"I just can't believe Dom doesn't care who wrote the note anymore, there has to be a reason he lost interest," said Fulcher addressing his fellow soldiers.
"I don't see what difference knowing makes when there is no way we can find out without the list, Dom says he lost it," replied Wolset indifferently. He was bored with duty but the investigation of Dom's lady love hadn't broken the monotony and he was losing interest.
He was hoping Raoul would arrive shortly, he was due to come and then the squad would be back on active duty. Even with the war ended there was a great need for soldiers. Patrols were needed and problems with bandits had increased inland due to the lack of soldiers to deal with them. There was no end of work to be done and Wolset couldn't wait to get back to it, besides if anyone could find out what was going on with Dom it was Raoul.
Three Days Later
Raoul road through the gates of New Hope in a fairly good mood, married life agreed with him and the war had been won quite nicely. Now he just had to deliver a message to the men and he could return to Buri, who was already expecting their first child. He was hoping for a daughter but Buri insisted it would be a boy, they actually had a wager on it.
Kel met him just inside the gate with a smile "welcome to New Hope Commander, I heard about your wedding, congratulations."
He laughed "yes well Buri and I wanted you to be there but we didn't want to wait. Of course she is quite upset that I got to come here while she has to remain home. She sent her regrets."
It was Kel's turn to laugh "somehow I think that if she's been waylaid by her pregnancy, she had a lot more than that to say, I imagine she's quite cross with you at the moment." "She probably would be if she weren't so thrilled about the babe, as it is she is being surprisingly amiable about it," Raoul replied. They reached the mess hall where the men were eating and Kel left Raoul to seek his meal with promises to meet later so he could deliver his reports to her formally.
Raoul strode into the mess to greet his men. The whole third company was present. Kel's own men were manning the walls and attack was unlikely at this point anyway. The fort was actually in the process of being dismantled. With the war over the refugee camps weren't needed and efforts were being focused on helping rebuild the destroyed villages so citizens could return home.
"Eh Raoul, 'bout time you got here, we been bored out of our minds, with nothing to do," called Wolset from across the hall.
Fulcher shook his head "it wasn't all that bad. Dom's got an admirer. That was entertaining for a few days, 'till he lost the list."
"Uh what list?" asked Raoul.
"Some lady made a list of what she admired about Dom and we found it. Dom was having us look into who wrote it but then he lost the list." Someone explained.
"Lost interest before that, he did," interjected Fulcher, "Dom told me it didn't matter anymore, that he had no interest in some random maid."
"Sounds like Dom's interest is occupied on matters other than investigation, and the only thing that can get Dom's mind off a new lady love is, well, a new lady love," stated Raoul with a laugh, Dom had interfered and harassed him during his courtship, if you could call it that, of Buri, and revenge would be sweet.
"Hey Masbolle, what's this your squad's been telling me? You have yourself a love interest."
Dom froze at the sound of Raoul's voice. Had he found out about his relationship with Kel? "Can't say I'm sure what you're talking about," opting for ignorance.
Raoul arched a brow "I take that interesting attempt at evasion to mean that your squad's right and you found out who wrote that list but refuse to tell."
Dom swallowed and turned away. "I simply had better things to do with my time that hunt a mystery woman." Raoul laughed "Ah Dom, I've known you to long for that. You're always willing to seek out a willing woman. So are you going to give me a name or am I going to have to find the answer myself?"
Dom smiled, adopting his typical care-free attitude "you can look but there's nothing to find out." Raoul shook his head and walked away still smiling. Dom's smile disappeared, he had to warn Kel. She wouldn't be happy about this, they weren't ready to be found out, and, unlike his squad, Raoul would not be distracted from his investigation. The man would be like a dog with a bone.
Raoul left Dom behind and headed off to find Kel. There was clearly something different about Dom's new girl, he had never been so closed-mouthed before. It would be fun to unravel the mystery, and of course he had his announcement to make, but that could wait. He and Dom's squad weren't heading out again for awhile despite the belief that they would ride upon his arrival. He had business here before they moved on.
Kel was in her offices writing a report. When Raoul entered she glanced up. "You know, every time I am forced into this office I could swear that Wyldon sent me here to spite me, despite his words to the contrary. I need more clerks."
"You always did love your clerks, I'll let Wyldon know but with the refugee camps disbanding you'll likely be reassigned and not need them anymore." Raoul was smiling.
Excitement and regret warred when she heard this, she would get to fight in battles like she had been trained to do and this time without the risk of being exiled or hung for treason because she was disobeying orders and crossing into enemy territory, but she would miss the camp and its people, even more than that she would miss seeing Dom every day.
"How soon do they think New Hope will be disbanded?" asked Kel. "Within the month is the estimate" said Raoul, his voice soft with understanding.
Shaking off the contemplation she turned her attention back to Raoul. "So, what brings you to my office?" "I have some dispatches for you to read but what I really want to talk about is Dom." Kel had to recall her Yamani calm not to react and give herself away. "What about Dom?" "The men are saying that he's seeing someone and I'm curious, you seem to know everything about those in your care, while Dom isn't exactly in your care I thought it might extend to him. So…do you know who it is?"
"Dom's seeing someone? I had no idea. I try not to pry into anyone's private life. It tends to cause problems." Kel turned away as she spoke to prevent Raoul from seeing the blush that lightly colored her cheeks. Her Yamani mask was definitely not what it used to be, she should probably travel back to the isles for a time to work on that. In a society where it wasn't necessary to control one's emotions she was softening. Of course she didn't always mind but in this situation it would have been helpful.
"Well, me and the men are going to figure it out, if you're interested you can help." Raoul said before leaving the room. Kel had been acting odd without a doubt. He had a feeling she knew more than she was telling. Maybe Dom had made her promise to keep quiet but she definitely knew something.
Tobe was waiting outside Kel's door, "whatcha talking to Kel 'bout" he asked Raoul not bothering to mask his suspicion. "Hey you little baggage, I see she hasn't broken you of the habit of eavesdropping yet," said Raoul.
"Its helped her enough that I reckon she's grateful of it by now anyway." Tobe replied.
"Well you clearly missed my discussion with her and I have no intention of reiterating it for you." Tobe scowled "what's riterate mean?" Raoul laughed and strolled away. There was another one who probably knew what was going on around here. He seemed to know everything, shame the only person he'd tell anything was Kel. Tobe may even have been how she found out about Dom's lady friend.
"So here's the plan, we don't have the list anymore so we can't compare writing but since Dom knows and both Kel and Tobe also seem to know we can still find out who Dom is seeing," said Fulcher to Raoul and the rest of the Third Company.
"Uh, how exactly are we going to manage that? Unless you plan on torturing Kel she's pretty closed mouthed, hell I doubt she'd talk even then, she won't be telling anyone who it is and Tobe doesn't tell anyone but Kel what he knows." said Wolset.
"I hardly think that torture is what we are looking for here so it doesn't really matter if Kel would crack. Besides I imagine there would be several protests to a group of soldiers using torture to appease there curiosity." Raoul said dryly before Fulcher cut him off and continued speaking "Here's what we'll do…"
Dom stood in his room staring at the note that had just arrived. It really was shocking sometimes, how stupid his men could be. He laughed and pocketed it to show Kel later, she would be just as amused. The note was a flowery love letter. Dearest Domitan, meet me in my room and 20:00, I'll be waiting anxiously for your arrival. Clearly they had planned to follow him to his assignation and discover his lover, they hadn't given up on finding the note writer and they were aware Dom had figured it out. It was amusing because not only would Kel never write him a note like that, they believed he was seeing one of the refugees but they failed to realize that refugees didn't use military time. Besides He and Kel had already made plans to meet.
Dom laughed and left his room to go to the mess. He would talk to Kel later, no need to draw attention to Kel by going to see here right after receiving the note. It wasn't like Raoul to be part of a venture that left so much to chance. A good commander didn't leave things to chance so it was unlikely that the note was the entirety of the plan to uncover who he was seeing.
Later that night Kel and Dom lay in bed talking softly, "you know they're going to find out eventually?" asked Dom.
"I do, I thought it would be a secret longer but with Raoul here there is little chance of that. The note today was priceless though, Dearest Domitan" Kel laughed, "How did you manage to get here without them finding out though?"
"They set Fulcher to watch me, right now I imagine he is still standing outside the privy wondering what is wrong with me, either that or he's realized I vanished and they are trying to determine my whereabouts. I should probably go soon though, if we don't want to be found out yet."
"Lets keep them hanging awhile longer, their attempts are amusing, and I want to see what Raoul is actually planning. That note is just the tip of this iceberg."
Just then someone started pounding on Kel's door. "Wake up Commander, Dom's missing." Kel pushed Dom out of the bed and got up, "it's your turn to hide in the wardrobe" she hissed grabbing her clothes and thanking the heavens that they had met in her room. If they had been in Dom's room the men would have entered rather than knocked." Dom was grinning and whispered, "You know, you're going to have to tell me when you hid in the wardrobe later." Blushing she pushed him into the wardrobe before heading to her door to greet her nocturnal visitor.
Kel scowled at Fulcher and Wolset who were standing outside her door with equally false expressions of innocence "Why are you trying to pound my door down in the middle of the night?"
"Dom's gone missing, we wanted to form a search party to find him."
Refusing to let them know she knew exactly where Dom was she prevaricated "isn't it likely that he's just with one of his women somewhere, I hardly think not finding him in his bed calls for a search party. We haven't had any attacks or any reason to suspect something happened to Dom."
"Tsk Kel, I thought you were the Protector of the Small, and who qualifies for that title better than Dom? Surely Dom requires the same effort as your refugees"
A noise came from the wardrobe and Kel's glare was no longer just for impressions, it was all she could do not to glance at the wardrobe, "stop that Jump" Dom was not one to take an insult without comment, she just prayed that he would let it pass this once so her impression that Jump had made the noise could stand. "That was below the belt Giant-killer, I knew my refugees needed aid and Dom doesn't. You just want me to authorize a search so you can all find out who he's seeing. I have no intention of disrupting everyone's sleep to appease your curiosity."
"Aw, I'll bet the only reason you aren't curious is because you already know," said Flyndan.
Kel gave a little half smile and replied "maybe I do," before she shut the door on them all and bolted it.
She let Dom out of the wardrobe but she pressed her finger to her lips signaling quiet while they waited for the men in the hall to depart. When the last of the footsteps faded away she allowed herself to smile at Dom who was wearing an expression between amusement and annoyance. "I do not qualify for the category of small and I do not need protection!" he said. Changing the subject Kel replied "so you want to know when I was in a wardrobe do you?"
"Actually, yes, you have to admit it's difficult to imagine you hiding in a wardrobe"
"Do you remember the day Tobe told you I had a message for you?"
"I thought that was a touch odd when you had nothing to tell me, it would have been interesting if Tobe hadn't come to the rescue. I wonder how long you would have hid there to keep from being discovered," said Dom.
Kel smiled "I'm going to make sure the coast is clear before you go." She popped her head out and was greeted by an empty hall, so with one last kiss she sent Dom back to his own room.
"Well we still haven't figured out who Dom is seeing, so much for your infallible plan Fulcher" said Wolset annoyed. Raoul laughed, "that was a bit too easy to fool Dom, and he knows enough to avoid traps."
"If you knew it wasn't going to work why didn't you say anything earlier?" asked Fulcher annoyed at the lack of success.
"I was just curious about something and you wanted to try something, there was always a chance that Dom wouldn't be on guard and you would succeed, now if you'll excuse me I have to speak with Neal before I turn in." Raoul left the room with a shrewd little smile.
"Hey Neal, did you hear about Dom's crush?" Raoul asked in a deceptively offhand tone. Neal started abruptly, nearly dropping the operating tray he held and confirming Raoul's suspicions.
"I have no idea what you talking about, does someone have a crush on Dom?" asked Neal nervously.
"All the men are talking about it, it seems that someone wrote a list about Dom. Everyone suspects that he found out who wrote it but refuses to tell, Fulcher and Wolset have convinced the entire Third Company that Dom is now involved with the writer."
"She's seeing him now! I can't bloody believe that she let him find out, she was terrified that he would!" the words spilled out of Neal.
"Seems you do have some idea of what I'm talking about after all." Raoul headed towards the door, content with what he had found out today. As he left he called over his shoulder "Don't worry, I imagine Kel is quite happy Dom found out. She was hiding him in her room after all." Neal's jaw dropped and Raoul whistled as he headed towards his room.
He suspected Kel may have been the girl interested in Dom from the moment he had discussed him with her earlier. When she hadn't allowed the men to search for him his suspicions were confirmed. Even if it were unlikely something had happened to Dom, Kel wouldn't take the risk that he was missing. She would have allowed the search unless she already knew where he was, and of course there was the fact that while Kel had told Jump to quiet down as if he were bumping around her room but Raoul had seen the dog sniffing around the kitchens moments before. He had a feeling that this would make the response to his announcement even better.
Of course before he got to that he had to make Dom's life difficult, he knew the girl he just had to get a confession, after Buri it was the least Dom deserved.
The next day Raoul walked into breakfast smiling. Kel, Dom and the rest of the camp were already there, with the exception of those manning the walls. "Hey Dom, since it seems like you were telling the truth and you don't have a love interest I have something to say that might interest you." Smiling casually Dom asked "what would that be?"
"Seems Lady Clara really enjoyed your uh…company last time you were in the capital, you have a lovely girl awaiting your return, and of course there's the bet, which should make life fun for you. We are going to head that way briefly when we leave here."
It was Kel rather than Dom who asked "what bet is that." She was smiling and her tone was amused but the amusement didn't reach her eyes which flashed with anger.
Raoul's smile grew, "several of the women have laid odds one who will be next to seduce our fair Dom into her bed." Kel's attempt to hide her reaction to that almost caused him to laugh, he did so enjoy stirring the pot.
Dom darted a nervous glance at Kel, "yes well…" he trailed off speechless, after all the only excuse for disinterest was involvement with someone and he had claimed that he was free. Raoul had neatly boxed him in.
"On to more important matters…" Raoul began and Dom stifled a sigh of relief, any more baiting and Kel looked like she'd burst, Yamani calm or not. Dom turned his attention to Raoul's speech "…and for that reason I would like to say that Domitan of Masbolle has been appointed co-commander of the King's Own." He grinned at Dom "Congratulations mate, you're the top brass now"
Dom stared blankly at his commander, co-commander now, what the hell had he missed during Raoul's speech. Raoul walked over and clapped him soundly on the back "you earned it."
"Wha—whe—why?" he stumbled.
Raoul looked at him oddly "As I said, I won't be able to be full duty anymore, what with Buri and the babe and now that the war is at an end full duty isn't entirely necessary anyway, so I petitioned the King and he allowed me to appoint a second in command for partial duty. That'd be you."
"So what does this mean for me?" asked Dom cautiously, plans forming in his mind.
"Same as it did when I became commander, decision making ability, more money, even a small fife. Oh and you can marry, since you'll need heirs for your lands one day." Raoul's wicked grin was back when he said that.
Dom glanced at Kel and heard Wolset release a hiss of breath, "no way."
He headed to her and spoke softly so no one else could hear "what's say we shock the garrison, I think Raoul is on to us anyway." Kel just grinned in response and murmured "this means hands off for Lady Clara and the other ladies of court."
In loud voice, before a rapt audience Dom asked "Lady Keladry of Mindelan would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
"Yes, of course" Kel responded grinning madly, now then as an after thought "I won't stop fighting though."
"I didn't think you would," Dom kissed her firmly before the gaping men and a grinning Raoul. Wolset nudged the man next to him with his elbow and spoke softly "looks like we've discovered Dom's lady love."
The End