(-a/n- Here it is; the next instalment! At least it was a faster update than last time! Thanks for all of your lovely reviews; this chapter's for all of you amazing reviewers! Every single message you left was much appreciated, so many, many thanks to;
Jassa, abyssgirl, mountainelements, Lisbet687, Cheeseycraziness, Lady Knight Jocelyn, shadowstorm13, lady kight jacky cullen, Lady Grace of Masbolle, Lady Mage, Firgof Raina, Pepper Lemon, youdontwant2no, Hasamaki, SabbyRinaBanina, Jaden Scorpio, Venuspixie, Opal-169, Bradhadair fire starter, dares to dream, Kiley 1 09, The knights who until recently said Ni, mashkitkat, xxTunstall Chickxx, Geminia, hakas, Fariy Lights, Golden23, xX Beka Cooper Xx, BlackWidow12, T.B., Sarkule, Da Lady Vitch, peddyviolin, fallen... in love w/your story, queenofspades19, RefurAG, Shang Leopard, after.a.hard.day, seekerchick06, SassyAni, this fish flies, epobbp, DramoSkye, Kelss6692, Cede, MysticMoonEmpress, JaBoyYa, berndi, rootless californian, mylovelyminion, clurr, beckysue904, littlefreeeagle, Me, Forget Me Not Blue, SavingSaturn, truffletruffle01, JClayton, NorikuKitsune, winglessfairy25, Mandaius Meander, Vicky, jayley, AlariaZanshin, elfie-may, Stoned Lorikeet, prettyhowtown, Pie of Doomeh, PlaidPanda543, 13.shimer.13, x17SkmBdrchiczxx, BACswimma, BookQn, bookworm.amm, Erytha, Krae Z. Rokke, ObSeSsEd WiTh ROXAS, bookworm-4-ever2012, .yashamew, Horseluvr13, MoonGoddessBookworm, Pat Bryans, The Shang Kudarung, Mint Tea Rose, Silvertongued Wolf, Erisna Deathclaw, xxSassyActressxx, katzechan, oirishgoddess, Skyline Romance, 5253Racer, xXxCrazyBookwormxXx, Erynfaer, Yabberli, On top of cloud 9, Lady Zarobiti, Kaia Papaya, gems, milky way bar, Feed The Foxes, elle, brezzybrez, Bort, killing u with umbrellas, FalshingLight, Blood Tainted Angel, Drunken Little Monkey, Evil Bunny of Death, Eternityfalls, Gallan Princess, tomboy & EmpressOfPudding.
Confusedknight xx
Sweat plastered Kel's hair to her forehead and she could feel heat radiating off her cheeks. She had been fighting with Tor for over two hours, stopping infrequently to gulp down some water.
Kel was now winning over half of her fights with Tor, spurred on by the feeling that they were all living in the calm before a storm.
That afternoon, having done a thorough warm down, Kel headed back to the castle alone. She weaved her way through the smaller streets, following a quicker route that she discovered several days earlier.
Before she knew what had happened, a hand was over her mouth and a pair of arms was dragging her backwards. Instinctively Kel planted her feet as best she could and twisted, half-wrenching her attacker off of her. She threw a wild punch that missed and reached for her sword. A dagger was at her throat before she could so much as lay her hand upon it's hilt.
'Careless,' snapped a familiar voice, lowering her dagger. 'Talented swordswoman or not, it wouldn't take much to kill you.'
'What are you doing here?' asked Kel blankly.
Rhonda pulled down the scarf that obscured her face.
'Waiting.' She said shortly.
'But-'
'Let's continue this somewhere a little more private,' interrupted Rhonda, grabbing Kel's arm and striding off down the road.
It was a short walk before Rhonda entered a dingy lodging-house and pulled Kel along the corridor into a room that smelt vaguely of onions.
'Waiting?' asked Kel, continuing as though the conversation had not been interrupted.
Black sparkling magic encased the room with a click of Rhonda's fingers.
'I arrived here from Toishore about two weeks ago,' said Rhonda, removing her cloak and boots. 'Alex and I arranged to meet here on the first day of April.'
'That's just over a week's time,' said Kel slowly, working it out in her head. 'Yes, nine days from now.' Her heat leapt at the thought of seeing Alex again.
'I expected you to be with him,' said Rhonda, 'but I'd heard talk of a girl who was as good as Torrien and thought it might be worth checking if it was you or not.'
Kel looked surprised, and Rhonda laughed bitterly.
'This isn't your precious Tortall; there aren't lady warriors everywhere. Besides it would take a very skilled fighter indeed to best the heir to a clan; why they practically grow up with a sword in their hand.'
Kel didn't know what to say. She hadn't seen Rhonda for a year and it was a shock to see this serious, prickly woman turn up into the life that she had forged for herself at Somalkt.
Rhonda stared at Kel. 'You've grown,' she stated, scrutinising the girl that she had last seen at a slave market in Gentlund. Kel still couldn't think of anything to say and picked at the sleeve of her shirt.
'So when did you last see Alex?' asked Rhonda.
'About a month ago. He collected me from Redroc and we travelled here.'
'Redroc?' Rhonda said in the tone of voice that suggested she was trying to remember something important. 'Isn't that where Marthea's little girl is living? Jacqui I think her name is…'
'Marthea's daughter? Marthea the cook from Rathhausak?'
Rhonda's head snapped up to stare straight at Kel. 'He told you then?' She said tentatively.
Nodding, Kel looked down at her feet.
'Then you must see how important it is that we succeed?' said Rhonda passionately.
'The people of Scanra deserve better,' said Kel quietly. 'Back in Tortall, people call Scanrans barbarians, they don't know any better. But when I came here I found some of the nicest, most selfless people I've ever met. These people, the clansfolk, they have the right to a peaceful life, one where they are not dictated or owned. I've heard of the injustice done to you and Alex; you lost your clan, your family and I see evidence of Maggur's evil deeds. And I swear to you, like I swore to Alex that I will help in whatever way that I can to see Maggur into the Dark God's realm.'
'And I have no doubt that you'll keep that promise,' replied Rhonda in an uncharacteristic moment of gentleness. It didn't last long, within ten seconds she was back to her usual self. 'But a fat lot of good you'll be if you can be overcome by an assailant with a four-inch dagger. Do you still have your knives?'
'In my room,' said Kel fighting back a blush.
'Where they'll be a lot of use I'm sure,' said Rhonda scathingly.
Kel hid her embarrassment; it was the most basic of lessons –always carry your weapon with you.
'Now if I come at you like this…' Rhonda demonstrated, holding her dagger in a clenched fist. 'Then the simplest way to disarm me is with a simple blow to the elbow or by grabbing my forearm.'
For over half an hour Rhonda drilled Kel in the basics of dagger work and street fighting. Some of it Kel already knew, but she was very rusty. Rhonda was fast and Kel sometimes had difficulty in pulling off moves accurately. However when Kel did grab a hold of Rhonda's forearm, she found that hours of training her arm muscles meant that she could easily pin Rhonda's arm still and knock the dagger away.
In the distance, a bell tolled.
'I need to get back to the castle,' panted Kel, massaging her left wrist.
'Meet me here for practise, every day at sunrise,' instructed Rhonda.
Kel knew better than to complain and leaving the room, forced her bruised body into a jog up the muddy lanes to the castle.
Now that her days were packed full of sword fighting, street fighting with Rhonda, scribe work and long runs around the city, Kel barely had time to notice the days lengthening as weeks flew by.
As the first of April drew closer, her anticipation grew; she would be seeing Alex again soon! Kel couldn't wait to be able to fight against him once more and was itching to try some of her new moves against him.
On the very last day of March, Djamel informed her that she would be allowed the next three days off. When Kel inquired as to the reason he turned round in surprise.
'It's the spring festival of course.'
Kel quickly covered her confusion, smiled, nodded and left the room. She would have to ask Rhonda about the festival; she was the only person Kel could ask without drawing suspicion to herself.
Kel's last spring had been spent on a slave plantation and Kel wasn't sure if the "spring festival" applied to the whole of Scanra, or just Somalkt.
The next morning, she got up and dressed quietly. It was still dark outside, and the very first birds were beginning to awake and call sleepily. Kel slid her sword out from under her mattress and tiptoed out of the room.
She took a long route to Rhonda's room, jogging through a maze of streets and lanes to reach her destination. Kel found it peaceful to run through the empty streets, breathing in the fresh morning air, listening only to the sounds of birdsong and the soft thudding of her feet on the earth.
By the time Kel arrived at Rhonda's it was light, a red sky stained the horizon, clouds spattered across the heavens. Kel entered the room, breathing in the characteristic smell of onions. Almost as soon as she did so, something moved to Kel's left. Instinctively she turned and just got her arm up in time to ward off Rhonda's blow. She pivoted to gain a firm stance. Rhonda was using her weight to bear down on Kel her free hand fastened to Kel's, pulling Kel off balance.
Feeling herself teetering, Kel lashed out in a kick that Fassin had taught her over a year previously. Rhonda fell, taking Kel with her. Together they rolled over and over, wrestling.
Kel smashed the hand that held the dagger to the floor, over and over until it spun from Rhonda's grip. Somehow Kel managed to unsheathe the dagger from her own wrist strap and she held it to Rhonda's neck, panting.
'Alright, alright,' huffed Rhonda, as Kel removed her weapon from the older woman's neck. Kel picked herself up and dusted off the knees of her breeches.
'Well I can't say that you don't pick things up fast,' admitted Rhonda grudgingly, sending a spark of her own black fire to heal her bruised hand.
'Only when I have good teachers,' said Kel bowing.
Rhonda ignored the compliment.
'I wasn't sure if you'd be coming today,' I thought you might be preparing for the spring festival.
'What is the spring festival?' asked Kel.
Rhonda stared at Kel suspiciously, as though trying to detect a joke.
'You don't have a spring festival in Tortall?'
'No,' said Kel, wishing that Rhonda could just answer her question.
'It's a three day festival,' Rhonda explained. 'We get together and thank the gods that we've survived the harsh winter.'
Kel, by now had a pretty good idea of what a scanran festival entailed; singing, dancing, fighting and eating.
'And does everyone get a day off?' she asked, re-sheathing her dagger.
'Pretty much,' replied Rhonda, helping herself to a glass of water. 'There will be a few still working; guards, healers and such like. I expect you'll be invited to formal celebrations up at the castle, but there will be street parties going on all over the city.'
Rhonda stood up and rummaged in her wardrobe. After a few seconds, she pulled out a brightly coloured scarf.
'Here, wear this later on,' she said, tossing it to Kel, 'everybody will be dressed up.'
Kel caught the brightly coloured bundle and laid it carefully to one side so that they could continue with her lesson.
When Rhonda declared that she had other things to be doing, Kel took the hint, gathered up the scarf and left, humming happily to herself. She was going to dump the scarf in her bedroom before getting some breakfast and wandering down to the practice courts for a long day of swordplay.
However, when she entered the bedroom she found that all of the other girls were flapping about in a state of intense activity.
'There you are Ana!' exclaimed Eyrn, glancing up. 'Leisa you must do Ana's hands too.' Eryn held up her own hands to show the inked patterns across her skin.
So Kel sat down, placed her hands in front of Leisa and watched in fascination as the girl used a brush to apply the dark red-brown ink in swirling patterns over her index finger and up across the back of her hand.
Eryn suddenly exclaimed, 'Kel what happened to your wrist?'
Kel looked down to see purple bruising just starting to appear from where Rhonda had grabbed her.
'Did a man hurt you?' asked Leisa quietly.
It took Kel several minutes to assure her concerned friends that she hadn't been attacked or assaulted by a man.
Eventually Eryn was convinced and she flopped back on her bed, sighing happily. 'I love the spring festival! No work for three days.'
The other girls murmured their agreement.
'Ana you must have something more colourful to wear,' said Naeca, the oldest of the group.
'I've got a scarf on my bed,' said Kel indicating with her head.
'That won't do,' Eryn said exasperatedly. 'Here, let me do your hair.'
When the girls left the dormitory half an hour later with Kel in tow, they headed down into the city. Kel's hair had been braided at the front by Eryn, who had also managed to entwine various brightly coloured beads and ribbons into the Kel's straggly locks.
Kel wore Rhonda's scarf as a brightly coloured sash around her waist, to brighten up her otherwise plain outfit of a shirt and loose breeches. Like all of the other girls, she had kohl outlining her eyes and a red tint to her cheeks and lips from the face paint that Naeca had carefully applied.
Crowds filled the city streets, breathing life into the clan. Kel noticed that old buildings had been painted, windows scrubbed. Players and musicians were performing on street corners with gusto and vendors wove through the masses selling sweets and snacks.
Kel could hardly believe the sights, sounds and smells all around her. It was such a contrast from the harsh life that she had believed most Scanrans led.
Chattering away happily to the three girls from her dormitory, Kel was only half concentrating on their conversation. The majority of her focus was on the crowds of people. Her eyes were searching for a familiar face; Alex had promised that he'd return today.
Growing tired of the conversation, Kel made up an excuse and left the company of Eryn and the others, slipping down a side street to Rhonda's lodging room. It was now late morning and Kel hoped that if Alex had arrived, then perhaps a room that he or Rhonda owned, would be a logical place to find him.
She knocked twice and waited for a reply.
Rhonda opened the door cautiously and scowled when she saw Kel.
'What are you doing here?' she asked.
'Seeing if Alex has arrived yet.'
'Well he hasn't,' snapped Rhonda.
'Oh,' Kel said awkwardly.
To Kel's surprise Rhonda opened her door wider and gestured for her to come in. Kel did so with caution, wondering whether Rhonda was going to turn on her and initiate another fight. She didn't.
'He might arrive today, he might not,' Rhonda began. 'But when he does arrive he'll probably find you before you can find him.'
Kel nodded, trying to suppress the feeling of disappointment that Alex might not arrive that day.
'I meant to ask you this morning if you wanted these?' said Rhonda, handing Kel two tiny golden loops.
Kel turned them over in her palm. They were earbobs.
'I don't have my ears pierced.'
'That doesn't matter,' said Rhonda, 'I can do them for you now.'
Kel looked up disbelievingly.
'Nearly every scanran girl has her ears pierced,' Rhonda explained. 'I noticed the other day that you don't.'
Truth be told it wasn't something that Kel had really considered before. She had always viewed ear bobs as frippery worn by noble ladies, but these plain, small gold loops were common enough among the working class.
'If you don't like them you can always take them out,' said Rhonda practically. 'The holes will just close up.'
Kel paused, torn with indecision.
'Hurry up and decide,' said the older woman impatiently. 'I haven't got all day.'
'Alright,' replied Kel.
Rhonda removed a sharp needle from a pouch and passed it through the flame of a candle a couple of times. She steered Kel to a chair and placed a small block behind Kel's ear.
Without warning Kel felt a stinging pain in her left ear. Deftly, Rhonda slipped a gold loop through the throbbing skin and fastened it at the back. Kel's eyes watered, but she allowed Rhonda to do her other ear.
Five minutes later she left Rhonda's room, her ears buzzing and feeling very strange indeed. Still shocked at her own actions, Kel paid a copper coin to a shopkeeper and in return received a cup of lightly spiced apple juice.
She drained the juice there and then, handing the mug back to the seller and walking away. Kel wandered slowly through the milling crowd to the practice court. However when she got there, Kel discovered that it was in the process of being fenced off into several smaller ones; undoubtedly there was going to be a tournament there tonight.
Kel was right in her assumption. That evening, after she ate a delicious meal of roasted hog and mashed potatoes in the staff dining room of the castle, Kel had returned once more to the bustling city.
By now the busy streets were lit by overhead torches and bonfires on street corners that cast a flickering yellow glow over the celebrating people. Kel had stopped several times on the way down to the practice court to join in with songs that she knew. She'd even been pulled in to dance by complete strangers before being allowed to continue on her journey.
Once at the practice court she was given a token with a number on it. The idea was that you would step up to fight matches and if you lost then you gave your token back. This would continue until there were only sixteen people left in the competition, and from there on would be formally arranged matches.
Kel stepped up, tying her sash more firmly and scraping her braided hair back into a loose horsetail. Her first competitor was a brawny man, who despite being strong, was slow and lumbering. Kel beat him easily.
He handed his token into the official that was running the court and left. Kel too, stepped off the court, but with her token still sitting safely in the pocket of her breeches.
Kel leant of the fence at the edge of the court, to get a good view of the other matches taking place, scrutinising the technique of each fighter in the hope of learning something.
'I thought I might find you here,' said Tor, amusement evident in his tone.
'You know me too well,' Kel said ruefully.
'Here.' Tor handed her a small bracelet made of brightly-coloured glass beads.
'Tor it's lovely,' said Kel softly, suddenly feeling very embarrassed that she hadn't got him anything.
He obviously sensed her discomfort and said, 'Kel you've given me more than enough over the past month.'
She frowned, confused.
'You've given me hours and hours of your practice time.'
'So have you,' Kel pointed out.
'Ah, but in a way that's my job to ensure that I'm a good fighter. You've been practising with me in between your working hours.'
Kel shook her head, giving up the argument but feeling slightly mollified.
Over the next few hours, Kel fought four more duels. Each time she beat her opponent with varying ease. The two army corporals were quickly disarmed, but the older sergeant proved to be more of a challenge. Eventually Kel's insistent attacks and constant battering at his defences won through.
Stretching out her shoulder, Kel ducked under the barrier at the edge of the court. She looked around for Tor and saw him battling furiously against a hefty blonde about twenty metres away.
Feeling thirsty, Kel squeezed and pushed her way through gaily-dressed people in search of more spiced apple juice. She ducked into a side street where there was space to breath and paused.
A hand grabbed her from behind. Without hesitation, Kel spun latched onto her attacker's arm and threw him deftly over her hip. He landed with a thud and Kel's sword point was at his throat within seconds.
Squinting down through the semi-darkness Kel froze.
'Alex?'
(-a/n- Yay! Alex is back! Hopefully my next update will be around Tuesday time (if I'm still alive after cycling 54 miles for charity)…when it will become clear as to what my big plan is. I'm very exited about chapter 43 which has been planned for over a year!! )
Please review; I love the encouragement and it does spur me on to spend hours at a time typing!
Confusedknight xxx