Disclaimer: Don't own it. Wish I did. End of story.
Chapter 10: Demotion.
~~~~~~NEAL'S POV~~~~~~
Neal walked aimlessly around the grounds of Fort Steadfast. He'd not had a very good day, and it wasn't getting any better. He'd waken to find his cousin missing, only to learn Raoul had sent him as a messenger to Kel in New Hope. That's dangerous! Thought Neal, Especially with an undetectable enemy between the fort and refugee camp. He wanted to strangle the Knight Commander for putting his cousin in harm's way. He soon found he couldn't, for the rest of the reinforcements were making its way out the gates. He'd been left behind; they hadn't wanted him to go. He was to play head healer for Steadfast.
Neal found he was the only knight left behind. That hadn't made him feel much better. He was already miserable, the regular army men feared him as a noble. The Own ignored him for being an outsider, and the women-mainly Yuki-left him to his duty. Put frankly he was alone and miserable. As he was walking around the grounds, wallowing misery, he stumbled then fell on his face. Rolling over onto his back he looked back and saw a tree root protruding from the dirt. "It figures! Everyone is against me!" He cried out in frustration. A few birds took off from trees in the forest, but the fort was so empty no one really took notice of his shouts.
Neal got up with a grimace. There was nothing here worth staying for. Except Yuki, of coarse, but she was pointedly ignoring him. His decision was made: he wouldn't stay here longer than necessary. With that he went back inside to enjoy a nice, quiet dinner. By himself.
~~~~~~KEL'S POV~~~~~~
It was nearly noon when the trumpets sounded, signaling that the army had been sighted. Kel, who had been on he way to the mess hall when it indicated to approaching soldiers, turned and sprinted up to the wall. They were a ways off, a dark blot off in the distance. Kel borrowed a spyglass from a guard and peered through. She still couldn't make out faces.
"Send for me when they can be seen by the naked eye." She ordered.
"But you can see them now, milady."
"Send for me when you can distinguish between a man and his horse." She said. The man nodded and Kel headed towards the mess hall.
Upon arriving, Kel grabbed two trays and filled them with food, with that done, she headed towards the infirmary. With her hands full she had to wait for someone to notice her trying to enter the building and let her in. "I came to dine with the man with the poisoned cuts. Kel told the healer, who wouldn't know who Dom was.
"The Whiner?" The healer asked, shaking her head. "This way." She led Kel to Dom's room. "Whiner's room." She announced, knocking on the door and opened it.
Upon entering, Kel could tell why they had deemed Dom 'Whiner'. "Why do I have to stay here?" He complained, without turning to see who entered. "I want to get out."
Kel nodded for the healer to leave and walked towards Dom. "Oh, stop bellyaching and eat your lunch." She instructed.
Dom jumped a little, surprised at finding Kel and not a healer. "Hmph!" He retorted once he'd recovered. "How rude." He ate his lunch anyhow.
They both finished their lunches quickly, focusing on the food more than anything else. "When will you be well enough to be out again?" Kel asked once the meal was done.
"Not today. If I'm lucky the army will have a better healer than the one currently tending your refugees."
"They're in the line of sight." Kel informed him. "They should be here soon."
"Good!" He said. "I hate being in bed." Kel was about to report that he had no choice when Dom interrupted her. "Well, I hate being in bed sick. For other reasons I don't mind at all."
"It figures you wouldn't." Kel said, Dom scowled, and Kel smiled innocently. "If you're done, I'll take the trays back to the kitchens. I've got some things to take care of before our forces arrive." She took the tray and walked to the door. "I'll try to stop by tonight. Don't get mad at me this time."
After bringing the trays to the kitchen, Kel made sure that the rooms for the officers were prepared and the places for the tents were cleared. They'd made makeshift pens for the animals this morning, and only a few still roamed, being chased by children in order to be pinned. Hopefully the soldiers had brought some of their own food, because New Hope could hardly feed an army. They could barely feed themselves. Besides they didn't have much room. Kel saw a few men trying to make places for campfires; Kel helped them arrange stones, then sent them for wood.
While she was helping to tidy up the town, the guard sent a messenger to retrieve her. Kel sprinted up to the wall and saw that the army wasn't far off at all. She pulled her griffin-feather headband closer to her eyes to be sure it really was the Mastiff soldiers. That being done, she headed to the men in charge of the gate and ordered the gates opened.
The army poured in. Kel went down and was met by the leader. "Where can my men stay, girl?" He asked.
"We haven't much room," Replied Kel, "so they'll have to camp in tents. We cleared the area just there for them." She pointed to the site they'd set up for the soldiers.
"Good lass." The man said. "We'll need to speak with you once the officers have been settled."
The officers weren't 'settled' until just before supper. They gathered in the meeting room. The leader rose to speak. "I am sure everyone is aware of the forces marching against us, right?" Everyone nodded. "Right. They'll be on us soon. Steadfast will attack from behind. We're to defend the camp." He turned to face Kel. "Lass, you'll be in charge of the refugees. That's all - no more than that. We're taking over the camp now."
Kel understood, they needed a strong director. They don't need an inexperienced knight getting their men slaughtered, Kel thought. She nodded her affirmation.
"Run along now, lass, we've got the fighting under control. You just go take care of your people." The man ordered.
That, however, was not understood. "What do you mean you've got the fighting under control?" Kel asked calmly. "Won't my people and I be fighting also?"
"No, little girl. This is a real fight, not the games you're used to." One of the soldiers told her.
"Be quiet." The leader ordered.
"Games?" Kel asked, not believing what they were saying. Haven't I proved myself time and again? She wondered.
"Look, child. My lord Wyldon has ordered we do what is necessary for this to go right. We need experienced fighters, not civilians. You need to take care of them, they trust you, not us." The leader said. "If you need anything do not be afraid to call for me."
"Yes, sir." Kel said. "And your name would be . . .?"
"Sir Paxton." The man said, Joren's old knight master. He seemed civil enough.
"Sir Paxton." Kel repeated. "Sir, my refugees would at least like to know what is going on. I would like to be able to tell them."
"Fine." He relented. "Then stay."
For the next hour or so, they talked about the upcoming fight. Kel adding her input every so often and receiving glares from more conservative members of the group. The supper bell rang, and the group broke up. The officers headed to wash up, and probably would eat in the officer's mess, away from the refugees. When Kel went to her room, she quickly washed and headed to the kitchen to retrieve food from there.
After a meal with the refugees, she was headed to the infirmary to see Dom. "Lass!" Someone said. Kel turned to see one of the officers. She waited for him to catch up. It was Sir Paxton. "Lass. We're one room short for our officers, even doubled up, we did bring a large sum of men." Kel nodded, wondering where this was headed. "I will need to speak with my officers often, and would appreciate it if they were not forced to run up to headquarters every time I call a meeting. Seeing as you are not part of the head of the defenses, it would not go unacknowledged if you would give up you room in favor of one of my officers."
Kel pursed her lips. She didn't like being left out of the meeting when it was her people who were in the most trouble. She also saw the necessity of having all of the officers grouped together. This plus the fact she'd learned not to question a senior officer drove her to give up her rooms. With help from Tobe and some of the other children, Kel's clothes, weapons and work were packed and brought to one of the many tents spread across the grounds, one in the back corner, closest to the animal pens. One of the unclaimed tents in one of the most undesirable places. Her collection of Yamani waving cats and art were placed in a saddlebag in the tent. All her belongings were stored in the little white tent that she was granted.
When she entered the tent, she wasn't pleased. The army had brought so many people, that they'd had to assign two people to a tent. Just because Kel was a girl, it didn't mean she was an exception to the rule. There were two cots set up, and one makeshift desk for Kel. She set he work down on the desk, threw her clothing bag under the cot, place her collection next to it, and he weapons lay gathered in the corner.
Once set up, Kel went to go visit Dom. She entered his room, and was greeted with a loud "Kel! How nice to see you!"
Kel smiled and sat in the chair next to Dom's bed. He sat up and hugged her heartily before planting a kiss on her lips. "Nice to see you too." She smiled.
"I thought you might have forgotten me. A healer came by, from the army; I'll be able to leave tomorrow. After lunch he said, he said I'd be sore some, but I'd live."
"I'd stay here if I were you." Kel told him. "They've had to put two people together in rooms it's so crowded." She sighed, wishing she'd been able to keep her own room to herself.
"No, it's so boring here. And the healers are so evi . . .devoted." Kel scowled at the slip up, and he grinned. "You know how I hate people doting on me."
Kel, who was only listening with one ear, shook her head. "You're hopeless."
"Why does everybody always say that?"
Kel shrugged. "I dunno."
"Kel, what's wrong?" Dom asked, pulling Kel off the chair and into his lap.
"Nothing." Kel said.
"It's not 'nothing'," Dom said. "Or else I wouldn't ask. Now tell me."
Kel sighed, and then thought. "I was demoted. Not really, I guess I still have the refugees, but it isn't my camp anymore. I guess I should be happy, without all the extra responsibility. But I'm not, I'm just worried, particularly with that army marching towards us as I speak."
"Kel, that's awful!" Dom said.
Kel shook her head. "I'll be alright."
"That's my Kel." Dom said, kissing her lightly on the cheek. Kel smiled and moved to sit back in the chair. Dom pulled her wrist so that they both sat in bed, with their backs to the wall. They talked until the curfew bell rang, at which time Kel excused herself to go back to her tent. Whoever she shared it with wasn't there yet. She fell asleep almost immediately.
~~~~~~DOM'S POV~~~~~~
"I can't believe they would do that!" Dom said to himself, he was pacing the room in frustration. Something scratched at the door. He opened it and Jump came in. He watched Dom pace furiously. "Kel is as good as anyone of those men. In fighting or strategy." Dom told Jump. Jump barked softly. "We've got to do something about that. Something, anything." Jump thumped his tail in agreement. "But first I'll have to get better. We'll go talk to Sit Paxton in the morning, eh buddy?" Dom crawled into bed and Jump curled up on his feet. "Give that man a piece of my mind."
A/N: El fin del capĂtulo. Spanish exams tomorrow, guess I should study. Goodbye! Have fun! Study Hard! Review!
Chapter 10: Demotion.
~~~~~~NEAL'S POV~~~~~~
Neal walked aimlessly around the grounds of Fort Steadfast. He'd not had a very good day, and it wasn't getting any better. He'd waken to find his cousin missing, only to learn Raoul had sent him as a messenger to Kel in New Hope. That's dangerous! Thought Neal, Especially with an undetectable enemy between the fort and refugee camp. He wanted to strangle the Knight Commander for putting his cousin in harm's way. He soon found he couldn't, for the rest of the reinforcements were making its way out the gates. He'd been left behind; they hadn't wanted him to go. He was to play head healer for Steadfast.
Neal found he was the only knight left behind. That hadn't made him feel much better. He was already miserable, the regular army men feared him as a noble. The Own ignored him for being an outsider, and the women-mainly Yuki-left him to his duty. Put frankly he was alone and miserable. As he was walking around the grounds, wallowing misery, he stumbled then fell on his face. Rolling over onto his back he looked back and saw a tree root protruding from the dirt. "It figures! Everyone is against me!" He cried out in frustration. A few birds took off from trees in the forest, but the fort was so empty no one really took notice of his shouts.
Neal got up with a grimace. There was nothing here worth staying for. Except Yuki, of coarse, but she was pointedly ignoring him. His decision was made: he wouldn't stay here longer than necessary. With that he went back inside to enjoy a nice, quiet dinner. By himself.
~~~~~~KEL'S POV~~~~~~
It was nearly noon when the trumpets sounded, signaling that the army had been sighted. Kel, who had been on he way to the mess hall when it indicated to approaching soldiers, turned and sprinted up to the wall. They were a ways off, a dark blot off in the distance. Kel borrowed a spyglass from a guard and peered through. She still couldn't make out faces.
"Send for me when they can be seen by the naked eye." She ordered.
"But you can see them now, milady."
"Send for me when you can distinguish between a man and his horse." She said. The man nodded and Kel headed towards the mess hall.
Upon arriving, Kel grabbed two trays and filled them with food, with that done, she headed towards the infirmary. With her hands full she had to wait for someone to notice her trying to enter the building and let her in. "I came to dine with the man with the poisoned cuts. Kel told the healer, who wouldn't know who Dom was.
"The Whiner?" The healer asked, shaking her head. "This way." She led Kel to Dom's room. "Whiner's room." She announced, knocking on the door and opened it.
Upon entering, Kel could tell why they had deemed Dom 'Whiner'. "Why do I have to stay here?" He complained, without turning to see who entered. "I want to get out."
Kel nodded for the healer to leave and walked towards Dom. "Oh, stop bellyaching and eat your lunch." She instructed.
Dom jumped a little, surprised at finding Kel and not a healer. "Hmph!" He retorted once he'd recovered. "How rude." He ate his lunch anyhow.
They both finished their lunches quickly, focusing on the food more than anything else. "When will you be well enough to be out again?" Kel asked once the meal was done.
"Not today. If I'm lucky the army will have a better healer than the one currently tending your refugees."
"They're in the line of sight." Kel informed him. "They should be here soon."
"Good!" He said. "I hate being in bed." Kel was about to report that he had no choice when Dom interrupted her. "Well, I hate being in bed sick. For other reasons I don't mind at all."
"It figures you wouldn't." Kel said, Dom scowled, and Kel smiled innocently. "If you're done, I'll take the trays back to the kitchens. I've got some things to take care of before our forces arrive." She took the tray and walked to the door. "I'll try to stop by tonight. Don't get mad at me this time."
After bringing the trays to the kitchen, Kel made sure that the rooms for the officers were prepared and the places for the tents were cleared. They'd made makeshift pens for the animals this morning, and only a few still roamed, being chased by children in order to be pinned. Hopefully the soldiers had brought some of their own food, because New Hope could hardly feed an army. They could barely feed themselves. Besides they didn't have much room. Kel saw a few men trying to make places for campfires; Kel helped them arrange stones, then sent them for wood.
While she was helping to tidy up the town, the guard sent a messenger to retrieve her. Kel sprinted up to the wall and saw that the army wasn't far off at all. She pulled her griffin-feather headband closer to her eyes to be sure it really was the Mastiff soldiers. That being done, she headed to the men in charge of the gate and ordered the gates opened.
The army poured in. Kel went down and was met by the leader. "Where can my men stay, girl?" He asked.
"We haven't much room," Replied Kel, "so they'll have to camp in tents. We cleared the area just there for them." She pointed to the site they'd set up for the soldiers.
"Good lass." The man said. "We'll need to speak with you once the officers have been settled."
The officers weren't 'settled' until just before supper. They gathered in the meeting room. The leader rose to speak. "I am sure everyone is aware of the forces marching against us, right?" Everyone nodded. "Right. They'll be on us soon. Steadfast will attack from behind. We're to defend the camp." He turned to face Kel. "Lass, you'll be in charge of the refugees. That's all - no more than that. We're taking over the camp now."
Kel understood, they needed a strong director. They don't need an inexperienced knight getting their men slaughtered, Kel thought. She nodded her affirmation.
"Run along now, lass, we've got the fighting under control. You just go take care of your people." The man ordered.
That, however, was not understood. "What do you mean you've got the fighting under control?" Kel asked calmly. "Won't my people and I be fighting also?"
"No, little girl. This is a real fight, not the games you're used to." One of the soldiers told her.
"Be quiet." The leader ordered.
"Games?" Kel asked, not believing what they were saying. Haven't I proved myself time and again? She wondered.
"Look, child. My lord Wyldon has ordered we do what is necessary for this to go right. We need experienced fighters, not civilians. You need to take care of them, they trust you, not us." The leader said. "If you need anything do not be afraid to call for me."
"Yes, sir." Kel said. "And your name would be . . .?"
"Sir Paxton." The man said, Joren's old knight master. He seemed civil enough.
"Sir Paxton." Kel repeated. "Sir, my refugees would at least like to know what is going on. I would like to be able to tell them."
"Fine." He relented. "Then stay."
For the next hour or so, they talked about the upcoming fight. Kel adding her input every so often and receiving glares from more conservative members of the group. The supper bell rang, and the group broke up. The officers headed to wash up, and probably would eat in the officer's mess, away from the refugees. When Kel went to her room, she quickly washed and headed to the kitchen to retrieve food from there.
After a meal with the refugees, she was headed to the infirmary to see Dom. "Lass!" Someone said. Kel turned to see one of the officers. She waited for him to catch up. It was Sir Paxton. "Lass. We're one room short for our officers, even doubled up, we did bring a large sum of men." Kel nodded, wondering where this was headed. "I will need to speak with my officers often, and would appreciate it if they were not forced to run up to headquarters every time I call a meeting. Seeing as you are not part of the head of the defenses, it would not go unacknowledged if you would give up you room in favor of one of my officers."
Kel pursed her lips. She didn't like being left out of the meeting when it was her people who were in the most trouble. She also saw the necessity of having all of the officers grouped together. This plus the fact she'd learned not to question a senior officer drove her to give up her rooms. With help from Tobe and some of the other children, Kel's clothes, weapons and work were packed and brought to one of the many tents spread across the grounds, one in the back corner, closest to the animal pens. One of the unclaimed tents in one of the most undesirable places. Her collection of Yamani waving cats and art were placed in a saddlebag in the tent. All her belongings were stored in the little white tent that she was granted.
When she entered the tent, she wasn't pleased. The army had brought so many people, that they'd had to assign two people to a tent. Just because Kel was a girl, it didn't mean she was an exception to the rule. There were two cots set up, and one makeshift desk for Kel. She set he work down on the desk, threw her clothing bag under the cot, place her collection next to it, and he weapons lay gathered in the corner.
Once set up, Kel went to go visit Dom. She entered his room, and was greeted with a loud "Kel! How nice to see you!"
Kel smiled and sat in the chair next to Dom's bed. He sat up and hugged her heartily before planting a kiss on her lips. "Nice to see you too." She smiled.
"I thought you might have forgotten me. A healer came by, from the army; I'll be able to leave tomorrow. After lunch he said, he said I'd be sore some, but I'd live."
"I'd stay here if I were you." Kel told him. "They've had to put two people together in rooms it's so crowded." She sighed, wishing she'd been able to keep her own room to herself.
"No, it's so boring here. And the healers are so evi . . .devoted." Kel scowled at the slip up, and he grinned. "You know how I hate people doting on me."
Kel, who was only listening with one ear, shook her head. "You're hopeless."
"Why does everybody always say that?"
Kel shrugged. "I dunno."
"Kel, what's wrong?" Dom asked, pulling Kel off the chair and into his lap.
"Nothing." Kel said.
"It's not 'nothing'," Dom said. "Or else I wouldn't ask. Now tell me."
Kel sighed, and then thought. "I was demoted. Not really, I guess I still have the refugees, but it isn't my camp anymore. I guess I should be happy, without all the extra responsibility. But I'm not, I'm just worried, particularly with that army marching towards us as I speak."
"Kel, that's awful!" Dom said.
Kel shook her head. "I'll be alright."
"That's my Kel." Dom said, kissing her lightly on the cheek. Kel smiled and moved to sit back in the chair. Dom pulled her wrist so that they both sat in bed, with their backs to the wall. They talked until the curfew bell rang, at which time Kel excused herself to go back to her tent. Whoever she shared it with wasn't there yet. She fell asleep almost immediately.
~~~~~~DOM'S POV~~~~~~
"I can't believe they would do that!" Dom said to himself, he was pacing the room in frustration. Something scratched at the door. He opened it and Jump came in. He watched Dom pace furiously. "Kel is as good as anyone of those men. In fighting or strategy." Dom told Jump. Jump barked softly. "We've got to do something about that. Something, anything." Jump thumped his tail in agreement. "But first I'll have to get better. We'll go talk to Sit Paxton in the morning, eh buddy?" Dom crawled into bed and Jump curled up on his feet. "Give that man a piece of my mind."
A/N: El fin del capĂtulo. Spanish exams tomorrow, guess I should study. Goodbye! Have fun! Study Hard! Review!
