Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns every setting and character not including Sierra, Kevin, Aelia, and Sam. I own them and the plot.
Authors Note: Wow...I have been in a major writing mood! If I get this out within the week, it will be three chapters in a week! Well, I've been re-reading all of my Tamora Pierce books and I suppose I have been re-inspired. Thanks for all the reviews - seven in two days! Hopefully next time I post I'll have 50 reviews!
Italics are always thoughts, and bold italics is a letter.
To My Reviewers:
Aly the Spy Yeah, go me and my boredom - that makes me write! About your other statement...if I say anything it may ruin the story.
klutzyspaz You may not be off target...or you may be. Keep reading!
Lady Knight Devin Thanks. I hope you keep reading.
Dances With Waves (9) Good. I'm waiting. :)
Dances With Waves (10) That's OK...I have that book too and it is pretty good. I'll wait somewhat patiently.
kaededainecalwyn I'm glad you like it. I hope this update is fast enough!
Drop Your Oboe blushes Sorry - my mistake.
Chapter 11
You make my life colourful, but when you're gone, I am grey again.
About a month since Sierra met Dom.
Quater Moon, Kennan
Cleon of Kennan sat at the dining room table, where his family was settled for a dinner of meat and potatoes. After a few years of debt and late nights, Kennan was back to its glorious state and Cleon had only his knight duties to keep him busy. Over the last few years, since Kennan was re-made, Cleon and his young wife Laira had given birth to two girls - twelve-year-old Selma and ten-year-old Kora - and a son, the eight-year-old Shawn.
Cleon had not returned to Corus since his departure about sixteen years ago - King Jonathan often sent him orders to guard Kennan and occasionally travel to the border. He rarely heard from his fellow squires except in reports, and definately did not hear from the Lady Knight.
As the family left the table, the children to go in the field and help train Shawn for the day when he left to Corus to be a knight, and Laira to sign letters and other minor duties that the Lady of Kennan had to perform, a servant, whos name Cleon was fairly sure was Yadai, handed Cleon a carefully written letter before reading. Opening the envelope and retrieving the parchment, Cleon read
Sir Cleon
I, Domitan of the Kings Own, am writing on behalf of my wife, Lady Knight Keladry, who I am sure you shall remember. She has not the knowledge that I am writing to you, as she would surely cease me, but I fear that you have need to know what has occurred. Before you left Corus, and Kel, for Kennan you left a little something behind, a little important something.
A daughter. Kel had sent her away to a small family, but now at the age of sixteen Lady Sierra of Mindelan (or of Kennan?) has returned to Corus. Kel wished not to tell you, for reasons that she will not say and I can only presume, yet I believe that you should know that you have a daughter. I greatly hope that you will visit your daughter, as is your responsibility as a father. I shall meet you at the gates of Corus on the next full moon. If you are there, excellent. If not - it is your loss. And your daughter's.
I hope to see you soon, Sir Cleon.
Sir Domitan
Cleon gasped and tightened the grip on the letter, his short nails digging into his palm. If there had been any other occupants in the room, they would have noticed sweat dripping from his forehead and his wide eyes attempting to pop out of his eyeholes. The same thought ran through Cleon's head - A daughter? A daughter? With Kel! This one thought would put his reputation at stake - it could ruin Kennan...
Had Kel spoken to anybody about this other than her husband?
Half of Cleon's mind, the sensible part, told him that she wouldn't, for both of their sakes. They both had reputations to secure to. But the sometimes realistic, sometimes absurd part of his mind hollered She despises you! And she is the Protector of the Small - nothing can ruin her reputation! I am ruined!
But was he really so cold-hearted as to ignore a daughter of his?
Quater Moon, Corus
"I have to leave now Sierra." Whispered Kevin as he pulled away from her.
"Again?"
"Duty is hard Sierra. I'll see you soon!" He pressed his lips against hers and dashed away.
Sierra sighed deeply but knew that she would be acting greedy if she kept Kevin from his duty. Unsure of what to do, but wishing for human company, Sierra closed the door behind her and started walking, unsure of where she was going. She had been avoiding Kel for about a week, and before that only a few times a week since learning about Cleon. It hurt Sierra that Kel seemed to be avoiding her, but she voiced no concern.
Most people of court had good things to say of Cleon - he was an excellent warrior and seeked to assisst his lands then wander like most knights. Of course, people close to Kel thought that he had left Corus on bad terms, but Dom had come to the rescue. So supposably her father was a good enough man...if only he wasn't...married.
Sierra stopped, recognizing the door that she had stopped in front of...it was Sam's. She smiled to herself - Sam could always help her when she was depressed. After she knocked a young man with blond hair and dark eyes - Kyle, a roommate of Sam, opened the door. He recognized Sierra and told her that Sam was working gardens, and would be off soon, if she wished to seem him.
After thanking Kyle, Sierra headed to the gardens, searching for Sam among the many plants and corners. Eventually she found him, tucking some tools away, and greeted him. He smiled back.
"What are you doing here? And where is Kevin?"
"He had to go on guard duty. Again. I think he was working on the West-End." Sierra smiled, helplessly.
"Oh." Sam smiled back, wondering why he had recently seen Kevin passing through the gardens, which lead to the South Towers. He almost told Sierra, but deciding it was none of his buisness he smiled the subject off.
"Have you seen Lady Keladry lately?"
"No...I have not seen her for almost a week. Annd before that very rarely. I get the feeling she is avoiding me."
"And why is that?"
"Well, in Wilmné, you know how I spoke to you of how everybody avoided me? Well, the look that evolved on some of their faces in unusually alike the look that Kel seemed to try to hide."
"I see." Answered Sam thoughtfully as he and Sierra began to walk from the area where he had been working.
"Do you think she regrets...taking me back?"
"I doubt it Sierra. Lady Keladry is under alot of pressure, and now with having to tell her husband that she had a child... I doubt she realizes how she is making you feel." Replied Sam solemnly.
Sierra nodded, more to herself then to Sam. Goddess, please let Sam be right. Thought Sierra to the moonlit sky.
"Sam...one day I would like to meet your family."
Sam smiled helplessly before answering, "You may be disappointed. My family is not nearly as intriguing as yours!"
"My point exactly." Replied Sierra. "I would like to meet a regular un-noble family."
"Un-noble? You mean peasant."
"No. I mean un-noble. It is not fair for nobles to give people with less money a lable such as peasants, and themselves a lable such as nobles. Half the 'nobles' I know act more like pigs!"
Sam looked at Sierra with amazement, surprised that he had lived to hear a noble call other nobles 'pigs' and most peasants 'nobles'. He had realized before that Sierra was different then most nobles but still, this was unexpected.
"And these pigs would be..." Questioned Sam, a wide grin spread across his face.
"Aelia. All those woman-can't-do-anything men. Oh - and at the moment, Cleon of Kennan."
"No comment to any of them, as I am a lowly servant. But Cleon of Kennan? You don't even know him!"
"I know enough to make me dislike him."
"What...what happened?"
"He...he...he is my father." Sierra's voice was soft, voicing the words that she had only before thought.
"What! How do you know..."
"I eavesdro... errr I heard Kel telling Dom. I'm a..." Sierra stopped herself, knowing the word would send her into unwanted tears.
"Oh Sierra." Sam hugged his friend, then realeased her. "Do you think you'll ever see him?"
"I don't suppose anytime soon. Kel seems to despise him...and from other nobles I've heard he has a wife and children. I would probably ruin his reputation, like I've hurt Kel's.
"Sierra...don't."
But Sierra was no longer looking or listening to Sam. She stared at the image before her, face straight and tears swelling in the corner of her eyelids.
Authors Note: Cliffy! And a much longer chapter. Enjoy. Questions to be answered in the next chapter - although if or if not Cleon comes to meet his daughter will not be told for a few chapters.
Read and review.
Fire of the Elements
