Disclaimer: I do *not* own any of the characters herein, nor do I own Tortall, Scanra, ect. All of the characters and places herein are owned by Tamora Pierce, I only request that you not steal my story line in which I have placed her characters and set in her world. Thank you.

The morning that dawned gray only because of the fog, was rather warm for autumn in the north. Keladry of Mindelan, Lady Knight, lay in the silence of her room at Steadfast. She could hear Tobe's soft snores as he lay still sleeping from their trip, she hoped rather delicately in her mind that he would soon trust her again and not feel the need to follow her everywhere.

Groaning as she moved Keladry, known as Kel to most of her companions, sat up in her bed. A warm body beside her made all the difference in the world to the comfort of her bed and Jump didn't seem to even notice her movements.

Her young servant, on the other hand, was now awake and observant.

"You know I don't need you until after breakfast, Tobe." Kel said as she walked behind the screen she'd been given to change behind. "You are allowed to sleep in, you had a long day yesterday."

"Know that, milady, but I wouldruther be at your side for the day." He eyed her rather suspiciously. "Don't know if you're plannin' to surprise me 'gain." He had gotten better as the months had progressed, his way of speaking more educated than street urchin in its sound.

Kel sighed, knowing she would never win this particular battle. Popping more joints as she stretched in her new clothes, which fit her as closely as any clothes made could, she looked at her appearance. Her hair was still cropped short only to about her ears, she was still tall for a female, and nothing was ever going to change the muscles she'd built up over her years of training to be a knight. The only thing that had changed over the summer months was her, though still rather small, breasts had grown enough to become more noticeable even in this outfit.

Walking out from behind the curtain she noticed that Tobe had changed. Not only had he changed but he, like she, had changed into practice clothes. His spear, this one less sharp than an actual weapon, rest easily in his hands. His eyes determined as he watched her, knowing her routine.

"Let's go, Tobe. There shouldn't be anyone in the practice yard this early." Which was true, it was still early enough that the watch hadn't changed, nor had the dawn trumpets been called. It was silent in the camp save for those who rose early like she and her young friend did.

"If I may ask, Lady, but are you goin'ta do this forever?" Tobe asked as they reached the practice yard. There were a few men, all practicing sword work or hand-to-hand combat but Kel couldn't make out who they were. King's Own, most likely.

"Do what forever?" Kel looked at her small companion as she readied herself for a pattern dance.

"This protectin' thing. Are ya gonna do't forever?" His speech slipping as Tobe got into his position.

"As long as I can." She said with a smile, twirling her glaive in a flourish. "As long as I can."

Tobe seemed to accept that answer as he too began his own sort of pattern dance. She had taught him not too long ago how to string together a few of the attacks made with a spear into a new pattern dance, meant for him and his friends back in New Hope.

Neither of the training pair noticed the attention that they were receiving from the other end of the training yard. The men watched and talked amongst themselves as they walked over to the two. All of these men, with the exception of two of the men, had rather recently seen both of those people in action and knew just how deadly they both could be.

As Kel finished her dance with a stamp and flourish- followed closely by Tobe who was a beat behind- she turned to the slow clapping that came from her left. Smiling as she turned she saw the faces of men she knew, and one in particular that she had come to miss.

"Always practicing, eh, Lady Knight?" Wolset asked as he leaned comfortably against a part of the surrounding wall. "Or are you planning on another trip soon?"

"You know me," She smiled and grasped her glaive in a comfortable grip. "always planning for my next… vacation."

"Well please don't do one until my lord is married." Sergeant Domitan, Dom to most, said as he walked towards her, his hand outstretched. "I'd hate to miss his marriage because you decide to go haring off again, to use his words." Kel handed her weapon to the waiting Tobe and then straightened, grabbing her old friend's hand in a strong clasp. "It's good to see you, Lady Kel."

"You know better than to add Lady to my name, Sergeant Domitan." Kel replied as she tightened her grip on Dom's forearm for a moment. Turning to Tobe she smiled. "If you could, Tobe, stow our practice weapons and then meet me near the mess?"

Tobe bowed as properly as he'd been taught and trotted off.

"He's so old." Wolset said as he pushed himself off the wall to walk towards the gate to the yard. "Seriously, he's just… old."

"Sometimes I thank Mithros for it, sometimes I wish the gods could let children be children." Kel said with a halfhearted smile. "Ready to eat?"

Dom, who'd been staring at Kel since she'd released his hand, started and merely nodded; a blush running up his neck that his men saw and snickered at.

"When did you get in?" Dom asked as they wound through the buildings towards the mess hall. "We didn't see you yesterday at supper, and not even before we went to bed. My lord was rather worried you'd been delayed, and Neal's beloved was beside herself with worry."

"Glad that I don't have that to worry about," Kel joked as Wolset and a few of the other men snorted. "Women worry too much."

The group ran into Neal, stumbling out of his rooms half asleep, and led him to the mess with them. All the while the men made fun of him for his haphazard appearance and the fact that he had been caught last night by the watch sneaking out of his lady's room.

Neal though, watched his cousin. Dom was being silent his eyes on his feet or on Kel. Not that Neal hadn't suspected Dom's affections for Keladry had become more than friend years ago… this was just the first time his suspicions were brought to light.

"So, Meathead," Dom finally piped up, slinging an arm around his cousin's shoulder. "Are you ready to take yourself off the market for mothers to gawk at?"

"Yuki is the only lady for me, and I haven't been a target of theirs for years." Neal raised his eyebrow at his cousin, his eyes narrowed. "What about you? Are you thinking of giving up this life of mud drudging solitude for the warmth of female flesh?" Neal's eyes darted towards Kel for a moment. A movement that went unnoticed by all but Dom.

"Can't say, Neal." Dom said with a half-smile. "I like this mud drudging life."

For some reason, that statement made Kel's heartache.