Raoul paced around king's study impatiently as King Jonathan of Conté eyed his friend worriedly. Too many things were running through his mind. Kel and he were originally stationed at the borders of Tortall. When he came back to wake her up once again, she was gone. He had spotted Neal walking out from her room earlier but hadn't really noticed anything strange from it. Once he discovered her room vacant, he wanted to confront the young man. Before he had a chance to talk, he was intercepted by a messenger who had a request from the king.

"Alanna took her on an 'adventure?' What can she be thinking?!" he asked in disbelief.

"How many times do I have to repeat myself before I get it in into your thick skull? Yes she did take Kel on an adventure," Jon responded, exasperated.

"Why are you so obsessed about it anyway? I'll just replace her spot with another knight. I'm not about to send you out alone. Nowadays knights go in groups of two or more, remember?"

"It's not that, Jon. It's..." He broke off and paced the room again, running his fingers through his thick black locks of hair.

Jon stared at his friend thoughtfully. The normally calm and jovial Raoul now paced before his eyes, distraught over the fact that Kel...

"You're in love with the girl, aren't you?" he asked bluntly.

Raoul stopped pacing and sat down hard on the nearest seat available. He poured himself some brandy and remained silent.

"But you were engaged to Buri..."

"Said she didn't want a knight anymore. She wanted a steady dependable man who would always be there to take care of the kids and be a shoulder that she could lean on at anytime of the day. Said she finally 'grew up,' " he said bitterly.

Jon stood up and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"I don't want pity Jon. I've had enough of that. Especially from the ladies."

"How does Kel fit into the picture?"

Raoul swirled the wine in the cup. His eyes glazed off momentarily to think of words that would explain how he felt. "She's... the only gal besides Alanna who I've spent the most time with. I don't love her. Not yet. But she is one of the few females that I feel... comfortable with."

"The Court won't leave you two alone-"

"It's already been started. I've seen and heard all. I won't leave her hurting because the Court thinks it to be wrong for a man to enter a woman's chamber without an escort."

"Maybe it was a good thing that Alanna took her. It will give you time to sort your thoughts and restrain yourself before you do something brash. It'll also give the Court some time to gossip on something else."

Raoul drank his brandy in one gulp. He sighed in satisfaction as the wine began to dull his senses and gratify his need for comfort. He stared at the ceiling as the wine began to work on his brain.

"You know that I have a competition?" and he chuckled softly. "A boy. Someone green."

Jon knew. A gifted boy could never remain hidden in the eyes of a king.

"Nealen of Queenscove? You should know him. Several years older than Kel but still not as old as I..." he quieted. "I may as well be on the same level as Blake. Taking children to my liking," he spat bitterly.

"You know that's not true."

"It may as well be," and Raoul of Goldenlake stalked off angrily out of the room as Jon looked out after him.

8 Kel spread out her blanket and began the long process stripping out her travel clothes to wash herself and to dust off her belongings.

Alanna, already down with her washing, began the fire for the two big trout she caught for dinner. She heard a loud yelp from the stream nearby and smirked mischievously. She had conveniently "forgotten" to warn her companion about the water's temperature. She tended the fire as she heard the approaching footsteps.

"You never mentioned that the water was cold," Kel sulked, sopping wet and unhappy.

"You never asked lass."

Kel grumbled about how Alanna should have warned her anyway if she had any considerations when Alanna announced that their dinner was ready.

"I'm not the best of the best, but the food is edible," Alanna declared as she spooned out some spiced rice from the travel pot she had brought along, and chewed on a sliver of flesh.

"Your mess can't be better than mine," Kel remarked as she joined her.

There was a comfortable silence between the two as each consumed their fill of dinner in satisfaction.

Kel broke the silence. "I haven't had this time of comfortable silence for a very long time. I've always been surrounded by-"

"Men. Yes, they tend to take away that silence most of the time. They don't understand the meaning of silence, even if I'm married to one of them," and Alanna winked.

"It's not just men, it's the Court. They're always focused on the latest gossips, and if you have any slight misstep, you are the talk of the Court for months, not that I care much about it."

Alanna made a rude noise. "That's because they have nothing to do. Socializing like a bunch of crows cawing at something stupid. I'm glad I live at Pirate's Swoop. I wouldn't be able to stomach all that gossip that floats around constantly."

Kel nodded.

"Speaking of gossips... What is really between you and Raoul? From what I know personally, you guys are just good friends from your relationship as his personal squire. Normally, I'd ignore rumors about who is sleeping with who but..."

Kel grimaced. "It's complicated. Oh would you look at the sky. I think it's time to sleep. Good night!" and she immediately laid down and closed her eyes.

Alanna saw through her tactic but only smiled in good humor. "Good night Kel."