DISCLAIMER: Don't own it. Don't like it? Don't read it.
Wow, i am so out of it these days. I am having a bit of writer's block on 'A Rider From a Lady', so suggestions will be welcome, and in the meantime, I will be writing my little Kel/Neal fic that I promised to my patient reviewers.
Song of the Chapter: When You're Gone by Bryan Adams (still keeping it Canadian)
luv ya!
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Keladry of Mindelan sighed with relief as she passed through the gates of Corus. It had been over two years since the fall of Blayce the Gallan, and finally, finally, the gods cursed Scanran War was drawing to a close. Tortall had more allies than enemies now.
Tortall's historical enemies had always been Scanra, Tusaine, the Copper Islands, the Carthaki Empire, and Sarain. Occasionally they would fight over borders with Galla and Tyra, and rarely with a powerful Maren. The Yamani Islands were different, more secluded, and attacking with a change of emperor's favour.
Now that King Maggur was being persecuted by his own people, Tortall had left the northern country to sort its own problems, given that no Tortallan land was attacked.
Ever since the Drell River Peace, Tusaine had remained on their side of the valley. Old King Ain had died, and his successor did not wish to anger Tortall.
With the coming of the part raka Queen Dovasary of the Kyprin Isles, both raka and luarin residents of the Islands were more peaceful, no longer incited by the fear of the Rittevon dynasty. The Kyprin Isles were allies to Tortall, and were at peace with the Eastern and Southern lands.
Carthak was also an ally of the eastern lands. with Kalasin of Conte as their empress, and Emperor Kaddar now in control of his people, Carthak no longer posed a threat as it used to. It was rumoured also that Saraiyu Balitang, sister to Queen Dovasary was a close advisor to the empress, and retained a peace between Tortall, Carthak, and the Kyprin Isles.
Sarain was still in disarray, and would most likely never regain its previous name and wealth. the native K'miri tribes were constantly at war with each other and with the king. Queen Thayet's estranged father was aging, but alive and partially in control of his lands. They did not have the strength or the leadership to attack other lands, and were left to a civil war.
With the new peace treaty, and the marriage of Princess Shinkokami to Prince Roald, the Yamani Islands were calm and did not bother the other lands.
The king of Galla had recently signed a treaty with Tortall and Tusaine, confirming the north eastern border. They were at peace, and would continue to be so, while the young king reigned from Cria.
Tyrans kept to themselves, left in their swamp lands. The government of Tyra was a strange one. They were the only known realm of the Eastern and Southern lands to be a republic. It was unheard of and scorned by the other lands. Before the reign of Queen Tyne, and King Jonathan the First of Tortall, the people of Tyra had rebelled and created this new system. It was said that King Jonathan the First was in fact the son of the executed King and Queen of Tyra, and he had come to Tortall during the country's own minor revolution.
The last of the known lands of the Mortal Realms was Maren. It was a wealthy land, its economy rested upon the enormous grain production in its vast fields. No other country attempted to debate the holdings of land and fields with Maren.
Kel had never been a knight during peace time, and she didn't know what she would be doing to occupy her time. She would just have to practice and wait for her next assignment from the King.
Kel was pulled from her thoughts as she approached the Palace. It was just like how she remember it from three years before. She hadn't seen most of her friends in that time. What if they didn't recognize her? She had let her hair grow longer. Neal had once asked her what she would look like with longer, more ladylike hair.
"Copper for your thoughts." Kel turned to face Domitan of Masbolle, a sergeant in the King's Own. She had once thought herself in love with him, but, like her other crushes, that too had faded over time. She now thought herself nothing more than fickle, and was determined never to show any affection for a man, for fear that her feelings would change and she would have her heart broken, or would break his.
A hand flashed in front of her eyes. "Keladry, wake up." she turned her head. "You were in another world there. What's on your mind?"
"Nothing Dom," she said. "I'm just tired. I've never been a knight during peace times, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself."
"Kel, you worry too much. Just enjoy yourself. You haven't seen my dear cousin Meathead in nearly three years. Have some fun torturing him."
She laughed. "I'll leave that for you. Do you have someone to come home to?"
He nodded. "Actually, Lady Juliette of Horseshoe Cove is waiting for me. Do you have anyone?"
Kel sighed and shook her head. "No. I mean who would ever like a Lady Knight, who's always off defending the country."
"Now don't say that Kel." he said as they brushed their mounts. "You had Cleon of Kennan, and I know for a fact that my beloved cousin was writing poetry to you in your squire years. I don't think he ever stopped even."
Kel's brush fell to the floor. "Neal? My best friend Neal? Nealan of Queenscove? Are we talking about the same person here?"
"And why wouldn't we be?"
"Because my best friend always had an eye for court beauties. Something he developed from his blue-eyed cousin i believe. I am far from a court beauty."
Dom stopped her as she left the stables. "Keladry, you're prettier than you think. And you'd know that if you looked carefully in the mirror next time. You're not the same tomboy page that you once were."
Kel left with more on her mind. She took her pack and saddlebags to her rooms. Inside, she took a minute to put everything away.
After taking a bath and changing into a clean brown linen dress, Kel had mostly forgotten what Dom had said.
She made her way to the knights mess hall. It was half full. A number of knights had been on leave, or had already returned, but a number were due to arrive later.
Too tired to look for her friends, she took a tray of food from the servers, ignoring the stares from a number of men who didn't recognize the Lady Knight, and were wondering why there was a woman in a dress here with the men.
She was about to sit in a corner when a call rang out.
"Kel! Keladry of Mindelan!" she turned. The call had come from one Owen of Jesslaw, now a knight and one of Kel's best friends. Seated with him were Neal, Merric, who had come from New Hope with Kel, Seaver, Esmond, Faleron, and to her annoyance, Cleon of Kennan and his wife Ermelian of Aminar.
She hadn't seen Cleon in nearly four years, since he had told her of his betrothal to Ermelian. She had resented the fact that he, though stationed at Steadfast, hadn't come with her to Scanra.
Owen was waving frantically to an unmoving Kel. Her eyes met Cleon's cold gray gaze, and she felt tears prick the back of her eyes. Quickly, she shot him a glance, and not wanting to speak with Cleon, gave her untouched tray to the cleaners, and strode from the hall, leaving a number of shocked knights in her wake.
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As Kel left the hall, everyone turned to Merric, who had come south with her.
"Merric," Neal started. The red haired knight looked up to the many sets of waiting eyes. "Did something happen to Kel that we should know about?"
He shrugged and pointed at Cleon, "Ask him."
Cleon looked at him in shock. "Why me?"
"Well, she took one look at you, began to cry and ran from the hall. Now I don't know about the rest of you, but never in the nearly twelve years I've know her, have I ever seen Kel cry."
There was a murmur of assent. All eyes fixed on Cleon. "What did I do? I haven't even seen or spoken to Kel in over three years."
"No you haven't" Neal said, "But what was the last thing you did say to Kel."
Cleon thought, "That I was betrothed-" his eyes grew in comprehension. " I see. Now I should go after her."
"No you shouldn't" Faleron said. "She'll throw you out, most likely. It should be Neal. He's her best friend." they all nodded.
Neal glanced regretfully at his half eaten food, then took his tray to the cleaners and set off down the hallway to Kel's room.
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TO ALL MY REVIEWERS:
I know that I said I'd do one shots, but I've got some Ideas. This will be Kel/Neal for the first bit, then will get different. I'm sorry, but I put myself in a fix with 'A Rider From a Lady', and now I have a bit of a block. I will continue that one though.
Review please
luv ya!