DISCLAIMER: Don't own it. Don't like it? Don't read it.

luv ya!

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Bowing to Lord Wyldon, Kel exited the office before breaking into a run. She ran as fast as she could to her rooms, nearly running right into her friends, minus Neal.

Seeing them outside her door, she skidded to a halt before they saw her and fled outside to the palace gardens. She was running down one of the paths fighting hard to not cry, when a foot shot out and she fell forward into the dirt.

She was too emotionally exhausted to break her fall, and felt a rock slam into her shoulder, hearing the tearing of cloth. As she vainly attempted to rise, a boot connected to the small of her back forcing her back down. She was too tired after her fight with Neal, and failing, that she couldn't find the strength to fight back. An icy, horribly familiar voice reached her.

"Well, well, if it isn't the famed Yamani Lump? Shouldn't you be packing for your ride of shame?" Joren's foot collided solidly with her already bruised side. She heard a crack, as her ribs broke. She flipped limply onto her back and stared into ice blue eyes.

"What's going on here?" a sharp voice cut through the air. Joren and his gang split and ran as fast as they could.

A tall form bent over Kel as she struggled to stand up. She stared into deep blue eyes. They were full of warmth, so different from Joren's frozen ones. The man looked around seventeen, with dark hair. He was definately handsome, and looked startlingly familiar, though she couldn't place him.

"Thank you, sir...?"

"Domitan. Of Masbolle. Here, let me help you." He put an arm around her and helped her walk softly to the palace, taking care not to touch her injured ribs. As they walked, he talked to her.

"I'll take you to see Uncle Baird. He'll set you straight."

"Duke Baird's your uncle? Then you must be related to Neal. Nealan of Queenscove?"

"Unfortunately, he's my cousin. I prfer to call him Meathead."

Kel laughed, "And why is that?"

"Have you ever met anyone so stubborn?" They both laughed. As they entered the infirmary, Duke Baird made her sit on one of the beds. Kel turned to her rescuer.

"Thank you so much Domitan."

"Call me Dom. Only my aunt calls me by my full name. By the way, what's your name?"

"Keladry, please sit still while I heal you." Duke Baird laid a green glowing hand on Kel's side.

"You're Keladry of Mindelan?" she nodded. "Well it's been a pleasure to meet you, but I must return to the King's Own. Good night."

"'Night, Dom." Kell eyes began to flutter shut as Duke Baird finished. Healings always made her tired.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

As she opened her eyes slowly, it took Kel a minute to remember where she was. The sun had begun to rise over the treetops of the Royal Forest.

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet met cold stone, and she shivered. A healer woman hurried over to her.

"Lady Keladry, You shouldn't be up now. Master Nealan should be here any moment now to check on you."

Suddenly Kel was wide awake. "Neal! No I can't see him. I have to go!"

Duke Baird came over from his morning rounds. "Keladry, don't exhaust yourself. You should be resting."

"Please don't make me see him. I can't face him now." and with that, she fled the infirmary, nearly taking out a tired green eyed healer in the hallway.

Neal entered the hall to come face to face with his angry father.

"What did I do now, Father?" He asked quizzically.

"I should be asking you that, Nealan! Keladry was in here with three broken ribs and a mild concussion. your cousin brought her in."

"Which one?"

"Dom. And on top of that, when she heard that you were coming, she fled as though she was being followed by a herd of stormwings. What DID you do?"

Neal looked away. "We kind of fought last night. She ran away."

Duke Baird threw up his hands in exasperation. "What am I going to do with you, Neal? Go apologize to her. I don't care what either of you did. You two were inseparable for a year. If you can't sustain a friendship between each other, there's no hope for the rest of us. Go now."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Kel ran quietly along the still corridor. Most pages would be asleep for another hour, before the bell sounded.

As she approached her room, she noticed that the boys had all fallen asleep in the hallway, waiting for her. Nudging Esmond out of the way gently, she slid into her room, and locked the door without waking anyone.

Quickly she packed her bare essentials in a small pack, and packed the rest of her clothes and gear in the trunk under her bed. She would send for that later, maybe. Grabbing her sword, bow, and glaive, she hastily scribbled a note to her friends, and slipped out the window, not wanting to risk waking the boys.

She was determined that she would not be escorted from the palace like a disgraced prisoner. if she was to spend the next six years of her life in the bloody convent, she would at least leave the palace with some dignity.

Her sparrows flocked around her, not wanting to abandon her. Kel sighed.

"It's not going to be easy. There will be a lot less freedom for both of us if you come, but if you want to, you can come with me to the convent."

Entering the stables, she said goodbye to Peachblossom.

"I'm sorry boy, but I can't afford to take you with me."

"He'll be sorry to see you go." a gruff voice sounded behind her. Stefan the hostler had never been confident around humans, but had always felt more at ease with Kel, because of her tie to Peachblossom.

"Please Stefan. Don't give him up. I promise that I'll come back for him. i don't know when, but I will come back."

"And he'll be here. Good luck, Lady Kel, and Goddess bless."

Kel hoisted her pack on her shoulder and passed through the city gates. With one last look back at the palace, she started on her long journey to the City of the Gods.