That day was almost as miserable as the previous one, although the
sun did shine for a brief period once. Kel and Neal were in slightly better
spirits now that Dom was with them; three warriors had a better chance than
two. Plus, Dom had brought some extra food, and it was a lot better than
what the knights had. They wrote along, chatting occasionally. Kel had to
fall back a lot to keep Peachblossom from biting the other horses, and she
caught him eyeing Neal quite often.
They didn't run into any other people as the day went on. When night fell, they halted and set up camp. Soon a fire was roaring, the latrine was dug, the horses were fed and Dom (the best cook) was preparing some stew with some rabbits Kel had brought down earlier.
Dom went to bed soon after they had finished eating, claiming that last night he hadn't slept well. Kel and Neal were left at the fire alone, and for some time there was silence between them.
Then Neal began. "Kel, I don't know what you think about what transpired this morning," he began cautiously, "but I have a feeling that you liked it as much as I did."
Kel looked at him for a little while, then finally said, "And how much is that?"
"More than words can say. I felt like what I had wanted all my life was happening, that you were the only thing in the world that meant anything to me."
Kel looked surprised. Then she grinned. "I felt the same, Queenscove. By the way, when did you learn poetry, because none of your previous ones were any good."
Neal looked thoughtful. Then he went around the fire and hugged Kel tightly. She looked up a short way to look in Neal's eyes, and then they were kissing again. Kel had no idea why she hadn't kissed Neal sooner, this felt so good, so right in every way, they were meant to do this, meant to love each other for all time.
They carried on for a while, but when there was a sudden noise in the forest around them, they sprang apart and decided to go to bed. Tomorrow they should reach Akder, and then the work would begin.
They didn't run into any other people as the day went on. When night fell, they halted and set up camp. Soon a fire was roaring, the latrine was dug, the horses were fed and Dom (the best cook) was preparing some stew with some rabbits Kel had brought down earlier.
Dom went to bed soon after they had finished eating, claiming that last night he hadn't slept well. Kel and Neal were left at the fire alone, and for some time there was silence between them.
Then Neal began. "Kel, I don't know what you think about what transpired this morning," he began cautiously, "but I have a feeling that you liked it as much as I did."
Kel looked at him for a little while, then finally said, "And how much is that?"
"More than words can say. I felt like what I had wanted all my life was happening, that you were the only thing in the world that meant anything to me."
Kel looked surprised. Then she grinned. "I felt the same, Queenscove. By the way, when did you learn poetry, because none of your previous ones were any good."
Neal looked thoughtful. Then he went around the fire and hugged Kel tightly. She looked up a short way to look in Neal's eyes, and then they were kissing again. Kel had no idea why she hadn't kissed Neal sooner, this felt so good, so right in every way, they were meant to do this, meant to love each other for all time.
They carried on for a while, but when there was a sudden noise in the forest around them, they sprang apart and decided to go to bed. Tomorrow they should reach Akder, and then the work would begin.