DECISIONS

Kel read clearly, Chapter 1, Decisions… The group silenced immediately, Kel's authoritative voice cutting through the clamour.

Alanna the Lioness, the King's Champion, could hardly contain her glee.

Kel paused here, unsure of what was going on. She didn't recall this meeting Alanna prior to arriving at the Palace.

Baron Piers of Mindelan had written to King Jonathon to say that his daughter wished to be a page. Alanna fought to sit still as she watched Wyldon of Cavall, the royal training master, read the baron's letter."

Now Kel understood... She was happy that Alanna felt this way about her enrolment, although Alanna's reaction here seemed on a completely different scale to her interactions with Kel in her first year. While still jealous of Neal for having spent 4 years under Alanna's tutelage as a Squire, Kel would eternally be grateful for having Raoul as her Knight-master! She couldn't imagine her life without her time with the Own and the opportunities which stemmed from her experiences.

Seated across his desk from them, the King watched the training master as sharply as his Champion did. Lord Wyldon was known for his dislike of female warriors.

At this, Alanna glared at the contemporary Wyldon, sitting a few feet away from her. Wyldon felt Alanna's fiery eyes directed at him, mentally preparing himself for the speech he would have to give to defend his actions during Keladry's probationary years.

It had been ten long years since the proclamation that girls might attempt a page's training. Alanna had nearly given up hope that such a girl – or the kind of family that would allow her to do so – existed in Tortall, but at last one had come forward. Keladry of Mindelan would not have to hide her sex for eight years as Alanna had done. Keladry would prove to the world that girls could be knights. And she would not be friendless. Alanna had plans to help Keladry through the first few years.

"It never occurred to me that someone may object!" exclaimed Alanna, still upset at her lost opportunities to bond with her prodigy.

It never occurred to the Champion that anyone might object.

"Some people never change" chuckled Raoul heartily.

"Don't mock me Giant Killer, I can still best you with a sword," Alanna grumbled, her face growing red.

Alanna half turned to see Wyldon better. Surely he's read the letter at least twice! From this side the puffy scars from his battle to save the younger princes and princess were starkly visible; Wyldon's right arm was still in a sling from that fight. Alanna rubbed fingers that itched with the urge to apply healing magic.

Everyone rolled their eyes at this. Alanna notoriously could not go a day without healing a citizen of Corus, a poor country peasant, one of her subjects at Pirate Swoop, she'd even tried her hand at wild magic, but unfortunately did not possess the same skills as Daine.

Wyldon had the idea that suffering pain made a warrior stronger. He would not thank her if she tried to heal him now.

Goddess bless, she though tiredly. How will I ever get on with him if I'm to help this girl Keladry?

Wyldon was not flexible: he's proved that to the entire court over and over. If her were any stiffer, Alanna thought wryly, I'd paint a design on him and use him for a shield.

"You wouldn't, Lioness," muttered Wyldon.

Alanna thought that Wyldon had changed a lot recently, she found herself respecting him, and also knew that Kel held a great admiration for him. Yet of course, she was still disgruntled that he put Kel on a probation year and made her cease all contact with her. He wasn't quite as progressive as she'd have liked, but he certainly wasn't the Conservative he once was.

He's got no sense of humour and he rejects to change just because it's change.

"I think it's time that I put a word in before you all destroy me for my past mistakes. I've come to my senses. Young Keladry here made me reassess my views on warriors and women as warriors. How could I, in good faith, reject women in our fighting forces having witnessed the likes of the Lioness, Thayet the Peerless, Daine the Wildmage, Buri and of course, Keladry, my own Lady Knight Commander. Never again will I underestimate a woman with a sword. Please, do not lose respect in me due to the bigoted and archaic sentiment in these scrolls. I assure you, I'm quite the progressive now." Wyldon had risen for his impromptu speech, but now took his seat, across from Keladry. She smiled at her old training master. They had become close peers now, especially as she was in fact his Commander. Wyldon had accepted her offer of Captain of Second Company, so they spent a lot of time working together. Kel's musings ended as Neal nudged her to continue reading.

Still, she had to admit that his teaching worked. During the Immortal's War of the Spring and early summer, when legendary creatures had joined with the realm's human enemies to take the kingdom, the squires and pages had been forced into battle. They had done well, thanks to their training by Wyldon and the teachers he had picked."

Wyldon nodded in acknowledgement of this rare compliment.

At last Lord Wyldon returned the letter to King Jonathon, who placed it on his desk. "The baron and the baroness are faithful servants of the crown,' the King remarked. 'We would not have this treaty with the Yamani Isles were it not for them. You will have read that their daughter received some warrior training at the Yamani court, so it would appear that Keladry has an aptitude.'

Lord Wyldon resettled his arm in its sling. 'I did not agree to this, Your Majesty.'

Alanna was about to say that he didn't have to agree when she saw the King give the tiniest shake of his head. Clenching her jaws, she kept her remark to herself as King Jonathon raised his eyebrows.

'Your predecessor agreed,' he reminded Wyldon. 'And you, my lord, implied agreement when you accepted the post of training master.'

'That is a lawyers reply, sire,' Wyldon answered stiffly, a slight flush rising in his clean-shaven cheeks.

'Then here is a king's: we desire this girl to train as a page.'

"On ya Jonnie boy... um I mean, excellent sire?'" Neal insolently hollered.

And that is that, Alanna thought, satisfied. She might be the kind of knight who would argue with her king, at least in private,"

"And public!" the majority of the hall instantly exclaimed, whilst receiving glares from Alanna.

Raoul, Gareth, George and Jon especially enjoyed this, reminiscing on their own years with a young, spirited and opinionated Alan of Trebond.

"But Wyldon would never let himself do so."

"A true knight." Jonathon responded gaily.

Consequently, there was a riot in the hall! "Jon, how could you?", "Traitor", "Hmph".

The training master absently rubbed his arm in its linen sling. At last he bowed in his chair. 'May we compromise, sire?'

Alanna stiffened. She hated that word!

"As we'r'all aware, lass," George replied, always the diplomat.

Again, Raoul, Gareth, George and Jon found themselves thinking of the stubborn young Alan, whilst Numair couldn't help but think of his magelet.

'Com – ' she began to say.

The King silenced her with a look. 'What do you want, my lord?'

'In all honesty,' said the training master, thinking aloud, 'I had thought that our noble parents loved their daughters too much to place them in so hard a life.'

"Wouldn't the same apply for our sons, begging your pardon my lord?" queried Kel.

"I see that now Keladry, I was blinded by my prejudices," replied Lord Wyldon.

Kel just nodded mutely in response.

'Not everyone is afraid to do something new,' Alanna replied sharply.

'Lioness,' said the king, his voice dangerously quiet. Alanna clenched her fists. What was going on? Was Jonathon inclined to give way to the man because he'd saved his children?

Wyldon's eyes met hers squarely. 'Your bias is known, Lady Alanna.' To the king he said, 'Surely the girl's parents cannot be aware of the difficulties she will encounter.'

"Of course we understand what Keladry was going to go through – had we not raised Inness, Conal and Anders?," inquired Lady Ilane.

'Baron Piers and Lady Ilane are not fools,' replied King Jonathon. 'They have given us three good, worthy knights already.'

Lord Wyldon gave a reluctant nod. Anders, Inness and Conal of Mindelan were credits to their training. The realm would feel the loss of Anders – whose war wounds could never heal entirely- from the active duty rolls.

Anders grimaced at this; he missed being a "real" knight, and was frequently reminded of his infirmity.

It would take years to replace those who were killed or maimed in the Immortals Wars.

Now it was everyone else's turn to grimace – they had all lost family and friends during the War.

'Sire, please think this through,' Wyldon said. 'We need the realm's sons. Girls are fragile, more emotional, easier to frighten."

Ha, thought Kel, he'll regret saying that! In a way, the best thing that would come from the reading of her memories is that everyone would finally understand the pain she went through; Wyldon for one would realise the sacrifices she made for the realm, although he already knew to an extent.

"They are not as strong in their arms and shoulders as men. They tire easily. This girls would get any warrior who served with her killed on some dark night.'" Again Kel thought he'd regret this, but this time immediately, and she was right: there was absolute mayhem! "How dare you", "You know that's not true", "Look at Buri and Thayet, Alanna and Kel. What about the riders?"

Again, Wyldon just took the criticism, with an apologetic look on his face.

Alanna started to get up. This time King Jonathon walked out from behind his desk. Standing behind his champion, he gripped one of her shoulders, keeping her in her chair.

'But I will be fair,' Wyldon continued. His brown eyes hard. 'Let her be on probation for a year. By the end of the summer field camp, if she has not convinced me of her ability to keep up, she must go home.'

'Who judges her fitness?' enquired the king.

Wyldon's lips tightened. 'Who but the training master, sire? I have the most experience in evaluating the young for their roles as future knights.'

Alanna turned to stare at the king. 'No boy has every undergone a probationary period!' she cried.

Wyldon raised his good shoulder in a shrug. 'Perhaps they should. For now, I will not tender my resignation over this, provided I judge whether this girl stays or goes in one year's time.'

The King weighed the request. Alanna fidgeted. She knew Lord Wyldon meant his threat, and the crown needed him. Too many great nobles, dismayed by the changes in Tortall since Jonathon's coronation, felt that Wyldon was their voice at court. If he resigned, the king and queen would find it hard to get support for their future changes.

At last King Jonathon said, 'Though we do not always agree, my lord, you know I respect you because you are fair and honourable."

"Cough, cough!" grunted Neal, however, the Stump ignored him.

"I would hate to see that fairness, that honour, tainted in any way. Keladry of Mindelan shall have a year's probation.'

My first mistake, thought Wyldon and Jon simultaneously.

"Lord Wyldon nodded, then inspected the nails on his good hand. 'There is one other matter,' he remarked slowly. He looked at Alanna. 'Do you plan to involve yourself in this girl's training? It will not do.'

Alanna bristled.

'Obviously,' drawled Neal.

'Watch it Squire!'

'I'm no Squire, I'm Sir Nealan of Queenscove!'

'You'll always be my Squire, therefore, I can discipline you whenever, and however I want,' Alanna reminded Neal.

'What is that supposed to mean?'

'You wish to help the girl, understandably.' Wyldon spoke as though the mild words made his teeth hurt. 'But you rarely deal with the lads, my lady. If you help the girl, it will be said that you eased her path in some special way. There are rumours that your successes are due to your magical Gift.'

'By the Goddess,' snapped Alanna, crimson with fury. If the King had not forbidden her to challenge men on personal grounds years before, she would have taken Wyldon out to the duelling court and made him regret his words.

'Alanna, for heaven's sake, you know the gossip,' King Jonathon said. 'Stop acting as if you'd never heard it before.' He looked at Wyldon. 'And you suggest...'

'Lady Alanna must keep from all contact with the girl,'"

'Well Alanna, you certainly didn't heed that advice, did you?' stated Kel.

'Whatever do you mean,' she replied innocently. Everyone looked around in amazement. As far as they were aware, Alanna didn't visit the Palace for the duration of Kel's training; she was in a self-imposed exile at the Swoop or around the realm.

Wyldon replied firmly. 'Even a moment's conversation will give rise to suspicion.'

'All contact?' cried Alanna. 'But she'll be the only girl among over twenty boys! She'll have questions – I could help –' She realised what she said and fell silent.

King Jonathon gently patted her shoulder. 'Is there no other way?' he asked.

Wyldon shook his head. 'I fear not, sire. The Mindelan girl will be the cause of trouble as it is, without the Lioness hovering over her.'

The king thought it over. At last he sighed. 'Lord Wyldon has the right of it. You must stay away from Keladry of Mindelan, Alanna.'

"Your Majesty, I can't believe I'm saying this but that decision was the best decision you ever made regarding my situation. Preventing Alanna from communicating with me only made me more determined, and it certainly proved that I achieved what I did on my own.

'But Jonathon, sire...' she pleaded, not believing he would do this.

'That is an order, lady knight. If you cannot accept that, say as much now, and I will find you work elsewhere.'

She stared at him for a long moment, lips tight. At last she got to her feet. 'Don't tax yourself. I'll find knight's work myself,' she told him. 'As far from Corus as possible.' She stalked out of the room, slamming the door in her wake.

The men stared at the door. Each of them was trying to remember if Alanna the Lioness had ever spoken to Jonathon in that tone before. Jonathon himself didn't think Alanna had spoken to him like that since they were teenagers. They certainly had never fought so badly since the time Alanna ran off with the Bazhir as a young woman, breaking his heart in the process.

"Definitely a bad decision Jonny lad," George advised "nothing worse than an angry Lioness!"

Kel prevented Jonathon from responding, and handed the book over to Wyldon to read.