Kel woke up and stretched.  No one was in the tent with her.  The warmth of sleep was too much for her, and she unsteadily got up to go wash her face at the small basin in the corner of the tent.  She walked slowly, testing the healing of the wound.  She splashed cool water on her face, and she felt a little more awake.  She decided to take a walk, stopping to grab her sword.  She noticed it was very clean, and she smiled.

            Throwing open the tent flap, she realized that it must be around midnight.  Since she was in the middle of the camp, there were no guards near her, and the night was still.  She stepped out and started walking around.  She passed many tents.

            "Who's that?" she heard a gruff, unfamiliar voice ask coming from inside one of the tents.  Kel stopped, unsure of what to say.  "I know you're there, and you know that I can't hurt you.  Who is it?"  Kel, feeling a little uneasy, put her hand on the hilt of her sword.

            "It's Sir Keladry.  Who am I talking to?"

            She heard a small gasp.  "Well, Sir Keladry, wouldn't you like to meet your almost-assassin?"

            Kel felt anger rise to her cheeks.  This man had caught her off guard in a most unchivalrous way, breached all treaties that were in the making, and ruined her former knightmaster's wedding.  She wanted to know who he was.  She hesitantly pulled the tent flap open.

            "Who are you?" she hissed.

            "Why, don't you recognize me?  I'm only the man your godforsaken country has been fighting against for the past few months," the man answered coyly.

            "You're-"

            "Maggur Rathausak at your service.  I'd bow, but you understand," he answered, gesturing to his bandaged side.  Kel couldn't make out his features too well in the moonlight, but she had a feeling he was smiling.

            "I didn't realize Scanra was so desperate.  A last ditch effort to murder a knight?  Not to mention, against all treaties.  You will be hanged."

            "Now, now, Lady Knight.  You have to understand."  The man's voice grew constrained, and he talked faster.  Kel could tell he was getting excited.  "I had Scanra.  She was mine.  And your country was so close too.  I would've had the Dominion Jewel.  But then you had to kill my mage."

            "He was killing children.  You were killing innocent children at the expense of a piece of a land and a jewel!"

            "Don't interrupt me with your damn maternal nonsense.  Scanra was falling apart.  The clans knew we were losing.  I knew that the only chance was to kill you.  Isn't it sad how one country's fate rests on a woman?"

            "Kill me?  Even if you kill me, Tortall has many more knights to vanquish your country."  This man knew how to get her angry.

            "Yes, but you would be a symbol, you see.  The knight responsible for Scanra dead?  It would be perfect."

            "You're insane," Kel spat, backing away.  Injured or not, this man still might be able to kill her.

            "No, I just want Tortall.  Don't worry, I won't be so uncouth as to get you while you're injured."

            "No, you'd rather just sneak up on me from behind," Kel retorted.  She had to take a deep breath.  A peaceful lake, still and serene.  Her anger was just what this maggot of a man wanted.

            "Actually, I'd rather challenge you."

            "A duel?"

            "Yes."

            "You're injured.  It would be unfair."

            "When I'm better."

            "No.  You're going to die regardless of whether we fight or not."

            "Afraid, Lady Knight?"

            Kel knew this was madness.  She wasn't more sure of anything else.  But a knight had to accept all duels.  It was a matter of honor.  "For you to die," she answered.

            "Then I suppose we will be dueling?"

            "Whenever you're ready."

            "I believe that my healer is a friend of yours.  Couldn't you ask him to speed up the process?"

            "You disgust me.  Neal will do whatever he wants to do."

            "Do you call all knights by their first names, or is that after you've had sex with them, Sir Keladry?"

            Kel struggled to keep her face from showing her anger.  "Goodbye."  She walked out of the tent before she strangled him.

            "Kel, are you crazy?"  Kel spun around. 

            "Dom, what are you doing?"

            "I was about to go to bed, but I saw you walking around.  I saw you go into Maggot's tent over there, and that's exactly what you weren't supposed to do.  I apologize for eavesdropping, but Kel, what you're doing is unnecessary."

            Kel didn't say anything.

            "You're still injured."

            "So is he."

            "Yes, but he knows he's going to die."

             "Dom, I have to."

            "No, Kel, you don't.  You don't have to fight him when you're still injured.  It's not a matter of honor.  That man already threw away all honor when he stabbed you.  Don't fight him.  Don't throw it away."  He had grabbed her hands and was staring at her.  Kel felt a sense of déjà vu.

            "Dom," she said softly.  "Throw what away?"

            Dom tugged at her hands.  "This," he said earnestly.

            Kel tried to fight his gaze.  "Dom," she began uncertainly.  But she said no more, as he pulled her closer and gently touched his lips to hers.  She wouldn't have known that it happened if it weren't for the flooding rush of sensations that overtook all coherent thought.  She kissed him back without thinking, and she felt her hand go to his hair, pulling him closer.  She couldn't believe how right this felt.  Not even with Cleon had she felt so happy.  Cleon.  Tensing, she pulled back.  Who was she trying to fool?  This wouldn't work.

            "I'm sorry," she said softly.  Dom looked at her, pleading with his eyes.  "It just won't."  She turned, and forced herself to walk away.

A/N:  I'm almost done.  You guys are great!  Really inspiring, you are.  (Now look what you made me do, Snowflake (and you made me blush)!)  And just like I promised, here are the thank yous. 

clarylissa, Valencia22 (thanks so much for sticking with me), LadyMe (I appreciated all your reviews), veralidaine (Neal does rock), Wildmage (I try), Eccie87, Vilranda, hannirose (I have a happy dance too!!!), jazy716 (kel needs to sort things out first), SEJ (That's what Neal's for), Blaise (but I so love to draw out the tension), Lady of the Lilacs(you reviewed every chapter…thanks!), Modern Guru (ok, according to Swathi, it's your turn for SHAIN…where is it?  Grr, and TKM too! You guys are worse than me! And Neal is amazing), Lady Swathi (She what?!  Dom?!  She can't kill him until my story's over. Nope, not allowed, no siree.  UPDATE!!!!!), NovaLee, Eri (nope, no lessons, evil just manifests itself in me), kelqueenscove (you hit every single reason for why Dom rules-and thanks for the compliments), Christelle (yup, he's taken awhile, and thanks, I work hard J), Tori, Trisana McGraw (hope all is 'splained), cypress, SilverMilleniumPrincess, Sulwen of Great Smials (I like your name), Potter's Girl (ah the freedom), Kere, Paige, Karr (er in that case I could be…actually my name doesn't really work with anything…fudge), Keita, Larzdinn (I needed closure on Jon myself), Kenta Divina (your story rocks!), and cat.

You all rock!!!!!!!!