Chapter Four: Excuses

The wedding went pretty smoothly. Surprisingly, no one fainted. Though Neal came pretty close. Yuki actually lost her Yamani mask for a few seconds and shed a tear or two. Raoul and Buri were surprisingly calm, though admittedly they ignored everyone except each other until well into the reception.

Dom had a bit of a jolt when he saw Kel in a full out court gown, with a hint of Yamani style to it. Until then, the only gowns he'd seen her in were very simple: just small reminders to everyone that there was a girl among them. But apart from walking her up and down the isle in the ceremony, he'd barely seen her. She spent most of her time talking to the newly weds. Dom, on the other hand, spent a lot of time catching up with Emris.

Spotting Kel a little ways away, talking to Owen and Merric, Dom called her over. "Hey Kel!" he called. "Come over here for a second, would you? I want you to meet someone." Kel excused herself and walked over to them.

"Yes, Dom?"

"Emris, this is a very good friend of mine: Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelin. Kel, this is my older brother, Emris."

"Pleased to meet you, milady." Emris took her hand in his and raised it to his lips, smiling flirtatiously. Dom's stomach gurgled unpleasantly. He resisted the urge to tear their hands apart. "Any friend of Dom's, is a friend of mine."

"It's a pleasure, Emris."

"Excuse me, Lady!" Kel turned to face Tobe. "Lord Raoul would like a word with you, when it's convenient."

"Oh, thank you Tobe." She scanned the crowd, finally spotting him on the opposite side of the room. "If you two would excuse me?" she asked and departed. Tobe took a suspicious looking exit in the opposite direction.

"The boy is Kel's servant Tobe," Dom explained, looking back at his brother, who was studying him closely. "What?" he asked.

"So Dom, are you and Kel…?" He raised his eyebrow pointedly.

Dom blushed. "Me—me and Kel? No! We're just friends, really." He felt his heart sink as he said this—embarrassment from the implied relationship, he was sure.

Emris stroked his chin thoughtfully, starring after Kel. "Well that's good news."

"W-what? Why?" Dom stammered.

"Because that means she's free to flirt with, of course," he answered. Dom, who had foolishly taken a swig of his water, coughed violently. "Woa there! You all right little brother?" He clapped Dom on the back. "You know, if you think it would be too weird, I won't. I mean, if you like her or something."

"Of course I don't!" Dom denied, blushing again. Why was everyone on about that lately? "I…I don't mind at all. It's just, well…" he cast his mind around for an excuse—any excuse. He didn't even know why he was so set against this. "You've always been a bit of a flirt, I guess. And—err—she's my friend, you know? I just don't want to see her get hurt." That must be it. That's why he didn't want them together.

"Oh don't worry about that! I won't let things get too far. It's just a bit of fun to have while I'm here, you know?"

For some reason, Dom felt the unexplainable urge to punch his brother. But he restrained himself—barely.

"Looks like she's done talking to what's-his-name," Emris commented. "I think I'll go talk to her. See you later, Dom."

"Sorry, Sergeant," Tobe commented from behind him again, once Emris had left. How in Mithros's name did he sneak up so quietly? "I tried."

Dom blinked blankly at the boy. "What do you mean? You tried to what?"

Tobe rolled his eyes, annoying Dom a little bit. Why did everybody keep doing that to him? "You don't really think Raoul wanted to see her, do you? I just made that up to get those two apart."

"Why would you do that?" Dom asked, though grateful for his attempt. Tobe didn't answer, just shook his head again, once more looking as though he knew something Dom did not.

Dom blushed again—he seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. Even Tobe thought there was something between him and Kel? What was wrong with everyone?! They were all blind. He and Kel were just friends. That was all they'd ever been, that was all they were ever going to be: friends. He looked up at Emris, who was now leading Kel onto the dance floor.

Heart sinking—with no idea as to why that was—he stepped outside onto the terrace, one of the room's many side-exits to the gardens.