| The next morning, Kat, Clara, and Salem awoke early to see their freshly-sewn clothing spread out upon some chairs on the other side of the room. Kat rose first, naked as she was, and walked over to see her new clothing. She smiled wide as she lifted her red leotard with satin-lined breast cups of gold; the seamstresses had done a fine job indeed. Her gloves and cape had also been replaced. Kat slipped into her leotard, straightening her breast cups to her liking, then reaching back to affix the chain-mesh straps. She then put her cape upon her shoulders, letting the beautiful purple cloth sheath her body down to her calves, then pulled on her long leather gloves, the black leather reaching her elbows. She admired herself, feeling comfortable and confident. Clara also dressed herself, slipping into the new lavender dress she had once worn. For a change, the seamstresses had given her white gloves instead of black, but still made of leather and of elbow length. They had also given her a new cape of regal blue, which she placed on her shoulders and held it with a lace bow. All clothing fit perfectly, exactly as she remembered it. Salem was the last to dress, stepping into his trousers and buckling his black belt. He admired himself in his brown cloth pants as he donned his black vest, strapping it to his body tightly with two sets of straps in front. Pleased with himself, he fetched his shortswords and knife, and also handed Kat and Clara their swords. "We are healed and clean," Kat said, "and beautiful and handsome." "Yes, indeed," Clara agreed. "Now, let us be off. We don't want to disappoint King Jervin." Kat, Clara, and Salem all sheathed their weapons and headed off to find Jervin and Ophelia. They were encountered by the same four Guardians from the infirmary the previous evening. "You are prepared, I see," the first Guardian, a red fox, said. "Good. Now, follow us. Today will be a day you will speak of again and again." The travelers were escorted into the great hall by the four Guardians. Upon opening the doors, the three panthers found themselves surrounded by over 300 of Jervin's Guardians, his finest noble warriors, both younger and older, all of them men. And at the front of the hall, atop a decorated stage, stood King Jervin and Queen Ophelia, together waiting for Kat, Clara, and Salem. They walked the front of the stage and up the stairs as instructed as the congregation of Guardians gathered around them in a thick half-circle. Jervin approached them, while Ophelia stood back, holding some white belts with gold buckles. "My noble Guardians," Jervin said loudly, "today you are gathered together to witness a historic event in Trillan. Today we knight three people as Guardians, two of which are the first females." The entire congregation cheered. Kat, Clara, and Salem looked at each other with great surprise. Jervin soon quieted them down. "Standing before me are three of the greatest heroes Trillan will see in her history. They brought down the cursed estate of evil just yesterday and returned to me our queen. Such bravery is beyond commendable, and surely worthy of a life of Guardianhood." Ophelia then approached the group and placed the first belt around Kat's lean waist. The two-inch wide belt was wrapped around her and its gold buckle fastened comfortably. Then Ophelia did the same for Clara and Salem, gracing their waists with the hallowed belts. "These belts upon your waists will serve as a reminder to all you encounter in your lives of what you represent," Jervin said. "The preservation of our beloved country of Trillan. Now, kneel before me, and I will make your nobility complete." Kat, Clara, and Salem fell to their knees as Jervin approached. He crouched down next to the travelers and prompted them to bow their heads. "On this day," Jervin began, "you will take your place as Guardians of Trillan, brought forth from your lives as simple travelers to lives of honor and nobility. Now, raise your heads, and hold still...." "Hold still?" Kat thought, raising her head. A moment later, Jervin reared his right hand back and backhanded her and Clara across the face with a stinging blow. Salem gasped at Jervin's strike. But as he watched as Kat and Clara's hands flung to their cheeks in pain, Salem suddenly doubled over in pain, with Jervin's right hand buried in his stomach. He gasped out for air, coughing a bit. The three panthers looked up in shock at Jervin's physical abuse at which the other Guardians seemed to take pleasure. Then the king stood up. "Let that be the last strike you three will ever take in your lives," he proclaimed. Kat, Clara, and Salem looked up at his somewhat frowning face, then began to snicker and smile. "I give you Guardians Kat, Clara, and Salem!" Jervin bellowed. The entire hall cheered as Kat, Clara, and Salem stood to face their fellow Guardians. Kat and Clara cried together as they greeted other Guardians, who kissed them and shook their hands. Salem was greeted heartily by several of the other men. In the following days, Kat, Clara, and Salem were all proclaimed Trillanians, and they pledged loyalty to King Jervin and Queen Ophelia as their rulers. Additionally, they were given special living arrangements, taking residence in the corridors of the palace. Together they swore to protect the kingdom and right all wrongs they saw before them. Back to Stories Back to "TAOK&C" Back to Home |