As Kel rode into Fort Mastiff she was distracted from her thoughts about New Hope. As she reined Hoshi up Kel looked around her. She liked Fort Mastiff, though it didn't feel as homely as New Hope. She noticed Owen racing up to them so she quickly dismounted and walked over to him passing Tobe Hoshi's reins. She greeted Owen cheerfully and looked back for Neal. Neal was nowhere to be seen.

"He'll be heartbroken to find out Yuki isn't here yet." Owen muttered to Kel.

"Isn't she?" Kel replied mildly searching around for faces she knew. As they neared the officers quarters Owen relayed a message from Lord Wyldon,

"You are to report to Lord Wyldon after dinner." He said in his most formal voice, causing Kel to grin on the inside, with that he ran off to find Neal.

That night during dinner Neal was blabbering on as usual as Kel realised something,

"I can't believe she's not here yet, they were supposed to arrive this morning," Neal muttered.

"Where's Dom?" Kel wondered aloud.

"Wow I didn't even notice he wasn't here", Neal said quite surprised and finally coming out of his dreamlike state. At that moment a messenger ran up to Kel.

"Lord Wyldon wants to talk to you now, Lady Knight" he said. Kel smiled at the messenger and replied,

"Tell him I'll be right there" and with that she stood up, disposed of her dirty plate, and went to Lord Wyldon's tent.

As she entered Wyldon's tent she looked at her former training master and was surprised to see he looked worried. When Lord Wyldon finally noticed Kel he gravely acknowledged her,

"Good evening Mindelan." Kel quickly replied with a bow

"Good evening sir," still wondering why he was looking down.

"To get straight into business Keladry I have a mission for you," He started straight out not messing around with formalities.

"With all due respect sir I would like to be here for Raoul's wedding," stated Kel.

"Oh of course, I wouldn't dream of letting you miss that, I know how Raoul would feel if I did that. No, but I would like you to leave almost immediately after, If you're willing that is." Wyldon replied. "You see the other day we sent out a group to scout the border and try to save someone of great importance, who I'm afraid I can't name."

"Not at all Sir," Kel said.

"Good well, this group was supposed to send a messenger yesterday, well the messenger got here, though only just, he reported that they had found the person and that the scanrans had found them."

"What happened Sir?" Kel asked gravely.

"Well they were taken, the whole squad though amazingly the messenger reported that only one person was killed. Sergent Domitan's squad is missing and I want you to go and find them," Wyldon quickly finished.

Kel gasped, then realising she was in Lord Wyldon's presence placed her best Yamani mask on and replied

"Anything my lord."

"Good. I was hoping you would say that now you will only be taking a select few people, we have their whereabouts and you mustn't be found out." Lord Wyldon continued on with all the information as Kel listened.

Only when she was by herself would she allow her Yamani lump face to come off. As she heard footsteps she quickly looked up to find Neal gazing down at her with pity in his eyes. "What's wrong Kel? It's not often you cry."

"Dom's squad's gone missing and I have to go find them." Kel replied through tears.

"So are you crying for Dom or because you have to leave?" Neal asked jokingly. Kel glared at him.

"OK" Neal backed off with raised hands signalling his surrender.

"Listen I have to talk to someone, I'll see you later." Kel quickly looked up "don't you dare Neal, I told Wyldon I would."

"I'd do no such thing Kel" Neal replied all too innocently before rushing off. 'I'm watching you Nealan, I know you too well to know you'd just let this go.'