Keladry of Mindelan pushed her chair away from her writing desk and threw her hands up in the air with frustration. She brushed her sun-streaked brown hair out of her eyes, and tried to continue her letter to Cleon. She hadn't seen him since her Ordeal, and now, could think of nothing to say that wasn't silly.

"I'm being silly" she chided herself aloud.

"Talking to yourself again Mindelan?" inquired a dry voice behind her. "That's one of the first signs of insanity, you realize"

Kel turned to face her longtime friend, Nealan of Queenscove.

"I was told knights were supposed to be courteous to ladies" she retorted

"Ah, but it doesn't say anything about lady knights, now does it? Neal said archly, with a twinkle in his eye

" I could beat you in staff work during our first year, don't take that tone with me, or I'll be forced to show you what else I learned with Lord Raoul."

Neal shuddered "If it's all the same to you, Lady Knight, I'll skip the pleasure"

She grinned at him, took a glance at the blank piece of paper in front of her, and got up.

"Let's see if winter brought any new squires crawling back to the palace" Kel said

"I was hoping you'd say that, I'm famished" agreed Neal, and they proceeded down to the dining hall.