Okay, sorry I didn't update. (Yeah, that sounded really vain, like you should care that I haven't updated, didn't it? sorry!) I've got 2 reasons.
#1. I had an exchange student here for the past two weeks and had NO time to myself, and
#2. I MET TAMMY!!! Hehe. She was in town (on my birthday no less!) And I dragged my friend and our exchange students along. She is truly awesome! She read from the next book set in Tortall that comes out this fall. It's about Arianne, Alanna's daughter who runs away from home. She -doesn't- want to become a knight, and after she runs away she is captured and sold as a servant....or something to that effect. And she's not going to write anymore books about Kel in the near future,,,,Near being until 2009! But she will be writing one about Numair when he was in Carthak, and another finisher for the Circle of Magic where the four of them are back together again. (I know that she mentioned more, but I forget the rest of them!) And I saw her husband (there with her) and she signed my copy of Lady Knight....It was good fun, good fun! but anyways, enjoy!
~*~
The next morning, Kel rose early. Glancing out of her window, she saw that the sun was just coming up. She was surprised at the colors she saw. Normally, she was asleep when the sun rose, but to see this, she just might have to make a few exceptions.
Picking up her glaive, Kel gave it a few practice swings, and after limbering up her arms a bit, she went into a complex pattern dance. Even though to anyone's untrained eye this would take immense skill, Kel was taking it easy, she would need her arms in top condition in just under two hours. As Kel finished the dance she grinned. She had made a mistake or two, but her muscles were ready for action. She shed her pajamas and climbed into a clean pair of tan breeches, with a light blue tunic. As she was finishing lacing her tunic, Kel heard a timid knock on her door. After hesitating for a short moment, Kel went to see who else was up at this hour.
"Who is it?" Kel asked quietly, as to not disturb anyone still asleep.
"Kel, It's Dom, open up, please!" the sergeant called. Kel quickly opened the door, but did not invite her friend inside, remembering the last embarrassing incident with him in her room. After she realized that it would seem just as strange with Dom standing in her doorway, she invited him in.
"Come in Dom, I was just changing....I had to warm up for our little head-to-head with Cleon this morning." Kel said, and then noting Dom's strange look, she asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm....fine..." Dom said, trying to smile, "I guess I'm just worried about you....not that I need any reason to worry, you are one of the best knights in the realm. We both know that you're going to kick his-"
"Dom, I can't get over-confident...I've seen it happen to the best, and I know that I may not be the best, but since I've got the advantage of Cleon's anger against him, he could be helping me. It's times like these when my training in the Islands really comes in handy and why they are such formidable fighters, they know how to keep their emotions in check until the job is done."
"I know that, Kel, It's just that you've already been semi-publicly humiliated, and I don't want you to feel that you're doing this just to make Cleon look like a moron, although if you're not up for it, I know a certain few knights who would jump at the chance.." Dom trailed off with a mischevious grin.
"Please Dom, you know that I'm doing this for MY honor, and not just to try to look herioc. I may not win, remember? And anyways, I've got just over an hour now before I have to be at the practice grounds...so are you up for a quick breakfast?"
"Of course, my lady-love," Dom said, sweeping into an elegant bow, trying to look chivalrous, but only ending up looking, well, funny. "I was just about to ask you that myself, what shall we dine on this morning? Some bread and juice, or should we go a step higher and splurge on pancakes?"
"Dom, I'm so glad to have you around, if only to keep me with a sense of humor," Kel giggled, and let him take her arm, as he led her towards the mess hall. On the way, Kel was surprised by how many people were up at this hour. Hoping that not all of them would turn out to watch the competition, Kel quickly grabbed some bread and cheese. She wasn't hungry, but had learned early on to never go into battle without eating. Kel knew that this wasn't really a battle, but her nerves were humming and her senses were honed. As she and Dom ate they kept the conversation light. As the two finished their meal Dom, Yuki, and Owen trickled in slowly, all of them looking bleary-eyed but ready to face the day.
Looking at them made Kel realize what she was really competing for. 'These people are my true friends,' Kel mused. 'I know that they will accept me, no matter whether I win or lose. Sure two of my best friends are married, and the other two...well, I may never figure -them- out, but they all know the true me and aren't dumb enough to listen to any gossip ricocheting around the gaggles of ladies.' These thoughts calmed Kel, and she finally knew that she was ready. After running back to her rooms to gather her bow and string, she headed out to the field. Even though it was twenty minutes before the competition was supposed to begin, there was already a small crowd gathered. As Kel got closer, she could pick out colors and faces. There was Cleon, looking clean and ready in maroon and beige; Next to him was Rosalind. Kel tried not to laugh, Rosalind looked as though she couldn't be anymore bored. Cleon was explaining something to Rosalind very animatedly, but she didn't seem to care. 'It really is a shame," Kel thought, looking at them. 'They'll never get along at this rate, but it's not my problem now. Cleon sealed his fate the moment that he called -me- a whore, when -he- of all people would know the truth.'
Kel squared her shoulders and marched towards her opponent. "Good morning Cleon, are you ready to begin?"
Cleon sneered, a facial expression that had never really suited him. "I've been ready to rub your pride in the dirt every day since I caught you sleeping with Owen, the little squire. So, shall we dance?" he asked maliciously.
Fighting back a grin, Kel found herself relieved. They didn't have to put on a face for those gathered here. "Are you sure you want to go through with this Cleon? We can't have anyone getting hurt, least of all your pride."
"Alright then, Lady Knight," Cleon spat as though it was something bitter in his mouth. "Here are the rules. We each get five arrows, we alternate turns shooting. You can choose the target, and I see that you already have your bow. If you want, go up and inspect each target. They should be identical. After each shot, your arrow will be removed from the target - if you hit it. Any questions?"
"Actually yes, sir, after -I- win, what are the agreements to terms? We both know the truth, so if I win, I get to tell everyone the truth, and if you win, nothing will change, all right? But if you win, I'll also stop besmirching -your- honor, of course." Keladry replied, keeping a courteous tone.
"Fine then, it's a deal, let's shake on it." The two knights grasped eachothers arms, both a bit more tightly than needed. When their eyes met, Kel could almost smell the sparks, but this time they were not of romance, they were of competition, and hatred.
~*~
A/N PS Thanks to all of my reviewers, and I'm going to try to write more often now, even though it's difficult with schoolwork and all, But wanted to say thank you...sometime I might actually write out specific ones, but not tonight. *g*
#1. I had an exchange student here for the past two weeks and had NO time to myself, and
#2. I MET TAMMY!!! Hehe. She was in town (on my birthday no less!) And I dragged my friend and our exchange students along. She is truly awesome! She read from the next book set in Tortall that comes out this fall. It's about Arianne, Alanna's daughter who runs away from home. She -doesn't- want to become a knight, and after she runs away she is captured and sold as a servant....or something to that effect. And she's not going to write anymore books about Kel in the near future,,,,Near being until 2009! But she will be writing one about Numair when he was in Carthak, and another finisher for the Circle of Magic where the four of them are back together again. (I know that she mentioned more, but I forget the rest of them!) And I saw her husband (there with her) and she signed my copy of Lady Knight....It was good fun, good fun! but anyways, enjoy!
~*~
The next morning, Kel rose early. Glancing out of her window, she saw that the sun was just coming up. She was surprised at the colors she saw. Normally, she was asleep when the sun rose, but to see this, she just might have to make a few exceptions.
Picking up her glaive, Kel gave it a few practice swings, and after limbering up her arms a bit, she went into a complex pattern dance. Even though to anyone's untrained eye this would take immense skill, Kel was taking it easy, she would need her arms in top condition in just under two hours. As Kel finished the dance she grinned. She had made a mistake or two, but her muscles were ready for action. She shed her pajamas and climbed into a clean pair of tan breeches, with a light blue tunic. As she was finishing lacing her tunic, Kel heard a timid knock on her door. After hesitating for a short moment, Kel went to see who else was up at this hour.
"Who is it?" Kel asked quietly, as to not disturb anyone still asleep.
"Kel, It's Dom, open up, please!" the sergeant called. Kel quickly opened the door, but did not invite her friend inside, remembering the last embarrassing incident with him in her room. After she realized that it would seem just as strange with Dom standing in her doorway, she invited him in.
"Come in Dom, I was just changing....I had to warm up for our little head-to-head with Cleon this morning." Kel said, and then noting Dom's strange look, she asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm....fine..." Dom said, trying to smile, "I guess I'm just worried about you....not that I need any reason to worry, you are one of the best knights in the realm. We both know that you're going to kick his-"
"Dom, I can't get over-confident...I've seen it happen to the best, and I know that I may not be the best, but since I've got the advantage of Cleon's anger against him, he could be helping me. It's times like these when my training in the Islands really comes in handy and why they are such formidable fighters, they know how to keep their emotions in check until the job is done."
"I know that, Kel, It's just that you've already been semi-publicly humiliated, and I don't want you to feel that you're doing this just to make Cleon look like a moron, although if you're not up for it, I know a certain few knights who would jump at the chance.." Dom trailed off with a mischevious grin.
"Please Dom, you know that I'm doing this for MY honor, and not just to try to look herioc. I may not win, remember? And anyways, I've got just over an hour now before I have to be at the practice grounds...so are you up for a quick breakfast?"
"Of course, my lady-love," Dom said, sweeping into an elegant bow, trying to look chivalrous, but only ending up looking, well, funny. "I was just about to ask you that myself, what shall we dine on this morning? Some bread and juice, or should we go a step higher and splurge on pancakes?"
"Dom, I'm so glad to have you around, if only to keep me with a sense of humor," Kel giggled, and let him take her arm, as he led her towards the mess hall. On the way, Kel was surprised by how many people were up at this hour. Hoping that not all of them would turn out to watch the competition, Kel quickly grabbed some bread and cheese. She wasn't hungry, but had learned early on to never go into battle without eating. Kel knew that this wasn't really a battle, but her nerves were humming and her senses were honed. As she and Dom ate they kept the conversation light. As the two finished their meal Dom, Yuki, and Owen trickled in slowly, all of them looking bleary-eyed but ready to face the day.
Looking at them made Kel realize what she was really competing for. 'These people are my true friends,' Kel mused. 'I know that they will accept me, no matter whether I win or lose. Sure two of my best friends are married, and the other two...well, I may never figure -them- out, but they all know the true me and aren't dumb enough to listen to any gossip ricocheting around the gaggles of ladies.' These thoughts calmed Kel, and she finally knew that she was ready. After running back to her rooms to gather her bow and string, she headed out to the field. Even though it was twenty minutes before the competition was supposed to begin, there was already a small crowd gathered. As Kel got closer, she could pick out colors and faces. There was Cleon, looking clean and ready in maroon and beige; Next to him was Rosalind. Kel tried not to laugh, Rosalind looked as though she couldn't be anymore bored. Cleon was explaining something to Rosalind very animatedly, but she didn't seem to care. 'It really is a shame," Kel thought, looking at them. 'They'll never get along at this rate, but it's not my problem now. Cleon sealed his fate the moment that he called -me- a whore, when -he- of all people would know the truth.'
Kel squared her shoulders and marched towards her opponent. "Good morning Cleon, are you ready to begin?"
Cleon sneered, a facial expression that had never really suited him. "I've been ready to rub your pride in the dirt every day since I caught you sleeping with Owen, the little squire. So, shall we dance?" he asked maliciously.
Fighting back a grin, Kel found herself relieved. They didn't have to put on a face for those gathered here. "Are you sure you want to go through with this Cleon? We can't have anyone getting hurt, least of all your pride."
"Alright then, Lady Knight," Cleon spat as though it was something bitter in his mouth. "Here are the rules. We each get five arrows, we alternate turns shooting. You can choose the target, and I see that you already have your bow. If you want, go up and inspect each target. They should be identical. After each shot, your arrow will be removed from the target - if you hit it. Any questions?"
"Actually yes, sir, after -I- win, what are the agreements to terms? We both know the truth, so if I win, I get to tell everyone the truth, and if you win, nothing will change, all right? But if you win, I'll also stop besmirching -your- honor, of course." Keladry replied, keeping a courteous tone.
"Fine then, it's a deal, let's shake on it." The two knights grasped eachothers arms, both a bit more tightly than needed. When their eyes met, Kel could almost smell the sparks, but this time they were not of romance, they were of competition, and hatred.
~*~
A/N PS Thanks to all of my reviewers, and I'm going to try to write more often now, even though it's difficult with schoolwork and all, But wanted to say thank you...sometime I might actually write out specific ones, but not tonight. *g*
