Author's Note thingy: Yay! I only sent the first chapter today and I already got a review! YAY! huggles Sam So, since I did get a review, and I was really bored today, I am updating already. Wow. Warning: I almost NEVER update this quickly.

Oh, and Sam, your questions will be answered as the story goes on!

One more thing. About a quarter of the way down the page there is a little fence of 'I's....... "IIIIIIIIIIIIIII" looks like that. That is because I can't get to let me put anything else to devide scenes. So yeah. Anyway, shutting up now, on with the story!

Old Friends

"Tobe!" Kel called as she walked into her room.

The room was small in comparison to some of the other Knight's rooms, but it was large enough for her and Tobe to practice their staff and glaive routines in the morning. There was a bed against the far wall with a trunk for her clothes at the foot. On the left wall was a desk and chair next to the doorway into Tobe's smaller sleeping room. On the other wall was a bookshelf filled with history and magic books as well as a few books with instructions for combat and planning strategies. Next to the bookshelf there were 3 hooks for hanging outer tunics and scarves. On the other side of the hooks was another doorway leading to the bathing room where there was a tub and a counter with a basin and pitcher on it.

Tobe peeked through the doorway to his room.

"Yeah?" he answered.

"What would you think of calling the palace our home?" She asked as she pulled her boots off.

"What?" Tobe asked looking slightly confused and walking into the room with Kel. He leaned causally against the doorway. He had grown since Kel had first found him 3 years earlier. He was now eleven years old and five feet three inches tall. He had built up quite a bit of muscle working with Kel over the years. His blond hair hung around his face and almost down to his shoulders. His blue eyes sparkled in the candlelight.

"Lord Wyldon offered me a job as assistant training master here. He would be training me to take over for him when he retires," Kel explained, stripping off her over tunic and throwing it on the bed next to her.

"The Stump wants you to work with him?" Tobe asked using the nickname for Lord Wyldon that Kel's friend Neal had given him so long ago.

"That's right," Kel answered. "What do you think of the idea of staying here?"

"No offence meant, Kel, but you aren't one for staying in one place for very long," He said running his hand through his hair.

"Oh, I know that. But for the next several years I wouldn't have to stay here all the time, this would just be our base. We would still go do things, and we would go on various trips, learning trips, with the squires," she told him.

"You sound like you really want to do this," Tobe commented.

"Well, training a bunch of boys isn't exactly what I had in mind for my life, but it's better than sitting behind a desk. Besides, I'll have plenty of time to get battle and fighting out of my system before I take over. Is my bath ready?"

Tobe nodded and Kel strode into the bathing room closing the curtain behind her.

"You haven't told me what you think of the idea, Tobe." Kel stripped her clothes off and lowered herself into the hot bath.

"It's fine with me, if that's what you want to do," Tobe answered though the curtain.

"I'll think about it," she said.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

After her bath and reading up on some history of Tortall she made her way down for supper. As she stood in line to get her supper she heard several men call her name. Looking over her shoulder she saw Neal, Cleon, and Dom all waving her over to their table. As soon as she had gotten her food she went and sat down next to Neal.

"Kel! Long time no see!" Neal cried giving her a one armed hug. Smiling, Kel returned the gesture.

"Yes, and you are horrible at writing," she answered.

"Didn't you know?" Dom interjected. "He only writes the ladies he is in love with regularly."

"That must be why I can count all of my letters from him on one hand," she said thoughtfully.

"I sent more than that," Neal argued.

"Yeah, probably six," Cleon joked. Then he turned to Kel. "Hello, my rose."

Kel smiled. Even if Cleon wasn't courting her, she liked hearing his old names for her.

"Hello, Cleon," she replied.

"When did you get back?"

"How long will you be back?"

"Did you go out to see the new pages yet?"

"How is Tobe?"

Her friends began bombarding her with questions. As they all continued to ask questions without letting her speak she went ahead and ate her supper. She was almost finished when they finished asking their questions.

"I got back last night," she began. "And I don't know how long I'm back for because Lord Wyldon offered me a position as assistant trainer for the squires. No I—"

"He did what?!" The three men asked in unison not allowing her to finish answering questions that she remembered.

"He asked me to be his assistant," she told them. "He'd be training me to take over for him after he retires."

"That does not sound like something the Stump would do!" Neal cried.

"I know. That's what I thought too," Kel answered. "But he was serious. He told me to think about it and give him an answer as soon as possible."

"Why does he want you to take over and not a more experienced knight?" Cleon asked. "I mean, no offence, but you have only been a night for about four or five years."

"That is what I told him, well, basically what I told him," she replied. "But he said that he wont be retiring for another several years so that gives me time to gain the experience that I would need as well as various skills in training that I don't already have."

"Have you decided if you are going to do it or not yet?" Dom asked.

"No, I haven't. I wanted more time to think about it," Kel said looking down at her plate. "I don't know if I want to stay in one place for very long."

Kel and her friends continued to talk about the things that were happening around Tortall. It was extremely quite. The most that many knights were doing was rounding up bandits around the kingdom.

"Kel, would you go for a walk with me?" Neal asked when they had finished supper.

The two of them left their other friends and walked out to the training yards.

"I assume no one told you yet, considering you aren't bubbling over with joy," Neal said as they walked.

"Told me what?" Kel asked looking up at her friend.

"There is another girl page."

Kel stopped in her tracks.

"There is? Since when? Does Lord Wyldon treat her any better than he did me?" She asked.

Neal turned around to face her. A smile was on his face. He had expected his friend would react this way.

"Yes, there is. She started this year. I don't know how Lord Wyldon treats her. I have only been back a few days myself and haven't had a chance to watch any of the training yet," Neal reliped. "I was thinking we could go watch tomorrow. Do you think this will influence your decision about Lord Wyldon's offer?"

"It might," Kel answered truthfully. "Yes, let's watch tomorrow. How long are you staying?"

"I don't know yet. Until I receive orders to go else where I suppose," he said.

The two began walking again. At around 11 o'clock they headed back to Kel's rooms. When they reached the room they stopped in front of the door.

"I'd invite you in, but Tobe is probably asleep," Kel told her friend.

"Ah yes, Tobe. How is the lad doing? Last time I saw him he was just starting to get a little meat on his bones," Neal said.

"He is doing just fine. He can almost beat me with a staff. And he has gotten quite strong," She answered.

"Really? I guess you have been teaching him well. Maybe that is why Lord Wyldon wants you to assist him." Neal grinned.

"Perhaps." Kel responded. "Well, my bed is calling me. Good night, Neal."

Kel gave him a good night hug. Neal held her longer than she had expected him too. When he did let her go he smiled at her and quickly strode away. Kel watched him until he turned the corner. She then turned and went into her room. She did a few stretches before falling into bed and promptly falling asleep.

AN: Well??? what do you think? Review?? Pretty please?? And ideas. Ideas are good. Helps avoid writer's block. lol.

Kitty