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Kel's hands nearly shook the glasses of drinks off her tray. "M'lord?" she said courteously, bowing slightly to accomodate the full goblets of wine.
The night was warm, so her supply of chilled beverages was quickly depleated by the guests. Returning with more, carefully balancing the light wooden circle, she nearly veered into Neal as she walked out the door.
"Watch out!" she cried in time, before they collided. "That was close, Neal. They would have us hung out to dry if this was spilled," she gasped.
Taking the tray from her hands, the squire placed it on the table. "Kel, what happened last night? With Cleon?"
"Nothing, really."
"Kel, please! Listen to me!" Neal pleaded. "I don't know what to do! How to show I care! Flowers? A sonnet? I can't -couldn't- even start on a poem without your help-"
Holding her hand up, she shook her head. "Neal, why would I even want a poem?! Is that really what you think I'd want?" Eyes huge, he simply stared at her.
"We are friends, Neal, and thats the way it should be." Smiling weakly, Kel picked up the tray with composure and left the small preparation room.
Leaning his burning forehead against the cold stone of the walls, he murmured to himself, "I should have known she wouldn't want a poem...I should have known, so why didn't I...Gods! What's the matter with me?"
~~~~~~~~~~~
The bell bonged the midnight hour. "Bright Mithros, we're free," Cleon yelled in the kitchens.
"So mote it be!" the others chorased, throwing the dirty rags and cloths in the air. Shedding aprons and leaving unwashed dishes and cups for the next shift of squires, the mass exodus clogged the doorway.
"Are you gonna practice staffs?" Cleon's shout reached Kel's ears across the noisy hall.
"Definately!"
"Meet you there!"
Dashing past Raoul's empty room and darting into her own, Kel quickly changed into old clothes and grabbed her staff before sprinting into the hallway. And slamming into Oranie.
"Gods, sorry Orie," Kel said, hands out in apology. "I've been doing this all day!"
Crossing her arms, the older sister raised her eyebrows. "Because you're betrothed? Is that why your head is in the clouds?"
"What? I am? To who!?"
"One of them, I don't know. Or care." Bursting into tears, she sobbed, "It's not fair!"
"I'm sorry, Orie," Kel whispered. The other wrung her skirt in both hands. "Really." Patting her sister's hair, she tried to comfort her. "Don't cry."
Suddenly alert, Oranie shoved Kel away violently. "Go away!" she screamed. "I hate you!" Running off as fast as she could in court skirts and flimsy shoes, the door to her guest room, next to Kel's, slammed shut.
Cleon dashed into view, staff in hand. "Kel!"
"Cleon! There's something wrong with her!" Lending Kel a hand, she was up in a flash and pounding on the door. "Orie!"
Footsteps thudded in the hallway and Neal, throwing on a shirt, and stopped next to Kel. "I heard something! Is everyone okay?"
Cleon glared at him. "Why?"
"I heard shouts," he answered calmly while Kel continued to bang on the door, yelling.
The whole motley crew arrived only when Piers and Ilaine came sauntering down the hallway, arm in arm. "Oh, hello everyone," she said. "Kel? What on earth are you doing?"
"Why am I betrothed?" Kel said bluntly.
"What, dear?" said Ilaine. "Oh, yes, that. It was to be a surprise, but I suppose Oranie blurted it out." She sighed sadly. "How do you feel?"
"How do I feel?!" Kel shrieked. "Who is it? And why wasn't I told?"
Cleon glared at everyone in the area, and Neal perked up, looking slightly hopeful. "Who is it?" the redhead exclaimed.
"Then it won't be a midsummer surprise!" They parents exchanged a smile. "It may seem mean, Kel, but we think we have it right. And things can always be changed, can't it?"
"Tell us!" Neal gasped. Cleon gave him a dirty look, but stared just as eagerly at the Mindelan parents.
Oranie's piercing scream came through the doorway, and Kel jumped out of her stupor and began kicking the door with fervor. "What's going on?" Piers yelled. "Oranie?"
With three squires and one portly man flinging their weight around the door, it gave way quickly. Oranie crouched on the ground, blood streaming from a slashed wrist.
"Orie!" her mother screamed, running to her daughter's side.
"Neal, can't you do something?" Kel gasped, face awash with horror despite her Yamani mask.
He paused. "I can try. It won't be perfect, but it might stop the terrible bleeding. I think I have enough strength to do it."
"Hurry!"
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ill try to get the next chapter up soon.