A/N: I'm back with "Book 2!" I am not prepared to give away what happens to Raoul. You'll just have to keep reading if you want to know. And please review.
Review Returns-
nativewildmage- Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you like it so far. Laura: I like KC but they're hard to find! Thanks for reading. Kings Lioness: Yep. Missing. But he's not alone… Thanks for your review. Kokari: Thanks for R and R ing. Commander Rhade: Thanks for your review.
Book Two of Keladry, Lady Knight
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Chapter Five
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February, 461
New Hope
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"Dear Keladry,
I know that you are very busy at New Hope, but I need your help. I seek news of my husband. Since we learned that I am with child, Raoul and I had a weekly appointment. Mages scryed so that we could see each other and talk for awhile.
Raoul was so excited about the baby, Kel. He never missed a single week. Now I've not seen him in three. I've made inquires to the army, Sir Gareth, even Thayet and the King, but I have not been able to solicit a straight answer from any of them.
Kel, we both know what all this side-stepping means. I would ride north and find him myself if it weren't for my condition. Please help me. There's no one who knows him better than you.
In gratitude,
Buri."
"Is everything alright, Lady Kel?" Kel looked away from the letter and down at the group of children that she hade been practicing staff work with.
"Everything is just fine," Kel said, ruffling Tobe's hair. She left him talking and practicing with Loesia and Meech, under the care of Merric, who was nearby. Kel took the letter into the gates. She went to the infirmary.
"Neal? Can I talk to you?"
"Shh," he said pointedly.
Neal and Lilla were sitting at a low table. Lilla was concentrating very hard on a small candle. Neal watched as a tiny green flame sputtered out.
"That's very good, Lillan. Why don't you rest and have some lunch now?" Neal praised the little girl, and cleared away the candle. Then he turned to his older friend.
"I'm sorry, Kel, but Lilla needed her concentration," he said. "Now what did you wish to discuss?" Kel held the letter out to him. As he read, his eyebrows shifted and he lifted his eyes to hers.
"I didn't know that she was with child."
"Is that all you can say at a time like this?" Kel exploded.
"A time like this? Kel, we don't even know for sure that Lord Raoul is missing. Sometimes women in Buri's condition- they're stressed and they're confused- she may just be overreacting."
"Neal! Are you saying that she's delusional? Have you ever known Buri to get worked up about anything? Lord Raoul is missing. That man is like a father to me. I have to find him."
"Kel-" Whatever Neal was going to say was cut off a man crashing through the door. It was a soldier that Kel had left with Merric and the children. She rushed to him, and grabbed both of his arms, staring into his face.
"What happened?" Kel said loudly. The man was breathing hard and blood dripped from a cut on his forehead.
"Sir Merric- the children- are gone."
He fell into a dead faint, and Neal rushed to his side.
But Kel ran.
She ran as fast as her feet would carry her, out of the infirmary, out the gates, and across the field. There were no signs of a struggle.
Kel immediately set teams to canvassing the surrounding areas, with looking for anything, any sign that would tell them what had happened. She was still out after dark, when most of the men had gone back inside New Hope's safe gates. Kel had been searching alone for nearly twenty minutes when she heard the crunch of footsteps beside her. Glancing up through her bangs, she saw Neal step into the circle of her torchlight.
"Kel?"
"What?" she asked, coldly.
"Why don't you come inside? We'll look again in the morning? You need-"
"Don't tell me what I need to do!" Kel ordered. "Tobe was my responsibility. He's gone! Or is it all in my head? Am I delusional too? Am I hallucinating? Neal, Tobe and the other children are out there, alone and scared. I have to find him. I promised…" Kel's voice trailed off, choked by tears of exhaustion and frustration.
"Kel I know what you promised Tobe. But you made the same promise to a little girl, who is sitting in my office. She doesn't understand what is going on. Tobe is her only friend, the only one who truly understands her. Your priority needs to be taking care of her and taking care of yourself.
"Come on," Neal said, putting an arm around her shoulders. He led Kel inside, and spooned warm broth into bowls for her and Lilla. The little girl sat on Kel's lap, huddled to her. When Kel saw Lilla's silent tears, she put her bowl down and pulled the child closer.
"Don't you dare worry, Lilla," she whispered into her ear. "I'm going to find him if it's the last thing that I do."
…..
In the morning, Kel saddled Peachblossom and rode out of the camp. She soon discovered Owen and Neal coming up on her heels.
"Merric is missing. Just like Lord Raoul, and just like my Tobe. I'm going after them. I think that you two should stay here and take command," she said, eyes forward. Lilla was settled into Owen's lap.
"Tobe said that it's all for one and one for all now, Lady Kel," she said. Kel looked at Lilla, surprised at her voice.
"Aye," she said softly. "We'll all go."
"Then let's get searching," Neal said with a yawn.
"Yeah," Owen agreed sleepily.
"I feel so funny," Kel said with her own yawn. Lilla was fast asleep in Owen's arms.
Kel's eyes felt heavy. Owen's snores reached her ears as Neal fell from his horse, sound asleep. He seemed to move in slow motion. The air seemed thick.
Was this a spell?
Kel didn't have the energy to wonder about what was happening or what she was doing as she climbed off of Peachblossom and joined Owen and Lilla, curled up in the grass.