Keladry of Mindelan wiped the sweat off her face as she rested at the end of a row with the plough. She was getting better at it; the furrows were decently straight and deeper than before. But she had a lot of practice lately. At New Hope, the new refugee camp, they were preparing for the planting of crops.

The war had been over for an autumn and winter. During the winter, Neal married Yuki. Right now, they were in the Yamani Islands, and would be for another month. Merric was still at Haven training a new leader and would be relieved to Corus before the spring's end. The third company of the King's Own had left for a break in Corus, and the fifth Company took their place. Even they weren't at New Hope. Esmond of Nicoline and Seaver of Tasride were moved to costal conflict where Faleron of King's Reach already was. In short, all of her knight and military friends were gone. Tobe was with her in body, although not in spirit. He had a dream, to be a minstrel. Several weeks back a wandering minstrel came through and entertained everyone for food and a place to sleep. Tobe had become rather attached to him. The minstrel spent a couple of hours each day with him, teaching him. Now he spent less and less time with her, and everyone else for that matter. Life was lonely. There were dozens of people she would talk with, but they were more acquaintances than friends.

The ox snorted and shifted in a restless way. Kel erased the depressing thoughts from her head. She needed to get back to work. With the reins tight in her hands she started off. Down and back, down and back, down and back.

"Lady Knight, time to head in," it was Adner. He was in charge of all the plowing. She looked around. The sun hung low in the sky, others had already gone in or were heading back.

Kel sat down in the mess hall. Every one there was eating because that is what most people do there. Around her today were some convict soldiers. They talked about anything, everything. It was nice to not have to think about managing everything for once. That was the high point of dinner.

"Lady" It was Tobe. He seemed a bit bashful. The focus of his eyes was anywhere but his mistress.

Kel smiled a bit, "Hey stranger."

If possible this made Tobe more self-conscious as he blushed. "Lady, I think I messed up." The lady knight's eyebrows raised in interest at his comment. He continued carefully, "I forgot to tell you something…. You see I was practicing my lute and you were out. The messenger from Steadfast was told to come to me because you know…….. So I listened to his message and then forgot about it in my practicing." Kel opened her mouth to say something. He continued hurriedly, "Don't get mad please, I didn't mean to. It was a mistake, honest. I'm awful sorry."

He seemed to brace himself as if expecting to get hit. Kel sighed, "I'm not going to punish you Tobe. I just need to know what the message was. And don't let it happen again."

"Oh, well. Some knight is coming to help you with stuff."

"Did he say anything else?"

"No"

"When he is coming perhaps? Or possibly who he is and what he will be doing?"

"Oh, yeah. He is to come on the 16, and I don't know who it is. I think he is going to be like what Sir Merric was to you at Haven."

"Alright, but Tobe, the 16 was three days ago."

He went back to being bashful, "Opps."

They heard footsteps clattering up the lose, wooden steps to where they were. One of the refugees panted. Kel looked up expectantly, "Yes?"

The woman panted, "Some strange man is here."

Down by the entrance, was a horse and a man. Kel recognized him, even though his back was turned. She smirked. "Tobe take his horse." She walk toward him. "Hey Faleron."

The handsome man faced her. He grinned when he saw her. Faleron stuck out his hand to shake, then he shook his head and eloped her in a rib cracking hug.

"Kel." They pulled away from each other. "I hope you weren't worried. I know how you are about us, mother. I got held up in a flood out west. Sorry I am late."

"Oh, I wasn't worried in the least." She said a bit mischievously. He looked surprised, taken aback, and even a little disappointed. Kel continued, "I didn't know until a few minutes ago. I didn't have time to worry."

He chuckled, "It's good to see you again Kel. Really good."


This is going to be a K/F fic because he is just too good to have only a few about him and Kel. I know this is very short but I am not quite sure if I will post the rest. I wrote it when Lady Knight came out. So I hope I can make it better. I hope you like the idea for Tobe being a minstrel. I thought it would be cute…