Disclaimer: I do not, under any circumstances, own the Tortallan realm or any of the creatures or people in it. They belong solely to the incredible mind of one of my favorite childhood authors, Tamora Pierce.

"…."-Talking

"…."-Flashbacks

"..."-Thoughts

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Moments Shared

Later that evening, Kel found herself once more attending the festival. Dressed in a multi layered kimono in the vibrant colors of red, gold, and bronze, she sat between Dom and Tobe who again adorned himself in Yamani fashion and in colors liken to her own.

On this night, she sat amongst her blood relatives and those she considered family. Raoul sat with Buri to Tobe's right. Alanna and her husband George to Dom's left. Seated across the table from the fiery red head and her cool as a cucumber husband were her biological parents.

Beside them were their majesties Jonathan and Thayet. Seiji and Saranai were seated across from Kel and Tobe. The hazel eyed woman stayed silent as she watched the man that she had sworn her allegiance to, examining him as he spoke with Seiji in regards to something that she had no interest of.

In her clever mind, she was busy comparing her father figure and her king. She couldn't help but realize that both men shared many similarities. Light complexion, intense eyes in astonishing colors, and dark hair. Both possessed a commanding presence and had a certain something to them that attracted others to follow. They were both gorgeous men for their age, but Kel was willing to bet that as a warrior, Seiji won hands down.

The corner of her lips turned up slightly in a smile. Gone was the resentment she felt toward her king. It had taken her quite a bit of time to think his possible reasoning through and grudgingly accept. However, when she had been rewarded for her little escapade in Scanra, they had had a little chat and all misgivings had been brought out into the light and fixed.

Now, she felt contentment and a calm like no other settle in her chest. Throughout the past decade and a half, she had fought tooth and nail to prove herself as a warrior in the eyes of the male population that wanted nothing more than to watch her crash and burn. Along the way, she had met extraordinary people who believed in her and encouraged her to continue on her road to success.

Sitting here, she knew that she had not only managed to earn her place as the realm's second Lady Knight, but had gone above and beyond in becoming one of Tortall's best commanders and outstanding knights. She was loved amongst the people who she fought to protect and had even managed to further push open the door for the acceptance of female knights and warrior maidens in general.

As a warrior, she was accomplished, but it had taken her up until now to realize that as a woman she was not. She turned to watch Dom as he conversed with the Baron of Pirate's Swoopand felt her heart dance in her chest. She knew that she was less than pretty and that her body was toned and muscled from living, working, and triving in the world of men.

Her eyes lovingly followed the line of his strong jaw to his lips and resting at the flashing jewels that were his eyes. She didn't know what it was that he saw in her, but she thanked the Goddess for the blessing she had been granted when it came to the wonder of a man the sat beside her with pride. Unconsciously, she squeezed his hand as he held her own under the table. He turned to look at her, his breathtaking sapphire blue eyes burning into her very soul.

As she looked him over again, she couldn't help but feel grateful to Seiji and Saranai for the degree of healing they had performed on him. He was back to his heart stopping self. She returned the smile that he gave her and as she did so, she remembered her promise to her friends, who she had chosen to stay away from for the night out of simple annoyance.

She turned her head to look at Raoul and reached over to tap his shoulder. Dark, laughing eyes looked over at her and he gave her broad smile. "What is it Kel?" He asked his favorite former squire. Kel smiled. "I was wondering if you were free tomorrow morning."

Raoul took a moment to think, his large hand rubbing his chin. "I don't have anything of importance to do. Why do you ask?" Kel's smile widened slightly. "A few of my year mates and Dom's squad volunteered for jousting practice. I wanted to know if you were interested in joining in." Raoul raised a single dark brow in interest. "Volunteered?" He asked as he looked down at the grinning Tobe and amused Dom.

Dom met his gaze. "Do you know what this is about Sergeant?" Dom grinned. "Yes sir." He responded but made no motion to elaborate further. The older man looked at both adults, his gaze shifting from one to the other. He remembered the scene the couple had made that morning and the reaction of those closest to them. Suddenly, it dawned on him as to the reason behind the younger woman's request.

He grinned, finding amusement in the situation. Looking at Kel once more, he nodded once. "I am at your service Lady Knight. Mind if I recruit one more?" Kel shrugged. "The more the merrier." Raoul chuckled. Kel turned her attention back to her king and father to be only to find them both watching her.

The Yamani mask she had perfected for years slipped into place easily as she recognized the hidden amusement in Seiji's gaze and Jonathan's open look of interest. Jonathan chuckled. "I heard of what happened this morning. Would you mind if I showed up to watch tomorrow's entertainment?"

Kel smiled slightly. "As I said the more the merrier your majesty. If I may sire?" Deep sapphire stared into dreamy hazel. "How may I help you Lady Keladry?" Kel glanced over to Seiji, silently seeking his permission. The barely noticeable upturn of his lips was all she needed before she met her liege's gaze again. "I was hoping if you would do me the honor of conducting an adoption ceremony, well two in all actuality."

Dark brows rose in question. "Who are the adoption ceremonies for?" He asked, his rich voice drawing the attention of those who shared the table with them. "One will be for Tobe." She said indicating the blond sitting quietly next to her. "I want to adopt him as my son. The second will be for me. Seiji-sama and Saranai-sama wish to adopt me as their daughter.

"We have gone over the different adoption processes available and have agreed on the simplicity of the Bazhir method. It's after all legal and even more so if you are the one to conduct it." Jonathan smiled, his straight teeth flashing a pristine white against the darkness of his beard, "The honor would be mine. When will they take place?"

Kel looked down at Tobe. "What do you think of two days from now?" She asked her charge. Tobe sat still for a moment, thinking and finally nodded. "Yes, that sounds like as good a time as any to me." Kel nodded in confirmation. She looked up to Jonathan. "Is that acceptable to you Sire?" Jonathan nodded in agreement. "That is perfectly well Keladry. Am I to assume that your ceremony is for the next day?"

Kel looked to Seiji. Seiji glanced at Jonathan. "That is correct King Jonathan." Jonathan hummed softly. "Tomorrow we will have to go over any details. For now, let's just enjoy the night." Looking at Kel he said, "I was witness to your performance yesterday evening Lady Knight and was hoping to hear you once again."

Kel forced down her blush. She swallowed and bowed in her place. "I would be more than pleased to perform for you. With the condition that Saranai-sama joins me." She stated as she glanced at the lovely older woman. Saranai smiled happily as she bowed as well. "I will do so happily Utahime."

Together, the women stood and made their way to the platform where the band quietly played. They waited until the band finished their current song before bowing to them and taking a seat on the chairs they had requested from two servants. Saranai gestured to man in the band who had a full sized harp and arranged her body around it comfortably.

Deft little fingers stroked the strings in quick progression, listening for anything that was out of tune. Satisfied she looked over at her daughter-to-be and gave her a small smile. Kel nodded in her direction and waited for the first few soothing notes from Saranai's harp. Recognizing the tune from her childhood, she brought her cherished flute to her lips and softly played in sync to the older woman, their combined notes low and soft, rising steadily throughout before falling once more.

They paid no mind to the silence of their audience who were eager to hear another performance from the skilled flutist from the night before and her partner. Both women were ensnared by the calm, soothing companionship that the other offered. Their eyes were closed, remembering times passed when they would sit in the gardens of Seiji's estates and play this particular song and many others for hours on end.

With a steady rise of notes Kel paused; her flute lowered from her lips slightly as Saranai ran her fingers quickly along the strings of the harp in rapid succession before finishing with two high pitch twangs. Kel brought her flute up to her lips once more and continued on with her soft melody, low and sweet, acompanied by the the slow, rhythmic notes of Saranai's harp.

She finished off with a single low note, before curling her fingers around her flute and placing it in her lap. Thin, heavily lashed lids opened and she watch the woman beside her, a visage in deep gold and crimson red. Saranai let her body move gently as her fingers danced along the long and short strings of her favored instrument. One hand producing quick, high pitched notes while the other gently plucked away at the slow, low ones.

The audience marveled at the wonderful offset of harmonized strokes, entranced as her fingers worked the complex arrangement with little to no hassle. Kel simply smiled at the beauty that was her Yamani mother before she brought her flute up again. The steady, high notes of her tune increased in pitch and speed as Saranai played quietly in the background. Finally with a low, prolonged note from her flute and two soft plucks of a harp string, the women let the song fade into the silence.

Kel tucked her flute into the hidden pocket of her kimono while the original owner of the harp came forth to relieve Saranai of her harp. Kel waited for her to stand before they bowed to their audience then to each other. They straightened, joyful smiles illuminating their faces. They moved off the platform and back to their designated seats.

With a graceful sweep of silk, they sat on their empty pillows. Kel looked up into Dom's eyes. "How was it?" She asked quietly, solely for his ears. He took hold of one of her hands and brought it to his lips. "Beautiful." He said as he leaned forward to lightly kiss her cheek. "I expected no less of you Kel. Everything you do is beautiful."

Kel blushed prettily as he moved away from her and smiled in response. "Thank you." She told him before she wiped her face clear of any emotion and prepared herself for any teasing to come, but in the back of her mind she knew. She knew that as surely as her lungs needed air that while she was not accomplished as a woman, with the help of Dom's wonderfully thunderous love; she was well on her way to becoming one.

KDKDKDKDKD

Late night found the lovely trio of Kel, Dom, and Tobe walking down the Knight's wing on their way to the lady's suites. Kel turned to Tobe and gathered him in a quick hug. With a muttered good night to his favorite adults, the young male unlocked his door and disappeared into his room.

Kel pulled out the key to her room and opening her door, stepped inside. Dom followed, shutting it closed behind him. He watched as Kel went over to her desk and flipped open the lid of her flute case. With care, she extracted her flute from its hidden pouch in her kimono sleeve and laid it to rest in its bed of crimson velvet.

She closed the lid, the snapping of the two clasps securing the safety of the treasure within. She turned to look at him, hazel clashing with blue and both smiled foolishly at one another. "Would you join me for a cup of tea?"She asked him.

Dom nodded his head in response and watched as she went over to the small lit fire place. Jewels of blue watched the graceful manner in which she knelt and pulled back the sleeve of her kimono before hanging the water filled kettle over the licking flames of the fire.

He stepped forward and reached for her hand. Gently he pulled her up and closer to him. For a moment, time stopped. In the silence that surrounded them, only they existed. Hazel and blue clashed, intense gazes sparking a fire within their veins.

Her strong hands clenched the material of his black tunic tightly within their grasp. A single arm snaked around her thick waist, pulling her closer. His remaining hand reached up to caress the smooth skin of her jaw and neck. Heavy lashes fluttered to a close as his lips brushed against hers; once, twice. Impatient, she pulled down on his tunic and captured his mouth.

Dom groaned and crushed her hips against his own. The breath hitched in her throat as his lips left hers to nibble on the sensitive flesh at the base of her neck. Suddenly, the sound of a piercing whistle caused the couple to jump apart. They turned to look at the fire place where the steaming kettle sat. Chests heaving with the rush of the passionate moment and the adrenaline of the unexpected fright, they looked at one another and laughed.

Kel stepped closer to the fire place. With a hooked rob, she removed the kettle from with firey home and let it rest on the stone that encased it. She looked over at Dom and gestured to one of the seats in front of her desk. "Take a seat. This may take a moment." Dom nodded and went over to her desk as she went to the bookshelf directly behind it.

He watched her as she opened the lid to a lacquered black box of medium size. "What's that?" He asked, curious of the many things that she had around her room. She glanced back at him and smiled. Carefully, she pulled out an exiquisitely detailed Yamani styled tea pot. The black reflective surface was painted over in delicate and fine strokes of jade green and silver. Each line interlocking to form the body of a dragon as it emerged from its cloudy coverage.

To the opposite side, in brilliant strokes of crimson red and molten gold was a phoenix; strong and proud as its flames licked at the whirling clouds around it. Tiny, finely detail sakura blossoms and petals of red, dark pink, blush, and near white danced tastefully along any uncovered surface.

His eyes widened as he watched her place it in the space before him. Callused fingers ran gently over the piece of artwork in silent appreciation. He looked up when he heard the gentle click of two items being put down. Two black tea cups rested beside the tea pot, each matching the bigger piece in its gorgeous masterpiece with the exception of its smaller proportion.

"This is beautiful Kel. Where did you get this?" Kel closed the lid softly and then moved to one of her side drawers to pull out another small box. This one had a simpler design, a small pond partially enclosed by sakura trees in full bloom. She opened the box and began to untie the strings to the jade colored pouch inside.

"It was a midwinter gift from Seiji. Mama and papa returned to the Yamani Islands last year and brought it back with them on their return trip home. The set was made by a well known craftsmen on the Islands but Seiji did all of the detail work by hand." She explained as she went back to the fire place to retrieve the kettle.

Dom whistled, impressed. "He's really good. I know you mentioned that very talented, but I never expected it to be like this." She nodded in agreement as she returned and poured the steaming liquid into the Yamani tea pot. "I understand. I know because I grew up watching him and, later, learning from him. It takes others by surprise. Seiji is known as a very skilled warrior; the best of his lineage and that's very high praise on the islands." She told him as she dug through her lacquered box in search of the lid.

Once she found it, she covered the pot and proceeded to measure out the green tea leaves from the jade pouch in her scenic box. Dom watched as she poured the water over the leaves and let them sit for a moment as she went to retrieve another lacquered box, this one a rich cream encrested with a midnight colored crow standing on a branch of fully bloomed sakura.

She took a seat on the chair beside his and opened the lid. Inside was a vast assortment of Yamani sweets. She took the leaves out of the cups and offered Dom's cup to him. He took the cup from her and waited for her to finish with her own. "I recommend that you take a bite from one of the sweets. It counteracts the bitterness of the tea."She told him as she took a direct sip from her cup and leaning back in appreciation.

Dom did as she recommended and took a bite from one of the many sweets in the box and then took a sip. The combination of flavors pleasantly took over his senses and he too sighed, leaning heavily against the back of his chair as his body relaxed. "Since when did you start drinking tea?"

Kel swallowed the bite of sweet in her mouth before responding. "Since after our little trip into Scanra. Nightmares would keep me up and the only thing that would sooth me was a cup of green tea before bed. Afterward it just became a habit and its something that I indulge in nightly. This is, however, the first time I use Seiji's gift."

Dom cracked a smile. "I'm honored." He looked at the cup in his hands, once more examining the exquisite work. "Who does Seiji get his skill from? The emperor?" Kel shook her head. "No, he gets it from his late mother, Lady Hinata. She was the sole child of a powerful and ancient house, only second to the emperor's. Throughout the families' history, the two never joined. No one really knows why." She added as an afterthought.

"Lord Katsuhiko raised his daughter against the Yamani tradition where women were concern and allowed her to draw and paint to her heart's content. As the years passed, her name was spread around the many circles of the islands along with the words unorthodox and, although begrudgingly, very talented. The emperor's interest was peaked and so he invited Lord Katsuhiko and Lady Hinata to the palace. To say that the emperor was positively smitten with her by the end of the day was an understatement.

"She was an exotic beauty of golden eyes and midnight tresses, even among Yamani standards. Within weeks, they were betrothed. Two years later, due to unrest on the islands, they were married and months later Seiji was conceived. While the emperor married his first wife out of obligation due to an arranged marriage, he married Lady Hinata out of love. Many speculate that that was the reason why she was assassinated in the first place but it was never proven. Seiji, for all his father's strength and build, is his mother through and through."

Her fingers caressed the design on the front of her half full cup. "It's the reason why he married Saranai. Growing up, the emperor told him stories of the mother he never got to know. He cherished those stories more than anything else and took her description to heart. He refused to marry out of obligation and chose to face ridicule than to be drawn into the nauseating game of politics.

"By the time he met Saranai, he had made a name for himself as a first rate warrior." She stopped and smirked. "He met her during an otsukimi festival in fact. Entranced by a woman exotic in a way only a foreigner can be and dazzled by her musical majesty. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her. That's what Saranai told me anyway and he later confirmed." She stopped to take a drink of her cooling tea. Dom listened intently, fascinated as he learned more from the older male that he had quickly come to respect.

"What of his gift? You didn't mention it when you first spoke of him." Kel shrugged for a moment. "Seiji never really believed that his gift was important. He gets his ability to heal from his mother and he has the power of a war mage from his father. He once told me that while he understands the dangers and blessings that it represents, he would not allow it to define him.

"He healed as a means to atone for the blood that he spilled when he was called upon. It was his way of showing gratitude to the Gods for the gifts given to him, for his continued life and for the continued lives of his injured men. He rarely uses his war magic unless completely necessary. The way he saw it was that if he was going to take the life of another man than he would not dishonor the warrior spirit in them by using magic. They lived as warriors so they would die as warrior and so would he remember them."

Dom nodded in understanding, a serious expression on his face as he contemplated the words she spoke. His eyes traveled to cup in his hands. "Is there a particular reason for drawing this design?" He asked. "His parents I guess you can say." She told him in response as she took another sweet from the box.

"The jade and silver dragon and the cherry blossoms are the crests of the imperial line through the emperor. The phoenix, however, is the crest of Lady Hinata's house. It represents him as the product of a love so great that even the passing of years could not soothe the terrible ache in his father's heart and as the living embodiment of two power house clans."

"Interesting. What of those two boxes?" He asked, indicating the small scenic one that contained the tea leaves and the cream one that held the sweets. Kel brushed a hand across the smaller of the two boxes. "Seiji did the art for both. This little one represents the garden back at Seiji's estates. I loved to spend so much time there as a child. It was always a peaceful place to be and Seiji and Saranai shared that same love with me."

Her hand moved to the cream colored one to the right of the tea box. "This one represents Saranai. She gave me these sweets earlier today as she helped me dress for the festival. Cream is one of her favorite colors. The crow represents her raka heritage and the cherry blossoms, of course, represent Seiji and her position in his house as his wife."

He put down his empty cup and reached over to take her empty cup as well. "I'm grateful that you shared this with me Kel; not only because you clearly love them or because they are important to you, but because they are becoming important to me too." He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Thank you for the tea. You need to rest if you're going to beat the boys into the ground tomorrow." He said as he made to stand up.

Kel reached for his clothed arm, stopping him. He looked down at her, slightly startled by her sudden movement. "Kel?" He questioned. She shook her head, her curls bouncing with the gesture. "Please stay." She told him. Dom's breath hitched in his throat. He was silent for a moment before he reached over and squeezed her hand. "I can't Kel. Gods know that I would love nothing more, but I'll be tempted and once I have you, I will never let you go." He told her in a husky voice.

Hazel eyes stared into his, her heart thundering in her chest as the deep meaning behind his words hit her. She smiled, joy and elation warming her. "We don't have to do anything Dom. I just want to wake up next to you." She told him quietly. He contemplated her for a moment before he pulled her up. "In that case, let's make you more comfortable."

He reached for her obi and pulled at the piece. He helped her shrug out of the top few layers and then let her disappear into the privy as he took off his boots and tunic. She returned dressed in a cotton robe similar to one of her nagagi. Silently, he took her hand and together they arranged themselves under her covers. In the silence of the night and in the faint light of the fire, the lover's slept.

KDKDKDKDKD

Predawn found Kel nestled happily in the arms of the man she had loved for so long. She smiled lightly as she looked at his handsome face made all the more beautiful by the tranquility present. With a sigh, she reluctantly pulled herself away from the safety and warmth he provided and made to sit up. A chill run up her spine as her warmed feel came into contact with the cold floor. Steeling herself, she stood and went over to the fire place, stoking the fire and making sure to add a log into the dying flame.

She loosened the belt that held her yukata closed, stopping momentarily in front of her practice glaive to lift it from its hooks and then returned to the open space of her room. She swung her glaive around her to make sure she had sufficent room and got into a familiar stance. Routine took over as years worth of practice drove her body to do each step, sweep, and thrust purely from muscle memory.

Within seemingly no time at all, she finished her practice dance with a final sweep and put it back in its place on her wall. She turned, running a hand through damp bangs, stopping when she noticed that Dom was watching her. "Did I wake you?"She asked him quietly, slightly embarrassed.

Dom shook his head before running a hand through his sleep mussed black hair. "No. I didn't feel you near me so I woke up. Imagine my surprise seeing the lady knight up before dawn and swinging around her big pigsticker. Is this something that I have to wake up to from now on?" He asked in jest.

Kel felt the blood pooling at her cheeks but kept her face straight as she replied. "It will be if you choose to." She replied in all seriousness. Dom's teasing smile disappeared. His expression serious. "I would." He said after a moment, his lips stretching in a sinful smile that made her weak in the knees. She returned his smile with a small one of her own.

She moved to sit on the bed beside him and ran a hand through his darkened mane. "Did you sleep well?" Dom took her hand in his and kissed the palm of her hand. "The best sleep I've had in years. You? I hope I didn't snore too much." He said in a joking manner. Kel cracked a grin. "You weren't too bad after the first hour. For a minute, I thought I was sleeping with a bear. Afterwards, I slept like a babe." She joked as she leaned in to kiss his lips before quickly disappearing into her privy.

She laughed when she heard his exclamation of "Hey!" She heard him shuffle about in her room as he gathered his stuff. "Kel." He called from right outside her privy. She stepped out. "Going back to your room?" Dom nodded. "Yes. I want to clean up before watching you, my lord, and his mystery guest beat the stuffing out of Meathead." He said as he leaned in to kiss her forehead.

She pulled him down to her lips, kissing him sweetly for a few moments before she released him. "I'll see you soon." She said. Dom swooped in for a quick peck. "Very soon." With that he made his way to the door and went out, closing it securely behind him. Kel gathered her clothes from her dressing room and left shortly, heading to the baths to wash.

KDKDKDKDKD

An hour later, Kel stood in the ring where Raoul had given her her first flying lesson as a squire. She stood beside her testy Peachblossom, both dressed for a few rounds of jousting practice. She stood silently as she waited for her former knight master and his guest to show up. "I guessed that you would be up at this ungodly hour Kel. Have you ever thought of sleeping in?"

Kel felt the corner of her lips turn upward at the teasing tone of his voice. "Never crossed my mind my lord." She responded as she turned to look at him. His sun darkened face grinned down at her as he clasped her hand in his own. "Good morning. Ready for flying lessons?" Kel laughed as she shook her head, her hand squeezing his before she let go.

"No where near as ready as you are." She said as she saw the happy anticipation reflected in his dark eyes. "It's always a good thing to break new jousters in lady knight." She chuckled then looked behind him to see King Jonathan, Queen Thayet, Seiji, Saranai, her parents, George and Buri standing with Dom and Tobe close by.

She watched as Dom and George joked good naturedly with one another as the rest laughed and added comments of their own with the expectation of Seiji and Saranai who watched her. She bowed to them in greeting. One that they returned as they took bowed slightly. The gesture caught the attention of the ever watchful George as he followed their line of sight to the younger woman and gave her a wide crooked smirk that only he can give.

Kel returned the smile then turned at the sound of whining, dragging feet, and hooves. Raoul looked down at Kel, brows raised in amusement at the drawl of one voice in particular. "That friend of yours really is a bit of a drama queen." Kel sighed. "You have no idea my lord." She said as she mounted her gelding as Raoul did the same.

"Who did you recruit?" She asked as she watched the men gather around. "You'll see." He said as he kept his gaze on his future prey. Low and behold, just as Neal raised his voice to whine, a crown of flaming red came from around the corner and yelled, "Shut your gob Queenscove. You sound like a squealing pig before slaughter. You got yourself into this mess so keep quiet and take it like a man."

Silence followed the statement as the short red headed knight rode forward on a steed of black and cream. She was dressed in similar attire to Kel and Raoul. Her long locks pulled back from her face. She gave her former squire a harsh violet stare that had the man shrinking back and moving well out of her way. She rode past him and straight to the waiting duo.

Kel clasped the Lioness's forearm as the older woman did the same. "That was a bit harsh don't you think?" Violet lamps flickered back to the green eyed man standing with his year mates across the field. "No. I am fair disappointed with him. It seems that he's forgotten a few of the lessons that he was taught as a squire. Let's see if a few flying lessons will refresh his memory."

Raoul chuckled in amusement and Kel simply let the older knight be. Raoul turned to her. "How do you want to do this?" Kel counted to see if they were all present and sure enough they were. "Divide them evenly between the three of us and then alternate. How does that sound to you?" Raoul grinned. "I like that idea. What do you think Alanna?"

The tempermental woman shifted slightly in her saddle. "Its works for me as long as I get Neal first." Kel nodded in agreement before she nudged Peachblossom forward. Pitching her voice in the way Raoul taught her, she made sure that her voice carried across the distance to them. "You all know why you're here today. I warned you and now its time to pay up. Lord Raoul was even gracious enough to invite the Lioness.

"Divide yourselves evenly into three rows. Line up with a knight of your choosing and prepare yourself for a very eventful morning. Neal, the Lioness wants a piece of you first." She finished as she turned her mount and moved into position. She watched impassively as they did as told and as the first of each line was suited up. She looked down to see Dom handing her a practice lance.

He smiled up at her. "Try not to break them. They are still needed." Kel nodded. "I have no intension of breaking them. I just want to teach them a lesson." She told him as he moved away. She looked to her right to see Alanna and Raoul prepared and ready to go. They waited for the signal and their mounts charged forward. Patted tips met patted bodies and the first in a long series of crashes, grunts, and moans of pain filled the morning air.

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A/N: Sorry for the long absence. I have made this chapter a little longer to make up for it. I feel as if I made Kel and Dom a little OC. I hope it's not too bad. Let me know what you think.