I really wanted to get this to you sooner, but my internet died just as I was sending it to be beta-d. So, I got this up ASAP.

Disclaimer: Don't own nutin', never have, never will.

A pounding noise was heard on Neal's door. "Open up! I need that remedy!" Kel shouted through the

wood. It was the morning after the ball.

"Go away!" Neal snapped back.

"No! It's Kel, open up."

"Not now, Kel, sorry."

"I'm coming in…" she warned. She opened the door, which luckily wasn't locked. She saw what Neal was doing, and burst out laughing. " What in the name of all the gods in the universe are you doing with a glaive ?"

"I…uh…took up a sudden interest in Yamani weaponry?"

"Is that a question, or an answer?" Kel asked.

"An answer, Mother." Neal said while putting down the glaive and sitting on his bed.

"No, really, Neal."

"Do I have to tell you?"

"Yes."

"Fine…" Neal told the story of last nights events, and once he finished, looked at his best friend. "Well?" he asked.

"Do I get the privilege of a reply?"

"Yes, you do." Kel sighed. "Wow. It s sounds like a tale for children, or a court lady's gossip."

"Glad I could make at least some people happy." Neal said sarcastically. " So will you teach me how to use that dratted glaive?"

"Only if you give me the remedy for my leg." She replied. Neal sighed, waved a hand over her leg and green fire flashed.

"Here." He handed her a potion. "Drink this." Kel made a face and gulped it down.

"Euch. Never did like those nasty healing potions. Up. We have to get to work."

"Now?" He whined.

"Yes! I have 5 days to teach you 7 years of training." With a sigh, Neal picked up his glaive.

~~~~~~

Kel was in her room, taking a nap, when someone pounded on her door. "Go away." She mumbled.

"Kel, come on. The meeting with the King? Let's go!" It was Dom.

"Mithros, I forgot all about that. I'll meet you in the Royal Wing in one minute, okay?"

"No! It's now! Lets go!" I would have liked to sleep longer, what with Neal whacking me with a glaive all morning. I chose this life, I suppose, Kel reminded herself as she stumbled out of bed. She took off her breeches, and put on a pair of hose . She threw on a shirt, with Mindelan's colors on it, and quickly ran a comb through her hair. Putting on her boots, she opened the door.

"Why weren't you ready?" Dom asked.

"Taking a nap. Is that allowed?" Dom gave her a peck on the cheek for that reply, and Kel immediately turned beet red. "So have you heard what this meeting is about?" She asked as they walked.

"Something to do with the King's Own."

"So why am I invited?"

"I guess because you worked with the Own and my lord so long."

"Oh." They walked in silence for the rest of the way, but once they arrived at the meeting chamber, Dom

remarked,

"Well, looks like we weren't the only ones invited." Kel looked around and saw Raoul, Lerant, Qasim, Flyndan, Osborne, and many others she recognized from the Own, waiting for the doors to open.

"My Lord?" she asked Raoul.

"I told you to stop calling me that, it's Raoul now that you're not my squire. Anyway, I have no idea what this is about. His highness has been very secretive." King Jonathan opened the door to the meeting chambers just as Raoul finished.

"Come in," he said, his deep voice commanding.. "Take a seat, anywhere; get a drink if you please." The men, and Keladry found a place and got comfortable. "Some of you may notice that there is only one company here." he began, standing at the head of the table. "There's a reason- unlike usually." A few of the men chuckled at his joke. Kel didn't. She had never really forgiven him for allowing Lord Wyldon to put her on probation. "I need volunteers, about twenty men." he continued. I need men with experience in this kind of work. Raoul, you going is a given, you too Flyndan. Keladry, you have experience working with the Own, that's why you're here. It's your choice. Those who go will receive bonuses , but that may not be reason enough.

"You see, the Scanrans may have stopped attacking us for now, but they have turned to attack the Yamanis. They have asked us for relief in their towns, and I have told them yes. That's what you are here for in Tortall, I don't see why I shouldn't send some of you to help the Yamanis. Don't decide now, sleep on it. Report back to me tomorrow, same time, same place." He took a sip of water. "You are dismissed. Keladry, wait for a second, I wish to speak with you."

She went over to him, asking, "Yes?" He waited until all the men had left, and then spoke.

"I would especially like it if you came, Keladry, since you lived there for so long."

"I- I'll speak with my mother. She said she might have some plans for me." Kel lied. In truth, she just wanted to take a break from knighthood, after defeating Blayce only 2 months ago, and leaving New Hope in the charge of Lord Wyldon. Less than a year of being a knight, and already I'm tired of it. I hope that this is just a stage.

"Please do your best, Keladry." She knew a dismissal when she heard one, and bowed.

"I will, Your Highness." she told him as she left.

"What did he want?" Dom was waiting for her outside.

"He told me that he would especially like it if I came."

"Are you going to go?"

"I don't really want to, but if he ends up ordering, I must. Are you?"

"Nope. Since Neal's engaged, my mother wants me to stay for their wedding. It's in a month, and I take it we'll probably be gone longer than that."

I guess he doesn't know, but it's not my place to tell him. Kel thought. The noon bell rang, which meant it was time for lunch. "Thank the gods. I'm starving." Kel said, glad she wouldn't have to lie about Neal's current situation with Yuki.

That's all for now folks!