Hello my dears! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed! I'm very sorry for the extended time between chapters.
Chapter 2: Counting Stars
Kel was in full armor riding down a wooded road. She had what sounded like a few more people than a full squad behind her. Peachblossom's cadence caused her glaive to move slightly with every step, musically tapping the saddle to break the cautioned silence. Kel was vigilant, scanning the horizon then the middle ground, and finished with a sweep of the foreground. She knew Owen and one of the men of Dom's squad were flanking the main group, traveling stealthily through the woods scouting for any trouble. Out of the corner of each eye she could see the comforting presence of both Neal and Dom. Their eyes were as busy as hers, alert and scanning for enemies.
The terrain stayed flat and up ahead there was a blind curve to the right. Kel signaled Dom, who then signaled Wolset to check the road. The main party slowed their pace to allow Wolset time to scout. Many of the men took this chance to grab a drink, rearrange their packs, and stretch their arms. Kel's eyes never left the curve and she squinted with confusion and vague recognition. Something about this area seemed familiar but she knew she had never patrolled here before. She was about to ask Neal about it when the sound of thrashing and the snapping of branches drew her attention to the right.
The men drew their swords with a chilling synchronization. It felt like spiders were crawling down Kel's spine as she readied her glaive. A silhouette could be seen sprinting towards them, his sword drawn and his free hand waving frantically at them. When he had nearly cleared the trees, the man fell. Kel watched in horror as Owen hastily gathered himself to his feet, his eyes meeting hers as a needlepoint arrow punched through his armored breast.
Kel's heart screamed, demanding a complete emotional breakdown that she could not afford. Scanrans rushed their group from the woods, but not only on the side where Owen now lay, his eyes staring and vacant. They attacked from the opposing flank with no sign of their other scout while Wolset came thundering down the road with mounted Scanrans giving chase. Kel swung her glaive and cut a soldier deep into his side as he advanced on Peachblossom. Her mind reeled as she tried to defend, counter, and keep track of her companions and enemies.
Dom was fighting well and shouting orders for his squad to form a defensive ring. Kel followed suit, directing Peachblossom to back up while hacking at any Scanrans that didn't respect the range of her glaive. She quickly took count of the Tortallan fallen, trying her hardest to not see who they were. Kel did fine until she came across a man with bright red hair whose torso was stained the same shade. Merric. Her heart was crashing against the barriers born in Yaman, creating cracks that leaked panicked turmoil into her warrior calm.
They were horrifyingly outnumbered. Armed Scanrans continued to pour out of the woods on either side. One of them dodged her descending glaive and landed a slicing blow to Peachblossom's front leg. The gelding fell as his rider was forced to clumsily fall and roll to avoid being trapped beneath him. Kel didn't have time to react as she heard a scream in a voice that was normally more laced with sarcasm than pain. She turned in time to see Neal run through by a burly blonde Scanran. In an instant Dom was there, fighting the man who had slain his cousin with tears streaming down his face. Kel willed herself to move but it was as if she was in slow motion. She watched, helpless, as the larger man wore Dom down. In one quick motion of a Scanran ax, Dom was decapitated and Kel's Yamani mask shattered as she screamed her pain.
"KEL. KEL!" The voice was as urgent as it was dear to her. Kel shot upright, barely making it to the side of the bed before her stomach decided to relinquish its contents onto the floor. A green glow of the gift obscured her vision as Neal settled her stomach and added to his father's healing the night before. His eyes were knitted with concern as his best friend straightened, crossed her arms over her stomach, and began to shiver. He noticed the tears streaming down her face. Kel was the bravest, strongest person he knew. He didn't even want to comprehend what kind of nightmares would cause her to scream so loud she woke the entire infirmary. For the first time Neal could read Kel's emotions perfectly. And she was terrified. "Kel. What's wrong?" Neal said slowly, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible.
Kel turned and just looked at him in the eyes. Neal's eyes were the vibrant green of a fresh cut emerald and as luminous as his gift. They were eyes of the living. "I….um…." She said slowly, stopping to calm her frantic heart with several good long breaths. "I had a bad dream. That's all. I'm… I'm sorry I woke you Neal. I'll be fine after a walk I think." She said as she looked to Neal once more, the fragments of her Yamani mask pieced together enough to cloud her still reeling emotions.
The Lady Knight did not wait for permission as she threw the covers off her feet. Thankfully she was still fully dressed. Kel pulled on her boots as she apologized and promised to clean up the mess next to her bed when she returned. She walked with purpose out of the infirmary and into the beautifully clear summer night. Mastiff was quiet as she worked her way through the empty parade ground and up the steps of the wall to find a secluded spot between sentries.
Kel leaned shaky arms on the wall. Her old fear of height awoke with recognition of the empty 20 feet below her, but it would never control her again as it once had. The Lady Knight had new fears to haunt her.
That bend in the road. Kel's dream-self had recognized it and now she knew from where. It was the spot where they ambushed those Scanran knights and soldiers, swiftly dispatching the warriors before they even knew the numbers against them. Only this time she was the ambushed and it was those under her care that had been slaughtered.
Kel understood the necessity of her actions. Everything she had done in Scanra was in the protection of not only the captured civilians, but also of those left behind in Tortall awaiting Scanran troops. It was a textbook situation. The answer had been clear and her decision, while not easy to make, had been quick and sound. She understood all this. She understood the amount of blood a commander was responsible for. Yet, understanding did not stop the vile images of her friend's dismembered bodies from resurfacing.
What would all those nattering conservatives say?
Do you see now? Women have too much emotion, too much compassion to be in war. They are weak and unfit to lead. So, go home while you can. A spinster's life will suit you well, as no man would want such a Lump.
It was always Joren's voice that calmly scrutinized all her insecurities. Chillingly smooth, domineering, and abundantly cruel. This voice opened up all her emotional wounds and constantly poured alcohol onto them, not to cleanse or heal, but for the satisfaction of causing pain.
Lady Knight Keladry stared into the northern woods as the watchman called the hour of 4 candle marks after midnight, and that all was well.
Sir Nealan of Queenscove wearily smiled at a piece of paper in his hand. His betrothed, Lady Yukimi noh Daiomoru, had written a letter of good wishes and longing, all penned in her beautifully delicate script. She wrote of her increasing impatience, joking in a most un-Yamani like manner that she may just be engaged forever. Yuki. His Yamani rose with pale skin as pure as moon light and hair as dark as the deepest winter night.
Neal sat up suddenly and rummaged through his tunic until he found a small booklet with a very thin piece of charcoal. He scribbled the improvised verse onto a fresh page, in order to remember it so he could write it in his response this evening. At this point Neal would agree his first attempts at poetry were a bit subpar, but even Kel had to recognize the immense improvement in his latest verses.
Kel. Neal looked out the infirmary window onto an early morning, orange tinted Mastiff. The sun had risen not even a candle mark ago and Kel had yet to return to the infirmary. Neal knew better than to chase after her, knowing she would only deny that there was a problem and insist Neal get back to his rest after such a journey. There was no rest for a worried healer, so Neal relieved the infirmary night watch personnel and had spent the remainder of the evening contemplating his best friend, their journey, and even his beautiful Yamani Rose impatiently waiting for his return in Corus.
Maybe he should go try to find Kel now. Surely 3 hours of solitude was a respectable amount of time for self-reflection. Neal pushed the chair out and stood with purpose, gently placing the lightly perfumed letter on his desk before leaving his quarters.
It was not weakness. There was no lack of training, no lack of mental or physical strength. She had killed who knows how many bandits over her page and squire years. While their faces would haunt her dreams occasionally, the ones with known names forever burned into her memory, Kel had never actually relived one of those skirmishes. And certainly she had never transposed herself into her enemies' boots as her forces fell on them.
Is that the difference? This was her first calculated assault on an unknowing enemy. Her first ambush? Is that why she has these night terrors?
"Kel." Neal said her name softly, as if he might spook her to run if he was too loud. She didn't move. Her shoulders were low with resignation, as if she was expecting him to come to her eventually. Neal looked at Kel, concern mounting, when she cut him off. "How is Yuki? What is she up to in Corus? I bet there are a whole legion of court ladies at the morning naginata practice now."
The attempt to direct the conversation away from herself was rather pathetic. "Yuki is doing fine. At least, as long as we marry in the coming year that is. I believe she is getting quite impatient." Neal said with a smile before he became serious once more. "Kel, I think we should really discuss-" But he would not get to finish as a soldier in the maroon of the army came sprinting up.
"Lady Knight, Sir Nealan: Lord Wyldon has requested your presence immediately." The messenger said breathlessly before he turned and sprinted off to find yet another person.
Kel smiled wearily at Neal. "We'll discuss things later Neal. Right now we need to go see the Stump, as you would call him."
Kel turned and started jogging towards Mastiff headquarters. Neal watched her for a moment, certain now that her wounds were much greater than those of an ax tip to her shoulder.