Author's Note: Shhh! I am supposed to be studying for my Advanced Chem exam, but what my parents don't know, won't hurt them. But I guess it might hurt my grade, which then hurts me…. But, oh well, I couldn't help myself! Since I last updated this story of mine, I have added to VERY fluffy fics to my collection about Kel and Dom because I was in the romantic, giggly–fluffy mood…. Anyways, here's Chapter 8 of my story, Fate Awaits! 

Chapter Eight:

Espionage

Kel was woken up as a voice called out her name. Kel moaned and turned over, wanting very badly to go back to sleep. By the light escaping though the small screen window, it looked as if it was just before twilight, but in the southern part of Tortall, Kel wasn't used to the passing of the sun.

"Kel?" The voice called again. It was Tobe, and he sounded rather impatient. Why was it, that whenever she was peacefully sleeping, someone had to come and wake her up? She squinted and then sat up, this was a losing battle, and she was just going to have to face it. She pushed herself off her bedroll, and stood up, walked over and opened the flap on her tent.

Tobe stood there with one hand on his hip, and the little kitten Autumn on his shoulder, the two of them had become best friends since Kel had found the cat back in New Hope, but he had an impatient look on his face. "Lady Kel, I know how important it is for you to be rested, but you are going to be late for dinner." He held out a bundle that was in his hand.

Kel's brow wrinkled slightly. "Dinner?" She expected since it was her first day at the fort, that there wouldn't be a formal dinner time, in fact, she thought since it was becoming a war fort, there would be no set time for dinner due to the scout duty and different shifts.

"Yes, Dom told me to come get you Lady. And he said, 'If she refuses, Lord Raoul or I will come and drag her out, also she can sleep all night, no need to sleep through dinner. Also, everyone wants to meet her.'" Tobe grinned impishly.

Kel rubbed her temple sleepily. She then took the bundle from Tobe. "What's in here?" She asked, it was fairly light and cloth-like.

"Lord Raoul said that you should learn the basics of scouting," Tobe's eyes lit up. "And he said that I can learn as well, since having somebody as little as me would be helpful." Tobe paused in his thought process. "But I'm not sure whether or not that is a compliment."

Kel laughed. "I'm sure it was a compliment Tobe, my Lord doesn't insult people, besides you are helpful." She gave him a grin and opened up the bundle. Inside was a set of dark green and brown clothes. Also a little jar filled with brownish green paste, which Kel thought would be for her face, to camouflage against the forest background. "I'm guessing I'm not supposed to wear this to dinner."

"Actually, you are. Dom and Lord Raoul want to take you for a test run." He gave a half smile, "But I'm not allowed to come this time."

Kel ruffled his hair affectionately. "Next time."

Tobe nodded, gave her a one armed hug then ran off. Kel looked at the contents of the bundle again. A small working knife was in a leather clip, and the jar of muddy paste stuck out at her. Great, just what she wanted, meeting the people of the camp with mud on her face.

~*~

Kel walked into the mess hall in her scouting clothes, the paste in the jar still, resting in her pocket. She had come to a conclusion; she would eat without the paste on her face, because the thought of getting some in her mouth made her stomach revolt.

She grabbed a talica, which was a thick pocket of bread and spooned in some sausage, potatoes and cheese. She also put a small bowl of stew on her plate, and then grabbed a cup. The long ride combined with sleep made her quite hungry. She stood at the front of the hall and scanned the room for people she knew. For a moment she didn't recognized anyone, but them she realized the people with the brown paste on their faces in the back were actually her friends, not just people coming off their shifts.

She made her way through the crowd, and placed her tray in between Lord Raoul and Dom, hoping the seat left was for her. She nodded to everyone then sat down.

"I see Tobe did his job right away," Lord Raoul said, taking a sip of fruit juice. "That boy is a gem."

Kel grinned, she was happy that Tobe was becoming well liked among her fellow soldiers and knights. "That he is."

She took a big bite of her talica, and gave a grin; something about the south gave such flavour to the food. "So what are we up to tonight? Tobe just gave me these fancy clothes and said something about scouting."

Dom gave a grin as he faced her, "Actually, we're going to the Tyra border. Feel up to it?"

"What for?" Kel asked, spooning some stew into her mouth.

"We want to see how prepared they are for an attack, because we actually had a spy in our camp a fortnight ago, but as soon as we found out, he disappeared. So instead of sending in an official spy, like someone of Myles of Olau's spy-circle. We are just going to check how prepared they are." Dom explained. His blue eyes sparkled under the dark paste that was spread evenly on his face. "That's why we have the fancy duds."
Kel nodded and finished up her talica. "So when do we head out?"

"After we give you the basic training. Which is now. No talking, whatsoever near their camp. We will use hand signals and tapping sounds." Dom handed her a small box, quite plain looking, all the same colour except for one side, which was painted red. Kel pressed down on the painted side and a loud tap rang out.

"Interesting." Kel said, raising an eyebrow as she examined it.

"The other lesson is, don't get caught." Dom gave a crooked grin. "That's it."

"Very encouraging." Kel mumbled, putting the box in her pocket.

"Everybody up." Lord Raoul said loudly, and everybody got up from the table without a word. Kel followed the group and put her tray back with the dishwashers. She followed them outside and reached in her pocket to find the jar of camouflage paste.

A hand on her shoulder made her turn around, and she came face to face with Dom. Ignoring her stomach, she said, "How am I supposed to put this on? Just spread it on like butter?"

Dom laughed, and motioned for her to follow the group, "I'll show you at the gate." And they walked in silence until reaching the group at the gate. As Kel looked around, she noticed that she couldn't see anybody's faces except for the whites of their eyes. It reminded her of a ghost story she heard as a child. One she would rather not remember before going out in the dark.

"Here," Dom took the jar from her, and opened it, when he smiled Kel could see the glimmering of his teeth. Her stomach tightened and loosened and the dinner she just eat didn't sit as pretty as it had a moment ago. Dom spread some on his finger, and then titled her head up with his clean hand. She began to spread the paste along her cheekbone and Kel hand to close her eyes, because looking up at Dom while he was doing this was an option she couldn't face.

He and was warm under her chin and his fingers were firm, but gentle as he spread the thick cream down her jaw line, then moving up to spread it across the bridge of her nose. Kel concentrated on keeping her face calm, and not moving it.

Kel felt him cover her whole face with the brownish green paste she slowly opened her eyes. "How do I look?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

Dom spread the last bit of cream on her face, and pretended to study her. Kel could just barely see the crooked contours of his face and he got the look that came upon him, as he was about to mock her. "Muddy, but still marvelous." He tweaked her nose and put the jar on the ground near the fence. "Ready?"

Kel gave a nod, then realized he probably couldn't see her and said, "Yes, let's do it." Suddenly stricken by what she said, quickly, "Scout I mean."

Dom laughed. "Of course."

Kel followed then out, the whole time saying to herself; of course… of course… what else could she have meant?

~*~

The forest was dark, and Kel could just barely see the person in front of her. Lord Raoul had quietly explained the tapping signals as they left and she was pretty sure that she had gotten them down pat. They had already cross over a river, and Kel could feel the heavy weight of the extra mud on her soft leather shoes. Her ears were listening intently on every noise in the forest.

An owl was searching for dinner down to the left of her, and a rabbit or squirrel was scurrying off to the right. Kel followed the people in front of her quietly, thinking about Dom… well, him and the mission they were on. But after the kiss from him, then the I-like-you, I-like-you-not thing, it was just so confusing.

A crack of braches to behind her brought her to her senses. A large Stormwing landed on a tree behind her, his human parts were male, and as Kel looked into his eyes, she noticed that one was a red colour, the other normal. His hair was long and dirty, his face covered in scrapes. Kel reached into her pocket to press the box for 3 long beats, the signal for regroup.

The Stormwing studied her, and then rasped out. "You think you will beat King Shima, and that everything will be back to normal." He stated. He gave a harsh laugh that sounded like metal being scraped against clay… a noise that made a shiver o down Kel's spine. "But you won't. You will have a war, a long battle with the King of Tyra, because he won't give up. They are ready. The war against Scanra was just the beginning. A taste of what is yet to come."

With that, the Stormwing took off, and Kel heard the quiet footsteps of her group behind her. "What is it?" Lord Raoul demanded.

"A guest, a Stormwing. He said that we will go to war. That they are ready for us… the Scanran war was just the beginning." Kel felt the shiver run through her again. Kel looked around her at the black silhouettes of her friends. "But why would he warn us?"

To Be Continued…

Author's Note Again: I actually have a little ranting to do. I got a flame on this story, but that isn't what bothered me. The fact is, if you are going to flame somebody, actually have a reason for it. For instance, if you don't like the story, give and example on why you don't like it. Also, if you don't, at least be courteous enough to give the author of said story contact information, so they can get advice on how to improve the story. Now, I'm not pointing any fingers, let's just call the review S.S but next time you review someone's story that they work hard on, leave some constructive criticism rather then a blunt dislike.

P.S. I need a new beta, since my old one left me for bigger and better things, goddess bless her. So if you want the job, just give me your email address, or send me a email, and I will get back to you!

P.P.S. I will answer your reviews personally in the next chapter!

Thanks Everyone!

- e.l.i.s.a.