First Test is the first installment of the Protector of the Small series, revolving around Keladry of Mindelan. It covers Kel's first, probationary year as a page, 552-553 HE. The novel is set in the autumn immediately following the end of the Immortals War at the end of Realms of the Gods. It starts with Kel deciding to accept Lord Wyldon's offer of probational acceptance into training, and ends with his decision to allow her to remain at the end of her first year.
Plot
Keladry of Mindelan wishes to be the first female page to legally try for her knighthood in over a century. The novel opens with a discussion between King Jonathan and the training master, Lord Wyldon of Cavall, during which the Lioness is present. Lord Wyldon convinces the king to put Keladry on probation for a year, which greatly angers Alanna.
Upon learning of the king's decision, Kel is outraged, though her years in the Yamani Islands taught her to hide her feelings well. She is puzzled as to the reason the king would promise to give females the same chance that males received regarding knighthood, but put her on probation. She is on the verge of refusing the offer of training with a probationary year when a fight with a spidren convinces her otherwise.
The book outlines Kel's first year as a page, in which she is constantly tormented by those who do not want a girl in their midst.With Nealean of Queenscove as her sponser, she struggles to find friends and to prove to Lord Wyldon that she is just as good as the male pages.She i sagainst hazing and dose what she can to help the other pages.This helps her make friends and gain the respect of a few other pages including Prince Roald,heir to the tortallan throne. She truly believes that she will be sent home at the end of the training year, and is pleasantly surprised when Lord Wyldon allows her to continue training.
Kel's second year of training occurs in the second book in the Protector of the Small Series, Page.
Main Characters
- Keladry of Mindelan
- Wyldon of Cavall
- Nealan of Queenscove
- Veralidaine Sarrasri
- Joren of Stone Mountain
External links
| Protector of the Small | |
|---|---|
| Novels: First Test • Page • Squire • Lady Knight | |
| Pages/Squires | Keladry of Mindelan • Nealan of Queenscove • Owen of Jesslaw • Cleon of Kennan • Esmond of Nicoline • Faleron of King's Reach • Garvey of Runnerspring • Joren of Stone Mountain • Merric of Hollyrose • Quinden of Marti's Hill • Crown Prince Roald • Seaver of Tasride • Vinson of Genlith • Zahir ibn Alhaz • Balduin of Disart • Dermid of Josu's Dirk • Iden of Vikison Lake • Prosper of Tameran • Teron of Blythdin • Warric of Mandash • Yancen of Irenroha |
| Knights | Alanna the Lioness • Anders of Mindelan • Conal of Mindelan • Gareth of Naxen the Elder • Gareth of Naxen the Younger • Inness of Mindelan • Jonathan IV of Conté • Myles of Olau • Wyldon of Cavall • Douglass of Veldine • Imrah of Legann • Ansil of Groten • Jerel of Nenan • Nualt of Rosemark • Paxton of Nond |
| Other Nobles | Adalia of Mindelan • Baird of Queenscove • Ilane of Mindelan • Oranie of Mindelan • Piers of Mindelan • Thayet of Conté • Tilaine of Mindelan • Harailt of Aili • Maura of Dunlath • Turomot of Wellam • Uline of Hannalof • Burchard of Stone Mountain • Cythera of Naxen • Lachran of Mindelan • Padraig haMinch • Sebila of Disart • Vanget haMinch • George of Pirate's Swoop |
| King's Own | Flyndan Whiteford • Qasim ibn Zirhud • Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak • Aiden • Balim • Derom • Domitan of Masbolle • Emmet of Fenrigh • Fulcher • Gildes of Veldine • Glaisdan of Haryse • Lerant of Eldorne • Noack • Osbern • Symric • Ulliver of Linden • Volorin • Wolset • Lofren |
| Haven Residents | Connac • Einur • Fanche Weir • Gilab Lofts • Gragur Marten • Gydane Elder • Hildurra Ward • Hobard Elbridge • Idrius Valestone • Loesia • Meechiyel Elder • Olka Valestone • Oluf • Oswel • Peliwin Archer • Qafi • Saefas Ploughman • Snalren • Thurdie • Vidur • Waehild • Weylin • Yanmari • Yngvar • Zamiel Fairview |
| Commoners | Eda Bell • Gower Isran • Hakuin Seastone • Lindhall Reed • Numair Salmalín • Obafem Ezeko • Salma Aynnar • Stefan Groomsman • Timon Greendale • Upton Oakbridge • Veralidaine Sarrasri • Lalasa Isran • Hugo Longleigh • Tianine Plowman • Buriram Tourakom • Onua Chamtong • Urfan Noll • Alvik • Breakbone Dell • Eulama • Gothar Weir • Hevlor • Lukin • Rengar • Terrec • Tobeis Boon • Tollet |
| Foreigners | Chisakami • Kaddar Iliniat • Nariko • Eitaro noh Nakuji • Haname noh Ajikuro • Maggur Rathhausak • Shinkokami • Yukimi noh Daiomoru • Blayce the Gallan • Irnai • Stenmun Kinslayer • Zerhalm |
| Animals | Arrow • Jump • Peachblossom • Hoshi • Peg • Crown • Freckle • Duck • Nari • Quicksilver • Shepherd |
| Others | Balcus Starsworn • Bonedancer • Ivor • Tkaa • Yayin • Danayne • Iakoju • Graystreak • Iriseyes • Jealousani • Maresgift • Chamber of the Ordeal |
| Places | Tortall: Corus • Tortallan Royal Palace • Balor's Needle • Olorun River • Royal Forest • Mindelan • River Domin • Haresfield • River Bonnett • Owlshollow • Queensgrace • Anak's Eyrie • Bearsford • Fort Giantkiller • Fort Mastiff • Goatstrack • Greenwoods River • Haven • Northwatch Fortress • Riversedge • Fort Steadfast • Yamani Islands • Scanra: Vassa River • Pakkai River • Smiskir River |
| Events | Scanran War • Battle of Forgotten Well • Royal Progress |
| The third quartet set in the Tortallan Universe by Tamora Pierce. | |