Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to any of these characters except for Aiden (isn't he cute?) and Bray who don't even appear in this chapter. They all belong to Tamora Pierce, not me. ^.^

A/N: Kel/Dom, because the last was Kel/Neal and it's only fair. It makes me smile when I hear some people say they'll suffer through a Kel/Dom just because they like my writing. So, thanks to all of you who are suffering and all of you who aren't!

A Test of Acceptance

Chapter One

The Girl Page

It had been three years since Lady Keladry of Mindelan was knighted.

She couldn't contain her excitement when she was called back to Corus on a special assignment. She had been in the borderlands for a year now, fighting small skirmishes and commanding small squadrons. She hadn't seen Corus for at least another year before that, when she went back to the Yamani Islands to finish up the agreements of the treaty with the Yamani's and Tortall. It had been two years, and two years was a long time to be away from the place she had considered her home from her probation period at age ten to gaining her shield at age eighteen. Even more exciting still, was the fact that this assignment had come from the King's Champion, the legendary Lioness, Lady Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau.

Next to her rode two of her dearest and most trusted friends, who just happened to be related, Domitan of Masbolle and Sir Nealan of Queenscove. Neal was chatting merrily with the messenger who had sent the letter, a spy for the Baron George of Pirate's Swoop. It was the first time Kel hadn't heard Neal grumbling since their long excursion north. She knew he was excited to get back to Corus and his betrothed, Yukimi noh Daiomoru, known to Kel as Yuki. Just that made her smile slightly, though her Yamani training had been reinstalled in her mind, and she re-taught herself not to grin outright.

"What are you so happy about?" Neal asked as he looked at her over raised brows. The spy seemed to have retreated to the back of the line to chat with some of the lower level soldiers that were under Dom's command.

"Going home," Kel answered, and Neal grinned and nodded.

"Me too."

"We all know why too, cousin dearest," Dom jested, and Neal glared.

"Just because you don't have a beautiful woman waiting for you at home," he shot back, and Dom grinned at Kel.

"I have one sitting next to me," he had always been a flirt, and now Kel just rolled her eyes and looked down to her mud stained uniform. She hadn't taken a bath in at least two days since their last encampment near a river. The dust settled nicely on everything, making even Peachblossom look haggard. At the moment, she couldn't believe even Dom could call her beautiful.

"What do you suppose this message from the Lioness is?" Kel asked, moving the subject away from Dom's flirtation. He always made her slightly flushed when he did that.

Dom shrugged, and Neal scowled.

"I have to admit, that's one thing I'm not excited about going back to."

The other two laughed, and Neal just glared. Long time Squire to Lady Alanna, Neal had caught the brunt of her sharp tongue more than once in his service to the King's Champion.

They stopped laughing and fell into a comfortable silence only until a scout came back, smiling widely. "Corus up ahead Lady, Sir," he half bowed in his saddle, and Kel nodded and thanked him.

They stopped once they reached the top of the last hill, and the splendor of Corus came into view. All the people in the city bustled around in a rush; all had somewhere to go. The houses were dwarfed by the looming palace just on the edge of the city. Kel sighed happily; she was finally back.

*

Kel grinned at the elderly man who came to greet them, though she refused to hand over the reins to her war-horse, Peachblossom, "Stefan, good to see you."

"And you," he responded and turned to the spy. "You're wanted by the Rogue," he whispered softly.

The man was obviously trying to hold in a gulp as he nodded. His face went visibly paler. His ever-present grin faded.

"Any idea why?" Stefan continued mercilessly.

"If it's about that necklace I…" he started, and Stefan shook his head.

"No, this is about a girl of his I heard you harassing. Real pretty thing with blond hair and bright green eyes. She looks young and innocent, but I'm pretty sure that," he fingered a scar on the man's cheek, "is from one of her blades."

"We had a…discussion," the man tried a grin that didn't fool anyone. "She took my meaning the wrong way, I didn't fight back."

"That's not what he says," Stefan fought back. "No matter now, you'll find she's in a safe place now. Only hope there was so much to say for you," his glance made Kel clear her throat and announce their departure. She had probably already heard too much. She took Peachblossom's reins and led him further into the barn.

Neal grumbled, but his face brightened when he saw a lean, beautiful woman standing nonchalantly against the stable doors. Her style of dress marked her as Yamani even without the face paint and the fan she had whipped out of her long silk robes.

With the elegance of a dancer Neal threw himself from the saddle and handed the reins of his gelding to another stableboy nearby, "My sweet," he whispered and took her in his arms in a passionate embrace.

Kel knew that Yuki was a little uncomfortable about the public display of affection, but she seemed to put her customs aside for the moment. Kel smiled softly and caught Dom's eyes. He grinned and shook his head as he went back to unfastening the girth and leaning the saddle up against the stall.

Kel shook her head as well and turned to see that a young boy had already seen to Peachblossom, "Tobe!" she smiled happily as he turned and grinned at her.

In the two years of her absence he had grown into a strong, handsome young boy. His blond-brown hair fell over his face accenting his strong features. His blue eyes twinkled merrily, and the small scab over his face made him look even more dashing. His hand sported calluses and scratches, but his chest had filled in, and he had grown so that he stood almost as tall as Kel. It was only when he grinned at her that she was sure it was he. His smiled hadn't changed a bit, still mischievous as always, "You do remember me then?"

"How could I forget, though, I barely recognized you," Kel embraced him, and Dom raised one brow.

"Who's this?" he inquired, and Kel hinted jealousy in the voice that made her fight back a grin.

"Don't worry Dom, he's not competition for my affections," she joked, and Dom grinned and looked at her with twinkling blue eyes.

"What with me around you should not be needing to stray far. I don't worry about competition," he answered her jest smugly. "Besides, he's about what-eleven?"

"Twelve," Tobe shot back.

Kel rolled her eyes, "Dom, it's Tobe? Remember him?"

Dom's eyes nearly popped out of his head as his jaw dropped, "You've grown!"

Tobe nodded proudly, and Kel knew for sure that it was the same boy she had left nearly two years ago, "I've been working with Stefan and…" he stopped when Kel's hands clenched. "And been learnin' my manners proper," he finished, forgetting them completely in the statement.

"Well that's all over now Tobe," she told him hotly, and he stared at her with blue eyes. "I intend to watch over you now. You will stay with me as long as I'm in Corus."

"It's not that easy!" he protested, but she shook her head.

"Tangled with the Rogue," she whispered, "I never!"

"I'll take care of it Tobe," Stefan had come to join him. "I'm going to see him now," he gestured rudely to the spy. "I'll see you get out well enough."

"I don't…" Tobe started, but a cold glance from Kel made him quiet. "Temporarily," he whispered to Stefan so that only he heard.

He nodded and walked away, "You're in charge until I get back."

Tobe smiled in gratitude for the diversion, "I should be seeing to the horses then."

"I want you to come and find me in two hours," Kel ordered sternly, and he nodded submissively and went back to his duties. "Boys," she muttered, and heard some of the others chuckling behind her. "What?" she snapped, and Dom covered a laugh and shook his head.

"Girls," Neal responded with Yuki on his arm. She threw open her fan and let its blades show as he forced down a gulp. Kel grinned at her, and she bowed back. Kel bowed Yamani style back to her as well, and while their greeting was a bit more formal, she was delighted to see her friend again.

They embraced quickly and exchanged a few small words before Kel realized more than anything she wanted a bath and headed toward the bathhouses.

*

As Kel approached the bathhouse she grew suspicious of the brightly clad page standing in front of it. It seemed almost as if he was waiting for someone. But who?

She didn't have too long to wonder, because the page spotted her and bounded her way.

"Lady Keladry of Mindelan?" he asked hesitantly, looking at her mud covered clothes.

"Yes?" she groaned inwardly. She only wanted a bath!

He bowed to her in a whirl of color, "I am Brandon of Devon, sent to be your guide."

"Not to disrespect," he stiffened. Knights didn't disrespect pages, no matter what they said. "But, I don't need much guide to the bathhouse since I'm already here and all."

"Not to the bathhouse Lady Knight, to Their Majesties," he seemed to be losing patience, but hid it all behind a mask of formality.

"Their Majesties?" Kel shook her head. That didn't make sense. Her orders had come from Lady Alanna.

"That's correct," he answered with stiffness only Lord Wyldon could possess.

"I'm supposed to attend a meeting with their Royal Highness' caked in dirt from days of travel?" Kel knew she was being uncooperative, but all she wanted was a bath.

"That was their orders Lady Knight," he was on his last leg, and Kel knew refusing would only cause them both more trouble than it was worth.

She sighed, the bath would have to wait, "Lead me to them then."

He cracked a smile and nodded enthusiastically.

*

Once in front of the King and Queen and his Champion, Kel tried not to fidget. She put on her best Yamani mask and kept her eyes forward and emotionless. King Jonathan's eyes ran over her attire and one particularly large smudge of mud floated into her head amongst the flowers and pounding waves. She had tried to lick her muddy fingers and wash off a small smudge of dirt on her face when she passed a mirror on her way to meet Their Highness' and his Champion. The dirt on her fingers turned to mud and smeared more across her cheek.

When it seemed he was through his examination, he began to speak, "We have summoned you here-"

Kel saw the Lioness growing impatient.

"Oh well you tell her then," King Jonathan snapped, and Alanna glared sourly but grinned when she turned to face Kel.

"Oh Kel," she smiled. "It's a girl Kel. Another girl has enlisted to become a Knight. It's been an even longer wait since you, but she's finally here.

"Milady?" Kel had to make sure she was hearing right.

"Yes Lady Keladry, you have heard correctly. A girl just enlisted. She will become a page straight away, there will be no probation for her as you had to suffer through," the King didn't seem entirely pleased about this. "The conservatives will have to deal with it."

"They'll also have to deal with the fact that you are going to be able to help her through her training. My Gift will make them think I'm cheating, even now, but you…everyone knows you have no Gift. No one can suspect you. You, Lady Keladry, are going to be able to help this girl through her training," the Lioness' purple eyes were glowing bright with desire.

Kel put on a calm Yamani mask and bowed to the two, "As you wish." Inside she was jumping. She couldn't believe another girl had enlisted! There would be another female knight in eight short years! She had never dreamed this would be the reason she was called back to Corus so quickly.

"There's another catch Lady Keladry," King Jonathan continued. "She was put out from her noble household when she expressed her ambitions to become a page. She was tossed onto the street and became a peasant. She is of noble blood, but she isn't a noble any longer. Her titles were stripped. That was four years ago; she's fourteen and starting four years late."

Not only a girl but also an older girl and a peasant? Kel shook her head and couldn't believe it, "How, if I have permission to be so impertinent, did you find her?"

"The former King of Thieves," King Jonathan eyed Alanna who grinned and continued. "She became part of his court when she turned eleven."

Kel had to clench her jaw so tight she was sure it would never come unclenched, now she was a thief?

"You will help her then?" Alanna asked smoothly, and Kel nodded almost weakly before bowing and walking out. She had a lot to think about.

*

She sighed heavily as the steam from the bath surrounded her. The bath suddenly wasn't as enjoyable now that her mind was clouded with worry. She wasn't sure how much of a help she'd actually be to this girl, whoever she was.

She would certainly try. This girl couldn't fail; she knew that for sure. Boys failed all the time. Pages couldn't stand it and went home, but for a girl it was different. If a girl failed it meant Alanna, even Kel herself, was only a fluke. She couldn't let the court get that opinion. For the next generation at least, every girl that stepped forward was a test. A test they had to pass with flying colors to be accepted, once and for all.