Protector of the Small
| 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.
In the realm of Tortall, women are finally legally allowed to train for knighthood. Keladry (Kel) is determined to be the first official female knight. As the only girl in the entire training program, Kel faces many challenges. In this book, she is put on a year of probation by her training master, Wyldon of Cavall. She bitterly resents this, but is determined to prove to him that she's as good as any boy.
At the beginning of the year, her only friend is her year-mate and sponsor, Nealan (Neal) of Queenscove and a mysterious benefactor who occasionally sends her useful items. Kel and her family have just come back from the Yamani Islands where they have lived for six years. She also faces a dangerous enemy, fellow page Joren of Stone Mountain. However, as the year goes on, Kel declares an unofficial war against the hazing of the first year pages. She and Joren's gang often get into fights over hazing, since they have very different opinions as to what is allowed and what is not. As Kel 'rescues' more and more victims, others join her and Neal in fighting and friendship.
At the summer camp for pages, Kel and her friends assist Lord Raoul and the King's Own on a Spidren hunt. At the end of the year, Lord Wyldon surprises everyone by allowing Kel to continue to train to become a knight.
The second Protector book details Kel's remaining years as a page. She struggles to understand her changing body and opinions. For example, her first menstruation period arrives and she develops a crush on her best friend Neal. With the help of her very reserved maidservant, Lalasa, Kel manages to surmount all the challenges that nature throws at her.
Joren, her archenemy, appears to have stopped tormenting her. At first, Kel is distrustful of this apparent reversal of opinions, but gradually, she forgets to be cautious. When the ultimate attempt to force Kel to stop her training occurs, she must ask herself if Joren is really as repentant as he appears to be, and what it is worth to allow her fears to control her.
Kel's aptitude as a true leader is shown when she and her friends are attacked by bandits while camping in the Royal Forest. Kel keeps a cool head and gives orders, leading the boys to safety until Lord Wyldon and his troops arrive. In later training, Kel's growing skill with the lance and bow is clear, and she continues to prove her leadership skills in mock fights between her squads and other squads.
Through it all, she is forced to deal with matters of ethics and matters of the heart. After Vinson (an enemy and squire) attacks her maid, Lalasa Isran, she is forced into deciding to report him or to keep Lalasa and her job safe. Then thow in her difficulties while dealing with an infatuation with her best friend Neal.
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