From the book jacket Keladry of Mindelan has finally achieved her lifelong dream of being a knight - though it's not turning out as she imagined at all. With the land of Tortall at war with the Scanrans, she has been assigned to oversee a refugee camp. But Kel has also had a vision in the Chamber - a vision of the man behind the horrific battle machines that her fellow knights and friends are fighting without her. She is torn between a duty she has sworn to uphold and a quest that she feels could turn the tide of war...
not for some glorious cause, but to survive..."
- Keladry of Mindelan, Lady Knight
"You know, Mindelan, our lives would be easier if the dog just broke down and talked," Kel's friend announced. "I was winning that card game." He glared down at Jump. "There was no need to grab me."
Kel smiled. "If you're not bleeding, he was being nice, and it's not fair for you to play cards with ordinary folk." To Tobe she explained, "He remembers all the cards dealt."
Neal looked to see who she spoke to, and stared. "Kel, that monster has a boy under his belly."
chapter 2, page 32
"He [Peachblossom] just likes the way Neal squeaks when he's bit."
- Tobe chapter 2, page 36
At the top of the stairs, Kel halted. Below her, out of sight, she could hear Neal: "...broken finger, half-healed broken arm, cracked ribs, and assorted healed breaks. I'm giving your name to the magistrate. I'll recommend he look in on you often, to see the treatment you give your other servants."
"Yes, milord, of course, milord." That was Innkeeper Alvik's unmistakable voice, oily and mocking at the same time. "I'm sure my friend the magistrate will be oh so quick to 'look in on' me, as you say, once you're down the road..."
"Yes, well, I thought of that," Neal said, his voice quiet but hard. "So here's something on account, something your magistrate can't undo."
She heard a rustle of cloth. Alvik gasped. "Forcing a magic on me is a Crown offense!"
"Who will impress the Crown more, swine? The oldest son of Baird of Queenscove, or you?" asked Neal cruelly.
chapter 2, page 37
"Lady knight, come on," Neal called. "Let's go see if the Stump's forgotten us."
Kel mounted up. "Don't call Lord Wyldon that," she told him as they rode out of Bearsford. "I doubt he's forgotten you. He never threatened anyone else that he'd tie his tongue in a knot."
"Threats are the last resort of a man with no vocabulary," Neal said, nose in the air.
"Well, I have a vocabulary," said his father, riding behind them. "I have often wished I could tie your tongue in a knot. Several of them. I can describe them, if you like."
chapter 3, page 56
"You're an obnoxious canker-blossom," Neal snapped. "Go ooze somewhere else."
"On your way, Quinden," added Merric. "Before we help you along."
chapter 3, page 58
"Mithros save us, they'll allow just any freak of nature up here, won't they?" a familiar male voice proclaimed. Kel, Merric, and Neal turned to see the speaker...Under other mud Kel could see the familiar tunic, chain mail, and armband of a sergeant in the King's Own. "Meathead!" he called, handing his reins to a guard. "They sent you out with no keeper?"
Neal laughed and strode forward to hug the slightly taller man despite the mud...
Neal pushed Dom away. "Insubordinate!" he scoffed. "That's Sir Meathead, to you."
chapter 4, page 88
She tried to put herself on carpentry detail only to be politely refused. The third day the carpenters said no, she demanded to know why. She had experience, after all...The master carpenter explained politely that Sergeant Dom had said Kel was a disaster with hammer, axe, or saw, and they did not have wood or nails to spare. Kel spotted Dom up on the walkway, grinning down at her.
chapter 5, page 103
"I can help," Numair said abruptly. "I can move large rocks more quickly than muscle and oxen can do it, at least."
"Not the Sorcerer's Dance!" cried Neal. "That one is so old it creaks!"
chapter 6, page 137
"You don't respect me," Kel told him with her sourest glare.
Neal grinned. "I respect you heaps, lady knight. I'd've thrown myself off a bridge, getting this assignment. You, you're there with lists and plans. You listen to every flapmouthed bumpkin who thinks he can do your task better, and you answer with a smile and thanks. Why, you've inspired me to be a blessing to my fellow bumpkin, just like you." He fluttered his fingers in delicate farewell and trotted down the stairs.
"I can turn him into something for you, if you like," Numair murmured, startling a laugh out of Kel.
chapter 7, page 151
The man scowled at Kel "You?" he said in clear disbelief. "You are the commander of this camp? Impossible! I will not be governed by a, a shameless girl, a chit who's no better than she ought to be!"
The insult to Kel, the claim that she was nearly a prostitute, brought the soldiers growling to their feet. Kel gave them the hand signal to return to their seats, though she secretly appreciated their championship of her. Then she leaned forward and braced her fists on the table. Though her veins hummed with anger, she made herself smile mockingly as she looked at the Tirrsmont women. "Mistresses, have you ever noticed that when we disagree with a male - I hesitate to say 'man' - or find ourselves in a position over males, the first comment they make is always about our reputations or our monthlies?"
One of the new women snorted. Others snickered.
chapter 7, page 155
As Kel and her companions passed through the first gate, she heard a voice yell her name from twenty feet overhead. She looked up. Owen sat atop the inner wall, waving frantically. A hand grabbed Kel's impetuous friend by the sleeve and yanked him back onto the ramparts. Kel traded a head shake with Neal. Some people, like Owen, never changed.
chapter 9, page 183
"I thought you knew her. Did you believe she would let them take her people? And yet you left her, just told her to bury the dead and report here...I'd've wrapped her in chains and brought her back over her horse. This is the girl who risked having to repeat all four years as a page to find her maid."
- Lord Raoul of Goldenlake and Majorie's Peak, Commander of the King's Own chapter 12, page 260
"Well, you see? It's quite impossible." Esmond looked at Neal. "I'm in."
Neal smiled. "Thought so."
Seaver nodded.
Smashing his fist into his blankets, Merric growled, "I'm still weak as a newborn lamb. If only we could wait a day or so-"
"We can't," Seaver pointed out. "Not if we're to get her back soon enough that my lord will accept our story."
Merric looked up at Neal, his blue eyes ablaze. "Tie me to my horse," he said. "If you go without me, I'll tell Lord Wyldon..."
Neal looked at his year-mates and Faleron. "You do realize we should all be put in a nice, cozy room somewhere with muscular people to keep us from harming ourselves?"
chapter 12, page 266
"He should still be in bed!" she cried. "You had to tie him to his horse to get him this far!"
Merric smiled. "But I'm really well tied," he explained.
chapter 13, page 282
"You are what you were made to be, too."
- Nealan of Queenscove chapter 14, page 287
"Not our Sir Meathead," Dom commented behind Kel.
"You're like a dog with a bone about that name," growled Neal.
chapter 14, page 299
"Why didn't I start my page training with year-mates who were sane?"
- Merric of Hollyrose chapter 14, page 300
Gods all bless, Keladry of Mindelan. She stepped outside. She was still in Blayce's keep. Before she could shut the door, the Chamber added, with something that sounded like wicked humor, Protector of the Small.
chapter 18, page 389
"Sergeant Domitan, tell me these children aren't the result of your squad's Scanran frolics," Kel heard Raoul say cheerfully. "Though I do admit, some of them look a little old to be yours."
"Well, sir, my men helped," Dom said, the picture of boyish mischief.
chapter 18, page 397
Wyldon took a step closer to her, cupped her head in both hands, and kissed her gently on the forehead. "You are a true knight, Keladry of Mindelan," he told her. "I am honored to know you."
chapter 18, page 401