Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, places etc. They all belong to Tamora Pierce. I own the plot though! Anything you might find familiar is probably a quote from TP's books. Hang on, I own: Ked, Salin, Jamil and Ked's Warrior Lord, Lord Parrton.

A/N: Right. This is a corrected version of the chapter. I've been going through correcting the chapters, so if you find any mistakes, let me know! I've tried to sort out everything, but I'm no where near perfect so I'm sure you'll be able to find some mistakes. I've completely changed Kel's reactions because everyone was saying that she was completely OCC, and quite frankly, I agreed. On with the story…

Chapter five: A return to the Islands

When Kel saw Dom the next morning, he motioned for her stop, but she shook her head and walked on. She wasn't ready to face him, she'd lost face in front of him and that wasn't something she could recover from easily. When he ran to catch up with her, she hid in the bushes.

"Jhedy!" a call echoed through the gardens.

Kel jumped out of the bushes, and stood up straight. "Yes, my Warrior Lord?" she asked sharply.

"I want you in full armour and ready to ride within five minutes. At least sixty immortals have attacked the Islands and we're required at home. Move it!" Jamil ordered loudly.

"Yes my Warrior Lord," Kel replied as she ran away. Her heart was racing. She had never had to fight that many immortals, they were rare in the Yamani Islands.

"Jhedy!" Kel heard Dom call.

Kel spun around. "Sorry Dom, I can't talk now. There have been huge attacks at home and we're leaving in five minutes. I need to get ready."

"Want some help?" he offered.

"That'd be great, thanks," she said as she accepted his help. She was prepared to face him if it meant that she could come to the rescue of her home sooner. Kel ran to her room and Dom followed.

As Kel slipped with speed into her chain mail, Dom shoved her clothes into her travel bags and readied her weapons. Kel hung her sword, mace and axe from her weapon belt on her chain mail, slung her bow and arrows over her shoulder and clutched her glaive. Kel paused to look at her glaive, knowing it wasn't going to be much use.

"Dom," she said, handing it to him. "Look after this." She swallowed hard. "If I survive, I'll be back for it, if I'm not back within a few months, you can sell it. I'll be too dead to use it." Kel picked up her bags, and turned to face Dom. "Thanks. Bye."

"Yeah, bye Kel, try not to get yourself killed."

Kel and Dom ran down to the stables, where, between to two of them, they got Hoshi ready in record time. Dom strapped on her saddle bags and gave her a hand up.

"Good luck." he said, clasping her hand hard. "Don't get killed."

Kel smiled crookedly. "I'll try not to." She clucked to Hoshi, and she rode out of the stable.

Jamil and the few remaining soldiers were already there, packed and ready to go.

"Let's go." Jamil yelled, and kicked his horse into a canter.

Kel followed suit along with the other men.

- - -

Dom stood at the gate, watching the dust cloud that was swirling in the riders wake. He watched as a few young men fell to the floor in their hurry to get out of the riders way. As they got closer, he recognised Neal, Cleon and Prince Roald.

"Hi guys," he said quietly.

"Who was that?" Neal asked, wiping his clothes down.

"The last of the Yamani's. There has been an attack in the Islands, so they were called home to help."

"So that includes Jhedy?" Neal asked, studying his cousin's face.

"Yes," Dom replied. He glanced laughingly at the glaive he held in his hand. "I'm meant to be looking after this just in case she survives."

- - -

When Kel and Jamil reached the Yamani Islands, they were launched into battle immediately.

"We've got to get to the palace!" Jamil yelled as he beheaded yet another killer unicorn. "It's our duty to protect the Emperor."

Kel nodded, and set off to the palace on Hoshi, going as fast as Hoshi could go. Jamil followed close behind. They reached the palace, and battled their way in, stepping over dead bodies, human and immortal alike, Kel and Jamil reached the Emperor. He was on horse back, surrounded by fourteen men and calawabis. Kel recognised Ked amongst them. She rode over to join him.

"Hi Ked," she said softly so as not to break his concentration.

Ked turned around, startled. "Kel! You're back! When did you get here?"

"Just now," she replied. "We were called back to fight."

Ked nodded his understanding.

There was a bang and Ked looked around wildly. His eyes eventually settled on the balcony near by.

"Kel, pass me your bow," he whispered.

Wordlessly, Kel passed him her bow and an arrow.

Ked put the arrow to the string, and pulled the string back. Suddenly he released it, and the arrow went flying through the air with a whoosh. It hit a target on the balcony that Kel couldn't see until it fell over the edge of the balcony. It was an immortal, suddenly there was a rush and Kel found herself surrounded by immortals.

In a swift movement, she reached for her sword and her mace. Wielding both, one in her right hand and one in her left hand, she charged at the immortals.

She had no idea how long the ensuing battle lasted, she was to wrapped up in getting rid of these immortals and keeping the emperor safe at the same time. All she knew was that around her the Emperor's men were dying by the handful. This was slaughter.

Finally, Kel, Jamil, three other men and the Emperor stood safe amongst the bodies of immortals and men alike.

Wildly, Kel looked around for Ked, he was no where to be seen. Gingerly, she picked her way through the bodies, looking for him.

"Ked! Ked! Where are you?" she yelled frantically, not caring if the Emperor saw her loosing control of her emotions.

Suddenly her eyes settled to a body on the floor. It was Ked, his throat had been slit and his hands cut off. He stared up at the ceiling, his face expressionless. Like any good Yamani Warrior he had faced death bravely. Shaking, Kel leant over and closed his eyes. She put her hands together in prayer and said, "Mithros and the Great Mother, I give thanks for the life he had. Black God, please help him reach your gate safely where his soul can rest in peace, free from battles and pain that this life provides."

"Kel! What's the matter?" Jamil called, running over.

Kel put on a brave face and turned around to meet him. "It's Ked, he died."

Jamil nodded. "I'm sorry Kel, I know you two were friends, but we need help. There are many men who could live. We need to get them to the healers."

Kel closed her eyes and breathed out loudly. "Okay."

- - -

Kel and the other survivors started the gruesome task of clearing up. They dragged the wounded to the healers, and piled the dead in piles at the sides of the roads. Later, the bodies would be burnt and life would go on as normal. At least, normal for those that had not been affected. Life would not be normal for people like Kel who had lost friends. As well as Ked, Salin had been found among the dead. Out of the thirty-four calawabis that were in training, only eight survived. None of the narwabis survived, and the number of warriors that died was too many to count. Kel cursed at the huge loss of life, it just didn't seem fair.

"What do we do now, my Warrior Lord?" Kel asked Jamil as they set a pile of bodies alight.

Jamil turned to Kel, and she could see that his face was hard and unfriendly, an unusual break from the stiff Yamani etiquette that he usually followed to the letter. "I don't know," he admitted. "We'll probably go back to Tortall. Just the two of us, to look after Her Most Royal Majesty Princess Shinkokami."

Kel nodded.

"I don't know how long we'll spend there, but do you realise that it is only a year and a quarter until you take your tribulation of Warriorhood?" Jamil asked.

Normally Kel would have shaken at the thought but she was still to upset over Ked and Salin. "Yes, my Warrior Lord," she replied quietly. In her mind she added, 'that's only if I live that long!'

- - -

About three months after Dom had waved goodbye to Kel he was sitting on the fence to the training yard that the squires used, watching Neal and Merric duel.

There were the sound horse hooves against the path and he turned to see two figures on horses making their way wearily towards the stables. They were slumped on their horses, not sitting up tall and proud the way most do. Their clothes were ripped and torn and well used weapons hung from their belts. As they got nearer, Dom recognised Kel.

"Hey!" he yelled happily.

Kel glanced wearily in his direction and rode over to meet him. As she got closer, Dom was shocked at her appearance. Her braids were everywhere and the beads were smeared with blood. Her clothes were ripped and blood stained. There were cuts all over her, down her arms, her face, her legs. Her face was blank and unresponsive. "Hi," she mumbled.

"Kel!" Dom said in concern. "Are you okay?"

"No," Kel muttered. She ran her hands through her hair.

"Jhedy, what happened?" Neal asked. He and Merric had come over to greet her.

"The battle didn't go that well. Most people were killed." She stared blankly at nothing. "It was horrible."

Dom looked at her carefully. "Who died?" he asked.

"A lot of people," Kel replied evasively, staring at the ground.

"No, out of people you know."

Kel clenched her fist to stop her crying and concentrated in being a stone, calm and with no emotion. "I don't want to talk about it now." Slowly she turned her horse around and walked it to the stables.

- - -

That was where Dom, Neal, Roald, and Merric found her later. She was sitting up in the hayloft, throwing her daggers against the wall, it was an old Yamani technique that she had been taught to relieve stress.

Neal ducked as one went whizzing over his head.

"What do you want?" she asked tonelessly without looking at them.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay," Dom said, his concern for her was obvious in his eyes.

"I'm not," Kel said. "Leave me alone."

Neal shoved some food in her lap. "You missed supper, we thought you might want this."

"Not hungry." Kel pushed the food on the floor, and continued throwing her daggers. "Leave me alone."

"But..." Dom said.

"Leave me alone." Kel repeated. Although her words were calm, no one could mistake that she meant what she said.

"Okay," Dom said. As he moved to climb down the ladder, he heard a sharp sob. When he looked back at Kel she was wiping away a few tears, her emotions now completely under control.

Dom turned sharply. "Ked?" he asked gently of the man he knew had been her best friend.

Kel's only answer was to stare ahead at the wall. "Ked, Salin and before them, Jhedy." She threw all her daggers at the wall as once. "Why me? Why am I the one cursed with this? Why does the Black God take my friends? Why does he make me slay them? Why doesn't he let me save them?"

Dom ran over to her and Neal and his friends stood looking in confusion at the girl in the hay.

"That was where you got your name from, wasn't it?" Dom asked, putting a comforting arm around her. "Who was she?"

Kel was too upset to have the energy to avoid telling him. "My old best friend. I killed her," she swallowed hard, not wanting to cry.

Neal gasped. "What?"

Dom ignored him. He swayed to and fro slightly and the movement seemed to calm Kel. "Kel, shush, shush."

Kel looked up at Dom the anger evident in her eyes. "Dom! I thought you weren't going to call me that in front of anyone else! You stupid sapskull!" She snapped.

Neal, Roald, and Merric stared at her in horror.

Neal recovered first. "Kel?" he asked in amazement. "Keladry of Mindelan?"

Kel glared at him. "Yes!" She turned to Dom. "Why didn't you just keep your big mouth shut?"

Dom looked suitably ashamed. "I'm sorry Kel. I-I'm really sorry. Will you forgive me?"

Kel looked at him, and realised something. He was the only good friend that she had left. "Yes." She smiled weakly at him. "All the rest of my friends are dead." She closed her eyes and bit her lip. "I can't believe it!"

"What happened to Jhedy?" Dom asked softly.

Kel winced at the memory. "The day I returned to the Islands to begin my training, there was a huge revolt. Jhedy was one of the leaders. In battle I killed her, and didn't recognise her until it was too late. She's in the Black Gods hands now. I killed her for Mithros' sake! My best friend! I killed her!" Kel thumped her fist off the ground. "How come all my friends seem to die? Am I cursed?"

"Hey!" Dom protested grinning. "I'm alive aren't I?"

Kel smiled back. "Yeah, I guess. And you'd better stay that way."

"What happened to the other two you mentioned?" Neal asked curiously.

"Killed in the battle against the immortals. Ked was killed protecting the Emperor, and Salin died protecting a group of children. They had a worthy death." Kel said calmly. All the anger seemed to have left her.

Merric stared at her. "You really are Kel?" he asked.

"Yes, I am." She glared at the boys who used to be her friends. "Aren't you ashamed to see me?"

"What do you mean?" Neal asked puzzled.

"Why would any of you want to know someone who had failed and took the cowards way out? Mithros, I ran away!"

Neal smiled at her. "I don't know where you got the idea that we wouldn't want to speak to you because of that. Of course we want to speak to you. Have you any idea how much we missed you?"

Someone in the training yards was calling her name. Dom peeped out.

"It's your brother," he informed Kel.

"Which one?" she asked.

"Inness." Dom admitted.

Kel sighed. " I'm up here!" she hollered.

There was the sound of running footsteps and Inness poked his head through the hole in the floor.

"Kel, are you okay?" he asked, the concern showing plainly on his face.

Kel smiled weakly. "Okay, I guess."

Inness studied her. "You're not, but I know I'll never get you to admit that to me. Oh well, Anders and mother and father are coming. They're all worried about you. I thought I'd find you first and warn you."

Kel laughed. "Thanks. When are they arriving?"

"Tonight," was Inness's reply.

"Lovely," Kel drawled sarcastically. "Just my luck. I get a break from being bombarded by immortals, then I get bombarded by people. How I love it! Not that I don't want to see them, but…"

Dom and Inness laughed.

"What's the time?" Kel asked.

"The sixth hour," Inness replied.

Kel jumped to her feet swearing. "I've got lessons to attend!"

"Lessons?" Dom exclaimed. "Now? After you've just got back?"

"Yeah," Kel said, climbing down the ladder. "My Warrior Lord is strict, and he wants to work on the battle strategy for the army. After having lost so many men we'll need a completely different strategy. I've got to help him." Kel dashed off to Jamil's study.

"Dom, is that really Kel?" Neal asked.

Dom and Inness nodded.

"Yeah," Dom said.

"Where on earth did she get the idea we didn't want to be her friends?" Neal asked.

Dom shrugged. "I've no idea, I guess if you have a lot of time to think about something, you can convince yourself of something that isn't true. That was what Kel had done, at least that was what I presume she has done."

"Why did she tell you first?" Merric demanded.

"She didn't," Dom replied.

"What?" Roald asked in surprise. "Then who did she tell?"

"Joren," Dom replied quietly, waiting for the outburst.

It came in the form of Neal. "What?" he yelled, his emerald eyes flashing wildly. "Why'd she tell him?"

"I dunno," Dom replied shrugging his shoulders. "Ask her."

A messenger ran panting into the stables below calling, "Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle?"

"Here," Dom yelled.

"Lord Raoul says he wants you ready to ride yesterday! There's been an attack and he's taking the Third Company out," the messenger shouted up.

"Going," Dom yelled and vaulted down the ladder and headed off to the Own's stables.