EDITED

A/N: I'm sleep deprived, with really bad insomnia right now- so I'll probably end up re-posting an edited, improved version on a later date (once my Beta answers my text messages, e-mails, phone calls, etc- yah know who you are, RED!Garr, you'd think my own cousin would love me more than that! :sigh:

Beta's Note: This is a disclaimer: I know little of these books, not having read them in awhile. The Classics have occupied my time now. So, while I help grammar, punctuation, spelling, and the occasional attack of plot mice (or worse, bunnies) it's all up to my dear sister-cousin to watch the accuracy of the character's, places, etc. And I refuse to answer any means of communication if I don't feel like it.

A/N again damnit! Hey, since when dose the Beta get a note? Humph, and yes she WILL answer my e-mails and txt messages, you forget you only live an hour away, and while I love you like the sister you are, I now have a brother with a license And a car, so, beware! MWAHAHAHAHAH!! (plus I have GOOD blackmail on him!!)

Kel couldn't believe it, she didn't want to believe it, she didn't believe it. She couldn't stay- she was being kicked out. Lord Wyldon told her she wasn't good enough.

This all ran through her head in about three seconds. In another three she replaced her look of shock and hurt with one of solid determination and anger, then her blank Yamani mask. She looked at him, and stated in a quiet voice:

"You'll be sorry you ever uttered those words, my Lord, I swear on it. I will make you sorry." With that she turned on her heel, and walked quickly out of his office.

She was sad to leave Tortall, but she knew what she had to do. Become a Yamani knight. That would show Wyldon...that would show him more than anything. She quickly packed all her belongings into her trunk, fed the sparrows one last time, and started out the door. When she reached the hallway, she looked up. Neal. He looked as if he'd been crying, too.

"Neal, I want you to know...you're my best friend...and I'll write to you...and as much as it pains me to admit it, I'll miss you, sarcasm and all. Goodbye." She gave him a brief hug

"Kel, you'll do it, I know you will. And when you come back to make The Stump eat his words, I want you to know, I'll be right behind you. Laughing at him." He told her with a weak smile

Neal watched her as she walked down the hallway to leave for Yaman with her parents, on a diplomatic ship. He watched, and he cried. The realm lost a good knight when the king let Wyldon of Cavall stop Kel from continuing training.

5 Years Later

Kel leaned on the rail of the ship next toYuki and Shinko; she had been knighted by the emperor of the Yamani Isles. Three years earlier than she would have been if she had been permitted to stay and train in Tortall. The Emperor had told her to stay with Shinko. He knew Tortall was her home, and in a rare act of kindness, let her leave his service. Kel was glad, it meant she would get to live in Tortall again! She smiled to herself at the thought. She couldn't wait to see everyone's faces- she had told no one in Tortall of her knighting, not even Neal. She wanted to surprise everyone. Especially Lord Wyldon.

Yamani knights were some of the most feared warriors in the world, second only to the Shang warriors. Kel felt honored to have become one of the legendary fighters. She knew she would never get used to people calling her by the name the chamber had issued her at the end of her ordeal: The Griffin.

She stood up straight and let out a sigh, her smile temporarily evaporating. Tortall's port Caynn was easily visible now. As were all the nobles and others of the welcoming committee that was to meet them. She knew she would see Neal today. He had been taken on as the Lioness's squire, and the Lioness would naturally be there to escort the Yamani nobles to Corus and the Palace. The thought made her smile return. She took her position behind Shinko as the gangplank was lowered. This was it! The herald announced Shinko, Prince Etero Yukimi, and at last Kel.

"Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan and Yaman, the Griffin."

The crowd stilled, as all the eyes that were previously on the prince and princess and the other nobles turned to stare at her as she walked slowly down the gangplank to mount her old horse, Peachblossom.

Kel knew it was only a matter of time before Neal rode up the column of the procession to bombard her with questions. It was sooner than she expected, however. It took him less than 2 minutes after the procession started moving for him to gallop into view.

"Kel!" he cried in a stage whisper, as his horse fell in step with hers, narrowly avoiding Peachblossoms bite. "Why, oh why, didn't you tell me you were Knighted?" he asked, exasperated.

"Because this way it's more fun for me, and besides, I didn't want The Stump to have much time to mentally prepare himself for seeing me." She winked at him "Does that answer your question?"

"Brilliant!" Neal laughed at the top of his lungs. Kel barely suppressed her laughter. He coloured, and looked around.

"Oops! C'mon, the Lioness and Lord Raoul of Goldenlake and Malories Peak - as well as Buriram Tourakom, the Commander of the Queen's Riders, all want to meet you!"

"What?" Kel asked stunned "They want to meet me?"

"Of course! You are Keladry of Mindelan and Yaman, The Griffin, aren't you? Because if you aren't, I must really find my friend Kel immediately, you know." He said sarcastically.

When she made no move to go to the front of the procession, Neal waved a hand in front of her face

"Haallllo? Kel? You alright?" Kel blinked.

"Yeah, I-.. suppose we shouldn't keep them waiting." Kel said in a daze, stunned.

Neal rolled his eyes at her shock. "Aww, Kel, it's not a big deal, they're all really nice! Nothing to worry about."

Kel swallowed audibly. "Just follow me, and don't worry its no big deal. C'mon!" he nudged Magewhisper to a trot, and as Kel did likewise, he looked over his shoulder to see if she was following. When he saw that she was, he smiled.

Neal lead them up the column of nobles, Riders, members of the Own, and Knights. As the got close Neal leaned forward to whisper something to a group of three warriors, who were riding close together so they could talk quietly. There was a short, stocky, solidly built redhead Kel assumed to be the Lioness, an enormous man she assumed to be Lord Raoul, and a short, dark skinned woman with straight black hair tied back in a braid, riding a pony and wearing a uniform of the Queen's Riders. Kel guessed this was Buriram Tourakom, the Commander of the Queen's Riders. As Neal came up to speak to them, they all simultaneously turned there heads to look at her. And she suddenly found herself being surveyed by a pair of shocking violet eyes, and two bears of black eyes. She swallowed and said in a hoarse voice:

"Hello. I'm Keladry, The Griffin."