Disclaimer: How should I put this? I don't own any of it. That ought to do it.
PS: If you haven't read What Dreams May Come this story may confuse you.
The Journey: Chapter 3: Farewell Sergeant Domitan
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Buri and Raoul had to practically carry me back. My leg decided that I had worked it hard enough and gave out without conferring with me first. With a little trepidation, I knocked on the door to Neal's office.
"Come in."
I pushed the door open and hopped in on my good leg. Neal grabbed the other chair and shoved it toward me. I sank down gratefully.
"Let me guess, you over did it and now its too sore to put weight on." Neal sighed theatrically.
"Just give me something for it, Neal. You know I had things to do. I was laid up too long. Anyway, you owe me."
Neal reached behind him and plucked a jar from the shelf without looking. "Yeah, yeah, go on. Take this, go soak in the furo for a bit and rub it on when you get out."
I cracked the lid warily. Whew! The scent was strong enough to make my eyes water.
"Hey! Don't open it here! It's bad enough when I have to make it in the still room. You could wake the dead with that stuff, but it works."
"I'll bet. Another of the Lioness' potions?" I had heard about Kel's bruise balm, but I didn't remember it smelling that strong.
"Actually, that came from Baron George's mother, Lady Eleni. She's a great woman. You don't waste any magic on that stuff. It's all done with herbs and extracts. Now go on. Wyldon will be here in time for dinner."
I hobbled out, somehow managing to avoid putting significant weight on my leg or dropping the jar. I washed off the grit from my trip to the barn and the riverbank with icy water that made my poor muscles tighten, then settled into the hot water. I could feel the kinks unwind. I must have been more tired than I thought because I dozed off.
Slowly I came to myself and figured that it was time to get out. I stood gingerly; my leg held my weight. I splashed around trying to get out without making a mess, then heard voices in the outer chamber.
"We really should get cleaned up before Lord Wyldon gets here. He isn't fond of filth and I feel disgusting." I heard Kel say.
I sank back into the water as the door opened. Yuki was the first to notice me. She giggled and backed up. I could feel myself blushing.
"Yuki, what are you doing? You're going the wrong way. Yukimi noh Diamoru you are standing on my foot." There was some scuffling, then Kel backed into the room.
I sank a little deeper into the water as Kel turned around. She looked at me and froze. I swallowed hard. A slow smile spread across Kel's face and her eyes glinted with mischief.
"Would you like some company?"
"Wha?"
Kel took a couple of steps toward the tub. I could not sink any deeper without risking drowning.
"Did you know that the Yamani do not think that the naked form is nearly as exotic as the partially clothed body?"
"Uh, they don't?" I stammered.
Kel shook her head. "No, they don't. If a young Yamani woman wants to attract someone, she loosens her kimono and allows the back of her neck to show." She said wickedly.
"Uh, they are? I mean they do?" I stuttered, ever so intelligibly. My mind tumbled over itself. I tried to engage my brain, but to no avail.
Kel grinned. "Did you also know that men and women often share the furo? It saves having to constantly reheat the water. It's very efficient." She made as if to remove her outer tunic.
Yuki popped back into the room suddenly. "Keladry no hentai! Stop tormenting Domitan." The feisty Yamani grabbed her friend and pulled her from the room, eyes twinkling.
After they left I got out of the tub and dried off, then applied the ointment as quickly as I could. The odor permeated the damp air. It was strong but in a way it almost smelled good. Heat radiated through the area where I rubbed it in. I dressed quickly as I could then gimped up the stairs.
I settled into bed and pulled out the lap desk and began working on my report about the battle and the aftermath. Sometime later, Kel tapped on the door.
"Are you decent, Sergeant?" She called. I could hear the laughter in her voice.
"Come in, milady," I called back.
She came in and sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry about earlier." I could see her suppressed mirth.
"No you aren't, don't lie. It isn't chivalrous." We both started laughing.
"Okay, I won't."
"Kel, what does hentai mean?" I asked as I wiped tears from my eyes. I watched the color creep up her face. She scrunched her eyes shut then buried her face in her hands and muttered something. "What was that? I couldn't quite make it out." I jibed.
"Well it means, um, Keladry no hentai means..."
"Yes?" I prompted.
"Shimata!" Kel swore. "It means 'Keladry you pervert."
"And are you?" I grinned.
"Of course not," she replied archly, then quickly changed the subject. "So what happened with Tadrith?"
"Don't ask. I know I told you I'd explain later, but I really don't want to go into it right now." I groaned.
"Does this have something to do with how he was acting earlier? Staring at me? Wanting to escort me places?"
I nodded. "I tried to explain. I really tried to make him understand. And I think he does, in a way."
"He thinks he's in love with me, doesn't he?" She sighed.
"Kel, I'm pretty sure it's just misplaced gratitude. You saved his life, after all."
"I did?"
"He said you might not remember it. You shoved him out of the way right before an arrow nearly skewered him."
"Bright Mithros," she groaned.
"He'll get over it, Kel. He's only seventeen."
Kel gave me a look. "And I'm nineteen, Dom. I just feel old."
"Almost twenty."
She shrugged. "How upset was he?"
"Fairly, but he'll get over it, Kel, trust me."
"I'm sure, but in the mean time I get to deal with him." She buried her face in her hands.
"He promised to stay out of the way, but he's not very happy about it." I thought for a moment then added, "The one you should talk to is Kendra. He was trying to court her before the attack."
"And now?"
"If she understands what is going on, she might be able to distract him."
"He's a nice boy, but I don't care for him like that. If you think it will work..."
"Well, I don't think it will make the situation much worse. So if you don't like him," I said, grinning, "who do you like?"
"As if you have to ask," she grinned. "I just need to avoid him until we leave. Hopefully, he'll forget all about me and focus on Kendra while we're in Corus. So what are you doing?" She peered at the sheet of parchment from across the lap desk.
"Writing my report for Wyldon. I thought we could raise his opinion of all of us if we got them done."
Kel nodded. "That's a good idea. One thing though." She leaned across the desk and kissed me. The thought that I might be able to do that for the rest of my life brought a smile to my lips. Not knowing when milord Wyldon would appear, we settled in our own beds to write.
Sometime shortly thereafter, I heard a whistle followed by the sound of the gates creaking open and hoof beats thundering across the packed earth. Given the level of commotion, I guessed that Lord Wyldon had finally arrived. I prayed to whatever gods happened to be listening that the man would be able to see past Neal's moments of idiocy and allow all of us to return to Corus for his wedding.
"Kel," I said, reluctantly. "I think Wyldon is here. Are you done yet?"
"Nearly. It isn't taking me nearly as long to write mine as it took on Neal's."
"Goddess," I exclaimed. "I should hope not! No one is that long winded."
"Neal is."
We both laughed. I heard footsteps below and muffled voices. Knowing that it would be much better if we at least looked like we were trying to work, Kel and I returned to writing our own, much abbreviated reports of what had occurred during the fight.
We could hear the muffled voices of Wyldon and Neal below but no actual words. We didn't hear any shouting or breaking of furniture, so I assumed that all was going as well as it could. It certainly didn't take long before we heard the sound of booted feet ascending the stairs.
"Where is your mistress boy?" We heard the unmistakable voice of Wyldon at the end of the hall.
"She and Sergeant Domitan are in the room down the hall on this side." Tobe's clear soprano answered.
"Am I correct in hearing that they share a room?" The knight commander's voice dripped disapproval.
"They only just woke this time yesterday, milord. Sir Nealan said since they was worst hurt they needed the most quiet. I mostly been stayin' outta the way, carin' for the horses 'n such like."
Kel and I looked at each other in the silence. I was glad that I had thought to leave the door open, partly so that the man would not have to guess where we were and partly to give the impression that nothing very interesting occurred in the room.
"My lord." Kel called. "We are down here on the right."
Lord Wyldon suddenly appeared in the door. "Why are you in here if you are now awake?"
"Because we are still under observation, my lord." Kel replied smoothly. "And there aren't any other beds to be had. Neal promised that we can go back to our own rooms tomorrow, so long as there aren't any other problems."
"I see," he replied, doubtfully. He looked at me intently. I swallowed hard but refused to look away. Finally he nodded.
"Well, what are you doing?"
"Writing our reports of the battle, my lord. I may not be able to walk very well yet, but nothing is wrong with my brain or my ability to write." I showed him my work. He peered at it for a long moment then looked at me sharply.
"Did you write Neal's report?"
I couldn't help it; I chuckled, "No, sir. But Kel and I did recopy it so that you could read it. It, uh, took the better part of today."
He nodded and I could see the faintest hint of a smile. "I had hoped not. I somewhat feared that his writing style might be in the blood line."
Kel and I looked at each other. Was the man actually telling a joke? I looked back at him, but the look was gone, replaced by a stern glance.
"Are you both finished with your reports?"
"Yes, milord," I replied.
"Nearly, sir," Kel said softly.
"Good. Mindellan are you able to get out of bed?"
Kel nodded.
"Good. I want you to go down to Sir Nealan's office and wait for me there. You can finish it there."
Kel nodded again, collected her papers and left the room. Wyldon closed the door behind her and then sat down on the cot.
"I've read Nealan's report and heard from several people what occurred on the field. Now I want to hear it from you. Start at the beginning and leave nothing out."
I told him the entire story including that which my dream had reminded me of. I finally stopped at the point where I had lost consciousness. Wyldon looked at me thoughtfully.
"Is that all, Sergeant?"
"Well, yes, I suppose so, my lord."
"Nothing else has happened in the last day since you woke up?"
"Nothing to report, sir. Today was the first time I was allowed to leave the room in a week." I could feel the heat creeping up my collar. What in the gods' names could he be hinting at?
"So what I heard in the report from Jesslaw is not true? You are not, in fact courting the Lady Knight?"
I stared at the knight, dumbfounded. Owen put it in his report? I closed my eyes and reminded myself to strangle the whelp as soon as I could. When I looked into the knight's face, though, I was completely puzzled. He was smiling.
"Perhaps courting is, then, to strong a word for whatever has occurred in the past few hours?" Wyldon laughed.
I sat there, stunned. I nodded slowly. I couldn't decide if I was dreaming or if this was truly the man my cousin called "the Stump."
"Raoul owes me some money then. So Sergeant, what are your intentions?"
"Sir?"
"Your intentions, Sergeant? Surely you have something in mind?"
"No, I don't," I stuttered. "I mean, we don't have any intentions, my lord. Except to see where this takes us. It hasn't affected our work today. We both had several people to deal with and..."
"Yes, yes, I know all about that fool, Valestone." Wyldon interrupted impatiently. "And I applaud your handling of the young clerk, what is his name? Tadrith?"
I nodded, numbly. "You spoke to Tad, milord?"
"Yes, he isn't very happy with you." Wyldon looked out the window. "He needs a distraction."
"He was courting one of Kel's spear students. Kel plans to talk to her and explain what is going on."
Wyldon nodded. "You plan to toss the girl he really cares for in his path and then get out of the way for awhile. That is probably wise."
He stood up and walked to the window. "I'm not a young man, Masbolle. I know the young men that I've trained better than I know my own wife and children. Mindellan is like a daughter to me even as some of the young men were like sons." He sighed.
"Sir?"
"Yes?"
"My lord, why are you telling me this?"
"Because I'm letting you know that Keladry of Mindellan will be assigned here for the foreseeable future. You must be able to work together without letting your emotions get in the way." He stopped, but I could see that there was something else. Foolish me, I wanted to know what.
"Sir, I understand that, but I still don't see..."
"Because, by royal commission, you are here by promoted to Lieutenant Domitan of Masbolle." He handed me a sheet of parchment with the royal seal at the bottom.
"What?" I gasped. I stared at the paper in disbelief.
"You are now in command of all three squads that are from this point onward, permanently assigned to New Hope as well as the additional two squads the crown is assigning," Wyldon said impatiently.
"Five squads, sir? That-that's an entire platoon."
"Indeed it is. Mindellan will take charge of the civilian populous, Sir Nealan will continue, with the help of Lady Yukimi, to run the infirmary. And you, Lieutenant are in charge of all military aspects."
My mind went blank. I had no idea what to say or do. Kel and I were both permanently assigned to New Hope? Together?
"Now if you will excuse me, I must get Mindelan's report and give her the news of the status change."
"Sir? Could you not tell Kel, I mean Lady Keladry? I'll tell her myself."
I thought I could see the ghost of a smile haunt the edges of his mouth. "Very well. Good day, Lieutenant, I shall see you tomorrow." He walked out the door.
I continued to sit on the bed in stunned silence. Lieutenant Domitan sounded strange. Someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Neal sauntered in. "Guess what."
I just looked at him. "We get to go to Corus?" I asked wryly.
Neal grinned. "All of us. We leave the day after tomorrow. Lord Wyldon is talking to Kel in my office right now. Say, what's wrong with you? I'd say you look like a stunned ox, but that might insult the ox."
"I feel like a stunned ox."
"Oh? Thinking about Kel again?" He smirked.
"Huh? Oh, um, no. Just things. Did you know that Wyldon thinks of Kel like a daughter?" I asked slowly.
"What? Where did you get an idea like that?" Neal scoffed.
"Said it himself," I muttered.
"When?"
"Um, right before he informed me that King Jonathon had promoted me to Lieutenant."
"Wait, he what? The king promoted you? When? Why?"
"I don't know, but I'm now in charge of five permanent squads stationed here," I said. Neal stared. Not prepared to deal with the implications of my promotion, I decided I should try to change the subject. "Neal, what did he say about your report?"
"They put you in charge?" Neal asked completely ignoring my question. "What, as a bribe to keep you in the Own?"
"I don't think so," I said. "The order came from the king, not my lords Raoul and Wyldon. I don't think he has any idea of our feelings."
"Does Wyldon know?" Neal asked.
I sighed, "Owen told him."
Neal stared. "He did what? I'll kill the brat."
"No you won't."
"I won't?" Neal looked shocked.
"No, because Kel and I get first tries."A thought struck me and I voiced it. "Ever since Sir Merric was called home to his family, we haven't had anyone in command of the defenses here. Kel's been stretched too thin"
"Huh! I hadn't thought of that. So you think they picked you because they need you. Maybe also due to how long you have served?"
"That and I'm happy up here. Like my lord, I like to be useful. Back there? I sit around polishing my sword and dodging marriage attempts."
"I thought you liked all the attention from the ladies." Neal stated.
"I did at one time. A lady is one thing, but a lady's mother or aunt is something else all together. I was usually glad to get back out into the field. After Raoul took Kel as his squire it got harder for me to deal with the airs and the heiresses. Then when Princess Shinkokami and Yuki came I sort of started to want something else."
"You wanted an equal, not a simpering lapdog," Neal commented with a grin.
"That's about it."
Neal stood up. I wondered if they were nearly finished with his office. I was getting sleepy. I started thinking about the mess that I would have tomorrow getting my things packed and entrusting someone to oversee the move into the officers' barracks.
"Say, Dom?"
"Hmm?"
"Who's taking your place?"
I closed my eyes against yet another problem to deal with.
"I suppose Wolset." I sighed.
Neal nodded and left the room.
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A/N: Okay so I've seen in multiple forums where the random use of foreign words annoys readers. I'm sorry, but I plan to use a few words and phrases. You see, Yuki's first language is Yamani not Common. So for her to suddenly say something in Yamani would not be unheard of. Kel spent several years there and is often around her friend so some of the habit is retained. But here is the catch: I won't neglect to tell you, my gentle readers, what those words mean. Dom is an excellent foil for this. He only knows the words he picks up from Kel and Yuki (or occasionally Neal). If he doesn't understand something, he just comes right out and asks, sometimes, as you've seen, with rather amusing results.
Much thanks to my diligent beta reader Sydelle Rein.
So what do you think?
