Chapter 11
KEL
As skilled as Jovan and Neal were, Kel was unable to leave her sick bed for four more days. When she thought no one was looking she had swung her legs to the side of the bed and tried to stand. It not for Tobe she would have fallen. She half listened to his lecture about ladies who were too cracknobed to listen to healers. Kel then allowed the boy to tuck her back into bed and fetch some green tea. In the years he had spent with her she had taught him how to prepare green tea the way she liked it. Using her small whisk he beat the tea till a green froth formed. As she sipped the steaming brew her thoughts once again drifted to Dom. Jovan's arrival interrupted her musings.
Smiling he held his hand to her forehead to check her temperature. The smile turned to a frown when he noticed blood seeping through a bandage on her side. Unwrapping the wound he asked, "Tried to get up did we?" He smeared some pink paste on the now opened gash.
Wincing Kel said nothing. When first applied the paste stung. It took only moments for it to cool and take the hurt from the injury.
Looking to Tobe the healer raised his eyebrows. Tobe knowing better to tell on his employer merely shrugged his shoulders.
"I believe we agreed that tomorrow you would try to get out of bed." Jovan could not keep the smile from his lips.
"Humppp", was Kel's only reply.
When Kel was finally allowed to fully leave her sick bed two weeks had passed. She was healed and declared fit for duty.
Merric and Owen had been sent to Fort Giantkiller to assist with rebuilding and training schemes for the surrounding villagers. Since the war the Crown had decided that each village and town should have their own active combat groups. Nobles and commoners alike were trained and drilled in the use of weapons. Knights were to be responsible for the training.
Neal had been given the task of schooling healers. He taught the most effective ways to heal battle wounds and stressed the importance of clean water and the correct disposal of human waste. Yuki travelled from village to village with him. It was she who dealt with the various community leaders. Neal had proved himself incapable of tolerating those who sought to slow or interfere with his work. Yuki, with her kind ways and delicate manner had been able to smooth the way for hot tempered husband. They were a good team. Each fortnight they returned to report to Lord Wyldon and to gather new supplies. Since the snows had begun to fall they had been limited in how far they could travel. They both prepared to spend the colder months at Fortsteadfast.
Wyldon had kept Kel busy with paper work. Supplies had to be tallied and stored for the winter ahead. Birth, marriage and death records needed to be copied and sent to Corus. Weapons were counted and checked for damage. Arrangements and requests for new weapons were sent to the Capital.
Many other Knights would have complained and protested at such tedious work, but Kel was content. While her mind was busy with mathematical tasks and her hands busy with lists and inventories she did not have to think about her attacker. She did not even mind the blue ink that stained her fingers. Only Tobe knew she was still having nightmares.
It was only at night when she was alone, that her world shook. Sleep became unbearable. Each time she felt her eyes close she imagined he was there. When sleep did overtake her she would later wake, bathed in sweat. Her throat raw from silent screams. What was worse was that the dreams were not about her. Each time they featured one of her friends or one of the children she had rescued. She watched as Vinson attacked them. Each dream ended the same way. Vinson would pause from his pleasures and turn to look at her. He would smile, his lips and teeth stained crimson not with wine but with blood. Licking his lips he would start toward her. It was then that she would wake.
When she did see Neal and Yuki Kel behaved as she always had. As always she was efficient, good tempered and hardworking. Busy with his work it took Neal some time to notice the changes in Kel.
She no longer laughed easily. Her mask never came off. And when she thought no one was looking her hands shook.
Twice he had tried to ask her about her attacker. Twice she had lied to him, he was sure of it. As a page and squire Kel had never been able to lie well, it was not in her nature to deceive others. He would bet his while collection of Tortallian history books that she was not telling him the truth. The logical part of him knew that she must have her reasons. Still it confused and hurt the older Knight that she would not confide in him. From the corner of his eye he watched her eat the evening meal. As always she listened more than she spoke. Once again he resolved to ask her what had really happened.
"Neal, Neal, Nealan!" His wife's voice broke into his thoughts.
"Pardon my beautiful wife. What is it I can do for you?" Neal turned to face his wife.
"I was just asking if you knew where that cousin of yours is. Dom seems to have disappeared." There was little doubt in Neal's mind that Yuki had mentioned Dom to draw Kel into the conversation. Mentally he punched himself. If he had noticed a change in Kel then his wife would have noticed it too.
A number of people at the table looked to Kel. When she did not speak Neal cleared his throat. "On a mission for the Own I suspect. You know how it is with these heroic types, always off doing very important things." He forced laughter into his tone and a number of the men and women at their table joined in with their own chuckles. He wondered if he was the only one who noticed that Kel was not laughing with them.
As the conversation at the table moved to other matters Kel let her mind wander. It was odd that no one knew where Dom was. He had sent no word to her in the long weeks he had been gone. He had not even said goodbye. She too was a warrior; she knew that duty came first. But even to her his absence was strange. As she studied her feelings about Dom she was surprised to find relief among them. It had not been easy to lie to Neal but she had done it. Dom would have been harder to hide the truth from. While she missed him, a small part of her was glad he was not there. Blinking to clear her head she once again concentrated on what was being said around her.
As Wyldon and Jovan sat in the older Knight's office they discussed Kel's progress. Both agreed that she was far from recovered. Unbeknown to Kel Wyldon had been observing her closely. He had noticed the small changes in her behaviour. He had called Jovan to his quarters to see if the healer had noticed the same things. It was then that Wyldon received word from Raoul that Dom had been successful. One of the realms carrier birds arrived with the report. According to it Dom and his prisoner would arrive in five days time.
With grim satisfaction Wyldon passed the communication to Jovan. As the healer read the small piece of vellum he too felt some relief. Wyldon had not told him who had hurt Kel but he had guessed it was someone she knew. The injuries she had sustained had been personal he was sure. Perhaps it would help his patient if she were able to face her attacker.
Reaching back to a small cabinet behind his desk Wyldon withdrew two tin mugs and a small bottle of amber liquor. Pouring two measures he handed the first mug to Jovan. Silently they toasted each other, each sending a prayer to Mithros for Dom's speedy return.
Dom
Dom had underestimated the strength of the sleeping draught he had subdued Vinson with. Instead of the predicted eight hours the man (if Dom could call him that) slept for nearly two days. He awoke as Dom and his two companions started a fire to make their noonday meal. His awakening was accompanied with retching and an extended bought of coughing. Dom, Declan and Magnus ignored him.
Declan added some snow to the copper that hung above the fire. When it began to boil he added some dried meat and a noodle ball. Magnus attended to the horses while Dom searched for more dry wood. While this went on Vinson who was now awake just watched.
As the men settled to eat he coughed once then spoke. "I don't know who you men think you are. But let me assure you that the kidnapping of a noble will not go unpunished." His tone was full of self importance.
When he got no response he tried a different tact. "Is it money you are after? I can pay you well, more gold than you have ever seen. I can offer you riches you have never dreamed of." Still the three men slurping on their broth did not respond.
It was then that Vinson felt the first waves of real unease. The men he usually dealt with were quick with their demands. These men with their indifference to his person made him very uncomfortable. Looking around he realised his options were not good. He was bound, he had no idea where he was and he desperately needed to relieve himself. Unease turned to anger as he remembered the men who had been in his employ. He had paid them, especially the mage well to protect him. As the three men before him began to bank the small fire and ready the horses his unease returned.
Wordlessly the taller of the men approached him. Grabbing him by the front of his robes he hauled Vinson to his feet. Feinting a stumble Vinson attempted to head butt the man. Gasping he soon found himself lying flat on his back in a small puddle that smelt suspiciously of horse urine.
Declan reached down and hauled Vinson to his feet. With false good humour he said, "Now that wasn't very smart was it? I know a barmaid in Corus who can do that better than you." Without waiting for Vinson's reply he heaved the now sodden man onto his horse. Tying his hands to the horn of the saddle he fastened the lead rein to his own horse.
The group rode on in silence. After a time the pain in Vinson's bladder became unbearable. "I need to stop", he called out. When his request was not answered he tried again. "For pities sake, stop. If I don't piss I will burst."
The three men looked to each other. They stopped. Declan untied Vinson's hands and allowed him to move to a small bush. Vinson loudly relieved himself. Dom, Magnus and Declan shared equally contemptuous looks.
Finished his ministrations Vinson turned to face the three men. "You know I think I have figured out what it is you want?" When the men did not answer he continued. "You want a slice of my business. Common thieves or highway robbers you are obviously not. Since my last employees were so woefully unskilled I could be persuaded to take you chaps on. A five percent share in all sales? How about ten percent……" His voiced trailed off as he realised that the three men were not eagerly participating in negotiations.
After a few minutes one of the men stepped forward. Vinson had not noticed how blue his eyes were before. "There is no way either of my friends or I would ever do business with you. We are taking you to Fort Steadfast where you will stand trial."
"Stand trial for what pray tell?" Vinson spat at Dom's feet.
"For being lower then the slime I wipe of my boots." Was all Dom would say.
"Which noble has bought charges against me", Vinson raised his voice. "I have the right to know."
"Your rights ended the day you ordered the kidnap of Lady Knight Keladry." Dom's voice was quiet. Each word was clipped and precise.
Recognition slowly swept across Vinson's face. "Dom isn't it. Domitan of Masbolle, Lord Raoul's favourite boy. The infamous blue-eyed sergeant who was able to bed the realms second Lady Knight." Vinson began to laugh. "The famous 'Protector of the Small' sent her lover boy to fetch me did she?"
Dom stood fists clenched at his sides. White rage spots appeared on his cheeks.
"Oh don't tell me. The whore didn't send you. You came after me all on your own. Avenging you poor hurt lover. Did she tell you all about the time we spent? It was the best few days of my life." Vinson's tone became mocking. Licking his lips he continued. "Did she tell you she cried for me and begged me? How she pleaded with me to leave her be. How she lay on the floor, nearly naked and……"
Before he could finish his sentence Dom punched him in his foul mouth as hard as he was able. Breathing heavily he put his hands up as Declan and Magnus came to restrain him. "I won't hit him again. I just wanted to make him stop." He stood breathing heavily and shook out his now grazed hand.
Magnus looking at the bleeding and unconscious man lying in the snow remarked, "Ye did that."
"Gag him and get him back on the horse. I don't want to hear another word from him." Dom walked back to his mare.
Magnus and Declan did as they were bid. With three hours till sunset they still had three days left of their journey to complete.
KEL
It seemed that Lord Wyldon could find no more paper work for Kel to complete. Colder weather had cut off communication lines to the Capital. Snow and high winds prevented carrier birds reaching the Fort. It was then that Kel found herself with more free time than she was comfortable with. Bored and searching for something to take her mind away from thoughts she did not want to think she headed to the Fort's kitchens. The cook's apprentices who worked there were more than happy to guide her to an enormous pile of pots that needed to be scrubbed.
As she wrestled with an overly large stock pot she heard the horn that sounded the arrival of friends. Curious as to who had been travelling in such bad weather she abandoned her task and went to the yard.
At first she did not notice the other three riders. All she saw was Dom. He appeared to be frantically scanning the crowd. When he saw her a broad smile broke upon his face. She returned his smile and lifted her arm in greeting.
She noticed movement to her left. Four of Wyldon's guards approached Dom and his companions. It was then Kel noticed who Dom rode with.
Magnus and Declan were easy to recognise. In her years with the Own she had got to know them well. Like Dom they had always behaved as if she had belonged there. They had never treated her as 'The Girl'. The bound and gagged figure between them took longer to place. When she did recognise him it was if all the air had been sucked out from around her. She found she could not breathe. Turning blindly she stumbled back in the direction of her rooms.
Kel could not tell how much time had passed since she had fled to her quarters. The knock at her door was loud and frantic.
Without waiting to be let in Dom burst into her room. Moving quickly to the bed he made to envelope her in a hug. There was passion and triumph in his eyes.
Standing, Kel moved away. Confusion replaced passion as Dom stood to face Kel.
"I'm back and I love you", was all he could say.
Silently Kel stared at him.
"I thought you would be pleased. I found the mongrel that hurt you. It took me weeks, but I tracked him down. I bought him back to stand trial so you could have justice. I thought it was what you would want. I did it because I love you." Once again Dom moved to touch Kel.
"Don't", she whispered.
"Kel you're not making sense. I'm back. I captured Vinson. He will stand trial. With your evidence he will go to goal. Then we everything will go back to the way it was." Dom voice was pleading begging her to understand.
It was some time before Kel could bring herself to reply. Carefully checking her emotions she replied. "How did you know it was him? No don't tell me, Tobe told you didn't he?" Angrily she shook her head. "You had no right. Neither of you had any right. I never asked for Vinson to be caught. I do not want a trial. I just wanted to forget. It was not your decision to make." Before Dom could see the tears of rage that were erupting from her eyes she turned to face the window.
"Kel", strong hands rested on her shoulders. Furious she shrugged them off. "Kel, I though I was dong the right thing. To me it was the honourable thing. I just assumed that you would want this."
"You were wrong. Get out." Kel's voice was like ice.
"Kel please" Dom pleaded.
"I asked you to go. Just go Dom." She did not turn around.
Heavy booting made their way across her floor. The door shut with a soft click.
