Of course, all of the characters and the location belong to Tamora Pierce. Speaking of which, I've just realized that I've been spelling Raoul's name wrong—I'm very sorry about this, it's just one of the many traumatic effects of having the entire contents of one's bookshelf packed away in boxes for months. I plan to correct the problem in future chapters.

By midmorning, the next day, both women Alanna and Kel were flushed and sweaty, but Alanna was satisfied with her progress. They stowed their weapons and headed for the mess hall.

"Keladry," Alanna said as she stirred honey into her tea, "I think you idealize me just a bit too much still."

"Well, I wasn't expecting you to trip quite as often as you did this morning."

"I think it's time to return the favor you gave me last night." Alanna glanced around to make sure no one was in earshot. "You know those old rumors about me and Jon, when I was his squire?" Kel nodded at this. "Well, they weren't just rumors."

Kel felt as though several small furry animals were trapped in her brain, all running in different directions as they tried to escape through her ears and mouth. "Wait you mean you were—"

"Don't even think about blackmail though, most of the knights in my generation know, but people have moved on to other gossip now. It just goes to show you don't have too have a spotless reputation to be a respected warrior."

"Does Neal know?"

"No, I don't think so. I would advise against telling him while he's holding your baby. You wouldn't want her to be dropped on her head."

"A daughter, how do you know?"

"That I won't tell you. Let's just say a little kitty told me and leave it at that. I actually have to be leaving now. Remember you're not alone. You'll always have me and Raoul and Queenscove." Alanna stood and kissed Kel's forehead. "Goddess bless you and your daughter, Lady Knight."

A daughter. Somehow, Kel hadn't considered the possibility that the baby would be a girl. She'd only thought of the child as a potential it, or occasionally a he, and feared the future. But I'm good at teaching little girls archery and hand-to-hand combat, Kel thought. And I'll teach her to ride, and swim and navigate, and…

Kel only stopped grinning when Tobe slipped a message into her hand. It was from Lord Wyldon. He wanted her to report to him in three days time. She stood folding and unfolding the scrap of parchment as she watched the Lioness and Roaul—and Dom—ride away.

THREE DAYS LATER

Kel slid down from Hoshi's saddle and passed her reins to Tobe.

"Find Owen," she told him, "and have him get you something to eat when you're done with the horses."

Kel clutched her request forms—the refugees needed more food supplies and they wanted to start a small vegetable garden within the fortress—and tried to ignore her pounding heart as she made her way, unescorted, to Wyldon's office and knocked.

"Come in, Mindelan," he said. His lips twitched into the tiniest of smiles as she saluted him, and Kel wished she hadn't seen the motion. It made the fact that she was about to loose his respect much harder to bear. She sat down in the chair he gestured too and clasped her hands together so that she wouldn't fiddle with them.

He nodded as he reviewed the refugees' requests, and made a few marks in his record book. "I'll see to it that a supply wagon gets there within a few weeks, and I'll send some seed packets back with you in case the weather begins to turn early." He made another mark in his record book. "We're finished, Lady Knight, unless you have any other concerns that want addressing."

"I'd like your opinion on a confidential, personal matter, my lord." Thank the Goddess, thought Kel, that came out much better than I'd expected.

"Very well, what you tell me will not leave this room unless it is absolutely necessary."

"My lord, I am with child," Kel said, staring at her knees. Somehow, she couldn't bring herself to say pregnant in Wyldon's presence.

"How did this happen? Mindelan."

"In the er, usually manner, my lord." There was a hole in her trousers near her left knee that needed to be patched up.

"Explain yourself."

I've heard the pregnancy occasionally brings out the Gift in women who never had it before, maybe if I just sit real still and concentrate I can vanish, Kel thought.

"Mindelan," Wyldon growled.

"Well, sir, when a man and a—"

"I am familiar with the mechanics involved, Mindelan." (Great Merciful Goddess, thought Kel) . "Let me rephrase my question: whose child are you carrying?"

"I don't know—" Kel began.

"Mindelan!" Lord Wyldon growled and Kel began to wonder if pregnancy was addling her brain.

"that it is any of your business, my lord. That is, I know exactly whose child I'm carrying, but I'm not going to tell you in order to protect his career."

Wyldon gave an audible sigh of relief. "Are you ashamed Mindelan?"

"No, sir"

"Then at least do me the courtesy of looking me in the eyes while you offer your resignation."

Kel forced her face up, despite her burning cheeks. "I haven't come to resign, sir. That is unless you're going to force me to, which would be most unjust given that male knights with illegitimate children are not forced to lay down their shields…" Kel bit her lip to keep from sobbing.

"That is true Mindelan, if all knights with illegitimate children were forced into resignation Tortall would be poorly defended indeed. It would not be fair for me to order you to resign."

"But sir—"

"Don't argue against yourself, Mindelan, or I might change my mind." Wyldon paused, staring at his desk. "You know, a number of conservatives are going to relish this news; they'll say it proves that you are unladylike and that you are unfit for fighting, and that you are a distraction."

"I know, sir."

"I'm not one of them."

"Sir," Kel breathed.

"Yes, Keladry, I even consider you a noble lady, though one very different from my own daughters. You have the spirit, if not the embroidery skills, of a noble woman." Wyldon gave a loud cough. "You really are too valuable to resign. I think, however, that I can arrange for a leave of absence long enough for you to give birth secretly somewhere."

"With all due respect, my lord," Kel said loudly, "I'm not going to cower in the shadows and hide this child. I know people are going to talk, but I'm not going to foster my daughter out to someone else. I don't need a leave of absence."

"Mindelan?"

"I have to have the child at New Hope, sir. Think how the refugees would feel if they saw me running off to give birth somewhere safer. They'd feel abandoned and unprotected. Refugee women give birth there all the time. There are midwives among the refugees and Queenscove is a trustworthy healer. I'm young and healthy, sir. There shouldn't be any problems. If I'm willing to raise my own child at New Hope, the refugees will know they can trust me too defend it. If I run away home, they'll know they aren't safe there."

"What are you going to do then? Give birth on the battlefield?"

"Um." Kel was at a complete loss for words for a moment. "That would not be an ideal situation., I suppose."

"No, it would not," he sad calmly.

Kel's eyes widened; was that a glint of amusement in Lord Wyldon's eye?

"But, I admire your decision. I begin to see why you are so well respected by both refugees and noblewomen, if not by middle-aged men. I think we can come to a compromise. Am I to understand that Sir Nealan knows about your, er, condition?"

Kel nodded.

"Well, then you are not to enter a combat situation without his permission."

"Sir?"

"I made myself quite clear Mindelan. You may not engage the enemy if Queenscove believes that it would endanger you or your child. You may continue to command from within New Hope if that is possible."

"I just never thought that you would trust Neal, sir."

"Mindelan, we have both heard a considerable number of things we once thought impossible today." He sighed and laid his hands on his desk.

"Sir, may I ask a question?"

"You already have, but you may ask another?"

Kel blushed and felt as though she were ten years old again. "Are you disappointed in me, sir?"

There followed a very long, very thick silence. Wyldon and Kel both avoided each other's eyes. Kel was astonished by how loud her breathing had become.

"No, Mindelan," he said finally. I am concerned about what this will mean for you, and for Tortall. I'm even worried that you may have made some bad decisions. I'm shocked and surprised and startled. And I'm puzzled. But I still think you're one of the finest knights I have trained. I think that where you are concerned I am always more likely to be astonished than disappointed."

There was a loud sniffling sound outside the door. Kel opened it and grabbed Owen's arm before he could dart away. Owen took one long frightened look at Wyldon's enraged face and then beamed at Kel.

"Congratulations, Kel," he said. "Lasala is going to love making baby clothes for you." Then he began stammering a series of contradictory excuses at Wyldon.

Reasons to go to a women's college:

5. Let's face it, guys never measure up to their literary rivals

6. The dorms smell better at women's colleges

As an explanation to certain reviewers, my friends and I, all Tamora Pierce fans, go to women's colleges and we enjoy coming up with fun reasons for being there. You can skip over the reasons if you want, they are completely unrelated to the story (other than the fact that I think Kel might have chosen a women's college). Anyway, I hope you've had fun with this chapter. Wyldon's a strange character, but he can be amusing sometimes. The next chapter is almost ready and should be a bit more serious. Please review, I love reviews; they bring a gleeful smile to my lips and cause my family to question my sanity.