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Keladry of Mindelan returns, this time as a squire in the Kingdom of Tortall. Afraid the she will never be chosen to serve with a knight, Kel tries to convince herself that a squirehood of paperwork wouldn’t be the worst punishment in the world—but who is she kidding, it really would! Her first choice, Lady Knight Alanna of Pirate’s Swoop and Olau, has chosen her best friend Neal to be her squire. Luckily for Kel, Knight Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie’s Peak has had his eye on her since she first entered the palace as a lowly page. Relieved to be chosen, Kel sets out with the King’s Own for more of a hands-on education than she could ever hope to get inside the castle’s walls.
Shortly into her ride with The Own, Kel is attacked by an angry centaur fresh from looting a village. After a short tussle, Kel slays the centaur with one quick swipe of her glaive. After freeing her opponent’s hostage, she notices that his pack is emitting shrill squawking noises. Unfortunately for Kel, another captive is inside, this time in the form of a baby griffin. As legend has it, anyone who touches a stolen griffin is magically marked for life with a connective essence. Should the parents find her with their baby, Kel will instantly be killed. Unsure what to do, Kel scoops up the griffin who quickly makes mincemeat out of her hands and shoulders with his extra sharp talons.
As time wears on, Kel improves her jousting skills and continues her training as well as taking care of the griffin with the hopes that the parents are found and that Daine, the Wildmage, will communicate with then that Kel has done no harm to the foundling and has taken care of it to the best of her abilities. After a year of searching, the parents are located and take Kel’s burden off her shoulders (leaving plenty of scars for souvenirs).
Battle tactics aren’t the only thing keeping Kel busy—her friend Cleon is slowly becoming more than a sparring buddy. With poetry dripping from his tongue and long, starry gazes in her direction, Kel finally gives into her stirrings as Cleon kisses her for the first time. Hormones clash with her logical mindset; never one to marry, thoughts of weddings and children compete with her desire to win her knight’s shield. Can a lady warrior choose both?
Of the three books in the “Protector of the Small” series thus far, Squire is most well-paced, well-written and exciting book. Kel deals with very real issues in a graceful yet strong manner that makes her the perfect role model for girls (and women) everywhere. Brilliant!
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Squire: Book III of the Protector of the Small Quartet