A/n: I'm so sorry; I'm such a bad person. I just lost track of time, the summer ended and school was more than I could handle, and suddenly I have a story that's probably been forgotten and abused, and readers who are thoroughly discouraged and angry. Please don't give up on this story! I haven't given up on it yet, despite good reason to! I love you all and apologize thoroughly, feel free to flame me!

Chapter Twelve: Love and Duty

Her knight master woke her a little before dawn, "There are some people here to see you."

Yvenne groaned and sat up, "People? To see me?" she questioned, rubbing her eyes of sleep, and Kel nodded. "Who?"

But she didn't need to answer because an elderly couple entered the room. The woman was short and slender with long, flowing golden-gray hair and marvelous blue eyes. The man was tall and firmly built with solid gray hair and stern green orbs that acted as eyes. She wore a light blue silk gown that was covered with embroidery and frill and accented her eyes, and he wore leather breeches and a deep green silk tunic, obviously noble.

Yvenne bit back her anger and stiffened.

"I'll leave you then," Kel was about to scurry out, but Yvenne stopped her.

"My Lady, aren't we expected to leave this morning?"

"We are, but…" Kel frowned at the people. She still didn't seem to know who they were. "We can wait – I suppose."

"Stay then, My Lady, let us both hear what news these people bring."

Kel sighed inwardly and took a seat in a nearby chair.

"You've made your point; you can stop playing war and come home now," the man Kel now knew as Yvenne's father said roughly.

"You're eighteen, and it's time you were wed; we've picked a good man for you," her mother assured her.

"I'm sure you have," she laughed bitterly. "One that's rich with a large estate. One that you need to make a deal with."

"He's a knight," her mother coaxed, "very handsome."

"A damn good one too I'd guess," Yvenne snapped.

"Your titles will be restored just as soon as you meet him and come home with us," her father handed back what he'd so easily stolen.

"I'm afraid that it's not so easy," Yvenne shook her head fiercely. "You see, I'm a squire now; I have obligations ad duties. I have yet to earn my shield. In as few words as possible – I'm simply not ready."

"You'll love him though!" her mother was practically crying.

"And you have duties to your home," her father added sternly. "Duties you abandoned!"

"And I have duties to avenge Fianola and Carri too!" Yvenne shouted. "My duties are for them, Lady Keladry, King Jonathan and the Rogue now. Those are the people with whom my loyalty lies, not with a noble house I haven't set foot in in eight years!"

"We need your cooperation for this agreement Yvenne; we're willing to give you whatever you want," her father had always been a tough negotiator. He was famous for his bargaining skills.

"The one thing I want most cannot be given to me; I have to earn it, but I'm almost there. Would you take that from me?" she tried to keep her temper down, but her patience was quickly wearing thin.

"Yvenne, your people might die in this conflict; and it could all be solved with you," her father whispered.

"You're wrong!" she held back her fists just barely, "I'll stop whatever happens between our fiefs, and I'll do it as a Lady Knight!"

"So you know which fief we're speaking of?"

"Yes, and I know that when he inherits the greed of both our fiefs will end."

"We have no other children! If you don't take back your land the King will take it!" her mother really was in tears, but it didn't faze Yvenne.

"I can't inherit anyway; I'm a girl," she glared.

"You can if there's no one else," Kel told her gently. "But that includes uncles and first cousins. There has to be no one."

"There's no one," Yvenne mumbled. So her dowry would be her inheritance.

"You see now," her mother smiled.

"I will not abandon my shield!"

"Kel?" Dom's voice called from the other room.

"If you'll excuse me?" Kel stood and walked to the next room. Yvenne used her Gift to spy.

"Everything's set to go, what's going on?" Dom asked worriedly.

"Yvenne's parents are here," Kel answered.

"What?" he sounded astounded.

"They want her to marry, and they'll restore her titles. It sounds like she knows who they're talking about, a knight, but which one I don't know. Fiefs haven't been mentioned," Kel's voice was plainly weary.

"But she won't – I mean – after all this – all she's worked for, all you've done for her! She won't give up her shield."

"I don't know Dom; I know she wants it badly, but…they're offering her her inheritance back. Lives are hanging over her head; I just don't know."

"Kel, are you…"

"I'll be fine," she intercepted calmly. "Tell the men to stay put. I won't leave without her unless she chooses to stay."

Yvenne ended the spell and looked back to her parents who'd been repeating themselves the whole time.

"Yvenne," Kel addressed her softly as she reentered.

"I know; the men are ready. It's past dawn, we have things to do."

Kel nodded, "I'll stand by you, whatever you choose."

Yvenne smiled gratefully at her master; at least someone had confidence in her decisions, "Tell him I'll meet with him…"

Her father sighed, and her mother ran to her. Her eyes flicked to Kel who was already turning to leave, "After we get back," she added, and her mother pulled back.

Kel hid a grin as Yvenne trotted to her side and the two left her astonished parents behind them.

She was stroking Argilla's mane, getting ready to mount up when Aiden ran to her side, "I won't do it," he called to her from five feet away, and she looked at him curiously. "I won't take a wife unless she's you."

Yvenne laughed and shook her head at him. She swung into the saddle, "Aiden…"

He looked at her through the pain in his gorgeous brown eyes, and she fell a thousand times harder than she ever had before.

"I love you and that's enough," she kicked Argilla, and he leapt forward to join Kel and Peachblossom. She had no need to look behind her as they headed forward; she knew he'd be waiting when she got home.

Kel looked at her contented smile but didn't ask. If they loved one another enough they would both conquer their marriages. In the meantime, she had her squire, and she was prepared to show her as much as she could before they returned to Corus and Yvenne made her final decision.

He trudged miserably back into the palace. She might believe in him, but the pressure his parents were exerting was intense. He was to find a wife, end of story. He ran a hand through his hair and opened the door to his old room in the palace, connected to Raoul's, and there sat his old master, his parents and an older couple he recognized as the Lord and Lady of Coltsbrook.

"You must be Sir Aiden, it's been a long time since we last saw you," the Lady smiled, and he bowed stiffly to them. Aiden threw a glance at Raoul who sent him a sympathetic smile in return.

"What can I do for you?" Aiden inquired.

"We're here on behalf of our daughter, Yvenne of Coltsbrook," the man started, and Aiden's eyes widened. "She's training with the priestess' in the Temple of the Goddess."

Just a coincidence, he thought and calmed, "I have a friend who knew your daughter My Lord, and they say she's dead."

"Dead? Impossible! We saw her this very morning, only a few hours ago. Your friend must be mistaken," the man answered. "Maybe she knew the girl Fianola from Coltshire."

The name stirred Aiden's memory; yes, Yvenne did know a Fianola. So this girl was alive, he cursed inwardly but kept a calm Kel would have been proud of.

"Our daughter wants to finish her lessons before she meets with you," the woman smiled. "So if you can just wait a little longer, we'll have everything arranged."

"Well actually…" he looked to Raoul for help, but found none.

"King Jonathan has allowed it. He and Sir Raoul have decided to put you in charge of the Prince's bodyguard until Lady Keladry can return with the Lord of Stone Mountain," his father stopped him.

He allowed a small smile, so Raoul had been able to keep him in the palace at least until Yvenne returned. Raoul returned the same small smile, and Aiden agreed.

"Wonderful," the Lord of Coltsbrook seemed to spring up, but his Lady still fidgeted. Just what were they so nervous about? Coltsbrook had always been very secretive, yet very powerful. Aiden knew they would make a better ally than an enemy, but his heart belonged to a different Yvenne, and that wasn't up for any kind of negotiation.

It was a week's ride to Stone Mountain, but Yvenne soon learned Lady Keladry and Captain Domitan pushed their men hard. Still, they were very pleasant and respectable, and the men loved them – both of them.

The first night they set up camp, Tobe took both their horses, and Yvenne was about to stop him when Kel shook her head and held her back.

"Number one, Peachblossom will attack anyone who isn't me, Tobe or Daine, so you'd just be wasting our time trying. Number two, our time is precious, and we have a lot to do," she explained briskly.

Yvenne nodded, and Dom joined them around the fire, "Where do we start?" he asked, disgustingly chipper, and Yvenne had to glare. The terrain was hard, and she was sore and dirty. The idea that anyone could still be chipper aggravated her to no end. He laughed and stood; only to return with three plates full of food.

Yvenne reached up for one, but he handed it to Kel and settled down with the other two himself. Yvenne tried not to cry as she turned to her knight master for help. Kel kicked him not so gently, and he relented and handed her the other plate before they set to work.

Kel and Dom were describing how to split rations to her when her head began to spin.

"Yvenne?" Kel's voice seemed far away to the girl who was drowning in her own Gift.

She recalled all the visions from her Reading of Bray and settled on one.

Stone Mountain was in front of her, the town was a burned wreck, bodies filled the streets, the Lord of Stone Mountain was staying locked in his manor despite the raid. People were screaming for aid, but he didn't send word, refused to move from his manor. There, he claimed a certain sanctuary; a Lord could not be arrested inside his own walls. She could smell the smoke and the burned flesh.

The minute she awoke from her dream state she recalled the vision to Kel and Dom who exchanged unreadable glances, "I think it's time we retire," Kel suggested, and Yvenne took that as her cue to leave and did so.

"What do you think?" Dom asked of Kel when Yvenne had left.

"I don't know, her visions are reliable, but…we're already pushing hard," Kel answered.

"I could take a squad out…"

Kel shook her head, "It's too risky. The bandits will attack a small squad, and I have a feeling Stone Mountain is going to need all the men we can offer."

"We could extend our hours."

She nodded, "I hate to do it, but we might have to."

"Then I propose a good night's sleep for the long day."

She laughed slightly, "I suppose you're right – again."

"Seriously," he gave her a stern look. "Don't spend all night chewing on it. Everyone here trusts and respects your decisions."

"Thanks," she mumbled as he stood. Before he left, he put a hand on her shoulder, and she looked up at him. For a long while, there was silence until he said a scratchy good night and headed to his tent, thinking of the wasted opportunity.

Kel sat near the fire, smiling gently at the thought Of Dom's hand over hers. He would never take her feelings seriously; they'd been friends far too long, but it was nice to think about. Since Cleon, there'd been no one, and she would never admit it, but she was lonely. With the road she'd chosen she knew she would be, but that didn't make it any easier.

Concentrate, her mind hissed. You have a long road ahead of you. There's no time for idle thoughts.

She agreed with her mind and headed to the tent she shared with Yvenne. She had to smile when she found her squire was already asleep and dreaming. She'd forgotten what these conditions did to new fighters.

Despite Dom's urgings, she didn't find sleep for another two hours and when she did, it was restless.

For four more days they rode close to fourteen hours a day, taking only quick breaks and eating most meals in the saddle. Yvenne's body ached from head to toe, but she gritted her teeth and kept on. Once or twice Kel allowed her to go with a scouting party or ride ahead to search the horizons. It was when she was on one of these scouting trips that the bandits made their first appearance.

Kel had been leery to send them out, but she knew it was essential. Still, she was simply biding her time until one of them was hit. She had no idea her squire would be caught in the middle of it.

Yvenne walked Argilla through the forest carefully; other men on horseback were spread out around her as well as they picked their way through, trying to be as silent as possible.

Her ears pricked up when she heard what sounded like a falcon screeching. She held her breath and waited and the noise was answered, closer. Her stomach fell as she nudged Argilla forward, slowly, quietly, heading toward the first call. Her eyes widened when she came near and saw an abandoned camp, the fire still smoldering. On the other side, she saw the man who had made the call and nodded to him. In the split second it took to do that, someone had sprung from the trees and pulled her off her mount. He reared his fury and brought his hooves crashing down onto her assailant's head, narrowly missing his own. She wrenched herself off the ground, trying to avoid the man's brain matter that was smeared through her hair. She grabbed the stallion's saddle and hoisted herself into it, "Come on Argilla," she urged with feet and words, heading toward the nearest group of bandits. She pulled her glaive free of its constraints behind her saddle and pushed Argilla into a gallop. She ripped the weapon through the bandits, then turned him around and forced him forward again. A sword caught her across her right arm, and she was forced to switch hands.

The battle pitched, and when the dust settled, Yvenne's fever cooled, and she saw the men begin to regroup. She was one of the few who had stayed mounted and trotted over to the group, "We need to gather the dead and wounded. I'll ride back to Lady Keladry and tell her. Does anyone know if we got them all?"

"A few ran when the fight began, not enough to do damage," someone answered her.

"Very good," she nodded; she would not give herself time to think about the blood that smeared her clothes. "I'll be back with help," she kicked Argilla hard, and he took off toward the camp.

"Lady Keladry! Lady Keladry!" Yvenne screamed as horse and rider entered.

"Yvenne?" Kel's eyes scanned her squire's face and didn't need an explanation to turn Peachblossom around and head toward where Yvenne pointed, "Dom, you're in charge, send Healers!"

"Calder, you're in charge, send Healers," Dom instructed and took off after Kel and Yvenne.

"Can't you ever follow my orders?" Kel demanded behind her when she heard Dom's horse's hooves.

"Where's the fun in that?" he laughed, but that was all the more breath he had.

Peachblossom stopped suddenly when he smelled the death, and Kel had to work hard to get him to move forward, "You're getting stubborn in your old age," she muttered to the gelding.

"There was a time when he wasn't stubborn?" Dom joked, approaching the two as they broke into the clearing.

"Mithros," he muttered when he saw their group of huddled soldiers, "I never can get used to it."

Kel nodded her agreement and dismounted, "How many wounded and dead?" she asked the man who seemed to have taken charge.

"We have two dead and five wounded, six, including your squire," he responded.

Kel took the casualties calmly, telling herself to think of the waves; she'd get the names later. Now, she had things to do, "Where are my Healers?"

"Here, My Lady," two mages stepped forward.

She nodded to them, and they set to work, "Y…" but she found her squire kneeling beside the Mages and let her work, whatever she was doing was more help than Kel could be herself, "We're vulnerable here," she told Dom briskly, and he was the first to agree. His eyes hadn't stopped swinging since they'd gotten there, "We'll get the injured onto horses and head back. I don't think we have enough horses to get the dead back, but hopefully we can come back later without any complications," she stated blankly.

"Kel," Dom grabbed her shoulders. He'd never seen her so scared, and he couldn't understand why. "What's wrong?"

"I think I'm just a little stressed," she responded calmly, and he nodded. She had been through a lot in the past couple months; the wear was surely getting to her.

"Sometimes you need to talk Kel," he looked her straight in the eyes, but could discern nothing.

Fortunately for her, her squire came to her, looking at the two curiously, so Dom had to remove his hands, "My Lady," she did a wobbly bow, "the wounded are going to be fine."

"Lady Keladry, tell her to let me look at that," one of the Healers with them, Daniel was his name, begged of Kel, motioning toward Yvenne's arm.

Kel laughed weakly and examined the wound, "Let them heal it Yvenne."

"Daniel is about to fall over and James is no better," Yvenne responded. "It's a waste of magic on something that can be stitched."

"She's just like you," Dom teased, and Yvenne cocked her head curiously. "You've never heard the stories?"

"Do…" Kel started, but Yvenne shook her head, and he took her by the shoulder.

"Well, you're in for a treat."

So they mounted up and headed back to camp, Dom telling his favorite stories the whole way. Yvenne turned to stare at her knight master, but Kel was always looking forward, lost in her own thoughts.

When they got back to camp, Dom found a man about her age to sew up her wounds. The man ran back into the tent and returned with a needle and thread and Dom continued his stories while Yvenne gritted her teeth and tried not to regret refusing a healing.

Kel declined company that night, choosing instead to retire early and meditate. Dom watched her leave worriedly, and a few other men turned their heads and muttered as well, so Yvenne grew suspicious and took her seat next to Dom, "What's wrong?"

"We don't know," his head was lowered, his fists were clenched. Yvenne had never heard such anger in his voice before. "We never bloody know! She hides it all behind that damned Yamani mask. How are we supposed to help her if we don't know?" he looked up through his hands, and tears glistened in his eyes. "I hate to watch and be helpless."

Yvenne didn't need a crystal to see he was in love with her knight master. She put a small hand on his arm and tried her most encouraging words, "She'll be okay; she's the strongest person I know."

"That's the problem," he muttered and looked longingly toward her tent.

"Wait here," Yvenne instructed, and he looked at her curiously but stayed still as she stood and headed to her Lady's tent.

She crept in and found Kel with her legs folded over one another and her eyes closed, breathing deeply, lost in a trance. Yvenne didn't dare move; she'd trained with a Yamani master as a page, and knew they were more aware of their surroundings while meditating. Slowly, silently, she removed the crystal from a pouch inside her tunic and focused her magic through it. She forced out all the images, refusing them access to her brain. She didn't want to see her knight master die, not today. Instead, she concentrated on her question. What bothers her?

In a whirl of color, the images began to take shape.

Kel was sitting in her empty room, staring at the wall with blank eyes.

"Kel, it's time," Raoul entered, and she nodded and gulped. Yvenne realized Kel was dressed in Goldenlake colors and looked much younger. Her knight master gripped her shoulder reassuringly, "You'll be fine," he promised, and she nodded.

Yvenne shook off the image; she was not going to look into Kel's Ordeal. Instead, she refocused her question, what bothers her right now?

Once again the images tore through her head, and she found the one she was seeking.

"I know I chose this road mama, and I wouldn't change it, but…"

"My daughter," a pretty noble woman Yvenne recognized as Kel's mother pulled back her daughter's bangs and smiled. They were in a room cloaked in silk, sitting on the floor in a meditative position, "Just because you're a female warrior doesn't mean you have to be alone. There are men who are willing to take that challenge. I would have thought you would have learned that by now."

She smiled full heartedly at her mother, and Yvenne wondered why her knight master kept that smile hidden, "Thanks mama."

"And you know too, that just because you were raised in the Yamani's doesn't mean you have to always hide from him."

Kel slammed a Yamani mask in place to keep from gaping in surprise, which made her mother chuckle gently.

"You didn't think you could fool me did you? I lived in the Yamani's too, and I know my daughter. You're in love."

"I…"

A strong arm wrenched her from the tent, so she met flashing blue eyes, "What are you doing?" Dom growled, glaring at her.

"I – just – you…" she gaped, unable to believe the vicious protection in his voice.

"From the first day I met you I knew you had tricks up your sleeve, but if I…"

"Dom," Kel's body followed her voice from the tent as she came to confront her squire, "I think you're scaring her."

Dom looked back to Yvenne and saw she was cowering slightly, groping for a sword hilt that was still inside the tent. He fell back off his heels and took a deep breath.

"Yvenne, come with me," Yvenne rose her head and stifled a gulp when her knight master summoned. Kel smiled softly at Dom who nodded and withdrew.

Kel led her into the woods, both walking silently. The bandits were taken care of, but stragglers would easily kill two women walking alone in the woods. Kel's hands dangled near her hilt, and Yvenne checked to make sure her new knives were in place, "So, what did you Read?"

"I…it…we…" Yvenne cursed herself, was she going to get a single sentence out tonight?

"It's okay, I felt you there. Numair warned me that being Yamani trained would make you curious, and it would only be a matter of time before you tried this. I've blocked out some things, just in case. Still, it is a disappointment," Kel's eyes were constantly scanning the trees for enemies.

Yvenne followed Kel's example and kept her eyes peeled as well, "It was for the men, and for Dom, My Lady. I – I guess I was curious myself too but – he looked so worried. The men were confused and slightly scared, so I wanted them to know. I wouldn't have told them anything specific or personal – just eased their minds some."

"Well," Kel sighed. You'd better pull it together, her mind ordered, the worst thing for an army is a scared or weak leader, "thank you then."

"Thank you, My Lady?" Yvenne looked up at her knight master, who smiled and nodded.

"Yes, thank you, the worst thing for a leader is to be weak. If the men see Dom or me weak, they do grow frightened, and a frightened army is useless. Useless armies lose wars, and more importantly, lives. I guess I've lost track of this recently, and it took you to point it out. It's an important lesson for you to learn though; leaders must be strong, in all situations."

"But, My Lady, I will never be a leader," Yvenne protested, and Kel cocked her head.

"You would make an excellent commander if you cooled that temper some and continued with me."

"About that…" Yvenne lowered her eyes.

"My words still stand, whatever you choose - I will stand by."

"Yes, but…I want my shield more than anything, only, I'm in love too. I just don't know," Yvenne confessed, and Kel stored that away as well. She almost wished she had a Reading crystal for her squire.

"What does Aiden have to do with this? If you can get out of your marriage then he'll wait for you to gain your shield, won't he?" Kel questioned, silently wondering where all the men that would have a woman warrior were. It seemed everyone found one except for her.

"He will, but…how do I…" she stopped. Here she was explaining about her marriage when her knight master was weary of loneliness. "Never mind."

Kel didn't press it, and she hated to think it was because she was jealous of Yvenne, so she changed subjects, "We're half a day's ride from Stone Mountain. Whatever happens back in Corus, you are my squire here and now, and I'll need all of you for this. Yvenne, you're a talented fighter, girl or no, I wouldn't take on a squire who I couldn't trust. You defend yourself which will keep you alive and others as well, which will win you respect. You're breaking the molds with very step you take, and I sincerely wish to be there when you walk from the Chamber of Ordeals. But, I will just as happily be there to greet you at the Temple for your marriage. Keep your mind clear and trust your heart, and you'll come out all right," by her squire's actions, Kel had no need to ask what she'd read. When Yvenne threw her arms around her knight master, all of Kel's questions were answered.

And just like that, she snapped from her daze. She had all the friends in the world, and for them, she needed to be strong. She would be strong; it was her duty.