Page (Tamora Pierce novel)
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Page is the second book in the quartet Protector of the Small, by acclaimed fantasy author Tamora Pierce. It details the continuing training of Keladry (Kel) of Mindelan, the first ever official female page.
Kel has been allowed to continue her training to be a knight. While she has been allowed to continue by Wyldon of Cavall, her stiff old-fashioned training master, she's still not accepted by many of the male pages. Though she and her friends Neal, Merric, Cleon, and Owen continue to fight the hazing of the first years, the others apear to have lost interest. Kel wonders if she is the only one who really cares.
Meanwhile, Joren of Stone Mountain, once Kel's self-acclaimed archenemy, appears to have drastically changed. Ever since he became a squire, he has been civil, almost friendly to Kel and her friends. She does not trust this apparent change of heart at first, but as the years pass, she begins to think that she has nothing to worry about from him.
At the beginning of the book, Kel hires a maidservant. Lalasa is the niece of one of the palace servents and her uncle begs Kel to take her. He claims that Lalasa has been treated badly by some people and that she will be left alone if she has a proper mistress. With some trepidation, Kel accepts and hires Lalasa. On the very first day of training, Kel also adopts a ragtag dog who calls himself Jump. Through Daine, the Wildmage, Jump communicates that he wants to stay with Kel. Even though she does her best to leave him with Daine, he always manages to return.
After Kel has fought her way through all the training, survived all the ordeals, she is finally allowed to take the 'Big Examinations,' the test given to all fourth-year pages to allow them to train to be squires. It is then that Kel faces the greatest test of all. She must choose between her duty or her dream.
[edit] Characters
Keladry (Kel) of Mindelan- the main character. She struggles to be the first official female page in over a century.
Nealan (Neal) of Queenscove- Kel's year-mate and best friend. He has a sacastiv view of the world and would rather study than train.
Owen of Jesslaw- a year behind Neal and Kel, Owen is a recless young boy. He is known for his abbounding courage and almost unflappable good nature.
Merric of Hollyrose- one of Kel's friends. She rescues him from Joren in the first book.
Joren of Stone Mountain- Kel's archenemy in the first book, he claims to have changed his viwes.
Lord Wyldon of Cavall- Kel's training master. He doesn't believe that girls have what it takes to be knights.
Lord Raoul of Goldenlake- the head of the King's Own. He and Lady Alanna trained together in the Song of the Lioness series.
Lalasa- Kel's timid maidservent. Lalasa is an accomplished seamstress and has had commissions from the Queen herself.
