Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns the characters and the books.
A/N~ I had started to write this chapter then my laptop was hit with a bunch of viruses, so I couldn't use it, and still don't have it back. With it being summer I hope to have enough time to continue writing while working.
Chapter
Six
Kel's POV
I kicked my attacker's hand and rolled to my feet. Closing my hands into fists, I placed my feet in a fighting stance, shoulder width apart. I relaxed slightly seeing the pages face. I was not enough of an idiot to let them see me relax, only close friends of mine, knew when I let my muscles relax while still in a stance, and even then they had trouble seeing it.
"What do you three want?"
"To teach you a lesson."
"It isn't that easy you should know. I let you go without injury if you all leave now."
"Don't place us off as easy as the guys from your year, they probably went easy on you cause you're a girl, and most likely younger. We don't care about that."
"None of that is true, I won because I was stronger, and they fought me like they fought my friends."
"Well then they assumed your friends were weak like you. Everyone knows that if the weak can't find someone stronger than band together and hide."
"Well then you have some of the facts confused, if I recall correctly my friends and I fought when it was required of us, both in the yard and in the halls. We wouldn't let anyone get away with calling us anything; none of my friends are really weak you should know."
"If your friends didn't look weak it was because others were going easy on them." Said Oliver, the one who appeared to be the leader.
"Of course if they used you to defend them they had to be weak. Really how weak do you have to be when you find yourself being protected by a girl?" Said Dylan.
"You must be weaker than the girl of course. It will be such a shame for almost an entire year of squires fail." Said Caleb.
I hit each one of the boys on the back of the hard. Not hard enough to cause any damage, but enough that they will have a hard time doing anything. "I wouldn't suggest complaining to anyone, and you may want to be careful about whom you insult me around, or you may find yourself in more trouble or pain than you plan on."
"Just be happy you'll be sleeping with boys tonight, although the pretty boy and Theo won't be much protection if we decided to actual attempt to hurt you. Just consider this our warning." Said Oliver, before he turned away and led the other two out of the bush.
I headed for my own tent with hopes of getting some work done. The light was disappearing quickly, so I sat outside the tent against a tree. Pulling out the book, I continued the list I had been working on for the past couple days.
I was letting the last sheet dry before putting all my work away when Joren showed up at the tent. He sat down next to me, leaning against the tree. "Just one question for you. You didn't happen to have anything to do with the three pages from our group rejoining the fire, rubbing the back of their heads, would you?"
"What makes you assume that I did?"
"They returned shortly after you disappeared, and if I recall I heard one saying something about knowing place. I assumed they were talking about you not knowing your place as a woman. Although I regret it now, I remember muttering such things after our little, falls shall I say, during our page years."
"You know it is improper to talk about such things, especially when it may hurt ones pride, even if they have a little too much."
"I'll take that answer as the truth, even if it is hidden. Getting any further one the mystery?"
"I'm not sure I should really be telling you any of this."
"Why stop. You have already told me some, plus I could be some help. Even if I'm seen as only a pretty boy, I have my moments of brilliance."
"There is nothing much to tell anyways, all I know is that more people are appearing in both."
"Better connections in the other world?"
"That for now is a mystery, although if it wasn't for chance, we wouldn't have ever met the guy who helped us acquire this book."
Footsteps nearby made me quickly hide the loose sheets in the book, and placing it next to me so that I would block it from whoever was. Theo appeared from the other side of the tent. "Kel, I was just wondering, but, umm, how are we arranging the tent?"
"I'll sleep to one side with our packs between me and the two of you."
"Okay, I just wanted to know, Lord Wyldon told us we have to be up early tomorrow, and I'm not the earliest of risers, but I'll see you in the morning, Kel, Joren."
I gave a small wave to Theo as he climbed into the tent. As soon as he was inside, I brought the book back to my lap, and finished organizing in the papers. Placing them inside the book, I crawled into the tent and placed it in my pack. I was careful not to disturb Theo, who from the looks of it was already asleep, as I went back outside. It was night, and the light moon wasn't at its brightest, but I could hear the men of the Own still talking.
Joren was leaning against the tree with his eyes closed when I got back out of the tent. "If you're that tired you should go to sleep in the tent where you won't catch a cold."
"I'm not tired, just waiting for you."
"Well I'm heading to the fire for a while."
"The men of the Own might have some interesting stories. I'll join you."
"I hate to tell you this, but Raoul has warned the men about setting a good example for the pages. If they are smart they know he meant more than just the titles and positions as he mentioned. So many of the good stories may not be told tonight."
"Well then, any parts left out, or stories missing, you must tell me at a later date."
By that point we had reached the fire. Merric was there, but the three from his tent were not. I was glad for this fact since even though they may not act or say anything in front of the others, glares could be just as bad sometimes. I sat next to Dom who had made room for me. Joren sat next to Merric who had told one of the pages to move over. Dom put his arm around me as soon as I sat down. "So what do you think of you first day out with the pages?"
"Slow moving, although I don't blame the pages, some of it comes from the one who had to sleep in today."
"Tsk, tsk Kel. You'll get us all in trouble if you keep speaking like that, in case you can't recall."
"I remember, although it is the truth."
"Many of our stories are the truth as well, but we must with hold them to keep from receiving the worst duties."
"I shall practice keeping my mouth shut then. Although if I recall I never really had trouble with it before I joined men who can only speak without thinking."
"Kel, you are too cruel, we think before we speak, we just disregard our thoughts."
I lifted Dom's arm off my shoulder. "It is hard to disregard thoughts that don't exist."
"Must I repeat the fact that you are being cruel yet again Kel? I have plenty of thoughts, some I keep to myself, although I see no point in hiding thoughts that others may find funny. This training though makes us remember to watch our thoughts, it is quite depressing having so many people who have not heard our stories and having to keep everything in our minds to ourselves."
"A speech from Dom, something I have not yet heard, although I should have been expecting it, most people cut you off quickly as if they don't want to hear all you have to say."
I heard a laugh from across the fire. Searching for the source I found Joren. "I'm sorry Kel, but I am surprised at how well you've managed to fit in with the Own. When I first heard you were Lord Raoul's squire I was wondering how you would manage to hold up against a group of young men, but it seems you are quite a bit alike."
"Are you saying that I'm like a single, young man, fighting for the crown without being a knight?"
"Not in that way Kel. Through your mind, it is perfect for a battle of wit. Who would have thought that your calmness would be good for something like this?"
"A calm mind allows you to think of many things."
"What, so for us of the Own, who think of so little have no calmness?"
"You can be calm, when you must be, the rest of the time you all joke around. It is amazing how you manage to get done what you all do."
"Kel, please don't insult my men further, they always manage to turn it to me, and that is something they will hold over me for months. Just like the last timeā¦"
I raised my eyebrows as I saw that he was about to give an example. "Right no stories, not around the pages. I really shouldn't make rules even I will have trouble obeying. Alright men time to turn in. It will do us no good if we are tired and trying to keep up with the pages."
I followed Joren back to the tent, walking with Raoul. I was about to head into my tent when I felt a hand on my arm. "Kel may I ask how you've arranged the tent?"
"The guys are sleeping on one side of the packs and I on the other. If anyone wants to check the story in the morning they may. As for me I'm tired and plan on being asleep soon, especially if someone is going to be waking me to check."
"Night Kel."
"Good night Sir."
I carefully made my way over to my side of the tent before falling asleep.
A/N~ The chapter is done and the story is finally updated. It has been forever; I will try and get another one up as soon as possible.
