Disclaimer- I don't own Tortall. I never said I did.

Chapter Two

The chamber hadn't killed him but some days he wished it had. He was famous all over the kingdom. Everyone knew him for the huge scar that ran down his face. He had been blinded in one eye; he no longer possessed a mouth, and had been left with what you might describe as a sneer with hole at the side. The red scar had now gone to leave a white mark on his face. Joren who was once so handsome had lost all his good looks and his vanity in seconds.

Now it seemed that the Gods wanted to add insult to injury by sending him to serve under the Lump. Well the joke was on them. He no longer cared, it wasn't that he thought women should be allowed to fight it was just that he didn't care. If the country was going to be destroyed and one word from him would save it he wouldn't make as much as a squeak. This country had taken everything from him. He didn't even know why he was fighting for it except he couldn't have taken another day listening to his mother sobbing over her 'beautiful boy'.

So here he was riding out to a village of worthless refugees and the whore who led them. At least most of his time would be spent hunting bandits, one of his favourite hobbies.

Peachblossom pounded into Fort Giantkiller in a temper which matched that of his rider. Few people had ever seen Lady Keldary of Mindelan in a temper but the few who had did not wish to repeat the experience.

Kel did not believe that she had ever been angrier. As far as she was concerned he should have been shut away in the deepest darkest mines the country had to offer until he was dead. He should not be riding up to join her at New Hope. Owen was there to meet her. Apparently they knew she was coming.

'Kel my Lord will see you straight away' Owen said. His friend did not look as if she was in the mood for chat.

Kel nodded, she had been hoping that Lord Wyldon would refuse to see her so she could storm into his office. She would just have to settle to fuming melodramatically. She wanted to kill Wyldon for this.

When they reached the office Wyldon looked up. He looked shattered for a brief second Kel felt sorry for him before remembering she was angry with him, very angry. She started a flow of curses going through her head to remember it.

'Lady Keldary' Wyldon began but Kel wasn't going to let him away with that so easily. Oh no he was going to listen to what she had to say without sympathising to make her less angry at him

'How could you? How could you send him here? With innocent civilians all around him. Do you realise what he'll do? He hates me but he'll take it out on them just like he did with Lalasa. You remember Lalasa don't you? She was my maid. The one that she had kidnapped. Kel's voice had steadily risen until she was screaming at Wyldon. The place in the back of her mind that worked a little like Neal did was cheering her on. Go Kel. Who needs to storm into an office to create melodrama? Well whoever it is it's not you.

Wyldon passed a hand over his face. He hadn't wanted Joren here anymore than anymore than Keldary did. But they needed new warriors. Most had been relieved from active service and were reluctant to come back. He didn't really have much choice and New Hope really needed the warriors. They had regular bandit attacks and Keldary was barely coping. She didn't just need soldiers; she needed men who could think for themselves. She needed knights. Wyldon owed it to her to give her knights even if she didn't want them and whatever you said about Joren he was a knight so he would serve at New Hope whether the Lady Knight liked it or not.

If Wyldon had said any or all of this to Kel he would have had a much easier time of it but for some reason he decided not to and so they spent two hours arguing before Wyldon did say some of what he had just thought. Unfortunately it was not the best part,

'Sir Joren is coming to New Hope Lady Keldary whether you like it or not' (you see he could have chosen a better part)

Then Lady Keldary displayed a flair for the melodramatic which had been hitherto hidden. She turned on her heal and stormed right out of the room and then kept on storming until she came into the stable where she was briefly delayed by the need to saddle Peachblossom but then she got on the horse and positively thundered out of Fort Giantkiller. Owen grinned, this was going to be jolly.

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