Chapter 1

Only Kel's training in the Yamani isles stopped her from dousing Neal with a bucket of water. If she had to hear one more poem…Yuki's wedding party would be short one groom. Normally, she tolerated her year-mates love-inspired insensibilities. However, lately, all the talk of romance was driving her mad. While she didn't have any relationship headaches of her own, Neal shared more than enough for the two of them.

'At least I'll have something to talk to Dom about; he'll love hearing about Sir Meathead's latest dilemmas.' She thought wryly. Early on their journey, she and Tobe had settled into exchanging grimaces every time Neal brought up his betrothed. Tobe had a real knack for faces, and once or twice Kel had to stifle a laugh.

Luckily for Kel—and Neal—they arrived at Steadfast that afternoon. Raoul, Buri, and Yuki were all waiting for Neal. Because of tight schedules, both weddings planned within the week.

Tobe and Kel let Neal run rampant on the fort grounds once they were admitted. 'He's another woman's problem now,' Kel thought airily as she stabled Hoshi. She had faith that he'd be able to find his Yamani bride without her help. The fort was relatively small.

"Well, if it isn't the Protector of the Small, come to rescue all us measly men of the third company." Dom's ironic voice was unmistakable.

The Lady Knight grinned. "Well, if it isn't the cousin of my dear friend Meathead; shall I call you Lambchop? You were right, all the mud has done wonders for your skin. It practically glows." 'Stop it, idiot, you sound like Cleon,' she added to herself. Kel wanted to take a playful swipe at his head, but she checked the impulse. It would be all too easy to rekindle the crushes she'd consistently had on him for the last five years.

Dom almost dropped his smirk when he registered Kel's response. While she still had her 'no-nonsense' mask on, she never would have made a comment like that when she was a squire. He suspected all the children running around at Haven had finally had an effect on her. She's come into her own. He thought.

Aloud, he replied, "In the name of all that is good, Lady Knight, I ask you to join this humble solider for a light supper." He gestured grandly, the epitome of a gentleman. If she could play coy, so could he.

She let her mask slip just enough for him to see her smile. "I think that's enough flowery speech for us, I seriously considered dumping Neal in the lake if he started one more monologue about the throws and pitfalls of romance." She let the last phrase roll off the tongue in a classic Neal drawl.

Dom grinned evilly. "Then remind me to bring up the subject next time we're all together and near a large body of water—would a horse trough be enough? If only you'd brought Peachblossom…"

Laughing together, the old comrades walked toward the mess hall, Tobe elected to stay with the horses. His lady was in a silly mood, but she deserved it. She was a girl, after all…

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Dom carefully regarded Kel as they strode into the mess hall, she seemed…happy. The last year hadn't been easy on her; he'd heard about her experience with the Chamber. Of all the gods that could have chosen her, of course it was the one who specialized in manipulating fear. Kel was incapable of doing anything the easy way. He was glad she'd finally found a home and purpose at New Hope, but part of him wished she could have stayed in the third company. It was always good to have her brilliant, dusty blond head around to help.

Kel stopped to look at him. "Thinking about something? You're unusually quiet."

Dom held up his hands defensively. "I leave all the thinking to people like Raoul—and you of course. I like to focus on things I'm good at, like carpentry."

Kel was going to quip back, but Quasim had come over to say hello. "It's been dull without you, Lady Knight. How are the birds?" The Bazhir asked.

"The flock is smarter than ever. I worry sometimes that they'll leave once New Hope becomes too boring for their tastes. Maybe Fanache's nightmare will come true, and they'll start a revolution to take over the palace."

"The birds' devotion to you will keep them by your side forever." Quasim said solemnly.

Across the room, Raoul roared, "Keladry, you finally made it! Yuki was starting to worry that you'd gotten sidetracked by a quest to kill another Scanran mage."

Buri, seated beside Raoul at the head table, elbowed the big knight playfully.

"Good thing I didn't, Dom would've missed all the festivities when he came to rescue me." Kel crossed the room and sat with her former knight master and his fiancée. She didn't notice Dom's blush. Someone brought her a bowl of soup, and she dug in as politely as she could manage. Riding always made her hungry. Dom joined them and tore into a loaf of bread.

Buri leaned across the table, toward Kel. "If Yuki hasn't claimed you yet, I'd like you to be my maid of honor in the wedding."

Kel looked up, surprised. "Me?" She squeaked, after swallowing the soup.

"It was your idea for me to go with Raoul to his family that midwinter, and that's what sparked all this." Buri waved her hand, gesturing to the banners that bedecked the mess hall. "Yuki also accredits you with her roping of Queenscove, so she wants you too. However, I'm older and craftier, and I've got Dom on my side."

Kel turned to stare at Dom. "You set this up? Manipulated me into coming here first so Buri could have her way?" She accused, mock angry.

Dom tried to look innocent. "Raoul is my commander. My loyalty goes to him, first and foremost. Consider yourself lucky that Ronald and Shinokoami are already married, and that their maid of honor was determined by politics—you were that couple's top pick too. But Raoul and Buri won't be too difficult to manage. And, do you really want to deal with all Meathead's flustering next week?"

Kel tucked away a smile and instead stared gravely at Dom. "I just want to make sure, is this blackmail or extortion?"

"Neither." Dom replied. "It's logic."

Kel shrugged, said she'd think about it, and suddenly became very fascinated with her soup. The comrades turned to talk about other things, and Kel felt a strange sensation in her stomach. She had inadvertently helped unite Raoul and Buri, Yuki and Neal, even Cricket and Ronald. Who was going to help her find someone? She stopped the dark thoughts there, picturing somewhere warm and placid in her mind's eye. Her Yamani mask smoothed back in place.

Dom noticed the change. He knew her well enough to recognize when she was shutting her emotions out. He even thought he knew which emotion she was hiding. Loneliness. She had her animals, she had Tobe, Neal, Merric, the refugees—everyone who needed her. What she didn't have was someone ishe/i could lean on. She was human—and a woman—after all…