Yes… This is going to be very weird. The twist is coming… I'm being mean, can't just let Kel have a happy romance and live happily ever after, gotta complicate it… Oh, I can't remember where Mindelan is, it's probably in the north but if it was it wouldn't fit with the story and Morgen (yeah, my excuse is getting stale) still has First Test. So use your imagination.
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Chapter 7: Homeward Confound
Kel rode Starshine at a trot, heading for the front gates of barony Mindelan. She could never really think of it as home, she could barely remember it. But she wanted to see her family and tell them of her fortune before she went back to Corus. She had thought a lot about Cleon, and finally came to a decision. No matter if he was shy, she wasn't going to wait years. Kel, when she went back to the capital, was going to propose to him. She didn't think about what would happen if he said no; the very idea was too depressing.
But now, as she approached the "home", she pushed these thoughts out of her mind and took a deep breath. The guard let her past with only a word, and she stabled her mare without hassle. She wondered what she should do. Kel would feel silly knocking on the door, but she couldn't just walk in. But that problem was solved by one of her elder sisters running to greet her, practically strangling her in a hug.
"Oh, Kel! I knew you'd come back!" she said, and settled down a bit. "Come in, come in, my husband wants to meet you."
Her sister's husband was a nice man, and they altogether deserved each other. They went inside the manor, and Kel's sister smiled or said a greeting to any passing servants. She was the kind of girl who could be polite to a cockroach, and she was the most agreeable person Kel had ever known.
They went into the parlor, where Kel's mother and father were waiting, beaming when they saw her.
"Well," Kel said. "I passed. I'm full Shang now. The Snow Leopard."
Her parents praised her, but their praise seemed kind of plastic. Not hesitant, like someone who hasn't seen you for a long time and isn't sure how to act, but like they were trying to make small talk to cover up something.
"What's up? I can tell you're hiding something," Kel said suddenly.
Her mother twisted her sleeve in her hands. "Well, there was really nothing we could do to change it, and it was such a long time ago-"
"Spit it." This was no time for diplomacy.
The baron paused. "Well- maybe seventeen or something years ago, before you went to Shang, we made a deal. A… betrothal promise."
Kel's breath caught in her throat as he continued. "We promised you to a noble- and we were lucky to get one of such a prestigious fief, a very wealthy house-"
"Who was it?!" Kel choked out.
Her mother was biting her nails now. "Nealan of Queenscove."
"What?!?" Kel exploded. "Neal?!? NEAL?!? That book-bound soppy excuse for a knight?!? I can't marry him! I won't! I'm Shang! Not some soft noble lady!"
Her father raised an eyebrow. "You know Duke Baird's son?"
"Do I know him! "Kel was bright flaming red. "Do I know that son-of-a-bitch! He's like my lover's best friend, how could I not-" she halted, realizing what she had just said, and turned a different shade of red.
Her father raised his other eyebrow. "Lover?"
Kel blushed and mumbled something that sounded like "Sir Cleon of Kennan."
The Baron crossed his arms. "Well, I'm very sorry for you, but it can't be done. And you are Mindelan, and you know so. I can't break it off, I'll be the shame of the court. I won't abdicate you, either."
Kel narrowed her eyes, furious. "No. Way. Can. You. Make. Me. Marry. Neal."
Her mother frowned. "Now, Keladry-"
"Don't you 'now Keladry' me! Dammit, I love him! You can't make me marry anyone but him, much less his best friend!! What the fuck would I tell him?!?"
"I'm sure you'd think of something."
Kel stormed off, in a vicious rage. She elbowed servants out of the way, going to the stables. Her saddlebags with all her belongings were there, and pushing the groomsman out of the way, she saddled Starshine and galloped off.
***
How could they do this to me? Kel thought. How could the set up something as disgusting as an arranged marriage? Fuck it. I'm not doing it. I'm eloping.
***
Cleon of Kennan sat in his rooms, brooding. He would ask her. Even if she refused, he would have at least tried. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He would ask her to marry him. That was the thought in his mind as he heard a knock at the door and went towards it. Opening it, he saw, to his immense joy, that it was Kel.
"Will you marry me?" they both said at once. "Yes." They both said, and Cleon pulled Kel forward to kiss her. When he stopped, she burst into tears, burying her face in his chest.
"What is it?" he asked.
"It- it's-" choked between sobs. "It's my parents. They set up an arranged marriage fore me. With- with- Neal."
Cleon stiffened with rage, dropping Kel right then and there and running off to find Neal, murderous thoughts in his head.
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Had to stop it there. Woo hoo! Cleon with a murderous rage for Neal! Meanwhile Kel falls apart, and I bet you all forgot about Princess Chisokami…