The next morning came too soon for the aging lady knight. The sun was well over the horizon before she could get her body to leave its soft comfortable bed. As she stretched and cracked her neck, she sighed.

"Time was I could get through glaive practice before dawn. Now I'm lucky if I'm out of bed before noon." Kel grumbled as she pulled her shoulder-length gray-streaked hair into a low ponytail. She had allowed her bangs to grow out so it would be easier to pull back with her hair. After getting dressed, she purposefully walked to the kitchen to eat a late breakfast and get back on the road as soon as possible. The knight had been on her way home before being interrupted by those bandits. She was all ready a day late, and her family would begin to worry if she didn't hurry. Thankfully, someone had found her horse wandering around after it ran from the fight. Kel wouldn't have felt right about taking a horse from the all ready poor town. The horse nudged her in a soft apology.

"Some war-horse you are." she answered jokingly. She had picked this horse simply because no one else would. The mare had been considered to timid to fight. Compared to when Kel had first bought her, the horse had improved immensely. However, Amaya still had a ways to go. Quickly saddling the mare, Kel turned her thoughts to arriving home to her family.

Four days later, the lady knight rode in through the gates of Fief New Hope. What was once a refugee camp was now feudal lands given to her by the king as a reward for ridding the world of Blayce and his killing devices. It was also partly because the refugees had refused to leave Kel's leadership and return to their old homes, where they would once again be treated as slaves instead of people. The best part was that their actions forced more lords to reconsider their treatment of their people, lest they decide to leave. In fact, quite a few workers and merchants did leave, many arriving at Kel's new fief. This had quickly brought wealth into Kel's lands, so the place soon resembled a fief instead of a refugee camp. Out of respect for the dead refugees, Kel kept the name New Hope, while most still referred to her as a Mindelan. Luckily, she and her husband simply thought it a good joke.

"She's BACK!" a child shrieked as he tore through the courtyard. Kel's oldest grandson, Piers, leapt at her, knowing she would catch him just at the last minute and put her one step closer to a heart attack.

"You shouldn't do that when I'm getting off my horse." she scolded the six-year-old as the rest of her grandchildren that were able to walk ran up to her.

"What did you bring us?"

"Did you fight any dragons?"

"What took you so long?"

"What did you bring us?"

"Do you have any new stories?"

"What was the palace like?"

"What did you bring us?"

"How is Uncle Neal?"

"And Aunt Yuki?"

"What about--"

"What did you bring--"

"ENOUGH!" yelled the lady knight as she tried to dislodge herself from the six children. She looked at each child sternly, trying to hide her amusement. "Where is your grandfather at?" she inquired more softly.

"Waiting to see what you brought us." was the humorous reply from behind her. Kel spun around to find her hazel eyes staring straight into a pair of clear blue eyes. Domitan of New Hope picked her up and spun her around. No amount of years had worn down his sense of humor. He then kissed her while still spinning slowly. By the time he put her down, the children were all chanting vulgar songs and rhymes.

"Well, you just got part of your present." she told him with a slight grin. She looked at the children with raised eyebrows. "Did you teach them those songs?" she asked accusingly as five sparrows perched on her shoulders and one on her head.

"Only the first three!" Dom answered with wide-eyed innocence.

"They wouldn' leave me alone 'til I taught 'em at least five." came a deep voice to her right. Tobe, her head hostler, had come out of the stable to take care of Amaya. He looked at her laughingly. "Luckily, they're quick learners."

Kel opened her mouth with a retort when a sudden screech filled the air. All of the children clapped their hands over their ears, complaining loudly the whole time. As soon as it started, it stopped. Kel looked around confused until a feather floated down in front of her.

"Um--" was all she could say before what looked like a large copper horse at first landed next to her. It took a while for the animals, mainly horses, to calm down. Before Kel could do anything, Piers reached out to touch to immortal.

"Don't!" yelled Kel and Dom simultaneously as they saw the razor sharp beak close in on the child…and sniff him. That's all. Suddenly all of the children were trying to pet him, and feed him treats they had snuck from Kel's travel packs while looking for presents.

"Kel?"

"Hm?" came her answer, which was little more than a squeak.

"What exactly did you bring us?" asked Dom seriously as he stared in amazement at the once savage griffin.