One day, about two years after her arrival, she drew a tall, muscular man -
Captain Taro - as her opponent in a practice bout. He was, according to
Koji, commander of Prince Eitaro's personal guard and had a reputation for
being one of the best samurai ever. Kel had wished for a long time that
she could meet him, but this wasn't exactly what she had meant. Partners
were always drawn by lot, which meant she could normally put up a good
enough showing, but this time. Kel bowed deeply, taking up her place
opposite him in the centre of a ring of interested sakuros, takuros and
samurai who wanted to watch the bout. He bowed back, and they began. To
her surprise, she held him for what seemed to her like an age before his
sword sneaked up to touch her throat. Kel lowered her sword in the gesture
of surrender and bowed politely to her opponent. He was good!!! Their
audience cheered her as she backed away, her friends thumping her
enthusiastically on the back.
Kel spun back to look at him when she heard him call Nariko over.
"Nariko! May I ask your advice on a matter? Is this sakuro ready to serve?"
" You desire a takuro, captain?" Nariko asked, somewhat surprised since he had never, to the best of her knowledge, taken on a student before. Her knowledge, since she had taught him and every sakuro since him, was complete. Kel must really have impressed him. "You cannot do much better than Akio, for all his youth. He is only thirteen years old, but he is more than ready and learns quickly and well. I shall be sorry to lose him from my lessons."
"Thank you, my teacher. Sakuro Akio, would you come here for a moment?" Kel ran back over, her face hopeful. He looked at her in silence for a moment, then said solemnly, "Akio, will you be my takuro?" Kel bowed her assent, not thinking she was able to speak calmly enough to act like a good Yamani. The Captain looked pleased.
"You can indent for your new uniform immediately, then return here. We leave for Tortall tomorrow, seconded to Princess Shinkokami's guard, and there is much to do before we leave. I will need your assistance."
Hiroshi, newly acknowledged as a samurai in Captain Taro's regiment, ran after her as she left.
"Well done Aki! We'll conquer Tortall together, neh?"
"Yes, thanks Rosh! It's a bit of a surprise though..."
"Why? You're almost as good as me already, and I'm a full samurai and years older than you."
"I suppose," Kel conceded. "Do you want to come with me?"
"I can't, Captain Taro was right when he said we're busy. I haven't stopped since I got up two bells before sunrise, and the past two days have been much the same. I'll see you around."
Kel ran off towards the quartermaster, where she proudly handed in her sakuro uniforms and withdrew a set of takuro ones. They were identical bar the markings, but they felt a world apart to her. She returned to her cubicle for the last time to change and pick up her weapons before reporting to the practice courts as she had been ordered. Her new master was waiting, somewhat impatiently.
"Good, you're here. Nariko tells me you speak fluent Tortallan."
"Yes sir."
"Do you know their court etiquette?"
"Yes sir, I lived at court for a year."
"Excellent, I was at a loss for what to do. I'll need you to assist me so I don't make any errors that might embarrass our mistress. Meanwhile, take your things to the room adjoining mine and pack my things and yours for the journey. I will require a full set of court robes and armour, as will you. Don't pack weapons, I will see to those myself. Go to Hiroshi when you are done for further instructions."
"Yes sir."
The next day, Kel found herself again boarding a ship, but this time a Yamani ship rather than a Tortallan one. This time she was also a takuro among the solid ranks of the samurai. As she was the only takuro, and at least four years younger than anyone else was anyway, she was adopted into a group of the youngest samurai, including her old friend, Hiroshi.
That evening, the samurai began to spread bedrolls out on the deck. Despite the chilly autumn air, they'd removed their armour and were ready to sleep in their loincloths under their thin blankets. After all, it was nothing compared to some of the conditions they'd endured in training - Kel knew this all too well from her own experience.
Kel observed this, gulped and went to find Captain Taro in his cabin. She didn't know what else she could do, other than risk being found out by everyone. She knocked cautiously, bowed and went in.
"What is it, Akio?" her master asked.
"Sir, I. I'm a girl," Kel stuttered nervously. To Kel's astonishment, Captain Taro didn't seem at all surprised.
"I wondered if you trusted me enough. Nariko told me yesterday. You're Tortallan, aren't you?"
"Yes sir, how did she know?"
"Nariko tells me you began with a Tortallan grip on your sword. The deciding factor however was your eyes. How many Yamanis do you know with hazel eyes?" Kel's hands shot up towards her face.
"I forgot about them," she admitted.
"Nariko thought you were Mindelan, was she right?" Taro continued. Kel nodded gloomily. "You already have an excellent reputation as Mindelan and as Akio among the warriors, and most of us know it wasn't your fault you were evicted. I believe your old friends among the pages are making sure everyone knows." Kel flushed.
"Thank you sir, I didn't know." All those months of constant worry, and Nariko had already guessed, probably on the first day. Kel sighed deeply. Still, it would make it easier to keep this disguise if Captain Taro knew.
The princess and her women came up on deck almost every day. Princess Shinkokami was to marry Roald, the crown prince of Tortall. Lady Yukimi and Lady Haname were her only attendants. Apparently, Captain Taro and his unit, Kel included, had been seconded to her as a personal guard. Kel had known and liked Yuki when she lived at the Yamani court with her family, and she had been one of the best friends she'd had, and one of the first to accept her. This was a source of major concern for her, since Yuki was more likely than anyone to guess who Kel was. She didn't think she'd ever met the Princess, but even so. Kel decided to stay as far as possible from the pair to be safe. Kel was certain however that she'd never met Lady Haname, for one thing, because she was so much older than she was.
Yukimi never did and Kel arrived safely at Port Caynn, Tortall's main seaport. The Prime Minister of Tortall, Sir Gareth the Younger of Naxen, was there to meet them at the docks.
"Welcome to Tortall, your Highness," he said in fairly reasonable Yamani, bowing to Princess Shinkokami and to Prince Eitaro, who had come as the Emperor's personal envoy. With him were Kel's parents, who had been the ambassadors to the emperor's court and were probably there as advisors. Kel glanced nervously at her father. He met her eye but gave no outward signs of recognition as her nodded almost imperceptibly to her and turned his attention back to the main scene. This was, of course, a very important meeting and neither party could afford to mess it up.
Soon the formal welcome was over. Kel's mother led the Yamani ladies over to a the road where a fine carriage had been brought for their use. The soldiers and Prince Eitaro were brought horses. All of them were thoroughbreds and had the finest tack. By the time everyone was ready, their packs had been piled into wagons that would follow at a slower pace. Then, in a perfectly orderly column, they set out on the short ride to Corus, the capital of Tortall.
At last, first the city and then the palace came into sight. Kel gazed at the palace with resignation and apprehension. This was when the real test came. She'd have to pass herself off as Akio, the Yamani takuro, for the first time in front of boys who had known her very well. Over time, she felt that 'Akio's' character had developed very differently from Kel's old self, so hopefully there would be no difficulties.
Kel spun back to look at him when she heard him call Nariko over.
"Nariko! May I ask your advice on a matter? Is this sakuro ready to serve?"
" You desire a takuro, captain?" Nariko asked, somewhat surprised since he had never, to the best of her knowledge, taken on a student before. Her knowledge, since she had taught him and every sakuro since him, was complete. Kel must really have impressed him. "You cannot do much better than Akio, for all his youth. He is only thirteen years old, but he is more than ready and learns quickly and well. I shall be sorry to lose him from my lessons."
"Thank you, my teacher. Sakuro Akio, would you come here for a moment?" Kel ran back over, her face hopeful. He looked at her in silence for a moment, then said solemnly, "Akio, will you be my takuro?" Kel bowed her assent, not thinking she was able to speak calmly enough to act like a good Yamani. The Captain looked pleased.
"You can indent for your new uniform immediately, then return here. We leave for Tortall tomorrow, seconded to Princess Shinkokami's guard, and there is much to do before we leave. I will need your assistance."
Hiroshi, newly acknowledged as a samurai in Captain Taro's regiment, ran after her as she left.
"Well done Aki! We'll conquer Tortall together, neh?"
"Yes, thanks Rosh! It's a bit of a surprise though..."
"Why? You're almost as good as me already, and I'm a full samurai and years older than you."
"I suppose," Kel conceded. "Do you want to come with me?"
"I can't, Captain Taro was right when he said we're busy. I haven't stopped since I got up two bells before sunrise, and the past two days have been much the same. I'll see you around."
Kel ran off towards the quartermaster, where she proudly handed in her sakuro uniforms and withdrew a set of takuro ones. They were identical bar the markings, but they felt a world apart to her. She returned to her cubicle for the last time to change and pick up her weapons before reporting to the practice courts as she had been ordered. Her new master was waiting, somewhat impatiently.
"Good, you're here. Nariko tells me you speak fluent Tortallan."
"Yes sir."
"Do you know their court etiquette?"
"Yes sir, I lived at court for a year."
"Excellent, I was at a loss for what to do. I'll need you to assist me so I don't make any errors that might embarrass our mistress. Meanwhile, take your things to the room adjoining mine and pack my things and yours for the journey. I will require a full set of court robes and armour, as will you. Don't pack weapons, I will see to those myself. Go to Hiroshi when you are done for further instructions."
"Yes sir."
The next day, Kel found herself again boarding a ship, but this time a Yamani ship rather than a Tortallan one. This time she was also a takuro among the solid ranks of the samurai. As she was the only takuro, and at least four years younger than anyone else was anyway, she was adopted into a group of the youngest samurai, including her old friend, Hiroshi.
That evening, the samurai began to spread bedrolls out on the deck. Despite the chilly autumn air, they'd removed their armour and were ready to sleep in their loincloths under their thin blankets. After all, it was nothing compared to some of the conditions they'd endured in training - Kel knew this all too well from her own experience.
Kel observed this, gulped and went to find Captain Taro in his cabin. She didn't know what else she could do, other than risk being found out by everyone. She knocked cautiously, bowed and went in.
"What is it, Akio?" her master asked.
"Sir, I. I'm a girl," Kel stuttered nervously. To Kel's astonishment, Captain Taro didn't seem at all surprised.
"I wondered if you trusted me enough. Nariko told me yesterday. You're Tortallan, aren't you?"
"Yes sir, how did she know?"
"Nariko tells me you began with a Tortallan grip on your sword. The deciding factor however was your eyes. How many Yamanis do you know with hazel eyes?" Kel's hands shot up towards her face.
"I forgot about them," she admitted.
"Nariko thought you were Mindelan, was she right?" Taro continued. Kel nodded gloomily. "You already have an excellent reputation as Mindelan and as Akio among the warriors, and most of us know it wasn't your fault you were evicted. I believe your old friends among the pages are making sure everyone knows." Kel flushed.
"Thank you sir, I didn't know." All those months of constant worry, and Nariko had already guessed, probably on the first day. Kel sighed deeply. Still, it would make it easier to keep this disguise if Captain Taro knew.
The princess and her women came up on deck almost every day. Princess Shinkokami was to marry Roald, the crown prince of Tortall. Lady Yukimi and Lady Haname were her only attendants. Apparently, Captain Taro and his unit, Kel included, had been seconded to her as a personal guard. Kel had known and liked Yuki when she lived at the Yamani court with her family, and she had been one of the best friends she'd had, and one of the first to accept her. This was a source of major concern for her, since Yuki was more likely than anyone to guess who Kel was. She didn't think she'd ever met the Princess, but even so. Kel decided to stay as far as possible from the pair to be safe. Kel was certain however that she'd never met Lady Haname, for one thing, because she was so much older than she was.
Yukimi never did and Kel arrived safely at Port Caynn, Tortall's main seaport. The Prime Minister of Tortall, Sir Gareth the Younger of Naxen, was there to meet them at the docks.
"Welcome to Tortall, your Highness," he said in fairly reasonable Yamani, bowing to Princess Shinkokami and to Prince Eitaro, who had come as the Emperor's personal envoy. With him were Kel's parents, who had been the ambassadors to the emperor's court and were probably there as advisors. Kel glanced nervously at her father. He met her eye but gave no outward signs of recognition as her nodded almost imperceptibly to her and turned his attention back to the main scene. This was, of course, a very important meeting and neither party could afford to mess it up.
Soon the formal welcome was over. Kel's mother led the Yamani ladies over to a the road where a fine carriage had been brought for their use. The soldiers and Prince Eitaro were brought horses. All of them were thoroughbreds and had the finest tack. By the time everyone was ready, their packs had been piled into wagons that would follow at a slower pace. Then, in a perfectly orderly column, they set out on the short ride to Corus, the capital of Tortall.
At last, first the city and then the palace came into sight. Kel gazed at the palace with resignation and apprehension. This was when the real test came. She'd have to pass herself off as Akio, the Yamani takuro, for the first time in front of boys who had known her very well. Over time, she felt that 'Akio's' character had developed very differently from Kel's old self, so hopefully there would be no difficulties.