A/N I'm starting to run out of ideas already. Well. not really ideas, but details. If there is anything
you want to see happen email me at koreastar104@yahoo.com. All ideas welcome.
Disclaimer - Everything belongs to Tamora Pierce except Simmion and the rest of Coram's kids.
(Well, Tammy owns them, too, but they're my names. I don't even know how many kids Coram
has. oh well)
You'll Never Guess - Chapter 4 - Stops Along the Way
At the crack of dawn (at like 6 a.m. although like 11a.m. for me), Kel and Raoul went off to fight Scanran raiders up north. The ride was long and uneventful, but Kel wasn't really bored. She was eager to take in the beautiful scenery. Peachblossom, on the other hand, was not enjoying
the ride. Kel could tell because he was in a rather foul mood. Riding with Sir Raoul was interesting because he had so many stories to tell. He talked about Alanna, his earlier years in the palace, his adventures as a knight, and many other fascinating things. Kel did however notice that he talked a lot about Buri, Queen Thayet's personal guard.
Hmmm....I wonder why. Maybe he's in love with her. That's probably the reason. I shouldn't say anything though, thought Kel.
After about five days they reached Mindelan. Kel jumped off Peachblossom the instant she got into the courtyard. She raced up to her older brother, Anders, and gave him a hug.
"It's good to see you Kel. Look at you! You've grown."
Kel smiled. She was almost six feet tall and from all appearance was going to keep growing.
"It's good to see you too, Anders."
"You must get it from Mama for Papa never was tall," remarked Anders, "Come inside you must be hungry."
"We can't stay very long," said Raoul, "We're heading north to deal with some Scanran raiders. They're causing problems again near Trebond."
"Scanrans.... they'll never learn that they can't cause problems and expect us not to send troops up there."
Being home felt good, but the joy was only short-lived. They left the next morning. Anders invited them to come stay for a little after they had completed their mission. They reached Trebond in less than two days and made their way to the castle there.
"Coram Smythesson, it's been a long time," said Raoul.
"Aye, lad," he replied," it has."
"Coram, this is my squire, Keladry of Mindelan. Kel, Coram, Alanna's friend, mentor, and the Lord of Trebond."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," said Kel.
"The same to you, lass. I'm glad to have a chance to meet the first girl to be training as a knight since Alanna herself. From what I hear about ye, ye'll be a great knight some day."
Kel was really touched. This was coming from someone who took care of the Lioness and taught her the basics of fighting.
"Come on in, ye can meet Rispah and the kids."
Coram led them inside. They were greeted by a tall redhead who was followed by eight children ranging from Kel's age to about five. They all looked remarkably like their mother. The same red hair and brown-gray eyes, but they could have gotten the height from either parent. The children stared at Kel curiously.
"Raoul!!!!! You're back!!!" shouted a redheaded boy who stuck his head out from one of the rooms.
"It's good to see you, too, Simmion," he replied to the boy.
Simmion looked a little older than Kel and looked almost exactly like his father. He was almost as tall, too.
"Have you been practicing your fencing?" Raoul asked Simmion.
"Actually, yes. Alanna and her squire stopped by about a week ago. I beat her squire, but Alanna always wins."
Raoul and the adults laughed. Kel snapped into focus at the mention of Alanna's squire.
"Don't feel bad. Alanna beats everyone. I think the only person who ever wins against her is Duke Gareth of Naxen."
"Come now, dinner is getting cold and Captain Flyndan probably wants to speak to you," said Rispah as she herded everyone into the dining hall.
Dinner was wonderful and the kids kept Kel busy with their constant questions. Kel learned their names quickly. The youngest one was Gywnen, and then came Francis, Elenet, Sander, Justine and Jamie (twins), Joesh, Shiara, and Simmion. Kel wasn't really surprised to learn that most of them had at least some fighting skill. After all, their father started training Alanna and
their mother had been in the Rogue. They were all nice kids.
After they had eaten, Raoul went with Captain Flyndan to discuss the current situation and told Kel to go practice. Simmion offered to show her to the practice court after she had gathered her weapons. Kel began with a pattern dance using her practice glaive. Then, she practiced her sword work. Simmion was at the other end of the room practicing knife fighting.
"How about a challenge?"
Kel looked up from her sword work.
"Hmmm?? Are you talking to me?" she asked.
"Yeah. Why not? You seem to know what you're doin'," replied Simmion.
"Alright."
Kel and Simmion saluted each other, squared off, and assumed "guard" position. Simmion shouted, "Start!" and they were off.
Kel attacked first, instantly moving into position for a butterfly sweep. He blocked and counter-attacked. The bout went on, neither one gaining the advantage. Through their exchange, they did not realize that they had gained an audience. Everyone watched in awe. Finally, Simmion began to tire. He wasn't used to such long bouts, but Kel seemed to be full of energy. All her exercise and glaive practice helped build up her stamina. Kel saw an opportunity and took it. There was a split second between his attack where Kel caught his hilt and pulled it out of his grasp. She proceeded into "kill" position.
"You're good," said a breathless Simmion.
"You're not too bad yourself," replied Kel.
She lowered her sword and offered him a hand (to shake). He took it and smiled.
"I really have to talk to Alanna about those lessons," said Raoul, "I'm proud of you."
"You did good, lass," said Coram," Even I can't beat Simmion anymore."
"Will you teach me some knife fighting tricks?" Kel asked Simmion.
"Sure, as long as you show me how to use that long pike-thing you were using earlier," said Simmion.
"It's a deal and that 'pike' is a called a glaive."
"Alright, then."
Raoul looked at Kel and said, " You look tired. Go to bed. You can learn how to knife fight later. Looks like we're going to be here for a while, anyway. The Scanrans seem to be hiding out."
"Well, good night everyone," said Kel.
Everyone answered back and Rispah led Kel to a room.
"This used to be Alanna's room. I thought you might like it."
"Thank you," replied Kel.
Kel found her saddlebags by the door. She took out her nightgown and washed up in the dressing room. Kel was so tired that she fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
When Kel woke up, she was confused. Where am I??
A/N HEHEHE....I love doing that.....It's fun. : P
Anyway. Review please. Constructive criticism welcome. I don't mind flames if it's the truth. Bye,
Bye!!
you want to see happen email me at koreastar104@yahoo.com. All ideas welcome.
Disclaimer - Everything belongs to Tamora Pierce except Simmion and the rest of Coram's kids.
(Well, Tammy owns them, too, but they're my names. I don't even know how many kids Coram
has. oh well)
You'll Never Guess - Chapter 4 - Stops Along the Way
At the crack of dawn (at like 6 a.m. although like 11a.m. for me), Kel and Raoul went off to fight Scanran raiders up north. The ride was long and uneventful, but Kel wasn't really bored. She was eager to take in the beautiful scenery. Peachblossom, on the other hand, was not enjoying
the ride. Kel could tell because he was in a rather foul mood. Riding with Sir Raoul was interesting because he had so many stories to tell. He talked about Alanna, his earlier years in the palace, his adventures as a knight, and many other fascinating things. Kel did however notice that he talked a lot about Buri, Queen Thayet's personal guard.
Hmmm....I wonder why. Maybe he's in love with her. That's probably the reason. I shouldn't say anything though, thought Kel.
After about five days they reached Mindelan. Kel jumped off Peachblossom the instant she got into the courtyard. She raced up to her older brother, Anders, and gave him a hug.
"It's good to see you Kel. Look at you! You've grown."
Kel smiled. She was almost six feet tall and from all appearance was going to keep growing.
"It's good to see you too, Anders."
"You must get it from Mama for Papa never was tall," remarked Anders, "Come inside you must be hungry."
"We can't stay very long," said Raoul, "We're heading north to deal with some Scanran raiders. They're causing problems again near Trebond."
"Scanrans.... they'll never learn that they can't cause problems and expect us not to send troops up there."
Being home felt good, but the joy was only short-lived. They left the next morning. Anders invited them to come stay for a little after they had completed their mission. They reached Trebond in less than two days and made their way to the castle there.
"Coram Smythesson, it's been a long time," said Raoul.
"Aye, lad," he replied," it has."
"Coram, this is my squire, Keladry of Mindelan. Kel, Coram, Alanna's friend, mentor, and the Lord of Trebond."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," said Kel.
"The same to you, lass. I'm glad to have a chance to meet the first girl to be training as a knight since Alanna herself. From what I hear about ye, ye'll be a great knight some day."
Kel was really touched. This was coming from someone who took care of the Lioness and taught her the basics of fighting.
"Come on in, ye can meet Rispah and the kids."
Coram led them inside. They were greeted by a tall redhead who was followed by eight children ranging from Kel's age to about five. They all looked remarkably like their mother. The same red hair and brown-gray eyes, but they could have gotten the height from either parent. The children stared at Kel curiously.
"Raoul!!!!! You're back!!!" shouted a redheaded boy who stuck his head out from one of the rooms.
"It's good to see you, too, Simmion," he replied to the boy.
Simmion looked a little older than Kel and looked almost exactly like his father. He was almost as tall, too.
"Have you been practicing your fencing?" Raoul asked Simmion.
"Actually, yes. Alanna and her squire stopped by about a week ago. I beat her squire, but Alanna always wins."
Raoul and the adults laughed. Kel snapped into focus at the mention of Alanna's squire.
"Don't feel bad. Alanna beats everyone. I think the only person who ever wins against her is Duke Gareth of Naxen."
"Come now, dinner is getting cold and Captain Flyndan probably wants to speak to you," said Rispah as she herded everyone into the dining hall.
Dinner was wonderful and the kids kept Kel busy with their constant questions. Kel learned their names quickly. The youngest one was Gywnen, and then came Francis, Elenet, Sander, Justine and Jamie (twins), Joesh, Shiara, and Simmion. Kel wasn't really surprised to learn that most of them had at least some fighting skill. After all, their father started training Alanna and
their mother had been in the Rogue. They were all nice kids.
After they had eaten, Raoul went with Captain Flyndan to discuss the current situation and told Kel to go practice. Simmion offered to show her to the practice court after she had gathered her weapons. Kel began with a pattern dance using her practice glaive. Then, she practiced her sword work. Simmion was at the other end of the room practicing knife fighting.
"How about a challenge?"
Kel looked up from her sword work.
"Hmmm?? Are you talking to me?" she asked.
"Yeah. Why not? You seem to know what you're doin'," replied Simmion.
"Alright."
Kel and Simmion saluted each other, squared off, and assumed "guard" position. Simmion shouted, "Start!" and they were off.
Kel attacked first, instantly moving into position for a butterfly sweep. He blocked and counter-attacked. The bout went on, neither one gaining the advantage. Through their exchange, they did not realize that they had gained an audience. Everyone watched in awe. Finally, Simmion began to tire. He wasn't used to such long bouts, but Kel seemed to be full of energy. All her exercise and glaive practice helped build up her stamina. Kel saw an opportunity and took it. There was a split second between his attack where Kel caught his hilt and pulled it out of his grasp. She proceeded into "kill" position.
"You're good," said a breathless Simmion.
"You're not too bad yourself," replied Kel.
She lowered her sword and offered him a hand (to shake). He took it and smiled.
"I really have to talk to Alanna about those lessons," said Raoul, "I'm proud of you."
"You did good, lass," said Coram," Even I can't beat Simmion anymore."
"Will you teach me some knife fighting tricks?" Kel asked Simmion.
"Sure, as long as you show me how to use that long pike-thing you were using earlier," said Simmion.
"It's a deal and that 'pike' is a called a glaive."
"Alright, then."
Raoul looked at Kel and said, " You look tired. Go to bed. You can learn how to knife fight later. Looks like we're going to be here for a while, anyway. The Scanrans seem to be hiding out."
"Well, good night everyone," said Kel.
Everyone answered back and Rispah led Kel to a room.
"This used to be Alanna's room. I thought you might like it."
"Thank you," replied Kel.
Kel found her saddlebags by the door. She took out her nightgown and washed up in the dressing room. Kel was so tired that she fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
When Kel woke up, she was confused. Where am I??
A/N HEHEHE....I love doing that.....It's fun. : P
Anyway. Review please. Constructive criticism welcome. I don't mind flames if it's the truth. Bye,
Bye!!