A.N.: Thanks so much for your reviews! I'm glad people like my idea. I thought I'd get A LOT of flames...but I didn't! Yay!
Disclaimer: The characters and the realm of Tortall are Tamora Pierce's creation.
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Sworn Enemies: The Meeting
Female eyes follow a lanky form striding down the way. Soft giggles are left behind as the young man tosses his golden curls and smiles.
Joren of Stone Mountain had decided to take a walk before meeting his knight-master, Sir Paxton of Nond. He felt stifled on the grounds after his 'accidental' meeting with his hated enemy, Keladry of Mindelan. The Girl. It was incomprehensible--how-what did she do to cause the failure of Vinson of Genlith?Those progressives had managed somehow, magically or not...
"Master Joren of Stone Mountain, I presume?" He is startled to be addressed so suddenly. The man before him was a few inches taller with hair as fair as his own. It glowed next to the blue and black velvet he wore. His inquisitive blue eyes were friendly. Joren smiled politely like the proper gentleman he was.
"Yes, I am. And you, sir?" he asked with a small nod. At the affirmative, the man's full lips spread into a satisfied smile. His left hand appeared from underneath his cloak. Joren grasped it and found his grip firm and reassuring.
"Please, if you are not preoccupied, I would like to speak with you. I need only a moment of your time." The squire noted the man neglected to introduce himself. He must have a reason...
"Of course. I happen to have some time before I must meet my knight-master."
"Wonderful! Ah, please excuse the precautions. Perhaps we can speak in a more private place, where neither of us would be...inconvenienced. If you should refuse our proposal." Our proposal? Joren's eyebrows lifted and then fell with understanding. Inconvenienced...recognition? Hmm...What could they want?
"I understand. Lead the way, sir." Although the man spoke submissively, his clothes and jewelry spoke otherwise. He was obviously a gentleman.
Joren was led to a place he did not recognize and did not wish to. It was dark and dirty with litter strewn everywhere. It hadn't been a long walk, just a few blocks away, but it was a complete turnaround. He readily followed the man to a doorway to get away from such filth.
The inside was much different. The gleaming tiles at the door gave way to a rich carpet. Itwas lit brightly with lamps that showed a few well placed paintings. Ah, quality I'm used to. The gentleman who had led him here gave his cloak to a manservant and beckoned. Joren took off his own and handed it to the waiting man before following. They passed several rooms and turned into a hallway before stopping in front of the second room on the left. The man knocked three times.
"Come in." A deep and resonant voice answered. The door opened to show a large study. A table and chairs had been brought in to accommodate eight men, six of them were occupied. A man stood at the mantle with his hands behind his back and looked at them expectantly. He was dressed in an orange tunic over a cream silk shirt with white hose. Red hair framed his oval face and a bushy beard surrounded his thin mouth.
"Hello. I see you have young Master Joren with you. Thank you for consenting to meet with us." He was the one who had answered the door. I must have been the subject of a previous discussion. There was no need to introduce me.
"This", he spread his arm out. "is our...home away from home." Home away from home indeed...a secret place to hold meetings such as these?
One by one he introducedthe seated men. The heavy set man in forest green was Lord Farroll; the tall and brooding one Lord Relin; the ruddy man in red Lord Kesby; the one with deeply socketed blue eyes Lord Tyne; and finally, the one with a wide welcoming smile was Lord Edwase.
"And I am Lord Parslot of Verton. The one who brought you here...introduce yourself, my good man." His escort smiled and bowed to Joren.
"Forgive my negligence to introduce myself earlier. I am Lord Jotan of Dulion and I was well known in the area where we stood." So I was right, he did not wish to be recognized. "As you can see, we are all noblemen and we have gathered here with one purpose in mind. To rid our realm of the foolish women who try to take their place among men. Especially those who are getting thoughts that female knights are proper. Thevery idea! You, you are known for yourviews in that area especially concerning a certain Keladry of Mindelan. We applaud your efforts." Joren smiles in spite of himself, proud and delighted to be known.
"We are a secret organization committed to this goal. We have many others but the men you see before you are the council. Outside of this room we are known as the Gentlemen." The other men nodded and murmured their agreement.
"So, will you join us? Our brotherhood of the Men of the Realm?"
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A.N.: So any criticisms? Comments? Tell me!
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