Chapter 1: Rejection

"You sent for me, my lord," she said.

Lord Wyldon sighed and turned. "Sit down, girl."

Kel hesitated, then sat.

Wyldon absently massaged his right arm. " I want you to listen to me. I speak to you as I would to my daughters."

Kel blinked at him, startled. She supposed that she knew that Lord Wyldon had a wife and family, but she had forgotten it. I was hard to imagine him with any other life other than that of training master to the pages and squires.

"Consider the future. Soon your body will change. The things that you want from a life as a maiden will change. Pursue the course you have, and you might be crippled by an accident." He looked at his right arm and smiled crookedly. "What if you come to grief or cause others to do so, because your thoughts are on your heart and not combat? This year was the easiest."

You think so? she asked him silently. It wasn't your year, was it? She opened her mouth to reply.

"Not now," he said, raising his hand. "Do not answer me now. Go home and think about it." He sighed. "You are dismissed."

She had to hear him say it. "I can't come back, then."

The training master's face was unreadable. "Keladry, as of this evening, I formally discharge you from further page duties. Serve Tortall as a lady of standing and grace. There are things other than knighthood that are in high esteem. May the Goddess and Mithros bless you, for all the days of your life. You are dismissed."

Kel felt a sinking feeling in her heart, a grief and hurt that she knew would not fade for a while, perhaps even never. "Good night, Lord Wyldon." She bowed, did a crisp about face that even Lord Wyldon would have been proud of, and marched from the room, head high. Outside his office, she felt a wave of queasiness sweep over her. She turned and pressed her hot face to the cool stones of the wall. She was now shaking with suppressed anger. What had Lord Wyldon been thinking? Didn't he know by now that she was one of the best in her classes? Didn't he understand how much she wanted to be a knight? No, she thought. He would never understand. He was born into a high standing family. He was welcomed into the knighthood. She strode with quiet purpose to her room and began packing.

Climbing up the stairs to Master Numair's room, she knocked on the door. Not to her surprise, Daine answered it. "Oh, hello, Keladry, how are-" seeing the look in Kel's eyes, she faltered. "Oh dear. Why don't you come in? I was just preparing some tea." Kel nodded numbly. She entered the room. It was rather large. A hearth fire crackled warmly. One door led to Numair's study and private rooms, while the other led to his mage's workroom. Sitting on an oaken stool beside the fire, she gratefully accepted the cup of herbal tea. Sipping at the warm liquid, she felt the heat from the fire and her drink slowly warm the icy grip of anger on her heart warm and thaw. Daine sat down on a chair beside her. "So, what brings you here? Is there something wrong? Numair just finished a working; he'll be here shortly." Kel shrugged. "I'd rather the both of you hear what I have to say, if you don't mind my company." Daine nodded, already guessing what the younger girl had to express.

A string of trills interrupted their conversation. Kitten, or Skysong, loped over to Kel. Sniffing her, Kitten leaped up into Kel's lap. Startled, Kel nearly dropped her tea. Knowing full well that dragons were as intelligent as humans, probably even more so, she slowly lowered her hand to Kit's side and ran her hand over the smooth, shimmering sapphire scales. The dragon let out a rather odd sound. Studying the two intently, Daine absently murmured, "That's her purr. She must like you." Usually Kit didn't really associate with humans. Daine wasn't all that surprised at her behavior though. Kit was one who liked to be complimented. A door creaked behind them. "Hello, Keladry. I must say, your results on the exams were promising. They were in the top scores. Did you have to talk to me?" Numair lounged in a wooden chair. Kel inwardly smiled sadly. She probably wouldn't see Numair for a while. She opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't get the words out. Daine gave Numair a swift glance. "Keladry, if you have something to say, we are want to listen." Kel nodded. Looking up at the two of them, she murmured, "Lord Wyldon said no."

Quiet sympathy settled over Daine's face. She had listened to the sparrows and the small palace creatures. She had learned of Kel's perseverance, her determination. The sparrows told her parts of their conversations, in which Keladry would tell them about her troubles. She heard about Kel's raids against hazing and her protection of the small. Daine laid a gentle hand on Kel's shoulder. Kel looked up. "If I may ask a favor, Lady Sarrasri?" Daine nodded. "Could you please watch over the sparrows? And, if, by any chance, could you- Peachblossom-" An odd look flashed across Daine's face, quickly to fade. Kel continued, "If you could please buy Peachblossom? I know I'll pay you back, it's just that, well, with Adie and Orie, them being of age to marry-" Daine nodded. "I'll see what I can do." Kel nodded in wordless thanks, then turned to Numair. "Master Numair, may I ask a favor?" He nodded, his face emotionless. "I heard that you make special paper, the kind that can record a message from me, with my image and everything. May I have such a paper? I think I have enough for it…" She fumbled in her money pouch. Numair produced a blank scroll from the folds of his robe. "Here you are. No charge, considering the circumstances. Now, let me show you how to use it."

Kel laid the small cedar box in Neal's room. It was filled with individual letters, addressed to each of the study group's members, along with her general letter. Sealed with a simple blob of wax, each letter was personal, giving Kel's last words to each person. The letter to Neal was longest. Then she turned and walked from the room. Striding outside, she mounted her horse provided by her family, and left, accompanied only by a palace guard to her parents' town house. Just as the gates were shutting, she heard a shout behind her. "KEL!" turning slightly in the saddle, she saw her friends, from Neal to Faleron, from the prince to Cleon, running towards her. For an instant, she let her Yamani mask fall, and a single tear slid down her cheek. She and the group of pages knew it. They would never reach her before the gates shut. Without bothering to wipe her eye, she raised a hand in farewell as the ancient gates shut upon the horrified, desperate faces of her friends.

Neal stood alone as the remainder of their group left to their rooms, each clutching a roll of parchment. He had left his in his room, sitting alone in the cedar box. Several drops of water fell on his head. He stood alone in the courtyard as the warm rain, strange and fierce, fell upon the castle. He stood and remembered, saw the face in his mind, her face. The sorrow in her eyes, the single tear that ran down her cheek. The emotion in that single moment, the feeling that passed the distance and reached into his heart. Neal stood silent as the warm rain fell on Corus, then turned to gather the others to have them listen to Kel's last message to all of them.

Lord Wyldon sat in his office, looking outside at the rain that was falling. Did he do the right thing? Was it right to ban Keladry from the knighthood? He leaned on his windowsill and watched the warm rain fall on the city of Corus.

The boys sat in a circle, Kel's scroll in the middle of their circle. Neal held out a green-glowing hand and touched the seal. It came apart as it recognized the fire of his Gift and the scroll unrolled itself. Suddenly, a image glittering with black fire appeared before them. It was Kel. She was three-dimensional, yet somehow transparent. She raised a hand in greeting.

"Hello, Neal, Seaver, Merric, Cleon, Prince Roald, and everyone. By now I've probably left. This is a message that Master Numair helped me with earlier. I have some words to say to all of you. Don't hold Lord Wyldon at fault. He did what he thought was best, for Corus and for Tortall. Now, I probably won't see you for a while; I don't plan on returning to Corus anytime soon. Neal, I want you to take care of the sparrows. Daine will be helping with them too. I'm sure she'll enjoy the company. " with that, the image of Kel winked. Neal flushed to the roots of his hair. "I want you all to know this. You have been my dearest friends, the best I could hope for. Keep on working hard at classes, and don't forget about your vegetables. Keep Joren on a tight rein, and please don't get mad if he insults me again. It's inevitable, you know. Try not to get beaten up too badly, and if you look under the creaky floorboard in the stables, in the very last box that no one uses, I stored some bruise balm in there. Now, I have come to the end of my speech. I want you to know, even if this has happened, its happened for a reason. Keep the realm safe, my friends, for even though I may not be there, I know that you will succeed. The future of Tortall rests on our generation, believe it or not, and our decisions may even have lasting effects. Yet, that's enough of speeches and heroics." The image of Kel gave a smile. "I want you to know this, my friends. Live life to the full, and may Mithros bless you and bestow courage in battle, be it the fight against hazing or knight's war, may the Goddess look upon you and smile, and may all the gods bless you abundantly, for surviving with me for this long. So mote it be" the boys echoed her. "So mote it be." With that, the image of Kel winked out, and the scroll re-rolled itself, the black seal glimmering with black fire reappearing. Another person, standing in the shadows in the hallway, watching Kel's entire message, echoed the words. Lord Wyldon wondered (after he watched the boys tell various stories about their adventures with Kel) as he strode back to his rooms, did I do the right thing?

The rain fell for three days. The weather-Gifted were not able to explain the phenomenon. They claimed to be blind to the approach and were strangely unaware of the start of the storm. When it finally abated, the entire city, from palace to deepest slum, was washed clean. Whitewashed walls shone and plants flourished.

Deep in the Divine Realms, a council of select gods was called. Mithros, high on his throne, looked down at his siblings. The Great Mother Goddess looked fit to burst. Marching right up to her brother's throne, she confronted him, regardless of the fact that every god in the room was staring at her. "Mithros! You have let your followers get too out of hand! Who put it in Wyldon's mind to get rid of Keladry? Why-?" Mithros held up a hand. "All shall be explained in time, sister. I fear I have been keeping my plan from you. I have called our brothers from the Yamani Islands, for this also concerns them. And now, my sister, here is what I am planning."

Kel wiped sweat from her forehead as she used her pitchfork to great effect in the stables of Barony Mindelan. Then she heard a shuffling sound from behind her. She turned around. "Anders?" Her brother waved to her from the doors to the stable. "Time to eat, Kel." Kel followed her brother from the stables to the main castle. They avoided the Main Hall and went to go eat near the warm kitchen with the servants. "Hullo, Sir Anders. Miss Keladry." Kel felt the familiar, now fading pang in her heart. Now she would never be called "Page" Keladry. Or Squire Keladry. Or Lady Knight Keladry. Now she was Miss, soon to be Lady. Sitting at the large table with the other servants, she dipped her hands in the bucket of cold well water that was being passed around. She scrubbed her hands briskly and dried them on the cloth that was being passed around. They finished with their hands and Anders stood. He raised his hands. "Bright Mithros and Great Goddess, we give praise for your great kindness, and please bless our meal, we humbly pray." He put his hands down, and they sat and began to eat. Just as they were tearing in to some turkey, a panting and windblown messenger, muddy from toe to chin, staggered in, shouting, "Message for Sir Anders of Mindelan! Message!" Anders stood and beckoned to the man. "Come, let us talk and eat." Kel moved aside as the messenger and her brother conversed at the head of the table. They finished, Anders with a rather queer expression on his face. Other than that, the meal continued. When all the dishes were cleared away and the fire was crackling merrily, Kel and Anders excused themselves, while the messenger was shown to a cot in the Servant's hall. Taking his sister by the arm, he led her to his private study. "Kel, I have received a summons from the court at Corus. I cannot leave you hear alone. Mother and father will be at the palace, and Conal and Inness have been required to come too. Luckily, the summons isn't urgent, and I have a month to prepare. The journey will take awhile. Now, would you like to go and see your page friends at the palace? Or shall you visit you aunt for a spell?" Kel shook her head. She would not go back to Corus. The wounds from her rejection were still raw. She certainly didn't want to visit her aunt, who was famed for her primness and ladylike behavior. Where else would she go? Anders turned from her. "Oh yes, something has arrived for you from the palace. I believe it's in the stable. I have to talk more with the messenger, and try to get news from the palace. Meanwhile, I'm sure you'd like to think this over." Anders limped from the room and Kel sat in thought.

Finally giving up on the matter, she went down to the stables to see what had arrived. Perhaps they were letters. Letters from all that she had left behind. But why would they be in the stables? She entered the stables and was greeted by the hostler, Geric. "Hullo, Miss Keladry. Your things are in the last stall." He stepped back into the gloom of the more dimly lit areas, and Kel proceeded to walk down to the last one. She absently patted the heads of the horses there. There was Anders's horse, the quiet war-horse named Khalil. Beyond that were several working horses, and several empty boxes past was the last one. She heard a familiar whinny. She raced past few empty boxes and joyfully hugged the warm strawberry neck. "Peachblossom, oh, Peachblossom," she whispered, burying her face in his mane to hide her damp cheeks. She had missed him terribly and was afraid that Stefan was going to have to have him killed or make him draw carts.

Suddenly, she noticed something. Somebody had saddled him. There was a beautiful black leather saddle, plain but obviously well crafted. There were also matching saddlebags with many compartments. Each compartment was filled with something. There was flint and tinder, polishing cloths, a collapsible spyglass, and an odd contraption that folded out to be a waterproof hat. She smiled, delighted. Also, half-hidden, there was something that made her draw her breath sharply. It was a hilt! Moving the saddle blanket, she grasped the hilt of the sword. It was somewhat large for her, and rather heavy, but she drew it out and stared. It was simple, the hilt wrapped in black leather to match the saddle and saddlebags. A clear white orb was set in the pommel, and there was a ¾ blood channel running down the blade. She stared at it, taking in the excellent craftsmanship. She pulled a single strand of hair from her head and gently placed it on the blade. No sooner than it touched, the keen edge sliced it in half. She touched the tip of her finger to the edge, and made a face as a droplet of blood appeared. She ran her bloodied finger down the blade, and murmured, "I dub thee Gryphon." Swiftly she wiped the blade on her breeches and looked all over Peachblossom for a note. She unsaddled Peachblossom and placed the saddle to the side. She unfolded the saddle blanket and searched each stitch of fabric for a note. She went through each compartment of her saddlebags, and every item in them, yet found nothing. Suddenly, she noticed an object near the door of the box. Turning around, she saw that it was a large wooden box, unadorned, as was all of the gifts that were given to her. Yet, anonymous as it was, she guessed at what was in it. Running to a rack of tools placed near the stable, she grabbed a crowbar and pried the lid of the box open. Inside, surrounded by sawdust, was a bulky package wrapped in paper. Flinging sawdust and paper aside, she ripped open the package. Inside was a black tilting saddle, high in front and back. She ran her fingers over the leather fittings, taking in the wonderful craftsmanship. What would she do with a tilting saddle, though? There were no quintains to practice on, and she most certainly couldn't ride at another person. She ran the pads of her fingers over every inch of the saddle. Suddenly, she felt an odd bump. She pressed on it until she heard a click. A small section flipped out, and Kel pulled a slip of paper out of the small hollow opening. It read, "Gods all bless, Lady Keladry"

"Do you understand now, sister?" The Great Goddess nodded. "With the consent of our Yamani brothers and sisters-" Mithros bowed at the gods, "I have put my plan to motion. But now, let us turn our face to the earth, and bide our time."

Kel embraced her mother and father warmly. It had been several days since her surprise at the stables. Her parents had come to visit and check up on the state of things. They had to return to Corus, however, because the prince's betrothed, Princess Chisakami, had died in an earthquake. New wedding arrangements had to be set up, which usually took years. Clad in a maroon dress, she had dressed up for the meal. Her parents looked at her oddly, yet didn't say anything. Anders, Ilane, and Piers walked to the great hall, conversing while walking. Kel trailed behind, thinking over her decision. As they entered Great Hall, Kel gave up on thinking over the matter altogether and trotted to catch up to her parents.

Kel and leaned back in her chair as she ate. Placing the chicken bone on her plate, she gently wiped her lips in a ladylike manner. She cleared her throat to get her parents' attention. Three heads turned towards her. "Yes, Keladry?" Her mother inquired. Keeping her face Yamani straight, Kel began. "Anders, you told me about how you and Conal and Inness were going to Corus. I thought about it, and I know what I want to do, where to go. With your permission," here she bowed to her parents, "I would go to the Yamani Islands and begin Shang training." Ilane studied her daughter. "Keladry, are you sure about this course of action? You could come to Corus, or you could go to your Aunt's place. I'm sure she'd enjoy the company." Kel nodded firmly. "If I can't serve to Tortallans, I shall go to the Islands. There they accept all warriors, male or female. There I will have freedom." Piers scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm. I think that we have just enough to get you and your horse passage for a one-way trip to the Islands. There you can stay with some of our friends until we can get you into Shang training. It will take a while to convince the Masters to accept you at your age. You are aware that all the beginners are younger than you by several years?" Kel nodded again. "Yes, father. I want to be a Shang Master, if Tortall has deemed me unsuitable for knighthood." This she said without facial expression, yet in her eyes was the anger and sadness that would not easily fade. Anders studied Kel. "Well then. It seems that we have a plan, does it not, mother, father?" Ilane nodded. "We shall go to the Harbormaster to inquire about Island-bound ships." Kel bowed to her mother and father, than sat back and took up her chicken with a small smile.