This one's for our newest reader, TheWackedOne. Thank you to everyone who reviewed/added the story.

The eight friends huddled together at the far right wall of the indoor practice yard. Eleni, Schuylar, and Devin were resting against the cool stone wall, tired out from their examinations. Simon and Warren were trying to loosen up before their turns came up in a few minutes.

"I can't believe you're tired already!" Herne had been ruffling the younger pages' hair for the last hour. He found it adorable that his young friends had been exhausted by the exams. "What good will you be on a battlefield?" He was only joking, but Perci hit him for it regardless.

"Let them be," he said. Offering a kind smile, Perci congratulated the weary children. "I couldn't be prouder of you boys." The comment was so unexpected that it silenced the group.

They might never have known it, but Perci was going to miss them. He knew his time with his young friends was running out. Soon he'd be forced to leave them, to be of service to an older and experienced knight. It was his duty, and he had always known what the future held for him. Knowing the things that are to come never made goodbyes any easier.

"We will now evaluate the second year pages." Lord Padraig's gruff voice rang out in the stone room. Already four of the five knights on the panel were taking their seats. The only one missing was Sir Zahir.

"Where did Sir Zahir go?" The question wasn't what Eleni really wanted to ask, but it would have been strange for her to ask about Ferenc specifically.

Herne looked over his shoulder, answering as his eyes swept the room. "I suppose he and Ferenc have left already." He explained when he saw the strange looks the others were giving him. "Sir Zahir was only standing in for another knight. Ferenc said that he was asked to wait until the other knight arrived." A tall, statuesque woman with short, light brown hair sat in the chair that Sir Zahir had previously occupied. "And I guess she arrived."

"Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan." All three first-years had breathed out her name like a prayer. Herne couldn't hide his toothy grin.

"Yup, that's her. Ferenc made me promise not to tell, mostly because hewasn't supposed to know either. Personally, I find our lady knight to be-"

"Simon of Kennan!"

Simon had been chosen as the first second-year to be examined. With some last minute good wishes, he went to face the panel. He stood proud, his shoulders erect, and Eleni noticed that he had actually made an effort to tame his curly auburn hair. She could only hope that Padraig and the judges would go easy on him.

As the evaluation proceeded, Eleni found herself guilty of staring at the lady knight. Alianne had told her daughter about a strong willed young woman who had defied the crown, much like Alanna had done in her youth. Now that young woman sat mere feet from her, evaluating her friend. Lady Knight Keladry, the Protector of the Small!

The large boy modestly answered the questions posed, just as shy as the boy he had chosen to sponsor. They were are pleased to see that Simon could give his answers with more decorum than Devin. Eleni felt the small boy bury his face in her shoulder, shame coloring his face. He was remembering his own stupid responses.

When Lord Padraig approached Simon with two staves, relief swept through the onlooking friends. Simon knew how to handle a staff, there would be few obstacles for him. Assured that Simon would be fine, Eleni's eyes drifted back to the lady knight. She had a faraway look on her face, as if she was watching but not really seeing what was before her. Before Eleni could unravel what the unknown emotion was, applause forced her attention back to Simon. Lord Padraig was already bowing to Simon, their bout had ended.

Running back to his friends, Simon made no effort to hide how happy he felt. Everyone got nervous before their exams, and everyone felt elated after they passed. He was no exception to the rule.

"Darius of Ophir!"

The exams continued on, the judging much less biased. The old man that had been so kind to Eleni proved himself equally kind to the other pages. More than once, she saw him lean over to whisper to Lady Knight Keladry, they shared smiles as a they watched the pages. Darius passed his examination with a round of applause.

Now, it was Alex's turn.

Eleni didn't miss how crowded the room had become, or how loud the so-called whispers were. The spectators had it in for Alex, but Eleni didn't know why. She knew that there was some bad blood between his family and the crown, but none of it was his fault. Alex, for his part, ignored the voices and faced the panel.

"Alexander of Tirragen." Lord Padraig's friend was looking at Alex like he was a flea, and he wasn't the only one. The murmurs hadn't died down, and Lord Padraig wasn't making any effort to silence the crowds. The elderly man who had complimented Eleni slammed his fist on the table.

"If you cannot keep quiet, I will order guards to remove you all!" He defended Alex when no one else considered him worth it, and because of it Eleni found him that much more respectable. Not everyone shared her sentiments, Lord Padraig especially.

"My lord Wyldon," he said, his voice honey sweet. "It would be impossible for us to remove these kind people. They are here to watch the pages prove themselves."

"Then they may watch in silence," he replied without missing a beat. For all his evident years, the man was no fool, he was stronger and wiser than the man who cowered before him. "Lord Padraig, the examination will continue in silence, or I will have them removed."

Keladry put her hand on Lord Wyldon's arm and leaned to ask him something. Though the room was as quiet as a wake, it was impossible to hear what was said. What was heard was Lord Padraig's command to continue. Alex never flinched throughout any part of the exchange, he was used to the whispers.

As he was questioned, it quickly became obvious that the men panel were out to get him. Their questions were innocently worded, but their tone was scathing. Eleni was relieved when they were finished and Lord Padraig came forward with a sword. He had never admitted Alex's value as a brilliant swordsman, but Lord Padraig was going to suffer for it now.

About half-way through the short duel, Alex used a maneuver that was oddly familiar to Perci. As he watched Alex take a step back and lunge his sword beneath Padraig's, Perci wondered where he had seen it. The memory of the incident came to him before the duel had ended. Months ago, he had seen Myles used that same technique on Devin. The surprise was unmistakable, but not one saw it.

Alex had just disarmed Lord Padraig and had his sword point at his throat. The audience did not applaud Alex, but Eleni did. Her applause echoed in the stone room, alone in its praise. Eventually Lady Knight Kel clapped her hands in approval as well, but the damage had been done. More than one set of eyes was focused on Myles of Pirate's Swoop.

Lord Wyldon announced that Alex was free to go, that he had satisfied the examination.

Warren's examination was quiet and speedy. Decent marks on all accounts. There was little that could impress the crowd after Alex's display. Eager to finish with the examinations, Lord Padraig offered no recess between the evaluations of the second and third year pages; they would follow one another.

Page after page, they were all passed. Ghalib of Lannman, Varick of Storm Pass, and Jarek of Amorite were rapidly found worthy of continuing their training. Pierina of Stone Mountain had a slightly harder time proving that she should continue, but Lady Knight Keladry took pains to make her look good. The only page who remained was Artan of Bjorn, Pier's giant bulldog.

It was a disaster.

The bumbling answer he tried to recite were horrible at best, and the judges were disgusted with his inadequacies. It was almost as if the boy had spent the lat three years doing anything but learning the ways of knighthood. The leers he kept sending Lady Knight Keladry did not help matters.

When it was announced that had failed the examinations, there was a chill that grasped the room. Artan would repeat his thrid year of page training. If he didn't approve, he could go back to his home fief. Stunned, he made his way back to Pier's side. She didn't so much as look at him, but Alex tried to comfort his friend.

Lord Padraig declare a second break, and the rumor began to circulate at once. A page had failed his exams! It would be weeks before the gossips would quiet down.

Boo hoo... Eh, at least he's alive.

Our Protector of the Small has finally appeared! There's a very special reason our lady knight is in Corus, and why she was delayed. Whoot for that, and on to the next chapter!