Disclaimer: Use your brains and logic peoples! I am overwhelmed by your responses. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Arelia - I do quote the book, but that's because I'm writing from Dom's view. That means that scenes which happen kinda need to stay the same. I hope to add some more personal observations and backgrounds via Dom. Keep reading and I hope you understand. The reason I'm using Keladry is because it's a bit more formal than Kel. He's not quite that close yet - but it'll get there ;) He calls her Kel out loud though. There is a method to my madness.
Chapter 3: Left Behind
There was something odd about the group that rode in the next afternoon. I missed the actual entrance of the convicts and soldiers, working with my men outside the inner wall of Mastiff. By the time word reached me, the group had scattered and I couldn't leave my duties. Drilling became rather dull, but was a necessary evil when part of the kingdom's elite. I didn't even have to think about the sword patterns that clashed with Lofren's blade.
The sun was unusually hot and I had drunk too much water. With a nod to my partner, I headed to the latrines. Two men I knew as Sergeant Connac and Sergeant Hevlor were walking in the same direction.
"I haven't been that scared of a man in years. Not since training with him. I was about to pee my pants."
"I would think you could wait a dozen paces."
"Who would have thought Wyldon would have lost his ice over a girl."
I hesitated and waited for them to enter the building first, listening.
"Course that's no ordinary girl. I can't believe she slipped off like that. What good does she think she can do? A one knight army?"
"Lord Raoul was more put out than Wyldon."
"Course he was. He go her to knighthood."
One of the men groaned. "Well, at least we didn't botch anything else. She sent us on, nothing we could do about it but follow orders like good sergeants."
"I still can't believe that -"
I entered the latrine and both men hushed.
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So she had gone after her people. How typical. I couldn't help smirking. I could hardly imagine what exchange went on between my two lords. But whatever humor I could find it the situation was quickly doused. Keladry had gone against orders. Lord Wyldon would not stand for it. And here I was, stuck behind the walls she had wanted to defend.
I went back to training with a vengeance. A few minutes later, I caught a glimpse of Lord Raoul. He twirled his fingers in the signal to gather and then brought his middle and ring finger to meet his thumb, twisting his wrist in a flip. Something was up. I turned and gave the signal to Lofren. We went different directions, casually stopping by members of the Own as if checking techniques. When my Lord returned, he began making a leisurely path towards the stables. My men followed his example.
Climbing into the loft, we waited.
"I have a mission for you lot, if you'll take it, but it's risky. Volunteers only. If anyone wants out when I'm done talking, I'll understand."
This created a stir of puzzled murmurs. A hope rose within me.
Lord Raoul continued. "This isn't a fight or patrol. It's behind enemy lines, I've no doubt - way behind."
Unable to contain myself, I asked. "We're following Kel?"
This caused even greater confusion among the men.
"What's this about milady?" Fulcher spoke up. "We've heard nothing."
Lord Raoul gave me a questioning and exasperated glance. I shrugged sheepishly. "I had to use the latrine and I overheard Connac and Hevlor in there."
The Commander shook his head with a sigh. "As long as I've been soldiering, you'd think I'd know how fast word gets around." He waved his hand in permission. "Tell them."
I quickly put together the bits of information I had gleaned over the last half hour. The faces of the squad were almost comical to watch. Regret, anger, and worry flitted around the circle of battle-hardened fighters in the space of a second. I had not doubt that they would take this rather backhanded mission to help a friend. For that was what Keladry was to all of us, a friend.
When I had finished, and Lord Raoul pointed out the likely paths of the Lady knight and the Scanrans, my squad scattered to prepare for deep woods work. I lingered to speak with our Commander.
"Dom," He sighed. "Keep her safe. Who knows what will happen once you return, but return with Kel. I haven't seen her through every test Mithros has given her to see her die now."
"Yes sir." I started down the ladder. "My Lord, she won't come back until she's found those refugees."
"I know. That's a part of who she is."
I smiled. That it was indeed. With a silent laugh to myself, I headed to my tent. I told her not to leave me behind, but she did anyway. But I'm not one to be lost easily.
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We caught up with Keladry on the second night at the ruins of Giantkiller. In the dim moonlight I could see a smudge of white standing guard in the middle of the broken gate. The smudge moved, growling.
"Jump?"
The growl stopped and the strange dog that remained forever loyal to his lady came trotting forwards, broken tail waving. I dismounted and gave him a scratch behind the untorn ear.
"Where's Kel?"
He led the way into the fort, stopping in front of one of the old barracks. She was asleep then. I signaled silently to my men to make camp. Jump had gone into the building and emerged with a small pack of dogs and a few cats. The sparrows I assumed, remained in bed.
When I began walking towards the barrack, one large hunting dog began growling. Jump growled back, and the other hushed. Smiling at the gesture of faith, I stepped quietly into the room.
Keladry lay next to the wall, her horse Hoshi standing next to her. Hoshi pricked her ears at my entrance, but didn't make a sound. In the dim light I could see how Keladry's head had slipped off of the saddle she was using as a pillow and rested on the floor. Curled rather childishly under the saddle blanket, she looked nothing like the determined fighter I knew her to be, only a girl - a woman.
I blinked at that thought. Of course I knew that fact, it was why I respected her even more after she won her shield. But what of her as a woman? I looked at her more closely. Dark lashes covered those unique eyes and her light brown hair gleamed almost silver. Right now it threatened to wake her, tickling her nose as she breathed. Cautiously, very aware of a horse watching my every move and the glaive and ax at my knee, I brushed back the strand. She was pretty, a pretty that was just her. I could not describe it, nor did I wish to take the time to - the men would be getting ideas in a moment.
Silently rising to my feet, I gave a nod to Hoshi.
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My men made bets on how angry the Lady knight would be in the morning. Some said she'd storm out and try and kick us out of camp. Others said she'd just ignore us. My theory, get her through her stomach. Plus the bribe of maps would probably do the trick. As it turned out, we were nearly all correct.
When the birds abruptly left us by the fire I suspected they heard her waking up. Carving off another strip of bacon and threading it on a stick, I waited, not even bothering to look. I caught a sigh of exasperation behind me, and couldn't help smiling. Splashing water followed, then footsteps that trailed up behind me. All my men were grinning. There was a long, pregnant pause.
"What is going on here? Are you out of your minds?"
I struggled not to laugh. Wonderful way to gather information - state the obvious. We weren't out of our minds, we were merely following someone who had. Passing the bacon to Wolset, I finally turned to face her indignity.
"We wondered if we should wake you, but your breakfast isn't done yet. We figured you could use as much sleep as you could get."
She glared at me and I just smiled in return.
Fulcher distracted her attention. "We haven't run mad, Lady Kel. We're under orders. My lord sent us to do whatever you say needs doing."
For a moment she pondered that fact. She was beginning to give, I could tell, but remained stubborn.
"My lord sent you and you got here all the way from Steadfast in, what, a day?"
Sergeant Wolset shook his head, turning the bacon one more time. "No, milady Kel. Us and Aiden's squad rode to Mastiff with my lord - some parley with my lord Wyldon. We were there when Connac and Helvor got in. My lord told us you'd likely be about here by now."
The fight slowly leaked out of her, still standing over me.
"You can't do this. You don't know what I'm doing, the laws I'm breaking -"
With a sigh I stood and took the glaive she held from her. The weight surprised me, but I didn't drop it. Looking her straight in the eye, I said,
"Well, actually, we have a good idea." She stared back at me, transfixed. "My lord sent us after you and you are to command us on whatever it is you plan on doing alone. But you aren't alone. People are worried about whether you'll come back or not and we're here to ensure you will."
Time froze for an instant before she looked away. I handed off the glaive to someone and took a piece of bacon.
"Here, eat this before it gets cold." None of the men had noticed my lapse. "Which of you hedge pigs has the honey pot?"
I smirked as I watched her eat. Through her stomach was definitely the way to go. Last night must have been hard foraging. Reaching into my bag, I held up the maps Lord Raoul had given me. Waving them in front of her nose, I teased.
"You don't get these unless we come too."
Wolset cackled. "Don't forget the purse my lord gave us for bribes!"
Keladry sulked through a mouthful of bacon. "That's blackmail."
"Actually," Lofren piped up. "It's extortion. Blackmail implies -"
Thankfully Fulcher and Wolset clapped him across the mouth and dragged him off towards the horses. Sometimes I wonder why the man chose to become part of the King's Own instead of an official. I nodded to the rest of my men as Keladry finished eating. Without a word, they began packing up. I heard her sigh when I deliberately ignored her protest.
Pulling something out of her belt purse, she tied it around her forehead. Some sort of headband, I assumed as I saddled my horse. A sudden cry from Hoshi startled everyone and a returning whinny from outside the walls had me up and on my mount. A flutter of wings let me relax. It appeared we weren't the only ones determined to see our Lady knight safe.
Keladry, on the other hand, looked extremely exasperated.
Moving to the gate, she pulled out her spyglass. I joined her with my own, focusing on the two approaching horses. It was Tobe on Peachblossom and Owen on a mount I knew was called Happy. I nearly laughed out loud. Perhaps now my stubborn friend would see how much everyone cared about her.
"I'll kill him." She spoke to the rising sun. "I'll kill him very dead and leave him for the border ghosts..."
Shaking my head, I lowered my glass. Perhaps my thoughts that she would give in came too soon. I admired Tobe for his devotion. Owen was a puzzle, but I felt deep gratitude towards him. He was risking much more than the rest of us. We had been sent, he disobeyed Lord Wyldon. We needed to leave now though.
"Can we do it later? We lose daylight if you kill him now. Besides, Peachblossom is as good as a squad himself."
For the next five miles the three of them argued, or really two did. Owen did the arguing and would not budge. Tobe silently backed him up, looking even younger on the back of the great warhorse. I gave him a small nod as we rode.
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Keladry finally gave up. It took only two hours for her to admit defeat, I had guessed three. We rode in relatively companionable silence for some time, the only drastic event being a run-in with a patrol. However, the arrival of more 'friends' had Keladry nearly pulling her hair out.
As bold as brass, my cousin, Merric, Seaver, Esmond, Connac and his squad, plus Keladry's convict soldiers rode up. It was the first time I've ever seen her vent her frustration out loud. She had no defense, thus no true grounds to refuse the others. I laughed at Neal's baiting as she actually got red in the face making a rather charming blush - if it had been a blush. I brought my mount up next to her.
"Hey, Sir Meathead, you took long enough to get here." I winked at Neal's companion. "Sergeant Connac, good to see you."
"Sergeant Domitan," He grinned in return. "Good to see you again, sir."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Keladry draw another breath for debating, but let it out in defeat. I could literally see the gears turning in her mind as she changed plans. For the moment I rode in silence. When she bent to pick something off of a bush and tuck it into her belt pouch, I spoke.
"Didn't I tell you not to leave me behind?"
She smiled weakly. "This wasn't what I was thinking at the time."
I couldn't help wondering what she would look like with a real blush. Immediately I pulled myself from that line of thought and with a nod, fell back in line with my men.
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Author note: That'll be the last for a bit. I haven't actually finished the book yet, and college is a time killer. I will return if you wish it though. Suggestions? Comments? Thank you reviewers: Lady of the Shadows, Ky, Azi, Lady Tarillyn, tamora4ever, WishMELovely, Anonymouses (mice?), WhispermoonlightRose, purpleblue34, The Keeper of Words, Snow*flake, Hoppuschick182, NiceDay, Jesusfreak7777777, EireVerde, Keita, Speckles, Zenin, Dyana of Tortall, The Blind Assasin, Nicole, smileypal4eva, Camisole, and Arelia. Um don't expect a list every time cause it gets too long. Review's are my passion!