Keladry of Shang

A/N: hey everybody. Sry! I noe I said last chapter that I said I'd get 12 and 13 together, but I sort of ahem, got lazy….anyways, here it is now. Also, I couldn't remember where vistors and nobles eat, so I put them with the pages, but only when they want to. In my mind, there is a more formal dining hall for them, but those who would rather relax eat with the pages…. Heheh. I think? Anyways, I won't make you wait any longer!

Chapter 13—Satisfaction from you

Wyldon glared at the girl he had once trained and muttered certain impressive expletives under his breath. He had not seen the Mindelan chit in a few days and had hoped to take this as a sign that she would leave him alone. He secretly admitted to himself that he was, in fact, intimidated by the girl and wary of whatever revenge she might enact upon him. She had—out of fluke luck—become rather strong.

This was not to say that he was not to say that he was not ashamed of his recent cowardly behavior. Having spent several days attempting to forget the ex-page's fierce looks and impressive skill, he had forced himself back into the proper frame of mind and regained his lost honor. He was Wyldon of Cavall, training master of all the realm's future knights, hero-savior of the royal children of King Jonathan IV and Queen Thayet. He was a man who did his duty at any cost, and a knight of immeasurable strength, courage and valor. He would brave this enemy the same way he had faced all his other opponents: with a calm and irrefutably just demeanor.

And so he regarded her with the same stoic pride as he had shown when she was still a page. The two of them nodded to each other, knowing—to Wyldon's private relief—that this was not the time nor the place for the two of them to express their mutual hatred for each other.

Kel quietly took her place at the visitor's table and waited for Wyldon to say the prayer. Wyldon cleard his throat and began, "Let Mithros bless our land in this time of war, and may He aid us in ensuring that all proper traditions be respected." His eyes flitted quickly towards her, but he looked away swiftly, still unable to meet Kel's cold gaze.

While Kel did not miss nor appreciate Wyldon's jibe, she did not wish to disrespect Mithros by refusing to say the age-old closure phrase. And so instead she thought of the long-abandoned tradition of lady knights, and quietly whispered, "So mote it be." And when she saw Wyldon watching hopefully out of the corner of his eye, searching for some sign of anger or hurt, she merely smirked at him. He looked away, disappointed.

Kel ate quickly, having no reason to stay in such a hostile environment. Her friends were busy elsewhere and the gawking, sneering, whispering and lovesick sighs were getting on her nerves. She stood and returned her tray to the cooks. The hall grew quiet as they watched her leave, but she ignored the stares burning into the back of her head. She was walking down the corridor when a pair of arms loosely encircled her form behind.

Instantly, Kel whirled around, ready to defend herself form this attacker. She relaxed her tensed body as she saw the handsome, smiling heir of Stone Mountain. Inside however, she raged all the more.

Joren grinned at her and embraced her. She forced herself to return his embrace and fixed a smile on her face. "Joren!" she greeted him.

Joren tenderly brushed her hair back behind her ear before asking her, "Would you like to take a walk with me?"

Kel saw her chance and pounced on it. Using her best acting skills, she looked down unhappily. Joren frowned. " Is something wrong?"

Kel looked away. "I can't go, Joren. I have something to do, and I don't think you'd like it." Joren's expression darkened like an ominous thunder-cloud, and he clutched at her possessively.

"What's happened? Is someone forcing you into something? How can I help?" his voice was harsh, but he held her gently, conveying to her that she was not the object of his anger. Mwntally, she commended his acting skills, gloated about her own, reassured herself that she coldn't possibly have know he was faking it, and raged at the fact that he thought her so helpless.

"I'm fine. It's just htat I wanted to tell you that you'll be angry when I do it." Joren's face relaxed as she assured him of her safety, but grew tense once more as she warned him. She once again admired his acting skills, even as she worried that he was suspicious.

"Do what, Kel?"

"This." She drew her hand back and slapped him across the face with all her might. Joren's head snapped back and he staggered for a second. Already, a bruise in the shape of a handprint began to form on his pale cheek. "That was for the satisfacton of my feminine side," she said grimly. "And this is for the satisfaction of my warrior side." She slapped him more gently on the arm. "Joren of Stone Mountain, you have treated me cruelly, you have plotted and conspired against me in order to humiliate me and cause me great pain, and you have sullied my virtue. I demand satisfaction from you." The ancient challenge phrase echoed powerfully in the empty corridor.

Joren looked at her again, but this time his haunting blue eyes brned with an icy hatred. He surveyed her for a moment before growling coldly, "Fine."