Neal stood up slowly, using Kel for support. "Really?" He asked, peering into her hazel eyes.

"Really really," said Kel.

"Oh, you silly!" Kel found herself in a tight embrace.

Together, they walked out of the tent. Duke Baird was close by, chowing on his sandwich. He looked surprised when he saw them. He was not expecting Neal to be up walking around so soon. As Baird knew all too well, vervain could take everything out of you. "Neal!" he shouted, "Come here. You too, Keladry."

Neal and Kel walked over. "Hi, dad," he said.

"Hello, Neal. What a surprise! You seem to be recovering nicely." Baird handed each of them a sandwich to eat. "Kel, what EVER did you do to wake him up? You came around quickly, but Neal's been out for almost a week!"

Kel blushed deep crimson. "Oh, nothing," she squeaked out in a small voice. "Just shook him a bit..."

"Dad, when do you think Kel and I can start fighting again? We've been worried sick about our friends."

Duke Baird sat deep in thought. "Well, I wouldn't have any objections to you two going back to the border tomorrow, if you feel up to it."

"I do," said Kel. "What about you, Neal?"

"If Kel goes, I'm going, and that's that." Neal looked determined.

"Go ahead and get ready for tomorrow," Baird said. "You'll leave at dawn."

*****************************************

The next morning, Kel and Neal set off on the short journey to the Scanran border. Along the way they avoided talking about their love for each other, instead chatting about plans and techniques for fighting the Scanrans. Soon, they could see the place where other knights were gathered. Kel and Neal hitched their horses nearby, and walked over. A friendly face greeted them.
"Merric! Long time no see. How are you doing?" Kel had not seen Merric of Hollyrose in the nearly 2 years that she had been a lady knight.

"I'm doing fine, but a few of the other knights have been killed in combat. Do you know Ansil of Groton?" Merric looked grave.

"Yes, that lousy, ungrateful swine of a knight, he's so full of..." Kel went on until Neal silenced her.

"Kel jousted against Ansil during the great progress, remember? She won too," Neal told Merric.

"Well," began Merric, "Those lousy Scanrans set a herd of spidrens on us. Ansil was one of the ones killed."

Kel sighed. She had had a feeling that Ansil wouldn't last much longer as a knight. Kel decided to change the subject. "How's Cleon doing?"

"Actually, you can ask him for yourself," said Merric. "He's right behind you."

Kel blushed as she turned around. Cleon of Kennan was once her lover, but his marriage had been arranged with an heiress. He had done everything he could to talk his mother out of it, but she would not let Cleon marry Kel. Standing at 6'5, Cleon was even taller than Kel's former knight-master and Commander of the King's Own, Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak. His head was filled with unruly red curls, his gray eyes clear and filled with interest.

"Why, hello, apple of my eye," Cleon said. His teenage habits clearly had not been broken. "You are as beautiful as leaves on a tree on a crisp autumn day." Neal looked very distraught over Cleon's choice of words.

"Neal, Kel, how are you doing?" Cleon asked innocently, as if nothing had just happened.

"Well, aside from Kel's bout with the Sweating Sickness, we are doing just fine. I swear, Kel should be a healer. She really has a knack for bringing unconscious people around. " Neal blushed.

Despite her Yamani training, Kel was unable to contain herself. She giggled helplessly.
"What is so funny?" asked Merric and Cleon.

"Oh..nothing," Kel replied in between giggles.

Merric and Cleon looked unconvinced.

*******************************
All of a sudden, cries echoed through the camp. "Attack! Attack! Attack!" Kel grabbed her glaive and mounted Peachblossem. Neal mounted his horse beside her. (A/N: does anyone know the name of Neal's horse??) They took off, Merric and Cleon not far behind. The army of Scanrans was close ahead. Kel began the motions of a pattern dance with her glaive. She struck and thrust her weapon at the Scanrans. Within seconds, one man was down. Kel hated killing, but if her own life was in danger she had to do what would save her life. A sudden movement caught her eye. Neal's horse had reared, sending him flying off. Kel jumped from Peachblossem, determined to save her friend. In the meantime, a Scanran had captured Neal and was holding him in a lock. Kel managed to grab Yuki's shukusen from Neal's belt, opened it, and slashed his attacker across the face. The Scanran's arms flew to his wound, allowing Neal to get free. The two friends fled, running to their horses.

"Here, Neal," Kel panted, handing him his shukusen.

"No, that's okay. You can keep it. It brings back memories of Yuki." Neal's old girlfriend, Yukimi, had left Neal to marry Faleron of King's Reach instead.

"Okay. I can add it to my collection." Kel gave Neal a kiss on the cheek.

"KEL! WATCH OUT!" Neal hurled himself in front of her.

Hurriedly, Kel looked around. "What are you doing???" she screamed to Neal.

But, Neal did not respond. He was dead.