Redemption

Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns PotS. Anything you recognize is hers, anything you don't recognize is mine.

A/N: This is the third chapter about what Kel was doing all this time. I hope you like it!


"Enjoy your holiday, Lady Kel," Irnai called as they rode down the inclined road that served the village. "There will be work for the Protector of the Small soon enough."

-- Tamora Pierce, Lady Knight


Four Seasons: Summer, 464 H.E.

Fief Mindelan, Northeastern Tortall

Kel was enjoying a well-deserved vacation at Mindelan, wearing the new dresses Lalasa had made for her, and playing with all her nieces and nephews. It felt so nice to be outside in the sunshine. She had finally found the time to read the various reports and surveys about Fort Stonebridge and the silver mines it protected. The nearly ancient fort was located between two massive mountains which were connected by a natural stone bridge, thus the name. There was a local legend that claimed the bridge was formed when Mithros pulled apart the two mountains to make way for the shallow river that still flowed beneath the bridge. Kel's younger brother Avinar, who was currently attending university in Carthak, told her it was more likely that the natural bridge was formed by the river water eroding the stone between the mountains over many thousands of years. Kel smiled at the thought of her brother, the perpetual university student, pouring over old maps and scrolls to find that information. Avinar still didn't know what he wanted to do after he graduated - whenever that might be.

Kel had been very surprised and honored when General Vanget assigned her to command one of the oldest forts in the realm. Fort Stonebridge was not as strategically important as Fort Steadfast or Northwatch Fortress, but it played a different and very important role in the kingdom. The fort had been built near a portion of the mountain range that produced much of the kingdom's supplies of silver, as well as some iron. It had been almost two years since the official end of the war with Scanra, but there were still problems with periodic Scanran raiding parties that crept through their side of the mountain range along the border. Tortall's precious metal mines had always been plum targets, even though they were so heavily guarded that raiders rarely made it past the river.

Kel was beginning to understand from what she had been reading that her days as a commander would be filled with inspections of her soldiers and their barracks and equipment, training to keep her fighting skills sharp, surveying the surrounding area, and occasional visits to the mines and local villages. Fort Stonebridge provided protection not only for the royal mines, but also for the two small villages that supported the mines - Silver Stream and Ironblade. Most of the miners, as well as a small number of craftsmen and their families, lived in these villages. Kel would also have to give her report to the General every quarter and occasionally go with the soldiers escorting the silver and iron shipments to the guild masters in Corus.

While in Corus, Kel could look forward to visiting with friends in town, like Lalasa, and at the palace, especially Neal and Yuki and Tobe. Neal had grumbled at being 'chained to the palace' once again, but it was a good assignment for him because it allowed him to be with Yuki and their infant daughter. There was still a great need for knights who were also healers to be assigned to the various forts along Tortall's borders, and Neal's fresh experiences from the Scanran war made him an ideal trainer of pages and squires who were Gifted in that way. Tobe was serving as an apprentice to Stefan Groomsman in the royal stables. Kel missed all her friends very much, but knew that she would see them soon enough. For now, she had several more reports to study.

Kel's sisters-in-law settled themselves in the sewing room, and began to embroider collars for their daughters' dresses. The day was warm and sunny, a welcome change from the chilly spring. All the window shutters and curtains were open to allow the light breeze to air out the manor. The children had been sent to their rooms for an afternoon rest, so the ladies did not feel the need to whisper their gossip.

"... I can hardly believe it myself."

"Does Anders know when this happened? What did the Baron's letter say?"

"I only saw a part of the letter while Anders was out of the room. He came back before I could read all the details. It's one of the longest letters I've ever seen!"

"Well, tell me what you did see."

"Apparently, Sergeant Domitan is a member of the official military escort for Crown Prince Roald and his bride. You know they went on their state visit to the Yamani Islands this spring. Anyway, the man met with our father-in-law in private and they worked out the details then. Can you imagine - a guard asking for a private meeting with the ambassador?"

"So? He is the second son of Masbolle. His family puts out some of the best wines in the realm. Kel could do worse. What does she know about this?"

"Nothing - that's the best part! The man is a hopeless romantic and plans to ask Kel on Midwinter's Eve, after the royal party returns. Until then, it's supposed to be a total secret. The only reason the Baron informed Anders is that he and Lady Ilane won't be in Tortall for the betrothal announcement. They'll be staying in the Yamani Islands until next summer, so Anders needs to act on his father's behalf."

"Do you think she'll accept his proposal?"

"I don't see that she has much of a choice. It's not like there is a queue of men asking for her hand in marriage. Thank the gods she's not the 'cow' she used to be - all chunky and awkward. Do you remember?

"Hush! I remember getting in trouble for calling her that name. My hands still ache when I think of all the linens we had to mend as punishment."

"Well, I suppose Kel does look a better now that her hair is a bit longer - you can actually see those 'dreamer's hazel eyes' our husbands have talked about all these years. And the gowns she wears these days suit her very nicely, but I still think she's too tall and muscular. I guess there's no accounting for taste among second sons. Oops, no offense to your husband, of course."

"Of course."

"Do you suppose she'll finally give up all that 'lady knight' business once she's married and starts having babies?"

"I should hope so! But you never know with Kel - she's so unconventional."

"Ugh, I just remembered that her heroine, Alanna the Lioness, has three grown children and she's still the King's Champion."

"Yes, but Lady Alanna is god-touched and Gifted. Our Kel has none of those advantages. And if she's anything like Lady Ilane or our husbands' sisters, Kel will be having babies every year or so. Can't you just imagine it? I wonder where they will live. There's certainly not much space here at Mindelan."

"Oh! I forgot to tell you that part - apparently his mother inherited a modest property in Corus' Palace District, and she's given it to him as a gift. That way, he can leave the King's Own and accept a position as an assistant training master at the palace. Did you hear that the number of pages in training has nearly doubled since Kel was knighted? Some families are now sending both sons and daughters to the palace. I'm so glad Lachran is a squire now."

"Don't remind me. Kel's been showing the children that ancient drawing of a lady knight, and then telling them all kinds of bedtime tales of lady knights. I told Inness that I do not want our daughters to become knights, no matter how famous their aunt is. Our girls are much too delicate. It's perfectly fine for them to learn to be proper ladies - just like we did."

"I agree with you. Before you know it, there will be whole groups of lady knights running around the kingdom. I wonder how they'll all handle marriage."

"Lucky Kel - being married and getting to live in Corus. Maybe she'll invite us down to visit."

"I certainly hope so! We're her family."

"In that case, we'd better start being nicer to her right away."

A child's piercing squeals from somewhere in the manor, followed by other children yelling at one another, interrupted the two ladies' laughter. There was no telling what had happened. Their chairs scraped loudly on the floor as the women left the sewing room to sort out their children's latest squabble.

A lace curtain panel fluttered out of the open window and tickled the top of Kel's head.

Kel was dumbfounded; she had heard the entire conversation between her gossiping sisters-in-law. They had no idea she was out there, because the bench on which Kel was sitting was situated well below the level of the window to the sewing room. Kel felt so bewildered that she knew she had to get away and think. She needed to find a place where the children, fresh from their naps and ready to play, wouldn't find her. So she gathered her papers and scrolls and went down by the River Domin to ponder what she had just overheard.

It was amazing to her - Dom had asked Kel's father for her hand in marriage and her father had agreed to a betrothal! She wasn't sure how she felt about that. One part of her heart felt giddy and happy, like a starry-eyed maiden whose father had just made her the most perfect match. Another part of her heart knew that, as a lady knight, she could determine her own destiny, love a man of her own choosing and make her own marriage - or not. Kel had even spoken with both her mother and the Lioness about her options and her freedom to choose. And Dom! What was he thinking? Everyone knew that the Baron of Pirate's Swoop had changed his life for the Lioness, but Kel and Dom were very different people. The idea that Dom was making secret plans to resign from the Own and take an assistant training post at the palace and live in Corus was overwhelming. And it was all for her - all without having asked her first. Kel's heart beat so fast she had to lay down.

Tears of confusion welled up in her eyes. She knew Dom truly loved her; he had confessed his love for her many times and he had done so many special things for her, and now he was willing to change his career to be with her. But what was she willing to change for Dom? Kel quickly sat up as she realized she had never thought about it that way before. Her mind was reeling - and not just from her sitting up too fast. Deep down in her heart, Kel wanted marriage and children, but she still didn't think she was quite ready to give up her life as a knight. Kel loved being a knight - it was all she had ever wanted to be since she was a little girl.

Additionally, Kel knew that her sisters-in law were quite right about one thing - every time Lady Ilane and her married daughters removed their pregnancy charms, they were immediately with child. Kel had just celebrated her twenty-second birthday, and Dom was nearly thirty. She wondered how long Dom would be willing to wait for her to be ready. Kel didn't think that marriage and a babe would go very well with her new command. Right now, it was just too much to imagine, so she shook her head to clear away all the whirling thoughts. For now, she would just enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. For now, she would just look forward to her upcoming adventures at Fort Stonebridge. For now, she would have to pretend that she knew nothing about her family's secret plans for her future.


A/N: I always thought Kel's sisters-in-law would be 'gossip girls' at heart. One more season to go! Please R & R. Thanks!