Thanks to a few extremely insistent reviewers, the next chapter is up and running!

Okay, if you think that last part of the last chapter was out of place, DEAL WITH IT. because it was just way too painful writing this story without adding what should happen between them. what MUST happen between them. and if in Lady Knight, it doesn't, I'll go insane. Anyway, here's the next chapter!

BUT FIRST: HAHAHAHAHA. My little sis is watching a soap opera. To give you a sense of the dialogue:

WOMAN: No, really, Doctor . . . I'll be fine. *gasps and puts hand on head.* It's just a little headache.

DOCTOR: Well, I don't want to take any chances . . . After all, you did just have a brain tumor — during your pregnancy, no less.

WOMAN: Please, don't remind me . . . I'm beginning to think it was lucky our baby was kidnapped. Imagine me having to explain our child to my husband!

*Both laugh and kiss*

Ugh. Enough.

Not A Dragon

Kel woke with the sun shining straight in her face. She yawned. Then she realized that it was at least an hour after dawn, when she normally rose. Kel froze mid-yawn as she remembered what had happened the night before, and involuntarily blushed as she remembered details. She peeked beside her, but Neal wasn't there. What could he be doing? she thought, perplexed.

Neal stuck his head in the tent. "I see you're finally up, Lady Rise-at-Dawn. You'll be happy to know I made breakfast."

Kel made an incoherent noise and buried her head in her pillow. She heard Neal laugh and walk away. She lay abed for a few more precious moments. Then, pushing off the coverlet, she located her clothes and fumbled with the ties before staggering, still half-asleep, out of the tent.

She mumbled a greeting to Neal, seated beside a small fire and cooking eggs. She sat down across from him. He glanced at her, than said, "I made over-easy — I know they're your favorite." Kel made a face, then looked at the ground, the sky — anywhere but his face.

Neal set the frying pan down with a clang on a small rock perched over the fire. "Listen," he said, addressing her, "Is last night going to change our friendship?" Kel didn't look up, or respond. "I don't think it has to," he went on. "After all, it's really not that big of a difference than being extremely close friends — which we were before. Some things do change, of course," he amended, with a wicked little grin that Kel saw out of the corner of her eye that made her blush again.

"However," he said slowly, "If you . . . don't want us to . . . I don't know, do that any more, I guess — Well, I'll honor that, for you."

Kel looked up and across the fire, into his eyes. She saw how much it was costing him to make that offer, and which answer he hoped she would choose.

She cleared her throat nervously. "No, it's okay," she said hurriedly, in a more high-pitched voice than she wanted to use. "I think I can handle it like this."

Neal stood and walked over to her, offering her his hands and pulling her up. He caught her around the waist and looked down a mere inch to meet her gaze.

"I'd hoped you would say that," he whispered, and kissed her softly. However, he released her quickly, saying, "I'll be happy to carry on later, but the toast seems to be burning."

They ate swiftly, sharp feelings returning in regard to the fate of Tortall. Both were strangely silent most of the time, pondering what was ahead of them. (Kel for one, refused to even think about what was behind her — it took her concentration away from more important things.) With the ease of long practice, they gathered up their camp, saddled their horses, and took to the road.

It took a day and a half of fast riding until they reached the foothills of the biggest mountain in the Grimhold Range — Mt. Domei. "I'm surprised there isn't very much snow," said Kel, "They've made it as hard as possible so far, I wouldn't think they'd pass up an opportunity to make it harder."

Neal discovered a large outcropping of rock that partially hid a gaping hole in the side of the mountain. They tethered their mounts, then argued over how to best conceal them. After wasting ten minutes, Byrn gave an exasperated whistle and flew to Peachblossom's bare back, where she trilled a high note. A glowing dome grew over the horses, concealing them and the area around them for twenty or thirty feet. Then suddenly, the dome disappeared, leaving an image of a normal mountain forest.

"Are you there?" called Kel nervously. The phoenix chirped a reply.

Neal shrugged. "I guess we're supposed to go in alone." He strode into the cave, Kel following close behind.

They walked for a few minutes, until Kel made an unsettling discovery. "Neal," she said slowly. "We can still see."

"Yeah," he said. "It looks like there's some stuff on the walls that glows. Good for us, huh?"

"But look," Kel said, persistent. "There are little caves off the side. But the mossy stuff doesn't grow in those passages. It's almost like we're . . . being led, or something." Standing close to Neal, she felt him shiver.

"Knock it off!" he told her bluntly. "You're freaking me out." He moved briskly down the passage, Kel holding onto his tunic.

Up ahead, the passage yawned wider than ever, and the glowing moss stopped abruptly, as if it had been cut. A steeply dropping passage was what they saw when they reached the edge of the moss.

"Should we go down there?" Neal asked Kel, without taking his eyes off the hole. "The moss stopped."

"If we were being led, I'd think that this is where we're supposed to stop," Kel answered. They were both whispering. There was an eerie feeling, almost like they were being watched. Kel picked up a rock and threw it down into the hole. They waited for almost half a minute before hearing a distant clatter.

"That's a long way down," whispered Kel.

A low, rumbling sound came from the gaping hole. Both knights took an involuntary step backward.

"Um, Kel?" Neal whispered. "I'm not sure that throwing that thing down there was the best possible thing to have done." High, squeaky scratching followed his statement, echoing along the walls of the passage. It sounded like metal against rock.

Kel made a high pitched noise. The sounds from the pit changed abruptly again, making a sound that made their hair stand on end. It sounded like a large animal climbing up a rock face. Neal swallowed hard.

A massive head rose from the hole, followed by an equally massive body.

"I think we were a leetle bit off with the whole dragon theory," Neal squeaked.

The creature rose from the pit.

Ooooh, yes, I know, a cliffy! But oh well, it makes the next chapter that much more desirable. In case you didn't know, I was at camp (*said in monotone* woohoo, camp) and then I was in cleveland ohio, both places where my comp isn't, which is why I couldn't update. I apologize, and promise that updates will be more frequent.

I'm thinking of changing my pen name thingy to Heartspark Dollarsign, because it's the name of my favorite song (by Everclear; download it and listen in rapture) and it's a lot more original than Lady Katharine. PLUS, SOMEONE STOLE LADY KATHARINE. I wish I was friends with the Mob – that wouldn't be around for long. Anyway, what do you think about Heartspark Dollarsign? Or Witchity. I'm debating. Tell me preferences!

AND NOW FOR MY PEEPS. My wonderful wonderful reviewers who keep me writing! (heehee, does anyone else see the inspiration for Ahim in myself?) here ya go! And hey, if you (yes, you) want me (yes, me) to give you (enough already) a personalized shout, drop me a review and keep checking back!

Nessa'fur — I KNOW!!! I couldn't stand writing it without them getting together any longer. Happy happy joy joy! Read on! And thank you so much for reviewing so regularly! It makes me feel mah-velous. PS: I want a plot bunny *sniffs* Give me one! NOW! Or someone else can . . . (hint hint nudge nudge)

Kaye — Another of my absolutely brilliant regular reviewers! Sorry I was gone for so long, but I'm back now, so everything's okay. Here's more for ya!

Goldwolf — *grins sheepishly* It is getting kinda long, isn't it? Oh well. It's awesome that you liked it!

Aelron — if this chapter wasn't enough quest for ya, the next one will be!

Nytsua — me too! Here's more!

ARWHBDFAGFF — hopefully you know what that means. Sign your name!!! Pretty please?? and yeah, cleon had to go. And yeah, it's good neal took healing. Otherwise she would be DEAD. That's why Cleon is NOT *smiles sweetly* going to be who Kel ends up with! *growls* or else . . .

Hannah — I actually did rip the book in half when she said she didn't like Neal anymore. (just kidding, I could never hurt my precious books.) I'm in US, and there's only THREE MORE WEEKS. (or maybe four . . . I don't know exactly) Maybe we could work out some sort of deal . . . you know, I send you the book, you pay me twice as much as it costs . . . just kidding, but seriously . . . maybe. Email me.

WaterShadow - Whoa! Someone likes reviewing! Heehee, no worries, I do that too. Here's more!

AriStarra - actually, I have read the Redwall series, all (what is it now? 15? 16?) books, and I chose to make the rhymes not as good because I wanted them to be easy to solve. Also, making them harder takes too much energy (especially when you're trying to rhyme.)

LadyIsabelle - Ya know, I sort of wrote him with an Indian accent. Weird.

Also, does anyone think this story is getting too long? Because I could wrap it up pretty quickly if you are losing interest. Be honest, please!