A/N: Hi everybody I'm new to this writing fan fiction stuff- so be easy on me I think it shows in my work but I promise it will get better. I don't care too much for flames. Disclaimer: I sadly do not own anything but the plot- everything else belongs to the wonderful Tamora Pierce.

Chapter 1

Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan, the second female knight within the last 7 centuries groaned as she tried to figure out what to write in her report to Lord Wyldon of Cavall, her former page master, and Lord Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak. All had been peaceful in New Hope, no attacks from Scanra in months. But there was only one problem she was bored. The reasonable part of her mind kept telling herself that she should be grateful about no attacks, but the adventurous part of her mind kept reminding Kel that she was bored to tears, and if she didn't do something soon she would scream. Kel knew that if she did scream her refugees would think she'd gone mad because "Lady Kel never loses her Yamani mask."
Finally Kel said in her first letter to Lord Wyldon that everything was fine and the refugees were giving no trouble. When Kel decided writing her report about New Hope to Lord Raoul she decided to be blunt with him.
Dear Lord Raoul, Every thing is fine here in New Hope. It is also very boring. Write me if there is anything extra I can be doing with my time, because ever since I let Tobe go with Daine to help with stampeding horses in the south, everything has been peaceful and boring here.
Your ever faithful servant
Keladry of Mindelan

When Kel reached her room that night she undressed and got into bed. Before she went to sleep she thought about what her friends were up to. She had sent Merric away on leaving saying that there was nothing to do for him here if there weren't any attacks form Scanra. Neal was still sarcastic, and very (a/n: emphasis on the very) lovesick for his (as Neal liked to call her) Delicate Yamani Blossom, or more commonly called Yuki, to the general public of Tortall and the Yamani Islands. But as for Dom, a very handsome sergeant in the King's Own, Kel had not seen him since her return from Scanra nearly five months ago. A picture of Dom appeared in her head, His handsome face flashed her a grin that made her stomach do flip flops. Kel secretly had a crush on him for the past five years, that hadn't faded away, like her crushes on Neal or Cleon. Just as Kel was drifting off to sleep she decided to wake Neal up before, which was the time he felt the camp needed to feel his presence, so that she could have a practice partner. Early the next morning, about two bells after dawn a not so sleepy Kel knocked on a very sleepy Neal's door. After pounding on the door hard for about three minutes a fully dressed but very tired Neal answered the door. "What do you.....Oh hi Kel!" Neal said in a falsely cheery voice. "I came to see if you wanted to come with me," Kel stated "not that it would matter, because I would drag you down to the practice courts anyway." Neal looked surprised, then started speaking as if he had just fought in a very heroic battle. "Well as it seems I would be happy to oblique, since my Delicate Yamani Blossom has given me the strength of ten giants, the courage of five Emry of Haryses, which if I do say so myself had a brilliant family, past and present. The bravery of..." Neal unfortunately couldn't finish his heroic speech, because he was pulled out of his room, down to the practice courts by an exasperated Kel.
As Kel and Neal reached the practice courts Neal had just finished his heroic on Yuki giving him power. They then started to warm up, and Kel and Neal went over the rules.
"Now Neal, you know the rules no gift, no pinching, and NO tickling!" Kel told Neal firmly.
"Why Lady Knight, I am astounded that you would think that I would even need rules, but I will follow them gladly if you promise no moves you learned in the Yamani Islands. Let us begin...so that I can win." Both Kel and Neal raised their swords unto the start position, and on Kel's signal their swords collided with a loud bang.
Flashback: "You know Kel," Alanna had once told her "you never win with only defense." The Lioness had told Kel this earlier that year when Kel was showing Alanna how to use a glaive.

She took the present time to put this helpful bit of information to use. Kel immediately pulled her sword down, heading towards Neal's ribcage. As Neal was forced to block her sword, Kel took his recovery time to head her sword towards Neal's neck. Neal chose to block her oncoming blow by dropping his sword, and kicking Kel in the stomach, knocking the wind from her body temporarily. Kel was immediately on her feet again, dropped her sword again, pulled Neal by both hands and sent him flying over her hip. Kel then quickly picked up her sword and places the tip of the Griffin at Neal's neck.

Neal's voice came out as a squeak, "Yield."

As Kel was helping Neal asked, "Why did you break the rules? You said we couldn't use physical contact."

"No no, my dear friend I said YOU couldn't use anything you learned in the Yamani Islands, and since I have never been there I couldn't have possibly have learned anything from there. Also My Delicate Yamani Blossom told me to protect my dignity, so I did what she would do. And since The Blossom of My Life has had training in the Islands, it was an..... indirect act from Yuki."

Kel was about to punch Neal in the shoulder and tell he was an idiot for cheating but got interrupted, by a messenger. "A letter for you Milady, and if you wish to dictate a letter in reply, my orders were to tell you that you would have to find a scribe. Because Milord told me you would be too mad to stand around with." said the messenger, then promptly ran off. Kel opened the letter as fast as she could and read it. "Oh Neal, you'll never believe what's happening and what they are making me do!" she cried at Neal.

A/n: sorry about the format-my computer is being a pain and won't let me upload it double spaced-next chappie soon