Chapter One – Changes

Once inside the main square of the town, Tobe dismounted and gathered the reins of their mounts. He rode the horse Kel had brought him for his thirteenth birthday; a gelding chosen by him of a deep black almost blue colour. Tobe had called him Asher and for such a large horse, the then tiny Tobe had managed him splendidly. Now it seemed lucky he had chosen such a large horse for a pony simply would not have been able to hold him.

Kel also had a new horse. Peachblossom and Hoshi both remained in the palace stables used only for riding in Corus. Jump had also stayed in the capital for her last couple of tours; time had been kind on the dog but she didn't think it was fair to make unwilling animals travel when they were perfectly happy to stay where they were. Kel's new mare was called Streak for the band of white that spanned either side of her otherwise chestnut brown coat and for the sheer speed she seemed to manage without breaking a sweat.

Both Kel and Tobe took a minute to survey the inner-city as they unloaded their packs and gave their horses to a stable-boy. Wood had been replaced by stone and mortar; in the place of single-story barracks and communal quarters stood permanent town buildings and private homes sometimes with additional floors. On this, the other side of the wooden doors of the walls, the cobbled courtyard was surrounded on every side by white washed buildings that leaned over it in a way that Kel had never seen in New Hope. When their mounts were being led away and they had piled their bags on the cobbles a lean figure burst through the door of a nearby building and hurried towards them.

"Kel!" Fanche half screamed as she enveloped the surprised Lady Knight in her arms. Behind her Saefas, a bouncy toddler at his side and a bundle in his arms joined them smiling indulgently. "It's so good to finally see you again. And there's so much for you to catch up on!"

"And it's good to see you at last. How are you feeling?" When Kel had last been in New Hope three years ago it had been to attend the naming ceremony of the pair's first child. She had been chosen as godmother in the ceremony that had taken place just a month after her adoption of Tobe, making her feel strangely loved. When she'd been released by Fanche Kel pulled back and surveyed the tiny child in her husband's arms.

"Congratulations on your new little one both of you. Have you named her yet?" The four week old girl had wide bright eyes like her mother and a wisp of wild curls. She reached forward a tiny fist which Keladry touched with a finger. Suddenly the infant gripped it for a moment, just the tip, and released it to nestle closer to her father's chest.

"No but we know what she will be called. The ceremony's tonight. We'd like to ask you to be godmother again." Kel looked up at Fanche as her heart swelled with joy. When she smiled Fanche beamed in response.

"I'd be honoured." A small movement at the woman's side caught her attention. The toddler was hiding by his mother's leg but studying her curiously. His tiny furrowed brow sent her flying into the past when she had witnessed it before from his father. His features were so similar to the town's leader that it was eerie to look on it at such an early age. Despite Fanche's features, the boy had his father's colouring, eyes and seemingly, mannerisms too.

"And you must be Haive. You've grown so much since I last saw you! You definitely won't remember me." Kel smiled warmly at the shy child who she hadn't seen since he was a writhing pocket of warm blankets that had made her eyes prickle. Slowly, when the child returned her smile Kel reached out her arms and picked him up. He came willing up and she spun him round calling a squeal of delight from the three year old. "I bet your mother has told you to call me Auntie Kel to annoy me, but I don't mind honestly..."

Tickling her Godson, the Lady Knight made conversation with his parents about the town in which they were standing. Haive was oblivious; too caught up in the delight of a new and eager playmate that could throw him round and tickle him like his otherwise distracted father. Kel was also delighted to form a friendship with the child who would supposedly be in her care if anything happened to Fanche and Saefas, and yet who she had seen little of.

"Everything is really good; I'm getting bored frankly. The job's easy nowadays, not like when you were here – causing trouble whenever I turned my back." Fanche took the baby from her husband and watched her son and Kel smiling.

"Nonsense," Saefas interrupted with a sparkle in his eyes. He may have aged over the five years but the only show of it was laughter lines. "You love it here. Rounds and work in the morning and play with your son, and daughter, in the afternoon."

All three laughed and then Kel turned to Tobe, Haive propped on her hip.

"You remember Fanche and her husband don't you Tobe?" He stepped forward smiling, stretching out a hand and looking very grown-up. Saefas shook his hand and Fanche beamed in return.

"Son, I can see you growing just standing here - look at you!" Fanche mocked but with a twinkle in her eye. "And you're getting just as gorgeous as your ma."

Kel's mouth dropped open. Fanche had never, ever in all her years of knowing her, been emotional and complimentary. Hell, for the years when she had first arrived at Haven she had been downright rude and obtuse to Kel as camp leader because she was a new, green, Knight.

Fanche turned and, cooing to her newborn, ushered Kel and Tobe into the council building she had exited from, picking up a bag with her other hand. Kel was left to look at her husband for an explanation. Saefas just shrugged.

"She's getting soft in her old age and maternal as a cat with kittens now she had the second babe. It's the hormones." Kel just laughed and followed New Hope's leaders into their lodgings.

The rest of the day was taken up with a tour round New Hope and sitting in on several town matters to give her opinion as an honoured guest. Back at the council building, Kel and Tobe had been given rooms underneath Fanche's family apartment where they unpacked and had eaten a private meal before getting ready for the naming ceremony that was to be held behind the town on a square of land next to the river. A bonfire had been built and there would be food stalls and entertainment afterwards to celebrate the little girl's birth.

Having bathed, Kel dressed in a plain white tunic and hose while she decided what to put on. Fanche had said it was a formal affair in her letter and so Kel had packed one of the dresses that Yuki had helped her to choose for the naming ceremony of their third child that she had never worn. She also had a smart fitted tunic and tight trousers that she had bought at mid-winter.

Fanche had shown her that afternoon, with something close to girlish excitement and pride, the dress she had bought for the ceremony; it was a long flowing white affair cut in a similar style to hers and yet in Kel's opinion, slightly more reserved. Lalasa had made both dresses of course as a personal favour to Kel – Fanche's via messenger for design and Kel's through hours of tortuous fittings. Lalasa was now the Royal seamstress but still made all of her former employer's clothes both for in the field and out. At the moment she seemed to be experimenting with how much feminine style she could insert into the pieces before Kel refused to wear them; this year's wardrobe saw the Lady Knight wearing plunge, scoop and v-necks, short sleeves and mid-calf items. All in all Kel thought Lalasa was winning the war to make sure everyone remembered that she was the Second Lady Knight of the Realm; the dress before her in particular showed more than her conventional tunic and trousers ever would.

Deciding to try it on and see how it looked, Kel pulled the dress over her head. It was a deep emerald colour to bring out the flecks of green in her hazel eyes and had been modelled on the dress of the goddesses; roped shoulder straps with a deep v-neck, fitted at the bottom edge of the breast-band so that it could flare out down to its ending at mid-calf. Kel liked the way the colour made her look and upon gazing at her reflection in the mirror, wondered whether it was returning here that made her think how much she had changed or from noticing Tobe's growth this morning.

Her hair was longer – that was the most startling difference. The medium length cut she had favoured when in charge of New Hope had been replaced for a much longer and untamed approach. She cut it every now and then but her hair now fell down to her shoulder blades in wave that were highlighted in blonde from the sun. Yuki and Thayet had pestered her in morning glaive practise to try growing it just to see how it would look for months until she had finally relented.

There were other subtle changes about her too, which was no surprise after five years. Her skin was now a deep bronze colour from the time she had spent on the coast of Tortall recently. Faint patterns of freckles wandered her cheeks and her nose; a family trait Kel thought she had missed from her parents but had now found, much to her annoyance.

Kel had also finally stopped growing. At five foot nine, when she had been a tall girl now she was something close to an Amazonian woman. When her height had come to rest, the rest of her had realigned itself to give a hint of the Mindelan figure her sisters had received so early from their mother. Her hips flared down from her waist that followed a fuller bosom than she had realised would arrive when she was a Page. No longer was she a gangly girl; she was undoubtedly feminine but strong and lithe. There were muscles under the sparse curves she had but hard lines too that showed hours of work. Back in Corus she was looked on with admiration as well as wonder, awe and a little fear.

The dress showed her strong arms but also emphasised her shape. It looked good on her, Kel realised. Good enough for the godmother to the town leader's children least ways. With a quick brush of her hair that was left wetly curling on her back, Kel drew Griffin and its scabbard loosely round her waist so it hung in replacement of the corded belt that had come with the dress – she never went anywhere without her sword not even in New Hope. A cloak over the dress would help her stand the cooling night air until she was beside the fire in the clearing and was pulled on as she hurried through the door to call for Tobe.

The whole town had turned out at the bonfire for the naming ceremony of the little girl. Children ran in groups playing chasing games and screaming, oddly lit in the semi-darkness by the leaping flames of the fire. The sharp acidic smoke stung Kel's nostrils at first but became comfortable after a moment. It wasn't like the fearful smelling smoke of battle; it was filled with the excitement and joy of the occasion which chased away any unpleasantness that lingered in the act of destruction.

On the far-side, a ring had been made of small stones at the centre stood Fanche, Saefas and a priest dressed in a long flowing white robe. The adults of the town were beginning to gather around the edges of the circle and calling offspring back to them to create the order and serenity needed for the ceremony. The light of the fire moved swiftly from face to face, highlighting for Kel's brief gaze the happiness mirrored on each individual's expression. The memories of fear and danger that had long plagued the people of New Hope so long ago were just that now: deeply buried and dusty memories. Most of the people here now were unfamiliar to her.

Three years ago when she had last returned there had been a few familiar faces but it seemed that most of the refugees had returned to their places of origin leaving Fanche and Saefas as two of few remaining original inhabitants. But the town hadn't depleted in size – it had grown. Tortallans were eager to move here now so long after the war had ended and since the new council of Scanra had been so eager to trade with Tortall. New Hope was thriving with business as a trade route between the two allied countries.

Kel and Tobe stepped into the circle as the voices of the New Hope's inhabitant's fell into hushed conversation as they waited for the ceremony to start. Fanche had kept the name for the little girl secret between her and her husband so everyone was eager to hear what it would be. Haive had been named to commemorate the old refugee camp both Fanche and Kel had led that had stood not far from here. Kel was uncertain whether Fanche would do something similar with the naming of her daughter.

Tobe stood to the side where the godparents and their family stood to receive the child into their midst at one part of the ceremony, while Kel strode straight over to Fanche and Saefas to be introduced to the priest. After greetings and cooing over the children and the dresses Kel returned to Tobe's side as the priest began.

When the priest repeated prayers the voices of the inhabitants rang out in the night up into the sky. The only noise besides the priest of the Goddess was the crackling of the fire and the odd murmur from the children of the crowd. Once the speech and blessing were over, the priest called Fanche and Saefas over and asked them to present the child to him with her full name so that she would be known to the Goddess. Saefas smiled lovingly at his wife who held her daughter out to the priest proudly and together they told him,

"Goddess this is our daughter. Bless her and keep her. Goddess, please guide Hope Keladry Ploughman in every decision, in every moment, in every step along her path."

The priest greeted Hope and told her and her parents that the Goddess would watch over her. Next he called to Keladry to come and take Hope from Fanche as he assigned her as her Godmother. When asked whether she would love and care for this child if the time came for her parents to return to the Goddess, tears welled in her eyes as she agreed and repeated her pledge back to the priest.

With the ceremony nearly over Kel went back to Tobe's side and held Hope as the priest said another prayer for the baby girl's future and for the health and wellbeing of her parents so they might guide her as a child.

Finally the priest invited Kel and Tobe then Fanche and Saefas back to the centre to return Hope to her parents and to greet the rest of the crowd.

"Brothers and Sisters I greet you in the name of the Goddess," The priest said. "May she bless you with health and happiness, as she has blessed Fanche and Saefas with new life. Bear witness to the naming and presenting of Hope Keladry Ploughman to the Goddess and go forth and spread the good news. So mote it be."

And with that the crowd descended. They answered the priest with excited squeals and then circled Fanche and Saefas presenting gifts to the couple, to Haive and to Hope. Kel felt oddly content as a warm glow, not from the bonfire, filled her heart. She smiled and stepped away from the mass of people with Tobe at her side. He smiled up at her and put an arm around her waist in silent recognition of feelings that neither often identified aloud.

At that very moment Kel felt happier than she had been in months. She had a new god-daughter to spoil rotten for a week before returning to Corus and reality to help support the great realm that was Tortall.

Then as she turned and lifted her head, she caught sight of the last person in the realm that she ever wanted to see again, standing observing her by the bonfire.

Domitan of Masbolle.