The Threads of Life, Chapter Eleven

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A/N: Thank you soooo much reviewers! I had mixed reviews about the Burchard thing, but he WAS a bad guy when he first met Kel. Or at least, he attacked her. I also needed to find an enemy that everyone knew, so I wasn't like "Burchard," and people would be like, "who?" Anyway, on with the story...


Kel's squad's camp was empty. A slight breeze blew through it, ruffling the naked branches. Some snow started to fall, and by the fire, a small piece of paper rustled. The wind dislodged it from its place and it fluttered away, coming to land a little ways outside the camp.


Owen and the three others came back later that afternoon to find that Kel had not returned. They searched for a note in the place they agreed one would be put if there was a need – by the fireplace, but there was none there. Figuring she had gone out foraging and had forgotten about the note, they got a campfire set up for dinner and went out to hunt some food. Because it was winter, however, the food was scarce and all they managed to get were some little birds and a white rabbit that had been scared out of its hole. By the time they returned, it was dark out, and Kel hadn't yet come back. Owen started to get worried.

"Kaven, will you ride over to Dom's camp and inform him that Lady Keladry is missing and ask him to come over? Thank you." The man Kaven nodded. He was a swift rider, and so was Dom. Owen estimated and hour and a half for them to go the distance between the camps, giving time for Kaven to rest and report. To keep the other two busy, he instructed them to light two branches on fire and search for clues as to Kel's disappearance.

"Check around for anything that would indicate a struggle, like she was taken." Satisfied that things were being done, the ever optimistic Owen began to make a dinner, figuring that the search would make them all hungry.


A little over half an hour later, Kaven arrived in Sergeant Domitan's camp. He skidded the horse to a halt and was challenged by the guards that had been set out. He showed them the official Tortallan seal, and they nodded, waving him through. He came to the Sergeant's tent, dismounted, and went inside.

Dom, who was checking maps, looked up, surprised to see the knight he recognized as being from Kel's camp.

"What is it?" he asked. Kaven was breathing heavily, but managed to get out the message.

"Kel – gone missing – Owen – wants you over – there – now." He gasped out that last part, and Dom stood up, all business.

"There's a pail of water by the fire. Get a drink and rest. I'll start off now – you have a faster horse, so when you feel rested, you can catch up with me." With that, Dom raced over to where his horse was tied up. He quickly put the tack on and leapt on the horse.

"Merric's in charge. I have to ride to the other camp," he shouted, and with that, he was off.

Riding through the bare woods at night was eerily scary. There were no sounds, and every time Dom's horse stepped on a twig, he jumped. When Kaven finally caught up with him about halfway, Dom breathed an inaudible sigh of relief – now at least, there was another person. They didn't speak, as both did not know the nature of Kel's disappearance, and reasoned that they could be being followed at that moment.


They reached Kel's camp just as Owen had finished making a dinner for the two tired men. They gratefully accepted the food, while Owen filled them in on what was happening.

"We came about mid-afternoon and there was no one here. We searched for a note, finding none. We searched, and sent Kaven out to get you. After that, Kaven came back with a note," he stopped there, and handed Dom the note that Kel had written. His eyes widened in shock.

"That was over eight hours ago! She said she'd be back in three. She NEVER does that. We have to go looking!" Dom looked at Owen as if expecting an answer. Owen shook his head, his reason overcoming his optimism.

"It's too late. We wouldn't be able to see any clues without being spotted by the guards at Mindelan. Kel can take care of herself..."

"But --," Dom protested, then wondered why he cared so much about what was happening with Kel. He was sure that he wouldn't mind a couple of hours wait if it was someone else. Owen shook his head.

"No Buts. You need to get to sleep though, we have a busy day coming up tomorrow." Dom nodded, and took the extra blanket that Owen offered him, preferring to sleep outside by the fire in case something happened.

"I'll take first watch," volunteered Dom. Owen nodded, then assigned the other watches.

"Kaven, take second watch. Lucas and Jerrold take third, I'll take dawn watch. Any questions?" All three young knights shook their heads, went into their tents and fell asleep. Owen stayed up for a bit with Dom, but gave up trying to make conversation after his fourth question met with no response. After he went away, Dom was left alone in the still night, staring up at the shockingly clear sky. His mind wandered to Kel. Was she alright? Where was she? What had happened? If they had hurt her—Dom shook his head. Why was he so worried? Plenty of his friends had gone missing in combat, and he hadn't thought so much about them. Plus, Kel was a knight, something that he wasn't, and could perfectly well take care of herself, if she so chose. He thought about Kel for a long while, worrying himself into a right state. After a while, he had to admit it – he liked her as more than a friend.

"I like her, okay?" he whispered fiercely into the dying fire, "Are you happy now?"

"What's that?" someone said behind him. Dom jumped, startled, then found it was only Kaven.

"Time for second watch already?" Dom asked. Kaven nodded, and Dom heaved himself up, groaning. 'I'm not getting any younger, that's for sure,' Dom said to himself, and grinned. He saluted the young knight and went over to his bedroll. He turned over and went to sleep, and in his mind were images of a certain knight.


Dom woke up to a nudge from Owen. He opened his eyes and saw a false dawn coming through the trees.

"Thanks Owen. We need to get started early to have the most possible time to search, and possibly rescue." Owen nodded in agreement.

"I'll get the others up, and we'll start up. I think I'll ask Lucas to stay here and keep watch." While Owen went to get the others, Dom fetched some snow from the ground and melted it over the still-hot embers of last night's fire. He splashed that on his face and, feeling much revived, met with the others.

"Lucas, you will stay here and watch over the camp. If anyone from the other camp comes over, tell them where we are. Under no circumstances should you talk to anyone else." Lucas nodded. "Jerrold and Kaven will come with Sergeant Dom and me. Since he is the senior officer, from now on we will be taking orders from him."

"At least until we get Kel back," he said, smiling grimly. The other men bowed their heads for a couple of seconds. Dom waited while they did so, and then shouldered the pack he had made for the journey.

"Lets get going, shall we? We will be riding for the first part of the journey, but when we get within sight of Mindelan, we will be continuing on foot. First, we will search the area for clues, then, depending on what we find, if anything, we will make a plan from there." The others nodded, and they were off.


Meanwhile...

Kel woke up, her head banging as if it had been kicked against a hard stone wall repeatedly. She groaned, and her eyes fluttered open. She blinked against the strong light, not expecting it. Finding herself lying on something hard, she tried to roll over and see what it was. Her head protested horribly at that, swimming violently, threatening to make Kel's world go black again. Kel settled with just lying down with her eyes open. She stared at a shockingly white ceiling, wondering where she was; she didn't remember a room like this when she was living at Mindelan. How long she stayed like that, she didn't know, but she did know how many lines there were on the ceiling, and certainly knew who's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Ah, our guest awakens. Good morning Lady Keladry." Though she could not turn her head for fear of fainting in front of Burchard – for that's who it was – she did not fail to answer him strongly.

"Burchard!" she spat, "You'll pay for this! I won't give up without a fight, and by the time I'm through with you, you will regret ever having lived. You're fifty times worse than your son ever was." Kel was now livid, all traces of Yamani training gone, for she had realized that this was the man that had ordered the killing of her family. Why, she did not know, but she knew that he would have jumped at any chance to kill them. Burchard just laughed.

"My son was right..."

"What about?" Kel almost screamed.

"You certainly have spirit, if not anything else..." he smirked wickedly and swept out of the room. Kel just sighed.


A/N: Well, that was my longest chapter to date, as it should be, since its been forever since I've updated! And even though its nowhere near the length of some fanfics, it IS a personal best for me, so hurrah! Anyway, have a good day...

Crystaltambaia