The next chapter will be up soon, I have it written, all I need to do is edit it.

All character do not belong to me....ect.....

thanks for the reviews I really appreciate it.

Kel woke up unusually early, even by her standards. The animals and Tobe were still asleep. Not being able to get back to sleep she slid out of bed careful not to disturb Jump who was lying across her feet and picked up her shirt and breeches she has left out the day before and pulled them on. Tobe started to stir; he opened one eye and looked at her sleepily.

"Go back to sleep it's too early" Kel whispered and for once he didn't get up. She smiled and thought "He's finally starting to trust me again" a few months had passed since she killed Blayce the Gallan and been given that annoying name. "Protector of the Small" She hated the name and she always thought

"Why couldn't I get a better name?" the only good thing she felt that came out of the adventure into Scanra apart from getting the children back. Killing Blayce and stopping the production of killing machines. Was that now Dom's squad from The Kings own were now based at New Hope.

She sighed. Domitian of Masbolle, cousin to Neal, blue eyed and extremely handsome sergeant. Kel had an unreturned crush on him since she became a Squire to Lord Raoul.

"Who wouldn't" Kel thought. "He's a good laugh and worst of all so nice"

Kel picked up Griffin, her sword, as well as her glaive and headed outside. The sun had yet to rise but it was still light enough to practice. She headed towards the open space between the infirmary and the headquarters and started her practice. She started with her heavy glaive. There she practiced working her way through the complex pattern dances that were actually combinations of strikes blocks and feints, strung together so that a warrior could work long and hard, building up stamina with each step finishing with a rapid spin. She stopped short of a man slightly taller than herself, who stood with a shocked expression painted across his face.

Seeing his expression on his face Kel couldn't contain her laughter and broke out into a fit of giggles.

"You could have killed me" Dom exclaimed with a grin on his face and blue eyes sparkling.

"You have known me long enough to know that when I practice with my glaive in a pattern dance or any other weapon. You do not go near me unless you want your head chopped off." Kel said looking up at him and grinning. Her stomach flipped when she placed her eyes on his face.

"I will remember next time. Don't worry about me" he said with a wink. This time Kel's breath hitched.

"Why are you up at this time of the morning" Kel asked knowing full well that normally you couldn't see him out of bed until the sun had fully risen.

"Well I saw your beautiful self out here and thought I would entertain you" he said and winked again. This time her heartbeat raced.

"You pranked Neal didn't you?" Kel said her Yamani mask in place.

"No it was my squad" he said smiling. He was forever smiling and Kel loved that. Dom was renowned for pranking in the Third Company; thankfully Kel had never been on the receiving end because everyone knew that if you pranked Kel, her revenge would be devastating and embarrassing. They got too many horror stories from Neal and her year mates and no one in the third company wanted Kel's revenge inflicted on them.

"Seen as you have graced me with you presence do you want to have a sword fight because I am becoming rusty"

"Sure, but be prepared to lose because I haven't lost a sword fight in years"

"We'll see" was all Kel replied.