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IN PAIN AND PASSION
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Keladry of Mindelan stretched her arms far above her head. I was standing nearby. The late-afternoon sun shone down brightly, sending beams of light across her face. I wished that I could wrap my arms about her waist and gently kiss her neck. I don't have a Yamani mask to hide my feelings like Kel does; My pining look must have been visible on my face, for Kel put her hands on her hips and gave me a glance.

"What?" she demanded. I didn't know how to answer her.

"I was just thinking about how pretty you look in the sunlight," I flirted, kicking myself for it. Kel smiled.

"Thank you," she said softly. We had been sparring in the practice courts, keeping in shape. The Yamani Islands were trying to get us to go against them in war, but our king did not agree to it, so we'd yet to be given posts. Just in case, I was still practicing. No one likes a fat, lazy sergeant.

"It's so quiet without Meathead's prattling," I said, thinking of my cousin. He and his wife had returned to the Yamani Islands for the duration of the war. Neal did not want his Yamani bride to be exiled from her family. It was a noble act on his part, and I hope that I would have done the same if it were me.

"He talks enough for the whole court," Kel agreed with a grin. "That's one thing I don't miss, the excessive noise. I have become lonesome for a chess partner that I can actually beat. Raoul's too hard."

"I'll take that challenge, my Lady Knight," I said, flirting again, though not as noticeably. "I don't have a critical-thinking bone in my body, and I'm certainly no good at chess."

"Would you like to come now?" Kel asked as we walked down a pathway. "I'll make some tea."

Would I?!, I thought.

"Sure," I said casually. Kel smiled and led me back to her room. I hesitated even after she unlocked the door. Kel stopped, waiting for me to enter. "It doesn't look proper," I said, trying to cover. Kel rolled her eyes and pushed me. I stumbled forward and she closed the door behind us. Kel bustled over to a table, pointing me to a chair near the hearth. A chess set in a marble box sat on a nearby table.

"Would you set that up?" she asked, putting the kettle to heat. I watched her spoon out little bits of tea, thinking that she looked good in the candlelight too. Kel glanced at me and saw that I hadn't touched the chessboard. "Today, please," she chided. Sheepishly, I began to line up the pawns.

Ten minutes later we both had mugs of strong Yamani tea, and Kel had already captured two of my pawns and one rook. As she took one of my knights, I sighed.

"You didn't tell me you were a master-mind," I teased. Kel smiled. She was about to reply, but someone knocked on her door.

"I'm sorry. I'll be right back," Kel said standing up. She looked down at me sternly. "No cheating."

I watched her over my shoulder. There was a letter-carrier in the hallway, holding a big parchment envelope. He passed it to my lady knight, and Kel thanked the messenger and closed the door. I watched still her as she unfolded the parchment. She smiled lightly when she saw the handwriting.

"It's from Yuki," she explained. I nodded, sipping on my tea. I turned back around and studied the chess board, looking for a move. I heard Kel drop to the floor. I jumped up, barely noticing the spilled tea or the broken cup.

Kel had her head in her hands.

"What is it?" I asked, snatching up the letter. The writing consisted of big blocks and swoops that were completely foreign to me; I couldn't read it. "It's in Yamani," I said. "Kel, what is it?"

She turned tear-stained eyes up to me. I swear I could hear my heart shatter.

"The Emperor had my parents executed," she said. "They tried to appeal to him, but he wouldn't acknowledge them. So my father went into the council room uninvited, and the Emperor had him arrested. He and my mother were found guilty of treason, and the Emperor sentenced them to death by beheading." Kel dissolved in her tears. I pulled her into my arms letting her cry onto my shoulder. I was crazy for thinking about it, but she smelled good, like leather and ink and maps.

As my tunic grew damp, my anger grew as well. I wanted to fly across the ocean and beat that man until he was nothing but pulp. He had stolen Kel's parents from her.

I was content to hold Kel all day, but my right leg wasn't. It fell asleep. I carefully lifted Kel up, and carried her over to her bed, ignoring the pins and needles in my offending leg.

I sunk down onto the mattress. Kel clung to me as she cried. I'd never seen her like that before. In an attempt to make her pain stop, I kissed her. She tensed as if she'd never been kissed before. I pulled away, feeling suddenly awkward. Kel looked at me, her eyes changing. She leaned up and kissed me back.

Then she looked determined, kissing me again and again. I kissed back, ignoring the little voice in my head that told me I was moving too fast for her.

…..

In the morning, I awoke with Kel in my arms. Her weight beside me in the bed was the most glorious thing I'd ever felt. Even in sleep, she looked beautiful. The look of exhaustion had lifted from her face; she'd slept soundly. I kissed her forehead.

"I love you," I whispered. It was okay to say that because she wouldn't hear; she was asleep.

"What?" Kel mumbled. She opened her eyes slowly. The night before must have replayed in her mind, because she looked pained for a moment, but then she gave me a soft smile, kissing my cheek.

"Thank you for being so good to me," she whispered.