Part Three

Unusual Behavior

Nadin was Wyldon's grandson, a studious boy with the Healing Gift who wanted to be a teacher or clerk. He was the son of Vaye, Wyldon's second child. After a little prodding, he proved to be a well of information about the Cavall family.

"We're more like a tribe, really," Nadin said as they headed to the servant mistress's office. "Grandpa is one of five kids, then he had four; Aunt Kida, Mama, Aron - who's on the southern coast right now, he's a knight - and Ferhan. Uncle Ferhan's weird, but he's nice. Mama says he needs a keeper." Nadin looked sidelong at Kel. "He's completely scatterbrained about anything but his magic. Papa says he'll be blackrobe if he remembers to put his clothes on before he goes to the laboratory every morning."

"He sounds quite a bit like Numair, only worse. "Papa" is...?"

"Soralan Desternat. We normally live at the City of the Gods, but we came here for the Tournament. Kida's a widow, she was married of Martin of Stone Mountain, so she and her four children live here all the time. Uncle Aron's married too, to Aunt Yulie, er, Yalanna. They have two children, and all of them live at the Keep."

"Full place," Kel commented.

"Especially in the morning. The girls tie up the washbasins for hours, and they giggle all the time." Nadin looked at her suspiciously. "Do you giggle?"

"Only when I'm very tired. Remember, I trained under your grandfather."

"He would have beaten any page that giggled," Nadin agreed. "That's what Uncle Aron says, anyway. He was a page while Grandpa was training master. Derrim - he's my cousin, Kel's brother - just missed. He started just a little over a year after Grandpa quit. Why did he resign, anyway?"

"He felt responsible for Joren and Vinson's deaths in the Chamber of the Ordeal. He believed his teaching had caused them to fail."

"That sounds like Grandpa. He blames himself for everything. I think he thinks Stormwings exist because one of our ancestors dreamed them up." Kel covered a smile. "Sarah, the Lady Knight and her servant need quarters, Grandpa's orders," the boy told the servant mistress, a woman of about forty with blue eyes and salt-and-pepper hair.

"And gods forbid we disobey my lord's commands," Sarah said fondly, sending the boy away. "You're Keladry of Mindelan?"

"Yes, ma'am," Kel said politely.

"Your bags will be sent to your quarters shortly, and I'll see your servant is lodged in the servant's wing. Follow me." Kel didn't protest. Tobe was nearly eleven; it was time for him to learn to sleep alone. Sarah led her through a maze of stone corridors, then stopped before a large oak door. Kel was handed a brass key. Sarah opened the door, and Kel stepped into the largest guest-room she'd ever seen. It was easily the size of a master suite. The main door opened into a small study, which branched into a set of double doors on the right and a small library on the left. Sarah led Kel through the doors to the bedroom, which had two clothes presses, a chest of drawers, night stands, and a bed easily large enough for three. Expansive floor-rugs covered the stone floor, and some furs were thrown across the bed. On the right side of the room was a door that led to a bathing alcove outfitted with tub, counter, washbasin and a mirror. There were small shelves for toiletries. The entire suite was richly done in white and various shades of blue.

"I can't stay here," Kel said in awe.

"Of course you can. Your bags will come soon, use the left clothes press to store your clothing. Dinner will be at seven in the main dining hall. I'll send Kel to show you the way - it will make her year. Good day, Lady," Sarah said and departed. Kel turned slowly on one heel, taking in the room. If this is a guest room, what must the master suite be like? Kel wondered. She had known Cavall was currently the third richest fiefdom in Tortall, second only to Conté and Olau, but she had not been prepared for this. A soft knock at the door startled Kel. It was a servant with her possessions. Kel spent the next two hours unpacking and cleaning her weapons. Tobe arrived in at the end of the first hour, and registered his amazement with Kel's new living arrangements. He also registered his displeasure at being roomed away from her.

"You'll be a young man soon, Tobe. You're almost eleven. In two years you'll be too old to continue sharing a room with me, people will talk. It would be best for you to start adjusting now," Kel said firmly.

"Let them talk," Tobe insisted. Kel frowned.

"That only goes so far, Tobe, you know that. You stay in the servant's wing. How is your room?"

"Well, I've got it to myself, and it's nice. Nothing this fancy, but nice. My Lord of Cavall treats his servants well. Most of them only have to share with one person, and they all eat well, get healers when they need it, and they aren't beaten at all. Ol' Quinden should take notes."

"Many nobles should take notes," Kel said, motioning to the bed and handing Tobe a gauntlet. Together they finished cleaning, then set out to explore the Keep. They were soon joined by Kel of Cavall, whom Kel dubbed "Little Kel," much to the girl's delight. Kel asked Little Kel to serve as a guide, provoking more ecstasy. Kel was a embarrassed by the adoration, but couldn't fault the child for it. When Kel was the girl's age, she would have reacted the same if Alanna the Lioness had asked for a guided tour of Mindelan. Being held in equal esteem as the Lioness also embarrassed the Lady Knight.

At six thirty, Kel returned to her rooms to change into a fawn dress, then made her way to the dining hall. Wyldon was already there at the head of the table, speaking to Stevan, who sat on his lord's left. At Wyldon's right sat Mirelle, and on her right was an empty seat for Kel. She sat, and received a friendly welcome from the Lady of Cavall. At Mirelle's throat was a ruby necklace exactly like the one Kel had admired in the shop window. He must have purchased it for her while I wasn't looking. That's sweet.

"That's a beautiful necklace," Kel said.

"Thank you. Tom gave it to me," Mirelle said with a sidelong glance at her husband. The emotion his wife's words aroused flickered across his features too quickly for Kel to identify positively, but she knew it wasn't good. "He's the handsome one, there," Mirelle said, pointing. She waved to the man, who was tall and indeed handsome. He looked to be around thirty, with thick black hair and sky-blue eyes. Kel's hazel eyes widened in surprise. I wonder if she knows she's giving the impression she's having an affair with this Tom.

"Not in front of my subordinate, my wife," Wyldon ordered cryptically.

"She might as well know what she's getting into with you," Mirelle said airily. "Besides, she'll be here for months, and I'm not postponing my fun that long." Again Wyldon's face flickered inscrutably. Kel looked from knight to wife, thoroughly confused. Wyldon returned to conversation with Stevan as if what had occurred was completely normal, and Mirelle turned her attention back to Kel.

"So what do you think of Cavall?"

"It reminds me of home, only a bit warmer. Do you have many Bazhir visit?"

"During Roald's reign we had a few war raids on our southern border, but they were rare. We do have quite a few traders come to ply their wares. A few have even settled down. What of Mindelan?"

"Since the treaty was signed, we have a lot of Yamani traders and Scanran wolf-ships. I wouldn't really know, I haven't been home since the war started." Mirelle responded to that observation by backhanding her husband's arm. The crack of the blow made Kel wince inwardly.

"You couldn't tolerate her absence for a few weeks to give her leave?" Mirelle demanded. Wyldon sighed.

"A knight's life is spent abroad, my wife. Mindelan knew that when she decided to become a page."

"I did, really," Kel said. "I'm flattered you're concerned, but it's nothing."

"Your commander should have been sensitive to your need for roots and sent you home sometime in what, three years?"

"I was needed."

"I'm certain you were," Mirelle said, but her tone didn't match her words. Kel frowned. It felt like Mirelle was only saying half of what she meant, yet Kel was expected to understand fully. "I really don't know why you don't transfer. I certainly wouldn't want to serve beneath my husband."

"Many of the Rider women feel the same way, or so I hear," Kel commented, edging the conversation toward more neutral territory. "I wonder how the first lady knight to marry a knight will handle the situation."

"Not 'how I'll handle the situation?'" Mirelle asked coyly.

"No," Kel said, blushing. "I don't have any plans to marry."

"Very smart," Mirelle said approvingly. "Though I personally think bald men are very unattractive." Kel's eyes went wide in surprise. "But of course you disagree."

"My lord is sitting right there," she said.

"He's not paying attention."

"I trained beneath him. Believe me, Lady Mirelle, he hears every word you say," Kel said. She's been married to him for at least thirty years and she doesn't know how keen his hearing is?

"Hearing like a dog's," Mirelle agreed, but Kel wasn't certain it was a compliment.

This bizarre half-speaking continued for the rest of the meal as Mirelle discussed both the Keep, politics, and her very progressive opinions. At one point she goaded her husband with the same coy "but of course you disagree" she'd given to Kel earlier.

"While I can see the benefits of a common class able to read - more effective signs for one - and women capable of defending their honor, I still maintain most women do not have the strength of will and discipline needed to become effective warriors. Nor does the elimination of noble privilege and the hell-on-one's-heels change currently employed sound even remotely desirable," Wyldon said stiffly.

"Did you just admit benefits to change?" Mirelle laughed, part humor and part something Kel didn't like. "You? Flexible? You've changed him quite a bit, Lady Keladry." Kel stammered a reply, and was utterly grateful when Wyldon's daughter Kida kidnapped her to meet the rest of the family.

Kel managed to free herself shortly before midnight. Tired from travel and up very much past her bedtime, Kel plodded to her rooms. She took off her dress, petticoat, and shoes, decided her nightshirt was too much effort, and collapsed into bed. Kel fell asleep the instant she was horizontal. It seemed to her she'd only closed her eyes when odd sounds awoke her. Groggily, Kel analyzed the sounds and froze. Someone - male, from the sound of the footsteps - had walked into her bedroom. Kel tensed for battle as a heavy weight collapsed into the bed next to her. Adrenaline evaporated her exhaustion. Kel attacked the intruder, initiating a brief, fierce scuffle. Kel, clad only in underclothing, found herself pinned beneath the half-naked intruder at the fight's end.

"Who in Mithros' name are you?" a cold, deep voice demanded from the dark.

"My lord?" Kel asked, utterly shocked. "What're you doing in my room?"

"Your room?" Wyldon demanded, releasing Kel.

"Sarah said these were my quarters," Kel explained sheepishly, her face hot even though she knew he couldn't see her. Kel heard Wyldon moving around, most likely collecting his boots and shirt. She decided that was an excellent use of time and began her own search.

"Sarah must have... forgotten these were my rooms. Sleep here, Mindelan, I'll talk to Sarah about moving you in the morning," Wyldon said calmly. Kel felt a rush of air on her cheek as Wyldon apparently ripped the coverlet off the bed.

"I can't take your bed," Kel said.

"It's only for a night. I have another place to sleep, you don't." Kel opened her mouth to protest, but shut it when Wyldon snapped, "just do it, Mindelan," in a tone that promised dire consequences for disobedience. "And for future reference, when you're outmaneuvered by an opponent at night, in your bed, in a castle with guards everywhere - scream your head off," Wyldon said in parting. After his departure, Kel tried to obey the order to sleep, but she couldn't so much as doze in her commander's bunk. An hour of tossing and turning later, Kel followed Wyldon's lead and tore off a blanket. She made herself a nest from it on the floor and slept in that.

Even then she didn't sleep well. His servants forgot which suite was the master suite? Kel wondered, adjusting the blanket. It doesn't make sense. And why doesn't he sleep with his wife? Or is that what he meant by another place to sleep? If his servants didn't forget, which is highly unlikely, then why would they put me in his room? They could have destroyed his reputation, and mine. Kel rubbed her eyes. There weren't any answers. Only one thing was certain - Wyldon's family was not the bastion of tradition Kel had expected.