2. Explanations

I wanted to die laughing at the expression on my cousin's face. He stood looking from Keladry to me and then back again, completely baffled. Keladry herself looked rather amusing with an attempted 'Lump' face and extreme blush. Peachblossom huffed in exasperation at we humans before promptly taking advantage of Neal's distraction by clamping down on his elbow.

Keladry told me that in a conversation with Tobe, Peachblossom has said he likes picking on Neal because of his reaction. In this case, Neal jumped a mile high with a rather odd 'yelp' and tearing of cloth. Cradling his arm, he turned back to us.

"Kel, I would have hoped you could teach him some manners by now." His green eyes narrowed. "You still haven't explained why I found you two lip-locked in this crazy beast's stall."

Keladry almost appeared to shrink. However, without looking at me, she stepped out of the stall and faced him directly.

"Neal, after your wedding, Dom and I talked. We're courting now."

I leaned on the door. "Actually, it started after your bachelor party, but who cares about details."

Neal glared at me. "I care about details. Why didn't you tell me that you had an interest in my best friend?"

Now it was my turn to blush which earned me a curious look from the hazel-eyed interest. I hadn't really explained my actions outside the reason that I simply had fallen head over heels for her.

"Quite honestly, I didn't know I had an interest until you arrived for Lord Raoul's wedding. After that, it all just fell into place. I think things started in Haven."

"Great." Neal groaned with a dramatic smack to his forehead. "What is my father going to think?" Ironically he now blushed and glanced at Keladry.

"What is that look for?" She asked suspiciously.

"Um," He gave us a lopsided grin. "My father once bet a silver noble that Kel and I would end up together - even for just a time. I bet against it, but perhaps now I'll have to pay him back since there's a chance you may become part of the family."

Keladry and I both jumped on him and tossed him into the hayloft.

My Lord Raoul went under the category of the unsurprised at the pairing. He gave me a nod and wink when we walked into headquarters for a meeting over this new information about Scanra.

Lord Wyldon stood behind a large table set up in the center of the room covered in maps. Markers pointed out the positions of forces on either side, waiting. The scar on his temple was unusually pale as he looked over his commanders, hard gray eyes lingering on the lady knight.

"Most of you know already what is going on. King Maggur has promised a cease fire for the winter if he can meet the lady knights of Tortall. We all need a rest from this war. We all need peace, if peace can be found and maintained." He pointed at the map where the borders of the countries met. "A convoy from the capital will arrive at the Third Company's Fort in six days. Lady Kel will meet them along with the two squadron's of the King's Own stationed here. The rondevue with King Maggur will occur on the border in eighteen days."

Not a lot of time to prepare for a potential trap. Whoever this Maggur was, he knew how to manipulate his opponents. I almost might like to meet him - under different circumstances. Lord Wyldon spoke again.

"Lady Kel, King Jonathan has offered you the choice to refuse. However, the Scanrans have asked specifically for two lady knights."

I knew her answer.

"I'll go. My kingdom needs this peace, even for a short while."

"Sir, I'd like to accompany her."

Neal stood respectfully. Lord Wyldon glared at him from head to toe, then nodded shortly. Before he sat back down, Neal raised an eyebrow at me. He would be playing the role of protective brother on this trip I would find out later.

"You will depart from Steadfast in twelve days. Meeting adjourned."

Lord Raoul snagged my by the arm on the way out. "So I take it that things went well between you and my former squire."

"Well enough." I answered warily. "It shocked her a bit - shocked myself when she accepted me."

He glanced through the open double doors to where Keladry was exchanging teasing remarks with Neal. The oddest look of affection flickered across his face before he again looked at me.

"Look after her, Dom. She may be strong, but we all have our moments when someone else is needed."

"Yes sir." I could only guess at part of what he was trying to tell me.

When I finally left the headquarters building, both Neal and Keladry were waiting impatiently. Just to vex him, I slid my arm around her waist and kissed her on the neck. She pulled away pink-faced and I grinned.

"Gah, I hope you two don't do that all the time."

Keladry turned on him. "I've had to endure plenty of you're poetry in the past, so I think you would have the grace to deal with another friend's displays of affection."

"But not when it's between two of the people you know the best."

I gave him a punch in the shoulder. "I may be only a year or two older than you, but I can still tie you up in the bed sheets."

"Which is why your aunt never let you stay the night in the same room with us." He retorted.

We gradually began making our way towards the barracks. Keladry gave me a questioning glance.

"Aunt?"

"Meathead's mother is the sister of my father. That's why I don't look like him."

I thought I heard her mutter something under her breath in disagreement, but didn't ask her to repeat it. Instead I reached over and pinched Neal's family trademark nose.

"At least I didn't get this from you."

Neal jerked away. "It's a sign of intellect. Perhaps it's a pity you don't have one, then you could debate with me on an equal level."

I rolled my eyes and let it drop. Reaching the barracks and Keladry's room, we paused in the hall. Neal gave us both one final look-over before hugging his friend.

"If he ever gives you trouble, just come to me."

She smiled. "Is that why you're coming to the border?"

"That, and I was hoping for some more tips on the Yamani."

I can still tie him up in a sheet.

888

Over the next few days I noticed a change in Keladry. She practiced excessively in the training grounds with her glaive and on one occasion jousted with Lord Raoul. When I watched her go flying off of Peachblossom for the fifth time that I finally decided she was extremely nervous. Now that I had been returned to patrol, seeing her as often as I had earlier became a luxury. I finally got an explanation from her after dinner a night later.

"I'm not a diplomat. I can't negotiate with politics."

I stared at her in surprise. "You'd be a fine diplomat. I've heard it runs in the family - your family establishing relations with the Yamani."

Her eyes were troubled. "I was a child then. Politics are what nearly prevented me from becoming a knight. Things were so unfair, but twisted around so that they appeared fair. I just don't think I can understand it all."

I took one of her scarred hands in mine. "Just remember that most people aren't as honest and fair as you. That some will do anything to get their own way - you just have to outthink them."

She finally smiled. "I'm glad you're coming."

Picking up her glaive, she balanced it over her shoulder. "Care to spar?"

With a groan I followed her. We'd been working on the techniques of fighting with a longer weapon against a simple sword. So far I had faired on the worse end, yet been able to uncover a few holes in her defense.

That night I had a strange dream.

I could see Keladry, she was standing in front of different crowds of people, speaking but I could hear nothing. All the men raised their arms and shouted nothing. I stood on a cliff. Down below, a mass of humans came together, then drifted apart, endlessly moving in a strange pattern. A strange white bird few overhead, never once flapping its wings. One man broke from the crowd and approached me. Though everyone else wore heavy leather cloths, insulated with fur and wool, this man was bare-chested. Only a leather robe draped from his broad shoulders and a thick gold necklace hung around his neck. Blue eyes flashed beneath blond hair as he raised his arm and pointed Southwards. The masses moved.

But out of the South rose another figure. A womanly figure carrying a bladed staff. The white bird circled above. Raising her arm, the advancing people stopped and then circle at her feet. A voice I had heard one time before, a girl-child's voice, spoke.

"Protector of the Small, your power is your heart."

Hazel eyes fixed on me, fixed and held me unmoving as the glaive rose. The deadly sharp blade split the wind as it descended.