This tale takes place during Squire, during Kel's
first year in service to her master, Raoul.
It takes place during mid-fall, right after Cleon has returned. (Most of the squires have been at the Palace
for a few weeks already.)
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Kel
leaned against the railing of one of the many balconies and walkways
surrounding the castle. Looking out
over the Royal Forest, her smooth hair blown behind her by the wind, she was
daring herself to look down; yet every time she did Kel felt a rush of fear fly
up her spine. No matter what I tell
anyone, she thought, I'm still not completely over my fear of heights.
Kel
felt a warm, strong hand on her shoulder and quickly glanced behind her,
surprised to see that it was Joren standing behind her. Don't try to hide it, a sensible
voice said inside Kel's mind. You
wish that Neal were standing beside you.
Her
insides turned to mush just thinking about Neal. Although she had felt this way for years, she had no hope that he
felt the same way about her. Be
realistic, you know that Neal only likes Court beauties, not cows. Kel struggled to contain a bitter laugh,
remembering Neal's affection for Daine and Uline of Hannalof, both who were utterly
gorgeous.
Joren
gazed at the sky alongside her, slowly pulling her hand off the railing and
into his. Kel wasn't sure how she felt
about Joren – they had been bitter enemies as pages, but as soon as he had
become a squire Joren had behaved strangely nice towards her.
"The
sky is beautiful today." Joren murmured.
He paused and turned to face Kel.
He was undeniably handsome, with white-blond hair and eyes the color of
winter's first frost, coupled with a strong build from his time as a squire. Joren's eyes locked with hers as he
continued, "Just as beautiful as you have become."
Kel
was taken aback by this comment. Wasn't
it less than two years ago when he told her that she needed to lose some
weight? She admitted to herself,
however, that she was becoming rather pretty: everything she had done over the
past year had taken off much off her excess poundage, and although her
beauty wasn't rivaling that of her sisters', it was indisputably there. Still, she struggled to keep her face
Yarmani-smooth as Joren leaned in closer.
"Kel,"
he whispered. She had never noticed the
husky quality of his voice before. "You
sure are a sight for sore eyes."
Suddenly Joren grabbed Kel and held her in a tight embrace. At first she resisted the urge to fight back
using one of the techniques that she had taught Lalsasa during her second year
as a page, but soon she relaxed and decided she actually enjoyed being
in Joren's strong arms. Kel didn't
resist when Joren tightened his hold on her while leaning in for a passionate
kiss.
She
closed her eyes, kissing back with all of her mind, body, and soul. The feeling of Joren's many kisses, along
with his tongue tickling hers, left her exhilarated and yearning for more. Somehow, she knew what to do: Kel lifted one
arm from Joren's broad shoulders and ran her fingers through his fine
hair. He responded with yet another
dazzling kiss. What caused my
immense hatred for him the past few years? Kel asked herself. In her eyes, Joren was the most perfect
being in the entire universe during that moment.
A
movement in the doorway to her left startled Kel. Quickly turning around, she realized that it was her friends
Cleon, and more importantly, Neal.
Horrified, her feet were rooted to the spot as she realized what she had
just done – with her bitter rival, no less.
As she watched, aghast and in a daze of terror, she abruptly noticed
that her friends (Or at least they were before this, she thought glumly)
were running away. Breaking out of
Joren's grip, she scurried after them.
"Neal! Cleon!" she desperately called out, but in
vain. One last fleeting glance of hair
the color of fire before the pair turned the corner convinced her that she
would never catch up to them. If
only… Kel thought, if only…
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The next installment will come soon! (And please rate this, along with your ideas
on what should happen next!) Thanks.
:-)
