that we wouldn't have to wait," Seaver added,
"While our stomachs complain." Cleon said, joining in the fun.
"And with all that good food going cold in front of our faces," Owen said.
"For you." Prince Roald finished.
"I thought you were not supposed to take sides," Kel teased the prince.
Roald made a face. "Anyway," Kel continued. "It's not like I'm always late,
though I do admit I am sometimes."
"Always." Neal corrected her, as he filled his plate with generous portions
of ham, cheese, fresh bread, stew, juice, and a slice of pie. Kel looked at his
loaded tray, wondering how he was going to eat all of it. She and the others,
with the exception of Cleon and Owen, filled their trays less lavishly. Owen was
right, Kel thought, as she and the others waited for the training master, Lord
Wyldon, to say the nights' thanks.
"I wonder what's making the Stump late." Merric asked, puzzled.
"Maybe the strain of training young boys finally got to him," Cleon
suggested, rather hopefully, "And he stayed home." The others sighed wistfully.
"If dreams were brains, we would all be smarter." Neal said.
"Lord Wyldon isn't that bad," Kel said. "He just wants us to become better
knights."
"If I had his idea of training when I came," Owen muttered. "You would have
never known m-"
He stopped short and stared at the doorway. The other boys saw him, and turned,
following his gaze. Then stopped, transfixed. Kel looked at them quizzically.
Then, when she too followed their gaze, she saw the object of their stupor. A
girl, around sixteen or seventeen, had just entered the room. She was stunningly
beautiful, and she was escorted by Lord Wyldon himself! Beside her, the Queen
Thayet chatted with her. Kel was surprised that the Queen was in the Mess Hall,
Kel never met the Queen this close before. Not, that it was unfortunate that the
Queen was there. Kel adored the Queen almost as much as she adored her mother
and Alanna the Lioness. Looking at her, Kel could tell why everyone called the
most beautiful woman in Tortall. Turning her attention back to her friends, Kel
nearly burst out laughing.
"What is this brilliant star that shines before me?" Cleon breathed,
awestruck. "By what name goes this rose of my heart?"
"I thought you only called Kel those names." Seaver said, not taking his
eyes of the girl.
Kel glanced at her friends, and grinned. Waving her hand in front of their
faces, she finally got the boys to snap out of their stupor.
"If you love-struck idiots would stop staring, you may notice that the
Queen is about to introduce her." Kel informed them.
"Good day, my fellow servers of Tortall." The Queen said. Her voice was a
melodic tune, rich and full of excitement. "I can see that you have all
collected bruises from your first day back, so I will not take long. However, I
do insist that you all start on your meals. I don't mind a little noise during
my speech." With that, the Queen said a small grace.
"On the first day of a new training, I would like to wish good luck for all
those who need it, and well being for every one. I would like to thank the
Mithros, and the Great Mother Goddess for their watchful eye, and hope that they
watch over us still."
The mess hall stirred back to life, as pages and squires began to eat. Kel
decided that she liked the Queen very much. She, the Queen that is, seemed like
the kind of royalty that did not mind mingling with commoners or foreigners.
"Foremost," The Queen announced. "I would like to introduce you to an
ambassador to the royal court, Lady Kaliana de Yfran of Carthak. She is
Tortallan by birth, yet has lived in Carthak all her life. She will be staying
with us for a year or two to negotiate matters of court, and to study the
Tortallan lifestyle. She will also be joining you in your studies during the
day."
This statement was greeted by cheers from the awestruck pages. Kel snorted
in amusement. As Lady Kaliana stepped up to introduce herself, Kel was able to
study her closely. She was, in fact, gorgeous. A part of Kel's mind wistfully
wished that she could be that beautiful...a very small part. Kaliana had curly
golden brown locks that floated lightly around an innocent face. She was slim,
and wore a summer dress that accented almost all of her curves. She held herself
as a lady should, proudly, yet demurely. Her voice was like a tinkling of
temple chimes. But, Kel thought, the Queen was still much more beautiful
"Hullo," Kaliana said, voice hypnotizing all that heard. "My name is Lady
Kaliana." Kel noted, with disgust, that Kaliana accented the Lady part of her
title. She was quite sure that she was not going to get along with Lady Kaliana.
Too bad, Kel thought, as all the boys are stricken with her.
Kel turned her attention away from her thoughts and back to Kaliana. "My
sister and I," Kaliana continued, "Will be studying with you for the next two
years. We will both be joining you in the morning. However, only my sister will
join you in the evening." She paused, a sour look spreading across her face for
the briefest instant. "I hope you excuse her, for she is quite...rambunctious. She
likes...rough housing with the gender more suitable to such displays of wild
ardor."
Kel winced; she was definitely not going to enjoy Lady Kalianas' stay. As
soon as the Lady Kaliana and Her Majesty sat down to dine, all those held under
her spell were released and the usual noise filled the room.
"Great Mithros!" Neal breathed, "Did you see that girl?"
"I'm sure everyone did, Neal." Kel said testily, then bit her tongue. That
statement showed too much emotion, not at all crediting her Yamani training.
But, Kel had felt a tinge of annoyance and hurt when she heard Neal say that.
Gods, she thought to herself, I thought that I was over my crush.
"Kel! Hello? Kel, are you in there?" Merric asked, waving his hand in front
of her face.
"Hmm? What?" Kel started.
"Neal just said something about you, and you weren't listening." Roald told
her. "Where were you? The Dark Gods' Realm?"
"Oh, I-I was just, thinking." Kel said lamely. She had to work on her
excuses. "My apologies Neal, but what were you saying?"
"I said," Neal answered, looking at her strangely, "That Lady Kalianas'
sister will be joining us in our daily tortures, and that she sounds very much
like you."
"Hope she's just as beautiful as her sister, though." Cleon sighed.
"It isn't only outer beauty that counts, you know." Kel answered. There it
was again, that little pang of jealousy. Kel shook it off.
"Jealous, Kel?" Owen asked, grinning slyly.
"Of what?" Kel asked, horrified as her face burned red. "O-of Lady Kaliana?
Of course I'm not, I just don't like her, that's all."
The boys grinned as they watched Kel's vain efforts to recover.
"Eat your food," Kel told them, "You'll need it when I challenge you."
"Looks like it's going to be an interesting year." Faleron remarked,
passing by.
"It always is." Neal retorted, and obediently started to eat.