The word of Lady Uline's betrothal had traveled through the court surprisingly quickly, as the gossips had no other things to be concerned about- Lady Keladry being in bed with Raoul was old news, the King and the Champion even older.
This was a fairly tame piece of information, but it left Squire Nealan in a bad mood. He had a penchant for trying to achieve the impossible- or at least unlikely. Knighthood, years late, then being a healer on top of that. Crushing on Daine, even though she was quite obviously smitten.
Crushing on Kel, even though she wasn't his to crush on.
She came up to him, to tell him about Uline, and, he thought ruefully, she actually sounded sorry. He put a smile on his face, a smile he kept for Kel (and Wyldon, but this was for a different reason). He had new prospects.
"The Queen is looking quite lovely tonight..." he said, going on, letting his mouth talk and removing his brain.
He knew Kel wasn't listening to a single word, and neither was he.
Lady Keladry is looking quite lovely tonight... he ached to say.