Chapter 3. The welcome
Kel woke to the sound of the sparrows. She sat up rubbing her eyes and wondering what was different. Of course! The Yamanis were coming today, and she, Kel, would be going to welcome them! She jumped out of bed and heard a knock on the door, joining her and Lal's bedrooms. "You can come in Lal!" she shouted. Lalasa entered the room, carrying a tub, full of lukewarm water. As it was in the middle of summer, her bath didn't need to be too warm, because the days were so hot! She washed carefully, put something amazing, called shampoo on her hair. It was this new fad. All the girls must have shampoo, as it made their hair sleek and shiny and was far more likely to attract boys! That of course wasn't the reason that Kel used it though!
She used it today, because she wanted to look her best for meeting her friends again. She wasn't at all worried about meeting the Yamanis, because when she had lived in the islands, she had also lived in the emperor's palace. Her parents were the emperor and his wife's best friends, and Kel had grown up calling them by their first names - which were, Yu Chang and Wai Linn - but if anyone else in the emperor's court did that, they would most likely have their heads cut off! It wasn't that the Yamanis were mean! It was just that this was the law. All the Yamanis that Kel knew were lovely kind funny people. People often thought that the Yamanis were cold and mean, but this was just because they were often serious and quiet. "Kel" Lalasa's voice cut Kel out of her daydream. "Isn't that water getting cold?" Come to think of it, it was! Kel clambered out of the tub, but suddenly a thought struck her. "Lal, what did you do with that dress I was sent?" she said. "I put it away safely, don't worry!" she replied.
***************** An hour later Kel was in her maths lesson, wondering when she would be called for, when suddenly, a knock at the door answered her question. "Come in" her math teacher, Master Ivor called out. "Please sir, his majesty the king wants to talk to Squire Keladry of Mindelan," a little page with straw- coloured hair asked her teacher. "Of course" Master Ivor was a very nice man who liked Kel, and had always treated her the same as any other boy even when she had first come to the palace on probation. Unlike Wyldon or her etiquette teacher Master Oakbridge who had always called her probationary page when she had first come to the palace. Kel gathered up her books and, after thanking Master Oakbridge, left the room. "This way" said the straw colour haired boy to her.
He led her up a flight of stairs and into a room she had never seen before. It was decorated brightly with purple, silver and blue. Luxurious furniture stood in it including a chair similar to Lord Wyldon's but it was a deep blue colour instead. "Wait here please" the boy turned and left the room, leaving Kel free to look around with interest. Not long after that, the boy returned, but this time, he was not alone. The king was with him. After bowing again to him, Kel listened while the king talked to the boy. - "And tell Lord Wyldon that there's nothing to worry about, he'll understand" he was saying. The boy bowed once to him and left the room. Turning to Kel the king said "are you ready to go?" "Yes sir" Kel replied.
She had put on her second-best kimono to meet them. She didn't know if it seemed a bit presumptuous, to wear Yamani clothing to meet them, when they were coming to Tortall but the king said nothing to her. Twenty minutes later, they were standing at a huge dock waiting for the boat to come in. Roald, being the crown prince was with her, so they could talk while they were waiting. The king took out a spyglass, fitted the glass ball in the right place and position at the end, and looked. "I see it coming!" he said. "It's not far off now!" He passed the spyglass in turn to his wife Queen Thayet, a beautiful and kind lady, his son - Roald - and finally to Kel.
Looking into it, she could see a huge red ship with big sails and she could faintly make out the name The Empire painted on the magnificent boat's side in black. I've been sailing on that boat before! Kel thought. Once, she, Chis, Wai Linn, Briar, Sandry, Daja and Tris, had done this big tour around all of the islands on that exact boat. She could see it getting closer but speeding down all the time. She passed the spyglass back to the king with a quiet "thank you sir" He nodded. You could now see the ship and its name without the spyglass. "How are they all supposed to fit in there? They're bringing their own horses too," Roald murmured so only Kel could hear. "I've been on the ship before and it's much bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside," Kel told him. She could now make out the picture of six people standing on the ship's balcony. "Sir, um, may I use your spyglass again?" said Kel. "Of course you may" the king replied. "Thank you" She accepted the spyglass gratefully.
Looking through it she could see that the people on the balcony were who she had guessed it would be; one guard on either side of the group and that group was; the emperor Yu Chang, his wife Wai Linn, princess Chisakami and her little brother prince Yochi. Kel could see Yochi pointing at things excitedly and Chis rolling her eyes playfully at him, when suddenly Chis started waving furiously and frantically at something that Kel couldn't see. Then suddenly she realized why she couldn't see it, it was her of course! She was about to wave back when she suddenly remembered what the stump had said, do not act like you know them - for special reasons you wouldn't understand about - thinking about lord Wyldon brought Kel to another thought. He seemed to be extremely sharp and snappish at everyone nowadays and she didn't know what it was.
But there wasn't time to think about that now. The boat was about to dock. The huge door of the boat opened and two men dressed in Yamani clothing let down a big ramp for them to walk off the ship from. Then to a fanfare of trumpets - which were so loud they made Kel jump! - The door opened again and Yu Chang walked out of the door. Kel hadn't noticed before but she saw now that loads of the townspeople had gathered to watch and they obviously knew who was on board that ship for right then they let out a great cheer. Yu Chang walked down the ramp and up to the king. They both bowed to each other and then shook hands. Wai Linn now appeared with Yochi with her and they both walked down the ramp. Wai Linn kissed queen Thayet on both cheeks, as was the custom. Kel was still looking up at the ship though. Finally Chis walked out.
She hadn't changed a bit since Kel had last seen her a year ago. She was grinning mischievously and suddenly she spotted Kel. She started waving frantically in her direction. Kel gave a quick wave and grinned back. Kel spotted Roald in the crowd. What Merric had said was true, Roald was engaged to Chis. It had been an arranged marriage by both their parents as a sign of peace between the two countries. Roald at the moment was looking sick and quite worried, for neither of them had met before and it would be kind of strange looking at someone for the first time and knowing that they would be your future wife which was the situation here. She edged her way over to him. He glanced at her and she gave an encouraging nod. He gave one back, but a nod full of determination. Chis had walked down the ramp and was being introduced to the king and queen. Kel and Roald went over to them, Roald walking right up beside his parents but Kel lingered behind them.
"Ah yes! This is our son Roald," the king was saying. They exchanged greetings and when the formalities were over Kel was spotted. "Kel!!!" Chis exclaimed, rushing forward to meet her. Kel found herself being hugged tightly by her best friend. Chis dragged Kel forward to her parents saying in Yamani "Mama! Papa! Kel's here!" Kel bowed right down to Yu Chang and Wai Linn. They bowed down to her in return, amid gasps from everyone - including the Tortallian royal family - for it was well known that in the islands, the greatest honour there was, was to be bowed to by the emperor and his wife. "Lea!" Wai Linn exclaimed. For in the islands Kel was known as Lea. (Pronounced Lay-a) The name Keladry was too western and complicated to be translated into Yamani, so everyone called her Lea. Kel then found herself being hugged by Wai Linn, which was even worse if she wanted to pretend she didn't know them! "Lea, I hope I find you well and educated and fighting just as hard as ever!" said the emperor with a twinkle in his eye. "Yes Sir, I am fine and are you?" Kel replied, even if she was allowed to call him by his first name it would still be more appropriate for her to call him sir in public. "I am feeling wonderful, but I think that maybe we should talk in common for our charming hosts cannot understand us!" he replied. Kel blinked, she hadn't even noticed that she was talking in Yamani. "Lea, I hope you still complete your throws and drills properly?" a dry voice met her ears. Nariko the emperor's training master was standing behind her, her slim figure and copper coloured hair made her look no different than she used to. "Of course I do Nariko!" Kel replied. "Oh and your old student Hakuin Seastone, the Shang horse is teaching me Shang in the palace at the moment!" she added. "I might have guessed" Nariko said dryly.
They set off for the palace; Kel was sitting making forced conversation between Roald and Chis. They were both smiling nervously at each other and Chis was the person Kel would have thought least to get freaked out by this sort of thing but she had to admit it was a little extreme and that she did have a reason to be silent - for once! - When they finally arrived at the palace - they had been on horseback and Chis had been fascinated by Peachblossom, Kel's ill tempered horse - they saw the front of the palace filled with pages and squires and much to Kel's surprise, she saw the entire king's own there. She spotted Dom, Neal's cousin and grinned at him. He grinned back and so did Sir Raul, whose squire Kel was. Kel also spotted Neal in the crowd and waved to him, but he wasn't looking at her, instead he was looking at Chis, with a kind of glazed look that Kel had seen him wear quite a few times before, like when he saw all the beautiful ladies at balls. He had fallen in love with each and every one of them and had written poetry and things to them.
Kel tried to ignore the uneasy feeling in her stomach. They dismounted and took their horses to the stables, where Stefan, the hostler was decked out in his best - only slightly muddy! - Breeches and shirt. His straw- coloured tousled hair and blue eyes made him look very cheerful and bright which was true! He took Chis's horse and showed Chis his new stable which was bedded with fresh hay, straw and food. Kel put Peachblossom in her usual stall and then apologised to Chis but said she must be going back to her lessons or lord Wyldon would kill her!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* O.k. correction, that chapter was longer than the last one but still once I get writing I can't stop!!! Oh and I need some ideas for a villain so could you review and give me some? ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kel woke to the sound of the sparrows. She sat up rubbing her eyes and wondering what was different. Of course! The Yamanis were coming today, and she, Kel, would be going to welcome them! She jumped out of bed and heard a knock on the door, joining her and Lal's bedrooms. "You can come in Lal!" she shouted. Lalasa entered the room, carrying a tub, full of lukewarm water. As it was in the middle of summer, her bath didn't need to be too warm, because the days were so hot! She washed carefully, put something amazing, called shampoo on her hair. It was this new fad. All the girls must have shampoo, as it made their hair sleek and shiny and was far more likely to attract boys! That of course wasn't the reason that Kel used it though!
She used it today, because she wanted to look her best for meeting her friends again. She wasn't at all worried about meeting the Yamanis, because when she had lived in the islands, she had also lived in the emperor's palace. Her parents were the emperor and his wife's best friends, and Kel had grown up calling them by their first names - which were, Yu Chang and Wai Linn - but if anyone else in the emperor's court did that, they would most likely have their heads cut off! It wasn't that the Yamanis were mean! It was just that this was the law. All the Yamanis that Kel knew were lovely kind funny people. People often thought that the Yamanis were cold and mean, but this was just because they were often serious and quiet. "Kel" Lalasa's voice cut Kel out of her daydream. "Isn't that water getting cold?" Come to think of it, it was! Kel clambered out of the tub, but suddenly a thought struck her. "Lal, what did you do with that dress I was sent?" she said. "I put it away safely, don't worry!" she replied.
***************** An hour later Kel was in her maths lesson, wondering when she would be called for, when suddenly, a knock at the door answered her question. "Come in" her math teacher, Master Ivor called out. "Please sir, his majesty the king wants to talk to Squire Keladry of Mindelan," a little page with straw- coloured hair asked her teacher. "Of course" Master Ivor was a very nice man who liked Kel, and had always treated her the same as any other boy even when she had first come to the palace on probation. Unlike Wyldon or her etiquette teacher Master Oakbridge who had always called her probationary page when she had first come to the palace. Kel gathered up her books and, after thanking Master Oakbridge, left the room. "This way" said the straw colour haired boy to her.
He led her up a flight of stairs and into a room she had never seen before. It was decorated brightly with purple, silver and blue. Luxurious furniture stood in it including a chair similar to Lord Wyldon's but it was a deep blue colour instead. "Wait here please" the boy turned and left the room, leaving Kel free to look around with interest. Not long after that, the boy returned, but this time, he was not alone. The king was with him. After bowing again to him, Kel listened while the king talked to the boy. - "And tell Lord Wyldon that there's nothing to worry about, he'll understand" he was saying. The boy bowed once to him and left the room. Turning to Kel the king said "are you ready to go?" "Yes sir" Kel replied.
She had put on her second-best kimono to meet them. She didn't know if it seemed a bit presumptuous, to wear Yamani clothing to meet them, when they were coming to Tortall but the king said nothing to her. Twenty minutes later, they were standing at a huge dock waiting for the boat to come in. Roald, being the crown prince was with her, so they could talk while they were waiting. The king took out a spyglass, fitted the glass ball in the right place and position at the end, and looked. "I see it coming!" he said. "It's not far off now!" He passed the spyglass in turn to his wife Queen Thayet, a beautiful and kind lady, his son - Roald - and finally to Kel.
Looking into it, she could see a huge red ship with big sails and she could faintly make out the name The Empire painted on the magnificent boat's side in black. I've been sailing on that boat before! Kel thought. Once, she, Chis, Wai Linn, Briar, Sandry, Daja and Tris, had done this big tour around all of the islands on that exact boat. She could see it getting closer but speeding down all the time. She passed the spyglass back to the king with a quiet "thank you sir" He nodded. You could now see the ship and its name without the spyglass. "How are they all supposed to fit in there? They're bringing their own horses too," Roald murmured so only Kel could hear. "I've been on the ship before and it's much bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside," Kel told him. She could now make out the picture of six people standing on the ship's balcony. "Sir, um, may I use your spyglass again?" said Kel. "Of course you may" the king replied. "Thank you" She accepted the spyglass gratefully.
Looking through it she could see that the people on the balcony were who she had guessed it would be; one guard on either side of the group and that group was; the emperor Yu Chang, his wife Wai Linn, princess Chisakami and her little brother prince Yochi. Kel could see Yochi pointing at things excitedly and Chis rolling her eyes playfully at him, when suddenly Chis started waving furiously and frantically at something that Kel couldn't see. Then suddenly she realized why she couldn't see it, it was her of course! She was about to wave back when she suddenly remembered what the stump had said, do not act like you know them - for special reasons you wouldn't understand about - thinking about lord Wyldon brought Kel to another thought. He seemed to be extremely sharp and snappish at everyone nowadays and she didn't know what it was.
But there wasn't time to think about that now. The boat was about to dock. The huge door of the boat opened and two men dressed in Yamani clothing let down a big ramp for them to walk off the ship from. Then to a fanfare of trumpets - which were so loud they made Kel jump! - The door opened again and Yu Chang walked out of the door. Kel hadn't noticed before but she saw now that loads of the townspeople had gathered to watch and they obviously knew who was on board that ship for right then they let out a great cheer. Yu Chang walked down the ramp and up to the king. They both bowed to each other and then shook hands. Wai Linn now appeared with Yochi with her and they both walked down the ramp. Wai Linn kissed queen Thayet on both cheeks, as was the custom. Kel was still looking up at the ship though. Finally Chis walked out.
She hadn't changed a bit since Kel had last seen her a year ago. She was grinning mischievously and suddenly she spotted Kel. She started waving frantically in her direction. Kel gave a quick wave and grinned back. Kel spotted Roald in the crowd. What Merric had said was true, Roald was engaged to Chis. It had been an arranged marriage by both their parents as a sign of peace between the two countries. Roald at the moment was looking sick and quite worried, for neither of them had met before and it would be kind of strange looking at someone for the first time and knowing that they would be your future wife which was the situation here. She edged her way over to him. He glanced at her and she gave an encouraging nod. He gave one back, but a nod full of determination. Chis had walked down the ramp and was being introduced to the king and queen. Kel and Roald went over to them, Roald walking right up beside his parents but Kel lingered behind them.
"Ah yes! This is our son Roald," the king was saying. They exchanged greetings and when the formalities were over Kel was spotted. "Kel!!!" Chis exclaimed, rushing forward to meet her. Kel found herself being hugged tightly by her best friend. Chis dragged Kel forward to her parents saying in Yamani "Mama! Papa! Kel's here!" Kel bowed right down to Yu Chang and Wai Linn. They bowed down to her in return, amid gasps from everyone - including the Tortallian royal family - for it was well known that in the islands, the greatest honour there was, was to be bowed to by the emperor and his wife. "Lea!" Wai Linn exclaimed. For in the islands Kel was known as Lea. (Pronounced Lay-a) The name Keladry was too western and complicated to be translated into Yamani, so everyone called her Lea. Kel then found herself being hugged by Wai Linn, which was even worse if she wanted to pretend she didn't know them! "Lea, I hope I find you well and educated and fighting just as hard as ever!" said the emperor with a twinkle in his eye. "Yes Sir, I am fine and are you?" Kel replied, even if she was allowed to call him by his first name it would still be more appropriate for her to call him sir in public. "I am feeling wonderful, but I think that maybe we should talk in common for our charming hosts cannot understand us!" he replied. Kel blinked, she hadn't even noticed that she was talking in Yamani. "Lea, I hope you still complete your throws and drills properly?" a dry voice met her ears. Nariko the emperor's training master was standing behind her, her slim figure and copper coloured hair made her look no different than she used to. "Of course I do Nariko!" Kel replied. "Oh and your old student Hakuin Seastone, the Shang horse is teaching me Shang in the palace at the moment!" she added. "I might have guessed" Nariko said dryly.
They set off for the palace; Kel was sitting making forced conversation between Roald and Chis. They were both smiling nervously at each other and Chis was the person Kel would have thought least to get freaked out by this sort of thing but she had to admit it was a little extreme and that she did have a reason to be silent - for once! - When they finally arrived at the palace - they had been on horseback and Chis had been fascinated by Peachblossom, Kel's ill tempered horse - they saw the front of the palace filled with pages and squires and much to Kel's surprise, she saw the entire king's own there. She spotted Dom, Neal's cousin and grinned at him. He grinned back and so did Sir Raul, whose squire Kel was. Kel also spotted Neal in the crowd and waved to him, but he wasn't looking at her, instead he was looking at Chis, with a kind of glazed look that Kel had seen him wear quite a few times before, like when he saw all the beautiful ladies at balls. He had fallen in love with each and every one of them and had written poetry and things to them.
Kel tried to ignore the uneasy feeling in her stomach. They dismounted and took their horses to the stables, where Stefan, the hostler was decked out in his best - only slightly muddy! - Breeches and shirt. His straw- coloured tousled hair and blue eyes made him look very cheerful and bright which was true! He took Chis's horse and showed Chis his new stable which was bedded with fresh hay, straw and food. Kel put Peachblossom in her usual stall and then apologised to Chis but said she must be going back to her lessons or lord Wyldon would kill her!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* O.k. correction, that chapter was longer than the last one but still once I get writing I can't stop!!! Oh and I need some ideas for a villain so could you review and give me some? ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*