"So, Masbolle, how are you today?" Lerant of Eldorne, standard bearer of the King's Own, settled his tray at the mess hall table. The man sitting opposite lifted his blue eyes from his bowl of stew.

"All the better for seeing you, young Eldorne." Domitan of Masbolle answered. He smiled at his friend, long mouth curving upwards with real warmth. "How were the patrols?"

"Same as ever. The Riders were on poor form."

"Got the better of them, did we?"

"And then some." Lerant grinned, brown eyes lighting at the memory. "You see any member of Gret's Shadows for the next month, and the drinks are on them." He nodded happily, a comma of dark blond hair flopping into his right eye. Dom watched him push it away with a calloused hand.

"Any news from the Palace?" Lerant asked. "Dom? Any gossip?"

The older man seemed far away. "Oh, yes. Well, I was talking to Leah, the maid in the kitchens, you know…"

"…I know, and I know you know." Lerant smirked.

"That's a most unbecoming expression, Eldorne. Anyway, she said there's a wave of knights being re-called from the North, now the war is winding down. A lot of the younger knights. King's Reach, Hollyrose, Distart…um…not cousin Neal, he's on healer duties…"

"…thank the Gods for small mercies…" Lerant butted in. Dom ignored him.

"…and I think Kel is being re-called, too."

"Oh, wonderful." Lerant sighed dramatically. "I guess she'll be hanging about the Own again, now." He drummed his fingers on the rough wood of the table.

"I thought you two got on quite well, at the end."

"Yes, but. She's not one of us."

For all he liked Kel, Dom was flattered by the fizz of camaraderie there. The Own was Lerant's dearest family, closer than his blood, and Dom felt touched to be included. Fairness did make him argue the Lady Knight's case, though. That, and the fact he could see her walking across the mess hall towards their table.

"She rode with us for four years, Lerant. She's one of the good guys. I was with her in Scanra, and well.." he waved his hand vaguely as he searched for words, "…she's a hero, if there are such things." He could see Kel cross her eyes in mock annoyance as she slipped between the benches to stand behind Lerant's seat.

"I know." Lerant sighed. "Still, I never quite know how to take her, even now."

"Take me as you please." The voice sounded very close to Lerant's ear. He shrieked, a very high pitched noise, and spilt his mug of tea. Kel slid onto the bench next to him.

"How are you, lads?" She asked, cheerfully. Dom smiled blithely back at her, and began to fill her in on all the news of the Own. Lerant, busily mopping his breeches with a napkin, thought her mouth smiled, but her eyes were shuttered. He noticed Kel's eyes flicker, and they caught his for a second. Her lips twitched in a smile, an acknowledgement, Lerant thought. Then she seemed to laugh at one of Dom's stories. No, he considered, he still wasn't sure what to make of Keladry, at all.

"How is it to be back?" Dom asked Kel finally. They had been talking most of the afternoon, with various men popping by to say hello. Lerant had eventually headed off, citing some errands he needed to run for Raoul, and now the mess hall was nearly deserted. Only a few kitchen staff pottered about, clearing tables, clattering pots and pans. Kel watched them, and tapped one long forefinger on the wooden table. Dom could see the tension in the muscles of her cheek. "You'd rather be back in Scanra, wouldn't you." He stated mildly. The traitor muscles flickered under her tanned skin again..

"I am glad the war is over, Dom." Kel said. She turned her head to look him square in the eye. "I just don't know what use I am here, at the Palace. Surely the best place for me is up on the border. And I need to keep busy, I need to be occupied." She resumed her tap-tapping, calloused fingertips making a sharp sound.

"I would think, after nearly two years on the front line, you'd be glad of a rest."

"I don't need rest, I need work. I don't know what to do with myself."

"Kel, take some advice; have the rest. Sleep, read, train if you have to, but just be Kel for a little while, without all your burdens." Dom eyed Kel's dubious expression. "Raoul would say the same."

"Oh, I know it makes sense, Dom, really I do. I'm just not sure where to start."

"Well, go and train with the Yamani ladies. They'll be glad to see you."

"Shinko and the others are still at Port Legann. They're staying for the summer, with the baby. Well, babies when Yuki has hers.

"Really? Yuki too?" Kel nodded. "I must congratulate Neal." Dom sat back in his seat, eyebrows raised.

"That's why he's up on the border, still, so he can get leave for when the baby's due." Kel leaned her head on her hands. "I miss them all, Dom, I really do. The Yamani ladies. Neal, and Tobe - he stayed with all the horses at New Hope - even Fanche. I miss the noise, and the bustle, and being part of it all. I don't want to be the outsider again." Kel finished in a quiet voice, before taking a deep breath and rubbing her face with her hands.

Dom felt for her, he really did. He wondered if she had voiced such thoughts to him because he was the only one there.

"Well, you know you are always welcome with the Own." He said quietly. "I don't know if I'm any good for a game of fan toss, but train with us, if you want." He moved his arm, to pat her shoulder across the table, but Kel, face still in her hands, shifted position before he could do so. He carried on speaking to cover the fumble. "Lerant's just back from patrols, he'll be kicking his heels if you need some company." Now why did I say that? He'll be livid if he thinks he has to entertain Kel, and I'll never hear the end of it. Dom thought to himself.

"Thank you, Dom." Kel looked across at him. "I'm glad I have a friend in you."

"You have more friends than you think, Kel." He smiled, and took her hand this time, giving it a brief, firm squeeze. Kel returned his smile. "Now, I must go and do shouty sergeant things," he grinned, standing up.

"I shall go and read my book, and have an early and peaceful night." Kel stood too, and watched him go, blue tunic weaving through the late afternoon sunbeams in the mess hall. Dom had always been there, since she was a squire, a constant source of reassurance and support. She was glad he was still there.