A stifling silence filled the air in Solan's room as both Thayet and Raoul tried to deal with all the information the priest had given them. There were so many things that could be done, and now it was up to them to figure out the right course of action.

Keeping a tight reign on her composure, Thayet placed her hands in her lap to stop them from quivering. Her voice still even and steady, even after everything she learned, the queen began to speak aloud.

"My first and foremost thought is that we should keep this report private," she told them. "I don't even want to think about what this could do to the morale of our people, if they found out."

Raoul was quick to agree with her, "Yes, Your Majesty."

She gave him a small smile before continuing, "As to what we're going to do with you, Master Solan, that is yet to be decided."

The knight across from Thayet didn't see it in quite that way. With a quick movement of his arm, he unsheathed his sword, to leave the wire bound hilt lying naked in his hands, "I think I know the best course of action."

In the blink of an eye, Thayet was up and standing. Placing herself between Solan and Raoul, lighting flashed in her eye as she spoke to the latter. "Don't you dare!" she said, snapping her hand out and placing it over the top of Raoul's.

Her voice laced with venom, the Queen of Tortall began to lay down the line. "Lord Raoul, if you think for one moment that we are going to let you hurt this man, you are sorely mistaken. We don't know who you think you are, but we can tell you the truth."

"You are our subordinate, and as such, we expect your unquestioning obedience and respect." Her anger had made Thayet loose control over her voice, but she didn't try to keep it in check any longer, "We told you not to unsheathe your blade, yet you did, with intent to cause harm."

Pressing down on the hilt under her hand, Thayet forced the blade down with it. Although Raoul still had a hold on the sword, her new better than to try to fight with his queen, and allowed the weapon to fall.

"Put it away. Now," she told him. "You deliberately disobeyed our orders, orders that we knew you understood perfectly well."

Slowly, Raoul slid his blade back into its scabbard. When it clicked into place, Thayet backed away a little. The big knight knew what she expected him to do now, so, complying with her unspoken wishes, he got up and kneeled on the floor.

"I humbly beseech you, Your Majesty; forgive my vile and base actions. My conduct was improper, and I beg you to let me repent for them and redeem myself," without rising from his position, Raoul waited for Thayet to answer.

Raoul could see the hem of her gown sway as the queen reclaimed her seat. After crossing her legs, Thayet gave a nod, although Raoul couldn't see it. "Your redemption must come soon, Sir Knight, be aware of that," her voice once again soft, Thayet granted him permission to rise.

"Thank you, my Queen," Raoul said as he rose to his feet. Bowing once again for good measure, he moved to the side slightly to keep his distance from Solan.

Reclining slightly, Thayet acknowledged Raoul's words with one more nod of her head. Turning her attention back to Solan, who had sat in stunned silence the whole time, she apologized to him.

"Master Solan, I am grieved over the latest event you have witnessed, and I hope you won't take it against me," she told him, finally dropping her use of the royal "we" in exchange for a more normal pattern of speech.

Without giving him a chance to respond, Thayet picked up her train of thought right were she had left it when Raoul drew his blade. "As I said, I am unsure of what the proper course of action is, therefore I shall take a day to think it over, and come back to you when I am done."

Uncrossing her legs, she leaned toward Solan slightly, "Will that suit you?"

Stuttering at being asked a question like that by his queen, it took Solan a moment to answer her. Finally beating the cotton mouth that had overcome him, the Mithran answered her, "Y… Yes, Your Majesty."

Thayet smiled at him before standing again. With one final nod of her head, she was out of the room before Solan could even fully rise to bow. Raoul was out the door only seconds behind her, but he made it clear to Solan how he felt.

Pitching his voice so it would carry to Solan's ears, Raoul hissed deep in his throat. "You're lucky, Mithran. If she hadn't stopped me, you'd be dead by now." Raoul had stressed the word 'Mithran' slightly, causing Solan to flinch.

"I know more about you that she ever will, and the second I get the chance, you won't be around to fill her in." With that, Raoul slammed the door shut and turned the key in its lock.

Pocketing the thin piece of metal, Raoul made an oath to himself. Never again would he let his foolish desires get in the way of his duty. Solan was the first person to cause him to break down, and he would be the last.

OOO

Thayet had bidden a slightly harsh farewell to Raoul after they had ascended into the daylight once again. She headed back to her suite as Raoul made his way to the rooms assigned to him and Buri.

Walking through the door, he took off his boots and then collapsed into a chair. His K'miri wife walked out of the bedroom, where she had been tidying up. Seeing her husband, Buri quickly walked over to him.

As she made her way toward Raoul, the concern in Buri's voice was evident as she asked, "What's wrong?"

He looked up at her and with a heavy sigh; Raoul told her what had happened. After Buri got the whole story, Raoul finished with, "I know that Thayet means well, but as queen she can't let her emotions get in her way like that."

"What do you mean," Buri asked, "'Get in her way?'"

Raoul shot a questioning look up at the woman. "What do I mean?" he repeated, almost incredulous, "I mean that she should know killing that… man… is the best course of action!"

He hit one of his fists into the opposite palm before saying, "That rat deserves to die!" Raoul stopped for a moment to breathe before continuing. "After everything he has done, he deserves it!"

"How so?"

"Because!" Raoul shouted. "Don't you see?"

"No," Buri's statement was simple, yet effective. "Tell me why."

Raoul was left at a loss for words. He couldn't think of anything to say, couldn't think of any way to explain how he felt. When he tried, all that came out was a jumbled mixture of sounds that made no sense whatsoever.

"Look, my love," Buri said, sitting on Raoul's lap and running her fingers through his hair in an attempt to placate him, "I know you have your reasons for disliking, even hating Solan, and I know that those reasons stem from more than just this situation, but I also know that you can't kill everyone you hate."

She smiled at him. "It's a waste of your time and your energy."

I got an actual chapter up! Yay! I think I finally got rid of my writers block. Which makes me happy.

I know it wasn't Kel and Dom, but I need to wrap up this part too. I'll get to them, don't worry. I will!

And lastly, I want to thank my wonderful beta reader! Caremel! She's helping me to make sure the last chapters of FS&D don't suck, and she's good at it! Thank you!

Sull89