Kel was curious about the argument and told Dom about it the next day as they rode together through the City, it was market day and Kel wanted to get some supplies for New Hope. As she explained it was not so much the Count coming out of Leah's room without enough clothes on it was the fact he had come out alive that interested her. She had sworn to kill Varice for treachery to her family but this man had betrayed her love for him, why wasn't she as virulent?
"Maybe she is bidding her time." suggested Dom
"That wouldn't make sense," Kel replied as she poked through a bag of spices trying to find cinnamon. "She leaves for New Hope in two days and he goes home in three unless she plans to set a secret army upon him as he travels but I hardly think that is likely." Dom shrugged in reply.
When they returned to Kel's rooms to make final plans for the journey, they found Leah pacing up and down, a cup of tea in her hand and a delighted look in her eyes. Kel glanced at Tobe who gave her an apologetic glance and hurried off for more tea.
"You look pleased with yourself are you going to tell us or keep us in suspense?" asked Kel easing herself on to the sofa with a writing desk on her lap and began filling in the last of the Quartermasters lists. Dom sat beside her and did the same, they had both learnt in the very short time they had known her that she was more likely to talk if she thought her audience weren't interested. She cocked her head on one side and watched them like a cat then finally said,
"I have destroyed the Count." Kel glanced up her eyebrows raised
"Really? He looked fine to me when I saw him come out of your room last night." She said nonchalantly
"Physically, if a little underdressed, but not mentally."
"What did you do?" asked Dom curious despite himself.
"I turned him down." She said proudly as though waiting for a response. Kel sighed.
"So what?" Leah's look of triumph disappeared and her eyes narrowed.
"So I had renounced the title which means I am no longer his wife and then he tried to 'reconcile' and in doing so proved that he is still infatuated with me and gives him a sense of guilt towards his present wife and also if I tell anyone, makes him liable for execution." She said regaining her proud tone.
"Execution?" Kel burst out "Why?"
"Because in Cariack it is against the law for men to commit adultery, he has done it twice now."
"You really are cruel." Scolded Kel, she felt no remorse, it was the Count's fault if he could have been fooled by such trickery, and she had no sympathy for him. Leah only grinned wickedly.
However all through that day whenever Kel saw the Count, and that was often, he looked terrible. It occurred to Kel that he might be following her around.
"Your Excellency can I help you?" she asked finally trying to keep the tone of annoyance out of her voice. To her horror he broke down into sobs.
"Oh my Lady it is terrible, terrible, I am sure you know what I speak of, she has tricked me and know I will die you must help me please, my child your ladyship." He wailed. Kel closed her eyes composing herself; it was pitiful watching the man crawl at her feet.
"I cannot help you Sir, it is in your own hands, nothing I can do will make it better, I'm sorry." She turned quickly and left him in a pathetic little heap on the floor.
That evening all Kel's friends gathered in her quarters, she had provided a small feast. Neal arrived without Yuki, who was having her own party. Kel tapped on her glass after they had all had their fill of food.
"I would like to say a few words." Silence reigned immediately "Neal over all these years we have had many adventures but you must go alone into the adventure of marriage because I for one, absolutely refuse to follow at present." The others laughed
"But," Kel shouted over them "But I hope that in this adventure you will constantly look back and remember those who have not yet followed and the times you had with them, with us. Recall if you will the courage of Faleron, the daring of Owen, the leadership of Roald, the resourcefulness of Esmond and Seaver, the strength of Merric, the annoying jokes of Dom and the never ending loyalty of Kel. For we have always been there and we will always be here no matter where life takes us, we will stand up to those that attack us and follow those who command us."
"Providing that we agree with those commands!" Dom interjected poking Kel in the ribs, everyone laughed and Kel blushed.
"I'm trying to be serious here and you're ruining it. On a final note Neal have a wonderful time in the Yamani Isles where you will be most welcome, come back to us refreshed and we will all be Godparents to your hundreds of offspring and remember to eat your greens!" there was a wild storm of clapping and Kel sat down again.
The next day they watched servants load luggage onto the wagons, Queenscove guards ready themselves to escort the young couple to the port and hostlers saddling horses. Neal and Yuki came out of the palace dressed in travelling clothes. They proceeded to bid farewell to all their friends and family, even the King and Queen had come to see them off. Neal left Kel until last,
"Good luck in New Hope, give them my greetings." he placed his arms tightly around her, she returned the embrace,
"I'm going to miss you most," he whispered, she squeezed him once and let him go not wishing to prolong the goodbye. She placed something into his hand, he looked at it and saw a perfect miniature of one of her lucky Yamani cats on a chain, he looked up at her. Kel's eyes remained steady.
"I know you hate this but I shall do it anyway." He said and gently kissed her cheek.
Kel watched them leave with dry eyes, Dom silently placed his hand on her shoulder, she gripped it tightly but did not cry. Leah watched the events from the top of the stable roof and found tears in her own eyes, she had never had a friendship like Kel and Neal's and she suddenly, for the first time in her life, wished she had.
All of the rest of that day Kel wandered around the palace in a state of shock, she refused all food and wasn't interested in anything Dom suggested to distract her. Leah on the other hand was full of nervous energy she kept disappearing with a loud crack around nervous palace ladies and reappearing in the oddest places. Whenever she saw the count she smiled sweetly at him, sending him into a quivering wreck. She was ready to leave and was bored of the palace, besides Varice and the Catharki party wouldn't leave until the new year so she had to stay on her best behaviour until then. In order to avoid confrontation at the Palace, Leah decided to look round the city. She hadn't had the chance to do this before, she had been too busy terrorising Varice to venture out. Now she was bored- her promise to the king made anything beyond mild taunting forbidden and Leah wasn't sure how well she would stick to that with the prospect of her enemy slipping through her fingers clear on the horizon. She dressed simply, wanting to blend in today, she guessed correctly that her reputation went ahead of her to the city, carried by servants and nobles; she had no wish of being accosted or avoided in the busy city.
She reached the market place about midday to find it buzzing with activity; it took her a moment to recover her bearings she had not been in a place like this since she was a young thief. Looking around her she soon spotted the street urchins simply by the way they held themselves, she wondered whether to tell the woman at the bread stall that two children had just run off with four loaves. As she walked through the back allies she came across a large tavern tucked away in the buildings. When she entered the smell of alcohol and tobacco struck her immediately, she was not repulsed by it as other ladies were, she had lived many years among it and found it mildly comforting. She found herself a small booth in a place where she could see the entire room and settled herself to watch. This was one of her favourite pastimes – to see and watch people when they didn't realise. She ordered a fruit juice and turned her attention to a big man who had just entered, he was greeted enthusiastically by the other patrons and addressed as 'My Lord', Leah wondered who this man was and asked the server who brought her drink.
"That's the former Thief Lord, George Cooper. He hasn't worked in that trade for years now, got made a Baron, found himself a lady and got a family." He replied. 'So this was Alanna's husband, the allusive Baron George of Pirates Swoop' Leah thought. Before the server could leave she grabbed his arm
"Tell the Lord from one noble to another, that Leah Salmalín gives him her greeting." She said in a whisper "Quietly mind – I'm trying to keep a low profile." The server nodded and waylaid her message to the Baron's ear. George looked up to where the server had indicated and saw a young woman of about thirty sitting calmly at one of the booths watching him with alert golden eyes. He approached her carefully as one would a wild animal and maintained his distance until she waved her hand inviting him to sit.
At the Palace Kel had pulled herself together and was supervising the loading of the carts that would go with them to New Hope, Dom advanced on her with a worried look on his face.
"We must leave tomorrow at the very latest Kel if we are to miss the snow." He said looking at the darkening sky. Kel followed his gaze and nodded mutely, she noticed Leah walking up through the gates into the courtyard with Alanna's husband George. When the pair reached them, George nodded his head to them all and went off in search of his wife.
"When did you meet him?" asked Dom
"In a tavern in the city" Leah replied "He's very interesting." Kel smiled weakly.
"Leah we must leave tomorrow for New Hope, are you ready?" she enquired
"Of course, I've been ready to go since the day after the last ball, with all these Catharkis' around I have to get out."