Cleon had changed in the year since had he stood with Keladry on the stormy night outside the nameless inn. Once upon a time Cleon would never dreamed of interfering to this effect, with the life of the girl he had shared clinging kisses with, no matter what happened. The smiling light in his face had disappeared leaving only grim practicality. There was no happiness in life anymore; Cleon was now a knight bound to his lands, wedded to a woman he did not care for, and was to be forever deprived of his love. The last blow hit him hardest of all. The red-haired boy who proclaimed love for his 'pearl-drop' and 'light of his life' had been erased and replaced with a hard, stony man, devoid of compassion.
Dom saw only Kel's first love, the one who had stood in Kel's heart, and, perhaps still did.
'I understand, Dom,' Cleon made clear his contempt for Dom in the scorning of his name. 'That you intend to accompany Kel to the wedding celebrations.'
'Yes, I do.' All joy at managing to escape his mother had evaporated.
Cleon was a married man, yet his heart was for Kel, and that would never change. 'I want you to understand, Dom, that I will have nobody touch her. Leave her be.' Cleon leered menacingly at the shorter man, towering over him.
'Cleon, Kel is a woman grown, and with whom she attends balls and the like with, is none of your concern.' Dom had not dropped his affable manner, though it now had an edge to it.
'This is where you are mistaken, Kel is all my concern.' Cleon's voice was such that if he'd threatened to pluck chickens it would have sounded sinister.
"I fail to make the connection. Thus, I will ignore you.' Dom might not have been certain of Kel's affection, but he knew she would never again be with Cleon. Dom made a move to pass, Cleon moved to stand in his way.
'Dom, what I want from you, and what I will have by any means necessary-'
Cleon's overly dramatic speech was cut off with calls of 'Cleon! Yoo-Hoo! Where are you! I need help!' A dark skinned, curly haired woman poked her head out of a nearby chamber. 'Ah! There you are!' The woman seemed very excitable. And when she stepped out into the corridor, Dom saw she was very pregnant. 'Hel-lo there, Friend-Of-My-Dear-Husband! I am Cleon's oh so gracious wife Carrillo! "Friend-Of-My-Dear-Husband" might get tiring after a time, so, by what then, may I call you?'
Dom grinned at Cleon, whose face had gone as red as his hair. Cleon had sulky expression, and had shrunk in on himself in the presence of his exuberant wife.
'I am Domitan, my lady, I'm afraid I must leave, to help my cousin Neal with the preparations. Good day.' He strode past Carillo and her undeserving husband, this time unencumbered by Cleon. 'Well ta-ta then! I do hope you'll drop by some time, Cleon is a dreadful bore these days!' Carillo announced gaily, in a voice that surely was heard across half of Queenscove.
It's a crappy chapter I know. Sorry for turning Cleon into a complete jerk. It's a necessary sacrifice.