Chapter Text
Keladry’s eyes widened in surprise as a slim young man wearing a fine tunic in a very familiar shade of green rode up and joined the waiting nobles.
“Neal?”
He turned, looking at her twice before grinning. “Kel! Is that really you over there?”
Keladry nodded.
He rode over to the Ladies’ pavilion and inspected her more closely. “You cleaned up better than for suppers.”
She glared up at him. He grinned impishly.
“I’d heard you were going.”
“I hadn’t heard you were.” Serving in so many of the Queen’s planning sessions, she’d thought she was on top of the gossip.
“Father made the decision last night and attached me to the healers,” Neal said, no longer smiling. “Mother’s not happy about it.” From his rapid speech, Keladry knew that neither was he.
Keladry nodded, showing her sympathy only in her eyes. Neal knew her well enough to see it, and kept on with his rant. She expected the dramatics to begin at any moment.
“She wanted me at home, to catch up on my studies. Father says I’ll get more practical training out here.” He didn’t disappoint, gesturing grandly all around them. “Out here! I’m sure to heal many people during these endless bells on horseback!”
Sympathy melded into a humored glint in her eyes as she let him ramble on.
“I’ll get all my reading done then, too, with the lectern I had built onto the pommel to hold my book.” He looped his reins around one hand and dismounted, keeping his hand affectionately on his mount’s neck. His pommel held a detachable medical satchel where she had attached a small pouch to hers.
“You’ll want to watch where you’re going,” Keladry said, ever her best friend’s voice of reason.
Neal scowled. “Any horse will follow another in a train such as this.”
Keladry carefully blanked her face, recalling Buri’s command to train Cinnabar out of such a habit. Seeing Lalasa coming out of the palace, Keladry waved Neal back to the noble pavilions, knowing Lalasa would not be comfortable approaching while either he or his horse stood nearby.
Lalasa walked slowly over, picking up her pace once boy and beast were far enough away. She carried only her work basket. “They only just gathered your trunk, my lady, and my pack with it. I wondered if there was another delay and I’d not heard.”
“No, it was forgotten, and you staying put was the only reason it was picked up at all.”
Lalasa shook her head as she set down her basket, and then inspected Keladry carefully from head to toe, brushing a bit of dust from her hair and touching up her lip paint.
“You’ll do, my lady, you’ll do.” Something in Lalasa’s tone reminded Keladry of her father’s words, ‘You’ll do Mindelan proud.’
Maids directly attending the Ladies remained under the pavilion instead of out in the hot sun with the other servants. Almost all of them were taking advantage of this privilege, as were servants among the waiting nobles. The most popular service, by far, was fanning, and Lalasa quickly availed herself of Keladry’s fan. Every lady had a beautifully decorated fan, some painted panels like hers, others with embroidered silk ones that the maids waved twice as quickly to less effect. Several maids were adept enough to briskly fan themselves as well as their mistresses at the same time. Linette and Lalasa arranged themselves with Dorset and Keladry between them, so that they fanned both young ladies and each other. Keladry looked around and noticed several other pairs seated for such amicable efficiency.
With Lalasa present, confirming that her trunk had been picked up, Keladry felt that she was ready for progress. Still, a nagging voice in her head kept insisting she’d forgotten something. ‘I’ve had help from many people. Whatever everyone could forget is not important, and I’ve coin for just in case.’ she thought firmly at the voice, and then tried to ignore it. When it refused to be silenced, she imagined the words engraved on a clay tablet, sinking into the depths of her lake, the water’s surface smoothing out until no trace of ripples remained.
---
A long queue of hostlers led strings of ponies out to the Riders. As the groups gathered around their mounts, an organizer shuffled the healers and clerks over to the now-empty pavilion. As with the mages and scholars in their original pavilion, they clustered towards the rear. The Rider groups formed up in front of each cluster, half in and half out of the shade, with much good natured jockeying for position among them.
The hostlers raced back to the distant stables, returning shortly with a much more colorful array of mounts, mostly stallions, decked out in heraldic colors. The servants attending the nobles reluctantly set their fans aside to claim the mounts of their masters and mistresses, holding their places in the forming queue. This time, the hostlers headed into the royal stables. Keladry was not surprised at the shout she heard shortly thereafter.
“Mounts for the Royal Ladies!”
As the echoes faded, the maids set down the fans and headed to the stable. Lalasa stared wide-eyed at Keladry when she realized she’d have to go near more than a dozen ponies.
“If you don’t go now, they’ll bellow again for handmaid mount, and then everyone will be watching just you,” Keladry said, not sure if this was an argument for or against delaying. She felt pleased with herself for already beginning to acclimate Lalasa to the task.
Lalasa seemed to prefer blending in, and skittishly walked over, skirting aside the maids already leading ponies back to the pavilion. The maids tethered them to a temporary stand at the rear of the pavilion. Their heads were in the shade, but the line between dim and bright fell across their withers. Keladry made a mental note to be prepared for hot leather whenever she actually got to mount up.
The ponies left the stable by their parade position. Linette received the reins for Lady Dorset’s bay mare last, and then a stable hand shoved Cinnabar’s reins towards Lalasa. When they added the two ponies to the picket, Cinnabar held the spacious spot on the end. Keladry went over to double check the fastenings, rather than risk an overworked stable hand overlook something.
“What is this?”
Recognizing the distinctly sharp tones of one of her teachers, Keladry quickly looked up to see Master Oakbridge glaring at the rope wrapped around Cinnabar’s saddlebag. “May I help you?”
“What is this?” He pointed to the rope.
“There was no time to request a quick release strap for my glaive, Master Oakbridge,” she said politely.
“No time to...” he floundered, then pointed imperiously at Lalasa. “Have you sewn leather?” He scowled when she shrank away, shaking her head, then busied herself at Cinnabar’s other saddlebag. Keladry knew she’d remind Lalasa that Master Oakbridge was even more frightening than ponies, next time Lalasa’s fear took hold of her.
Keladry removed the offending rope and deftly coiled it. While Master Oakbridge wasn’t looking, she crammed it into her saddlebag. Rope was useful.
Master Oakbridge summoned one of the waiting messenger boys. “Run to palace stores and fetch her the longest brown leather belt they have.” When the boy pointed to the other messengers, trying to say he was already busy with a task, Master Oakbridge silenced him. “Hurry lad! You’ll be back in time for that.”
Recalling how long it took Tian to acquire the rope, Keladry wasn’t so sure, but said nothing as the boy ran into the palace.
Master Oakbridge turned to her. “When you get it, tie the weapon to the buckle.”
Keladry nodded, surprised to discover that he thought in ways of making a weapon accessible.
By this time, the hostlers had led in the mounts for the councilors, tethering them to the stands at the rear of their pavilion, overflowing to the royal pavilion. The royal mounts stood comfortably under the pavilion. An expectant hush descended over the gathering.
The palace doors opened.
A maid stepped out and looked around. Finding Master Oakbridge, she shook her head and shrugged, and then went back inside. Master Oakbridge continued looking over the different elements of the parade. For him, any delay meant more time to ensure every single detail was perfect.
---
Amid the cacophony of milling people and horses, Keladry heard a familiar cheep. Looking up, she saw a line of sparrows resting on the eaves of the stable. Crown and Freckle and their brood had found her and seemed to be watching her intently. Their solemn patience amused her.
Keladry poured a handful of bread crumbs into the cantle box, calling for them to join her if they wanted to travel with her again. Though they had politely waited for an invitation, they didn’t need to be asked twice. Crown stopped by the box long enough to taste the crumbs, and then perched on Keladry’s shoulder. The other sparrows settled around the box, and once picked clean, within it.
Freckle hopped into the box and then perched on the edge again, bobbing his head around at each corner as though measuring it. Then he flew off with most of the brood following. The sparrows flew back with several small twigs and bits of straw in their beaks, dropped them into the box and flew away again. The remaining sparrows arranged the twigs into a framework they knew instinctively, laying out the straw around them.
“Most cantle carriers are for dogs or hawks.” The voice belonged to blue-eyed blond with a second’s ring around his patch. Keladry recognized him as one of the many Riders she’d met at lunch, but couldn’t recall his name. He wore the Ghostwind patch with the split rings.
Keladry nodded politely to him and continued watching the sparrows. “Last month they rode pillion. I thought a box might be more comfortable, but they seem to think it needs furnishing.”
“I heard about that. So it’s true they scout for you?”
“I don’t know if I can explain that to them. They’re smart, and they bring me things, but proper scouting might be a bit much.”
“It’s proved helpful, however much they can do.”
Crown watched from Keladry’s shoulder as the flock decorated the cantle box to their liking. In short order the sparrows built up a proper round nest within it. As a housewarming present, once Freckle ceased flying off and the project appeared to be done, Keladry added another handful of breadcrumbs, which rapidly disappeared, and offered some by hand to Crown.
Three other Riders walked over, group leaders by their patches. As she’d only rarely seen a leader in the mess, Keladry guessed the officers ate elsewhere. She nodded politely to them and was about to step away so they could speak together privately when one of them offered her a hand.
“I’m Garsom Bray, leader of Clouds. These are Rodry Karel and Merala Eckard, of Nightbreath and Trollwatch. I see you’ve already met Evin Larse, second of Ghostwind.”
During handshakes all round, Keladry introduced herself. “I’m Keladry of Mindelan, royal handmaid. It’s a pleasure to meet each of you.” Though much less formal than some introductions, the basic script remained the same, and Keladry was pleased to add to Eckerd as she shook her hand last, “Your group has been very kind and let me eat with them most of the week.”
Eckard smiled. “Lindy even put in a request to get you assigned to Trollwatch after your training next summer. She likes how you listen.”
Karel hid a chuckle rather poorly behind a cough. Apparently this tale had made the rounds. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, young lady. Buri herself told Lindel that the queen already has her gloves on you.”
Keladry ducked her head. “I should have properly given my full name sooner, but it was nice to just be Kel for a bit.”
The Riders seemed to understand.
“We wanted to meet you before we set out. If you need anything, any Rider can bring you to one of us at any time.” Bray gestured to Karel and Eckard as well.
Keladry nodded to each adult. That probably applied to the other extra units along the queue. “Thank you. If I need anything, I’ll be sure to ask.” She didn’t say she’d first ask Lady Dorset of Yolen, as she’d been told to report to. If the Ladies were not available, the Riders would be helpful.
Larse held up his hands palms facing out, excluding himself. “Ghostwind is just in this for the pageantry and will split off for our own assignment outside the city.”
Bray chuckled. “The King’s Third managed to avoid it, leaving south late yesterday instead.”
“I heard the king was furious, but that’s Lord Raoul for you,” Larse replied as he headed back to his group.
The conversation among the group leaders turned to assignments and strategies. Keladry listened quietly as they discussed a rotating schedule of advance, van and rear guards. She hoped she’d be allowed to join these rotations.
---
The palace doors opened again, and conversations lulled as everyone focused on them.
To Keladry’s surprise and everyone’s disappointment, the messenger boy dashed out, dangling a long belt as he ran over to her. Keladry hadn’t expected him back so soon.
“No wait at all,” he said breathlessly as he handed her the belt. “But it sure looked a mess in there.” To his delight, she tipped him a copper bit, and he promptly rejoined the other runners awaiting word to fetch the soldiers and Own.
Keladry wrapped the belt around the saddlebag. The leather would not bend tightly enough to wrap flat around the narrow portion as she’d done with the rope, but she realized that by wrapping it around the bag itself, she could tuck it beneath the flap, and keep most of the belt out of sight. It didn’t look nearly as obvious as the rope, and she reckoned that was probably Master Oakbridge’s point.
She thought about the rope as she looked at the buckle. Even with the leather passing through it, there was room to tie a trick knot for her glaive, especially if she used a thinner cord. Walking over to the cluster of urchins, she held up a copper bit. “Which of you has a bit of string?” Each child promptly offered up a fistful, produced from shoes or untucked from stockings or waistbands. She carefully selected the least frayed among them and duly traded it for the coin.
With her glaive neatly tied in place, Keladry truly felt ready. Again, she had to quell that inner voice that insisted she’d forgotten something. If it was truly important, someone would mention it.
The palace doors opened yet again, and conversations lulled.
The maid stepped out, waved to Master Oakbridge, and then hurried back inside. He promptly signaled to the runners, who dashed off to fetch the army and the Own. The entire courtyard suddenly bustled with preparations as different groups were summoned into position, from the rear of the queue forward.
At length, the Queen’s Ladies and Keladry were directed to lead their mounts out into the courtyard, taking a position in front of the noble courtiers. Keladry found it odd to be riding ahead of barons, but she was in service to the crown while they only represented themselves. The half dozen Rider groups queued up behind the nobles, then the mages, scholars, healers and clerks, in that order, and lastly hordes of servants, in the same order as those they served.
Those serving the royals directly came first in palace livery, then a colorful band of servants of the senior nobility. followed by the maids of the Royal Ladies in palace livery with Lalasa tucked in last among them, and then another colorful segment of servants for the lesser nobility riding behind Keladry.
The Riders were self-sufficient within their groups and did not have servants. They usually kept their remounts with them on the road and used palace or army services wherever stationed, though for progress their remounts were tended in the second train. Behind the nobles’ servants, key palace servants lined up in droves - cooks, footmen and porters, and then a short wagon train of gear specifically for encampment. Servants not needed directly for a campsite, such as laundry women and farriers, would travel with the supply and remount train later in the day and with much less fanfare.
The rhythmic clop of dozens of horses faded in as the King’s Own’s First approached the courtyard and halted in the side street. Once they settled, their servingmen joined the servants, inserting a splash of blue uniforms just ahead of the ladies’ maids. The sound of marching boots preceded two army regiments up another side street, but their servants would join the supply train. From the lists Keladry had seen, she knew the Own would fold into the parade between the councilors and the Royal Ladies, with the Riders bringing up the rear of the mounted parties, while the army would fall in before and behind the walkers.
The palace door opened yet again, and the crowd quieted in anticipation. The maid stepped out, holding the door wide open. A footman opened the other side, holding it wide as well. Excited murmurs rippled across the courtyard. When the king and queen appeared in the doorway, arm in arm, with the princes flanking the princess a pace behind them, cheers erupted from the commoners, while the nobles offered more dignified greetings, bows and curtsies to the royals as they passed by.
Master Oakbridge gestured grandly upward with both arms, the signal for many of the attendees to mount up. Stable hands assisted many of the senior councilors, while the ladies mounted themselves before the hostlers could get to them. Several of the ladies unfastened parasols from a strap along their saddle bags. Shielding her eyes from the bright sun, Keladry glanced down, knowing she’d find her axe in that spot.
She’d ridden to page camp and back without a parasol. True, the road through the Royal Forest was often dappled with shade from overhead branches. The pages seldom simply sat on horseback under the baking sun. They were much too busy. Though envious of the parasol, Keladry shook her head and tried to ignore the discomfort. She liked having her axe within easy reach.
Up ahead, an honor guard from the Own took up their position at the van and began riding out. The king and queen followed, with Prince Roald, Princess Kalasin and Prince Liam riding abreast behind them. Another squad of the Own formed up behind the royals, and the councilors, led by Duke Turomot and Lord Gareth the Younger of Naxen, rode out next. Keladry breathed a sigh of relief. The progress was finally progressing.
---
Keladry's brown satin breeches looked good against her pony, but she wished she wore the blue outfit of the Ladies. The difference wasn't all that much, but in a city wherein clothing often told a person's life story, even a small change in a uniform spawned gossip. A completely unfamiliar one on such display sparked endless curiosity. With two paces between herself and the Ladies ahead of her, and even more space behind her as the nobles sought to ensure she did not seem to be their van, Keladry had no one to blend in with.
During one of the many traffic jams approaching bottleneck turns, a pair of curious youngsters ran up to Keladry. "Why’re you dressed different than th'other ladies?"
Knowing the speed of gossip is higher than its accuracy, Keladry chose to answer as simply as she could. "Because I'm a royal handmaid and they're royal ladies."
"What's a royal handmaid?"
"A younger lady, age ten to fourteen. Royal Ladies are fifteen and older."
Traffic began moving again and the children stepped back, promptly talking to several others. Word would spread. With several more such discussions before reaching the gates, Keladry was certain that most of Corus would know of the new handmaids before nightfall, if they hadn’t already heard tales from the palace servants, and would have six weeks to grow accustomed to the idea before the progress returned.
---
The guards at the gates wore their sharpest uniforms but by the time Keladry reached them, they were already covered in the dust raised by hundreds of hooves. The cloud lingered over everything in sight, and Keladry knew just as much of it had settled on herself as on the guards. She took slow, shallow breaths to avoid choking on it, looking forward to getting far enough out of the city where she’d be permitted to don her straw hat and wrap her face in a linen scarf.
As the road trailed down the hill towards the road that wrapped around the city, Keladry looked over the train ahead of her. Beyond the Royal Ladies and the King’s First, she could see bright Conte blue at the head of the great cloud of dust, and beyond them, a smaller dust cloud signaled the passage of the advance guard, ensuring their safety along the trail.
Just behind the royals, though, she saw a number of brightly colored figures pulling off to the side. Three quarters of the councilors had only attended the pageantry, and would remain in Corus to oversee basic kingdom functions and attend to their family concerns. Keladry knew the extra Riders and an army regiment destined for the supply train would join them, escorting them around to the northern gate for a less pompous reentry into the city. She didn’t know how many of the noble courtiers behind her would also join them. She hadn’t paid much attention to that part of the lists, save for the names she recognized, but she knew the final tally of the progress would be far fewer than the parade that launched them from the palace.
Looking back to the gates behind her, she watched rank after rank of the army march through. She felt giddy, realizing that she was finally on her way. Less than a week after her dismissal, she rode astride a beautiful pony wearing the uniform of a brand new school for girls at the palace. A proper pupil, not a probationer. She enjoyed daily weapons practice with the Queen, which she hoped would continue during progress, and held the promise of more training from Lady Dorset. Instead of retreating to convent in shame, or waiting for a trip to Yaman, she was riding out with the royals, already in service to Queen and country. Her eyes sparkled with delight. She couldn’t wait to catch up to Roald to thank him once again.