The Threads of Life

Chapter 7: Squads and Riding

A/N: Thanks for reviewing! Keep it up. I'm going to be gone for two months, and as of this moment, I'm not sure if we'll have internet, so I'm going to post a quick chapter, then I will be posting extremely sporadically, if at all. SORRY. I will be back though!


Lord Raoul of Goldenlake, Commander of the King's Own, looked down at Keladry and Domitan, both of whom were in his quarters for a meeting.

"Well. Kel, I know you were supposed to be posted at the fort, but obviously, these are more pressing matters, and you should probably be in one of these small groups." Kel nodded. "Another thing," Raoul added, "I know that you and Sergeant Domitan here work well together and have in the past, but I think that it is too much to ask that two of our few commanders be in the same grouping together. Instead, our plans are that groups will be posted in twos. That is, two groups will patrol separately but within range of each other, and will meet up with each other every few days or so to report. We'll have you two be in separate groups but in the group pairing. Kel, you will be commanding yourself, Owen of Jesslaw and three squires. Dom's group will include Nealan, whom I am sure you know." Raoul paused, and then grinned at Dom's expression.

"YOU CAN'T!!! I will not comply...sir," he added as an afterthought.

"Well, as an alternative, Neal could command instead." Raoul's eyes twinkled, and Dom's mouth opened and closed, rather like a fishes. Kel covered her mouth with her hand to stop the giggling.

"Your other group members, if you have decided that you really want to be the commander, will be Merric of Hollyrose and two green riders." Dom nodded, finally getting more serious.

"Sir," Kel ventured, "Where are we going to be placed?" Worry was in her eyes, but unfortunately Raoul had no good news. Raoul sighed.

"If you can handle it, you will be stationed at Mindelan. You know the area. It has been watched over by the Mindelan town leader, so you will not have to worry about controlling the fief." Kel bit her lip, then looked down and nodded. Raoul softened.

"You don't have to be situated there, if you don't think you can deal." Kel looked up at him, her usually dreamy hazel eyes burning with fire. The thought that she shouldn't be crossed when angry flitted across both men's minds at the same time.

"I will."

"Well, that's settled then. You will be leaving tomorrow. Gather your groups – here are their names and where there rooms are – and brief them on their jobs. You leave at first light. Good luck." With a quick hug to both of them, they were dismissed, Kel and Dom going their respective directions to collect their groups.


Kel shivered. It wasn't a pleasant morning to be riding in. The wind was fierce and biting, and freezing rain (A/N: wouldn't that be ice?) poured down on top of them.

"Here it is, April," she muttered to herself, "and still there are freezing windstorms. Mithros."

"Is mother upset that her younglings will catch cold in the rain?" a familiar voice asked. Kel scowled.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you to talk polite to her?" She replied as an all-too-cheerful Neal rode up next to her. He reigned his horse in, seemingly thankful that she wasn't riding Peachblossom, who would have tried to bite him by now.

"Of course. But you didn't think I listened, did you?" Neal joked back. Kel shook her head in mock disappointment. She was used to his jokes, and, she realized, would probably be thankful for them by the end of the trip.

"We've got to be off," she said, "I'll talk with you later, young man," She reined Hoshi around and looked at the two squads. In face of the rain, she thought, they looked pathetic.

"Okay, we're off!" she shouted, not given to big, rousing speeches. Turning back around, she started off.

It was a long, cold, miserable first day. They attempted to stop and eat, but after a few minutes, their food got totally soaked, and was inedible. It was also too freezing to stop.


Three days later (A/N: I actually have no idea how long it would take to get to the Mindelan area from Corus...) they rode to the outskirts of their patrol area. It had cleared up somewhat, but was still very cold, and the threat of a storm hung above them. Kel stopped Hoshi and reined her around so that she could address the men, for they all were men except for her.

"Here's where we split up. I will take my group, and we'll go East, and Dom's group will go West. We'll get to our camp areas and set up. Then the respective commanders will tell you your jobs." The men nodded, and once again, they were off.

At their campsite, the setting up was not going well. They discovered that several of the tents poles had frozen and cracked and were unusable. Instead, they had to use sticks.

Kel decided to go foraging for good wood that wasnt frozen to use as tent poles. As she went out, she took a pack that included enough for one person for two days and a tent herself -- you could never be too careful in places were it might storm at any moment. She walked past the scouts and saluted them, then marked her position by the newly- come out stars.

Two hours later, Kel had to admit that she was hopelessly and completely lost. Currently, she was shivering in her tent held up by frozen poles that could break at any moment and waiting for the sudden snow storm to die down. 'One good strong gust of wind, and this tent is done for,' she thought. 'Please just say that gust waits until morning.' The gods obviously didnt hear her plight: five minutes later, her dinky tent was gone, and she was left in the cold once again. Panic raced through her already chilled heart. She needed to find shelter, and fast, otherwise her squads commander would be a dead one.

After ten minutes of fruitless searching, Kel was starting to feel drowsy. 'No! I cant! I'll freeze. I dont want to die, please gods help me.' Possibly, this time the gods were listening, because she looked up and saw a nearly invisible sheltered alcove. She practically barreled towards it and dove inside, only to find a very surprised pair of blue eyes looking up at her...


What were the chances? She asked him.

"Well, I needed to find some wood for tent poles for my group," he began. At that, Kel grinned. He noticed, and frowned. "What is it?" he asked. Kel shook her head.

"Nothing, keep going."


Well, this took a while, and as I said, theres prbly not going to be another one until the end of august. That doesnt mean you cant review!!!