Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce's characters, not mine.
Chapter 6
When Kel woke up she was fast asleep in Dom's arms. Someone was knocking on the door, and since Kel didn't want to get up she just told them to come in. "Milady Kel I brought you some supper," Ella told her from the doorway. "Give me a second, I have to wake Dom up," replied Kel.
"Dom, wake up," Kel repeatedly whispered in his ear. When that didn't work she rolled her eyes at Ella, and in a very commanding voice said "sergeant, wake up, you're late!"
"Wha…What's goin' on?" mumbled Dom. "This," Kel tells him as she pushes him out of her bed. "Ouch, Kel that hurt!" whimpered Dom. "Do I smell food?" he asks, finally waking up. "Yes, but it's Lady Kel's. You have to go to the mess for yours," Ella tells him. "It's a conspiracy," he muttered, on his way out the door.
As Kel started to eat Ella told her that everybody in the refugee camp now knew that she was engaged and pregnant. "How's everybody taking it?" Kel wanted to know. "The usual comments from people who don't like you but your friends beat up anybody when they hear such talk, then Sirs Neal and Alanna refuse to heal them. Some people are wondering when you're getting married and others when the baby is due. Some people also want to make gifts for the baby, and want to know if it's going to be a boy or girl," Ella explained to Kel.
"I'm not sure if it's a girl or boy, but I'm not just having one, I'm having twins," Kel giggled. "I'm going to leave now so that you can get some sleep. Oh, I also learned that Lord Raoul threatened Dom that if he hurt you, milord would kill him," Ella told her. "How nice to know, my former knight master wants to kill me future husband," Kel responded dryly. "Have a nice sleep Lady Kel," Ella whispered as she closed the door.
Going across the hall to her bedroom, she quietly closed the door and sat on her cot. Even after two and a half days she was still surprised when she wasn't beaten in some way for enjoying herself. She was unaware that Lady Kel had sent a messenger to the Moon of Truth Temple in Corus, telling the arch priestess there about Ella's former master. She hoped that she never saw him again. She went to sleep and once again thanked the Great Mother Goddess for saving her from him. Sleep came easily here and she welcomed it.
Just a brief in-between chapter!