During that year, Kel and some of the samurai went out with the Own again
and again. It seemed that since they now appeared to be staying
permanently as part of the Tortallan army, they had been almost merged with
the King's Own. Their enemies varied greatly - they fought immortals in
the summer, bandits in the winter and once even a Copper Isle raiding
party.
Returning from a campaign against Scanran invaders the next winter, Kel reached the palace exhausted. All she wanted was to go to her own room and sleep - riding with the Own was hard work, especially under Lord Raoul's personal command - but when they returned, Captain Taro led her, despite her protests, into the barracks where the samurai lived.
"Are there any here who will dispute that Takuro Akio has proved himself in battle and is ready for the trial by combat?" There was silence. Kel stared at him open mouthed. He couldn't seriously be suggesting that she be made a full samurai at fourteen! Most boys hadn't even started training at that age, and he knew full well that she was a girl! It was unusual to become a full samurai below the age of eighteen, let alone under sixteen.
"Close your mouth, Aki," he murmured to her. Her Yamani mask slid automatically back into place, although she flushed at the rebuke.
"Then I affirm that it shall be held next rest day," Captain Taro continued. "Akio, your opponent will be chosen by lot as is the custom. Do you accept to go as the gods will?"
"Yes sir, I do so swear."
" Do all here bear witness to this agreement?"
"We do, sir."
"Then let it be so."
The combat was only a formality for Kel, as all of the samurai knew her and knew her ability. However, it was a tradition, and thus must be uphold. When everyone knew she was a girl, it must also be known that her inauguration as a samurai had been completed in full according to the laws laid down by the third emperor so many years ago. Otherwise, she might easily be banished from the ranks of the Yamanis as surely as she had been from those of Tortall.
Kel drew Yasu as her opponent. He was a good-humoured man, twenty-eight years old with a son only a few years older than Kel. However, he was not an amazing samurai, and had never been able to beat Kel, even when she'd just join the Princess's Honour Guard. He was also one of Hiroshi's friends and had quickly taken to Kel. One of his best qualities was that he never complained at being beaten by someone so much younger than he was, and Kel respected him greatly for that. It didn't help him in this fight though, since Kel thrashed him as thoroughly as she always did. It had been a private fight - just the samurai and the princess (their honorary commander) were allowed to attend. There were no Tortallans.
After this, Kel returned to her room to wash off the sweat and change into full ceremonial samurai armour. It was black, without any red stripe that would have donated her status as a mere trainee. It was also very, very heavy, which was why she'd been training for months just to be able to wear it. That disadvantage was offset by the fact that it was also the best fighting armour known in the world. At her side, Kel strapped her sword; a relatively new blade made of the finest Yamani steel. She had called it Griffin. She also bore a dagger in a small sheath on her other side. Kel knew that all of the other Yamanis would be doing the same. The idea was that, when they all had their visors down, they would be indistinguishable parts of a whole. Kel also made sure that all of the dye she had used on her hair came off. She was going to do this as herself, not as Akio.
The samurai and a number of interested Tortallan soldiers and nobles assembled on one of the practice courts that they had been given leave to use. Kel noticed that every one of the pages was there, as was Lord Wyldon. The samurai were in their full formation, Kel among them.
"Step forwards, candidate, and state your name and your accomplishments, that all may hear your prowess," Captain Taro intoned solemnly. Kel stepped forwards from her new place in the front rank of the Yamani regiment. She took a deep breath. This was it: the oath taking when no falsehood could be spoken.
"I am Keladry of Mindelan," she said, keeping her voice level and projecting it as she'd been taught. There was instant murmuring among the Tortallans; the Yamanis stood silently, solemn as always in their ranks. They were no strangers to woman warriors and she'd proved herself worthy time and time again. Besides, it went against training to show such a disgraceful show of emotion. That show of emotion was for the undisciplined Tortallans.
"I have served as takuro to Captain Taro of the Imperial guards and have fought in many battles and killed many of our nation's enemies. I have beaten a samurai in the trial by combat as all warriors here may attest. Will you admit me to your ranks?"
"Are there any who deny Keladry of Mindelan a place among us?" Sergeant Shizuko demanded - as second in command he had his own place in the ritual. "Speak now, or be forever silent." There was a long pause. "Keladry, you may take the oath."
Kel took a deep breath and said the oath that she'd known off by heart before she'd been a sakuro for a month.
"I, Keladry of Mindelan, do swear to live always by the constricts of my honour, to obey my lord without question and to revere my liege-lord and guard his honour like my own and his person like myself."
"You are welcome among us, samurai." Kel and Captain Taro bowed to each other, then Kel and Shizuko, and then Kel greeted every one of the other samurai as brothers as was traditional. Next, she walked up to the pavilion where Princess Shinkokami was sitting, enthroned in an embroidered chair.
"I am Samurai Keladry, your highness. Will you accept my sword?"
"I will gladly accept your service, samurai."
"I, Keladry of Mindelan, swear to defend the life and honour of Princess Shinkokami of Yaman and Tortall above and before my own and to obey all righteous orders she might give."
"Welcome to my service, Keladry. Please, greet those warriors among our Tortallan friends also, for they are like the samurai."
Kel bowed her consent and walked over to the knot of Tortallan's. She bowed deeply to Lord Raoul and Lady Alanna, standing together.
"My lord, my lady, will you give me your blessing?" she asked using the proscribed words.
"May the blessing of Mithras guide you and the Great Mother Goddess look over you wherever you go," Lady Alanna said, making the Goddess's sign with her hand.
"And may the holy light of Mithras guide you," Lord Raoul added.
"So mote it be," Kel replied formally. "Congratulations Mindelan. I always knew you could do it, even if some others didn't." "You're always welcome to serve with the Own," Lord Raoul added. "We could do with someone like you."
"Thank you for your congratulations, my lord, my lady."
"Hadn't you better go and pay your respects to Lord Wyldon," Lady Alanna reminded her with a roguish grin on her face. "After all, he is the Training Master. I'll come with you, if you don't mind." Kel smiled back, equally glad. She didn't normally hold grudges, but having your life's ambition unfairly ruined forever led her to an exception to her rule. Lord Wyldon was looking uncomfortable as she walked up to him with Lady Alanna beside her. She bowed to exactly the correct degree.
"My lord, will you who were my teacher give me your blessing?"
"To Mithros, god of warriors and of truth we give thanks for his blessing upon this new warrior for good" Wyldon said grudgingly.
"We give thanks and praise," Alanna and Kel replied.
Then Kel managed to escape to change into court dress for the evening banquet, when she would sit beside her master as a new knight sits as guest of honour by the king. Kel hated to think what her old friends among the pages would be saying now, but couldn't help but feel smug at what she knew Lord Wyldon was surely feeling.
Returning from a campaign against Scanran invaders the next winter, Kel reached the palace exhausted. All she wanted was to go to her own room and sleep - riding with the Own was hard work, especially under Lord Raoul's personal command - but when they returned, Captain Taro led her, despite her protests, into the barracks where the samurai lived.
"Are there any here who will dispute that Takuro Akio has proved himself in battle and is ready for the trial by combat?" There was silence. Kel stared at him open mouthed. He couldn't seriously be suggesting that she be made a full samurai at fourteen! Most boys hadn't even started training at that age, and he knew full well that she was a girl! It was unusual to become a full samurai below the age of eighteen, let alone under sixteen.
"Close your mouth, Aki," he murmured to her. Her Yamani mask slid automatically back into place, although she flushed at the rebuke.
"Then I affirm that it shall be held next rest day," Captain Taro continued. "Akio, your opponent will be chosen by lot as is the custom. Do you accept to go as the gods will?"
"Yes sir, I do so swear."
" Do all here bear witness to this agreement?"
"We do, sir."
"Then let it be so."
The combat was only a formality for Kel, as all of the samurai knew her and knew her ability. However, it was a tradition, and thus must be uphold. When everyone knew she was a girl, it must also be known that her inauguration as a samurai had been completed in full according to the laws laid down by the third emperor so many years ago. Otherwise, she might easily be banished from the ranks of the Yamanis as surely as she had been from those of Tortall.
Kel drew Yasu as her opponent. He was a good-humoured man, twenty-eight years old with a son only a few years older than Kel. However, he was not an amazing samurai, and had never been able to beat Kel, even when she'd just join the Princess's Honour Guard. He was also one of Hiroshi's friends and had quickly taken to Kel. One of his best qualities was that he never complained at being beaten by someone so much younger than he was, and Kel respected him greatly for that. It didn't help him in this fight though, since Kel thrashed him as thoroughly as she always did. It had been a private fight - just the samurai and the princess (their honorary commander) were allowed to attend. There were no Tortallans.
After this, Kel returned to her room to wash off the sweat and change into full ceremonial samurai armour. It was black, without any red stripe that would have donated her status as a mere trainee. It was also very, very heavy, which was why she'd been training for months just to be able to wear it. That disadvantage was offset by the fact that it was also the best fighting armour known in the world. At her side, Kel strapped her sword; a relatively new blade made of the finest Yamani steel. She had called it Griffin. She also bore a dagger in a small sheath on her other side. Kel knew that all of the other Yamanis would be doing the same. The idea was that, when they all had their visors down, they would be indistinguishable parts of a whole. Kel also made sure that all of the dye she had used on her hair came off. She was going to do this as herself, not as Akio.
The samurai and a number of interested Tortallan soldiers and nobles assembled on one of the practice courts that they had been given leave to use. Kel noticed that every one of the pages was there, as was Lord Wyldon. The samurai were in their full formation, Kel among them.
"Step forwards, candidate, and state your name and your accomplishments, that all may hear your prowess," Captain Taro intoned solemnly. Kel stepped forwards from her new place in the front rank of the Yamani regiment. She took a deep breath. This was it: the oath taking when no falsehood could be spoken.
"I am Keladry of Mindelan," she said, keeping her voice level and projecting it as she'd been taught. There was instant murmuring among the Tortallans; the Yamanis stood silently, solemn as always in their ranks. They were no strangers to woman warriors and she'd proved herself worthy time and time again. Besides, it went against training to show such a disgraceful show of emotion. That show of emotion was for the undisciplined Tortallans.
"I have served as takuro to Captain Taro of the Imperial guards and have fought in many battles and killed many of our nation's enemies. I have beaten a samurai in the trial by combat as all warriors here may attest. Will you admit me to your ranks?"
"Are there any who deny Keladry of Mindelan a place among us?" Sergeant Shizuko demanded - as second in command he had his own place in the ritual. "Speak now, or be forever silent." There was a long pause. "Keladry, you may take the oath."
Kel took a deep breath and said the oath that she'd known off by heart before she'd been a sakuro for a month.
"I, Keladry of Mindelan, do swear to live always by the constricts of my honour, to obey my lord without question and to revere my liege-lord and guard his honour like my own and his person like myself."
"You are welcome among us, samurai." Kel and Captain Taro bowed to each other, then Kel and Shizuko, and then Kel greeted every one of the other samurai as brothers as was traditional. Next, she walked up to the pavilion where Princess Shinkokami was sitting, enthroned in an embroidered chair.
"I am Samurai Keladry, your highness. Will you accept my sword?"
"I will gladly accept your service, samurai."
"I, Keladry of Mindelan, swear to defend the life and honour of Princess Shinkokami of Yaman and Tortall above and before my own and to obey all righteous orders she might give."
"Welcome to my service, Keladry. Please, greet those warriors among our Tortallan friends also, for they are like the samurai."
Kel bowed her consent and walked over to the knot of Tortallan's. She bowed deeply to Lord Raoul and Lady Alanna, standing together.
"My lord, my lady, will you give me your blessing?" she asked using the proscribed words.
"May the blessing of Mithras guide you and the Great Mother Goddess look over you wherever you go," Lady Alanna said, making the Goddess's sign with her hand.
"And may the holy light of Mithras guide you," Lord Raoul added.
"So mote it be," Kel replied formally. "Congratulations Mindelan. I always knew you could do it, even if some others didn't." "You're always welcome to serve with the Own," Lord Raoul added. "We could do with someone like you."
"Thank you for your congratulations, my lord, my lady."
"Hadn't you better go and pay your respects to Lord Wyldon," Lady Alanna reminded her with a roguish grin on her face. "After all, he is the Training Master. I'll come with you, if you don't mind." Kel smiled back, equally glad. She didn't normally hold grudges, but having your life's ambition unfairly ruined forever led her to an exception to her rule. Lord Wyldon was looking uncomfortable as she walked up to him with Lady Alanna beside her. She bowed to exactly the correct degree.
"My lord, will you who were my teacher give me your blessing?"
"To Mithros, god of warriors and of truth we give thanks for his blessing upon this new warrior for good" Wyldon said grudgingly.
"We give thanks and praise," Alanna and Kel replied.
Then Kel managed to escape to change into court dress for the evening banquet, when she would sit beside her master as a new knight sits as guest of honour by the king. Kel hated to think what her old friends among the pages would be saying now, but couldn't help but feel smug at what she knew Lord Wyldon was surely feeling.