Disclaimer: I forgot last time. This belongs to Tamora Pierce, Alright?

Chapter Two Ankles

"I thought you were on the coast fighting pirates." Kel stated.

Faleron looked at her as they walked to her room, "You're right I was. But I think they want the men to switch around now that the war is over. It will be a nice change. I'll admit one thing, pirates never do the same thing twice. It is too much surprise for me. At first it was very new and exciting, but then, it just was so much to deal with. I'm glad that I am here. It's also good to see you. I haven't seen you in more than a year. That is strange. And before that, through our years as squires, I couldn't have seen you more than once a year. If even that much. So tell me, what has been going on in the lady knight's life? That is other than committing treason."

Kel allowed a ruthful smile to grace her face, "Nothing exciting. Honestly Fal. Nothing has happened. I'm in charge of this refugee camp and that isn't very exciting."

"Then tell me something else. I don't care. Tell me a story."

"You talk"

Faleron snorted and let Kel pass through the door of her office first, "I have already talked some. It is your turn. Moreover, I don't feel like talking. I would rather listen to you."

"Well if that is the way it's going to be… Your job will be to help me. To do this you will help sort out arguments and watch over what everyone does. You will also take out some soldiers on patrol, even though the war is over. There is a rotation of the jobs, or chores if you will. You will do all of them the same as anyone else." Kel told him all that was expected of him and the routine of the fort.

"I really think I would have preferred a story, but if that is all I'm going to get I guess I'll just have to get someone to tell me a bedtime story." Faleron joked when she finished.

Kel smiled, "You really want a story." He nodded. "Well this is one of my favorites. Once there was a lady knight. She was the commander of a refugee camp. It was a very hard job. She was very tired at the end of the day. One day an old friend kept her up late because she had to talk to him, so she kicked him out of her room. Then she slept."

"Wow, that was quite an impressive story." Fal didn't get the hint or more likely, he chose not to. "Why are you looking at me like I'm an idiot." He put his feet up on the desk in front of him.

Kel just shook her head, but as she did that she couldn't help but admire his image. He was very handsome with dark hair and eyes, and he looked very… fit. "I am going to get ready for bed." She stood up and grabbed her flannel nightgown off the hook by a screen in the corner. He watched her, amused. She slid behind the screen. He saw the shirt come off over her head causing him to gulp a little. He rocked back and forth with his legs still up on the desk. Thud, thud, thud, clank. Her breeches fell to the ground and the belt made a noise. He glance over to the screen. There was a gap at the bottom of the screen between it and the floor. A pair of lovely ankles was in his view. He rocked faster, which caused him to fall. Splinters from the floor were digging into his cheek, but he could see those ankles. Kel slipped her nightgown over her head and steped around the screen to see what happened. She looked at him quizzically.

"You have nice ankles." Faleron was surprised at what came out of his mouth. Kel was surprised too, "Are you feeling ok. Maybe you should go to sleep now." With that Faleron said goodnight and left.

As Kel lay in bed that night she thought. Every night reflecting over her day became a nightly ritual. It help her sleep better and put her mind at ease to think of all that she accomplished. It's good to have someone here. Especially Fal. He is nice and I don't have to watch him and make sure he doesn't do something stupid, like Neal would do.

The next day Faleron stayed with Kel to learn things and meet people. Tobe was pretty fascinated with the new knight. He hung around them for a while. About midmorning Gerard, the minstrel found all three of them in the stocks.

He walked up to them, although it was more like a cavort. Always dressed the same way you could tell who he was from far away. A bright orange shirt and patched red breeches were what he donned. "Hello All! It is a beautiful day outside is it not? Ah, you must be the new knight. I am Gerard, storyteller, and minstrel extraordinaire. Pleased to be at your service." Gerard always spoke with an exuberance that was hard to match.

"It is good to meet you too," Faleron nodded.

"I am afraid that I must take leave lady knight. My calling is to wander, a lone nomad in a dark world. Now that the weather is clear and bright I must go. I have already lingered here too long. But first I must speak to Tobe by myself."

Tobe looked like Gerard just killed his pony. He ran past and out the door. Gerard looked at Kel and handed her something, a package, he seemed at a loss of words for once. "Farewell Gerard. And stop by next time you can."

He just took her hand and bowed gracefully over it. Then he left, whistling a sad tune.

There was a long silence between Fal and Kel. "Well, that was interesting."

Kel looked a Faleron and said, "Yes it was." He was shocked to find that she was smiling. "I feel really horrible right now. I am glad he left. I always felt he took Tobe from me. I might get him back now. But that is so selfish of me. I feel so awful for wishing that he would leave. Now he has. Tobe is going to be so heartbroken." Her shoulders sagged. Faleron took her into a one armed hug. She sunk into him, then he put his other are around her. He whispered into her ear, "It's only natural that you would want that. Don't beat yourself up over it."

They stood like that for awhile. Kel felt so much better afterward. Then the two walked to lunch in the mess better friends than they had ever been.

Hey! Thanks for the wonderful reviews. I am so surprised. I probably won't up date until the next weekend or at least until Thursday. I have rugby practice for two hours and we only have 4 more practices until we go to Iowa to play our first game. It's pretty intense.