Disclaimer: everything recognizable belongs to Tamora Pierce. Also, the idea of Mindelan burning down was in a few different fanfics I've read, so I didn't come up with that either.

A/N: This part takes place shortly after Lady Knight.

Prologue

"I'm here to take you back to Corus, Kel. Your leave isn't optional. New Hope will be fine." Raoul sat on her bed, eyes watching her intently.

"I know that," she replied carefully. She straightened the papers on her desk, avoiding his eyes. "It's just…"

She put the papers down, sighing. She didn't know what to say. I just want to be busy. I don't want to go back. I just don't want to face it. Though she would never say so. Keladry of Mindelan didn't collapse under the pressure of extraneous circumstances. Too many conservatives examined her for weakness. Too many people looked to her for support.

"I know," he replied gently. He smiled as her hazel eyes turned to meet his own. "New Hope… takes your mind off things. But I'm under orders to get you back to Corus."

She swallowed, looking down at her hands in her lap. She could still smell the burnt flesh, feel the smoke burning her eyes. The sight of Mindelan in ruins; nothing left of her home but ashes and unrecognizable bodies. Why did it have to be all of them? Mama, Papa, my brothers… why were they all at Mindelan? No one was left. She was the heiress of burnt ruins. She was alone. Under Raoul's advice, she had handed the land over to the Crown. My shield's obsolete. What should be on it? Surely it should be repainted…

"Kel?" he interrupted her thoughts. "I know this is rather sudden. And you are under no obligation to, um, accept… but Buri and I have been doing a lot of talking, and we think that it might be a good idea… that is if you want to, of course, to um…" He took a deep breath, now looking down at his own lap.

Kel stared at him. Was Raoul stuttering? This same man who had talked to about the risks of seeing Cleon when she was a squire? This must be huge. "Spit it out, Sir." She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from grinning at his look of shock.

"Insubordinate."

"Hardly," she smiled. "You are in my camp right now."

"Actually you are dismissed from the post, if you recall. And let me finish." He met her eyes, but she noticed the way he wrung his large hands together. "We would like to adopt you as our heir."

Only years of practice kept her face blank.

"Now, forgive me if it's not our place," Raoul hurried on. "I know it hasn't been long since… but you know we both care for you… and we decided we aren't going to start having children of our own…"

Her eyes burned. She would have a family? A home? With people she knew loved her. She loved Raoul dearly as a second father.

"I would be honored, Sir."

"None of that Sir nonsense, if you are to be my daughter," he tried to be stern. But she noticed his over-bright eyes.

She didn't answer. Instead, she got up from her chair to join him on the bed. Wordlessly, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He slipped his own arms around her waist and held pulled her closer.

"Where would I be without you?" she murmured into his ear.

"You aren't alone, Kel," he responded, pulling back so he could meet her eyes. "You will never be alone."

"Thank you," she whispered, letting her mask slip from her face. "I could never have gotten through this without you. You're always there for me."

"Always?"

"You trained me, when I feared I would be a desk knight. You took me on as a squire when others were chastising you for it." She held a finger to his lips when he tried to interrupt. "Let me finish, please?" At his nod, she lowered her hand from his face.

"You believed in me to train me as commander. You placed bets on me. You assured Wyldon I was ready to run Haven. I know you did. You sent a squad after me on my traitorous mission into Scanra at a time the men couldn't be spared. So yes, Sir, you are always there for me."

At his raised eyebrows, she amended, "I mean… Raoul." She bit her bottom lip as she searched his eyes. Why isn't he saying anything?

Finally he replied, "I'll always be there for you, Kel."