The Link between a page and a knight - PSL for Link in Tortall

[chicklet]

 Passage into this world would not have been easy, and there would have been an odd sensation like ripping through the remains of a barrier that tried to keep him out, but was too tattered and torn to work properly. Thankfully, the gods were with him in one respect. He could have easily landed in a company of the King's Own, or the Queen's Riders, or the Palace Guard. Instead he dropped down just outside the palace in front of a youngster, all of eleven years old - though topping five feet already at that age, heading to the city proper. 

Kel stopped dead, seeing a boy with pointed ears appear out of nowhere, then drew her small knife, wishing she had her naginata, or even one of the horns the pages used on their field trips. She didn't even have her dog or the birds with her, all of whom had proven themselves this past year. But she was still a page of the kingdom, to the shock of all, and she was not going to let some immortal get past her. Even if this was the first time she'd ever seen an immortal that looked like a kid.

But with those ears, and appearing like that, he had to be an immortal? Right?

All of this was running through her mind, but none of it showed on her face. Her expression was blank, as though she were a carved statue of a person rather than flesh. Her stance was practiced, though she never thought to be fighting off an immortal with just a belt knife, no matter how fine the black handled blade was! Her brown hair was cut short above her ears, her hazal-green eyes watched him with no seeming concern. No seeming emotion at all, really. 

But Mithros' spear! She could at least have a weapon or back up or something!

<i>No, Kel. Stone</i> she reminded herself sharply. <i>No, not stone. A serene lake. </i> she needed to be able to flow into her motions, rather than stiffen up.

"Who are you and what business have you here?" she asked, and her voice - as emotionless as her face - was pretty much the first, last, and only hint that the person menacing him with a short blade was female. 

Comments

[chicklet]

"Some of the greatest warriors in all the realms," she said, voice still cool and emotionless. "Though they rarely train children as old as us." She suspected he was about her age, anyway.

[younghero]

"I'll keep looking."

He rubbed the back of his left-hand, glancing at the golden symbol.

"Sorry to bug you. I'll leave."

[chicklet]

"You just appeared, unless you are just vanishing the same way I am obligated to report you." Though to whom she had no clue.

[younghero]

"You can report me. I don't mind. I'm just not going with you."

He gave her a wan smile.

[chicklet]

She didn't stamp her foot or otherwise show temper, though it was hard to stay Yamani calm. "Yes, actually, you are."

[younghero]

"No, sorry."

And he did sound genuinely apologetic.

[chicklet]

"I'll not be kicked out for letting a known threat wander around the king's forest unchecked. Not after all I've endured this past year to stay," she said, her voice still emotionless, her face still blank, though her blood boiled that this boy might spoil everything for her. Tears wanted to come, she refused to let them. this was harder then when Joren and his friends beat on her.

[younghero]

"Does your Forest have wolves? I could turn into one and then you wouldn't be in trouble."

[chicklet]

He either really had no clue, or he was stupid. "They would know you for a mage then." And since when did mages not want to meet other mages?

[younghero]

"I'm not a mage, I'm a hero."

Gee-whiz he was offering her a way out. Why did she have to make this hard?

[chicklet]

She made a snorting sound that could almost be called rude and opened her mouth to speak when two small sparrows flew down from the trees to fly around them. Something very like relief lit her face when she saw the tiny birds.

Thank all the gods, she thought to herself, planning to go to a temple and do just that.

"Crown, Freckle, please fetch Daine..." and after a moment thought she added, "And Jump, if you please."

[younghero]

Link watched the birds with a softened expression. He hoped Shadow and Clef were taking good care of his pets.

"I'm telling you, I'm not a danger."

[chicklet]

"And you probably aren't, but my lord would like any excuse to kick me out, and I'm not about to give him one," she said, firmly.

[younghero]

"Just take him down, then."

Obviously this wasn't a trusted adult, like Clef or Impa. So, naturally, Link suggested fighting him.

[chicklet]

She stared at him levally, then said finally, "he is the training master for all pages and unattached squires. I would never conspire against my Lord." Daydream about it, perhaps. Do it, even in jest? Nope. Not even with Neal.

[younghero]

"Okay, okay, you like him, forget I said anything."

Link didn't care much for class systems beyond acknowledging the Royal Family. Anyone else was his equal.

[chicklet]

She very much did not like him, thank you very much, but she would never admit that.

"He is my lord," she said, non-committedly. She was very glad Neal wasn't there. Her tall friend couldn't keep his mouth to himself when it came to insulting their training master.

[younghero]

"Pfft. If he's not King, he's just a guy. Call him Misterto be polite, but, Master is just setting up an ego he probably hasn't earned. Or Sir if he's an actual officer, and you respect him."

Link shrugged with a scoff. "Most adults think just because they're old they can boss kids around. Well, kids are their equals, I got news for them."

He did not include Clef or Irene in his negative world view of adults. They were exceptions.

"If he makes you call him Master I sure wouldn't want to train under him. If I were teaching people I'd just want them to call me Link."

[chicklet]

"He is the training master, which is the position granted him by the king. To address him so casually would be unforgivably rude." Six years with the Yamani crushed her ability to be causally rude out of her. "And we are not his equal, he has fought for and defended this realm for decades before either of us were born. He is a hero of the realm who has worked hard to uphold his vows to the crown."

And to chivalry? What sort of chivalry made exceptions or encouraged thugs like Joren and his bullies? Having no answer, Kel refused to voice the question.

[younghero]

"That doesn't make him better than you."

Link's eyes flickered. "Is he at least good? A good person, I mean. Honest? Kind? Those are the things that are important."

[chicklet]

"He's a knight of the realm," she said, her face stone. Honest, yes. Kind? Not a chance. She wasn't qualified to judge good.

Hoofbeats approached from the direction Kel had come from. Large pony and a horse, both bearing riders.

[younghero]

"Crap," Link muttered. He took his hat off and retied his hair with a sigh. He still half considered going wolf and running for the forest, to avoid the inconvenience he knew was coming.

[chicklet]

There was the sound of a third horse behind them, and Kel actually looked panicked for a moment before schooling her expression again.

She did allow herself to frown slightly at him. "She isn't going to care how you pretty yourself up," she informed him. Much to her friend Neal's dismay, Diane seemed to be very very taken. Even if she wasn't properly wed before the gods.

[younghero]

"I'm getting the hair off my neck."

In case he had to fight, but, no need to say that.

[chicklet]

She shook her head slightly, used to her friend Neal mooning over the wildmage.

The three equines came to a stop together, though the riderless one had clearly started somewhat later. The lead was a pony mare, large set and rough looking, ears back as she studied Link. The larger pony behind her seemed the calm sort, eyeing Link as though he was contemplating if he had treats.

The third was a large warhorse, a strawberry roan gelding with scars all over his flanks and a mean look to his face. On his back is a dog that looked like he'd seen many battles himself. small and mostly white with black on his nose, his one whole ear, and his crookedly healed tail.

The ponies both had human looking riders, the calmer pony held a tall slender stick of a man in long flowing robes with a bit of a hooked nose, he looked to be in his late thirties or early forties, a bit of silver in his otherwise jet black hair. On the smaller pony was a girl who was maybe mid twenties, maybe, with deeply tanned skin and a smattering of freckles under her green hazel eyes, her curls pulled back under a kerchief, a silver chain running under her plain shirt, the charm at the end of the necklace a lump there. She wore simple clothes, a plain shirt and plain breeches, and good study boots. She didn't seem to notice a small amount of bat droppings on the top of the boot. The two sparrows flew over head and landed on Kel's shoulders, then fluttered up again, as Kel bowed to the both of them.

"Master Numair, Lady Daine."

The young woman sighed a bit. "I'm no Lady, but thank you. And this is the lad you wanted us to look at?" she asked, looking to Link. "Welcome to Tortall."