Joren stood with the other knights in the courtyard. He was leaning back, to eavesdrop on the people behind. It was between Kel's friends.

"...haven't seen her since just after we were knighted. She seems to have completely vanished." That was Neal. He was 3 years older than Joren, and had an inconvenient tongue.

"I heard some fool got her pregnant. I'd like to meet the idiot, if Kel hasn't got him already." Cleon had been in love with Kel for years. He had never told her, but it was obvious.

At the redhead's words, Joren's blue eyes widened. No, it wasn't...

The youngest in the group, Owen piped up, "Word has it that he left her pretty quickly. Never found out she was pregnant."

The door opening to admit the very object of their conversation interrupted their chatter. In fact, the whole room fell silent. She stood, uncertain of what to do.

Garvey muttered in a low tone, "Look, it's the Lump."

Joren felt angry. "You really shouldn't put yourself down Garvey."

He turned at the pat on his shoulder. Kel was exactly the same as before. "Sir Joren, I am a knight in my own right, and I am perfectly capable of telling a silly joker like that what is polite, and what should be kept in his own fat mouth." Her face was close to his, and filled with emotion. Now they were nearer, he saw her hazel eyes were tired, but there were no lines in her face.

She turned away, to her friends. "Neal! So you ARE a daffodil."

"Where have you been, Kel?"

"Raising my daughter."

"Who's the father? Who left you?"

Kel was cornered. She couldn't tell them. "Nice month, for a war." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Joren coming over. Even now, her heart skipped.

"Might I talk to you, Sir Keladry?"

"Is it worth the effort?" He drew her out of the yard.

Minutes later, those gathered there heard Kel's raised voice, and the urges Joren gave to quieten her. "No, I won't. Those who can't deal with it shouldn't listen." A low voice could not be comprehended. "How do you propose to commit suicide, then?" There was a BANG, and a cry of pain. "No, it was YOU. Don't blame it on me!"

Another loud bang, then Kel appeared with a confused Joren behind her.

"What did you do to him? Why does he want to commit suicide?"

"Nothing - I kicked the wall, in frustration. As to your second question, he offered to kill the father of Jodi."

Neal put two and two together, and came up with Joren and Kel. "You didn't" She began to cry.

"Kel! What were you thinking?"

Kel's face twitched, and she let out a sigh. "I - nothing. I don't know. He just left me. Didn't even know I was pregnant."

Prince Roald placed a gentle hand on her back. "It's all right," he murmured. But it wasn't, and all of them knew it.

--

The war had started because Scanra believed it could defeat Tortall. Now the Copper Isles and Carthaki renegades had joined Scanra in its quest for revenge. The Yamani Islands, Maren, Galla and Tyra were Tortall's allies. Tortall had the upper hand, having more allies, weapons, powerful mages including a WildMage, and, of course, the Dominion Jewel. Not to mention a sixteen-year-old dragon and a basilisk among their immortals.

Regardless of this, Scanra fought on. The Copper Isles and Carthaki had nothing to lose, so they also attacked with a fierceness never shown before. The knights of Tortall were in the thick of the fighting. Kel was thrilled to see her heroine in action. Alanna was ferocious, particularly when someone threatened her son, or the King. Kel had been assigned to assist Roald. As the heir to the throne, and the key to their alliance with the Yamani Islands, he could not be risked.

Daine was guarding the mages with a bow and arrow. Catching Kel's eye on her once, she winked, and said, "I don't trust anyone else to defend me." Kel had grinned, remembering that Daine was endlessly gifted with the weapon she wielded.

Joren seemed to be battling endlessly. Kel only saw his mare riding to and from battle.

One morning, Roald was in the healer's tents, helping. He had been bored, since no enemy got as far as the position he and Kel held. Having no magical Gift, Kel decided to attack with the army. The troops were lined up before battle, being inspected by Lord Wyldon.

A horn blast sounded, startling the horses. A skittish mare further down the line bucked nervously, tossing her rider.

Kel watched, horrified, as Joren landed.

"Stop," Lord Wyldon commanded. Kel ignored him, and dismounted. "Sir Keladry, care to explain the meaning of 'Stop'?"

"Find a dictionary," she called back. She continued to run, until Lord Raoul planted himself in front of her. She glared at her former knight- master. "You are no healer, Kel. We need you to fight for us."

Resentfully, Kel agreed.

Her fire in battle that day was astounding. None of the foe that got near her survived. She was formidable. The enemy retreated early, having too many dead or injured to carry on.

"Well done," said Lord Wyldon. "Glad to see you're putting that emotion to good use." Once again, Kel ignored him. She just wanted the war to end.

An idea struck. She dressed in her finest kimono and hid a sword underneath.

--

The enemy decided to withdraw from the war. Kel had managed to kill a Scanran prince, a Copper Isle queen and a Carthaki general. When congratulated on finishing the war, she shrugged and replied, "They should be more careful about letting women into their camps."

As soon as possible, she took Joren back to her house, in Paisleigh. He remained comatose, despite everyone's efforts to the contrary.

--