Chapter Three: Surprises
A/N: OK, here goes third chapter! Sorry if the chapters are a little short. The fight scene might also seem a little odd, since I can't remember the details of New Hope too well, and what I know about war tactics could be written on a postage stamp. Sorry!
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Kel sat atop Hoshi, adjusting and re-adjusting her gauntlets. Behind her, soldiers muttered unhappily as their mounts shifted. She swore impatiently under her breath, wondering where Neal had gone. He said that he'd only be five more minutes, Kel thought to herself. At least half an hour had passed since then.
Kel and Neal, along with a small escort, had arrived at Steadfast two days ago to deliver reports to Wyldon and order supplies from the capital. It had seemed to take much longer than that, though, especially with Yuki staying at Steadfast. Despite herself, Kel grinned crookedly. Who could have imagined the stoic Yamani and the unpredictable Neal married?
Her good mood evaporated quickly and Kel tried not to think of ways she would kill Neal when he got back. Otherwise she might be tempted to carry them out.
With nothing else to think about, her thoughts turned to Dom. Kel sighed. A month had passed since the party, and there had been rumours of a new betrothal within the haMinch clan. Neal, for one, had questioned his cousin intently about it, but had only received comments along the lines of, "I don't know anything about it." Kel supposed that if Adele and Dom were getting married, they would probably want to keep it quiet until the announcement. This thought did not make her feel any better at all.
After what seemed like an age, Neal emerged from the barracks, looking smug. Kel resisted the urge to hit him and with a lot of Yamani self-control, raised an eyebrow instead. "What are you so happy about?"
Neal grinned even wider. "Look over there."
Kel obeyed, squinting as she tried to make out the shapes through the heat waves. She frowned. "Is that..."
Neal beamed. "Three squads of the King's Own. Including my cousin's! That means I have another two weeks to interrogate him about the betrothal!" he exclaimed happily.
Kel sighed within herself. Not that again... "Neal, you didn't request these soldiers, did you? You know that we don't really need quite so many fighting men..." Kel hated to inconvenience others, since they didn't really need help with the fighting, just the building of the new camp. And Kel didn't think that any of the soldiers would enjoy that work.
"Sent by Lord Raoul. He says that they're squads you worked with as a squire – they'll do whatever you need them to do and they'll also give you some good advice, though he doesn't think that you'll need it too much." As the group of chatting men approached, Kel saw that he was right –Aiden's and Volorin's squad also accompanied Dom's men.
Kel bit her lip, thinking. There was no way that she could turn down thirty good men, especially with help needed in building the camp. And since Raoul had ordered them with her...
Kel acknowledged the squad leaders with a nod, her heart turning over as Dom directed a smile at her. She grimaced. This really was too cruel, that his smile could affect her like this.
An hour into the ride, Dom rode up beside her on his chestnut gelding, grinning. "So, Lady Knight. Thought you could escape me, did you?"
"Caught out."
"Well, it was only a matter of time," Dom smirked. "Sometimes I think I really am too smart for my own good."
Kel groaned. "Spare me, Dom. I still have to put up with you for another two weeks."
"That cut deep, Kel." Dom pouted and put a hand on his chest, then sighed when he saw Kel's deadpanned expression. "Hey, did you hear? Buri's going to have a baby!"
Kel nearly fell off Hoshi. "You're joking."
"Nope." Dom chuckled at the look of shock on her face. "That's why Raoul's not up here in the first place. How many things can you think of that would drag him from a good fight?"
Kel had to admit he had a point, and was about to enquire further when they were rudely interrupted by a call from behind them. "Dom!"
Dom gave an exaggerated sigh and turned around. "What is it, slave?"
Neal caught up with them, a extremely peeved expression on his face. "Would you stop calling me all those ridiculous names?! I think I even preferred Meathead to 'slave," he complained.
"All right, then I'll call you Meathead," Dom answered sweetly. "Meathead."
Kel watched in amusement as Neal tried to do something which resembled wresting his cousin from his horse. Dom laughed and rode quickly out of range. Neal sulked and trotted his mount next to Kel instead.
"Well, it does suit you rather well," Kel teased.
Neal shot her a glare that would freeze a Coldfang in its tracks. "I'm your best friend! You should be defending me, not an unruly soldier!"
"Well, who would want to defend you when there're good-looking men like me about?" Dom interrupted, smirking. He urged his horse to a gallop as Neal yelled and charged after him.
Kel hid a smile as she watched Neal snatch a pinecone off a tree and hurl it at his cousin, missing by at least three feet. Men could be so immature at times.
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It was late afternoon by the time Kel's party reached New Hope. She was kept busy finding lodgings for the Own, greeting her refugees and reviewing the work that had been done while she was away. She was satisfied with what she saw – only the new infirmary and extra storerooms needed work.
She was heading to her rooms for a well-earned bath when suddenly the alarm for raiders blared. Kel scowled and instead ran towards the wall top, where she could get an overall view of the landscape and the position of the soldiers. She saw Tobe approaching her out of the corner of her eye. "Tell the squads to saddle up," she ordered. He ran to do as she asked.
Kel reached the top of the wall in five minutes flat, gazing out through her spyglass at the Scanrans approaching in the dusk. Kel frowned – the fading light meant that battle would be more dangerous than usual. It seemed that there about thirty men in all, divided into three groups– two to keep her men busy on the other walls, while the third attacked the main entrance. Kel contacted Fanche and several of the men at arms, telling them to take archers onto the walls.
Aiden, Volorin and Dom reached the wall less than a minute later, panting. She nodded at them. "It seems simple enough. Aiden, you take your squad and cover the east wall; Volorin, you take the north. The archers will back you up. Dom, split your squad between Aiden and Volorin. Once you finish with the wall, meet at the main gate. You can help drive the third group off." She collapsed her spyglass.
Aiden and Volorin hurried to do as she asked, but Dom hesitated. Kel ran down the wall as quick as she dared, trusting Dom to follow after her. "What?"
"Aiden and Volorin's squads are more experienced than your convict soldiers – they don't need help. I can use my squad to back you up instead," Dom said, keeping his voice light.
Kel hoisted herself up onto Peachblossom. "My men and I will be fine. I need you to make sure Aiden and Volorin clean out the other walls. I don't want Scanrans coming up behind me to stab me in the back."
Dom shrugged, still playing the easy-going sergeant. He signalled for his men to split up and follow the other squads. Dom was about to leave as well when he turned and looked her directly in the eye. "I'll clear out the walls, but I will be there to back you up," Dom said quietly, then nudged his horse to a gallop.
Kel stared after him in a daze, until one of her men coughed pointedly. Snapping out of her stupor, Kel gave the order to move out. She admonished herself harshly; if they were at the peak of the war, New Hope would be in ruins by now. But the way Dom had looked at her...it was as if her had wanted to protect her. Then again, if there was anyone Dom would want to protect, it would be Adele haMinch, she reminded herself.
Kel urged Peachblossom out the gate. Right now, Scanrans needed her full attention. There would be time for this later.
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A/N: Okay, time to take Dragon Shadows' ...and Kit's advice and reply to my reviewers!
Dragon Shadows: The bet started last week, with my friend Kit, or Demonic Spirit Malevolence. Thanks for adding me to Fav Authors and Stories! And they'll admit their feelings next chapter!
Demonic Spirit Malevolence: Yeah, I know Kit. What would I do without you?
Ladyla: Well...it'll seem like she split them up...but keep reading! It's essential for the stoyline! :P
And thanks to everyone who said that they didn't hate Adele...and that she was interesting...I'm always paranoid about OCs . Keep reviewing!
Thanks to Kit for beta-reading again!
