The Protector of the Small Quartet

Still wearing boots and heavy wool stockings under her gown, she went to Neal’s room and pounded on his door. He let her in without a word, but protested when she closed the door behind her.

‘Do you want everyone hearing what I have to say?’ she demanded sharply.

‘If the Stump catches you here with the door shut—’ The Stump was Neal’s nickname for Lord Wyldon.

‘He won’t.’ Kel put her fists on her hips and glared at her friend. ‘You were sixteen last month. You’re supposed to know better. Did you honestly think you were helping me down there?’

He had the strangest look on his face. ‘Are you – Kel, the Yamani Lump – are you yelling at me?’

‘Yes, I am!’ Kel snapped. ‘You didn’t solve anything, you just made it worse!’

He sat on his bed. ‘Maybe, maybe not. I think they’ll reconsider, next time they want to start fights over your virtue.’

Kel blinked at him. ‘What has my virtue to do with anything?’

‘I’m surprised they didn’t try it last year. Oh, I suppose they made dirty little jokes with each other, never mind that a real knight is supposed to treat women decently. Maybe they thought saying you’re a lump, and not as strong, and on probation, was bad enough.’

‘Are you making sense yet?’ Kel wanted to know. This conversation had taken a very uncomfortable turn.

‘But you’re still here. Now they’re really worried. They haven’t changed their minds about lady knights just because Wyldon let you stay.’

‘I didn’t expect them to,’ Kel informed him.

‘Well, so, they decided to try new insults today. And talk of different kinds of sex makes people crazy.’

‘Your point is …?’ she asked. Her mother had explained how babies were made. Nariko had taught the court ladies, including Kel’s family, how to preserve their honour from rapists. That didn’t seem to be what Neal was talking about.

‘See, Kel, if all of a sudden everyone’s getting into fights about your virtue, maybe the Stump will get rid of you after all.’ Neal sighed and finger-combed his hair back from his face.

Fear trickled down Kel’s spine like cold water. Could Lord Wyldon change his mind? Who would protest if he did? The king had allowed her to be put on probation in the first place. No doubt if Wyldon told him Kel had to go, the king would agree. ‘I’m eleven,’ she said at last. ‘That’s too young to be lying with men, Neal. Much too young.’

He inspected a bruise on his wrist, and touched a fingertip to it. A green spark flashed and the bruise faded. ‘Facts don’t matter with Joren and his crowd. Just gossip. Just making your friends angry enough to fight. I reminded them that gossip is a tricky weapon, that’s all. It cuts two ways.’

Kel sighed. ‘I still don’t think you did me any good. I can take a few insults.’

‘You can – I can’t.’ Neal peered out the door. ‘Hall’s empty. Shoo.’ As she walked by, he added, ‘I consider myself chastised.’

She stopped and turned back. ‘What you said about Garvey and Joren – it’s not an insult in Yaman. Some men prefer other men. Some women prefer other women.’ Kel shrugged.

‘In the Eastern Lands, people like that pursue their loves privately,’ replied Neal. ‘Manly fellows like Joren think it’s a deadly insult to be accused of wanting other men.’

‘That doesn’t make sense,’ Kel said.

‘It’s still an insult on this side of the Emerald Ocean, my dear. Now, if I may shave before our bread-and-water feast?’

Kel eyed Neal’s cheeks and chin. ‘You don’t need to.’

Neal sighed. ‘I live in hope, as the priest said to the princess. If you don’t mind?’

Kel went back to her room, shaking her head.

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