Author's Note: Upon picking up these books, I was not sure that I would like them. But whoa boy, was I ever wrong! When I finally finished 'Squire,' I picked up 'Lady Knight," and read straight thorough until I was done. It took me four hours. But it was well worth the Sunday afternoon.
I was somewhat disappointed that at the end, Kel was left without romance, although the prospect of Dom was yet there. This story picks up directly (and I mean directly) after the end of "Lady-Knight," and will tell of the ending of the Scanran War, and see Kel find happiness.
Disclaimer- I do not own the characters, countries, or plot lines that originated in Tamora Pierce's "Protector of the Small" quartet. However, the plot of this story is my own idea. I also own the few new characters that will eventually join the story. I hope that my readers will enjoy this, and I welcome suggestions or questions.
Book Two of Keladry, Lady Knight
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Prologue
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September 10, 460
On the Road to Fort Stedfast
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An hour's ride from Stedfast, Kel heard a low whistle. She slowed Hoshi, and carefully scanned the woods around her. The horses shifted uncomfortably. Kel still was not sure that there was anything out there. Jump's good ear stood straight up as he listened. Suddenly, ten or twelve men jumped out of the forest. From their clothes, Kel knew that they were Scanrans.
"Ride on, Tobe," she whispered, nudging Appleflower, Tobe's mare, away from the fighting. But the boy, gifted with horses, persuaded the small, piebald mare to disobey his master. He lifted his spear and rode back to help.
Kel unsheathed her fine sword, dubbed Griffin, and hacked at the nearest Scanran. She reached with her right hand, twirling her glaive, but Kel felt something impact sharply with the base of her skull. As she fell to the ground, Kel saw Tobe, spear in hand, as he knocked out the Scanran who had hit her. Then she blacked out.
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Chapter One
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September 14-18, 460
Fort Stedfast
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Kel's eyes opened wearily. She was in a small room, dark with the fading light. As she stretched out her legs, she felt that they were blocked by something.
"Move, Jump," she mumbled. When Kel looked down, it was not Jump, but Tobe who lay on her feet. He had a bandage running over his right shoulder down beneath his left arm. Kel smiled at the boy she had taken in. He belonged at New Hope as much as any of the convicts and refugees.
Kel moved her feet carefully away from the boy and set them on to the icy floor. She gently lifted Tobe and set him in the warm spot that she had just evacuated. Kel kissed his forehead as she pulled the covers up to the boy's chin.
Kel backed quickly away, startled by the sudden maternal feelings that had stirred up inside her. Slowly, she tip-toed over to her bag, and dug out a pair of wool socks to chase the cold from her toes.
A quiet knock sounded on the door as Kel pulled on a robe. She crept across the room, careful not to wake the sleeping Tobe.
"My Lady Knight," Owen said with an exaggerated bow. Something inside Kel groaned as she realized that if Owen was about, his knight-master, Lord Wyldon, would be nearby. Kel wondered why she felt resentment towards Wyldon. Though he had put her on probation during her first year as a page, Wyldon had recently pardoned Kel on charges of insubordination. She owed him her life.
"Are you alright Kel?" Owen asked, startling her. Kel shook her head sharply to clear the thoughts from her mind. She realized that Neal was standing behind Owen.
"What happened out there?" she asked softly.
"It was amazing!" Owen said, bouncing a step forward. His voice was loud, and it carried far, prompting Kel to step out into the hallway and close the door so as not to wake Tobe. "My Lord let me ride out to meet you. I missed most of the scuttle-butt, but what I did see was amazing!"
"So you've said," Neal cut in. "It seems that after the two of us were impaired, young Tobeis Boon used your glaive to finish off the rest of the Scanrans."
"Ten grown ruffians, all by himself!" Owen interjected.
Kel looked back at the closed door. She was not surprised that Tobe had prevailed. He learned fast during his spear lessons; and he was quick and sly. She smiled with pride in her boy as she pulled her robe tighter around her shoulders in defense against the chill of the drafty hall.
"It's about time you woke up," Neal teased. "You've only lazed away three days."
"Can it, Queenscove," Owen said. "You've only been up yourself for half-an-hour." As Neal punched Owen lightly on the arm, Kel caught his emerald eyes.
"Why does Tobe wear a bandage?" she asked. "He's out cold; he must have had a healing." Neal explained that the boy's wounds were severe, and when his father, Duke Baird, had gotten to him, he decided that it would be easier on Tobe to perform several small healings in place of one long one. "But he will be alright?"
"Yes, Mother," Neal assured her. Owen laughed as he got his retribution in Kel's own punch to Neal's shoulder.
…..
Tobe did not wake before supper time. Kel dressed in a comfortable tunic and headed for the mess hall. She found a tray of food and sat alone at a table to contemplate the Scanran attack. How had they gotten so close to Stedfast without detection?
Kel had not been sitting long when a tall, burly, man sank down on the bench opposite her. She looked up at her former knight-master, Lord Raoul.
"Sir," she said in acknowledgement. Raoul's betrothed, Buriram Tourakom, leader of the Queen's Riders, sat down beside Kel with Yukimi noh Daiomoru, Neal's love. Kel smiled at the K'mir and the Yamani. Owen let his tray clatter nosily down next to Kel's and Neal cuffed him on the shoulder as he moved to sit by his betrothed.
Kel smiled, grateful for good friends.
…..
The next day, Kel and Tobe sat together as Raoul and Buri and Neal and Yuki were bound as men and wives.
The celebrations carried on late into the night, and by the time Kel finally returned to her quarters, the eastern edges of the sky were beginning to pinken with dawn. Kel donned her nightshirt and sat down in the bed. But sleep suddenly evaded her.
Suddenly the pain of losing Cleon returned in full force. Kel's eyes filled with tears. She yearned for her friend who had ridden south last spring to save his family home. A flood had destroyed Kennan's food supply and if Cleon had not married a rich young noble woman, his family would have lost everything.
Kel knew that he was married now, and that he was now out of her reach forever, yet she still longed for the brave knight who had had the courage to love her. Kel cried quietly into her pillow. She now realized that even though she had thought she was not, she was still very much in love with Cleon of Kennen.
Kel let a few tears fall, but then rolled over and wiped her eyes. She didn't want to wake up Tobe, who was sleeping nearby on his pallet. Kel fell asleep with her fingers curled tightly around the griffin brooch that Cleon had given her one Midwinter.
…..
Three days later, the festivities were ended. A new attack had been launched on Tortall by the Scanrans. A report from Wyldon told Kel that she could expect three more groups of refugees to come to New Hope within the next two weeks. Kel and Tobe had an uneventful ride back to the refugee camp.
When they rode through the gates, Tobe was smiling and whistling atop Appleflower. Kel smiled at the boy as she dismounted and handed him Hoshi's lead. He ran off for the stables to care for the horses, and Kel looked around her. Fanche Weir, was striding towards her, the clerk Terrec tow paces behind her. The woman's face was determined, and Kel knew that Terrec was probably trying to talk her out of some complaint or another. Merric was also coming towards her, rolled up maps tucked under one arm. Kel knew that she was about to get very busy, and would probably stay that way late into the night.
But she didn't mind. She was happy to be home.