Hey alls! Thanx for all the reviews. I want to thank, uh...God, I don't remember the name but you suggested that Kel teach Neal her combat arts. Good idea! I had not thought about that. My friends at school are all worried cause Kel's so out of character. But she has to be, right? That was the point...anyway, here's the next part.

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"Keladry," Neal repeated the next day for about the thousandth time. He sighed happily, that is until a chunk of bread hit his forehead.
"Let's not talk about girls, I'm depressed as it is," Merric said in a sad tone.
"Why?" Seaver asked.
"My knight master is Sir Ian."
"And..."
Merric looked at Neal, "And he travels. A lot. I won't get to stay here."
There was a bit of silence as the boys realized what was happening, "Well, you're lucky,"
Neal broke the silence as all the boys looked at him.
"What!? Why?" Merric said, shocked.
"You get action. I get books, paperwork."
"But you can stay here. Sir Conal works for the King, an advisor I believe."
"Yeah, and he's highly respected," Roald added.
"You can learn a lot from Sir Conal of Mindelan."
"What?" Neal looked at Cleon, "Mindelan?"
Seaver looked at Neal, "Yeah, you didn't know he was Keladry's older brother?"
Neal shook hi head, "No, I didn't realize."
"Probably too busy thinking about her beautiful eyes." Merric smirked.
Neal threw a glare at Merric, "Well, I guess I'll be seeing her more often."
"You sound..scared to see her again."
"I'm nervous, if that's what you mean."
Roald raised his eyebrow, "Since when are you nervous about meeting a girl?"
"Since now, I guess."

~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kel wandered around her brother's house. He had gone the meet with the King at the palace. She looked through a bookcase in the front room, and finding something interesting, she sat down with it. Just as she was getting into it, there was a soft knock on the door.
She sighed, "I'm coming!"
Kel opened the door, but not to her brother, as she expected.
"Kel! Uh, hello." Neal got a nervous feeling in his stomach, something he had never felt facing a girl.
"It's Neal, right?" He nodded, "What do you need?"
Neal paused and looked for Conal behind her, "Is your brother here? I have something that he needs."
Kel was taught to always make eye contact when she talked to someone; it was polite. Neal's eyes, however, were too strong for her to look into. The green gaze caused her to look away, "He's not here, Neal. He should be back any minute though," Neal nodded, "You can stay here if you like."
"Okay, I guess." Neal walked through the door and sat down on a chair by the fireplace. He watched as Kel served tea for the two of them. She handed him the cup.
"Thanks Kel. Uh, you're reading about Tortallan war heroes?"
Kel looked at the book, "Oh, I just picked that up. It's interesting though."
Neal set the cup down, "I could tell you a lot about that subject."
"Really?"
"Yes, I've met some of them since my father is the chief healer."
Kel was impressed, "Well, I seem to know a lot about the Yamani islands. I lived there for a few years."
"Now I'm impressed. I've heard about the combat arts there."
"I can teach you."
Neal raised his eyebrow, "You can. How good are you?"
"Quite," Kel replied. She and Neal talked for what seemed to be forever. Kel promised to show him some moves later if they caught up to each other.
"So women can become knights now, Neal?"
"Yeah, it's been that way for ten years. No one wants to be the first, either that or their parents won't let them."
"I would never do that."
"Be a knight?"
"Not allow my children to be and do what they want to. If my daughter wanted to be a knight, I wouldn't stop her."
"What if she wanted to be a thief?" Neal grinned.
"I'd encourage her against it."
"Thought you wouldn't do that to your kids."
Kel laughed, "If you're always this annoying, Conal's going to beat you!"
"He probably has some tolerance, he's your brother!"
A few laughs later, there was a knock on the door, "Oh, that's Conal."
Kel opened the door and Conal walked in. Neal stood.
"Sir Conal, I, uh, have your papers here."
Conal looked at Kel, then at his squire, "Thank you. That's all I will need, Neal."
Neal nodded, waved to Kel, and ran off. Kel smiled and waved as well. When he was out of sight she turned to meet Conal's curious eyes.
"How long was he here?"
"Not long, Conal. We just talked."
"Okay. Mithros! I'm becoming like our father."
Kel laughed, "It's okay."
Conal fixed a tidy meal for he and Kel from the food his mother sent. He and Kel ate as they talked about their day. As usual, Conal had plenty to say, while Kel didn't do much but listen. Conal expressed his apologies because he would not have much free time. The King was trying to form a treaty with Tusaine by marrying his daughter to a prince there.
"That's okay, Conal. You know me, I like to look around myself."
"Conal looked at his sister, "Sorry about this."
"It's fine!"
Conal grinned, "I can always ask my squire to show you around, you seem to have taken a liking to him."
Kel blushed slightly, "He's nice to talk to."
"The Yamani mask does not work with me, Kel." Conal yawned, "I best be off to bed. I have a long day tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Conal."
"Goodnight."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"You know Neal," Roald began as they walked to study group, "You should already have poems and songs about this girl."
Seaver laughed, "Yeah, what's wrong? She's not for you?"
Neal shook his head, "No, just the opposite. She's really great, but she's not like other girls I've liked. She's different; she doesn't make me feel the way other girls do."
"Is that good or bad?" Roald asked.
"Good, very good." Neal replied.
"Are you in love?"
"Well, I don't feel how I normally do about her. Not like I do with random girls. Kel's special. I don't know what I feel, but it feels good."

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