A/N: Sorry for the delay again! But I'm off from school for winter break now! Yay! Here's the next one!


Chapter Twenty-Nine: Glaive-Wielding Lady Knights


"Kel looked out the window and scowled. She knew those horses picketed outside: geldings and mares, their markings and colors as familiar as Peachblossom's or Hoshi's. Hoshi stood with them, feeding from a bag marked with the blade-and-crown insignia of the King's Own…She knew them all, including the corporals Wolset and Fulcher. If they were here, then the man who sat with his back to her, cooking strips of bacon threaded onto sticks, was Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle…"

-Tamora Pierce, Lady Knight


Settling on the floor of one of Giantkiller's barracks, Kel covered herself with her riding blanket. It was the middle of the night, and although she was surrounded by her animal friends, Kel felt lonely…and afraid. She still wondered what she was doing, out here on her own, but she was feeling determined still, although doubts often entered her mind. However, she didn't want to desert her people, of that she was sure.

As she lay on the hard floor, her thoughts strayed to those she would be leaving behind. To the life she would be leaving behind. If she made it back from this alive, she would certainly be facing treason and, more than likely, imprisonment. All that training and time would be put to waste. They would accuse her of running from the face of the enemy. She would be disgracing her family, her friends...her kingdom. Was she really going to go through with this, knowing that?

Yes. Remembering the faces of Gydo and Meech, Fanche and Saefas, there was no question about it. She had to go after them.

Kel didn't pray for people to understand, thinking it foolish, but she did pray to the Goddess to keep her people safe, and for her head to remain on her shoulders. It wouldn't hurt to add that in for good measure. Then, as her eyes closed, she found herself wishing unconsciously that she could have help herself. Whether that help came in the form of some soldiers or a traveling troupe of acrobats, she didn't care. If her mind wasn't clouded with sleep, she would have scolded herself for hoping someone else shared her insanity to risk their life on this crazy adventure. This was her own idea, and it was her own life she may be sacrificing. She didn't want to risk anyone else's…


"We're not goin' in there are we?"

The squad of men looked up at the remains of what was once the functioning structure of Fort Giantkiller, before the fall. It was deserted and looked that way. It was dark and no sound came from within its walls.

But she must be in there, Dom just knew it.

"Are ye sure she's in there?" asked Wolset, sounding like he would rather not find out.

Dom glanced over at his corporal. "You're not scared of a few lingering ghosts, are you?"

He was teasing him and Wolset knew it. He scoffed, "Your face does me more harm."

Dom laughed softly. "Then let's go in." He nudged his horse forward before any of his men could protest.

His men were a superstitious lot, and it showed as they made their way to Giantkiller's gates. The old gates were hanging off the hinges from when the Scanrans had forced their way in. Passing through them carefully, more than one of his men made the sign against evil. The fort was deserted, with only a few of the edifices still standing.

All of them looked around for any sign of Kel. Then suddenly, Dom heard one of his men cry out from the back. Turning around quickly, sword already in hand, he and the others caught sight of what had made the man shout. A pack of sparrows flew over the squad in welcome. Dom and the other men smiled. They had caught up with her.

Dismounting quickly, the men tied their horses to the nearest posts. Just after he instructed his men to take a quick look around, Dom felt a nudge on his leg. He looked down to find Jump waiting there patiently.

"Good timing," he told the dog as he kneeled down to scratch his ears.

Jump reluctantly turned away from the petting and immediately turned and headed the other way. He hadn't gone far when he stopped and turned to look back at Dom. Did he just jerk his head toward one of the barracks? Dom chuckled and followed the dog without further questions.

Pushing the door open with his muzzle, Jump trotted into the barracks. Standing in the doorway, Dom removed his helm to see better in the dark building.

And there was Kel, curled up on the ground using her horse blanket for a cover. He grinned when he saw her glaive resting right next to her head and an axe right next to that. This was a woman you did not want to surprise.

So instead of waking her, Dom walked back out to his horse and returned a few minutes later with his own blanket. Sitting himself down in the corner of the room, he propped the blanket behind his head to use it as a pillow. He was tired from the ride, but for a while, he found himself sitting and watching Kel sleep. He hoped that she was having a peaceful sleep, but knowing Kel, her mind was still probably running. Dom smiled at the thought.

Then, praying that they both would have restful nights, Dom fell asleep too…


Dom woke the next morning to a soft tapping on the barracks' door. Jump, who had slept in front of the door, was nudging Dom's boot with his nose. Dom listened as the tapping continued.

Then from the other side, he heard someone whisper, "Psst, Dom!"

Groaning, he stood up and walked to the door, knowing the voice well. He opened it to find Wolset standing there. Dom raised his eyebrows in silent question.

"I'm sorry to steal you away from yer lady love," he said cheekily, "but we're makin' breakfast. Do you wanna wake Lady Kel?"

"No," said Dom as he disappeared into the building to return a second later with his blanket, "I'm going to let her sleep a little longer, at least until breakfast is cooked."

"You mean you don't want to wake her with a good mornin' kiss?"

That got him a blanket in the face. Wolset chuckled as Dom shut the door behind him. "I should've let you keep thinking we weren't together," Dom told his corporal, "It would make my life a lot more peaceful."

"But not as fun for us."

"No, but entertaining for me. Kel and I found much amusement in your attempts to get us together. But it was worth it to see the look on your face when you found out," said Dom, grinning at the memory.

It had been the day of their departure from Haven when it had occurred. Kel had been seeing their squad off and wishing them luck when suddenly Dom, not yet on his horse, had taken her face in his hands and kissed her swiftly. Kel's expression was almost as surprised as his men's. Fulcher actually started to slide off his saddle before he caught himself and straightened. Wolset, after staring wide-eyed at them, had then laughed and held out his hand for a few of the others to drop coins in it. Dom, waiting for her chastisement, was equally surprised when Kel had let it go.

Unlike then, he was sure she wouldn't be so lenient now when she saw them here.

"Yeah, well, I was more surprised that she didn't belt you one right there fer kissin' her in front of us," replied Wolset, smiling. "Just let me know when you plan to do that again- I want to witness the thrashing."

Dom laughed as they both made their way to the small fire built not far away from the barracks.

"Have a good night's sleep, Dom?" asked Fulcher when he arrived. The insolent smile on his face earned the corporal a good shove.

"Why do you all seem so interested suddenly in my private life?" muttered Dom.

"What else have we to do?" shrugged Wolset. "Twiddle our thumbs?"

Dom shook his head as he helped prepare breakfast.

"Hey get that fire going. At this rate we'll be eating breakfast at dusk," said Fulcher to two of the newer men. They walked off to get some more wood. "Plus, my hands are frozen," he added later, smiling as he rubbed them together for warmth.

The remaining men chuckled. "You would think it was winter with the way you're going on, Fulcher," laughed Dom.

"Well it's not exactly scorching out here," he retorted. Then he smirked, "Besides, not all of us had such cozy accommodations as you did last night."

Dom rolled his eyes at Fulcher while the rest of the men laughed.

"Yeah, you probably didn't get much sleep either," said Wolset suggestively, nudging Dom's arm.

He chuckled and pushed him back.

After a few minutes of lighthearted teasing, Lofren asked, "So when is Lady Kel going to join us?"

Dom smiled, "She doesn't even know we're here."

"What?" asked Wolset. "Didn't you talk to her last night?"

"No," Dom laughed, "I didn't want to wake her. Besides, it's not a good idea to surprise someone sleeping with a glaive and axe within reach. I didn't want my head lobbed off."

"It would've done us all a favor," Wolset grinned, "why don't you go awake yer lady now?"

"Because I don't want the full-force of her wrath. I've always been about sharing," he grinned.

Some of the men exchanged wary glances. Then the newest member of the squad asked, "Wrath? Why will Lady Kel be mad?"

Dom opened his mouth to answer, but Wolset was quicker, "For starters, she won't be expectin' us because she wasn't planning on endangerin' any other life besides her own, the selfish girl. Then she'll be angry at us and probably call us all insane for following her, thinkin' we'll be accused for treason as she thinks she will be, and then, since she doesn't know we're here, we'll probably scare the hell of out of her. As Dom said, Lady Kel don't like surprises."

The man looked around anxiously. A few of the men, including Dom, hid their smiles at the look of faint alarm on the man's face at Wolset's words. A picture of a glaive-wielding angry lady knight was no doubt going through the man's mind.

Wolset continued, "And you know what will upset her the most?"

The man shook his head and asked warily, "What?"

"Well don't tell her I told you this, but…" he leaned forward, causing the other man to do so as well, and finished softly, "she just doesn't like you. Your presence here won't help the matters."

Dom and the others roared with laughter, Wolset soon joining them, as the man rolled his eyes sourly at the joke.

"Not to fear, though," said Wolset, slapping the man on the shoulder between laughs, "that's why we have Dom here. After some pretty talkin' and some...charm…" he said, winking at Dom, "Lady Kel will be much more understandin', won't she sergeant?"

"I think you're giving me a lot more credit than I'm worth," chuckled Dom, "I'll just be her main target."

"That's the way, take one for the team!" joked Wolset.

"Uh oh," said Fulcher a few seconds later, looking past Dom, "get ready, boys. Here she comes."

"Don't let us down, lover boy," Wolset whispered to Dom.

He smiled as they all set amused smiles on their faces as Kel approached. His back was to her when she demanded to know what they were doing there. Dom could feel her eyes on his back, so with a deep breath, he turned and grinned widely at her. This was going to take some work…


A/N: Haha I love those guys! :D

Okay, the next chapter will be up after Christmas, BUT for something extra I'll be planning on adding a new Midwinter oneshot to my collection Cold Midwinters & Warm Kisses! Be sure to look for it soon! I'll probably post it a couple days before Christmas, as soon as I write it lol. I already have an idea of what I'm writing so don't worry :D Look for the update, and Happy Holidays everybody!