A/N: This is my first Tamora Pierce fanfiction, and I just wanted to ask what the general opinion was on who Kel should be with. I wanted there to be romance later in the story, and I wanted to know who that should be between. That's all, other than please read and review. Thanks!
Chapter Two
Preparation and Introduction
They smiled at the determination in her face.
They knew she would be the only one to do this. Still, Alanna worried, why did this man appear to Kel? What did he want from her? She knew Kel was smart, and she would be cautious, but something was in the air.
A shriek that echoed in the entire castle ripped her from her thoughts and sent them all sprinting up the stairs. Queen Thayet was at the top of them, with terror in her eyes. The three exchanged glances and ran to the King's room, tumbling through the door.
Alanna was the first in, and she stopped dead in the doorway until Raoul gently pushed her out of the way and walked through, Kel behind him.
Even through all the war and torture she'd seen, Kel had to turn away from the sight.
Jonathan was coughing up blood; his hands were covered in it, the bed was soaked. He was still sweating, but every time he coughed more blood spilled from his mouth.
Alanna calmly walked to him and sat on the bed. Purple covered his body, and her expression was grim and set when her eyes lost their blankness, "Kel, go get Duke Baird, tell him to come quickly. Raoul, keep Thayet out, this is contagious. Everyone stay out. Tell Duke Baird to come prepared for lung infection, explain what happened. He'll understand."
Kel nodded and ran out as Alanna stood and closed the door behind Raoul.
When Kel came back with Baird, Alanna and Raoul were barricading the door, refusing Thayet's admittance.
"Alanna, let me in," Thayet ordered in her most royal voice.
"I'm sorry Thayet, I can't do that," Alanna responded. She saw Kel and Baird approach and moved away from the door, allowing him passage. Raoul and Kel covered the door from the Queen as Alanna and Baird went in.
Late into the night they labored, so late that Kel began to fall asleep standing up. When she began to sink to the floor Raoul pulled her back up. Thayet had long since retreated to another room.
Kel snapped awake and looked into Raoul's concerned eyes, "You look terrible; you should go rest awhile."
"I'm fine," Kel assured him. "I want to see how the King fairs."
Raoul laughed, and she smiled to find there was joy in his laugh.
"Alanna and Duke Baird will be in there all night, there's no sleep for healers. Queen Thayet knows it; I know it, now it's time that you know it. No-no more arguments. To bed you go," and he wouldn't hear a word of complaint or protest until she retreated, and he called after her. "Good night."
She gave him a death glare, which made him roar in laughter, and she stormed off, not truly angry at all. 'He treats me as if I'm still his squire,' she commented to herself.
Still, when she was in her old room, next to Raoul's, she felt relaxed. Someone had put her things from her saddlebags in her room. Her nightclothes were neatly folded on her bed, and she smiled. There was a note and a gift from the Queen on them.
Lady Keladry-
In thanks for easing my worries down to only the King, I offer you a few gifts. Two of them will come in the morning; the last is only a small token of my gratitude.
Respectfully,
Queen Thayet
She picked up the quiver of arrows on her bed and smiled. The quiver itself was leather with a small Griffin on it; she laughed, and a few tears slipped at the memory. She swiped them away and growled at the scars on her hands. Each arrow had a hand-carved wooden shaft painted white with soft feathers at the end. She touched them, and they were like water running across her fingers. She knew not what bird they came from, but she knew it was nothing but the best.
She couldn't stifle the yawn though, so she lay the quiver next to the bow she had received from Daine not long after her first triumph.
She slipped into her nightclothes, folding up her other clothes and laying them on a nearby chair. She then snuggled under the covers and stared out into the moon.
Sleep overtook her, but it was uneasy. Tobe's screams and pleas plagued her. Several times she awoke, shaking and sweating, with that Mage's laughter in her head.
She set her jaw and fell back asleep, determined not to let him get to her, but then Tobe's face would appear in her view. She'd reach out to him, but he'd vanish and laughter would ring in her ears.
The final time she woke with that dream she decided not to go back to sleep and instead got up and busied herself with checking and re-checking her gear. The sun was just rising.
"Kel? You up?" Raoul questioned from their linking door.
"Yeah, come in," she answered, and he did so.
"They have Jon stabilized, but he's not looking any better. There's nothing more for you to do here. I'm to escort you to Alanna and your new squad," he gave her the news, all there was to give.
"New squad?" she was surprised at this.
He grinned; she would say that, "You thought we would send you out there all by yourself with no one but you against an entire rebel force? We know you're capable Kel, but we need you back alive and unscathed; we may need you later."
She shook her head, "Sorry, stupid question."
"No such thing as a stupid question, only a stupid answer," Raoul preached.
She rolled her eyes at this, and he laughed. Soon she joined in on the fun that was only halted by time and urgency.
Raoul led her outside where they were met by Alanna; who took her to meet her new squad.
She felt nervous. She was ousting someone for this position, and they were most likely going to give her a hard time. She was led down to the stables where there were horses being tacked up and mounted. There were only twenty-five men or so.
"We could spare more, but we didn't want you to be spotted so easily. All the men were hand-picked, especially for you, and can fight with the strength of ten," Alanna explained.
"I don't doubt it, and I'd rather it this way," Kel agreed, and Alanna smiled weakly.
Lady Alanna was the best of fighters, Kel knew, as strong- stronger, than any man was. But right at that moment, she looked so small and frail, Kel thought she might break at the slightest fall. She shook it off and remembered that she was staring at the Lioness. She couldn't deny the far-away look in Alanna's eyes though, or the bags underneath them. She couldn't help but notice the itching hands, longing to feel a sword beneath them and the heat of combat. Kel knew she wanted to go, and felt her loss. She also knew Alanna's duty to her King was strong and unyielding and by his side she would stay unto the last.
"So here we are," Alanna sighed, and her voice sounded oddly hopeless. "We've overcome invading countries and immortals and rampant Emperors. We've defeated men who mutilate children and lying thieves of all kinds. Still, here we are, held off by a simple fever and a small band of raiders."
Kel looked at her and had no words of comfort. She wasn't entirely sure of herself, "I'll try milady."
"Kel, you've known me long enough, enough with the milady stuff. My name's Alanna," the Lioness reprimanded, and Kel nodded solemnly.
"I'll need to speak to the Captain of this squad," Kel told Alanna.
"You're in her body," Alanna responded.
"Well, other than me," Kel blushed with the thought of leading again. No matter how many squads she was given to command she was still humble about it.
"They've been taken from different squads around the country; you are their only leader," Alanna had amazing patience with Kel.
"Well other than me, the most capable person," as much couldn't be said about Kel. The roles were reversed, for once.
"That would be," Raoul began.
"Me," someone interrupted, and Kel's face broke out in a grin as she turned and looked at the speaker.
"Dom!"
He grinned and embraced the girl, "Hullo Kel."
"And what makes you think I was going to say you?" Raoul raised his brows at Dom, who grinned.
"Well if you weren't then I'll just…" Dom pretended to start walking away.
"You will do no such thing," Alanna scolded, and Dom laughed with Raoul and Kel.
Kel was filled with such joy at seeing her old friend and with the fact that she wouldn't be given that much of a hard time. She blushed slightly and tried to forget his intense eyes staring at her. He had Neal's eyes; thinking of Neal made her heart ache. He had been in the Yamani Islands for almost a year now, with Yuki. She missed him sorely.
"Wow Kel, I can't believe how much you've changed," Dom commented, and she laughed.
"It has been a long time hasn't it?" she asked.
"It has," he nodded, and she grinned.
"With all those men all the time I was beginning to forget that I was a girl, so I grew my hair long to remind me."
Neither of the two mentioned the feminine curves she'd gained or the way she seemed to have finally bloomed.
They laughed at this, and then Kel looked around and Alanna asked what she was looking for.
"Queen Thayet left me a note yesterday," Kel said hesitantly. "She said that she had two gifts for me in the morning. I guess she's with the King?"
Alanna shook her head, "She's not allowed in anymore. The fever has spread, and we realized it was contagious, hopefully not too late."
"Are you worried about Queen Thayet?" Kel inquired in a low voice.
Alanna nodded, "She's in bed with a fever."
Dom and Kel's faces dropped, and their heads hung low, "Oh," Kel managed to mumble.
"It might only be stress, and the fact she hasn't been eating," Alanna tried to be encouraging, but it didn't sound hopeful.
"Right," Kel said softly, and they tried to change the subject, unsuccessfully.
"Let me take you down to the camp and introduce you to everyone," Dom offered, and Kel agreed and was about to set off, but Raoul caught her arm.
"Kel, be ready for anything," he told her in a solemn voice, and she nodded. "We don't know what we're sending you into, I'm sorry that it had to be you."
"Don't sound so gloomy, I've been in plenty of scrapes," Kel assured him, and he smiled.
"That's why we're sending you."
"With Dom here I'm sure we'll be fine and returning victorious soon enough," she sounded more confident than she felt.
"I'm sure you will; I have the utmost faith in you, as does everyone. I just wanted to tell you to be careful, and we'll see you soon," he let her go, and she embraced him. At first he was a bit taken aback, but he hugged her back, and as they parted Alanna was snickering.
"Now that, my dear friend," she looked at Raoul, "is what starts rumors."
"Oh everything starts rumors around here," Raoul shrugged it off. "And you know I don't care anyway."
"But Buri might," Alanna jested, and Raoul glared. "Yes I know, not with your squire."
He nodded and retreated, taking Dom with him, to do a last check of the horses and supplies. Dom promised to be back soon to introduce Kel.
Left alone with Alanna, Kel felt very vulnerable. She could feel the eyes of the men on her and wondered what they were saying. They probably thought that Alanna was casting a spell on her to ward off the evil things and give her strength or something. She grinned; at least they would have more courage, thinking that.
Alanna seemed not to notice it and took hold of Kel's shoulder. Kel looked at the hand and then into the purple eyes of the Lioness. "Kel, I want you to take of yourself out there."
She nodded.
"I'm not kidding Kel, if you don't come back from this may the Goddess show you mercy because I won't."
She tried not to gulp and managed a small nod again.
"I like not being the only one. It's good to prove to them for once that you don't have to be male to be able to get something accomplished. I think you're an amazing example of that," Alanna grinned, and Kel smiled her response.
"So that's why you have to stay alive. I just wanted to tell you that there are a few Mages with you, one in particular. He can contact me whenever you may need me. Don't be afraid to give up Kel. I know that you don't like to hear it, but don't risk yourself and your squad if you don't think you have a chance," Alanna's eyes were serious. She knew that Kel would battle the Night Raiders alone, to the death, if she had to.
"I…" she started, but Alanna shook her head.
"That wasn't meant to argue, that was an order. I am your commander right now, and I order you to protect yourself above all," she ended the discussion.
"This Mage," Kel poured right into another subject. "Who…?"
Alanna stopped her again, this time by raising a hand, "He will seek you out, don't worry," and then Raoul and Dom appeared.
"Guess what?" Raoul questioned Alanna, acting over enthusiastic.
"What?" she demanded and rolled her eyes.
"Your husband just arrived," Raoul pointed toward the castle.
"What?" Alanna's eyes were distressed.
"I don't know why, or what for," Raoul shrugged. "He missed you?"
"I doubt it," Alanna laughed. "Well, let's find out shall we? Kel, Dom, come with me; I'll hold you only a while longer. This may be important for you though; he has a habit of coming to Corus only to make mischief."
"A trait of the King of Thieves," Raoul whispered to Kel and Dom, but loud enough for Alanna to hear and smack him on the back of the head for it. "What?" Raoul demanded. "I was just stating a fact!"
They all laughed and walked laughing and talking to the palace. They were immediately halted though when they saw the faces of those who arrived with George.
"What's wrong?" Alanna demanded immediately.
"Our city was raided two nights ago. They didn't make it inside the walls but villages nearby. Not just one this time, three," he said softly. "Crops are pillaged, and our stores were low before."
"Dead?" Alanna asked, and he grimaced.
"Ten men, eight women and three children," he answered. "And twenty horses were stolen, the rest of the livestock was slaughtered or lamed. It seems that their party is growing, picking up rogues along the way."
Alanna screamed a curse and scuffed the ground with her foot, "It's got to stop. Kel you have to stop it," her eyes were urgent. "I want no more dead at his hands."
Kel bowed her head in a sign that she would try her best, "Maybe we should be going though, should we head that way?" she nodded toward George.
Alanna shook her head, "Was anything left behind? Trails or prints or…"
"Only a note," George stopped her and handed Kel a note. "Addressed to the Lady Knight."
Kel tried to stop her shaking hands as she plucked the note from his hands and read it over.
Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan-
Your boy misses you dearly. He cries for you at night. Just thought you'd like to know, also, this is a declaration of war, between us. I thought you would make this easy and give yourself up, but because you have to be noble about it, I will slay you and your entire squad. Yes I know all about it, more than you probably, and who's in it. I know you'll be sorely hurt when you see whom it is I kill first.
Come and find me
Kel gripped the note firmly in her hands and almost tore it except for the prying hands of Alanna. Kel released it and let her read it with a grim expression. "He will not hurt Tobe," she said almost in a growl, and they were a bit startled by her tone. "And he will not toy with anyone or anything in Tortall any longer. There will be no more of this."
