Post by allymarty on Mar 5, 2010 15:42:18 GMT 10
Title: Kinsmen II - Change of Heart
Rating: G
Length: 400 (not including the book quote)
Competitor: Faleron
Round/Fight: 2/A
Summary: Second in a series of stories about the relationship between two kinsmen and the eventual object of their mutual affections.
^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Get mopping," Joren ordered Merric. "Every drop, mind." He turned to Kel. "What's the matter with you, probationer?" he demanded coldly.
Kel clinched her fists. "This is servants' work," she said. "It has nothing to do with being a page and fetching and carrying for people. It isn't what's meant by earning our way."
Joren took a step forward. "This is none of your affair -- unless you want what he's getting."
Merric looked at Kel, then away. Kel remained where she was, frozen with indecision....
-- Tamora Pierce, First Test
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Tell, me, Faleron," Merric said as they settled down to do their homework, "Do you really dislike Keladry so much - you know - the same as ... as Stone Mountain and his lot?"
"The same as Joren? No, not really," Faleron shook his head. "I just don't think that a girl belongs here with us men. The king didn't even allow his own daughter to train for the knighthood, so why should he allow a lesser-born girl to try?"
Merric's mouth dropped open and then he said, "Princess Kalasin wanted to be a page?"
"Yup," Faleron nodded. "My sister, Gaylia, happens to be one of the princess' constant companions - almost like one of the Queen's ladies - and when I was home this summer, I overheard them discussing the whole situation."
"The princess was in your home?"
"Don't look so surprised," Faleron shook his head in mock disgust. "It makes you seem like such a country bumpkin. My mother says that Princess Kalasin will spend the rest of her summers with Gaylia at King's Reach, until they're both presented at Court in a few years. Mother also says that young girls of noble birth should train to be noblewomen and wives, not knights or swordsmen like the Lioness."
"Well, I don't think that Keladry of Mindelan will ever be like the Lioness," Merric remarked sourly. "I heard that the Lady Alanna never backs down from a fight."
Faleron shrugged, "Oh, I don't know about that. I've heard that the king has sometimes forbidden his champion to fight certain battles, especially for political reasons."
Merric made a rude noise, "I doubt the Girl will ever have to worry about that sort of thing. With any luck, maybe Joren will force her out before Midwinter."
"My, my, my," Faleron said. "Now that's a drastic change of heart. Didn't you just win a bet with me that the Girl would not be gone by the end of the first the week?"
"Yes, well, now I'm tired of seeing her blank face every time I turn around," Merric said. Then he returned his attention to his homework. "But I don't want to talk about her anymore. Let's just finish these stupid essays so we can get to bed on time tonight."
Faleron watched Merric for a long moment, and then he shook his head and returned to his essay on courtly bows.
Rating: G
Length: 400 (not including the book quote)
Competitor: Faleron
Round/Fight: 2/A
Summary: Second in a series of stories about the relationship between two kinsmen and the eventual object of their mutual affections.
^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Get mopping," Joren ordered Merric. "Every drop, mind." He turned to Kel. "What's the matter with you, probationer?" he demanded coldly.
Kel clinched her fists. "This is servants' work," she said. "It has nothing to do with being a page and fetching and carrying for people. It isn't what's meant by earning our way."
Joren took a step forward. "This is none of your affair -- unless you want what he's getting."
Merric looked at Kel, then away. Kel remained where she was, frozen with indecision....
-- Tamora Pierce, First Test
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Tell, me, Faleron," Merric said as they settled down to do their homework, "Do you really dislike Keladry so much - you know - the same as ... as Stone Mountain and his lot?"
"The same as Joren? No, not really," Faleron shook his head. "I just don't think that a girl belongs here with us men. The king didn't even allow his own daughter to train for the knighthood, so why should he allow a lesser-born girl to try?"
Merric's mouth dropped open and then he said, "Princess Kalasin wanted to be a page?"
"Yup," Faleron nodded. "My sister, Gaylia, happens to be one of the princess' constant companions - almost like one of the Queen's ladies - and when I was home this summer, I overheard them discussing the whole situation."
"The princess was in your home?"
"Don't look so surprised," Faleron shook his head in mock disgust. "It makes you seem like such a country bumpkin. My mother says that Princess Kalasin will spend the rest of her summers with Gaylia at King's Reach, until they're both presented at Court in a few years. Mother also says that young girls of noble birth should train to be noblewomen and wives, not knights or swordsmen like the Lioness."
"Well, I don't think that Keladry of Mindelan will ever be like the Lioness," Merric remarked sourly. "I heard that the Lady Alanna never backs down from a fight."
Faleron shrugged, "Oh, I don't know about that. I've heard that the king has sometimes forbidden his champion to fight certain battles, especially for political reasons."
Merric made a rude noise, "I doubt the Girl will ever have to worry about that sort of thing. With any luck, maybe Joren will force her out before Midwinter."
"My, my, my," Faleron said. "Now that's a drastic change of heart. Didn't you just win a bet with me that the Girl would not be gone by the end of the first the week?"
"Yes, well, now I'm tired of seeing her blank face every time I turn around," Merric said. Then he returned his attention to his homework. "But I don't want to talk about her anymore. Let's just finish these stupid essays so we can get to bed on time tonight."
Faleron watched Merric for a long moment, and then he shook his head and returned to his essay on courtly bows.