The next few days passed without incident, unless you counted Leah tripping Varice up in the corridor with her staff. It was hard not to notice Leah's growing battle with herself. One afternoon she burst into Kel's room whilst Kel was in the middle of a pre wedding talk with Neal whose big day was fast approaching.
"I can't do it" she screeched, "I'm cracking up and she knows it and she's laughing at me!" Kel tried to hide her shock but failed.
"Leah calm down and have some tea," said Neal "Varice is too scared of you to laugh at you and you act like a spring that's winding tighter and tighter until you snap- she wouldn't dare to taunt you."
"Maybe your right, I know I'll do little things to her, like put rats in her bed and grin maniacally at her, just to remind her I'm here." Leah left the room as quickly as she had come thinking up ghastly things to do to Varice.
"I doubt that's possible, no one who knew they were on her hit list would not know that she was around." Said Neal dryly.
Leah awoke to the sound of activity in the palace. She lazed idly back against the pillow when a timid maid entered the room, she looked terrified at the idea that Leah might be awake. Leah smiled to herself pleased that such a reputation had built up around her mysterious presence in such a short time.
"Good Morning, what time is it?" she asked
"Its nearly ten o'clock my lady." Said the maid, a tremble in her voice. She helped Leah get dressed and then scurried about tidying the room and stoking the fire. Leah wrapped a fur cloak around her, she loved to infuriate her brother's lover with these- she had several, this one happened to be wolf. She wandered aimlessly out of her room and down the stairs into the courtyard. Looking out towards the city she saw a large group of people approaching in what looked suspiciously like a wedding party, not wanting to be seen Leah climbed nimbly onto the stable roof where she could view with ease. The party approached with bride and groom on one horse, Leah recognised them as Lady Keladry's friend and the sweet faced young lady with him, and indeed she saw Lady Keladry following close behind on her own horse a big smile on her face but with a hint of sadness in her eyes, which Leah felt she hid well. The man next to Kel was also someone she had seen before, he had been with Kel at the balls and danced many dances with her, she didn't know his name. The rest of the party passed below her without drawing much attention from her, when they had gone she slid down and wandered off in search of employment.
The day of the last Ball dawned. Kel woke before sunrise as usual and climbed out of bed, the cold blast hit her like knives on her skin. Her window had blown open admitting icy blasts of winter air. Wrapping her woollen bed sheet around her she closed the window. The room was still cold but there was nothing Kel could do about that. She dressed under the covers of her bed and hurried into the sitting room where she hoped there would be a fire. Tobe had been up, accustomed to his mistress's habits he rose even before her and set a large fire roaring in the grate every morning. Kel thanked the Gods once again for Tobe, it was like having a son without the husband. There was a soft knock at her door when Kel was in the middle of 'the broom sweeps clean' manoeuvre with her glaive.
"Just a minute." She shouted as she completed the move safely. Leaning the weapon against the wall she rested her right hand on her dagger and opened the door. Leah stood outside,
"Good morning, I found this louse loitering outside your door." She said. Kel, confused, stepped out of her room and saw to her great surprise Dom, whose palms were apparently stuck to the wall. He tried to free them a murderous look on his face. Kel stifled a giggle- Dom would not appreciate that,
"Leah, may I introduce you to Domitan of Masbolle, the Second Commander of Third Company of the Kings Own. He and I are old friends and he's no louse." Said Kel quickly, Leah snorted. She snapped her fingers and Dom's hands peeled off the stones large welts visible on them, he lunged for Leah stopped by Kel who leapt in front of him and placed her hands on his chest. Leah laughed, it was the same cold, malicious laugh Kel had heard in the forest and it made shivers course down her spine. Dom was gripping her shoulders trying to expel some of his anger. Kel suddenly realised what a compromising position they were in, her hands on his chest and his on her shoulders- it would look to an impartial observer like an embrace especially as they was breathing heavier than usual, Dom with the pent up rage and Kel from the effort of keeping him at bay. She quickly removed her hands but found she couldn't yet move, still restrained by Dom who was looking at the corner Leah had just turned. She coughed meaningfully, he looked at her and let go stepping backwards blushing.
"I came to ask you if you wanted to go to the practice courts." He said remnants of a blush still visible,
"Thanks I'll get my shoes." She replied hurriedly.
Kel and Dom spent most of the morning in the practice courts exercising a number of disciplines, the Pages in the next court stared enviously at them until Lord HaMinch snapped their attention back to their own training. At midday Tobe appeared and told Kel in a reproving tone that she had had no breakfast and was not getting away with no lunch.
"Your own servants boss you around!" laughed Dom playfully punching Tobe's arm, the boy grinned at him but turned his attention straight back to his mistress. Dom noticed a look go between them of deep understanding. Kel smiled and looping an arm round her boy he led her out of the courts. Dom gazed after her retreating back, she limped a little but hid it well, it dawned on him that he might have vented his anger and humiliation at Leah on Kel. He started after her but saw a movement above him. Looking up he saw the offending mage perched on the stable roof, she was humming, a bewitching tune. He turned in disgust and began to walk away from her, some of her song reached him,
"Place a name upon the night, one to set your heart alight, and to make the darkness bright..." Her gaze lingered on him as he left, he would be more of a challenge.
Kel eased herself on to the sofa, she hurt all over but she had, so she thought, succeeded in hiding this from Dom- she didn't want to upset him or seem weak. Tobe entered carrying a bowl of warm water and some towels.
"I called Sir Nealen my lady, I noticed you were limping." He said placing the bowl on the table
"You did what?!" exploded Kel knocking the water over
"Was I wrong my lady?" said Tobe in a frightened voice
"Do you realise what he'll do to Dom if he finds out? He'll never let me speak to him again, you fool!" she shouted "get out of my sight." Tobe ran from the room close to tears, nearly colliding with Neal.
"What's the hurry?" he asked surprised, he had never known Kel to scold Tobe, he looked at her scowl and maintained his distance.
"Kel, what's going on?" he moved cautiously toward her, Tobe had removed her boots and stockings a huge purple bruise was just beginning to show on her calf. She tried to conceal it but Neal had already seen it, his eyebrows knitted together.
"I heard you were practising with Dom this morning, did he do that to you?" Kel scowled,
"I've had injuries before, it's just a bruise." Neal sat on the sofa next to her, he leaned towards her and unbuttoned the top three buttons of her shirt, Kel turned her face away. Moving the shirt back he revealed multiple bruises that spread all over her shoulders. Untucking her shirt gently he moved it up to reveal a firm, muscular stomach. He had seen this amount of Kel's flesh before and it did not normally stir him but so marked was it that horror and shock ran through his body. Looking up he saw Kel avoiding his gaze.
"I'll kill him." He said quietly
"No Neal don't do anything, he didn't mean to, Leah humiliated him and made him angry and he used me to vent it, it doesn't hurt so bad." She babbled. At that inopportune moment Dom came rushing into the room.
"Kel did I hurt you?" he asked concern in every line on his face, he only just had time to register Kel's injuries before Neal's fist connected with his cheek. Kel got up painfully and grabbed Neal's arm, Dom staggered backwards a surprised look on his face. Kel limped over to him and moved the hand that covered his cheek. A black eye was already starting to form, she touched it and stepped back.
"Heal it." she ordered Neal
"But...he...he just" Neal stammered, Kel fixed him with a meaningful stare and left the room.
Tobe sat crying silently on the stairs, she sat next to him and stroked his hair, she could hear the two men down the corridor arguing. Tobe sat up and wrapped his arms gently around her neck she hugged him back.
"Sorry" said Kel, it was enough for both of them.
They went back into the sitting room and found Leah thoroughly enjoying the argument unseen from the doorway.
"Haven't you caused enough trouble for one day?" Kel asked. Leah grinned as Dom and Neal turned to look at her. Dom's hands balled into fists but Leah moved forward and placed her own hands over his,
"I wanted to say I'm sorry." She said seriously. "I didn't come here to make enemies, I have enough of them already, so I apologise for any hurt I caused you or Lady Keladry in the process." Dom eyed her suspiciously but when she didn't laugh or even smile he relaxed.
"Apology accepted." He replied and turned to let his cousin heal the wound he'd given him.
"Congratulations Sir Nealen on your marriage, I saw you a couple of days ago returning from the temple. How are you finding married life so far, fun isn't it in the first few days?" said Leah turning her attention to Kel's wounds and not meeting any of the curious eyes that turned to look at her.
"You were married?" asked Neal incredulously
"For a few years, I was eighteen." On seeing their surprised faces she rectified the statement, "Women in Cathark get married that late, it's considered the 'ripest' stage, the grooms are normally about twenty. Did you never wonder where I got the title of Countess from?"
"Yes but I assumed it was one you'd...picked up somewhere." Said Neal not meeting Leah's eyes,
"You thought I stole it from someone?" she laughed "no it is legitimate!" she finished healing Kel's wounds in the bedroom.
"What do you plan to wear tonight, the night of the last ball?" she asked, Kel scowled.
"Don't you start, I get enough questioning and abuse from my other friends I don't need you to start."
"Pardon me." She muttered "In my opinion Keladry you should wear what you like." She said looking at Kel.