The God's Pugna – the Big Test
By Imperfectionist
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Kel stood nervously as Lalasa pinned her uniform. After month's worth of struggle, she has made it to April. The event in Aril is known for the Big Test. Since last year, Owen has been very over protective and is a familiar sight within the palace of him always by Kel's side. At the moment he sat on a chair in the corner of her room, whilst stroking Jump and feeding the sparrows.
"Lalasa, if you pin it anymore. I doubt I can move in it."
"I just wanted you to look perfect Mistress." She said with a mouthful of pins. She took the pins out of her mouth and placed them on a pincushion. Kel sighed with relief and struggled to take off her tunic. She managed eventually with a few occasional pins poking into her skin. When her clothes was neatly laid on the table, the bell rang indicating suppertime. Owen and Kel went to supper anxiously, tomorrow was a big day for them.
The next day, Owen came to her room for inspection. She tugged at his collar and Lalasa fixed his sleeves. Before long, they were publicly quizzed and made to demonstrate their mastery of skills they would need as squires. Kel was about to begin tilting another page. Before she caught a glimpse of her 'saviour' from last year. She gazed at Joren's angelic face for a while and he nodded a silent encouragement. Despite Kel's anxiety, she passed successfully.
The hall cheered horrendously as they watched the new Lady Squire sit on the Squire table with her friends. Neal, Merric, Cleon and all her other friends were there. They all attended the Big Test and made a thundering noise – resembling a stampede of Centaurs– when the Judges announced she past.
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Joren rubbed his sweating hands on his tunic. If Shineal didn't haunt him last night with nightmares, he wouldn't be standing where he is now. He wished he didn't let the goddess have her own ways. Who does she think she is? Yes she's a goddess. Big Deal! Like Stone Mountain is one of the most important families in Tortall, does he boss people around like that? He thought angrily.
He knocked on the door with the name 'Keladry of Mindelan' clearly. He waited for a while but no one answered. A new light entered him as he thought since no one was answering the door. He can come back when he is free. Happily he practically skipped out of the Squire Wing. Only when he turned round the corner and out into the courtyard, did someone fresh from a bath opened the door. Kel cautiously looked around the new wing, finding no one was there. She slowly closed the door.
Why did Kel have a feeling that someone wants to tell her something? Gloom overtook her mind. As the first female page, no one would care to take The Girl as a squire. Even if a knight did, it might be a desk knight, not a warrior. She shook the depressing thoughts out of her head and decided she would practise her glaive in the practise courts.
She got dressed and grabbed her practise glaive. She then jogged towards her destination, with Jump trailing after her. She found an empty and suitable court; a bench on the side was seated by a row sparrows and Jump as spectators.
Kel started with some simple sequences of patterns, each move got faster and each pattern got more complicated as she went on. She concentrated hard, every thought in her mind evaporated by the need of concentration on her glaive.
Her sharp deadly blade swung vigorously as if it was cutting through the air. The five-foot-long teak staff glided along swiftly. All together with Kel's graceful moving body and the swift but deadly glaive, they matched each other perfectly.
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Joren had just turned round the corner but stopped suddenly. Shineal was standing right in front of him. She smiled sweetly at him and looked around the courtyard naturally.
"Shineal what are you doing here?" He shouted hotly as he looked around them, feeling panicked and found there wasn't another soul in sight. "What if someone saw you? What if -"
"Calm down son, I was brought to see you physically because you have not kept your promise."
"What promise?" He still was mad at Shineal's exposure but realisation struck him and he looked guiltily at the unearthly face. "She wasn't in the room anyway. I don't understand why I have to accept her. She's nothing but a Yamani barbarian Lump. I deserve someone better than her."
Shineal sighed audibly, "You are hopeless my son. When will you learn not to be so sexist?"
"I am not sexist!" He said in a threatening manner. "So what are you planning to do to me, the sexist noble scum?"
"I only have three things to say. 1 you aren't a scum. 2 I did not claim you were sexist. I only suggested it. 3 I'm taking you to somewhere now."
In a flick of her hand, Joren's eyesight was blinded with whiteness. When the whiteness disappeared he found himself inside a hidden practise court. He glanced around and his stomach gave a jump from bad luck. Silently cursing on his faith in Shineal to bring him to a place like here, he studied Kel's moving body.
He noticed the pigsticker looked too big for a girl to handle. Obviously the point was proven wrong. She swung the thing round as easily as a shepherd swinging his sling. Her facial expressions showed deep concentration and determination. Joren thought it was obvious that Shineal wants to make her point that the Lump can fight well. Still he is not convinced.
Kel was too absorbed in her glaive that she stopped abruptly due to the fact of an unwanted voice. "Barbaric Lumps shouldn't really be in Tortall." He shouted, clearly expressing a challenge. "Of course they should go home instead of fitting in the real society." She pivoted herself to come face to face with Joren.
She pulled her emotionless face on and replied coolly. "If you are demanding a challenge I will accept it. I belong in what you call the 'real society' and when you little arrogant puppy have grown up, please tell me when we start."
Fury burned inside Joren as he heard the insult. He will not lose to someone who has insulted him by saying he was immature.
"Let the challenge be now, no one underestimates Joren of Stone Mountain."
"And everyone underestimates my strength."
"You are extremely modest Lump."
"I know. I'm ever so modest and truthful."
Kel placed her glaive resting on a wall and studied her opponent as he took off his tunic and shirt then began warming up. To Kel's surprise his body showed her how much training he has been through. He looks flexible and swift, which should be taken as a note.
"You ready?" As Joren's voice interrupted Kel's tactical thoughts. She nodded and stood ready attacking the Blonde Knight. She lunged at him attempting to dig her fist in and up his ribs, however Joren was faster and he managed to dodge the blow coming to him. His foot swung fast coming in contact with Kel's ankle which she dropped but swivelled her leg trying to get him fall on the floor.
He jumped up in the air in time with his legs bent. He landed in a perfect crouch and he gave a few punches though they were mostly avoided. Kel's leg suddenly came and hit him hard on his side which caused him to double over.
Kel felt positive about this when she kicked Joren in the side. She bent over and helped Joren roll over her hip and land on the floor. This was something she had learnt in the Yamani Islands. She pinned him down to the floor, panting for breath. She felt proud at that moment; she has beaten Joren in a fight.
Joren rested his head on the floor. He could not believe he has just lost to the Lump! Maybe he didn't trusted Shineal's taste for good fighters enough. He chuckled softly and gazed into Kel's confused eyes.
"Let go of me. I yield." He said. Kel let go, confused by him laughing. Why laughing when he lost to me? She thought. She turns her gaze at him and saw he offered a hand from the floor. She took it reluctantly but only to be polite.
"I hope I can have a word with you Mindelan." He asked seriously. Kel didn't know what to say, he can be up to some trick. She nodded then went up to take her glaive from the wall. She followed Joren through the courtyards in silent. She's very suspicious of him; he's mysteriously up to something. At least I have my glaive she thought grimly.
"Has any knight asked for your service Mindelan?"
"No Stone mountain. Not yet." She said suspiciously, why is he asking these questions?
"You see," he paused for a moment and sat on a bench next to a big oak tree. He gestured Kel to sit too which she did. "I need a squire and I'm asking for your opinion. I'm looking for a squire who can fight well and is determined to learn and change the world for the better." Joren stuttered, this was harder than he planned it would be. "What I meant is would you be my squire?"
Kel's mind went blank. Here she is and Joren her once mortal enemy is asking her to take the honour and be his squire. It might be one of his plans to destroy her. Though he seems too serious for a thing like that.
"I…I… I'll think about it." She stuttered.
*~*~*
I'm being evil. Don't worry next chapter will come your way soon.
Thanks for the reviews. You people are ever so nice. :D
Rowana Silvakisma – I know Kel is supposed to be one or two years away from her Ordeal but since she repeated a year as a page. I kind of dragged the Ordeal a bit. I love your story and I hope mine is just as good as yours. I'll see you later. ;D
Evilstrawberry – I hope you liked this one. And I know you would like the next chapter too. See you really soon xXx
Dragon – Aww. Thanks mate. Really nice of you. Also I like your name. Do you like dragons? I defiantely do. See ya mate!
DragonDaine – I'm pleased to know you liked it.
Mystic Moon Empress – Hey! Thanks for reviewing.
Angel of Wind – You're a star!!! I know Joren crying will ruin his reputation but it's all inside the chamber. Not that the whole entire Tortall will know isn't it?
Wildchartermage – Keep betting on that. Thanks very much for reading this fic. See you later ;)
An anonymous geek – HEY!! You reviewed!!! You have to update your story soon. It's too good for it to drag. See you soon. :D
And last but not least *ALLY*!!! – thanks for being my beta reader and I'll send you chapter 10 today (or tomorrow). I think you deserve better than a thank you and when I next see you. I promise you a little pressie. Ok? But thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!!