AN: I'm combining some of the shorter chappies...I don't own the characters, Tamora Pierce gets all the credit....

The next morning, Kel woke up earlier than usual. Why am I so tired? She wondered. Then the events of last night flooded her memory. Gently, she laid two fingers on her lips. Just thinking of Dom made them tingle. He must have been drunk. She thought, but part of her knew that Dom had not drunk anything stronger than fruit juice the night before. Kel eased herself from under her blankets, careful not to disturb Jump or the sparrows. After changing into practice clothes, she headed down to the stables. Saddling Peachblossom, she grabbed her practice lance. Looking at the practice rings, she chose willow, oak felt too solid for her feelings. After a few runs, she noticed she had an audience.

"Care to talk?" her best friend called. Walking Peachblossom near Neal, she made sure to keep him out of biting range.

"About what?" She asked innocently.

"Come on, Kel. You only use willow when you're confused. Or hurt. What happened last night?" Kel dismounted.

"Let me take care of Peachblossom first, but I do need to talk."

After brushing down Peachblossom, Kel found Neal waiting outside the stables.

"Didn't want to get bitten?" Kel asked, assuming the reason her friend avoided coming near her temperamental horse. Neal avoided answering her question.

"Let's find somewhere quiet to talk," he suggested, "I'm assuming you don't want other people to hear."

"We can go to my rooms." Kel said. They walked the rest of the way in silence. Sitting comfortably in Kel's only chair, Neal asked, "So, what's on your mind?"

Kel sighed and ran a hand through her hair, a habit she had picked up from Dom. She didn't know how to tell Neal that his cousin had kissed his best friend. Neal could sense that Kel aws struggling with what to say, so he started asking questions.

"Did it have anything to do with last night?" Kel just nodded.

"At Raoul's wedding?" Kel shook her head.

"Neal, just let me tell the story." She stopped Neal from getting too annoying. "Look, I don't know how to tell you this, so I'll just say it outright." Kel sighed, she didn't know how he would react. "Neal, Dom kissed me last night." Kel sat on her bed, staring at the floor to avoid looking at her best friend. After a few moments of silence, Kel looked up. Neal was grinning from ear to ear. Puzzled by this reaction, Kel had expected anger or confusion, she asked him why he was smiling.

"Kel, this is wonderful! I can't believe it took you two so long."

"What?"

"You two have been flirting shamelessly for years now, I'm just surprised you didn't catch on before." Kel blushed.

"Everyone knew but me?"

"Well, I don't think Dom knew either, if that makes you feel better." Neal was still grinning. Kel stuck her tongue out at Neal.

"Leave now, before you annoy me too much and I make you practice with me."

"Alright, I'm leaving." Neal said as he walked out of Kel's room. "I'll see you at dinner?"

"Sure." Kel replied before shutting the door, and gathering her things to take a bath. She still felt dirty from practicing.

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Kel, Neal and Yuki walked into the mess hall together. While filling their plates with breads, meats, and vegetables, Kel scanned the room to see who was already there. Thankfully, she did not see a certain blue-eyed sergeant. Kel was not quite sure what to say to him.

"Kel!" someone shouted. She turned to see Owen waving the trio over. Even before they sat down, Owen was telling the three how exciting his first duty as a knight had been. Owen had been part of the force that rounded up the stragglers of the war with Scanra. Kel's mind was elsewhere. She began listening again when Neal started to speak.

"Speaking of Scanra, Yuki, Father wants me to write a report for the King, so I won't be able to go to the city with you tomorrow."

"But, Neal, we said there would be two people, it's too late to change."

"I'm really sorry, Yuki, but he wants the report in two days. That gives me tomorrow to write it. Why don't you bring someone else?" Neal suggested.

"Who?" The couple sat in silence for a few moments, thinking about who could go with Yuki. Simultaneously, they turned to Kel.

Kel grumbled as Yuki dragged her into the city for a cake tasting. Neal and Yuki's wedding was approaching fast, and Yuki had still not decided on what would be served at the reception.

"Why am I coming?" Kel asked. Before she could continue complaining, Yuki answered.

"Because Neal can not, and he asked you to go in his place."

"But I know nothing about cakes—or weddings." Kel whined.

"But you have been Neal's best friend for years. And you know all these knights that are coming, I don't know anything about them. Besides, you should get practice."

"Practice doing what?" Kel was very confused.

"Don't play innocent with me, Keladry of Mindelan. You know very well." Kel just stared at her. "You are so stupid, sometimes."

"I am not!" Kel exclaimed indignantly.

Yuki laughed. "Ok, maybe not stupid, but definitely ignorant."

"About what?" Yuki had piqued Kel's curiosity.

"Dom." Yuki said, as if that explained everything.

"What?" Kel snapped. For a moment, Kel's Yamani mask dropped and Yuki say a face full of hurt.

"Kel, remember, Neal is my fiancée." Yuki tried calming her friend, "He thought I would be able to give you advice. On what, I'm not quite sure." Kel sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"I don't really know what's going on between us right now. For once in my life, I'm at a complete loss."

"You need to sort this out. You should talk to him." Kel tried her best to look like that was a good idea, but apparently, she failed. "Do you want me to have Neal talk to Dom?"

"NO!" Kel said vehemently. "I want to do this on my own, Neal would just mess things up." Yuki had to laugh.

"That's very true. But how do I know you really talk to him?"

"What if I promise you that I will talk to Dom before next week."

"Swear it."

"I, Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan, do swear on my honor, that I will talk to Domitan of Masbolle before the beginning of next week." Kel said formally. Yuki looked satisfied. As the two walked into the bakery, Kel's nose filled with wonderful smells.

"Ready to try some cake?" Yuki laughed, watching Kel's face.

"Definitely."