I keep saying I have favorites, but um... yeah.

She spends three months riding with the Own once she's relieved of duty at New Hope. The Scanran War has ended, Maggur has been executed, and New Hope is a town with a headwoman. They don't need a knight-commander anymore; Fanche will do more than well.

Tobe chooses to stay in town, a move that surprises her until she realizes about the significance of the looks he gives Loey. Kel understands, and gives him a rib cracking hug.

She promises that she'll visit.

And then she rides off, constantly looking back over her shoulder.

It's good to be back with Third Company, with Lord Raoul and Qasim, Lerant and his friendly insults, and of course Dom and his squad. They followed her into Scanra, under orders she found out they didn't have to take.

She spends days riding next to Dom, talking about nothing in particular.

He jokes and she laughs, they talk and talk around the campfire.

By the end of it, Kel wants more.