Deep in her thoughts Kel hadn't noticed that she had walked into the rose garden until she walked straight into something solid.
"Kel" said a voice she definitely didn't want to hear, she looked up into his face,
"Cleon, sorry I wasn't looking where I was going," ice dripped from her voice, she hadn't forgotten what he'd said in the woods.
"Kel we really need to talk, I'm going south soon to oversee the reconstruction of the Black City and I don't want us to part on bad terms."
"Yet you were fine with me dying on them were you" she said it as more of a statement than a question.
"Kel I'm sor-"a shout from behind him stopped him mid sentence,
"Kel" said the voice again it was pleasantly familiar, peering around Cleon's broad form she saw Dom dressed in clean clothes coming towards her a big grin on his face.
"Dom" she cried and hugged him quickly,
"Sorry to interrupt but Lord Raoul wants to see you immediately," he said his expression turning serious
"What about?" Kel asked
"I can't say" Dom replied glancing at Cleon
"OK" Kel left without looking back.
"So what does Raoul want to see me about?" she asked, looking up at Dom, there weren't many people she had to look up to so it was nice for a change.
"He doesn't, Neal told me what happened in the woods yesterday and I thought you might want rescuing" he replied shrugging.
"How very gallant of you." She snapped "but I was handling that fine thank you."
"Pardon me for breathing" said Dom his eyebrows raised, Kel sighed,
"Sorry Dom I didn't mean to take it out on you but he really hurt me, I didn't know he was capable of that."
"Must have been quite a shock. Anyway to a more cheerful subject I have three things to tell you. Number one, due to a... situation I have been promoted to Second Commander of the Third Company of the Kings Own, which in turn, and we come to thing number two, allows me to attend all four Midwinter Balls this year..."
"Dom that's wonderful!" exclaimed Kel only half-heartedly wondering what the 'situation' could be,
"As a Lady you should know it's rude to interrupt," He said reprovingly, Kel punched him lightly on the arm.
"Carry on oh great and mighty commander, you have my full and devoted attention," she laughed,
"Oh I'm sure Neal has told you the third one, we're coming to New Hope with you because Raoul wants to see Buri."
"Yes Neal did tell me, that is wonderful news, I loose Neal but gain you, life isn't as bad as I thought!"
"Do you consider his wedding as your loss?" Dom asked looking confused "I thought you were happy for him."
"Don't get me wrong I'm delighted for them both, they're perfect for each other and they'll be very happy, but he will have responsibilities and can you imagine the gossip if I spent as much time as I do with him now after he's married? Yes I am loosing something but he's gaining something much better and I envy Yuki that much."
"Is there more to your relationship with Neal than meets the eye?" asked Dom tentatively
"Of course not, any crush on him I ever had burnt out long ago, he's just my friend albeit my very best friend in the whole of Tortall, I'm going to miss him a lot, but at least I've got you, I'd be bored out of my head and completely irrational if I didn't have either of you."
"So my job is to keep you laughing and sane, very well my Lady I gladly undertake that mission," he said in his best commander's voice whilst saluting her. "I hear you were the first to meet that crazy mage."
"Actually Cleon met her first, and 'that crazy mage' is coming with us to New Hope to renew the spells on it so you'd better think of a more flattering nickname before then."
Dom laughed as they parted ways to get ready for the first Midwinter Ball of that season, Dom to the Barracks, and Kel to the Knights Wing of the palace. Mindelan had a suite here, which entailed a small sitting area and three bedrooms, as Kel was the only Mindelan Knight in residence that winter so she and Tobe had the place to themselves, her parents had decided to spend that winter at their Barony with her brothers.
She entered her room to find Lalasa talking happily to Tobe as they drank tea, both turned and jumped as though caught doing something wrong as they saw Kel.
"Sorry my Lady, we were just having a cup of tea." Said Lalasa in a small voice
"Don't let me stop you, but I'd like one too please, I'll need strength before tonight's ordeal. Whilst Palace Ladies are praying to the Goddess to help them look stunning and find a suitable husband I'm praying to be spared the entire ordeal- in fact I would rather face the chamber again than tonight."
"Do stop fussing my Lady, all will be well, now what do you intend to wear?" said Lalasa reprovingly
"Show a woman a few combat moves and she thinks she can boss a full knight around, shouldn't you be dressing the Queen or something?" muttered Kel grumpily. Lalasa placed her hands on her hips and glared at Kel.
"The Queen has seven ladies in waiting she does not need someone else getting in the way, I am here to help someone a lot less able than her Majesty to dress, I've had a very hard day- I had to make four new gowns for Master Salmalín's sister and very demanding she was too, so I won't take any sass from you my lady." Said Lalasa firmly. Kel grinned
"That's more like it, right" she said jumping up and began to tear outfits out of her wardrobe.