A/N: Sorry, I haven't updated this fic very day like I promised, but I was busy. I hope you like this next chapter. I made it good to make it up to you people. Oh, and this might be a Cleon/Kel fic, it might, not saying it will or not. It might be a Dante/Kel. I think most likely a Dante/Kel, 'cause I already like the marquess. (truth be told, the marquess is a cynical prig, just like what lady rose said.) This fic is for all the people who like Dante. Oh, and I changed Kel's hair length.
Rekindled
Chapter Five: Battles and Lustful Thoughts
by: DarkDracon0
Kel smiled at the marquess and went into her room, saying a sweet good-bye and good night to him. She quickly stripped her dress and underclothes off and rung for a maid to bring in hot bathwater. Five minutes later, Kel was in her bath tub, lounging in the hot steaming water. The warmth seemed to relax her tired muscles and Kel nearly nodded to sleep, she was so tired. Kel dried herself off, slipped into a nightgown, and was a sleep before she hit the bed.
Palace of Corus
Grand Guest Wing
Dante walked to his room in the Grand Guest Wing which the King reserved only for high ranking nobles and foreign government leaders and lords. He slipped into his room, a merry fire already stoked in the fireplace. Dante stripped off most of his clothes, leaving on only a loose shirt and changed into comfortable trousers. He sat back into a armchair that was positioned in front of the fireplace and stretched his long legs out in front of him, pondering about Lady Keladry of Mindelan. She was different from all the ladies he had met, with an exception of the Baroness of Pirate's Swoop, Dante thought, amused. When he had first met the baroness, he had said that women were useless, good only for to please the husband. He didn't why he said such a ridiculous thing, but maybe it was to see her reaction. And a explosive reaction. The Lioness had suddenly turned beet read with fury and yelled for the bastard to get out of the keep, her sword drawn. It had taken her husband,
George, and all her children to restrain her. Later, he told George, a man Dante had known for some time, why he had said that ridiculous remark. George had only grinned and strolled away, shaking his head.
Lady Keladry was, in a way, like Alanna. Both women were fascinating. But the physical difference was obvious. Keladry was extremely tall, as tall as he was and Dante was a strapping six-foot-five. She was at least two inches shorter. Keladry didn't seem to have any magical ability from what he was told. So she had learned the way of knights the hard way without the aid of magic.
And she was utterly serious. She wasn't the type of girl to giggle and moon over any handsome available young man that came into her orbit. She didn't seem to flirt a lot from his observations tonight. He remembered when he had first seen her in the practice court, moving with the staff in her hand. She was sweating heavily and, but had the look of one that had the endurance of a war horse. And he had called her insane. Why couldn't he ever keep his mouth shut around warrior women? First the baroness, who had nearly thrown him out on his ear, and now the Lady Keladry.
And his offer for him to warm her bed. Yes, he knew that he shouldn't say those things, but he was a normal human wasn't he? He expierenced lust and desire when a female stirred his male interest, just like any other man. Keladry was actually very beautiful, yet, she didn't seem to realise it. She looked as if she was totally oblivious to her own beauty. For Mithros' sake, didn't she ever look in the mirror? Ah, he could still describe her right now. She had long, silky hair ( her hair nearly reached the middle of her back), a very light mahogany color. Her eyes were true enough, hazel, though a dreamy shade and framed with long lashes. A thin, but delicate nose and full lips that all together, inviting for a man to steal a kiss. Dante grinned. Here he was, thinking of an extrodinary woman who could probably make him eat up dirt if he ever took her on, or have the nerve to challenge a female, and she most likely already had lover. After all, she was surrounded with lusty men
for more than eight years, so one of them was her lover.
Now that he thought of it, if Kel didn't like her lover anymore, Dante would have happily helped and made sure that the man had safely departed to the Dark God's realm. Oh, well. He would have to wait. But for some reason, Dante still thought that Keladry was a virgin. The stares that she had given him when he had said about warming her bed proved it. It was evidence itself. Hmmm. Maybe he had a chance to be the first man to bed her and take her virginity.
One month later
Scanra, southern border
Eight miles directly north of Mindelan
Kel wiped the sweat off her forehead. In the throes of war, mages and knights fought bravely. The Scanrans didn't seem to want to give up so easily. They wanted to put up a good fight. Kel was right in the middle of the battlefield. Her helmet had proved to be so damned heavy that she couldn't even turn her head. She discarded it and thrown it into the face of the nearest enemy soldier on horseback, slashing the man down when he was temporairily surprised. She yelled, " Tortall! Tortall! Onward! Drive the bastards back toward the beach!"
Kel shot Peachblossom forward, five of her assigned knights did the same, cutting down any man that went near Kel. Kel rammed down a Scanran soldier and headed straight for the Scanran man that seemed to be the officer. When she was upon him, the Scanran drew up his poorly made sword and engaged into combat with Kel. He's clumsy on that monster of a horse, Kel thought grimly as she easily parried his hacking over head cut. She was guiding Peachblossom with her knees and thighs. She searched for an opening. When his horse suddenly jerked to the side and unbalancing the Scanran slightly, Kel lunged. Griffin pierced the opening gap between the armor, right into his shoulder. The Scanran yelled and Kel thrusted Griffin in more deeply into his shoulder. The Scanran slumped forward into his horse's neck, his limp. Kel shoved the man off his horse and she knew that he was only unconsious.
" Foris!Order one of the men to take the Scanran officer prisoner," Kel barked. One of her assigned knights nodded and rode back to carry out the order. Kel looked around her. The Scanran number was much smaller than the Tortallan and they were one officer short. Kel gently nudged Peachblossom's lean sides and plunged back into battle.
After battle
Tortallan campsite
Officer's tent
"How many were lost?"
"At least two hundred."
"What of the prisoners?"
"Three Scanran officers and seventy-eight soldiers. Twenty-three horses and three war mages, sir."
"You are very efficient and accurate, Lady Mindelan."
"Thank you." Captain Malcon regarded Kel. She hasn't lost her beauty, even in battle, he thought. He felt pride. When he had met Lady Keladry, he had thought her unfit to fight. But she had shown that she was worthy to fight in battle as a true knight even if she was a female. She had been appointed as commander of her own legion of men after she had captured Fort Cairis near the Scanran southern border. If the Tortallans were in control of that area, supplies and reinforcements would come in easily and cut off any Scanran trying to retreat or move toward Tortall. After the capture of Fort Cairis, the king had been impressed by her work and promoted her, assigning her five knight bodyguards and a legion of men.
A squire came into the tent and said something to the captain. Captain Malcon nodded and dismissed him. Captain Malcon stood up abruptly. Kel looked at him, slightly surprised at his movement. He said," My lady, there is a officer who would like to see you, I am told."
"Who?"
" I don't know. He is coming here now and wishes to speak to you privately." Kel nodded and Malcon left. The man who wanted to speak to her privately came inside the tent. Kel gaped at him when she saw his face. He smiled, " Do you remember me, Keladry?"
A/N: Ok, I like spent two hours straight on this, so be kind and review. This is also my first try at a cliffhanger. Do ya think that its too obvious who the mystery man is?
Rekindled
Chapter Five: Battles and Lustful Thoughts
by: DarkDracon0
Kel smiled at the marquess and went into her room, saying a sweet good-bye and good night to him. She quickly stripped her dress and underclothes off and rung for a maid to bring in hot bathwater. Five minutes later, Kel was in her bath tub, lounging in the hot steaming water. The warmth seemed to relax her tired muscles and Kel nearly nodded to sleep, she was so tired. Kel dried herself off, slipped into a nightgown, and was a sleep before she hit the bed.
Palace of Corus
Grand Guest Wing
Dante walked to his room in the Grand Guest Wing which the King reserved only for high ranking nobles and foreign government leaders and lords. He slipped into his room, a merry fire already stoked in the fireplace. Dante stripped off most of his clothes, leaving on only a loose shirt and changed into comfortable trousers. He sat back into a armchair that was positioned in front of the fireplace and stretched his long legs out in front of him, pondering about Lady Keladry of Mindelan. She was different from all the ladies he had met, with an exception of the Baroness of Pirate's Swoop, Dante thought, amused. When he had first met the baroness, he had said that women were useless, good only for to please the husband. He didn't why he said such a ridiculous thing, but maybe it was to see her reaction. And a explosive reaction. The Lioness had suddenly turned beet read with fury and yelled for the bastard to get out of the keep, her sword drawn. It had taken her husband,
George, and all her children to restrain her. Later, he told George, a man Dante had known for some time, why he had said that ridiculous remark. George had only grinned and strolled away, shaking his head.
Lady Keladry was, in a way, like Alanna. Both women were fascinating. But the physical difference was obvious. Keladry was extremely tall, as tall as he was and Dante was a strapping six-foot-five. She was at least two inches shorter. Keladry didn't seem to have any magical ability from what he was told. So she had learned the way of knights the hard way without the aid of magic.
And she was utterly serious. She wasn't the type of girl to giggle and moon over any handsome available young man that came into her orbit. She didn't seem to flirt a lot from his observations tonight. He remembered when he had first seen her in the practice court, moving with the staff in her hand. She was sweating heavily and, but had the look of one that had the endurance of a war horse. And he had called her insane. Why couldn't he ever keep his mouth shut around warrior women? First the baroness, who had nearly thrown him out on his ear, and now the Lady Keladry.
And his offer for him to warm her bed. Yes, he knew that he shouldn't say those things, but he was a normal human wasn't he? He expierenced lust and desire when a female stirred his male interest, just like any other man. Keladry was actually very beautiful, yet, she didn't seem to realise it. She looked as if she was totally oblivious to her own beauty. For Mithros' sake, didn't she ever look in the mirror? Ah, he could still describe her right now. She had long, silky hair ( her hair nearly reached the middle of her back), a very light mahogany color. Her eyes were true enough, hazel, though a dreamy shade and framed with long lashes. A thin, but delicate nose and full lips that all together, inviting for a man to steal a kiss. Dante grinned. Here he was, thinking of an extrodinary woman who could probably make him eat up dirt if he ever took her on, or have the nerve to challenge a female, and she most likely already had lover. After all, she was surrounded with lusty men
for more than eight years, so one of them was her lover.
Now that he thought of it, if Kel didn't like her lover anymore, Dante would have happily helped and made sure that the man had safely departed to the Dark God's realm. Oh, well. He would have to wait. But for some reason, Dante still thought that Keladry was a virgin. The stares that she had given him when he had said about warming her bed proved it. It was evidence itself. Hmmm. Maybe he had a chance to be the first man to bed her and take her virginity.
One month later
Scanra, southern border
Eight miles directly north of Mindelan
Kel wiped the sweat off her forehead. In the throes of war, mages and knights fought bravely. The Scanrans didn't seem to want to give up so easily. They wanted to put up a good fight. Kel was right in the middle of the battlefield. Her helmet had proved to be so damned heavy that she couldn't even turn her head. She discarded it and thrown it into the face of the nearest enemy soldier on horseback, slashing the man down when he was temporairily surprised. She yelled, " Tortall! Tortall! Onward! Drive the bastards back toward the beach!"
Kel shot Peachblossom forward, five of her assigned knights did the same, cutting down any man that went near Kel. Kel rammed down a Scanran soldier and headed straight for the Scanran man that seemed to be the officer. When she was upon him, the Scanran drew up his poorly made sword and engaged into combat with Kel. He's clumsy on that monster of a horse, Kel thought grimly as she easily parried his hacking over head cut. She was guiding Peachblossom with her knees and thighs. She searched for an opening. When his horse suddenly jerked to the side and unbalancing the Scanran slightly, Kel lunged. Griffin pierced the opening gap between the armor, right into his shoulder. The Scanran yelled and Kel thrusted Griffin in more deeply into his shoulder. The Scanran slumped forward into his horse's neck, his limp. Kel shoved the man off his horse and she knew that he was only unconsious.
" Foris!Order one of the men to take the Scanran officer prisoner," Kel barked. One of her assigned knights nodded and rode back to carry out the order. Kel looked around her. The Scanran number was much smaller than the Tortallan and they were one officer short. Kel gently nudged Peachblossom's lean sides and plunged back into battle.
After battle
Tortallan campsite
Officer's tent
"How many were lost?"
"At least two hundred."
"What of the prisoners?"
"Three Scanran officers and seventy-eight soldiers. Twenty-three horses and three war mages, sir."
"You are very efficient and accurate, Lady Mindelan."
"Thank you." Captain Malcon regarded Kel. She hasn't lost her beauty, even in battle, he thought. He felt pride. When he had met Lady Keladry, he had thought her unfit to fight. But she had shown that she was worthy to fight in battle as a true knight even if she was a female. She had been appointed as commander of her own legion of men after she had captured Fort Cairis near the Scanran southern border. If the Tortallans were in control of that area, supplies and reinforcements would come in easily and cut off any Scanran trying to retreat or move toward Tortall. After the capture of Fort Cairis, the king had been impressed by her work and promoted her, assigning her five knight bodyguards and a legion of men.
A squire came into the tent and said something to the captain. Captain Malcon nodded and dismissed him. Captain Malcon stood up abruptly. Kel looked at him, slightly surprised at his movement. He said," My lady, there is a officer who would like to see you, I am told."
"Who?"
" I don't know. He is coming here now and wishes to speak to you privately." Kel nodded and Malcon left. The man who wanted to speak to her privately came inside the tent. Kel gaped at him when she saw his face. He smiled, " Do you remember me, Keladry?"
A/N: Ok, I like spent two hours straight on this, so be kind and review. This is also my first try at a cliffhanger. Do ya think that its too obvious who the mystery man is?