September 13-14, 460

Steadfast

Lies at Breakfast

Keladry of Mindelan lay on her bed in Steadfast. She thought about her new residence, New Hope. "I know they're capable of defending themselves, but I still worry about them. I miss them." She was in Steadfast for the wedding of her old knight-master and the commander of the King's Own, Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, and Buri, the commander of the Queen's Riders. Neal and Jump had come with her. Anxious to see his betrothed, Yuki, Neal was irritable for most of the ride. "He's in love. You can't hold that against him, even if he is being a Meathead." Kel thought to herself.

Kel herself was anxious to see her friend, and Neal's cousin, Domitan of Masbolle. She didn't know why she was more excited to see Dom than any of her other friends. No matter how she tried to explain it to herself, she couldn't figure it out.

Kel and Neal had arrived late, and had gone straight to their chambers, and both fell asleep instantly. Kel got up and changed into practice clothes. As she started her morning routine with her glaive, she pondered on the Chamber of Ordeals. It had set her with the mission to kill Blayce, and Stenmun. She hoped it wouldn't be expecting her to go on anymore of its quests. "It was horrible not knowing if I'd ever find Blayce. I definitely have had enough of the Gods quests for one lifetime." She finished her routine, washed, and put on a fresh tunic and pair of breeches, then exited her room to go eat breakfast.

As she entered the mess hall, she sighted Neal, Yuki, Owen, Seaver, Raoul, Buri, and Dom. They all greeted her, as Dom offered her a seat beside between him and Owen, which she gladly took. As they ate their porridge, and sausage, they discussed Raoul and Buri's upcoming marriage, and New Hope. Dom seemed especially interested in hearing from Kel how the new town was coming along. She told him that Fanche had been chosen the town's headwoman. Dom laughed heartily at hearing that, and slyly commented, "She knows how to get her way." At the sound of Dom's laughter, Kel's stomach twisted into knots, and she it was she could do not to blush. "Not again!" She thought to herself in her years as a page and squire, she had had a fair share of crushes. She was happy she had never told Neal about her crush on him in her second year as a page, but she still felt uncomfortable when she thought about her relationship with Cleon. They had courted, and even discussed sharing a bed, and no matter how she tried, Kel still felt awkward about that.

"Kel? Are you okay?"

Kel realized that someone was talking to her, and replied, "Uh, I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You didn't look fine a minute ago." Buri had a look of concern on her face. "Are you sick?"

"No, I'm fine." Kel plastered a fake grin on her face and returned to eating her porridge.

After breakfast, Neal pulled Kel aside, and asked, "What's wrong? No, don't lie to me and tell me everything is fine. I know you better than that, so out with it."

Kel considered for a moment. "I was just thinking about the Chamber. I'm sorry if I alarmed you, but really, I'm okay." She knew it was a lie, but she couldn't tell Neal what she had really been thinking of.

A relaxed look told Kel that Neal had bought her lie, but instead of feeling better, she only felt worse. "What if I really do like Dom," she thought, "I'd never be able to tell Neal." And that worried her. If she couldn't tell Neal, how would she ever be able to confront Dom?