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Lady Shang Keladry
Sorrel Rowan
Chapter One: Mystery Lady
�She�s something special,� Eda Bell, Shang Wildcat remarked to her fellow Shang instructor, Hakuin Seastone, also known as the Horse. �You know how the Masters feel about nobles.�
�Her parents must be special, to let her even enter Shang, at all.� the Yemen replied, his expression unreadable. �You trained her, didn�t you?�
The Wildcat paused, �Up until last summer, yes. But she spent four years in the Isles, learning their pole arm technique - the glaive. It�s her preferred weapon, when she needs one. And from what I�ve seen��
There was silence for a few minutes as Eda considered her former pupil, until Hakuin commented, �I heard she started young.�
�Three.�
Hakuin whistled, impressed despite his misgivings. Quietly, he murmured to himself. �Noble born, sent to Shang at three, and into the world at 16...� Then an unexpected grin broke out on the normally Yemen face.
�What?�
�Just thinking that Wyldon needs a bit of a surprise, you know, to keep him young.�
Entering a silent suite of rooms, where the blanket of sleep softly soothed dreamers into a pleasant slumber, the Knight Commander of the Kings Own dreamt of the desert, and the Bazhir that wandered so freely� free of petty social engagements and, well, engagements, such as that proposed by mothers who think their daughter would be perfect for the Knight Commander.
Or his second...
Even in sleep his mouth curved into a wicked smile, allowing himself to slip into a deeper state of catatonia�
BANG.
Only for someone to slam the door in the neighboring suite so hard the room almost shook. Raoul sprung out of bed, ready to face whoever catapulted the boulder. A door cracked open, and a face where only the wide grin was visible spoke to the bleary commander.
�Sorry,� he said, although clearly anything but, in a voice dripping with sarcasm. �Did I wake you as I come back from another pointless social get-together after being harassed by matchmaking mothers and a very annoyed monarch expecting, I don�t know, you?!�
Looking at his second, Raoul was momentarily speechless. Slowly, he replied, �I knew your cousin joining the Own was a bad idea. His flair for dramatics� is starting to rub off on you.�
Wyldon of Cavall, the current royal training master reviewed the dispatch in front of him with resignation. The girl must be competent, at least. Her Shang Master has complimented her dedication, diligence and skill. Shang masters were known to be decidedly, well, picky, about their students.
And his boys did need another instructor; two Shang's simply weren�t enough to teach the boys all they needed to know in the current, dangerous, times.
Looking up, knowing what he must say, he turned from his window and faced King Jonathan of Conte and Tortall.
Who said, �We owe our present peace with the Yamani�s to Mindelan. Allowing a daughter � proficient in the art of combat � to teach our pages under the eye of two experienced Shang�s whilst spending time at court is a small favour to ask.�
Wyldon replied, �And we are grateful to them, both for the present peace and offering the skills of their daughter.�
Jon appeared to be waiting. �But?�
�I still have my reservations.�
Sir Domitan of Masbolle flopped onto a chair. �The King was not amused,� he said weakly.
Raoul winced. �I�ll apologise in the morning. Besides, you can do the exact same as I can; stand around all burnished in blue and look pretty.�
Dom simply glared.
Knowing it would annoy Dom further, Raoul added wickedly, �And I dare say those daughters think you look much prettier than I do.�
Groaning, Dom tossed a pillow at Raoul, and got up to leave. �Get some sleep, sir, we�ve got real work in the morning. Remember the pages we said we would watch train?�
This time it was Raoul who groaned.
A rider entered the darkened palace. Dismounting the chestnut mare, they led her into the stables. �Come on girl, nice hay for you,� a female voice whispered, leading the exhausted animal into the stall.
Stefan the groom was asleep in his loft when he heard the distinctive sound of hooves on stone. Peering down, he saw someone young, wearing sturdy, well made clothes, but not those of a noble. Casting his eye over the horse, however, he saw a very fine animal.
�There you go, eh, girl? Better now?� she said as she gave some water to her horse. The horse whickered and affectionately butted the girl with her head.
She laughed softly, before rising in one fluid motion to face Stefan, who held his hands up in surrender, looking over the young woman.
Tall, taller than average, with a figure gained and maintained through combat and training, she had light brown hair, worn long to the waist. Warily alert hazel eyes looked out from under long lashes; the eyes of a dreamer. Freckles on cream skin were vanishing through age, leaving a stunning lady behind.
Her bearing was not that of a lady, but of a warrior.
Every instinct of Stefan�s told him her intentions were honourable, but that she could most definitely take care of herself.
�Who are you?� She spoke quietly, out of consideration for the sleeping horses - many no longer sleeping, instead watching the scene unfolding in front of them.
�Stefan, the Head groom of the palace stables. Now, could you answer the same question? Because it has me confused, you see, why a girl dressed as a commoner, but who carries herself like a fighter, would be settling a horse in for the night in the nobles stables, if she was here to steal horses from the realm?�
A grin broke out on the girl�s face, and Stefan saw her relax slightly, stepping out of a fighting stance. �I�m no thief, don�t worry.�
�Who are you then? I judge people by how they treat their horse, and yours is a happy horse.� The mare whickered behind her, placing her head protectively on her owners shoulder.
�This is Dancer, and I�m Shang Adept, Lady Keladry of Mindelan.�
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