Redemption

Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns all of PotS. Everything you recognize is hers; everything you don't recognize is mine.

A/N: This is the first part of another HUGE chapter. Since no one objected to my use of italicized font to convey people's thoughts, I'm going to continue doing that. Thank you for the wonderful reviews!

Home Field Advantage, Part 1

Sir Aron of Aili sat across from Kel while she finished reading the supply lists for the caravan to Corus. Aron had the rugged good looks of a man who was used to climbing and hiking in the mountains. His sandy brown hair was cut fairly short and his smoky gray eyes often held a hint a mischief. Aron was extremely discreet about his lifestyle choices, but he had informed Kel early on so that there wouldn't be any misunderstandings. Kel was just glad that she did not have to worry about another situation like with Merric. She and Aron made a good, absolutely platonic team. He was always telling Kel some bit of arcane knowledge or trivia that he had read about in the piles of scrolls and books he kept in his room. Sometimes Aron reminded Kel so much of Neal that she missed her long-time friend even more.

"So, I heard the men saying that you actually invited the Lord of Stone Mountain to train with us," Aron said casually. "Is this something you really want to do, Kel? I mean, I thought your past history with the man was fairly traumatic. Don't you think this is a bit like ushering a fox into the henhouse?"

"On the contrary, Aron," replied Kel, setting aside the papers. "That would imply that we are the hens plump for the picking. You and I both know that is not so. If anything, we have the advantage because this is our home and we know what we are doing. Haven't you ever heard the old saying 'Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer'?"

"Then he's still your enemy?" Aron asked, with a concerned look on his face.

"I don't know what he is yet," admitted Kel. "I only know that when I was younger, if I let my guard down around Joren, he attacked me in ways I could never have imagined. Sometimes it was with punches, sometimes with words, and sometimes with hurting people close to me. But he's been out of the picture for seven years. No one knows what to think of Joren now. I need to be able to trust him - we must have all the help we can get to guard the shipments to Corus. Even General Vanget expects me to get assistance from Stone Mountain before I request reinforcements from the army. We've got to see what Joren can do."

"Well, if you're sure ..." Aron still sounded skeptical. At first, he had been intrigued by the strange case involving the Deep Sleep of Joren of Stone Mountain. Aron made sure the office was soundproof whenever he and Kel discussed her history with Joren. Kel was honest with Aron about all the brawls she and Joren got into when they were pages. She also told him about the kidnapping of Lalasa and Joren's trial and all the troubles afterward. As second-in-command to Kel, Aron was not very happy about hosting a man with so dark a past.

"Honestly, Aron, I think it will be good for both of us to see what kind of fighting skills the man possesses." Kel said firmly. "When Joren and I were pages and squires together, he was the best at both armed and unarmed combat. He performed very well in the practice yard - I had the blackened eyes and purple bruises to prove it. If Joren can be that good again, he'll be quite an asset to us when we travel to Corus. You know a lot of people have heard about the wealth we've uncovered up here and I fully expect bandits to come at us from every direction. Stone Mountain has just as much to protect as we do. Besides, I have a plan."

Kel outlined the basics of her plan to Aron who alternately laughed and shook his head at the details. The new Lord of Stone Mountain was going to be quite surprised - and thoroughly trained. Aron had never guessed that his commander could be so devious, but he was glad to see that she was going into the next week with her eyes wide open. Still, his intuition told him he and Kel were headed for a dangerously interesting time.

"This just reminds me of a story I once read," Aron shifted into his academic tone. "It was about a man who picked up a snake that begged to be carried across a busy road. The snake was too cold to move, so it promised the man not to bite him if he would get it safely to the other side. The compassionate man picked up the snake, put it inside his jacket and carried it across the road. The man's body heat warmed the snake and the creature bit him. As the man lay dying from the snake's poison, he asked why the snake had broken its promise. The snake only laughed as it slithered away and chided the man, saying 'It's your own fault - you knew what I was when you picked me up.' Be careful, Kel, that's all I'm saying."

Joren and his four guards arrived at Fort Stonebridge during the midday meal, several hours earlier than Kel had been expecting him to arrive. A messenger hurriedly went to the dining hall to fetch Kel. Meanwhile, Joren waited in a small area outside of Kel's office, glad that he had a private moment to look around and collect his thoughts. As he peeked into Kel's office, Joren remembered that his mother had encouraged him to look for any hints about Kel's current personal life. He quietly slipped into the empty office, hoping to have enough time to snoop around before she arrived.

Joren felt that because of all the 'visits' inside Kel's head when he was still in the Chamber, he understood the first fifteen years of Kel's history and behavior very well. The information his parents had collected about Kel and her family was useful, but the Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan had become quite a woman - a legend even - and Joren knew there had to be some clues as to why Kel was the way she was today. Kel had taken him by surprise during her short time at Stone Mountain, so she was somewhat of a mystery to him now. Joren knew he had to start working on a strategy to win Kel's love, but he knew that he didn't know enough about her to succeed.

Kel's desk was very neat; there were no papers or items of interest cluttering the surface. Her bookcase was neatly organized and her weapons were neatly organized. A highly polished, deadly-looking glaive hung on the wall next to a variety of smaller weapons. Joren wondered if Kel only thought about fighting battles and protecting the weak. Surely she had to have fun diversions, but what could they be? Joren slowly turned around as he surveyed the room. Finally his eyes rested on the framed sketch of the knight Lady Gwyneth of Virelle.

Kel came over from the dining hall as soon as the guard informed her of her guest's arrival. She silently stood in the doorway and quietly watched Joren as he studied the sketch. She had hung the frame on the wall opposite her desk so that she could be inspired whenever she looked from her work. Joren's back was to her so he didn't see Kel looking him over from head to toe. The Lord of Stone Mountain looked very handsome, as always, but Kel could only shake her head at his sneaky ways. Joren jumped when he finally noticed Kel standing there and she sighed inwardly. She made her face pleasantly blank and walked into her office with an air of confidence.

"Her name was Lady Gwyneth of Virelle." explained Kel as she moved to stand next to Joren in front of her desk. "She was a knight of the realm during the first century. Lady Gwyneth actually fought in the Battle of Three Rivers and she raised five children all by herself. Her former lands are now part of the Royal University's campus grounds. She was quite a remarkable Lady." Kel paused for a moment and then looked at Joren, "Oh yes, and welcome to Fort Stonebridge Lord Joren. I offer my apologies for not greeting your party at the gate. We were under the impression that you would arrive much later in the day." "Sneaky little snake!"

"Commander Keladry, it's good to see you again," began Joren. "Thank you for inviting me train with you here at Fort Stonebridge. I departed from Stone Mountain a bit earlier than planned." "After a nasty little fight with Celeste; she will probably leave as soon as the roads are clear. My mother will be pleased - I think she has fallen in love with you herself - she's always blathering on about how great you are, lady knight."

"Would you care for some refreshments after your journey?" Kel picked up a pitcher and goblet and held them toward him. "I'm sure the cook has enough food left for you if you prefer to have a warm meal." "If you had arrived when you said you would, we would have had a great meal prepared for you. Now you're just going to have to take what you can get until dinner is served."

"No, thank you, I had a late breakfast." Joren looked at Kel, and then back at the sketch. "This is a very interesting portrait. Where did you get it?" "How important is this to you? Will its story unlock any of your secrets?"

Joren noticed Kel's face darken for a brief second before she said, "A ... a friend gave it to me." "Dom ... I miss him so much. It's just not right that he is dead and you are alive."

"A friend?" Joren looked interested, and reached in his pocket. "If I give you something will I be considered your friend, Lady Knight? How about this stone, the one that matches your eyes? It's a start - there's plenty more where that came from." He set the piece of polished marble on the corner of her desk. "It's a lame start, but I will figure out what makes this picture-giving friend so special to you. I can't afford competition for your love - time is too short for that."

"I ... don't ... know," replied Kel, distracted momentarily by the stone. "Are you my friend, Lord Joren? My friends call me Kel." "Humph! I don't trust you, friend or not."

"Friends then, Kel. Please call me Joren. I'm still trying to get used to being called 'lord' and all that," Joren tried to sound humble, but didn't really succeed. "Well, when do we start training?" he said, changing the subject. "Yes, let's get to it. I can barely wait to knock you around the practice yard - it'll be just like the bad old days!"

"Yes, training, of course," Kel said. "I trust you've been working on your grip?" "The look on your face when I left Stone Mountain was priceless! My men and I laughed all the way home."

Joren blinked before he replied, "Yes - and I have my own balls now. You may have yours back. I think the exercises have made a big difference. We'll just have to see out in the practice yard." "You think you're so clever, but I've got a few clever things for you, too. Just you wait and see!"

Kel kept her face pleasantly blank and called out, "Sir Aron, would you please come in here now?" "My new friend and I are ready to begin the games."

Aron had been in another room, close enough to observe and hear everything that occurred in Kel's office. Kel would ask him for his opinion later, after he soundproofed her office. He had to bite the inside of his mouth to keep from smiling about the whole exercise ball conversation. The soldiers who accompanied Kel to Stone Mountain were still telling the story and laughing about how Kel let Joren 'borrow her set of balls'. Aron walked into the office briskly, carrying a sheet of paper with a lot of writing on it.

"Lord Joren of Stone Mountain, this is Sir Aron of Aili," Kel introduced the two men who regarded each other carefully. "Aron is my second-in-command. He has drawn up a schedule of training for you and will be at your disposal for the duration of your stay." "Here we go. Let's see how this plays out."

"I am pleased to meet you, sir," Joren said smoothly. "It must be very interesting for you to work for a female commander." "I wonder - are you her special friend?"

Aron didn't like Joren's tone at all, but he was not about to take the bait. "Commanders are commanders, sir. By working and training hard, we all succeed here at Fort Stonebridge. Are you ready for a bit of sparring now, or would you prefer to start fresh tomorrow?" "Kel, what kind of snake have you picked up here?"

"I think I'm up for a match now," drawled Joren in his familiar superior-sounding voice, "How about it, lady knight?" "The sooner I get a sense of your abilities, the faster I'll be able to take you down."

"Oh, not me. Not today," replied Kel. "My quartermaster needs me to go over the supply lists with him one more time before we present them to you. I want you to have full confidence in our plans for the caravan. Sir Aron will be the one you train with the most." "Down boy! You have to earn the right to spar with me. This is my home field and we play by my rules."

"No offense to Sir Aron here, but I thought I would be training with you, Kel," began Joren, almost sounding like he was whining. "Hey! I'm not some second-year page you can foist off onto someone else! I came here to train with you and that's what I intend to do."

"Well, Joren, I am quite busy this week," explained Kel, trying to sound very diplomatic, "So you and I definitely will get together to make the plans for the guard escort, but I don't know if I will be able to squeeze in time to train with you. Aron and I get up very early in the morning to complete my training before most of the fort is awake. I assure you, training with Aron will be just as good as, if not better than, training with me. He's the best." "As a matter of fact, Aron will probably let you off easier than I ever will."

"But ..." Joren was going to demand that Kel train with him, but she cut him off. "Aron, huh? You two get up early, do you? 'Fringe benefits' indeed!"

"Maybe we can set up a match for later in the week," she quickly said, "I'll see what I can do to make time for you, alright? Again, welcome to Fort Stonebridge." "Good luck, Aron! Joren looks fit to be tied."

Kel opened her desk drawer and pulled out a document and left the room in a hurry. She really had no place to go, but it was all part of her grand plan to frustrate Joren into showing his true colors. Kel knew Joren had changed in some ways, but she was sure that deep down inside, he was still a snake. Thinking of Aron's snake story, Kel reminded herself she only intended to pick up the snake, and not put him inside her jacket.

Aron escorted Joren to the armory, where the lord of Stone Mountain received padded training clothes, as well as a training staff, sword, shield and lance. All of his equipment had been outfitted with as much hidden extra weight as Kel felt she could get away with. This would be just a little payback for Joren's tricks from their page days. Kel knew that in the long run, she truly had benefited from the extra weight in all her practice gear, so she figured Joren would do well to train with the extra weight from the start, too.

After three days of sparing with Aron, Joren was exhausted. He had thought he was making good progress when he trained with his men-at-arms at Stone Mountain, but he realized that training with professional soldiers and officers made a huge difference in the quality of his workouts. Joren was still getting up early to do his version of Kel's morning exercises, but he was not about to get up before the crack of dawn to spar against Kel. Aron could have her all to himself at that hour of the day.

All the while, Kel was watching Joren train. She took note of which moves he favored, the way he held his sword, the patterns he followed most often, and his demeanor with his sparring partners. She was surprised at how gracious Joren was with his opponents. The old Joren she remembered would have bossed people around and belittled them if they got in his way. This Joren seemed to have much more control over his temper and even seemed to quickly forgive any accidental hard knocks or body blows.

Finally, on the last day before he was due to return to Stone Mountain, Kel decided to give Joren his match. She and Aron had gone over every detail from every workout and so she felt prepared. Joren had similar strengths and skills to her own, but she still had the advantage over him. Her men, Aron included, had never defeated Kel on the practice yard. Also, she had been training extra hard with Aron both early in the morning and late in the evening, when Joren was nowhere in sight. What Kel didn't know, was that Joren had been watching her, too.

Early on during the week, when Joren had gotten up late at night to use the privy, he heard the faint sounds of clanking swords. He quietly padded to a dark balcony and watched as Kel and Aron sparred. At first he was angry that she made time for sparring with Aron, but not for him. Then he decided to use the observations to his advantage. Joren was mesmerized by the ways Kel moved. She was all a blur of fluid motion with a sword or a glaive. He knew he would have to be at his best to beat her. Joren tucked away every scrap of information he could remember about Kel's fighting style and felt ready when she finally told him she had time for a match against him. He was looking forward to it.

A/N: I know there's some OOC action in this chapter, but please don't flame me. My story is about 'Redemption', so some things have to change or the story would stand as originally written by TP. I just hope you enjoy my version. Please read and review. Thanks!