May I now present chapter 7! Please enjoy and let me know what you think!
Chapter 7
A Conundrum and A Mystery
Kel didn't know how long she'd been sitting there in the icy chapel, waiting for Owen to emerge but at some point people began trickling in preparing for the doors to open. This told Kel that morning had arrived although the tiny window was still shrouded in darkness and snow. The first faces Kel recognized was those of Warric of Mandash and Iden of Vikison Lake, Owen's two younger cousins, who both nodded to her as they came in. Neal and Yuki were the next of Kel's friends to arrive, sitting on the cold bench beside her. She received a warm smile from prince Roald who escorted Shinko into the chapel; Roald had been Owen's page sponsor when Kel was in her second year.
On the other side of the chapel, Lord Wyldon sat beside a young woman, about Owen's age, with bright blue eyes which stared nervously at the big black doors while holding the older knights hand in both of hers. Kel could only guess that this was Wyldon's eldest daughter, Margarry of Cavall, to whom Owen was betrothed. Kel briefly considered the stark contrast between Margarry's expressive face and the stoney, emotionless one of her father, though Kel could detect a small flicker of fear in his steely eyes.
Finally, after what seemed like an interminable wait, the priest pull open the enormous doors to reveal a sweaty and shaken Owen, but nevertheless alive. Wyldon stood up as his former squire stepped out and Kel did the same only a moment behind. The two older knights helped him stumble out of the chamber where Kel left Owen to his admirers. As she began walking away, Kel turned back to a small, grateful smile from Margarry.
***** (That evening) *****
Kel grinned up at her friend as he held his new shield, the vibrantly painted Jesslaw fox still glittered perfectly, with a fresh coat of polish. Owen himself held his shield high as he smiled to his friends and year mates, pride and excitement exuding from him. Kel couldn't help but notice a small smile on Wyldon's face as he applauded his squire's rise to the knight's rank.
Owen happily greeted his friends as he descended from the stage, commenting playfully, 'I now know what all those years of training were for, those shields way a ton!' For a moment though Kel thought she saw something flicker in Owen's eyes, but then it was gone.
Suddenly Kel felt a hand on her shoulder making her jump.
'I'm sorry, lady knight, I didn't mean to startle you,' Kel turned to see Margarry's bright blue eyes looking up at her. 'I merely wished to speak with you.'
Kel bowed slightly to the younger women and said, 'Of course, my Lady.'
Margarry laughed and shook her head, 'No need for such formalities, though I'm sure my father drilled them into you day and night. Please call me Margarry.'
Kel smiled, how could lord Wyldon's daughter be this bubbly, kind young woman, 'Please call me Kel.'
Margarry nodded and said, 'Both my father and Owen have spoken very highly of you, both of your skills and your character, and rumor seems to back up everything they've said but nonetheless I was very keen to meet you in person. I find your deeds incredibly inspiring, not least of all that you were the first girl to try for your shield under the new law. I certainly would not like to have seen my father on your first day.'
Kel laughed at this before responding, 'It was certainly daunting and I can't say that I was particularly pleased that I was put on probation but your father was a great training master and a is a man I very much look up to.'
Margarry nodded, 'Perhaps, but I believe, and many young women with me, that you are just as inspiring as my father. You surpassed all odds to get to where you are, my father was just doing his job. Don't protest, even my father would agree,' Margarry insisted, anticipating Kel's reply.
Kel paused for a moment before saying, 'Forgive me for saying so, but you aren't quite what I would've expected as Lord Wyldon's daughter.'
Margarry giggled slightly before responding, 'There is good reason that my father is nicknamed the Stump and personally, I don't wish to inherit that nickname.'
The two women talked for quite some time until the crowd around Owen thinned, allowing Margarry to speak to him. Kel left the festivities only a short time later, smiling at her newly knighted friend and his betrothed, thinking to herself about how perfect a pair they were.
***** (Next morning - midwinter)*****
Kel allowed herself to sleep in slightly before she began her routine, deciding not to wake Tobe until later. After bathing, Kel heard a small knock on her door which she opened to reveal a servant who carried several boxes, gifts, from her friends and family. Taking them, she thanked the servant, giving him a gold coin for his service, and shut the door. Placing the boxes on the table, Kel woke Tobe and handed him the gift she had bought for him. It hadn't been easy to find something so she settled for a small, multi-purpose knife with a rearing horse carved into the handle. The smile on his face told her she had chosen well. Among her own gifts, Kel found a case of enchanted bandages from Neal which would stanch the bleeding from any wound they touched, a new, expensive glaive from Shinko and Yuki and a new, well made crossbow from Alanna. Kel smiled, it was nice to final see a name scrawled onto the card. It had only been a year since Alanna revealed herself as Kel's mysterious benefactor of the eight years since she became a page. However, as one mystery cleared up, a new one rose because in an unnamed small box lay a pair of gold and green earrings and a matching necklace. Kel couldn't help smiling because whoever gave her this gift knew the colors of the dress Lalasa had made for the banquet that evening. Or else they made a very lucky guess.