-a/n- Just a short note; there is a much longer one at the bottom. As usual thank you so much to everyone who left a review! This is the result –only a week between updates!

Confusedknight xx

PS. At the end of this chapter there are odd phrases that you might recognise from 'Squire.' I do not own these, or any of the characters for that matter. I am simply an overworked student playing around with Pierce's characters.


Kel stumbled on a rock and hastily righted herself, swearing colourfully under her breath in Scanran. She was picking her way down a stony path towards smooth green pastures that rolled softly on the undulating land to the west of the Palace.

Horses grazed peacefully in the sunshine, whisking their tails at bothersome flies. Ahead of Kel two colts frisked playfully, chasing and prancing after each other, too young to be dignified. When Kel passed into the next field a mare herded her foal away, cautious of the lean two-legger that was jogging through their pasture.

All the while, Kel's eyes were scanning the fields, looking for the familiar shape of a strawberry roan gelding. It had only been the night previously when she'd had a chance to talk to Daine and discover that Peachblossom, to Kel's delight, hadn't left the Palace or indeed even entered the service of another page. Daine had bought him outright and set him to pasture, a gentle retirement for the destrier.

As Kel approached the horse, Peachblossom's head shot up, his ears pricked in an expression as close to surprise as could be displayed on an equine face.

'Hello,' said Kel. 'It's been a while.'

As Kel reached out her hand, Peachblossom's jaw snapped around, only to close on thin air.

'Retirement hasn't sweetened you then?' Kel asked drily. 'Well you'll have to be a lot faster than that if you want to bite me!'

Reaching into her pocket Kel withdrew a shiny apple and offered it to her old friend. Peachblossom munched eagerly, his disagreement temporarily forgotten. When he finished the first apple in a few quick bites he butted Kel gently with his head.

As Kel fed Peachblossom the second apple, she explained how she'd had to go away and apologised for not taking him with her. Although Kel knew that Peachblossom probably wasn't interested in what little he could understand of her explanation, it made Kel feel as though, like with all those she'd left behind, that something akin to an understanding had been reached.

Kel rubbed Peachblossom's favourite spot and the old horse closed his eyes lazily, leaning into Kel's hands. She noted that the scars on his back had almost completely faded, covered by fresh hair growth. It was ironic that as Peachblossom's scars had faded Kel had acquired a set all of her own.

Despite the fact that Kel would dearly have loved to ride Peachblossom once more, he had been in pasture for four years now. It wouldn't be fair to try to get him fit again. Besides, she had been riding Prince for so long now, had survived through so much with him, that in a fight, although Peachblossom would always have a special place in her heart, she would feel a lot safer on Prince.

With the promise of more apples when she next visited, Kel left the prickly horse to his grazing and headed up to the castle for dinner.

'So I visited Lalasa and Tian today,' Lucie told Kel as she helped herself to potatoes.

'Was your dress finished?' Kel asked as she too began to pile food onto her plate.

'Yes and its gorgeous!' exclaimed Lucie with a pent-up energy that told Kel that she'd been dying to tell someone about it ever since she'd returned from the shop. 'Tian found the exact shade of red that I wanted and Lalasa's work is unparalleled.'

'I can come up and take a quick look before my lesson with Sir Myles.'

'You must! Oh it's so exciting!'

Kel smiled at her friend who she was sure, if it were not completely unbecoming, would have been bouncing up and down in her seat like a six-year-old.

'You are going to come and get ready with me tomorrow, aren't you?'

'Do I have a choice in this matter?' Kel muttered, prompting a giggle from Lucie.

'Not at all.'

'Well it looks like I'll meet you as soon as I've finished maths.'

'What time will that be?'

'At the fifth bell,' Kel replied through her mouthful of food.

'That doesn't give us enough time!' Lucie was dismayed.

'Almost two hours…' Kel's look was incredulous.

'But there is a lot to be done. Father-' Lucie called out to Lord Wyldon, who was eating two seats up the table from Kel. 'Would it be possible to arrange for Kel to finish early? Only it is the Queen's ball…'

Kel began to choke silently on a piece of chicken and hastily gulped water out of her goblet.

'I suppose we can shift all her afternoon lessons up by one hour,' Lord Wyldon said, struggling to keep a smile off of his face.

'Well there you have it,' said Lucie, 'I'll meet you at the fourth bell.'

Lucie's expression was innocently smug that Kel resigned herself to an afternoon of ladylike frivolousness. If she hadn't known better, Kel could've sworn that she saw a smirk on Lord Wyldon's face.

Ink had stained Kel's fingers black, whilst other spots had flecked her hand and shirt cuff in a fine spatter, almost the pattern of arterial spray, albeit blacker. Kel tore her mind from this thought. Although her days in battle were but a memory it was one that wouldn't fade, unlike her memory of the dates upon which laws were made.

Sighing Kel glanced back up to a crumbled sheet of paper to her left. It read 4th June 127 H.E. That was the day upon which northern Tortall had united with the fiefs below the unconquerable southern desert.

'One hundred and twenty seven,' Kel muttered to herself as she looked back at the maths puzzle she was meant to be solving. It was about the requisition of arrows. If sixty percent of the enemy were likely to be wearing plate armour, then it appeared likely that sixty percent of the order needed to be broad-headed, armour-piercing arrows. However, these did not have as long a range as the lighter arrows, which would be needed to combat thirty percent of the task force. She had sixty men under her command, forty of whom could shoot, twenty three who were good archers… The question went on. Picking out useful numbers and facts from the text, Kel slotted them into a formula and after a few calculated scribbles estimated the number of arrows she would need. Owing to the fact that three percent of arrows were likely to be defective or broken during transport, she added on an extra sum and wrote down her final answer in a small flourished script.

Kel adjusted her seat, clicking her toes in the process and settled into the next problem: The resultant force needed, and hence the number of men to batter in a door, given the dimensions and density of the door and battering ram.

This question Kel found trickier and several of her workings went wrong and ended up being scribbled over, creating a nasty black void on the paper. It wasn't to be helped. Kel glanced back up at her history notes; 'One hundred and twenty seven.'

There was a heavy pounding on the door. Even as Kel pivoted on her seat, a flamboyant Neal pranced into the room.

'I have returned, dear one, to the realms of the civilised,' he declared, making large gestures with his lanky arms. Without waiting for a response from Kel he collapsed dramatically back onto the bed. 'You've no idea of the madness that I've escaped from.'

'Is life at Pirate's swoop not to your liking?' Kel asked, setting aside her writing materials.

'Oh it's been an experience all right,' said Neal, propping himself up on his elbows and focusing his emerald eyes on Kel. 'Curing every ailment imaginable, evading her nefarious offspring, intensive swordplay and, very little time for academia' he finished mournfully. 'Although, I'm pleased to note in my absence you have not forsaken your own studies. I was expecting to find you beating up a seven foot Scanran armed with nought but a stick.'

Kel blinked at the word "Scanran". 'Don't be silly.' She said in mock seriousness, 'I'd need a sword at least. Besides, it's quite hard to find Scanrans down here. I've been fighting two Shang warriors instead.'

'Two Shang warriors?' Neal shuddered. 'You might as well lie down and take the beating without protest.'

Kel snorted. 'A fine knight you'll make!'

'I will make a fine knight young lady, because I am a pragmatist,' Neal announced. 'Provided I am correct in my assumption that two Shang warriors won't suddenly spring out of an opposing army, I see no need to even attempt to fight them.'

'Oh I don't know,' said Kel, and looking back at her work she muttered, 'you meet them in the oddest of places.'

The night was warm and still. Kel could hear the faint buzzing of a mosquito from somewhere in the shadowy space above her bed. Despite Neal's earlier interruption Kel had managed to finish all of her written work. Dates and facts flitted through her mind sporadically, reassuring Kel that her time had not been spent in vain.

Her thoughts turned to the upcoming ball. Kel felt slightly hypocritical; for the last few years she had hated the nobles that sat in banquet halls feasting in fine clothes whilst thousands, millions of people went hungry. Tomorrow she would join that band of rich people and she hated herself for it. And even though the cost of her dress had helped Lalasa, Kel couldn't help but think that attending the ball wasn't going to help anyone. If anything, her evening would be better spent on the tilting lane, increasing her accuracy at a fast speed.

Kel rolled onto her side, pressing her check against a cool patch on her pillow. She knew that Lucie desperately wanted her to go, not to mention Dom who was escorting her. Maybe if she used it as an opportunity to observe the nobles of Tortall, witness the true Tortallan court... Kel couldn't imagine what she could find out that she didn't already know, but it least it added an iota of purpose to what was otherwise going to be a wasted evening.

To help ease her guilt, Kel prayed hard to the Great Mother Goddess, envisioning Alex, Fassin, Tor, Marthea, Eron, Isra, Hal and Meah one by one, praying for their protection. Distracted, tiredness overtook her and Kel drifted into sleep.

'Have you heard from Fassin?' Kel asked Eda, blocking the attack easily.

'No,' replied Eda, not slowing the pace of their sparring. 'And I don't expect to. Someday he may return here, if he survives whatever task he feels he must complete. But the way of a Shang is not to become tied to people or places.' A few more blows were exchanged. 'Some of our warriors disappear after their Ordeal; they travel to far off places and no one sees or hears from them again.'

Kel jabbed her sword forwards in a tricky manoeuvre to place the tip on the bridge of Eda's nose. She hoped very much that Fassin would endeavour to send her some form of note or message that could confirm that he had found Alex alive and well. Even better would be a note from Alex himself, with orders or instructions on what she should be doing. However Kel doubted that once immersed in the depths of the vast country that either would be able to convey any note to her without actually sending one of Alex's precious men.

'Keladry?'

Kel spun around to find a short, red-haired woman watching her with amethyst eyes. A blade lay naked in her hand.

'Lady Knight,' Kel bowed. As Kel brought her head back up she saw a bleary-eyed Neal waving at her. Kel smiled and lifted a hand.

Alanna followed Kel's gaze. 'Squire do you want to fence against Keladry?'

'Mithros above no!' exclaimed Neal, suddenly looking more awake.

'Then get practising with Squire Jesslaw,' she barked. Kel saw the two boys scramble to collect practice swords. 'A month or so ago we agreed to a match…'

'My lady, I would be honoured.'

They moved apart and brought their swords up. Out of the corner of her eye Kel saw Neal and Owen halt their practice to watch intently.

The Lioness struck out in a smooth sweeping move to start the fight; one which Kel blocked firmly before launching her own assault. Attacks and blocks were barely discernable from each other as the sounds of metal clashing filled the practice court. The pace of the fight was incredible. Alanna was faster than the Shang warriors, as fast even as Alex. Although she had a very solid, Tortallan way of fighting, she more than overcompensated in her vast years of experience on the courts. Kel in comparison used her own unique blends of moves; Scanran, Tortallan, Yamani and Shang, to often force Alanna to invent a counter move quickly.

The Knight tried to dart around Kel's side, but Kel foresaw the move on two occasions, simply pivoting and sweeping her sword to null the attack. In a transition faster than ever before, Kel swapped her sword to her left hand. Moments later this move was copied by Alanna and the fight progressed, never halting to catch breath, the left-handed duel not a hairsbreadth slower than the right-handed one.

The duel carried on, both women demonstrating the true range of their skill. To an onlooker it would've been art at its finest. Exhilaration flooded through Kel. This was the fighting she loved. There was no horror or gore of a battlefield, no wastage of life. It was simply the pitting of skill against skill, something that as an athlete she revelled in.

Each blade was constantly shifting, accelerating, decelerating, changing direction, searching, seeking. A cold metal blade found skin. Everything froze.

'I yield,' Kel said calmly and Alanna stepped away, triumphant.

'Well fought, well fought indeed.' She clapped Kel's shoulder. 'I haven't had a duel like that in years. Goddess bless, I couldn't fight like that when I was your age.'

'I practise a lot,' said Kel quietly, embarrassed at the high praise.

'And your style is quite unique. Who taught you to fight?'

'Just a friend, Lioness.'

'And where was this friend from?' asked Alanna directly.

'He wouldn't say, my Lady.' This was half true; when Kel had initially met Alex she had been unsure of his origins.

Alanna's eyebrows rose, almost disbelievingly.

'I didn't ask questions and he didn't ask me any,' said Kel, her gaze flicking up from the floor.

'I only ask because you used many moves of origins that I could not place, and I've studied swordplay from all the main groups of warriors.'

Kel was inwardly thankful that Alanna, like nearly all Tortallans, dismissed Scanrans as barbarians from the north. As there had never been any diplomatic meetings between the countries, most Tortallans remained unaware of the true culture and Northern way of life. They knew not the styles of the swordsmen or axmen that Scanra spawned, they didn't even know about the rich musical nature of the people or of the traditions and rites of the individual clans.

'My teacher travelled a lot, so maybe he assimilated the styles of different cultures,' Kel suggested. She wasn't going to say anything more than that. There was a Yamani saying; "You need never unsay anything that you did not say in the first place." And Kel hadn't forgotten who the Lioness's husband was.

There was an awkward silence in which Alanna's eyes scrutinised Kel, who was scuffing her toe in the sandy dirt of the court.

'Well I'd better get back to my insufferable squire,' sighed Alanna. 'He seems to need more encouraging to practise than you do. Will I be seeing you at the ball later?'

Kel shyly pulled a face. Alanna laughed openly. 'That would've been my reaction too at your age, but then again I didn't realise until I was older that there is nothing, nothing at all that says you can't be a warrior and a woman at the same time.' She bowed to Kel and began to walk away. She took a few paces and turned back. 'On your left-sided switches experiment with altering your grip; it'll give you more leverage when you strike.'

Kel watched as the Lady Knight berated her squire for stopping his duel with Owen with mixed feelings. It had been refreshing to fight against someone who was as good as Alex. It wasn't to say that the Shang warriors weren't a challenge –because they were. Any drop in Kel's guard and they would be through, but Alanna was an unknown quantity, whose fighting style Kel had never experienced. There would be so much that Kel could learn from her. But Lady Alanna was Neal's knight-mistress.

Kel felt a little resentment towards Neal, who wasn't even wholly interested in swordplay. As quickly as this feeling appeared, Kel chided herself for it. Who was she to begrudge Neal a position as the squire to the King's Champion? He was learning to heal, to be able to help people in a way that Kel never would.

Wiping sweat off of her brow, Kel went to join the Yamani ladies for their glaive practice. When the subject of balls and dresses was mentioned Kel piped up about Lalasa's new shop, singing praises to her craftwork; if Queen Thayet commissioned a dress from her then the shop would see a boom in business.

'Sit still,' ordered Lucy, as Kel fidgeted uncomfortably in her chair.

She had slipped into the modified version of the dress, one that now completely covered her scar. The sheer chiffron at her chest meant that Kel's skin and the dresses neckline were still obvious, but the scar was not. At her neck hung a beautiful green glass pendant. Tian had informed her that it had been made by a woman living in the Lower city, who had recently taken over her husband's glass blowing business after his premature death. The drops in her ears were also from the same shop, and the silky slippers on her feet were made by a cobbler who was struggling to make ends meet.

Kel's hair had been curled by Lucie and secured up prettily by a strand of pearls; a gift from her mother. Now, as Kel flinched, Lucie who was resplendent in a russet red dress applied face paint to Kel's face, concealing the scars, reddening the lips and darkening her eyes.

'There,' said Lucie, 'all done.'

Kel stood up and stretched out her spine, walking over to the mirror. Reflected in the shiny surface Kel saw the woman that she, by right of her birth should be. It was no longer the skinny street urchin with tousled hair and dirty clothes nor the hardened warrior with deep eyes that had seen more than should be seen, that stared back at her.

She was not a court beauty that would be fought over before the night's end, but she could pass, like she always did and blend into the background. The makeup had accentuated her eyes and drew the attention from her slightly crooked nose. Her brown, peasant's skin had been lightened by powder, and encased in Lalasa's extraordinary creation her skinny, lanky frame looked almost elegant.

Lucie, on the other hand looked every bit her heritage. With blond hair cascading down her back in perfect ringlets, her petite frame, expensive jewellery, and her dress, she would draw the eyes of all the unmarried men, and a few married ones as well.

'So?' asked Lucie waiting for Kel's verdict on the face paint.

'I feel naked without my sword,' Kel complained, avoiding answering the question.

'Well you have at least two daggers on you,' pointed out Lucie exasperatedly. Kel had absolutely refused to go weaponless; she felt too vulnerable in a dress.

'By the Divine Realms! You're meant to be meeting Dom in any minute,' cried Lucie, hurriedly slipping on her own shoes. She shepherded Kel out of the room. 'Do you remember what the priestesses used to say?'

'Stand tall, shoulders back –glide!' said Kel severely, in a good imitation of their old tutor.

Lucie giggled. 'Exactly! Do try and enjoy yourself tonight, won't you?'

Kel smiled, 'I'll be fine. Don't worry about me, and go and enjoy your evening.'

'Oh I intend to!' Smiled Lucie.

In the great entrance hall Kel spotted Dom. 'I'll see you later,' she told Lucie before hurrying, in as ladylike a way as possible to meet him.

'Wow!' breathed Dom. 'You scrub up nicely.'

'Just because I'm in a dress, doesn't mean that I can't hit you,' muttered Kel.

'No I mean it,' said Dom, ignoring her. 'You look…' he grasped around for the right word. 'Perfect.' And she was. She was not over-dressed, retaining something that was essentially Kel. Even though he knew that she disliked the idea of coming to the ball, it did not show in her outward manner and he marvelled at her ability to appear to belong in any situation.

'Shall we go in?' Kel asked, breaking the silence that had descended.

'Yes,' replied Dom, taking hold of Kel's arm and escorting her inside the lavishly decorated banquet hall.

They mingled inconspicuously with the guests, Kel in her forest green gown and Dom in his dress tunic that marked him as a sergeant of the King's Own. Kel was introduced to a variety of people and was met with varying expressions of intrigue, indifference and downright disgust.

She had just finished the conversation with Harsan, one of Dom's many elder brothers and his wife, when they spotted Neal.

Kel was surprised to see that he was escorting Yuki, her plump Yamani friend.

'I wasn't aware that you two knew each other?' she asked.

'We didn't,' said Yuki bluntly, her face blank. 'Until I met Neal yesterday on the practice courts after you had left.'

'I was tending to my wounds,' mourned Neal. 'It took me ten whole minutes to sort out my assortment of bruises.'

Yuki's eyes crinkled with mirth as they met Kel's.

'You seem to have raised my knight-mistress's expectations of me,' he continued dolefully.

'It's for your own good,' Dom told his cousin knowingly.

Unfortunately all too soon Neal was called away to talk to some friends of his from the university, and Kel and Dom were left alone.

'I think I can see Mama over there,' said Kel, trying to discreetly peer through the crowd.

Dom led Kel expertly through the crowd to the white-haired lady and short man that were Kel's parents.

'Kel,' said Lady Ilane, a smile spreading across her face.

Kel wasn't listening, but was struggling to keep the shock off of her face at the sight of her parent's companions. Inness and Cleon, both tall and bulky stood on the other side of Piers.

Cleon's draw dropped and Inness's eyes bulged with surprise. Although Kel had seen Inness just after she'd first met Alex, posing as a serving girl, Inness hadn't seen her since the summer before she'd left for page training. It had been a long time ago and Kel had changed immeasurably since then.

'I hear that you won the King's tournament,' said Inness.

'Yes,' replied Kel awkwardly, unsure how she was meant to respond. It was obvious that Inness was looking his sister up and down, finding the idea difficult to accept.

Cleon too was openly staring. He hadn't seen Kel since her last meal as a page and was probably struggling more with the image of a womanly Kel in a dress than wondering about her fighting skills.

Kel remained mute, not feeling open to talking to her brother that had slapped the beggar boy Kit all those years ago. Ilane introduced Dom to Cleon, Inness and Piers in the proper fashion and the men shook hands and bowed.

'Are you courting Kel?' Inness asked bluntly.

Dom drew Kel a little closer and answered 'yes', not liking the way that Squire Kennan was looking at her.

'I thought that men of the King's Own couldn't marry?' inquired the Knight.

'Not while they remain in active service,' confirmed Dom.

'I'm not looking to be married off yet,' Kel spoke hurriedly, drawing all five pairs of eyes to her face. 'I am going to earn my shield first.'

This statement then led to the explanation of how Kel was going to take the big exams at the end of next week and rejoin her training. When this discussion died, Dom excused them both and, wishing everyone a nice evening, whisked Kel off to the dance floor.

'Dom, I really, really don't like dancing' muttered Kel, although she was glad to have a break from feigning interest in petty conversation.

They twirled slowly, Kel's legs following Dom's and vaguely remembering the simple dance from her convent days. Dancing allowed Kel time to observe the room as a whole, without having to focus politely on individuals.

Over Dom's shoulder she could see the royal party, courteously greeting every jumped-up noble that wished the Queen a happy birthday. Nearby Prince Roald and Shinkokami were talking somewhat nervously to each other, surrounded by a group of younger courtiers.

Kel also spotted Lucie's blonde hair as was spun in a circle by her dance partner, laughing gaily. From an outward glance, Lucie wasn't someone that Kel would naturally gravitate towards. She loved all the court's social functions, following the latest fashions and had had impeccable ladylike manners and yet Kel knew that Lucie was not a shallow person, unlike many of the girls that the Convent produced. She was kind, funny and loyal. It just went to show that it was worth getting to know a person before you judged them.

When Kel returned to her room late that night, she slipped out of her dress with a smile still on her face, the taste of Dom's mouth tingling on her lips. She had eaten very well and after dinner had managed to spark up the painfully polite conversation between Roald and his bride to be.

Names and faces were spinning madly through her mind, Kel now an expert in recognising those nobles that thought she was too scandalous for words. Her reception hadn't all been bad. She had met Lady Uline of Hannalof, who congratulated Kel on her achievements, encouraging Kel enthusiastically to keep after her shield.

They had also stopped to talk to several of her old page training friends, all of whom were now squires and had, like Cleon, returned from far off places, all with exciting stories to listen too.

Dom had introduced Kel to the other nobles in the Own, although the majority of his friends were common born and therefore not invited to the ball. At one point during the evening Lord Raoul had hurried over, his cheeks ruddy and embarrassed, trying to escape from various matchmaking mothers. Dom had chuckled at the Knight Commander.

'Would you like to dance with Kel too?' he had suggested.

'Gods no!' Raoul had exclaimed. 'Oh sorry, I didn't mean it like that,' he backtracked earnestly, much to Dom's amusement. 'You look very nice Keladry; it's just that I'm trying to sneak out without Jon or Thayet noticing.' As he hurried away, his bulking form not easy to conceal even in a crowd.

Kel staggered into bed and wearily pulled a blanket over her shoulders. She simply didn't have the energy to remove her face paint, untie her hair or pull a shirt on over her underclothes.

Kel's last thought before she plummeted into sleep was that tomorrow evening she'd distribute the rest of the money into other poor districts of Corus, to ease her guilt over the luxurious evening.

Kel's heart hammered in her chest as she brought Prince around to face the target. She let her muscles relax and took several smooth breaths. I am like polished stone. And with all thoughts banished from her mind, determination filling every nanometre of her body, Kel kicked Prince's sides and they accelerated.

She brought her lance down and held it level with a steady grip. Just as Lord Wyldon had taught her she leant forward in the saddle moments before impact and smashed the tip of the lance into the dot on the quintain's wooden shield. Kel disliked the jarring, numb sensation that spread up her arm, but was relieved that her first run had been a success.

'Good boy,' she muttered in Prince's ear, patting his neck enthusiastically.

As she squared up for the second run she was about to envisage her smooth stone when Kel suddenly thought that actually, she wasn't at all like stone. A stone couldn't fight; a stone couldn't save or help people. No, she was more than a stone. She was a warrior, one of Alex's fighters for justice, and full of emotion for the cause that she had not forgotten, Kel charged once again.

Prince, perhaps sensing as many animals do, the emotions of his rider galloped faster than ever before. And when Kel's lance hit the target dead on centre it shattered under the impact.

Kel's third and final run was passable; her lance landing slightly off centre, but she passed without a buffet from the quintain nonetheless.

As she placed her lance back on the rack, Lord Wyldon nodded at her; she had reached the target required for fourth year pages.

Next was the swordplay assessment, which was going to be Kel's easiest test by far. Ignoring the gathered onlookers who had turned up to verify that Kel received no preferential treatment, she warmed up quickly and drew Courage, facing the unwitting soldier.

The fight lasted barely twenty seconds, the veteran soldier's standard issue sword flying from his hand in a blur of silver. Someone in the audience called for a rematch and the judges consented; they hadn't really had time to see any of Kel's technique.

Kel obliged and fought the soldier again, this time with the sword in her left hand. This duel lasted a little longer; about thirty seconds.

The reedy examiner shook his head in an irritated fashion.

'We have to see at least two minutes worth of fighting.'

Kel stood, uncomfortably aware of everyone's gaze, waiting for another opponent to step forward. She examined her blade, waiting. Eventually a young knight, whose name Kel didn't know stepped forward.

He was able to block most of her strikes firmly, but a succession of scanran slashes left an opening that was just large enough for Kel to take advantage of. His sword, like the soldier's flew to the side.

Applause registered in Kel's ears. She turned to see Dom, Neal and a group of her other friends all cheering her on. Kel felt her cheeks warm and busied herself with sheathing her sword and stretching out her arm muscles.

The next test was archery, where Kel shot adequately. Two arrows went slightly array out of her quiver of twelve, but it was enough for her to pass.

When it came to the spoken exams Kel answered the question on Yamani etiquette fluently. She read the poem clearly and carefully, but fumbled over some of the questions that she was asked about it. Two out of three history questions were fine and the third Kel wasn't entirely sure about, but she gave a faltering answer anyway.

After a brief mathematical test that flew past in a haze of alegbra, the exams were over. Standing nervously she waited for the judges' verdict.

An old man with a jowly face stood up. 'We have now assessed Keladry, challenging her up to the level of a fourth year page. To ensure fairness be reached she received exactly the same questions as Merric of Hollyrose did at the beginning of the summer. We have reached our decision that Keladry of Mindelan has attained the required skills of a fourth year page. It is the wish of Sir Padraig of haMinch that she reconvenes her training as a squire to a knight of the realm.'

Uproar greeted this statement, but Kel didn't care. Finally, after months confined to Corus she would be allowed to ride out and serve the citizens of Tortall.

Once Kel reluctantly allowed all of her friends to congratulate her, and she had spoken with Padraig haMinch about what was expected of a squire, Kel slipped away. She saddled up Prince and found an empty tilting lane. At the end she hung a ring of metal, something that she'd been meaning to try for a while.

Kel cantered Prince slowly down the lane and slotted her lance neatly through the ring, trying out this new target. Gradually she speeded the exercise up. Several times she missed the ring completely, others she hit it with her lance and it flew out of the way. Kel persevered, concentrating with all her might to slot her lance through that ring.

The idea of this task was to develop her accuracy with the lance. As she improved then she would practise with lighter rings that danced around more in the wind.

It was after one of her rare successes that Kel heard applause. She twisted in her saddle. A big man, dressed in the casual clothes of a country noble, leaned against the fence. Her audience was Raoul of Goldenlake, Dom's commander.

'Still practising? You should be out celebrating by all accounts.'

Kel made a face. 'The more I can improve my jousting before I enter the field the better.'

'To be honest, unless faced with a giant the lance isn't that useful in a battle,' admitted Raoul. 'And you excel with the sword.'

'I practise a great deal with the sword, that's all my lord.'

'Practice is the difference between winning and being worm food,' Raoul told Kel. 'Do you have a moment? I need to discuss something with you.'

'Of course.' Kel dismounted and took Prince's reins into one hand.

'Would you like to be my squire?' he said bluntly. 'If you haven't received an offer from anyone else that is.'

Kel blinked in surprise. Her connection to Raoul had always been through her relationship with Dom. 'But you never take a squire!'

'I did have a squire once, but since I joined the King's Own I haven't needed one.' The large man settled his bulk onto a bench and gestured that Kel do the same. Letting Prince wander off to crop at some grass Kel obeyed.

'We have servants that ride with the Own, and standard-bearers, so I haven't needed a squire.'

Kel's stomach squirmed. Was he taking her out of pity?

'As you know the Yamani ladies have arrived, and next year their majesties plan to take the court on a Grand Progress –do you know what that is?'

'Yes, it's to show Shinko- Princess Shinkokami to the realm, so that the citizens can see their future queen.'

'This means two years of balls, tournaments, banquets and other nonsense.' He shuddered visibly. 'And whilst some useful things will get done, the thought of dealing with every jumped-up, self-important toady in the country, well, servants and standard bearers won't be enough. I know nothing of the Yamanis; I need someone who can speak the language, who appreciates their ways and customs.'

Understanding exploded within Kel. He wasn't taking her as a favour to Dom, Wyldon or Lady Alanna, or even because he felt sorry for her after the Tauros incident. She could be useful to him, in a way that others couldn't be.

'I liked how you handled yourself in the Spidren hunt four years ago. You know when to speak up and when to be quiet. Wyldon and Myles of Olau both tell me that you are a patient and determined worker, not to mention your exceptional skill with the sword. From what Wyldon has told me you are keen to get out in the field, and I'll warn you now that you'll see plenty of combat with us, more than most squires get. The King's Own dispenses the King's justice; we go where we're needed, when we're needed. If you'd prefer another position-'

'I'm not afraid of hard work my lord, nor of combat. I'd be honoured to be your squire.'

'Excellent.' He said, grabbing her hand with his ham-sized one and giving it two firm shakes. 'Bring your mount down to our stables. He'll have to move there anyway and I've got a nice mare I think would suit you.'

'My lord?'

'With the Own, everyone has at least one spare horse,' Raoul said, slinging an arm around Kel's shoulders and leading her out of the yard. 'We practically live in the saddle and it's too much for one horse. You can keep this bruiser for combat.'

Kel wasn't sure of this suggestion; Prince had always carried her well enough before.

'Here we are.' Raoul said, removing his arm from Kel's shoulders. The King's Own insignia was stamped across the door of the stable; a silver blade and crown on a blue field. Kel eyed the horses in the stalls on either side of her. These were some of the finest mounts in the Realm, worth a fortune in horseflesh.

At one time the King's Own had been a showy force, an assignment for wealthy young men. Under Lord Raoul's command and Jonathon's reign, it had become the crown's weapon, the most elite fighting force in the Kingdom after the knights themselves.

'Here we are,' said Lord Raoul, gesturing to an empty stall. Kel led Prince inside and checked the hay net and water, before joining Raoul in the neighbouring stable. A glossy brown mare stared at Kel through gentle eyes. Kel approached the pretty creature and let the mare sniff her palm. She was smaller than Prince, and more delicate with dainty white socks and a star on her forehead.

'Take a look at her.'

Kel didn't need asking twice. She stepped forward and ran her hands over the majestic animal. She checked the mare's teeth, eyes and hooves; they were all sound. Her coat was well groomed and Kel ran her hands over her joints to check for swelling; there was none.

'She's a fine creature,' breathed Kel. She'd probably go on forever. Not that she'd be up to you weight, my lord.' Kel smiled shyly.

'Very well then, as your knight-master I give her to you. What will you call her?'

The mare butted Kel gentle with her star-emblazoned head. 'Hoshi,' said Kel. 'It means star in Yamani.'

Kel was folding shirts ready for her move to Lord Raoul's quarters when there was a knock on the door. Wondering if it was Dom coming to see her after he'd heard the news, she called 'Come in.'

It wasn't Dom, and to Kel's utter surprise it was Lord Wyldon that stood in the doorframe.

'Mindelan, I was wondering if I could have a word.' The older man edged into the room. 'Now that you've passed your exams I've no reason to stay at the Palace and have been offered a position up on the northern defences. Would you like to come with me as my squire?'

Kel had to fight to keep her jaw from dropping. If Lord Raoul's offer had been a shock, it was nothing compared to what she felt when the same proposition crossed Wyldon's lips. She hadn't even thought that this severe man liked her.

'My lord, I thank you for the offer, I really do, but I've just accepted a position with Lord Raoul of Goldenlake.'

Lord Wyldon blinked.

'And,' Kel paused, summoning up the right words. 'I want to thank you for all your effort that you put into training me. You've no idea how grateful I am. I'm almost back to where I would have been if… What I mean to say is that I don't want you to feel that you owe me anything anymore. What happened, happened. Looking back I'm not sure that I would change things even if I could.' Wyldon's eyes widened in the most shocked expression Kel had ever seen on the stiff man's face. 'Without being sent away from the Palace there would be lots of things that I'd never learned. You've repaid any debt that you felt you owed me in training me these past months.'

'Very well Mindelan,' said Lord Wyldon, his face unreadable. 'Goldenlake is a good man, you will learn a lot from him, and you'll also see a lot of combat.'

'It's what I've trained for,' said Kel quietly. 'I can't sit around Corus any longer.'

'I daresay,' was Wyldon's reply. Was that amusement in his eyes?

'My lord, if I might be so bold, would you consider taking Owen as your squire?'

'Owen, Owen of Jesslaw, that hellion?' His face was pensive. 'All right,' he agreed, 'Tell Squire Jesslaw that I'd like a word when he's free.'

There was a pause.

'Good luck Lady Squire.'

'Thank you,' whispered Kel; coming from Lord Wyldon it meant a lot.

-a/n- Another chapter that ran away with me! –sighs- There is a lot of ideas crammed into this chapter, but I really didn't want to drag it out over two chapters so there is just a long, busy chapter. I hope it's alright!

I'm not sure when the next update will be. First of all I'll have to catch up with all the work that I've been neglecting over the past few days whilst I've been writing this.

As you can see now I'm trying to tie things nicely into what happened in the books –it was always my intention to have Kel become Lord Raoul's squire. From here, I am going to cover some of the events that happened in 'Squire' but re-writing parts that would be different because of Kel's different experiences. Thus, a lot of the situations you will recognise. Some dialogue might be similar but I promise to keep it interesting –after all you need to see how Kel and Dom handle their relationship etc. There will probably be some larger gaps between chapters in terms of time –I don't really need to rewrite events from the book that remain the same! There might also be whispers of happenings in Scanra etc. Anyway, so that's where this is headed for the next ten chapters or so, I hope you'll continue to enjoy. I'll try to give you estimates of when I'm next going to update on my profile page :D

As always I'd love, love, some feedback from you, it makes all these hours worth it!

Confusedknight xx