Nealan of Queenscove
|
First Test Page Squire Lady Knight |
|
| Author | Tamora Pierce |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy, young adult fiction |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Published | 1999-2002 |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) Audiobook |
| Preceded by | The Immortals |
| Followed by | Daughter of the Lioness |
The Protector of the Small quartet is a series of books written by Tamora Pierce that tells the story of Keladry of Mindelan, a heroine in the fictional kingdom of Tortall.
The story opens in the realm of Tortall, where women have been legally allowed to train for knighthood since Alanna the Lioness disclosed her gender publicly; however so far no one has tried. Keladry (Kel) is a serious 10 year old who - with the support of her noble family who have just moved back from the Yamani islands after 6 years - is determined to become the first official female knight of the realm in over a 100 years. Conservative elements of Tortall's nobility are reluctant to let this happen for fear that it will derail training for men. One of the realms most outspoken conservatives, Wyldon of Cavall, who also happens to be the training master insists that Kel is put on a year of probation to determine her fitness for the program. While Kel is bitterly resentful of this additional burden atop the many other challenges that she has to face as the only girl in the entire training program, she is determined to prove to him that she's as good as any boy.
While initially Kel's only friend is her year-mate and sponsor, the contrary and academic Nealan (Neal) of Queenscove, she slowly finds her way with his help along with the assistance of a mysterious benefactor who occasionally sends her useful "gifts". Her determination, skill at arms - particularly with a Yamani glaive which is her weapon of choice - and inborn sense of justice gain her both friends (including the animal kind!) and enemies. Her primary opponent is fellow page, Joren of Stone Mountain, who has been marked by Wyldon as the best page in his year. Joren hates Kel's subversion of traditional practices. His unspoken antagonism takes physical form when Kel declares an unofficial war against the hazing of the first year pages, something that Joren and his gang revel in. As Kel 'rescues' more and more victims, her circle of allies widens and others join her in both fighting and friendship.
At the summer camp for pages which takes place at the end of the year, Kel and her friends assist Lord Raoul and the King's Own on a Spidren hunt. Her role in the skirmish that ensues showcases her natural ability as a leader. Her successes do not go unnoticed and at the end of the year Lord Wyldon surprises everyone by allowing Kel to continue to train to become a knight.
Kel is now officially a page but she has still to get through the next three years if she ever wants to fulfill her dream of becoming Tortall’s first female knight. These three years are not going to be easy as she continues to deal with relationships, training, hormonal changes, and an unshakeable fear of heights while the public page examinations loom which will determine her future ever closer in the horizon.
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Wikipedia