Keladry stared into the ornate gilded mirror. Her gaze depicted a tall, muscular woman being fussed and exclaimed over by simpering maids. Kel didn't know how Lalasa tolerated them all day, every day. She had said as much to her former maid, who had admitted their stupidity, but sent them to Queenscove with Kel all the same. "They're very good at sewing." Had been her excusing remark. The amount of orders she was receiving meant Lalasa the Dressmaker was extremely busy, even so, she would have made time for Lady Kel had she not been commissioned for Shinkokami's gown. Kel smiled in pride of Lalasa… the grin disappeared as the plumper of the two maids started whispering to the other.

'Her waist is far too wide…'

The ends of Kel's lips quirked at the comment that would have sent any other Tortallan noblewoman into a screeching rage- much of the Yamani was in her still. The dumpy maid cast a furtive glance in her direction and her eyes darted about the room nervously when she saw the Lady Knight looking in her direction. Kel sighed and returned to her contemplation of her image. In true Yamani fashion she wore only small, yet costly amounts of jewellery wrought of rose-quartz and gold. Her gown was coloured a blend of a light pink and a soft fawn colour, it suited her very well. The sleeves were not sleeves at all, but fluttering fabric, this irked Kel to no end. The whole thing fit perfectly, not at all snug about her stomach, Kel attributed this to the tailoring of the maids, she was thick waisted. However, a certain dark haired man of the King's Own saw it not as a flaw in her image, rather part of her own style. But Kel was not to know that.

Tonight was to be the first of two engagement balls, this one in the traditional Tortallan manner. Neal had grumbled incessantly about the balls, and receptions, and all the functions he must attend, they were, quote "A waste of money and effort!" Kel thought it rather the time to be spent not marrying Yuki, that agitated him. Kel was, in all probability, correct.

Every Lady entered separately, to stand alone in one moment of glory… or so the theory went. Only those married or betrothed entered escorted, so it was as Kel entered the Great Hall of the Duke of Queenscove. The Lady Knight Keladry descended the Lesser Stairs moving with a warrior's grace, dressed in a ladies ball-gown. The effect should have been comical, yet it was not. More, it was the stuff of tales a century dead, recently dredged up; distaffs once more roamed the land, protecting the small… Lady Knights were real once again. This idea was fairly new, only a decade or so old, and thus Kel's entrance caused a hush of the chatter, almost everyone's thoughts roving in the same direction, save Dom. Dom did not see the Lady Knight Keladry as an anomaly to be gawked at, no, to him Kel would forever be bliss embodied. She was beautiful, certainly, but not a freak to gawp at. Cleon too was focused on Kel, though his thoughts were not of adoring admiration but of suppressed longing. The intensity of his desire was frightening, he had thought Kel would gently fade from his mind, that he could grow to love Carrillo… but such was not the case.

At the end of the stairs Kel rested her hand on Dom's, and allowed him to guide her to the dance floor, Cleon glowered unnoticed.

Kel had not participated in the page's dance lessons; Wyldon had proclaimed it a waste to teach her men's steps, and too distracting for the males if a real live girl practised in their arms. Thus Kel did not have extensive experience in Tortallan dancing to prepare her for the night's festivities. I suppose I will must trust to Dom, and take him through the paces at the Yamani engagement ball. Kel suited actions to words, hoping she would not stumble overly and embarrass herself. Dom led her through the dance with considerable skill, making idle chatter.

Both Kel and Dom were enjoying themselves immensely, and not a little of this was attributed to the being with each other.

'Kel, I need to talk to you. In private. Will you walk in the gardens with me?'

Kel had assented, of course. The two strolled through the scented moonlit gardens silently as Dom considered how to put what he wanted in words. What I say must be said perfectly, no mistakes… Eventually he gave up, and spoke from his heart.

'I am going to be utterly honest and not adorn my words.' Kel had never known Dom to fill his speech with flowery phrases, even she now perceived that something important disturbed him. The knight glanced at her friend of these many years; the tall, dark man who had shared times with her in her squires years of the Own. She loved him, in a way. What could it be that bothered him? Could she help?

Kel, I like you, very much.'