A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews.
Sunkissed Guacamole: Thank you for singing! And reviewing! queen-of-sapphires: I wanted to make Baird seem almost tricky, kind of all-knowing. If he's a little OOC(and I don't think that he is, really), I didn't think anyone would mind. Thanks for reviewing. elemental-girl: I'm not sure what you meant by phrasing, but Kel has a calm Yamani mask. Thanx for reading. Ossini: I like Baird too. Thanks for your time. Dancer4eva: Thank you for reviewing! x17SkmBdrchicczxx: Thank you. Thing of um thingyness: Should I be worried! (Thanks for R and Ring!) KiwiNimrod: Thanx. Please keep reading. magewhisper: That's me: lelaofbast, Lady of the Unexpected Twist! Thanks (x 2 for 2 reviews!) ratherbswimmin: Thanx for your review. Annemarie Aspasia: Thanx. Tidsmagi: Thank you! (Late!) Nutz Nina: I (heart) KNs too! Thanks for revewing! HyperKathryne: Here you go… Princess-Of-Everything: Thank you! Haven: Appreciation is nice. Thank you. Kings Lioness: The more I re-read POTS, the more I like the KN pairing. Thanks for your review. Dracorium: Thank you! Please keep reading.
To All: Several comments were made on my long flashbacks. Sorry. I got used to doing them because I dabble in the Diagnosis Murder fandom, and some of those people liked long excerpts from the episodes. I forgot that that is a little (um… I should try a LOT) different from a book. I apologize, and will try to cut back.
Anyways, please enjoy chapter three of 'Terms of Devotion:'
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Terms of Devotion
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Chapter Three
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Midwinter
457
Corus
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There he is, Kel thought, looking down the corridor. Neal was leaning against the wall, arms folded across his chest. Owen and Merric were nearby. Without looking at the latter two, Kel marched straight up to her target.
"Neal, why did you do it?" Owen and Merric could see that this was not something they wanted to be present for, and quickly backed away, fleeing down the stairway. Neal suddenly looked as though he wanted to follow.
"Kel…"
"Why, Neal?"
"Because you want your shield," he blurted out at last. "Look, can we talk about this someplace private, please?" The two squires went back to Kel's room. Neal sent four small balls of green light up into the corners of the room, sealing them from any listening spells.
"What was that for?"
"I hate eavesdroppers," Neal said. "Now, to your first question."
"You asked your father to arrange a marriage between us so that I can earn my shield?" Kel accused.
"Yes and no. Kel, I've come too far to lose you now. We've been together from the start. I can't finish without you. Just think of it as me saving your neck from the noose."
"I can't help but feel that you've added your own head instead," Kel said.
"Why can't you accept the fact that someone might just want to help you, Kel? That someone may care enough to do what they can for you?" Kel was silent. She knew he was right. So did Neal. "Besides, Father had been bugging me to make a choice so that he could begin the negotiations. Now he'll leave me alone for awhile."
"So…this is all just pretend? We don't have to go through with it?"
"Of course not," Neal said. Something inside of Kel twinged sadly. She shook it off and sat down.
"I feel deceitful," she said.
"There are a few people who should know," Neal said. "Like Lord Raoul, and my father, …Owen."
"Owen!" Kel repeated. "Owen can't keep a secret to save his life!"
"But he'll feel left out and lonely if we don't let him in on it."
"Think about what you just said, Neal. It makes no sense," Kel said a smile playing on her lips for the first time in days.
"Ha! I knew I could do it. I knew I could make you smile." Kel felt her cheeks glowing red. She looked down at her lap as Neal sat beside her. "There is one thing I must give you if we are to play a convincing charade." Out of his pocket came a small black pouch.
Kel opened it, curiosity rising. A small gold ring fell into her palm. Black gems were cut into the base, with one red stone rising above the middle.
"It's beautiful," she said.
"It was my mother's. Father had it made for her the day after he met her, and carried it with him, offering it several times before she finally accepted it," Neal said.
"You can not give me this," Kel said, holding her hand, palm open, out to him. He closed her fingers around the ring.
"Consider it a loan, my beloved," Neal said. "Now, are you ready to begin this travesty?"
Kel smiled, slipping the ring on her finger.
…..
Lord Raoul and Owen were both let in on Kel's secret. She had thought that telling Owen would be a mistake, but he seemed to have learned how to hold his tongue.
"A conspiracy. How jolly!"
Kel had reason to smile again. She was going to be a knight! Nothing would stop her now. Ha ha, Anders, she thought as she rode off with her knight master.
The Own went ahead of the progress, scouting the road with Buri and two other groups of the Riders. Three weeks later, they were in Persopolis. Kel enjoyed herself at these banquets. Lady Alanna and her husband, George Cooper, caught up. Kel and Neal were guests instead of servers.
While they were in the desert, the matron of Kel's sparrows, Crown, passed away. She spent the day in quiet mourning for her friend.
Neal and the others had wondered where she was, and hearing that she hadn't eaten all day, they took her to supper and filled her up, giving their sympathy. Two days later, Crown's mate, Freckle, passed as well. Kel buried them together, this time with Neal's help.
Days slowly passed into a vague pattern, sometimes breaking to lead the First Company to help a town that was destroyed by an earthquake, but always bringing them back to the king's heels. Kel learned quickly to stay out of Lord Raoul's way after he had been reprimanded by the king.
Occasionally she saw Neal, but Lady Alanna kept him busy- and well away from anything that swayed. It would make her seasick. When he was around, Neal played his part well, bringing Kel little gifts, and taking her for moonlit strolls. When they were alone, the farce was dropped, and they talked of all mater of things, and their friendship grew more rock-solid than ever.
Time passed quickly. At that rate, their Ordeals would be upon them in no time at all.
