A/N Well, here's the second part. Right, before I begin, I'm gonna tell you this right now. There is absolutely no way that this will turn out to be a Kel/Neal fic. My other one, Journeys and Horses might me (emphasis on might), but this one definitely won't be. Sorry. Umm…oh yeah, I own nothing, I am not making any money out of it, if you recognise it, it probably isn't mine… get the picture yet? I OWN NOTHING! And I hate disclaimers. Well, now that's over, all I have to say is…R/R! Please review, and thankyou very very much to everyone who already did!

Chapter Four

The next day, just before lights-out, a knock came on her door. Kel was undressing. Quickly, she slipped her tunic back on and ran to answer the door. It was Lord Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, Commander of the King's Own, and a knight of Tortall. Kel was astonished. He was nice, and he'd always seemed to like her, but he'd never come to her door before. Why was he here?

"Would you like to come in, my lord?" she asked.

"Thank you." Lord Raoul came into her room, but he didn't sit down. "Keladry, I came to ask, would you consider becoming my squire?"

Kel couldn't say anything. The person she most wanted to be a squire to was the Lioness, Sir Alanna. But she knew that the Lioness could never pick her. Sir Raoul was the next best thing. He was nice, good humoured, and he never treated her differently because she was a girl. He had even known Alanna when she was training to be a knight!

When Kel didn't reply straight away, Raoul said quickly, "You can let me know in the morning. You probably have other offers that you wish to consider…"

Kel interrupted him. "No, no. I'd love to be your squire!" For the first time in a long time, Kel's face broke out into a grin. She didn't even cover it up like a good Yamani should.

"Excellent!" Raoul's grin echoed her own. "I've only just come back from the Bazhir, and I thought I should make my offer to you before someone else did. We can talk further about it tomorrow."

Kel looked at him uncertainly. "I have lessons tomorrow, sir." she said regretfully. But Raoul only grinned.

"When you become a squire to a knight, that knight decides when and where you have lessons. Besides, isn't the practical work just drills that you already know by memory?" Kel nodded, and Raoul continued, "You can attend the afternoon lessons if you want. So, I'll see you tomorrow?" Kel nodded again. "Okay, well, why don't you come by my rooms after you've finished breakfast in the morning? Good night."

Raoul left the room, leaving Kel floating on air. It took Kel a long time before she could calm down enough to fall asleep.

Kel went to breakfast that morning with her Yamani face on. She didn't want to let her friends know about Lord Raoul until she had spoken with today. Going to breakfast with a big grin on her face would certainly let them know that something was up!

Kel was so excited she could barely eat her breakfast. Neal was his usual morning self- grumpy and irritable. Kel wolfed down her breakfast so fast that her friends (even Neal) looked up in amazement.

"What's the rush?" Merric asked wryly. Kel smiled and shrugged her shoulders. Merric rolled his eyes and sighed, but Kel had already left to dump her tray. She was going to go to Lord Raoul when she realised that if she went too early she might wake him up. She sat back down with her friends, and fidgeted in her seat until they had finished.

"Kel, why're you so jumpy today?" Owen asked curiously.

"Oh, nothing." Then she realised that they would miss her in the morning lessons if she didn't warn them. "Actually, I've got an offer from a knight. I'll miss the morning lessons." All of her friends cheered. Cleon clapped her on the back.

"Good job! So who is it? I hope he's worthy of you, pearl of my heart, queen of anything to do with mathematics…" Cleon was interrupted then by a group groan. He grinned. "So tell." Kel grinned up at him.

"I'll tell you this afternoon. He wants to talk to me this morning." She noticed that everyone else was leaving the dining hall. "Now, actually." Kel stood up quickly, and smiling, she left the hall.

She got to Lord Raoul's rooms and knocked on the door. Lord Raoul opened it almost immediately. He was awake and dressed, which dispelled one of Kel's fears, that he would be asleep.

"Come in." Raoul said smiling. He smiled back shyly and followed him into his room. Raoul closed the door and gestured for her to sit down in a chair. She sat, and he sat down opposite her.

"So Keladry I guess I should tell you why I want a squire now, since I've never had one before."

"You can call me Kel, my lord. I have been wondering," she admitted.

"Well, you know that a royal princess from the Yamani islands is coming to marry Prince Roald? Well, I will have many people, from all over Tortall and the surrounding countries, here for the Grand Progress. I'll need someone to help me cope with all of that. Besides which, I've heard that you lived in the Yamani islands, and you know something of their ways." Kel nodded her head.

"I have lived in the Yamani islands for most of my life. I can speak Yamani well." Raoul nodded approvingly. "Good. And I've seen you with the spidrens, and heard about the incident with the bandits a few summers ago. I believe that you will be able to keep up with me in the field." Kel swallowed. That was big praise coming from the Commander of the King's Own!

"Thank you sir!" Kel replied. Raoul grinned.

"Squiring for me won't be exactly traditional, however. I don't need you waiting on me hand and foot like some of the other knights require." A look of disgust passed over his face. "Especially when we're out in the field. Something you will do however is to serve drinks at banquets, and when I have guests. I have received amazing amounts of useful information from squires listening to guests as they pour drinks." Raoul smiled again. "So, do you have any questions?"

Kel shook her head no. "Excellent. You can move into adjoining rooms tomorrow. Just be ready to move at any hour of the day or night if the rider group gets called out."

"I will sir. Thank you!" Kel said, meaning it. She thought that she would be without a knight-master forever! And since Sir Alanna had chosen Neal for her squire, Lord Raoul was the best thing that could happen to her.

"Well then, we can spend the rest of the morning looking over your armour, introducing you to your second horse…" Kel couldn't believe it. Second horse! But Lord Raoul was continuing. "…then you can go to your afternoon lessons."

The rest of the morning was a blur for Kel. Raoul introduced her to another horse, because she would need two if she were to accompany him everywhere he went. She named the horse Hoshi. Then they bought armour for Kel, and had lunch while they were out. Lord Raoul looked over Kel's equipment, and decided that what she had was good, and she didn't need any more. He let her go just in time for her afternoon classes.

She arrived slightly just in time for Maths, the master walked in the door seconds after she did. That meant that she couldn't tell her friends about Lord Raoul until after classes. Finally, at the end of the afternoon's lessons, all of her friends came to her at once and asked, almost in unison,

"So who is it?" Her friends all congratulated her loudly until Lord Wyldon came and demanded to know what was going on.

"Kel has been squired to a knight, your lordship," Neal said.

"Well, please continue your celebrations somewhere other than in the middle of the hall. Congratulations, Squire Keladry." Lord Wyldon said in his usual stiff manner.

"The Stump couldn't be any nicer about it, could he?" Neal muttered to Kel as they all made their way back to their rooms. Kel smiled, but it stopped instantly. She'd just remembered Neal and Oranie. She'd been happy all day, too. She had a knight-master she reminded herself, but she still felt miserable. Neal loves Orie. She couldn't forget about it now. Kel walked of to her own room, and the others went back to their own rooms, all apart from Cleon.

"So Squire Keladry, congratulations," Cleon said, grinning. "I'm beginning to think that he is a Stump. So, how'd it go with Lord Raoul?"

"It was great!" Kel said as she opened the door to her room. She walked in, and motioned for Cleon to follow. She had half an hour until dinner, and Cleon wouldn't have followed her if he didn't want to come in. "Really good. He bought me armour, and he showed me the other horse I'll need when we go out with the own. I called her Hoshi."

Kel stopped. Hoshi was the Yamani word for star. She was going to travel to the Yamani islands with Neal after they got their shields. Neal…and Oranie. Kel sighed, and she sat down on her bed. She'd forgotten Cleon was in the room, otherwise she wouldn't have let her emotions show. But Cleon had seen.

"Hey, Kel. What's wrong?" His voice was soft, and he sat down on the bed next to her. Kel shrugged.

"Oh, nothing really. I guess I'm just tired," Kel said, making her voice bright, and making her face blank.

"Come on. You were hiding behind your Yamani face all day on Sunday. What's up?" Kel sighed. She was tempted to tell Cleon the whole thing. He was really nice, and one of her best friends. Kel looked up at him.

She didn't know what to say. Cleon moved his head down to hers and kissed her lips. "Cheer up, Kel." And Cleon left, quickly. Kel watched him go. The back of his neck and his ears were bright red.

Chapter Five

Kel was very thoughtful at dinner. Cleon had kissed her. Not Neal, but Cleon. Why had he kissed her? Was it because he liked her, or was he dared to do it? She wasn't even sure whether she actually disliked it, either. She was jolted out of her reverie when whoever was next to her elbowed her.

"Get up. It's the Stump." Neal hissed. Kel jumped up immediately and waited through Wyldon's long grace. After what seemed like forever, he let them sit down.

"What is up with you?" Neal asked. Kel shrugged. "Well, are you coming to study tonight?" he asked.

"Yes. I didn't get to miss the lessons where the masters give out homework!"

Kel started on her food, still thinking about Cleon. Neal elbowed her again.

"Neal! Stop doing that! I'll have bruises on my ribs for weeks!" Neal grinned apologetically.

"Sorry. But Roald's just come in." Kel looked up and grinned at Roald as he walked in the door. Then she rubbed her side.

"I think you've cracked one of my ribs." She complained. She knew it wasn't cracked, but it did hurt.

"Here," Neal said. He lifted up the side of her shirt and put his hand to her side. A wave of coolness covered her for a moment, and then it was gone, taking the pain with it. "There you go. Happy now?" Kel rolled her eyes but she smiled. Her side tingled where Neal had touched it, and she didn't think it was to do with the magic.

Roald sat down opposite them. "What was Neal doing with your shirt?" he asked curiously.

"Oh, he was just fixing all of the ribs he broke when he elbowed me." Kel said airily. Roald snorted and Neal glared at her.

"First you say you're bruised, then you complain of a cracked rib, and now you say I broke half of your ribs. You'll be paralysed next! For your information, there wasn't even one cracked rib. It was just a bruise. A small bruise." Kel smiled.

"Oh well. Hey Roald, guess what? I've got a knight-master!"

"Who?" Roald asked, smiling at her.

"Lord Raoul!" Kel said happily.

"Congratulations!" Roald exclaimed. He then spoke to everyone on their table, "I have to leave in the morning. I'm going up north with Lord Imrah. Other knights and part of the Own are coming as well. We'll be clearing the area of killer unicorns, and then we'll stay on to defend the north border of Tortall from Scanran raiders."

"I'm going as well." Cleon spoke up. It was the first time that he'd said anything all through dinner. "Sir Inness wants to go up there because we'll get to stop at Mindelan on the way." Cleon looked at Kel, and something in his eyes made Kel's heart jump. Don't be silly, she scolded herself.

"Do you have a letter or something that we can drop off at Mindelan? Innes wanted me to ask you."

"Yes, I've just finished one to Anders, thanks." Kel replied.

"I'll come and get it after dinner then, shall I?" he asked, not looking away from her. Kel managed a smile, although her heart was still beating crazily. That only usually happened when she looked at Neal.

"I'll go and see if Orie has a letter to drop off too. I'll give it to you in study afterwards, okay?"

Cleon nodded, and turned his grey eyes back to his food. Kel had finished her meal, so she took her plate back to the servants, calling out a cheerful goodbye to her friends. Neal caught up with her.

"I'll come with you to see Orie, okay?" he asked casually.

"Sure." Kel replied. Strangely, it didn't seem to bother her so much now.

"Do you think she really likes me?" Neal asked Kel.

"You've already asked me that. And she kissed you didn't she?" Kel demanded bluntly. It still bothered her a little.

"Well, yes." Neal answered, and he turned slightly pink. He didn't speak the rest of the way to Orie's rooms. Kel knocked on Orie's door, and Orie let her in.

"Kel!" she exclaimed. "I haven't seen you since Saturday night! Why didn't you come on Sunday?"

"Oh, well, I was busy." Yes. She had spent the whole of Sunday crying, talking to Neal, and crying some more.

"And Neal!" Orie said, smiling more widely, "Come in!"

Kel and Neal went in. Neal actually seemed tongue-tied for once in his life. Orie began to make tea for them.

"Actually, I just came to see if you had a letter for home." Kel said. "Inness is going back to Mindelan tomorrow."

"Yes, I have a letter for Mother. Kel, do you want to finish making the tea, while I get it?" Kel took over the tea making, and Orie gracefully walked into the next room to get her letter. Suddenly, Kel realised she wouldn't be able to sit here while Oranie flirted with Neal. She poured two cups of tea, and then Orie came back. Kel took the letter.

"I'd better go now," Kel said hastily. "Bye Oranie. See you later Neal." Kel walked out before either Oranie or Neal had a chance to protest. She went to her room and grabbed her books. Then, she walked to the library.

"Where's Neal?" Prince Roald wanted to know as Kel came in alone.

"Oh, he's still with Oranie." Kel replied.

"What, the Oranie that he's in love with?" Owen asked. "Your sister Oranie?"

"Yes Owen, that Oranie." Kel said bluntly as she dumped her stuff on the table, and saw Orie's letter. She picked it up and handed it to Cleon.

"This letter is from Orie to Mother. Could you deliver it for her?" Kel asked.

"Sure. But I thought you had a letter, too."

"Oh!" Kel hit her forehead. "I left it in my room! I'll go and get it."

"No, get it after we're done here. I'll come with you."

"Okay. Thanks, Cleon" Kel smiled at him, and finished all of her work. For once, no one needed any help with their Maths, and Kel was first to finish all of her work.

"I'm done Cleon, so I might as well get my letter now."

"No, wait a sec, I'll come with you." Cleon quickly scribbled down a closing sentence on an essay, and then picked up all of his stuff. "I'll see you guys when I get back from the north. Have fun while I'm gone!"

He followed Kel out and they walked together to her rooms. Kel dumped her stuff on the floor, and unlocked her door. She gestured for Cleon to go in, and then she followed him inside. Kel dumped her stuff on bed, and began searching her room for the letter. Cleon sat down on the bed whilst she searched. After about five minutes, she gave up looking.

"I can't find it!" Kel exclaimed. She turned to face Cleon. "I'm sorry. I can't see it. Although, the way my luck's going lately, I'll probably find it ten minutes after you leave tomorrow!"

"Hey Kel, calm down. It's only a letter. It's for Anders, right? I'll just tell him that you wrote one but you couldn't find it."

"Thanks Cleon." Kel looked down. She wasn't sure of what to say next.

"Kel…" Kel looked up at him. He smiled. "Will you miss me?"

"I always miss you! It's not fair, you and Roald both leaving at the same time!"

Suddenly Cleon stood up. Kel clasped her hands behind her back.

"What time do you leave in the morning?" Kel asked. She was suddenly nervous. She kept talking, trying not to think about before dinner, when Cleon had kissed her. "Will you have breakfast with us tomorrow? If I don't see you…"

Cleon was smiling at her. Her insides suddenly melted like they had for the past two years whenever Neal had looked at her.

"Kel?" Cleon asked. She stopped talking. He moved closer and kissed her again. And immediately, she realised that she didn't care if Neal was with Oranie. Cleon liked her!

And then, there was a knock on her open door. Kel and Cleon immediately sprang apart, and Raoul walked in.

"Kel? Oh, here you are. I saw your friend Neal, and he said you were in the library, but when I got there you'd already come back. Is your stuff packed to move to the room next to mine tomorrow?" Kel nodded.

"Well, you'll need to un-pack it and re-pack it ready to go in the morning. We're going up to the northern border in the morning, with the Own. You'd better bring quite a few changes of clothes; we'll be at least until winter." Kel nodded again. Raoul turned and looked at Cleon.

"Cleon of Kennan isn't it?" When Cleon nodded, Raoul said, "You're coming up north too, aren't you? Well, we'll see you in the morning." Cleon nodded.

"Good bye my lord, good bye Kel." He grinned at her, and left the rooms.

Kel was so preoccupied with Cleon that she'd barely noticed what Raoul had been saying. Suddenly it sunk in.

"My lord, shouldn't I have a tunic in your colours?"

"Yes, but I'll sort that out later. Just pack as many changes of breeches and shirts as you have. We'll be leaving for the northern border an hour after sunrise. Get a good night's sleep, we'll be riding all day."

Kel nodded again. "I will."

"Right then, good night Kel." Raoul left, and Kel began to unpack her bags, and re-pack them. It looked like she wouldn't be missing Cleon after all!

Chapter Six

Kel woke up at dawn, at her usual time. She checked to make sure that she hadn't forgotten anything, and then she left her room. She was about to leave the squires' wing when she remembered that her friends, apart from Cleon, didn't even know that she was going. Neal's door was closest, so she went over and knocked on it. He should forgive her for waking him up just this once.

Nobody answered the door. Kel knocked more loudly, but Neal still didn't answer. Kel was beginning to get worried when Neal finally opened the door.

"Kel, what are you doing? It must be the middle of the night!" Neal complained sleepily as soon as he saw her.

"Sorry Neal, but I had to tell you. I'm leaving now with Cleon and Roald. Lord Raoul is taking the Own up to the north border."

"Oh, Kel!"

"Yeah, I know. Still, at least I'll have Cleon and Roald to talk to."

"And Joren."

"What?" Kel asked in shock. "He isn't coming, is he?"

"Roald told me last night. But he didn't say that you were going."

"I just found out last night. I've got to go now."

"Well, good luck Kel. I'll see you when you get back." Suddenly, he moved forward and hugged her. "We'll miss you." Kel smiled at him.

"Bye." She walked off, and waved back at Neal when she reached the end of the corridor. Then it hit her. Neal had hugged her. And she hadn't even blinked. But, normally, just looking at Neal made her heart flip over. Had she fallen out of love with Neal over night? Sighing, Kel reached Raoul's rooms. Why was her life so complicated?

Raoul was walking out carrying a bag about the same size as Kel's.

"Hi Kel. Ready to go?" he asked.

"Yes, sir. Do you want me to take your bag?"

"Kel, I've already told you, squiring for me won't be traditional. Besides which, I'm twice as big as you are. I can carry my own bag. And yours, too." With that, he took Kel's bag and grinned down at her. "Come on. You'll need to saddle Peachblossom. Hoshi can follow with the other spare horses." With Kel protesting about her bag the whole way, they reached the place where everyone was getting ready to set out. Kel saw that a standard bearer had already saddled Raoul's horse, but no one had touched Peachblossom. Kel grinned to herself. Then she saw Roald waving to her by the stables.

"Hey Kel, Cleon says that you're coming." She ran over to him.

"Yes. I'm coming with Lord Raoul." Kel glared over at the tall form towering over everyone else. "And he's got my bag. I offered to carry his, and he confiscated mine!" Roald laughed.

"That sounds like him! Well, they wanted to saddle Peachblossom, so I warned them not to. They decided to anyway." Prince Roald grinned, a wicked look in his eyes. "You know I don't like using royal privilege, so I thought it would be fun to see how far they got. It was actually quite funny." Roald grinned maliciously again. "I think that they will listen to me when I give advice next time, and not wait for a royal command."

Kel laughed. "I'd better saddle Peachblossom myself. See you in a minute!" The Prince nodded, and Kel went to saddle her horse. She got Peachblossom ready, and reclaimed her bag. When Raoul told her he wouldn't be needing her, she found a spot at the end of the procession with Roald. Kel hadn't seen Cleon yet.

Cleon showed up about ten minutes later.

"Sir Inness had trouble finding Lady Oranie's letter." Cleon said, grinning at Kel. Kel couldn't help it, she laughed out loud.

"I found my letter. I'd packed it in my bags to go to my new rooms." Kel admitted. Roald just looked at both of them.

"Never mind." Kel said to Roald. He just shrugged.

"Whatever. Oh, do you two know who's coming with us? Joren." Roald said flatly. Kel just winced and nodded, but Cleon reacted the same way Kel had half an hour earlier.

"Joren! Why is he coming? I thought he was out with Sir Paxton!"

"No." Roald said dryly. "He came back late last night. He's the only other squire on the trip."

"Great." Cleon muttered. Then he turned to Kel. "You don't seem surprised."

"Yeah. Neal told me this morning. I blew up too."

"Neal told you?" Roald asked. "He was awake?"

Kel grinned. "I thought the others might be worried if they didn't know I was going with you, so I woke Neal up to tell him."

Cleon shook his head. "I would never have that much courage." Kel grinned. She was going to reply when she saw someone familiar ride up to them. Someone with blond hair and a scowl on his face.

"Look who's come to visit us." Kel muttered as he rode up. Roald nodded politely at Joren as he rode up. Kel felt herself feeling sorry for Roald once again. He had to be polite to everyone, and that included Joren. He was always so careful not to snub anyone. Joren nodded at each of them, even Kel, which surprised her.

"I didn't know you were coming." Joren said, addressing both Kel and Cleon.

"Sir Inness wants to visit Mindelan and Lord Raoul's coming too." Cleon irritably.

"So why is Keladry coming?" Joren asked Cleon coldly. He seemed to be ignoring Kel, which was fine by her.

"She's with Lord Raoul." Cleon replied, matching Joren's tone for coldness.

"She's with Lord Raoul?" Joren asked mockingly. Kel saw Cleon tense up, and she grabbed his arm, forcing him not to reply to Joren's innuendo with force.

Roald turned to Joren furiously. "For your information, Kel is Raoul's squire. Lord Raoul is leading the Own, and Kel is of course coming too." Joren sneered, but he didn't quite dare to say anything to the Prince. He rode off to ask Sir Paxton something. Cleon looked across at Kel.

"You can let me go now. I'm not going to go racing off after Joren."

"You shouldn't react like that. Just ignore him."

"You know what he was implying! I can't just ignore it!"

"Well, if I can then you certainly can. Look, we've got to live with him for the next few months. We can't do that if you're beating him up." Kel said practically.

Cleon was opening his mouth to reply but Joren was riding back, his face set angrily. This time, Roald ignored him as well as Cleon and Kel. Joren ignored them too, and he pulled his horse up behind the other three. Just then, Raoul put his hand into the air, and brought it down sharply.

"That's the signal to get going." Roald told Kel. They left; Kel, Cleon, and Roald riding together, and Joren behind them. Kel had a bad feeling about this journey. Why did Joren always have to ruin everything?