Kalen walked into the mess hall a little earlier then he expected. Few pages and squires were still getting food. He quickly got his food and sat down with his friends, all except Emrys who was on border patrol.
Ceylon Willoware walked into the mess hall and everyone stood to pray. After everyone sat down, began eating and talking, Ceylon made one more announcement:
"Could Midori of Queenscove and Kalen Hiamaid of the Bloody Hawk report to my office after the morning meal."
After the training-master left, whispers erupted in the mess hall, some people even were open to gestures. Midori scowled and kept her head bowed, eating.
Kalen couldn't help but wonder why the training master would want them to report when they had done nothing, perhaps Ceylon wished to speak with them separately. Only the gods knew.
Silently, both stood from the benches and took their trays and dishes to be washed. Together they walked down to the training master's office and Kalen knocked.
There was a quiet reply of "Come in" and both squires entered.
Ceylon studied them with solemn brown eyes and gestured them to sit down. "Kalen, Midori," he acknowledged, his voice holding no emotion. "I have news for you both" Midori could tell he was regretting his next few sentences: "Kalen, you take the Ordeal in a year, correct?"
"Yes sir" replied the boy.
"Sir Bennel, your knight-master, has told me of your excellence and thinks you should take the Ordeal, a year earlier then most, after the spring equinox"
Midori gasped, "The king surely will not stand for it, sir!" It took all of her willpower to keep from crying and beginning an argument.
"I've spoken to His Majesty and he will allow it, squire," Ceylon spoke in a soft voice.
"If his Majesty allows it, then I should take the chance, a younger knight for the realm is always best." Kalen replied.
Midori felt a few tears fall down her face. How could he agree to this? The woman ducked her head, her black hair hiding her tears, and mentally scolded herself. It was his choice!
The training master turned to the woman. "I have sorrowful tidings for you, Midori, your cousin and uncle have passed into the Peaceful Realms, I'm sorry."
Midori's throat was as dry as parchment, when she managed to croak, "How?"
"Riding accident. Sergeant Domitan and Shalem were riding and Dom was attacked. He tried to protect Shalem but he was killed, the horse threw your cousin off and he broke his neck in the fall…" Ceylon explained, brown eyes sad.
Midori felt the room spin and her head begin to swim. The sense of heat was overwhelming and the numbing sensation of her hands and mouth were frightening. Soon, through half-closed eyes, she saw faces.
The face of her father, of her friends, and her remaining family, She remembered seeing Shale's hopeful face the lat time she had seen him. His juvenile dreams had been snatched away so brutally. Kel had already lost a child with her miscarriage, some years ago, and now this?
"I need to find Aunt" Midori stood and nodded, forgetting to bow, and hurried out of Ceylon's office, Kalen following.
As Midori walked briskly to Kel's suite, fists clenched, she could feel hot tears sting her eyes and blind her, blurring the hall into a mass of colors and sound. She no longer cared. She felt deadened and wished—for once—she could be selfish.
Midori opened the door to peek into her aunt's room and found Kel sitting at her desk, staring down at a letter stained with tears. She slipped inside and walked up to her aunt.
Kel glanced at Midori with red, puffy eyes and looked away, not wanting to talk. "Shale was my only son, and Dom…why them, why now?" she whispered, more tears falling. "He was going to turn six this week. Dom and I planned on going to Masbolle but now--" Kel broke off, unable to continue.
It was a mother's pain of losing a child, Midori knew, and left Kel to grieve, knowing full well, that she too would attend the funeral.
Kalen brushed a hand on her arm and she stared blankly at her lover before deciding to go for a ride in Corus.
Kalen watched her go, feeling lost.