Kimi could barely contain her excitement. Her father and mother were riding into the city with her, as they had done a dozen times before, but this time was different. This time she wouldn't be returning with them.
The family entered into the palace and went up to Neal's room to freshen up before meeting the training master. Neal often stayed at the palace as a main healer and so his rooms were well-lived in and comfortable.
"I'm going to be a knight," Kimi informed the servant who arrived to offer his services. She had to tell someone, her excitement was so uncontained. More than anything she wanted to get started, but for the moment her energy was bubbling over with joy, and she had to tell someone who didn't know her news. "I am going to go off and travel the country and do a great many deeds. I'll be even more famous than the Lioness, so remember me so you can say you first knew me when I was a page."
"Kimi!" Her mother snapped out her fan and smacked it into the other palm to show her disapproval of Kimi's chattering. "Let the man do his work."
Kimi giggled a little then let the servant go fetch some water. "Sorry," she told her mother and attempted to imagine herself as a stone. The effect and lesson was ruined, however, when Neal walked in from the side room.
"Well this looks like fun," he drawled. "Kimi, my dear girl, I admire your ability to please your mother so often."
Kimi's calm shattered with a grin as she replied, "I learn from the best, Da."
"I am glad that you are going to be a page, Kimi. Perhaps finally you will learn some discipline," Yuki said, disapproval so slight in her voice that only Kimi recognized it.
Kimi bowed and looked ashamed. "Forgive me, Mother," she whispered in Yamani. "I promise I will not shame you, our family, or myself."
"I know that you won't shame us, Kimi," her mother said in Common for her husband's benefit, who was starting to look annoyed because he couldn't understand. And then, before she could help herself, she hurriedly spoke instructions to Kimi in her native tongue. "I am going to go visit Shinko for a few hours because she is expecting me today. You and your father are going to go without me to see the training master, and I want you to be on your best behavior. Make sure your father keeps quiet enough and things will go smoothly. A subtle stepping on his foot works well, but only use it in dire moments." Kimi giggled as she imagined what 'dire moments' meant with her father.
"What are you telling her?" Neal frowned at his wife. He could only understand a few words and phrases, 'father' being one of them, but Yuki spoke so quickly she sounded incomprehensible to him.
"How to behave before the training master and other things," she told him, her eyes crinkling in laughter.
"I see," he said and drew himself to his full height. He tried to act offended. "It is a sad day when a man's wife and child plot against him," he said loftily and ignored the two females' giggles.
It was at this momentthe servant arrived and drew attention to the time. "I must go," Yuki said, and she turned to her daughter. "Kimiko, I've never been more proud of you. Serve the kingdom well, and remember all the things I've taught you." And in a rare show of affection, Yuki hugged her daughter and kissed her forehead. "May the Gods bless and protect you," she murmured as a Yamani prayer.
Kimi watched her mother leave, and then turned to prepare for her meeting with the training master. She because focused and sure of herself as she washed her face and pulled her hair back to braid.
Her father shook his head and went into the next room to change. Kimi's personality was as confusing as a half-Yamani, half-Tortallan's could be. Most of the time she was all laughter and energy and passion, but this was often interrupted with periods of Yamani calm and focus. Such a period was this, and Kimi's sudden somberness drifted over her completely and led her mind to more serious thoughts. She was to be the sixth girl to attempt to go through the training to be a knight in thirty-six years. It was a hard legacy to follow, since all were very famous and successful.
There was Alanna the Lioness of Pirate's Swoop and Olau, the first girl who tried to be a knight by hiding her sex for eight years. She became the King's Champion and one of the best swordsmen in all of Tortall. Lady Knight Keladry of Masbolle was next, the first known girl to go through the training. She was called Protector of the Small, a title bestowed upon her by the seer Irnai whenIrnai was a child. And true to her name, Kel saved the lives of hundreds of children by destroying Blayce the Gallan and his killing machines he created by use of children's souls. After the large gap between Lady Alanna and Lady Keladry, girls started coming more often to train. The sisters Fianola and Vanari, called the Sisters of Thunder for when they single-handedly stopped a band of Tusaine knights from invading and controlling the north eastern section of Tortall, followed a year before Keladry became a knight; and Regiana of Phoenix Peak was recently made a squire of Sir Merric of Hollyrose. And now me, Kimi thought, and she gulped back a sudden surge of emotion. She was finally going to live her dream and become a Lady Knight of Tortall.
A man came to the door and Kimi answered it quietly, her mask of calm steadily in place.
"I'm here t' tell Lady Kimiko" he stumbled over her name slightly, "of Queenscove that it's time for her t' meet my Lord HaMinch."
Her Yamani face dropped. "Right now?" she gasped and gave a noise of delight. "Da! Da, it's time to go!" A bang of surprise replied her sudden yell and she heard her father cry something like "just a minute". "What's your name?" she asked the man who looked bewildered by all the noise.
"Uh, M – Machal," he stuttered.
"It's pleasant to meet you," she replied charmingly. "Do you work for Lord HaMinch, or do you just run messages for the nobles in the castle?"
"I work for Lord HaMinch."
"Splendid! Then we might meet again. I'm called Kimi, and I am going to be a page. Actually, I am going to be the sixth female to try for her shield."
The man was about to reply, a small smile placed on his lips when Neal came into the room. "Who are you talking to, Kimi?" Neal asked with a frown.
Machal stood up straight and became serious. "Your Grace, I am here to escort you and your daughter to Lord HaMinch for your meeting," he bowed formally.
"Of course. Lead the way."
Kimi followed with a skip but slowed to a serious walk after receiving a frown from her father. She realized now would be a better time to appear formal to impress Lord HaMinch, and her Yamani mask slid into place.