Chapter Four

Catching the Scent

He hid a glare for the newcomer as his heart flared slightly.

Dom had had a sneaking suspicion that the hooded stranger was Neal. There was something too smug and stubborn about his presence. He could only begin to imagine what had been the reason Neal had returned from the Yamani Isles. He only prayed it wasn't for Keladry of Mindelan, "Meathead!" he called cheerily, because he truly was glad to see his cousin again. He almost laughed at himself for his thoughts as they washed from his body. He had been away from Corus too long, jumping on any girl he saw. "So it was you under the cloak? Finally emerged to gloat and brag of your stunning triumph? I'm afraid you won't find any pretty ladies to gloat to, save the one you're next to," Dom jested, and Neal scowled.

Kel blushed slightly and couldn't believe the mixed emotions she was having, stuck between these two sets of intense eyes. She tried to contain her fluttering stomach and push back any silly crush she might have on either of them.

"Glad to see you too cousin," Neal's dry response to Dom's comment awakened her.

"What brings you back from the Isles?" Dom asked after they had embraced. "Last letter you sent was a month ago, but all seemed well."

He smiled wryly, "Much changes in a month, but it was the Lioness that sent me running back to Corus."

"Ah," Dom nodded, and Kel wondered what he understood that she didn't. "Your Knight Master still haunting you?"

He rolled his eyes, "She tries."

This made them all laugh.

Neal ate with them and shared stories of the Yamani Isles. Kel didn't even notice Yuki's name was hardly mentioned and when it was Neal seemed to wince.

"I was playing, or learning to play, with their fans, if you can call that play," he brandished a deep cut in the palm of his hand that had made a nice scar. Kel laughed as he glared and grumbled about Yamani's and concealment.

"So what have you two been up to?" Neal was hungry to change subjects.

"Same old same old," Kel answered. "Border skirmishes and bandits, until now," her eyes darkened.

"I saw the King," Neal said quietly. "I know what it is and my father knows too."

"What is it?" Kel asked gently.

"It's tuberculosis through and through. It's contagious, extremely contagious, and deadly," his voice was quiet. "It's a plague; we had it contained, but somehow it broke out again."

"How do you cure it?" Kel asked.

"You don't," Neal whispered shortly, and Kel was silent and horrified.

"There must be…" Kel wouldn't believe it.

"There isn't, Roald was finishing his affairs in the Isles I do believe. He was on his way home, for a funeral and a crowning," Neal tried to be gentle, but it was shattering to the two, as it had been shattering for him to find out.

"Goddess protect us all," Dom whispered, and Kel agreed with a small nod.

"I will bring this victory home, in the name of King Jonathan," Kel stood, and walked from the table and toward the horses. She needed time to collect herself, and Dom and Neal didn't dare trespass.

"Good going Meathead, you could have waited," Dom hissed at Neal.

"She deserved to know."

"Neal," Dom used his true name, and Neal looked into the caring eyes of his cousin. The cousin he had known since childhood, the one who he could confide in. "What's wrong? What really happened in the Yamani Isles?"

He shook his head and stayed silent, "I missed Tortall," was his weak response.

Dom's eyes narrowed, missed Tortall or the people in it? He laughed at himself for wild thoughts. "Meathead, when we get back to Corus we're going to have a party like none other."

Neal nodded and grinned.

"Should someone check on Kel?" Dom asked, and Neal shrugged.

"She needs her time, you won't be present to her. I mean, she won't know you're there. When she gets like this no one ever reaches her."

Dom understood what he meant, but it made him angry. Why wouldn't she notice him? She'd notice Neal wouldn't she? For a minute, he wished he was Neal, the thought made him shudder. Was it because he wasn't a knight?

Then he stopped and scolded himself. Kel didn't care anything for status. She looked at people as being people.

Neal saw the inner turmoil in his cousin's eyes and was confused by it. Suddenly, it dawned on him, "Dom, do you have a woman on your mind?"

Dom looked up and realized he had been dazing, "What?"

"You do!" Neal's face broke out in a grin. "You do! Who is she?"

Dom looked at Kel as she walked over toward them and shook his head at Neal. He somehow felt that the quick wince of Kel's meant something more than what it seemed as she sat next to Neal once more. Did she know he was thinking strangely of her and felt badly because she didn't return his feelings, or couldn't. After all, she was his commander… 'Goddess!' he thought to himself. 'Look at me carrying on like a fickle girl; it's Kel!'

She smiled at them and jested with Neal at Dom, "Who is she eh?"

He blushed and growled, "I don't know what you're talking about."

They both laughed and with the skill of a Yamani, Kel pushed away all emotion but joy that Dom had found himself a nice girl. She was a Noble, of undistinguishable beauty and grace. She wore fashionable dresses and danced and had a voice like a bird. She was delicate with soft, pale skin and rosy cheeks. Her hair and eyes were light, and her frame was small and curvy. She wanted to laugh, or cry, or maybe both, and she cursed herself for it. 'What a stupid fickle girl you're being Keladry of Minedlan!' she scolded herself.

She forced her mind to focus on the issue at hand and was almost relieved when a soldier came to her, telling her that a fight had broken out between two men. She excused herself and followed him away.

Dom watched her walk away with a sense of hopelessness. She smiled encouragingly, knowing he was going to be a victim to Neal's brutal badgering as soon as she was gone.

'Good ridden, he deserves it,' she thought bitterly and hated herself for thinking it. She had been away from the Yamani's too long, she was losing control of her emotions. 'Maybe I'll take a leave of absence and go with Neal when he goes back,' the thought made her laugh. Yuki would be ecstatic…Yuki. Neal had barely mentioned his fiancée before…and then it hit her- his long face and sorrowful expressions, his short words and sad shakes of his head, his unwillingness to discuss the Isles. Everything hit her.

"Just what I need," she muttered, "another problem."

*

"So who is she Dom?" Neal poked Dom in the stomach. "Someone I know? Someone I'd like? Is she pretty? Can she outwit you?"

"Oh do be quiet Meathead," Dom snapped.

This only increased Neal's curiosity, "So you don't deny it?"

"Why don't you tell me about Yuki and then maybe I'll talk," Dom lashed out. The harshness of his words and the way Neal recoiled and fell silent made him regret it. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that."

"She must really mean something to you," Neal smiled wanly. "Don't let her get away."

Dom, feeling he owed Neal something and wanting to get it off his chest, answered, "It's not like that. She doesn't know or-or anything. Actually," he laughed, "you're the only one who guessed. You know me too well."

"I also know it would be a shame not to tell her," he grinned, "wouldn't want her losing out on all the excitement."

"I don't think it's serious like that either though. I wouldn't want to lose our friendship."

Neal was intrigued, "Friends, then I know her do I? Hm…let me think…"

'Dammit!' Dom cursed his slip.

"Is it…"

"Stop, I told you, I don't really have a huge thing about it. I'm not love sick or anything," Dom laughed at the notion.

"Okay," Neal smiled slyly, "Then…is she pretty? If you don't have a thing for her, is she fair game?"

"No," Dom said before he thought, and Neal smiled in triumph. Dom winced and cursed himself again for slipping to his nimble-minded cousin.

"I do believe I've proven my point. Best of luck to you," Neal stood, clapped Dom's shoulder and sauntered away in confidence and triumph.

Dom slammed his fist on the tree he was sitting on for letting his cousin win and stood to tend the horses.

*

Kel fell into her bedroll on the ground late that night. She had a bruise in her side, and a few bruised ribs from breaking up the fight. She sighed in pleasure as she fell into the warmth of the blankets. She guessed that nothing in the world felt quite so good, well, maybe a hot bath.

Her dreams were plagued with the wickedness of a Mage.

Tobe was there, standing beside him, watching a village burn. He seemed to smirk at every scream, and Tobe's eyes were wide with horror. His hands strained, as if he was trying to reach them. When he tried to move the Mage used a burst of magic to throw him to the ground.

She tried to reach him but couldn't move, "Tobe!"

He turned around and tried to run to her, "Lady!"

The Mage caught his arms and held him back. He smiled at Kel, "Come and find me."

"Tobe!" she sprinted toward him, but the image faded into a deep nothingness, and she was pulled awake.

"Kel?" Neal threw open the flap to her tent. "Are you okay?"

She stared at him as if trying to decide if he was real, "Neal?" she managed to get out, and he nodded.

"I heard you screaming from all the way across the camp. What's wrong?"

"Did you-did the Lioness tell you, that…" she gulped and breathed in deep, "he took Tobe, the Mage. Tobe tried to follow me to Corus but couldn't keep up. He caught him and now is blackmailing me through dreams."

Neal was silent for awhile, "Oh."

The awkward silence was only ended when Dom stumbled into the tent, cursing at men and then turning back to Kel. His eyes strayed to Neal, but he contained himself and disregarded it, "There's been another village set ablaze."

Kel cursed with the fluency of a soldier and rose; she had slept, however briefly, in her clothes. "Dom, get the men ready. We go to the village and hunt."

A/N: I'm really neglecting my other fanfiction. I should try and write some more of that today. Anyway, I'm kinda sorta getting Neal more in character; I'm not really good at nailing his personality though. I guess it's because he's my favorite character so I mold him into something he's not. Or maybe, it's just the fact that I don't know anyone quite like Neal. Besides that though, this chapter was leaning a little with Dom and Kel, but the poll is still open, for at least another couple chapters, please don't be angry with me! Oh and of course, read and review! Until later!