Today was the first day of the Midwinter Festival, a fact Kel had almost
forgotten amid all the excitement. Kel looked amazed around at the hall
bedecked with the spectacular festive decorations and the ornate costumes
of the court. Everyone wore his or her best at Midwinter. She took her
place at the high table with some apprehension. Yes she'd been taught to
eat politely in Yamani, Tortallan, Carthak and even Copper Isle courts, but
that didn't mean that she'd ever done it for real, or that she was any good
at it.
Kel had seen no one since the ceremony, as she had been sitting meditating (i.e. hiding) in her room and the Captain had been busy at various meetings. Since Prince and Lady Eitaro had left long ago, and Lord Raoul and Lady Alanna had filled their seats, the table was mostly filled with people she knew and respected. Captain Taro was sitting on one side of her, and she was privileged to have the King himself on her other side. Beyond the King was Prince Roald and Princess Shinkokami, beyond them Queen Thayet and Sir Gareth the Younger of Naxen with his father, Duke Gareth the Elder of Naxen.
During the meal, the formidable pair at her end of the table told Kel how they had kept track of her since her departure from the palace. Alanna had scryed magically and both had used spies at the court to keep an eye on her as well as their normal duties. At one point, King Jonathan himself congratulated her. He seemed to have forgotten entirely that it was his decision to make her a probationary page, with her fate entirely in Lord Wyldon's hands that had led to her leaving the palace in the first place.
"A few nobles have suggested that we ought to send you to your Ordeal of Knighthood this year," he said benevolently. Kel stared at him, shocked for the second time in one week. No one took their Ordeal before they were at least seventeen - ever. "How do you feel about that?"
"I'd be honoured, Your Majesty," Kel replied as politely and as calmly as she could. "But I'm only fourteen. I'm far too young, aren't I? Most Tortallans are only just beginning their service as a squire at my age, and some are still pages."
"If the Yamanis can accept a fourteen year old samurai, surely we can accept a fourteen year old knight who has already proved themselves in battle more than most squires. If you aren't ready, the Chamber will make sure you know, but my opinion is that you're more than capable."
"I'm sorry, your majesty, but this is a bit of a surprise. I don't even have a sponsor, do I? I haven't even lived her for more than about six years in my entire life!"
"Yes, but you are a Tortallan noble and have a duty to this crown," Jonathan countered swiftly. "And yes, I have got two volunteers to instruct you. As soon as they heard the rumours, Lady Alanna of Trebond and Pirates' Swoop and Lord Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak came to me to volunteer. Will you do it tomorrow night?"
"I.I'd be honoured your Majesty, if her highness will give me her permission."
As Princess Shinkokami had been one of the most outspoken supporters of this action, and of course, she swiftly assented, so it was agreed that Kel would enter the Chamber this year. Kel had been sure that nothing else could have surprised her, but this had shocked her totally. A fourteen- year-old knight was unheard of, let alone one who was also a Yamani samurai. She could, however, appreciate the need King Jonathan and the other Tortallan nobles felt to establish a strong hold on her honour as she was clearly a capable warrior in her own right. How others would take this decision remained to be seen. Kel had been avoiding almost everyone anyway, for fear of total embarrassment in public.
The next day she spent alone, riding in the forest and trying to calm her thoughts. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but she was terrified of the Ordeal. Who knew what would happen to her inside the Chamber? Boys had died in there. As afternoon ended, she returned to the palace and reported nervously to the Chapel of the Ordeal, wearing the white garments of a candidate knight. Once there, she washed in the unheated water in an antechamber. After that, she emerged, her face set with determination.
"Are you prepared to be instructed?" Lord Raoul asked formally.
"I am." They recited the traditional words, telling her the traditional duties of a knight and the code of knighthood, then escorted her into the Chapel itself, reminding her that she wasn't allowed to make a sound from that moment until she left the Chamber the next morning. Kel took her place kneeling on the stone floor opposite the heavy iron door of the Chamber of the Ordeal. She thought about all the training she'd done and about her dual loyalties. She thought about the enemies that she was sure to make and tried to avoid thinking about the Chamber itself.
When the first ray of light entered the Chapel, a dark robed priest touched her shoulder. Others were unbarring the iron door to the Chamber. Wincing as she balanced on stiff legs, Kel stepped into the Chamber itself. As the door closed behind her, she saw her family and well wishers filing into the Chapel to keep vigil until she emerged, or the door opened on her dead body. Kel saw her parents, Lord Raoul and Lady Alanna, and some of the squires she had known: Prince Roald, Cleon, Yancen and Faleron. The door sealed itself with an echoing clang. It was dark inside the Chamber, pitch black. Kel groped about wildly - anything might be lurking to catch her unseeing and unarmed.
Abruptly, she felt a gust of wind ruffle her hair. She looked anxiously around, discovering there was light. She was climbing a tall pine tree, which swayed dangerously in the wind. Kel opened her mouth to scream, then choked it off. She couldn't make a sound in the Chamber of the Ordeal. Kel gritted her teeth and edged her way upwards. Her comrades might rely on the information she gathered doing this. The tree vanished. Kel was lying on the ground, blood pooling around her leg and a bandit's dagger to her throat as she watched others cut down her friends, the king and the emperor. Kel lunged upwards and slit her throat on the dagger - better to die than face that ultimate dishonour.
:You'll do: a voice said in her head. :You'll do quite nicely: Then she was sprawled on the floor in a small, dark room as the door swung open. Kel was bleeding from a thin cut on her neck and her hands were chapped and scratched. Lord Raoul lifted her up, and, with Lady Alanna, helped her from the Chapel. Her parents followed anxiously, and other supporters congratulated her as she passed.
Once she'd been bandaged up and dressed in proper sturdy winter clothes again, the court assembled for the Ceremony of Knighthood. It was just a formality - Kel had been a knight since she emerged from the Chamber. Kel swore and oath of fealty to the king, and he dubbed her knight, touching his sword to her shoulders and head. Captain Taro stepped out of the crowd with Kel's father, Baron Piers of Mindelan, beside him. Kel stood and faced them. They carried her shield between them. It was samurai black, with the Mindelan owl hovering over crossed glaives. They had agreed during her vigil that it symbolised her dual responsibilities well enough. Kel bowed thankfully to them and to the King and Queen, and held up the shield for everyone to see.
Kel had seen no one since the ceremony, as she had been sitting meditating (i.e. hiding) in her room and the Captain had been busy at various meetings. Since Prince and Lady Eitaro had left long ago, and Lord Raoul and Lady Alanna had filled their seats, the table was mostly filled with people she knew and respected. Captain Taro was sitting on one side of her, and she was privileged to have the King himself on her other side. Beyond the King was Prince Roald and Princess Shinkokami, beyond them Queen Thayet and Sir Gareth the Younger of Naxen with his father, Duke Gareth the Elder of Naxen.
During the meal, the formidable pair at her end of the table told Kel how they had kept track of her since her departure from the palace. Alanna had scryed magically and both had used spies at the court to keep an eye on her as well as their normal duties. At one point, King Jonathan himself congratulated her. He seemed to have forgotten entirely that it was his decision to make her a probationary page, with her fate entirely in Lord Wyldon's hands that had led to her leaving the palace in the first place.
"A few nobles have suggested that we ought to send you to your Ordeal of Knighthood this year," he said benevolently. Kel stared at him, shocked for the second time in one week. No one took their Ordeal before they were at least seventeen - ever. "How do you feel about that?"
"I'd be honoured, Your Majesty," Kel replied as politely and as calmly as she could. "But I'm only fourteen. I'm far too young, aren't I? Most Tortallans are only just beginning their service as a squire at my age, and some are still pages."
"If the Yamanis can accept a fourteen year old samurai, surely we can accept a fourteen year old knight who has already proved themselves in battle more than most squires. If you aren't ready, the Chamber will make sure you know, but my opinion is that you're more than capable."
"I'm sorry, your majesty, but this is a bit of a surprise. I don't even have a sponsor, do I? I haven't even lived her for more than about six years in my entire life!"
"Yes, but you are a Tortallan noble and have a duty to this crown," Jonathan countered swiftly. "And yes, I have got two volunteers to instruct you. As soon as they heard the rumours, Lady Alanna of Trebond and Pirates' Swoop and Lord Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak came to me to volunteer. Will you do it tomorrow night?"
"I.I'd be honoured your Majesty, if her highness will give me her permission."
As Princess Shinkokami had been one of the most outspoken supporters of this action, and of course, she swiftly assented, so it was agreed that Kel would enter the Chamber this year. Kel had been sure that nothing else could have surprised her, but this had shocked her totally. A fourteen- year-old knight was unheard of, let alone one who was also a Yamani samurai. She could, however, appreciate the need King Jonathan and the other Tortallan nobles felt to establish a strong hold on her honour as she was clearly a capable warrior in her own right. How others would take this decision remained to be seen. Kel had been avoiding almost everyone anyway, for fear of total embarrassment in public.
The next day she spent alone, riding in the forest and trying to calm her thoughts. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but she was terrified of the Ordeal. Who knew what would happen to her inside the Chamber? Boys had died in there. As afternoon ended, she returned to the palace and reported nervously to the Chapel of the Ordeal, wearing the white garments of a candidate knight. Once there, she washed in the unheated water in an antechamber. After that, she emerged, her face set with determination.
"Are you prepared to be instructed?" Lord Raoul asked formally.
"I am." They recited the traditional words, telling her the traditional duties of a knight and the code of knighthood, then escorted her into the Chapel itself, reminding her that she wasn't allowed to make a sound from that moment until she left the Chamber the next morning. Kel took her place kneeling on the stone floor opposite the heavy iron door of the Chamber of the Ordeal. She thought about all the training she'd done and about her dual loyalties. She thought about the enemies that she was sure to make and tried to avoid thinking about the Chamber itself.
When the first ray of light entered the Chapel, a dark robed priest touched her shoulder. Others were unbarring the iron door to the Chamber. Wincing as she balanced on stiff legs, Kel stepped into the Chamber itself. As the door closed behind her, she saw her family and well wishers filing into the Chapel to keep vigil until she emerged, or the door opened on her dead body. Kel saw her parents, Lord Raoul and Lady Alanna, and some of the squires she had known: Prince Roald, Cleon, Yancen and Faleron. The door sealed itself with an echoing clang. It was dark inside the Chamber, pitch black. Kel groped about wildly - anything might be lurking to catch her unseeing and unarmed.
Abruptly, she felt a gust of wind ruffle her hair. She looked anxiously around, discovering there was light. She was climbing a tall pine tree, which swayed dangerously in the wind. Kel opened her mouth to scream, then choked it off. She couldn't make a sound in the Chamber of the Ordeal. Kel gritted her teeth and edged her way upwards. Her comrades might rely on the information she gathered doing this. The tree vanished. Kel was lying on the ground, blood pooling around her leg and a bandit's dagger to her throat as she watched others cut down her friends, the king and the emperor. Kel lunged upwards and slit her throat on the dagger - better to die than face that ultimate dishonour.
:You'll do: a voice said in her head. :You'll do quite nicely: Then she was sprawled on the floor in a small, dark room as the door swung open. Kel was bleeding from a thin cut on her neck and her hands were chapped and scratched. Lord Raoul lifted her up, and, with Lady Alanna, helped her from the Chapel. Her parents followed anxiously, and other supporters congratulated her as she passed.
Once she'd been bandaged up and dressed in proper sturdy winter clothes again, the court assembled for the Ceremony of Knighthood. It was just a formality - Kel had been a knight since she emerged from the Chamber. Kel swore and oath of fealty to the king, and he dubbed her knight, touching his sword to her shoulders and head. Captain Taro stepped out of the crowd with Kel's father, Baron Piers of Mindelan, beside him. Kel stood and faced them. They carried her shield between them. It was samurai black, with the Mindelan owl hovering over crossed glaives. They had agreed during her vigil that it symbolised her dual responsibilities well enough. Kel bowed thankfully to them and to the King and Queen, and held up the shield for everyone to see.