Knight Queen – Glad to hear it!
Limegirl2 – Thanks for the offer. I considered it! I will add u to MSN next time I am on-line.
Lozza - Thanks for the offer. I considered it!
Piglet12345 - Thanks for the offer. I considered it! I see what you mean with Dom sounding like an eager, teenage boy … I'll consider it when I edit the chapter next. I was trying to make it sound like he had waited so patiently for so long and now that Kel had finally come around he was overjoyed. But yes, didn't quite work. Glad to hear that the scene with Jon was more successful! Thanks for the nice long review!
Tortall Princess – Hey Em! What's up? I do like your reviews! And so many of them! Yay!
X17SkmBdrchiczxx – Glad you liked it!
DOMLUVR4EVER - Thanks for the offer. I considered it!
Pure777christine – Hehe, you have it all figured out!
Atlanta Enchanted – I know what you mean … sigh Dom sigh He is so … perfect … sigh … ok, that was slightly mushy … thanks for the review.
Dancer4eva – I am glad to hear it! I am not sure yet if he will ask her to marry him at the end … it seems so … predictable? I'll see how things develop … rest assured … there will be (some kind of) happy end!
Caremel – What can I say! Great review. And it's good to hear that you agree with my reasoning for Kel's actions. I am sure you'll be a marvellous beta! Don't forget to bully me into writing more … I can be astoundingly lazy!
Lady of Masbolle – Wow, thanks for the compliment!
NaturallyInsane – Thanks for that great review. I am happy to hear that the characters work well – however it's all thanks to the almighty Tamora Pierce, who created them so complex. I have no plans to abandon this story … however, I have just started Year 11 and with that comes a whole lot more work … so bear with me … I'll try not to keep you hanging forever!
Emalenangel – Thank you very much … I loved writing the part about the wind. Sadly I can't claim the idea as my own … well, the wind part, yes, but not how things are build up with the Gods, people, animals, plants and minerals … that is a very old belief, dating back centuries … even Shakespeare used the idea in his plays!
Balinnka – Thanks for the review.
Lady Tonks of Wolf's Rock – Thanks.
Catri Howlman-Carthaki spy – Hehe, thank you! Mm, I see what you mean with Kel forgetting the pregnancy charm, then again it is so unlike Kel … I'll see!
Iluvfiction – Thanks for the offer.
MORWEN12 – I'll try to keep updating regularly, but I sadly can't promise anything.
Imakeladrygirl – I definitely see what you mean, but I am also glad that you still see reason in my arguments.
Jenny – Thanks for the review.
Charm – Thanks so much for that … I know what you mean … some people have a knack for grammar and spelling … others (like me) need a bit of help! But I am grateful for the encouragement … worked like a charm!
Alie Jnns – Thanks for the offer. I'll be in touch and I'll add you to my MSN contacts next time I am on-line. A prologue … mm … I'll keep it in mind!
Athena Princess of Darkness – I like your reasoning for not doing it, and I was tossing up because I had the same thoughts … but, like you said, they could get killed at any time and they want to share that special something … so I thought, let them have their fun! Thanks for offering to beta – I considered it!
I am sorry if I missed anyone. Every review is priceless to me and I can't believe how many I have received! You guys are going to make me conceited!
I am very ashamed that I have to start every chapter with an apology, however, it can't be avoided and I can't change the fact that Year 11 is a whole lot more work than Year 9 and 10 (everyone: be warned!).
I am sorry it took so long for me to write this chapter!
Please don't loose hope and faith in me … I have zero plans of abandoning this story (I am very attached to it!), but I will probably have to slow down even more. I am so sorry and I hope none of you are too disappointed in me.
I believe it is time again for a disclaimer:
I hereby disclaim! Everyone and Everything belongs to the great Tamora Pierce … I am just borrowing the characters to play with them … I promise to have them home again before bed-time!
A special thank you to Caremel who did an unreal job of fixing everything up. You were great, the chapter flows a lot more now!
Now, my dears, Chapter 19 will commence.
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Last Chapter …
Dom pushed back the blankets and jumped up. In three great strides he moved around the bed and claimed Kel's mouth with his. Her arms came around his neck and for a long moment they stood motionless, holding each other, enjoying the warmth the other one had to offer. Only tongues moved, fencing an age-old battle … probing, touching, tasting.
When Dom's hands began roaming and his kisses moved over her cheek to her neck, Kel knew she wouldn't regret the night.
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Chapter title: Explanations
Chapter started: 26.10.05
Chapter finished: 15.1.06
Chapter posted: 31.1.06
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Chapter 19
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A sliver of grey light shone through the crack in the curtains as Kel woke the next morning. She was curled inside the curve of Dom's body, his arms wrapped around her middle section. Mentally, Kel checked her body over; she was warm, comfortable and only a bit sore between her legs.
Very slowly, Kel turned in Dom's arms to face him. His head had been tucked against the back of her neck and now it lolled forwards, slipping off the pillow. Grinning, Kel nudged it back and rested her own head in the crook of his throat. Dom's only response was to groan in his sleep and to tighten his arms around her.
Not much time had passed when Kel woke again. A noise had roused her. Carefully she untangled herself from a stirring Dom and sat up.
Shaking her head to clear it, she looked around, hoping that it was just the Trickster God playing around with her sanity.
"Lady Knight Keladry!" There it was again – a muffled whisper, barely recognisable as a human voice - coming from her saddlebags. Her brain, still heavy with sleep, took a while to process, but then it hit her like a lance wielded by Lord Raoul during a joust, that his Majesty, King Jonathan of Conté, wanted to speak with her via the two-way-mirror while she was stilled sleepy eyed and naked beneath a sheet, which she was sharing with Dom, who decided at that moment to sit up.
"What is the matter, love?" He murmured groggily.
Kel, instead of answering, jumped up and pushed the blanket away, ignoring the fact that she wasn't wearing a single stitch. Grapping her blouse, breast-band and loincloth, she franticly threw them on while silently cursing in all languages she knew. Dom sat watching her through bleary eyes.
"Lady Keladry!" the king called again, more loudly this time.
A look of horror crossed Dom's face before he too swore, fell out of bed and grabbed clothing, flinging them on in a random order.
Half-presentable, Kel lifted the latch of the bag and dragged out the gypsy scarf in which the mirror was wrapped. Tossing aside the fabric, she leaned forward over the glass, hair falling like a curtain around her head and breathed "Your Majesty!" over the surface.
The image of the king was clear, there was a wrinkle on his brow, but a small smile played around his lips when he took in her ruffled appearance.
"I am stone." Kel thought, fighting the blush threatening to appear on her cheeks.
After a quick exchange of niceties, Jonathan flicked his fingers. The mirror vibrated in Kel's hands, but stilled again instantly. "Your Majesty?" Kel asked perplexed. She had never had much experience with magic.
"Do not worry, Lady Knight, I merely shielded your room. Folk walking by will simply hear you and the sergeant discussing minimal things, such as the weather." More to himself than to Kel he added, "I must thank Numair again for this mirror. Maybe he can produce some more. They are so helpful when communicating with a non-Gifted person." He stared off into the distance while Kel waited patiently.
Finally the king announced, "I have talked to our only contact in Tyra and he has agreed to assist you. Mind you," he added, "he is not a spy nor a fighter. Just a local with loyalties to Tortall." Kel nodded her understanding.
"I will pass on to him the details of where you are staying so that you can meet with him. What is the inn called?"
"The Greedy Goose."
"Very well, expect him around lunch. I recommend you to rest for a while. The contact will fill you in on the state of things. But make sure that you don't tread on people's feet when you ask questions. I am aware that neither you nor the sergeant are spies, however, use your common sense. See how people react to what you say. Tyra is not like the Copper Isles, where people get hanged for voicing opinions, but they are discouraged from doing so. Like I said, common sense should do the trick, my dear."
Kel nodded slowly. "I understand that, Your Majesty, however, if I may ask a question?" Hearing no objections, she went on. "What can I, a knight with no training as an agent, achieve here? Your Majesty wants information, yet all I know is how to defend. I am not questioning Your Majesty's choice, except … I don't know what is required of me."
The king seemed to think over his reply. Finally he said, "Lady Knight, from all your teachers and friends I hear only good things about you. Alanna the Lioness, Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, Myles of Olau and many others speak highly of you. Your courage, determination, calmness and loyalty are mentioned in many different circles. I have not sent you to spy, for all our spies seem to disappear in Tyra, as do the spies from our allies, Carthak and the Yamani Islands, but I want you to make a prediction. To see what all the commotion appears to be about. I know what the king of Tyra wishes, to invade Tortall, for we have received a declaration. Yet all our - now unavailable - sources stated that he is gathering the mages of the country for, what they call, the freedom spell. This is what has us mystified. Even as we speak my spymaster is recruiting people and smuggling them into Tyra and our mages are researching the spell. Apparently, all the public know about the plans. Are you following?"
Kel nodded "Yes, Your Majesty." even though she wasn't sure.
"Very well. So far I am pleased with how you are handling yourself. I expect an update no later than tomorrow night. Good luck and Goddess bless." He flicked his fingers, the mirror vibrated again, the magic draining back into it, and the king's image was gone.
Kel took a deep breath before slowly returning the mirror to the bag and getting to her feet. Turning around to face the bed, she became aware that her legs were bare in a very unladylike fashion. Since when do I care about acting like a lady, she mentally scolded herself while pulling on the hem of her blouse. Dom was sitting on the corner of the bed, slowly pulling on his second stocking.
"That wasn't bad, love, the king sounded fine with how everything is taking shape."
Kel sighed. "True, but I have the impression that he saw right through me."
Dom grinned as he pushed himself up and forward from the bed and wrapped his arms around Kel. "So," he murmured, "everything live up to expectations?" Kel stiffened and pulled away, but seeing the mischievous twinkle in his eye, she grinned, nodded and buried her head back in his shoulder. He held her for a long moment, before kissing her cheek and suggesting getting something to eat, to which Kel happily agreed.
Breakfast was a simple affair. There were hardly any guests in the dining room and only two young women were serving. Kel stirred cane sugar into the plain porridge, while thinking over events. She had tried to feel guilty about last night, but when her voice of reason stayed silent and all she could do was smile foolishly, she gave up.
Kel wasn't naïve enough to think that she had been Dom's first. After all, he was a soldier and they were infamous for getting around, but before, during and after the deed he had treated her with respect. She wanted to believe all the sweet words that he had whispered in her ear, but a part of her told her that she didn't hold a candle next to most court beauties and even though the night had been special and she knew that it wasn't a one time thing, she felt that once back home in Tortall, his family would set him up with a proper lady, even if he was just a younger son.
For the rest of the morning, Kel and Dom cleaned all their gear, did their laundry and carefully restocked their provisions without drawing attention to themselves. Before lunch, Kel checked on the two horses. The stable was dim, but clean enough and both horses had received good hay and fresh water. Not a lot more could be expected and Kel quickly left again, cloak pulled firmly around her shoulders because she could tell the chief ostler was watching her from the shadows above in the loft and she didn't want him to become suspicious of her. Nor was she used to being eyed over like a piece of meat.
Dom was already seated in the dining hall with a stranger when Kel quietly closed the front door to the inn. Before joining them, Kel observed the newcomer from the doorway. Neither he nor Dom could see her from their angle, for which she was grateful. She wanted to get an impression first.
The man appeared to be of middle age, average hight and gesticulated wildly with his hands when talking, which he did a lot of. Moving closer, Kel could see that he was not destitute. He was wearing well worn, but clean and warm-looking, garments and his thinning hair seemed to have an actual cut to it, not just cropped with a knife.
Kel smiled ruefully to herself. Her own hair had grown past her shoulders and looked unkempt. Making a mental note to find a leather thong to tie it back with, Kel moved forward and approached the two men.
Dom smiled at her, but her eyes quickly darted to the king's contact, who looked her over through slitted eyes and finally gave a tiny, forced nod of - recognition? Approval? Kel wasn't certain.
"Keladry, this is Master Viggor Acheter."
Again a forced nod. Kel copied the action and pulled up a chair.
Viggor gave her another look over before turning back to Dom. "As I was saying before your wife," he put enough emphasize on the word for Kel to know that he knew that it was just a cover, "joined us, the crops have been bad two years in a row and trade with the Copper Iles has been slow since the new queen took the throne. Our neighbours to the East were also affected by the drought so we cannot turn to them for help. Oh, and our swamps are spreading, making the land even more unfertile. People are starving and the treasury is still paying for damage caused by immortals. Did you know that Tyra was the country worst affected by spidrens? We lost whole villages to them overnight! Then we had an epidemic, which wrackedwreaked havoc too. The last census done, which took almost one and a half years to complete, showed that the population is ageing. Fewer children are born and many die in infancy. Our future is looking bleak.
"However," he leaned forward and with a huge sweep of his hand, which nearly hit Dom in the nose, continued, "With more prosperous lands, we can pull ourselves together again. With prosperous lands, like the south of Tortall, Tyra can support itself."
"So you are planning to invade Tortall with a starving army?" Dom interrupted, keeping his voice down.
"No, no!" Viggor shook his head vigorously. "Not with soldiers … mages!"
Kel and Dom looked at each other.
When Viggor didn't seem to continue, Kel said, "Tell us about this freedom spell."
Viggor rubbed his chin thoughtfully, appearing to stall for time. "Well," he said finally, "Some say that it allows borders to be moved. Others say that it will give a country more freedom to export and import. The most reliable source so far told me that it has something to do with the Great Gods."
"In other words," Dom stated, "no one really knows the full gist of it."
Viggor ducked his head. "You could put it like that."
Kel sighed inwardly while keeping a blank face and pulling at her sleeve. "We need a bit more background information. Do you have access to more sources?"
The Tyran nodded the affirmative.
"Very good. Dom and I will listen around a bit more, but I think in the end we will need to get to that valley, where all the mages have been summoned to. Do you know where it is?"
Again an affirmative nod.
A few blurred days later Kel, Dom and Viggor set off, saddle bags packed with supplies. Heading east, it would take about four days of steady riding to get to the valley. And then – Kel shook her head. They would see.
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Thanks, Wolfy