Lady Blythe studied her profile in the mirror. She'd been a beauty once, and her body clung to the remnants of her youth. Her hair had gone from black to silver, and her once smooth face was now deeply lined. Her eyes were still the sharp Masbolle blue; Dom had gotten his eyes from her. Blythe sighed as she finished pinning her hair; she was getting too old to play court games. 'Conservatives,' 'progressives,' silly labels men stuck on themselves like mud on pigs. She had no interest in taking sides, but it seemed she might not have a choice in the matter…

Her daughter-in-law was arriving today. The younger lady of Masbolle was not going to be happy when she discovered whom Dom was courting. Edolie was peculiar like that, she expected other women to act just as they had a couple decades ago; she didn't understand how times had changed. Blythe was never sure what her son had seen in that woman. Perhaps there was some truth to the saying, 'men with unconventional mothers want conventional wives.' Lady Blythe shook her head, bemused.

There was a knock on the door. The noblewoman straightened and waved for the maid to answer.

Edolie was as prim as ever, her veils and dress impeccably proper. She was a bit plump, and she offset her husband's lean appearance. It was obvious that Dom got his stature from his father. While Garrick had never served in the army, he had an unnatural interest in farming and often took to the fields along side his people. The result was a lean body that somehow looked more like a peasant's stuffed in a noble's attire than a Lord's with a lineage in the book of Gold. Blythe tucked away a smile at her son's awkward appearance.

Garrick bowed and kissed his mother's hand, and Edolie curtsied. Blythe invited them to join her over morning tea. Dom was unlikely to come for at least another half hour (it was best to allow him plenty of rest before facing off with his mother).

They sipped their tea and chatted with forced reserve. It was an old pattern which the two women easily fell into. Garrick, happily oblivious to the tension, ate with gusto and chattered about the upcoming spring.

Finally, Dom entered. With a flourish, he knelt and kissed his grandmother's hand. He offered the same courtesy to Edolie, who nodded in approval.

"Dom, my good man, how goes it?" Garrick's voice was a cheery, booming pitch and Dom grinned.

"War is over; I'm out of the Own and planning to fall back on the family fortunes for a bit before finding a respectable endeavor." His tone was light, teasing, and not a little self-depreciating.

"You've resigned your commission to the King's Own?" Edolie didn't miss a beat. "Excellent timing my dear, I must say. There's this lovely young lady I—

"Mother ple-ase!" Dom cut her off, pretending to be abashed. "Give a man room to breathe, perhaps sew a few oats before—

"Is that what Keladry is to you?" Blythe cut in sharply. No grandson of hers was going to…

"Who is Keladry?" Edolie demanded. She looked from her mother-in-law to her son. "You're courting someone." It wasn't a question.

Dom shifted uncomfortably and shot his grandmother a mournful stare. "You couldn't let this slip out casually, could you?"

"Of course not. Since you didn't bother sharing any details with me, I can't defend—or advise—you on this."

"But, WHO is Keladry?" Edolie repeated.

Dom took a deep breath and tried to center himself. "You might have heard of her as the Protector of the Small. She's the second lady knight we've had in a hundred years, one of the best—

"A lady knight! What indecency is this! Domitan of Masbolle, I refuse to let our name be attached to that…that…indecency." Edolie had her nose in the air, and her nostrils were flaring. It was something that only happened when she was preparing to go into hysterics.

Dom saw what was coming. "It's too late mother, I've worked with Kel for the last six years, and it's common gossip that we're---

"DON'T…YOU…DARE!" Edolie's voice was getting higher. "I spent the last six years defending you from gossip about your supposed relationships with other men in the Company, and then you do this! You go to far…" Her voice trailed off as she swooned in her chair.

Garrick got up to fan his wife. He reached into his pocket and pulled out some smelling salts. "Perhaps, Dom my boy, you'd better go for now, we don't want to push your poor mother any farther today." Despite everything that had just happened, Garrick's voice was still cheery and unruffled. It wasn't the first time he'd used the salts.

Dom shot his father a pleading look. "Try to make her understand…"

"That one's got about as much chance of understanding as I do of becoming the THIRD female knight in the century." Lady Blythe sniffed in Edolie's direction. She turned back to Dom. "I do apologize, my child, but that was going to come up sooner or later. Go, do whatever it is you had planned. Your father and I will do our bests to keep her distracted."

"And the Aunts?" Dom asked.

Lady Blythe tilted her head, considering. "Most of those ninnies will be scared off by the introductions you made last night. The rest…I will try to prevent them from spending too much time with your mother. As long as they don't band together, they're of no harm individually."

Whittling our opponents down to kindling? Dom mused. He said his goodbyes and headed to the bathhouse.

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Kel and Tobe went through their morning exercises with the glaive and then went to check on the horses. Some of the old flock visited them for breakfast, and Kel was ready with berries and bread.

As they reached the stables, Tobe was bombarded by horse speech. Peachblossom was anxious for another fight; he'd enjoyed stamping around the field yesterday. Conservatives squeaked even better than Neal when they were thrown. It wasn't even a squeak really, more of a very satisfying 'pop' followed by an 'oomph.'

Tobe snickered at Peachblossom's explanations. Hoshi was worried about the tournament; she wasn't going to be able to help Kel, since Peachblossom was the Lady Knight's charger. It wasn't fair that Peachblossom got to have all the fun.

Once the horses were fully groomed, Kel saddled Hoshi and took her out to play with the quintain. After several rounds, Kel was beginning to wonder why she'd bothered. Either she knew how to use a lance or she didn't. And the tournament would determine that soon enough. She brought Hoshi around again, and leveled her lace at the target. Kel hit the shield right in the center, and her lance shattered. Wonderful. If only the conservatives were as mild as this dummy… She noticed Dom watching her from the fence and she grinned. It was still hard to believe that the man she'd harbored secret feelings for five years actually felt the same in return. She dismounted and walked over to him.

"Morning soldier." Kel gave him a mock salute. "Isn't there somewhere you're supposed to be, instead of watching a madwoman trying to tilt herself silly?" She noted Dom's hair was dripping with water and he smelled very clean. She brushed a strand of wet locks out of his eyes as she tried to figure out his mood. He looked like a bird that'd just had a few feathers plucked…painfully. She changed her tone. "Are you alright?" She asked softly, running her hand along his cheek.

Dom's eyes peered at her through his dark eyelashes. "I'm as well as can be expected. My mother just arrived, along with her opinions. I'm surprised the horse was able to carry them both."

Kel grinned, though it was clear Dom was trying to be melancholy. "No worries as soon as the tournament is over, my and my progressive ideas will go as far away from here as possible…hopefully, back to New Hope."

Something was wrong with her answer, and she didn't know what. What she did know was that Dom's eyes became sadder as she tried to tease him out of misery. "I…um…I'm gonna go brush down Hoshi, I'll see you this afternoon, after the matches, all right?" COWARD!! the little voice chortled gleefully. Whose champion are you, if you can't even face the fears of the man you lo—

Kel cut off the thought forcefully, and led Hoshi back to her stall.

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Ackerely waited until the Lady Knight was out of sight before approaching Masbolle. He casually sauntered up to Dom and waited for the sergeant to notice him. Ackerely ended up clearing his throat to get the other man's attention.

"Interesting choice, Masbolle. At least it explains why you were so willing to spend the last several months in that mud pit of a refugee camp. I'm sure you had a very warm wint—

"If you want to challenge me to a duel, have the guts to do directly, otherwise you're wasting my time…and my temper." Dom eyes glittered with icy rage.

Ackerly of Tirrsmont was a little taken aback. He'd expected Dom to hit him, retaliate in a way that would make the lovesick sergeant look foolish. But Masbolle was cleverer than Ackerley had expected. Not that it mattered. "This afternoon, then. Practice courts. No need to bring witnesses."

Dom nodded in acceptance. "Don't want to embarrass yourself?" He asked. Ackerley reddened, but left without a rejoinder.

It was only several minutes after Ackerley left that Dom realized he was going to have to miss Kel's match if he planned to keep his appointment with Ackerley.

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Daisuke waited for Saru outside her tent in the Player's camp. To pass the time, he'd brought along his Sakuhachi, a Yamani flute that was almost three feet long and widened at the end. It was made from the durable bamboo wood, and it could be used to make very romantic music. He brought the instrument up to his lips and began a slow, soothing melody. Saru should wake up any minute now. He thought. She knew the tune, as she'd written it herself, a long time ago. Back when…

Daisuke's thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of Player's leader; a large Gallan wrestler with a ruddy complexion and strong features. He was handsome, in a brutish sort of way, Daisuke supposed.

"You don't belong here." The wrestler's arms were crossed, and the man looked distinctly hostile.

There's the story of my life, succinctly summed up. Daisuke thought mirthlessly. Aloud, he replied, "You have my sincerest apologies, sirrah. With all possible respect, allow to say I am simply waiting for a friend, I'll be gone as soon as I may."

The wrestler wasn't appeased. "Saru is busy, and I don't want her to be distracted." He was blunt, a sharp contrast to the Yamani methods of subtly.

"She is a Shang, not a player. She is owned by no one; and it is not your decision as to whether or not she will be distracted." Daisuke knew how to direct, too.

The man reached out to grab Daisuke, and the ronin danced out of reach. As he did so, he swung the flute and rapped the man's knuckles. The way the Sakuhachi was designed was no accident. Monks often used the flutes to gather alms, but also as a short club to defend themselves from unfriendly strangers. Like so many things in the Yamani culture, the Sakuhachi was more than it appeared to be.

As the man grunted and lunged again, Daisuke danced back a step farther and swung the flute, this time connecting with the man's jaw. Daisuke had heard Tortallans call that strike a 'nap tap.'

The wrestler went down cold. Moments later, Saru stepped out of her tent, yawning. "I thought I heard you playing." She mused, glancing down at her fallen comrade. "A wonderful combination of wind and percussion, I must say."

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Kel shifted anxiously in her saddle. Peachblossom flicked his ears back, trying to identify the source of her nerves. She patted his neck awkwardly with her gloved hand. Gathering the reins again, Kel whispered, "Charge."

Together, horse and rider hurtled toward their opponent, preceded by Kel's impeccably placed lance. Gritting her teeth, Kel braced for impact as the riders met.

Wood splintered, and Kel was knocked soundly into the back of her quilted saddle, but she stayed on. Her opponent was not as fortunate.

Breathing a sight of relief, Kel dismounted and offered her hand to the felled knight. Calle of Bonnett opened his visor and grinned up at the Lady Knight.

"Well met, Mindelan. Good luck with the rest of the tournament." His smile was a little too big, and he stumbled a bit as the healers led him off the field. Kel hoped she hadn't injured him too badly. There so few folk that approved of female knight that she couldn't afford to go around maiming them.

She scanned the crowd one more time. Dom was definitely not present. He might be out fitting the engagement ring. Kel shook her head. Her experience with the Chamber must have given her a morbid sense of humor.