Atlanta Enchanted: Thanks! Dom's a great guy. Cleon, well, he has his own family now and that is all that matters. Neal is Kel's best friend and hopefully will always remain so. Yuki and Neal are made for each other, in my opinion!

Alannalovingwriter: Thank you! The fluff will come in due time...maybe even in this chapter or the next chapter. I'll see!

Warrior of Tortall: Thanks!

Dragon Shadows: I love peppercorn trees. And the wind too! Thanks for your support!

Lena-jade: Ok, I'll do that from now on! Thank you!

Luna y sol: It might be foreshadowing something! Since this story is based on freedom (see the title!), the wind might just play a role in it!

Fantasizing-Lady-Knight: Oh, don't worry, the fluff will come. Probably very soon!

Dreamerdoll: Thanks. I will try to update as often as possible! I don't mind people ranting, as long as they don't mind when I do it too!

Thanks to all reviewers! You guys are the best!

Chapter 8

For the next couple of days, Kel and Dom travelled southeast. They rode hard during the day, at dusk set up camp and took turns taking watch during the night.

The horses were doing well. Both Peachblossom and Whistler had been trained for long hard work and they were getting along well enough.

If Whistler got too close or too cocky, Peachblossom would remind him who was boss, but Kel didn't have to keep a sharp eye on him anymore.

During midday on their fifth day on the road, Kel and Dom cross the River Naxen. This meant that they were now in the Hill Country and were making good speed and distance.

The sun was only just beginning to dip down, signalling mid-afternoon, when they reached the southern part of Lake Tirragen, where they decided to have an early stop and so give the horses an extra long rest.

It was Dom's turn to unsaddle the horses and Kel to prepare a meal.

Dom whistled the tune of an old folk song as he placed a waterproof blanket over the saddles and bridles and Kel joined in as she stirred the stew to keep it from burning.

But something wasn't right.

Kel loosened Griffin in its scabbard before joining Dom near the water's edge where he was caring for the horses. Kel went over Peachblossom's coat, looking for spurs, and checked his hooves for stones.

After the horses had been cared for, Dom returned to the camp to tend to the fire. Kel followed more slowly.

She crouched down next to her bedroll and opened her bag.

Calling over her shoulder, she said, "Dom, do you mind if I quickly rinse off? We probably won't see water again for a couple of days and I really want to wash off some of this dirt I have picked up on the road."

Dom grinned at her, "Fine with me. I'll take care of the stew. Give me a yell when you're done. If it's not too cold, I might take a dip myself!"

Kel grabbed a change of cloth and a towel and, after reminding Dom to stay away from the water for the time being, found a nice secluded spot that was hidden from camp.

Stripping down to her breast band and loincloth, she placed her cloths on a nearby rock. Griffin rested on top, unsheathed.

The water was icy. Yelping, Kel slip in and straight away dived. The freezing water calmed her nerves and cleared her head. Coming up for air, she scrubbed sand into her skin. She had learned in the service to Lord Raoul that sand worked just as well as soap for washing sweat and dirt off. Also, it was better for the nature.

Clean again, Kel dried herself and changed underwear before putting on a clean pair of dark brown breeches, a light brown blouse and dark green tunic. Bending down, she slipped into her black boots and grabbed her dirty cloths.

Kneeling at the water's edge, Kel washed her dirty cloths. Her hands were numb by the time she squeezed the water out of the fabric. Rising to her feet, she returned to camp.

Dom wasn't at there. Kel hung her wet cloths over a low-hanging branch. She unpacked her bedroll as well as Dom's before settling down and stirring the stew once again.

After a while, Dom still hadn't come back. Deciding that he wouldn't leave without telling her, she picked up Griffin and began searching for him.

Dom wasn't with the horses or along the water, washing himself. She looked around the camp, but he wasn't anywhere near.

Going back to the campsite, she looked over his possessions. Other than his sword, nothing was missing.

Very worried, Kel grabbed her glaive and went looking again.

Near the picketed horses, Kel found a couple of footprints in the soft dirt. Kel recognised Dom's imprint, but there where three other's that she had never seen. It looked like there had been a bit of a scuffle.

Which meant that something had happened to Dom.

Quickening her pace, Kel followed the trail of prints, broken sticks and bent grass helms along the water edge.

Finally, Kel heard voices up ahead. Carefully, she sneaked her way forwards, making sure not to step on twigs or branches that would signal her approach.

Crouching low behind a tree, she strained to hear what was said.

"... kill him quick, and spare us the danger." A man with a deep voice said.

"Aye, that's wise speakin'. Kill 'im and move out before 'is companion notices 'is disappearance and comes lookin'." This man spoke quickly with a high voice.

Kel looked around the tree trunk. Three men sat in a tight circle, two of them with their backs to Kel, the other one facing her, but too deep in discussion to take notice of her. Scanning the small clearing, she spotted Dom.

He was laying on his side, his hands and feet bound as well as a cloth tied around his mouth to keep him from making too much sound.

The men had left him near a cluster of trees on the opposite side of the clearing from Kel.

He was facing her, but he had his eyes shut and was probably listening to the men discussing his fate. Kel doubted that he was unconscious; his eyelids flickered and his chest was rising and falling very unevenly.

Keeping a keen eye on the men, Kel edged along the trees until she was behind Dom.

She could still see the men, but from this angle all of them had their backs to her.

They were obviously bandits. Their cloths were poor quality, dirty and in bad care. Their hair was unwashed and uncut, the men were too thin and only a few belongings lay scattered around the clearing. Three scruffy looking ponies were tied to a nearby tree. Next to them in the grass lay three old, broken saddles and saddle blankets. All of the gear had seen better days.

Each of the men had a knife as well as a dagger tucked into their belts. They had been cleaned, but the hilts were half rusted.

The tallest of the men, the one with the deep voice, also carried a longbow. An arrow was already notched to it and even though it looked old, Kel didn't suspect for a moment that the man couldn't kill with it.

"Don't stand in a place of danger believing in miracles."

Anders, Kel's older brother, always used that old saying.

Kel knew that even though the bandits hadn't been trained in the art of fighting and that their weapons weren't very good, they would defend themselves. They would rather receive injuries than risk death or capture which would also result in death by hanging.

Kel would be outnumbered in a direct fight.

If it would come to a skirmish, it would be better to free Dom before. That way the bandits couldn't use him against her and both she and Dom had been trained for fighting. Together they could easily be a match for the other men.

She would have to free him first.

In the next chapter, will Kel and Dom get away from the bandits of will they catch Kel too?

Will romance finally blossom between the two?

Maybe, maybe not!

Please review and tell me exactly what you think. I love constructive criticism.

Wolfy