"Tamora Pierce - Protector Of The Small 3 - Squire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pierce Tamora)

Kel shook her head. "I thought if I survived the big examinations, I'd be fine. I thought somebody
would take me, even if I am The Girl."
She didn't mention her bitterest disappointment. For years she had dreamed that Alanna the Lioness,
the realm's sole lady knight, would take her as squire. Kel knew it was unlikely. No one would believe
she had earned her rank fairly if the controversial King's Champion, who was also a mage, took Kel
under her wing. In her heart, though, Kel had hoped. Now the congress that had brought so many other
knights to the palace was ending, with no sign of Lady Alanna.
"There are still knights in the field," Neal said gently. "You may be picked later this summer, or even
this fall."
For a moment she almost told him about her vision in the chapel. Instead she made herself smile.
Complaining to Neal wouldn't help. "I know," she replied, "and until then, I mean to practice. Last chance
to collect bruises from me."
Neal shuddered. "Thanks," he said. "I've gotten all the bruises off you this year that I want."
"Coward." She whistled for Jump, who leaped off the bed to follow her.
The practice courts were deserted. Lord Wyldon, the training master, had taken the pages to their
summer camp earlier that week, ahead of the traffic that would clog the roads as the congress broke up.
The combat teachers had gone with him; Kel saw only servants near the fenced yards where pages and
squires practiced. She'd thought that older squires might come out to keep their skills sharp, but none
were visible.
She saddled her big gelding, Peachblossom, murmuring to him as she worked. He was a strawberry
roan, his cinnamon coat flecked with bits of white, his face, stockings, mane, and tail all solid red-brown.
Except for the palace horse mages, he would tolerate only Kel. Abused when he was younger,
Peachblossom was no mans friend, but he suited Kel nicely.
Practice lance in hand, she guided Peachblossom to the tilting yard. There she studied the targets: the
standard quintain dummy with its wooden shield, and a second dummy with a tiny black spot painted at
the shield's center. They were too solid to fit her mood. Though it was a windy June day, she set up the
ring target, a circle of willow twigs hung from a cord attached to a long arm of wood. It was always the
hardest to hit due to its lightness. Today it whipped on its cord like a circular kite.
Kel rode Peachblossom to the starting point and composed herself. It was no good riding at the ring
target with an unsettled heart. Six years of life in the Yamani Islands had taught her to manage her
emotions. She breathed slowly and evenly, emptying her mind. Her green-hazel eyes took on their
normal, dreamy cast. Her shoulders settled; her tight muscles loosened.
Kel gathered her reins and resettled her lance. Part of the bargain she and her horse had made to work
together was that Peachblossom would answer to verbal commands and Kel would never use the spur.
"Trot," she told him now.
The big horse made for the target at an easy pace. The ring flirted in the air. Kel lowered her
fourteen-foot lance until it crossed a few inches above her gelding's shoulders. The lead-weighted wood
lay steady in her grip. Her eyes tracked the ring as she rose in the stirrups. On trotted Peachblossom,
hooves smacking hard-packed dirt. Kel adjusted her lance point and jammed it straight through the ring.
The cord that held it to the wooden arm snapped. Peachblossom slowed and turned.
With a hard flick - the movement took strength, and she had practiced until she'd gotten it perfect -
Kel sent the ring flying off her lance. Jump watched it, his powerful legs tense. He sprang, catching the
ring in his jaws.
A big man who leaned on the fence applauded. The sun was in Kel's eyes: she shaded them to see
who it was, and smiled. Her audience was Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, knight and Knight
Commander of the King's Own guard. She liked him: for one thing, he treated her just as he did boy
pages. It was nice that he'd witnessed one of her successes. The first time she'd seen him, she had been
about to fall off a rearing Peachblossom. That her mount was out of control was bad; to have it witnessed
by a hero like Lord Raoul, and ten more of the King's Own, was far worse.
"I'd heard how well you two work together," Lord Raoul said as Kel and Peachblossom approached.