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Character Study, Chapter 7 - Coggle Diagram

- - - - From the book it says, "At last she hit on a plan and bore her work to the armory. "
    - - From the book, it says, "Fury pounded at her temples and behind her eyes. Was this what Cleon had meant when he'd said to run while she still had a chance? She pictured the big redhead and sighed. No. He was the kind who would shove someone into a puddle. This sort of trickery would be too much work for Cleon. Getting her lance, Kel stuck the first plug back into its socket. She began to oil and polish the wood anew, thinking. Had Neal known about this? She tried to remember if she'd ever seen him touch her lance. No, he hadn't, nor had Wyldon, she remembered. Joren had been the only one to handle it before it got to Kel. Custom dictated that Kel alone would touch it once it was hers. Kel was sure that Joren wouldn't be the only one who knew. The joke was too good to keep to himself. He would have needed a palace carpenter, too. None of the pages would be able to do the kind of fine work the trick lance required. Enough warriors trained with weighted arms that a carpenter would think nothing of putting lead into a practice lance. "
  - - - From the book it says, "For the next three days Kel pursued her class-work and physical training doggedly."
  - - - From the book it says, "Kel stuck her little finger inside and scraped the dark substance. Inspecting the stuff under her nail, she realized it was lead. Now she went over the entire lance, not with her callused fingertips but with the more sensitive pads of her fingers. There were five more plugs spaced along the length of wood. She pried them out; each hid a hollow filled with lead. They were placed so that no part of the staff was out of balance with the rest. It had been cleverly done, the plugs replaced to match the grain of the lance and the whole polished until the cuts were nearly invisible. "
  - - - From the book it says, "Working in haste, she dropped her lance. It clattered across the stable floor, collecting dirt along its freshly oiled length. As it rolled, a small button of wood fell away, revealing a dark hole. Kel stared at the spot, wanting to cry. Now she would have to polish the lance again and find some way to fill the gap. Bending down, she picked up the piece that had fallen out. It wasn't a splintered chunk, but a perfectly cut plug two inches wide. The sides were sawed clean, tapering inward."
        
        From the book it says, "That's odd, she thought. Picking up the lance, she looked for the hole left by the missing piece. It was stark against the light brown of the wood because there was something black at its bottom. Kel stuck her little finger inside and scraped the dark substance. Inspecting the stuff under her nail, she realized it was lead. Now she went over the entire lance, not with her callused fingertips but with the more sensitive pads of her fingers. There were five more plugs spaced along the length of wood. She pried them out; each hid a hollow filled with lead. They were placed so that no part of the staff was out of balance with the rest. It had been cleverly done, the plugs replaced to match the grain of the lance and the whole polished until the cuts were nearly invisible. Kel lifted the other pages' lances. All weighed much less than her own. "
  - - - From the book it says, "Normally she rushed so no one had to wait long to eat, but today she did not feel kindly toward her fellow pages."
  - - - From the book it says, " It was time to stop playing the shy newcomer."
    - - From the book it says, "For the next three days Kel pursued her class-work and physical training doggedly."
  - - - From the book, it says, "'Shall I take the Lump away?' the Bazhir inquired of Joren. Gripping Zahir's index finger, Kel jammed her thumbnail into the base of Zahir's own nail. The experience, she knew very well, was a painful one. "
  - - - From the book it says, "At tilting practice later that morning she managed to hit Peachblossom's head and the quintain dummy, but not the target shield. The laughter of pages and onlookers rang in her ears, but she kept her feelings hidden. By the time she rode Peachblossom back to the stable in the wake of the other pages, she wanted to crawl into a dark corner and die. "
  - - - From the book it says, "Kel had been late to one class, to one meal, and to the riding corral "
  - - - From the book it says, "Only her sparrows' reaction to her arm-strengthening exercises - they lined up on her windowsill like spectators at a tournament - made Kel smile that day. "
  - - - When Wyldon was asking Kel how she got injured, Kel remained calm and lied.
        
        From the book it says, "'How were you injured? As I recall, you were in one piece earlier tonight.' She tried to breathe through her nose, and winced. 'I fell down, Lord Wyldon,' she said carefully. Lifting the handkerchief from her cut, she examined it with her good eye, and pressed the clean linen to the split in the other brow."
  - - - Duke Baird of Queenscove said in the book that she made it easy for him to heal her
        
        "'Beautiful,' he said with approval. 'You're quite strong, you know. I couldn't have done nearly so much if you weren't in the pink of health to begin with. You didn't fight me, either. You made it easy.' 'My mother cracked us on the head with her fan when we fought healers,' Kel admitted. 'We all decided it was better to let them do their work'."
  - - - From the book it says "Kel bowed, covering another yawn, and trotted to catch up with Neal."
  - - - From the book, it says, " 'Yes, sir. I mean, yes, your grace,' Kel said, fumbling the proper words for a man
        of his rank."
  - - - From the book it says "Kel looked down. 'He could change his mind,' she insisted. 'You always think
        the worst of him'."
  - - - From the book, it says "She smiled and returned to solving a puzzle. How was she to do her classwork for Monday if she was cleaning armor? At last, she hit on a plan and bore her work to the armory. First, she rolled chain mail in barrels full of sand to scour away dirt, until she wearied. Then she attacked her assignments. At her first yawn, Kel returned to cleaning. When the supper bell rang, she had scoured a large amount of mail and finished nearly all of her classwork.
- - - - From the book it says, "Both Roald and Neal were looking at her. She was certain that Neal didn't know about the lance, but what about the prince? He was one of Joren's year-mates. Despite his joining her and Neal from time to time, she wasn't sure what he thought of her."
  - - - From the book it says, "'I'd like to find whoever taught the Stump that extra work builds character and push him down the stairs,' Neal told Kel at lunch. "
  - - - From the book, it says, "She was certain that Neal didn't know about the lance, but what about the prince? He was one of Joren's year-mates. Despite his joining her and Neal from time to time, she wasn't sure what he thought of her. Finally, she decided that Roald didn't know. Joren had begun in the same year as the prince, but Roald, who was careful to eat with all of the pages so no one felt jealous, spent the least amount of time with Joren and his cronies. Should she tell them? She knew that Neal was her friend and she thought the prince might be. "
  - - - From the book it says, "'Don't mind my boy. He gets overenthusiastic, but he has a good heart.' 'I know that,' Kel reassured the duke, and yawned."
      - From the book it also says, "'I what?' Neal began to produce a series of outraged noises that included squawks and whistling inhaled breaths. He sounded like one of her young nephews having a tantrum, not like a fifteen-year-old who'd been raised at court and at the university."
  - - - From the book it says "Neal stared at her, eyes bulging. Finally, he said, 'If you meant to impress the
        Stump, you wasted your time. Don't you realize he'll never let you stay?'"
- - - - From the book, it says, "After that she gave her weapons and tack an extra cleaning for Lord Wyldon's inspection just before lunch. When he finished going over every inch of a page's equipment, he gave punishment assignments for the penalties collected during the week."
    - - From the book, it says: "Wyldon stared. 'I imagine you have now come to your senses and wish to go
        home. At this time of year that will be difficult'
        Surprised enough to forget her manners, she interrupted him. 'No, sir'."
        
        You can see that Kel is startled enough to forget her manners when she is speaking, which means that Wyldon used her weakness very well for her to talk.
  - - - Kel did not see Wyldon touching her lance when there was a lead inside of it.
        
        From the book, it said, "She tried to
        remember if she'd ever seen him touch her lance. No, he hadn't, nor had Wyldon."
  - - - From the book it says, "Never mind that," snapped Wyldon. "Answer me."
    - - From the book, it said: "A word after lunch, probationer," Wyldon called as she looked around for Neal.
  - - - From the book it says 'What did you say, probationer?' His tone made her stiffen."
  - - - From the book it says "'You have the armory Sunday afternoons
        until April,' he said at last. 'And an essay each week on the improper uses of
        combat training'."
  - - - "Now you'd better see a palace healer. That nose looks broken.
        Dismissed." Wyldon said from the book
  - - - From the book it says 'What did you say, probationer?' His tone made her stiffen."
- - - - From the book it says "'Are you all right?' Prince Roald wanted to know as they walked to their
        afternoon classes. 'You're being quiet even for you.' Kel glanced up. Both Roald and Neal were looking at her."
  - - - From the book it says, "Finally, she decided that Roald didn't know. Joren had begun in the same year as the prince, but Roald, who was careful to eat with all of the pages so no one felt jealous."
  - - - From the book "Kel thought for a moment 'She was certain that
        Neal didn't know about the lance, but what about the prince? He was one of Joren's year-mates. Despite his joining her and Neal from time to time, she wasn't
        sure what he thought of her."
  - - - From the book it says "he spent the least amount of time with Joren and his cronies. "
- - - - From the book it says "She could see he was waiting for her to refuse so he could say she thought
        herself better than the other first-years."
  - - - From the book, "he asked kel to fetch some books from the Mithrans' library, in a separate wing of the
        palace."
  - - - From the book it says "Kel's feeling 'Monday came soon enough.' By nightfall she was exhausted and wishing for
        another Sunday. Then Cleon, grinning hugely, caught her after supper."
  - - - From the book it says, "Then Cleon, grinning hugely, caught her after supper and asked her to fetch some books from the Mithrans' library, in a separate wing of the palace. "
- - - - From the book it says, "Zahir shoved another heavy book off the table. 'Pick it up,' said Vinson of Genlith, cackling with mirth. 'Can't have books on the floor.' Merric stared at the older boys with resentment, then got the book. Joren immediately pushed his volume off the table. As Merric stared at him, Joren then lifted a stack of smaller books with a taunting smile. His eyes never left Merric's as he let them drop one by one onto the floor."
  - - - From the book it says, "Joren laughed softly, shaking his head. 'Oh, this is too much,' he said at last. 'The Yamani Lump - our very temporary annoyance - will school us in proper behavior.' 'I shouldn't have to,' Kel told him. 'You should know how a true knight behaves.' A hand clamped around the back of her neck: Zahir's. She hadn't even heard him get out of his chair. 'Shall I take the Lump away?' the Bazhir inquired of Joren. Gripping Zahir's index finger, Kel jammed her thumbnail into the base of Zahir's own nail. The experience, she knew very well, was a painful one. He yelped and let go. Joren lunged for her. She stepped back, ducking under Zahir's frantic punch. Instead, the Bazhir hit Joren. Kel backed up to reach the open center of the library."
  - - - From the book it says, "Next time, she thought fiercely, hooking Joren's leg with her foot and yanking, next time I'll make sure I've got my back to the wall!"
  - - - From the book it says, "Zahir's frantic punch. Instead, the Bazhir hit Joren. Kel backed up to reach the open center of the library. Merric, to her relief, had fled. She was glad not to have to worry about him. Zahir was cursing and coddling his fist, his punch had connected solidly with Joren's skull. Joren rubbed the spot where his friend had struck as he walked toward Kel. He was crimson with rage. Vinson was nowhere to be seen."
  - - - From the book it says, "Zahir had recovered. Kel rolled forward as she went down, to fetch up against the legs of the table she'd just polished with Joren. Zahir moved in to kick her; she seized his booted foot and twisted, growling with effort. Off balance he stumbled and fell. Kel hurled a nearby stool at him. He rolled, covering his head with his arms. Then Vinson gripped her ankles, dragging her forward. Kel sat up and grabbed his hands. Someone grasped her hair from behind and yanked her to the floor again. Ignoring the pain as the hair-puller kept his grip, Kel rolled away from a punch. She clung to his wrists to keep him from yanking out a chunk of hair. The roll twisted her out of Vinson's hold on her legs. She kicked out, slamming her feet into Vinson's belly. That hand in her hair yanked, dragging her into the middle of the floor. Her grim-faced captor was Joren. Kel felt his wrist and dug her thumbnails into the soft flesh between the bones. He cursed and let go. Lunging to her feet, Kel ran into Zahir. Grinning, the Bazhir punched her in the stomach. When her scant supper came up, she made sure he got most of it. Another solid blow from Joren connected with her back, spinning her around. His second punch hit her face just as Vinson grabbed her. Next time, she thought fiercely, hooking Joren's leg with her foot and yanking, next time I'll make sure I've got my back to the wall!"
  - - - From the book it says, "Next time, she thought fiercely, hooking Joren's leg with her foot and yanking, next time I'll make sure I've got my back to the wall! Vinson was the last of the older pages to walk out of Lord Wyldon's study. Through the open door Kel heard the training master call, 'Send her in.' 'Here, milord,' announced the man who waited on Lord Wyldon in the evenings. Holding the door as Kel passed, he winked at her in encouragement."
- - - - From the book it says, "'Yessir, Page Joren,' she heard Merric say dully. Peeking through the crack in the door, Kel saw Merric place a fat volume on the table next to the blond page. As he did, Zahir shoved another heavy book off the table. 'Pick it up,' said Vinson of Genlith, cackling with mirth. 'Can't have books on the floor.' Merric stared at the older boys with resentment, then got the book."
  - - - From the book it says, "'Yessir, Page Joren,' she heard Merric say dully. Peeking through the crack in the door, Kel saw Merric place a fat volume on the table next to the blond page."
  - - - From the book it says, "Merric, to her relief, had fled. She was glad not to have to worry about him."
- - - - From the book it says, "Kel had been late to one class, to one meal, and to the riding corral the day before, when Peachblossom had been grumpier than usual. "
  - - - From the book it says, "At tilting practice later that morning she managed to hit Peachblossom's head and the quintain dummy, but not the target shield."
- - - - From the book it says, "A dark gray over-robe protected the black velvet tunic and hose he wore in mourning for the two sons he had lost. "
  - - - From the book it says, "Baird let go of her and rubbed his hands. 'I am impressed, young lady,' he told her with a wry smile. 'You have been royally pounded'."
  - - - From the book it says " 'You may have noticed my son has an endless capacity for drama,' Baird told
        Kel.She couldn't help it: she grinned, and winced as her split lip opened.
  - - - From the book it says "His father lifted reddish-brown eyebrows. 'Does this mean that you have come to your senses and will return to the university?' he asked mildly."
  - - - From the book it says 'I know that,' Kel reassured the duke, and yawned. 'To bed,' the healer ordered. 'You need the sleep'."
  - - - From the book it says, "'If you cannot be quiet while I work,' his father told him patiently, 'go into the waiting room'. Neal marched out. A moment later, they heard him arguing with himself."
  - - - From the book it says, "Duke Baird closed the examining room door and placed his hands on either side of Keladry's head. 'This may sting a bit,' he warned. 'Sting' was not the word Kel would have used to describe the healing of her broken nose. The flesh around it moved; cartilage grated. Her sinuses and teeth ached sharply, then throbbed. The pain stopped abruptly. She could breathe again. She could also see from both eyes. The ache in her left side was fading. A moment later, Duke Baird stepped away from her."