Chapter Thirteen: Confrontation

Heya guys, just a note before the update:

The changes which are being made to NLNK start from here: in this chapter there is only one altercation but it changes the events which occur in the chapters to follow; and so the train of events which occur. Most of what is included in these 'new' chapters will not be original scenes; mostly recycled ideas from the other chapters merely put into places where they belong better.

This is the reason that all the chapters which did follow this one have disappeared... but don't worry they will be up shortly (hopefully) in succession following this one. :-) I hope it hasn't annoyed to many of you, to return to events already covered but it will be worth it I promise – I hope you notice changes for the better in areas which you can see to be annoying to a slightly obsessive writer. Any who, as the saying goes 'seen as time is all I have' I'll hopefully be back to a similar position soon.

Thanks for all putting up with me.

X x x

"What in the names of the Gods, are you doing here?" Dom demanded without, to Kel's annoyance, moving from his combative stance.

Everyone remained frozen. Not a single person besides that stream moved; Kel's group remained where they were, stilled in whatever activity that had been doing. Dom's group kept their vigilant stances, waiting for a cue from their leader. The very same leader, who was rigidly staring into Kel's eyes in that moment.

It was just as it had been five days ago; the heat, the power, the... rush... that came with his gaze dazed her.

His surprise and confusion made those two deep blue pools swirl with emotional hues. As she watched and admired just how much she could gain through watching those eyes, she was reminded of long-ago childhood memories; mixing paints in joyful exploration of infant alchemy. She relived in that moment, memories of watching white swirl into colour, blue as deep and clear as water. She saw that long gone swirling pattern within his eyes, and felt the same fascination, delight even.

Every time she attempted to force her mind back to comprehensive thoughts, the intensity of his gaze pulled her into the abyss again. The fact that she had gone from avoiding him for years, to seeing him twice in less than a week was seriously affecting her. It was this that which was eventually her way out of the stand-off.

After everything he's done, she thought, you're still going to react like this on seeing him? Don't be such a fool.

"Never mind me, what are you doing here?" Kel demanded. She inclined her head, calling her men to her.

In an instant they were at her sides. They didn't need orders to know what she needed from them; they had worked together long enough to know. Durg was closest on her right-hand side, as always, sword drawn and ready.

"I'm looking for my men." Dom said with his chin raised instinctively.

"And does Raoul know you're down here?"

Dom blushed slightly at her immediate question.

Kel shook her head and muttered Yamani curses under her breath. When she noticed that Dom's eyes followed her movements with an uncomfortable intensity, she closed her eyes and sighed.

"I thought not."

"Nor will he," Dom replied sharply. "I'm not representing the Own here Kel. I've got to find them. He doesn't need a report this time; he simply needs them back."

Kel knew what she had to say, what she had to do, and in that moment she hated her job. She hated having to be the one to fulfil these unfair, unjust tasks when she would as sooner encourage this kind of activity more among men.

However, she knew only too well just how unfair life could be. She knew all about the cruel blows of fate and density that could be struck by the Gods, the twists in life's path. She knew that she couldn't shirk this responsibility anymore than she could any other.

"Be that as it may be, you can't search here." Kel spoke quietly, the sound almost as quiet as the stream at her back but with an assured strength of voice that rang with bell-like clarity and authority.

"Why not?"

"Dom, your own words just condemned you-"

"How so?" Dom demanded interrupting Kel's quietly strong voice.

The men at their sides glanced between the two now and some shifted nervously. It was baffling to them how the man could dare to defy the second Lady Knight; the Protector of the Small. How could he talk to her like that?

"If you are not representing the Own in some way, in the activity occurring here in the name of the King, then you can't be here. This area has been restricted to civilian access for the time being; no-one besides those working under Lord Raoul can be in this whole zone."

Dom was silent for a moment as he contemplated Kel's words. Turning them over within his mind his gaze idly observed the changes in the woman before him whom he had known for so long. A new scar here, a bruise there, longer hair, darker tan...

He was interrupted by a noise from the man on Kel's left. It almost sounded like a growl and when he looked up, he could see the man staring at him with barely leashed hatred and rage.

The noise made Kel open her eyes too.

She glanced to her left and saw that the noise had come from Jowal who was staring at Dom with dark eyes. His hands tightened reflexively on his sword but he made no move towards the other group and its leader.

"I've tracked them; I know they've passed through this way Kel."

At the sound of her name on his lips, Kel's scowl tightened further.

"What happened to Scanra? I though that's where they were headed when they were taken?"

"It was a decoy," Dom replied dismissively. "The slavers took the First with a trap on a wilderness road on the way to the Scanran border, then they looped back and headed down this way."

"You can't be in this zone!"

"I can't just leave them Kel. I have a responsibility. I won't ignore that."

Kel shook with anger. He had the nerve to stand there, when he was the one in the wrong, and insult her morals and sense of justice! She couldn't believe it.

Quickly, Kel sheathed her sword and strode across the gap between them. Dom only just had time to lower his sword before Kel was upon him, too close for comfort at a time like this. She stabbed one finger accusingly into his chest repeatedly and spoke.

"Don't you dare Domitan! Don't you stand there and start to accuse me of anything! I'm here, on royal business; here and now, my word represents what is done for the good of Tortall. And though it pains me to say it – and don't you dare for a moment think it doesn't – there are worse things happening than slavers. We have civilians missing and dead. We have fear and mistrust between nations. We have injury and black magic. You full well know how I despise slavers, but there's nothing I can do to help you."

"Kel, please-" Dom's voice was full of pleading desperation and his eyes widened in their gaze. She could feel her resolve dissolving in those deep waters, like sand sea walls against a saltwater storm. She was helpless under their power even though she knew through to her core, that she was tied where she stood.

She was right. One group of soldiers did not take priority over defenceless civilians in any scenario. He talked about morals and justices, where was the justice in taking his road?

"They send you out alone for two hours and like magic you find something - or someone's in this case - without even starting a sweep! You have all the luck don't you?"

A deep, unexpected but familiar voice interrupted Dom's pleading, making Kel jump. From behind foliage between the two fractions, appeared another group on their way out.

With her heart in her mouth for some unknown reason, Kel watched silently and unmoving whilst Francis dismounted from his horse and walked over to where she and Dom had been facing off. He pulled her back lightly by the arm laughing.

"Has no one ever taught you to play nicely Kelhen?"

All Kel could do was look helplessly between the two men; between the two gazes that had her speared to the floor with their intensity. Dom's eyes had darkened and held resentment for the new arrival that used her son's nickname so openly. Francis, although he tried to hide behind light humour and sarcasm, was suspicious of the man facing off with Keladry who had caused a reaction within her like none he had seen before. Examining the two, Keladry wished that life didn't have to be so damn complicated.

Minutes later beside the stream, all the men of the Own from the three groups were sitting around the stream eating supplies whilst talking in quiet voices. The three leaders, two Knights and a Captain, had moved away to continue the discussion.

When Kel had turned without a word at Francis' entrance, Durg had stepped in and introduced the Knight to Captain Domitan, in an attempt to soothe the situation. Kel had continued to not speak as Francis towed her away from her men with Dom following them.

When they stopped besides a group of trees, Kel pulled from Francis' hold and glared at him before turning her back to them and folding her arms. She watched the men by the stream scowling and waiting for Francis to start talking. However Dom surprised her.

"For heaven's sake Kel, you're acting like a spoilt child! Can't you see reason?"

He tried to take her arm like Francis had done so easily yet found her to be less than willing this time. Whirling round, Kel's hair flowed like a shiny curtain around her face whilst her expression made the men, especially Dom, step back uncertainly.

Placing her balled fists lightly on her hips the Lady Knight bore down on Domitan, eyes alight with indignation. Both men noted with awe how fearsome she appeared. Although simply dressed in a light green tunic with her badge of Mindelan stitched in blue on her left breast and grey trousers, both men instantly took in how Kel's clothes fell about her, seemingly unconsciously unlike most other women, emphasising features which they were already too much aware of.

Her eyes fixed venomously on Dom and didn't falter as she stepped forward slowly, speaking with a fever gained from emotion.

"This is the King's business Dom – I am not acting like a spoilt anything!"

"She has a point Captain..." Francis interrupted quickly in a deliberately calm and soothing voice. "We are here under orders, with more to follow in our actions. We're tied in how much we can aid your search."

"We can't help at all! We have little time to do our tasks well as it is!" Kel said exasperatedly. She flung her hands up in the air and took a breath praying to the Goddess for patience round the men who seemed to take all her sense from her.

"It is true we can do very little for their rescue mission, but we can't do nothing..."

Francis smiled at Kel mischievously making her frown.

"What do you have in mind?" The glint in his eye unnerved and annoyed her at the same time, but as she caught his eye this spark grew and his gaze held hers. She forgot Dom was there and watched amazed at the fervour of the electric energy in his look.

"Am I correct in thinking Captain that you won't leave this zone until you have found and followed the trial left by your men?" Francis asked turning to Dom with a small smile at Kel.

When he broke their connection she was disorientated; feeling helpless and confused between the pair of them.

"Yes." Dom said decidedly with a firm nod.

Kel sighed but said nothing.

"Then we have a few options; the Captain and his men won't leave this area willingly and we in turn cannot abandon our sweeps to remove them forcefully. Therefore we could send a small contingency combined from our two groups?"

"But," Kel said dryly looking at Dom with an eyebrow raised. "I doubt four men, which is all we can truly spare at most, will be able to keep thirty others in line do you?"

Dom grinned sheepishly and in spite of herself, Kel's insides turned over.

"What can I say? We're committed to our cause..."

"Committed or pig-headed?" Kel muttered more to herself, yet both men heard her clearly. Dom opened his mouth to speak a harsh retort but Francis cut him off.

"Option two; we could let them sweep with us in our areas then escort them to the border. If we can contact the groups either side of us or we meet them on the borders we can see if they will let Captain Dom's group into theirs too but we can't just let you go off – others might mistake you for someone you aren't."

"If they haven't already swept our areas..." Kel pointed out.

Both Knights looked at Dom.

"Where do your areas begin and end?" He asked his gaze calculated. Francis turned to Kel, gesturing as he tried to work out where their two plots were in the whole zone. In Kel's mind she could see the map that Raoul had spread out on his desk early this morning when working out deployment. She was in the second strip of the zone, Francis was in the next; the two plots touched at their most easterly corners touched.

"We've only done west of this point running along the border; about fifty kilometres back they started to move away from the wall as if they knew that Raoul's camp was situated there." Dom said finally once Francis had detailed the locations to him.

"So that's settled then." Francis seemed satisfied with this plan which only caused to infuriate Kel further. She felt stressed and outnumbered; unable to control what was happening in her area on the mission when she was the one in charge.

"How can you be happy to just let them wander in your area?" She demanded.

"Kel," Francis says and all humour dropped from his face. A slight shudder ran down Kel's spine under his scrutiny but she ignored it and raised her chin in defiance. "We have to do what we can."

"Don't you think I know that? But what happens if they blunder into the same mess as the civilians? Or scare away what we're looking for? Or-"

"If they move them on, then another group and another Knight will find them," Francis replied gently. "We have to do what we can to help."

"I know!" Kel said sick of saying it. "I probably know the men that are missing for Gods' sake."

"That's settled then." Francis said more firmly this time and Kel nodded reluctantly. Dom smiled tightly avoiding Kel's gaze, when he spoke he seemed to address Francis only, forgetting her presence all together.

"Thank you for being so accommodating." He said with some sarcasm that Kel didn't miss and Francis didn't understand. "I'm glad-"

"Kel!" Durg screamed from behind them causing his Lady Knight's head to whip round.

She looked towards the forty something men sitting around the stream to see that at least half of them were on their feet with weapons drawn.

"People approaching from the South!"

Everyone was concealed as best as they could manage in such sparse woodland and listening to the sound of approaching feet. No-one spoke. No-one moved. No-one dared to even breathe heavily.

The sound that the men picked up on was the heavy thudding of many feet, human and horse. It was the rustling of the leaf-cover. It was the murmuring of voices. It was the clang of metal.

Kel was tensed behind a particularly large tree with Francis, sword in hand and leaning slightly round the trunk in able to see what was walking straight into their clutches. Dom was at the tree next to her with one of his men, staring off to the same plot as her with grim concentration even though he wasn't supposed to be there. The fact that there were thirty more men there would definitely come in handy however.

The sounds got louder and louder as the minutes slipped by and Kel would have almost missed the first of the group if it wasn't for Francis' nudging arm and pointing finger.

A way off to the left was a man on a horse looking straight ahead even though the woman tied to his mount was crying and stumbling along after him. She was wearing a tattered and well-worn dress of a berry red colour although it was difficult to see the colour for the splatters of mud on it. It was for this reason that Kel had missed her.

The Knights and their men watched in horror as from behind the women, other people solidified from the shadows. They were tied together in a chain being led by the man on the horse and were all dressed in ruined clothing, covered with mud. It was as these others trudged past the top of the stream that Kel realised the mud was an attempt by their capturers to disguise the colours of the clothing – more on the bolder clothing and that of the women, less on those wearing blacks, greys, greens and browns: camouflage.

Others appeared on horses and with weapons after the first; they too had strings of captives attached to their mounts. All in all there must have been over fifty people in the group that walked past the men, and woman, of Tortall's place of concealment without even looking in their direction.

Kel was horrified at what she could see. She couldn't believe just how daring this group was, to take so many people at one time. Every other slavers group she had seen in her Knighthood carried maybe thirty kidnapped civilians on one trip, never this many...And never with so few armed guards.

She was stirred from her reverie by another nudge from Francis. He pointed again, this time to the back of the group, to one of the last strings. When Kel looked closer to see what he was trying to make her understand, she had to clasp her hand over her mouth to stop herself gasping in shock. There at the back could clearly be seen, though there was some attempt at concealment, the uniforms of the Own. Not enough to be the whole group of the First that was missing, but about a quarter of a squad.

Francis turned his head to look towards Dom's tree, and Kel did the same. The Captain's hands gripped the bark of his tree as if to stop himself from leaping out there to free them in that moment. She knew that was what was going through his head. His face was screwed up with anger and hatred, his eyes burning with scorching blue fire. He was a fearsome sight to behold and Kel silently thanked the Gods that she would never be on the wrong side of that man.

Then it hit her – why Dom was so angry.

The two problems were connected – the two missions. The threat to Tortall that they were investigating tentatively now, and the disappearances of the Own's men. Everything was linked.

And in that moment, Kel realised, the threat to the realm, and to the captured civilians and soldiers, had just grown exponentially.

It was all Kel could do to let the slavers and their victims continue on past their hiding place; to melt into the surrounding earthy blur. She felt sick to her stomach at what she had seen and by the faces of the men around her as they stepped out of their hiding places, they did too.

Dom looked worse than any of them put together – he was deathly white but his face was pinched and scowling. His eyes shone and his fists were clenched. He stomped and stormed around the camp in silence making anyone in his way leap from it without hesitation.

Francis was deep in thought, distracted and preoccupied. As everyone gathered hurriedly in a tight cluster besides the stream again, he remained silent for a moment. Kel, filled full with impatience and anxiousness, broke the silence pulling her new-friend from his contemplations.

"What do you think?"

"I think," Francis said slowly as he became aware that every eye was on him. The expressions around the group ranged from Dom's barely leashed anger to Durg's professional calm that only showed seemingly mild disgust at what he had seen. Kel knew however that under the surface the old man would be just as aghast as she.

"I think that we can't let them get away from us. I think if we let this opportunity pass us by we'll regret it later. This could be a big advance in the mission and it just walked willingly into our areas. Plus we know now that everything is connected; if they're taking Own men, armed soldiers, as well as civilians it can't be good."

A ripple of agreement ran through the men and Kel nodded silently along with them. It made perfect sense.

"But," Francis continued. "I also think we still need to complete our original tasks to ensure that we haven't missed anything. Our sweeps are still important; there could have only been at most fifty people in those trains – where are the rest? What if they are in our sections and by chasing the ones who have fallen into our laps we risk the rest... the majority?"

"I suggest that while you two Knights complete your sweeps, I continue to follow the caravan." Dom added thoughtfully. "I split my group up for tracking and watch them from all sides to make sure that they aren't out of anyone's sight for a moment."

"We need to alert Lord Raoul to the fact that the two issues are connected – fill him in on what we've already found." Kel spoke quietly, lost in a whirl of thoughts within her head.

"Agreed," Francis replied nodding. "If we split your force Captain in groups of a similar size to mine and Keladry's, they should be small enough to track along the side of the train without becoming conspicuous. The remaining six we can send back to the main camp on the border."

Domitan nodded his consent to this plan and the three leaders turned to the matter of prioritising tasks and planning.

"If me and you, Francis, sweep our areas as thoroughly as we can in the next twenty-four hours and then return this way, we can follow a trail left by Capitan Domitan and join the tracking when certain we have left nothing undiscovered behind us..."

Although Kel would have loved to have been amongst the contingent to go back to camp for reinforcements, to go back to Lord Raoul, she was eager to be a part of the tracking. Deep down in her heart she recognised that spending an undisclosed period of time with Francis and Dom together would threaten to send her mad yet her heart argued that she should be able to handle it as an experienced Knight.

Domitan looked at her for a moment, as if catching her thoughts as they left her head and then turned and spoke to Francis.

"This seems logical – I understand that the work is by Royal Order. Even if it did not seem that both problems were connected, I know that you two would still have needed to follow your orders."

Francis bowed his head in thanks and Kel sighed as she realised how many of her convictions about Dom has been flawed – he wasn't been unthinking or stupid in his thoughts on her work. He didn't seem to be following past behaviour where he had behaved merciless and unforgiving towards her. He was being intelligent and professional; thinking of the mission and what was best for it, while she was dwelling on personal issues. This was a problem she had never had before on missions. Usually it was so easy to clear her head of all else but her work.

It must be the effect of present company, she thought bitterly. Whatever it was, it had really knocked her off balance.

"This will work," Francis said finally breaking her reverie. He gave both others in the clearing a tight smile.

"Everything that has been said seems the best way to juggle all which needs to be addressed. But it seems silly to leave such an advantageous convening point even though it is only mid afternoon. My team will ride out before dawn to our area and sweep for the day, aiming to meet back here by the stream by nightfall. Kel, if you sweep here in your area then meet us here. The day after we will catch up with Domitan's force and join the tracking, until we receive further orders. Captain you shall follow the train – the day after next leave a small contingent tracking the caravan from behind a distance who we can find without running into the back of the slavers. The remaining six men of your group will be sent back to Lord Raoul tonight so that by the time we join you in tracking someone or at least further instruction will be on its way to us."

"This indeed seems best," Dom replied grinning grimly in response to Francis' words. The Knight before him surprised him; despite his obvious youth the boy was a good leader and a good Knight.

"Remember to stay a half a mile to the sides of them to stay out of their view," Kel added automatically. When Dom frowned at her she spoke again quickly. "It's just that I've noticed it's hard to judge distance on this terrain with the strange landscape and proximity with the greenery."

Both men continued to frown at her and for a moment silence surrounded the three leaders. Heat rushed to Kel's cheeks but she did not look down. She met the Captain's stare with defiance – after all she was only offering friendly advice and observations.

"With all due respect, I've been tracking for a lot longer than you, Lady Knight. When you were still running round in lessons I was out patrolling borders and following slavers. I think I've the skills now." Dom's words came out harshly then he turned abruptly and walked away with his men around him, organising teams to ride out in that moment.

Kel's mouth dropped open in shock. It was not the first time a rude remark had hit home but to come from Domitan even after everything made her brain stop. Staring at the floor she ran back over her words quickly to try and understand where he had found offence.

Unnoticed by the Lady Knight, Francis nodded to both his and her men signalling that they should also move away too back to collect their mounts from by the stream.

"What did I say?" Kel said a little hopelessly, looking up at Francis. She realised then they now found themselves alone in the clearing where they had been surrounded by men. To Kel, the space seemed strange after having so many men around her; the fresh air welcome but unsettling. Francis smiled at her obvious confusion and chuckled under his breath.

"You were doing your mother hen act again," he explained glancing in the direction Domitan had left in. "Or didn't you notice?"

"I didn't mean..." Kel began hastily but the other Knight interrupted her with a light smile.

"I know, and when he recalls the moment I think our dear Captain will too. Then he will feel like the fool for speaking so rudely to you."

Kel snorted but met his gaze, calmer now she understood.

"I doubt it – I've dealt with those kinds of reactions throughout my entire career." Francis frowned again slightly at her words but then his face was smooth again.

"Then I will make him see..."

Kel didn't know how to answer that. Her mind reeled at the possibilities presented by those words. What did he mean? For a moment the pair was silent until Kel remembered her wish as she crossed the border of what she wished she had been able to say to her boys.

"I didn't get to say thank-you earlier," the Lady Knight spoke quietly, looking directly up into Francis' eyes for the first time since they had caught sight of the slavers. He gazed right back at her, his forehead creased for a moment in confusion, but his stare nonetheless sharp.

"For what?"

"For being so understanding about Tobe, for riding with me-"

"You don't need to thank me," Francis said interrupting her gently, stepping closer. "It was my pleasure; it was nice to finally put a face to the name that I heard so much about throughout my page and squire years."

Kel was embarrassed and her cheeks flushed slightly.

"I'm sorry if I caused you any grief with Raoul as a squire: I didn't realise he would mention me to my successors. You probably resented me as a squire."

"At first," Francis admitted with a small smile. "When I was reprimanded that 'Keladry was always ready for this, was always eager to practise...' After a while I realised that for the most part it was just another of Raoul's mannerisms. I had no way of knowing whether you did or didn't practise jousting with him every week. Now it's simply a pleasure to have met you Lady Knight."

"Please, just call me Kel ok?" Kel took a small step forward too, a relieved smile in place having had her anxieties put to rights.

"Well if you won't let me use your formal title then I'll have to stick to Kelhen." Francis said teasing her. Kel scowled at his words.

"I wish you wouldn't."

"Oh I will, whether for or against your wishes!" The pair laughed together quietly.

Kel shook her head and eyed Francis for a moment, taking in every feature of his face knowing that they meet little in the next couple of days, or have even less time to talk in the weeks that would follow. His face held a smiling peacefulness in every feature; laughter lines around his eyes, dimples in his cheeks and chin, joyfully arched eyebrows. Even when there wasn't a smile on his face or laughter in his eyes Kel could see happiness within him; he was in every essence a happy soul.

It was only when Francis gently reached out a hand to her cheek that Kel realised how close they were standing. Unconsciously they had moved together as they had spoken till now he could reach across the distance at touch her face easily.

Kel was about to move out of range, yet when his warm fingers met her cheek she was frozen in the spot. His hand cupped her cheek tentatively, as if she was a fragile object or a skittish animal, sending out tingles of warmth and heat across Kel's body.

Francis shuffled forward until he was standing toe to toe with Kel; their bodies touching minutely. Kel's heart was in her mouth and her eyes glued to his. There was nowhere else in the world she wanted to be in that moment and all thoughts of moving had evaporated in her head.

Francis' rough, calloused and worked thumb dragged gently along her jaw, following its line as far as it could reach and back up in a smooth reassuring arc. In that simple movement Kel realised how much she had been longing for contact between them and how much she enjoyed his touch.

"You be careful now, you hear?" Francis spoke roughly as his thumb made a second journey. Kel nodded.

"I'll try."

"That's not enough Kelhen," Francis replied and his other hand rose upwards, seemingly of its own accord. It mirrored the action of its counterpart and took her other cheek reverently so that now Francis had her whole face between his hands. He tilted it upwards gently so he could look further, if it were possible, into her eyes. Kel's senses were overwhelmed by him; the feel of his skin, his masculine woodsy smell, the sound of his voice... It was almost too much. "I need you to keep yourself safe for me."

Kel watched the green in his eyes sparkle with emotion. "I will, if you will."

Francis shrugged her comment off dismissively and brought his face close to hers, hunching his shoulders. Kel was bewildered at the sudden change, her mind incoherent and reeling.

"There are things between my hands at this moment that are very dear to me. I won't be able to work properly unless you promise."

"I will; I promise! It's not as if I haven't done this a hundred times before Francis."

"I know Kelhen," he sighed. "Before I knew you only by name, now I've met you and still I know so little. I want the chance to get to know you Kel, to know everything about you."

Kel was stunned.

Never had anyone been able to completely disregard her career, her profession and her status, and be concerned only with her as a person; her, Keladry of Mindelan – not the Lady Knight or the Protector of the Small.

"I could say the same you know!" Kel said trying to be light, but failing. In her own mind she sounded desperate and scattered.

"You don't know how happy I am to know you wish it too." Francis confessed; a look of relief on his face. "And so you shall, when all this is over and done with."

"Good." Kel said quietly. In the silence that swam around them Kel was sure he would be able to hear her heart beating loudly whilst he studied her, memorising her features.

"Thanks the Gods." Francis murmured quietly under his breath and Kel wasn't sure whether he had meant to say that out loud. He closed his eyes with a sigh and leant his forehead against hers gently.

They stayed that way for a moment that Kel wished would last forever. She could feel Francis' breath warm and moist on her cheek where they were bare of his hands. When she closed her eyes too, placing her hands lightly on his shoulders to keep her balance, the sensations grew and he was everything she could feel and sense, he was everywhere.

"Kel," The way Francis spoke her name sent a ripple of delight down her spine.

The word was a caress to her senses which she welcomed and opened her eyes to receive. He was staring at her again, his head still besides her and now his open gaze so much closer and stronger. The colour of his eyes at this proximity reminded her of meadow grass and wild-flowers swaying in the breeze.

They stayed still and silent, simply looking at each other for a while longer. Through the haze that had descended on her mind Kel became aware of reality again and cleared her throat to speak.

"The men will wonder what's happening..." she whispered. He was close enough to hear her words well enough and there was no-one else around.

Francis did not reply apart from a small grim smile as he drew away from her. Without him in immediate proximity Kel realised how much she had been leaning on him, how warm he had been, how much he had enveloped her entirely.

Turning, he led her back towards the stream where the men of the Own whom they commanded would be waiting. In Kel's head there was no one coherent train of thought which she could grasp tightly. Instead there were many semi-formed ones, swarming around within her reach but she could not seem to choose one. She walked in muddled silence. Francis on the other hand watched the conflict play out on the Lady Knight's face and resolved before they parted in the morning he would find another quiet moment for them so that they both would be able to concentrate on their sweeps.

After the two Knights began to descend the hill to the stream, Dom came out from where he had been standing concealed.

Having given orders to his men and sent a third on their way, he had returned to the clearing to inform the Knights...Only to find Francis and Kel standing close together.

He had stayed, half hidden behind a tree and watched the rest of the exchange in a stunned and bitter silence, rage and hatred at both himself and Francis building within his gut.

He had heard each word. He had seen every glance. He had witnessed every caress.

Standing alone, hands balled into fists at his sides, he tried to remove memories of what had just passed from his mind and return to the business in hand. Yet the look that was burned on the back of his skull remained making him feel ill; Kel's wide and open eyes, trusting and loving and caring. A look that he had seen so many times before only this time it was directed at someone else.

Remaining in that Gods-cursed clearing only long enough to regain control of himself, his temper and his breathing Domitan began to walk back towards the Knights' new camp in order to depart from their company in seemingly good terms.