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Neal of Queenscove stood before a door in the only Bazhir city, fist poised to knock. He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them. He bit his lip, took several cleansing breaths. Finally, he lowered his hands to his sides and turned around only to be met with the sight of a dark figure ambling towards him.
"Meathead?" The figure said, confirming Neal's suspicions of his identity.
"Dom?" Neal said, puzzled. "What are you doing here?"
"Walking. Why are you here?" Dom countered.
"Dropping in on an old friend," Neal said. He immediately wished he had a better excuse, it being the second hour of the morning.
"Well, I'm here for the same reason both of you are," a new voice announced. Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak stood in the hallway. "So let's get this over with, shall we?"
"She'll kill us if she finds out," Neal commented. All three men shuddered simultaneously.
"Just knock, Meathead." Dom ordered his cousin. Neal gritted his teeth and hammered on the door.
After a moment, a very tall redheaded man answered. The young knight rubbed his eyes sleepily as he took in the odd assortment of warriors assembled outside his door.
"Have you any notion what time it is?" Cleon asked tiredly.
"We've got something important to discuss with you, Kennan." Raoul drawled.
Cleon ushered the men inside. They sat at the small table and waited for Cleon to follow their example before speaking.
"Kennan, you don't like me. I hold no grudge against you, but I feel this needs saying." Dom started out.
"You are involved with my squire," Raoul stated. Cleon sat up a little straighter.
"Kel is my best friend. If you hurt her, I will hurt you." Neal informed the eighteen year old.
"Then I will hurt you," Raoul said, "that will be shortly followed by Dom hurting you."
Cleon blinked. "I'm not going to hurt her."
"You may not mean to, but even if it's an accident I will come right back here and kick your ass." Dom finished up and stood, dusting his hands. "Well, I'm glad that's straightened out. Good night, all." He strode purposefully from the room, followed closely by Raoul and Neal.
Cleon wordlessly closed the door behind the trio. Raoul yawned theatrically and walked towards his rooms, quiet as a cat.
"Dom, I know why I was here, and why Raoul was here, but why were you?" Neal asked as his cousin started towards the Own's rooms.
Dom turned and looked the green-eyed boy directly in the eye. "If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm not going to waste time explaining it to you. Good night." He continued towards his chamber, quickly.
Neal smirked. "I'd better be the best man…"