Preparations and Reports Part 2

The men looked at Dom, sleeping in his bed a smile quite unlike those he normally wore on his face. Bets were being taken.

"Who's the girl this time? I bet 5 copper bits on it being Jaclyn from the Riders."

"No way, he always falls for proper court ladies! And you heard that …"

The words quieted as Dom yawned and opened his eyes, sitting up. He was a little surprised to see people surrounding his bed. He scowled. "What are you looking at?" His voice was very suspicious, and irritated. It had been their voices that woke him up from a dream he really shouldn't be happy about having.

The men just shook their heads, commenced teasing him, but didn't mention the betting. If they mentioned the betting he'd rig it. They were all wrong anyways.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Kel was not in the greatest of moods as she got up the next morning. She'd woken up later than she'd intended, partially because it had been a long day in the saddle the day before. Neal made them ride through the lunch hour so that he could be with his beloved all the sooner. Kel hadn't minded then, in eager hopes of visiting with Dom but she hadn't seen him yesterday!

She had sat up in her room fiddling around, unpacking, and waiting for Dom to show up. He hadn't, even though she was so sure he would. Dom normally came to greet her at the entry, or if he was out he always seemed to pop up later to tell her the latest pranks and jokes his squad had pulled. Her disappointing night didn't show on her face, as she purposely repressed those emotions, along with many others she'd felt over the years.

Her disappointment did come out in her attitude though. Normally, as Neal had complained about when they were pages, she was optimistic in the mornings. Today she had a slightly aggravated outlook on life. Neal got to deal with it, as she had news to impart to him, as she hadn't seen him since their arrival the evening before.

Dropping a tray of porridge and dried fruit on the wooden mess table next to Neal she nodded a greeting. "Lord Wyldon wants us to deliver reports at midday." She poured herself a glass of water, all that was served as a liquid at breakfast.

"But I told Yuki I'd meet her then.."

"You should have come to find out at supper then, before making plans."

Neal winced. "Sorry Neal, but really. You will have to ask to meet Yuki a little later, although then you'll run short of time since the wedding is in the evening."

Just then Dom walked into the room, a few of the Own joking with him. They went up and got trays and sat at a nearby table. Neal notice, intrigued, that Kel seemed to go quiet as she watched them come in, and that she looked down and focused on her porridge when he sat down. Her hand was loose and not holding anything sturdily, a sign of distraction.

Eventually Kel got up. The remainder of her morning was spent in silence as she did pattern dances with her glaive, Tobe working alongside her on more simple ones. At midday she found Neal waiting for her outside the "Stump's" study.

Knocking the two went in, Kel with an apologetic smile at Neal. Working with Tobe had burned off some of her bad mood.

Sitting down in his office they were both poured cups of cider. As a mage Neal rarely drank alcohol, and Kel secretly wondered if she were allergic to it for it to always cause her massive headaches no matter how little she drank. Kel set a small stack of papers on the desk.

"Our reports my Lord."

"Is everything running smoothly?"

Neal and Kel both reported in about everything, him about the new infirmary at New Hope, she about the running of the refugees and Merric's activities as the commander of the patrols. Everything was going well; after his rescue Idrius Valestone was even easier to deal with, although as more refugees trickled in some of them gave her momentary troubles.

Eventually he dismissed them, or Neal at least. "Keladry? A word?"

Looking apologetically at Neal she waited in the office as Neal closed the door. "It was mentioned to me that you seem a little quieter than usual since your arrival last night. Is there something that should be included in your report?"

Kel swallowed and repressed a blush. Glancing at her feet she gathered her courage. "No my Lord. It is nothing to do with New Hope. Merely something that is on my mind." 'Or perhaps my heart,' she thought to herself.

Wyldon nodded. Her 'stone' face was on. "Take care Keladry. You are important to the realm. Your well-being is of consequence. Think on that," he said as a way of dismissal.

Walking out of the room she found that Neal still awaited her. "What was that about? You've been off all day, Tobe even mentioned something to me, and now the Stump wants to talk to you?"

"Don't call him that Neal. He is our commander." She sighed. With Neal it was hard to keep a secret so she might as well tell him. "I'm just a little lonely is all," she said quietly, face smooth and straight.

Neal knew better than to ask any further, and by telling him she avoided teasing. Once she admitted to a flaw Neal was always considerate, but if she didn't admit to it…then she would be teased mercilessly until he forced her to deal with it.

"Kel…"

Shaking her head she walked off. "There's nothing you can do. Besides I need to make sure I'm cleaned up for the wedding."

Neal stood there standing in the hall. It wasn't until a familiar voice caught his attention that he realized he was staring after Kel. Even when he was her only friend at the palace she had never admitted to being lonely, what was different now?

"Why Sir Meathead, did you forget how to walk, standing there in the hall like a meathead?"

Neal turned around and scowled. "No, I was merely thinking, something a savage soldier like yourself wouldn't understand."

Dom grinned at Neal. "Oh and just what were you thinking about? Is it a woman perhaps?"

"As a matter of fact it is, although not who you suspect," he glared. "Something is off with Kel."

To Neal's perception Dom's face gained a mild rosy color. 'Aha! I wondered as much..' Neal thought with a grin as Dom excused himself.

"Don't tell me you have to get ready for the wedding already? Taking as long as any woman are we these days Madame Dominia?"

Dom's retreating form shook it's head.