The next morning, Kel woke up and practiced a glaive pattern dance. Restless, she also went for a jog around the curtain wall of the palace ramparts. By the time she had bathed and dressed, it was time for breakfast. She went down to the eating hall and resumed her normal place alongside Neal, Owen, Merric, Seaver, Esmond, and Faleron. She was shocked to see Lachlan across from her.
"Good morning, Kel, "he said pleasantly.
Faleron looked surprised. "Kel? You've already met Lachlan?" Both she and Lachlan nodded. "Well, that saves me the introductions!" He stood up to go to the serving line.
Domsat down beside Kel and Neal. "So Kel, are we still on for today?"
Kel's eyes bulged and her jaw dropped. "Goddess! I forgot completely! Sorry, Lachlan, I already had plans with Dom today!"
Dom saw the look of disappointment on Lac's face. "No, Kel, it's okay. He is welcome to come along." Kel could tell his words weren't sincere. Dom mentally scolded himself. He had no reason to dislike Lachlan. He just did.
Lachlan smiled. "Well, that's very generous of you, Domitan. I accept graciously."
Kel beamed at the other knight. Dom, attempting to hide his bitterness towards Lachlan, blew a comma of hair off of his forehead.
"Well, now that that's settled…where should we go?" Kel looked between Dom and Lac, attempting to decipher their feelings towards one another.
Dom doesn't seem to like Lachlan very much, she thought to herself. And Lac seems quite friendly towards Dom…I wonder what's going on?
After breakfast, Kel headed for her rooms to change into riding clothes. Dom accompanied her. At her door, he pulled her aside.
"Kel…I was thinking …We don't know this Lac very well. He seems sort of suspicious to me."
She gave him a disapproving look. "He seems very friendly to me, Dom. He's just trying to make friends."
Dom knew he couldn't win this fight. He in fact had realized why he had bitter feelings towards Lachlan of Trovesdale. It was because he was jealous. He sensed that Kel liked Lac quite a bit, but he himself had just concluded that he loved Kel. He put a finger under her chin and turned her head towards him. Her eyes were puzzled. He kissed her tenderly.
"I just want you to know how I feel," he said hoarsely, and fled.
Kel pondered what had just happened for several moments, before brushing it off.
He'll come around, and make sense, in his own time, she told herself.
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Kel, Lachlan, and Dom met in the stables and readied their horses. Dom had already ordered a basket of picnicking foods from the kitchens. It was secured to the back of his saddle. Kel tacked-up Hoshi as Lachlan readied his own mount: a gorgeous gray gelding. He flashed her a charming smile before mounting up.
The trio rode through the royal for several hours. Kel rode between the two men, feeling awkward because of the way they kept looking at each other. Finally, they came to a glassy, calm lake, with wildflowers and cattails growing around its edge. Trees littered the field around it, while willow boughs drooped into the water, creating a very picturesque scene.
They tether their horses and settled down on a patch of grass in the sunlight. Kel was relax and content, laying in the sun's rays.
"Let's eat," Lachlan suggested.
Dom pulled out the sandwiches, fruits, chesses, and meats from the basket. It was quite a meal after a long ride, albeit a leisurely one. As the group ate, Kel tried to decide who was more handsome. Dom, with his light brown hair, and beautiful blue eyes, or Lachlan, with his dark hair and shining blue-green eyes. She couldn't decide; both were perfect.
After the meal, they got up and stretched out. Kel would have gladly lied down under a tree and slept. She would have, too, except Lachlan asked her if she would take a walk with him alone. Dom glared at him suspiciously as the two walked off. Unsettled, Dom trailed them, unknown.
Lac and Kel walked to the protection of the dense growth of trees, where Lachlan pulled her to a stop.
"I wanted to get you alone, to tell you how much I admire you," Lac whispered. Suddenly he kissed her. She gasped slightly, shocked. She didn't know what to do. How could she choose between Dom and Lachlan?
Dom, hidden behind a tree, gasped as well. He clenched his hands into fists and gritted his teeth. In a blind rage he stumbled back to where the horse were.
"Kel!" he called. "How about we do a little practicing?"
Kel and Lachlan came out of the trees. Kel look somewhat flustered.
"Let's practice our swordsmanship," Dom insisted. "Come on, Lachlan. I'll gove you a go. I haven't seen your skills yet."
Lac shook his head regretfully. "I'm afraid that's not a good idea."
"Why not?" Dom threw the words at him like taunts. Although he was usually good-natured, Lachlan had mad him VERY mad.
"Alright, fine." Lachlan drew his sword. Dom did the same. The two assumed 'guard' position. Both of the men's eyes were glittering determinedly, and Kel realized that both of their faces were alight with something that looked like rage, only different.
Dom chopped down at Lac's unprotected left side. Smiling grimly, the knight parried the cut and thrust his blade towards Dom's chest. The sergeant spun and snaked his sword towards Lachlan's neck, only to be thwarted again. As they both started to perspire, Kel watched them anxiously. Both men were very good with the sword, and neither gained an advantage.
Very good, thought Kel, awed.
Something inside Dom finally snapped. His opponent had kissed Kel. His Kel. He swung his sword up and around, then down towards Lac's legs. Nimbly Lachlan jumped over the blade. Dom pulled the sword back up and the sword hilts locked. The men strained forward, trying to bore down on the other. Finally Lac broke loose and attempted to disarm Dom. The sergeant swung his sword with all his might at Lac, then at the last moment twisted the blade, causing another hilt-to-hilt. Kel couldn't take any more of it. She pulled them apart.
As the three mounted onto their horses, Dom caught Lac's eyes.
Watch your step, they mouthed at each other in unison.