Keladry of Shang Chapter 16
AN: hellllooooo! Don 't kill me! I noe it's been a long time, I've been going through writer's block and am actually only taking a stab at this cuz im home sick…
Erm. I know it's shameful, but it's been such a long time that even I don't remember where I was going with this whole thing. Oh well… I'll just make it up again!
So here it is at last!
And thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews, I know I've been very cruel to you all, but please KEEP THEM COMING! I eventually update out of guilt, so the more reviews I get, the more you get updates (someday…lol) luv yall! 3
Chapter 15—On the road to Scanra
The week before departure passed quickly, and Kel was almost shocked when she suddenly found herself already on the road. Shaking off her wonder, she sighed and drew her cloak around her tighter. Next to her the infamous Lioness cursed morbidly. Kel grinned. It was well known that the King's Champion was a bitter enemy of cold weather.
The Shang Goddess was starled out of her thoughts as a horse drew up to next to her and a voice murmured in her ear, "She certainly doesn't like the cold, does she?" Kel glanced back, and was accosted by the twinkling blue eyes of a handsome young man. Her eys slid from his uniform, complete with corporal's badge to his familiar looking nose and back to his blue eyes.
"She totally hates it." Kel smiled. She then frowned uncertainly. "Do I know you?" The man laughed and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"You!" an shout rang out as Neal pulled up beside them. "I forgot you'd be here!"
The blue-eyed man sniggered and exclaimed, "Why Meatball head, fancy seeing you here!" He winked at Kel, who couldn't help but smile. There was something infectiously likeable about this man. Neal grumbled, his cheeks slightly flushed as he snuck a glance at Kel to gauge her reaction.
"That's SIR Meatball head, and don't you forget it!" He retorted, having seen Kel's dancing eyes and amused, quirking lips. "Kel, this is my cousin, Domitan of Masbolle. He knows about you from my letters, but obviously chose not to tell you who he was." Neal mock-glared at Dom, who stiffened and adopted an air of decided melodrama as he bowed to her from his saddle.
"My lady, how can I make this up to you! I have been so terribly rude… shall I swear to guard thee forever, and be thine eternal paramour?" Kel laughed outright at this, and Dom straightened up, smirking at Neal. Neal forced a smile and wondered internally why Dom's joking words made him want to tear his cousin to pieces. Sighing he shook off his murderous thoughts and pulled ahead of them to talk to the Lioness.
Kel and Dom watched him go. The young corporal snorted in mirth. "Looks like someone's jealous." He winked at Kel once more before dropping back to ride with his friends. Kel turned around in her saddle and stared at him, completely flabbergasted. Neal, jealous? Of what? Surely not of her! Shaking her head, she thrust such thoughts from her mind, decided that insanity must run in Neal's family, and rode on.
AN: I AM SO TEMPTED TO LEAVE IT HERE but I feel bad so I'll go on…
Btw, I don't remember this part in the canon very much, and I can't be bothered to re-read it, so too bad…
As night fell, the King's Own and accompanying knights stopped at a hostel. Kel, Neal and the majority of the knights were given rooms, while the normal foot soldiers made camp nearby. Kel was just putting away Peachblossom and another horse that Raoul of Goldenlake had kindly provided her with, Hoshi, when she heard the harsh slap of flesh hitting flesh and an accompanying yelp. Quietly making her way to the scene, she was angered to see the owner of the hostel repeatedly hitting a young boy. The child had obviously experienced this before, as his face and arms were a mass of bruises in different stages of healing. Furious, Kel stormed in between them, grabbing the older man's wrist as he raised his hand for another hit. The two males stopped still. Then the elder one said in an oily tone, "M'lady, ye really needs not trouble yerself with this one. 'E needs a prop'r lesson 'e does."
Kel gripped his arm harder, and the man began to sweat as his arm was painfully bruised. "Somehow," she said coldly, "I doubt you're within your contract rights to hit this boy. I wonder what the magistrate would say if I told him?" The man snorted and muttered mulishly that the magistrate wouldn't care in the least. He subsided when Kel glared at him and snapped icily, "Very well. How much?" The man stared, uncomprehending, and roused himself only when Kel began tapping her foot impatiently. He began to protest a sale, but was soon subdued.
Sulking, he named a price, but Kel once again beat him down. Once she was satisfied, she paid him, took his papers and let him go. The man quickly fled, relieved that she had not sought the magistrate. Kel stared at his retreating back, her eyes hard, before she turned back to the boy still cowering beside her. Wary but curious eyes stared back at her, and she was happy to see that while he was mistrustful, he did not show any fear of her. His spirit was not yet broken by the harsh treatment of his cruel former master.
"What's your name?" she asked gently. The boy examined her silently, irritating the older girl. She took a deep breath and tried to be patient.
"Tobe. M'lady." He added the last part hastily, having forgotten his manners.
"Well, Tobe, you have a choice now. I'll give you some money and you can go on your way, or you can stay as my servant and I will take care of you. Which is it to be?"
Tobe examined her once again. Slowly, he raked his eyes back upwards to meet hers, searching for insincerity. He nodded at last. "I'll stay with ye. Fer now."
"Kel!" the call rang throughout the stables, and Kel glanced around. She spotted Neal and waved as he came towards the two. Neal stopped, surprised, before asking, "Who's this?"
Tobe squeaked and ran into Peachblossom's stall. Kel lunged at Tobe, trying to catch him. When she missed she cried out, "Don't! Tobe, he's not a friendly horse, get out!" Peachblossom approached Tobe and both Kel and Neal froze, waiting for the inevitable scream that would follow the horse's bite.
It didn't come.