Kel was distraught over the next few days. Every time she was alone with one of her 'competitors', as Neal had dubbed Lachlan and Dom, the other one would show up and they would snipe at each other.

Kel became so agitated that she decided to talk to Raoul about it. She had just come from the stables with Dom when Lac showed up and the two men immediately challenged each other to a duel. She stormed off, her Yamani mask in shatters. She knocked on Raoul's door so forcefully that the frame rattled.

He opened it with an alarmed expression on his face, fearing that the Scanrans had invaded Corus and were now coming to kill him, he told Kel later. Instead of waiting for an invitation to step inside, she marched right under his arm and fell back onto his chair.

"Kel?" he asked nervously, unnerved by her expression.

She pursed her lips. "I can take it! Dom and Lachlan are going to drive me mad! Honestly, can't I get time to think?" She threw up her hands in outrage.

Although Raoul thought that this outburst was peculiar, he knew better than to interrogate her when she was in this state. Very rarely did she lose control over her temper. On the occasion that it did happen, he didn't want to be the one in her way. The big knight squatted down beside Kel.

"Kel, I really don't know what's going on, but if it's something Dom did, I could have a talk with him," he offered with a look of concern.

She blushed beet red. "No, Raoul, it's nothing like that. You see…" she flushed redder still and looked towards the ground. "…He kissed me, twice. And Lachlan kissed me, too. I think they're always trying to best each other to impress me, or something." Her last words were so mumbled that Raoul cold barely distinguish them. Swallowing a wry grin, he patted her on the back sympathetically.

Kel stayed there as the evening wore on. As it started to rain outside, a messenger knocked on Raoul's door. When Raoul opened it, he was handed a letter. The knight sat down next to Kel and proceeded to read his note from King Jon and his council.

As he read, he started to frown. Kel overcame her urge to read it over his shoulder. At last, he folded it up with a sigh.

"Well, Kel. I have some bad news. Yes, the killing machines are gone, but somehow Maggur managed to scrape up another formidable-sized army. They have already located themselves on Giantkiller Road. I'm afraid to say you had better return to New Hope, there's quite a battle coming up."

Kel paled. She hadn't realized how long she had been away from her refugees. True, she was no longer officially obliged to always be there. After all, she had organized the refugee camp into the working order of a town, with a headman and headwoman. They also had successful fields, trained soldiers, good defenses, and stable living conditions. Nonetheless, she would feel much better being present there with such a large enemy army so close.

She thanked her former knight master for his hospitality and made to leave. He stopped her before she reached the door.

"Kel, you have a decision to make here. I can send either Dom or Lachlan with you to New Hope. Not both. You have to choose."

Seeing her look of indecision, he quickly added, "But you can tell me tonight. Now, go get ready, and do be careful. If you get yourself killed, I'll never talk to you again."

Kel smiled, remembering the line he used when she was a squire. "The same to you, Raoul."

She fled to her room to mull over the news. She didn't tell anyone about what she had just learned; she only knew because Raoul was one of the King's friends. There would be an official announcement that night at dinner, doubtless.

Kel also had to decide who to have at New Haven with her. She already knew that Dom wouldn't provide an extra squad of soldiers; if she chose Lac, a different squad would be sent anyway.

Finally, as the evening bell rang, she came to a decision.

(a/n: HAHAHAHAHAHA a cliffy! No, it might not be as obvious as you think, but send suggestions!)