Wow I finally wrote this chapter. Unlike my other story this one doesn't have much of a cliffhanger at the end. So rejoice in that. And there's a big surprise in this chapter but nobody can kill me over it because that would mean no more chapters.
Anyway, a big humongous thank you goes out to SarahE7191 who is my Beta for this story and What You Let Go Part 2. And who also runs the C2 Community Kel Kicked Out which I am a staff member. Go on and check it out there are tons of stories on there. Also check out my other stories and leave reviews for them.
Luna A. Dust: Hehehe, yes he said fluffy, I always wanted Wyldon to say something like that.
Wastxd1symphony: No!!!!!! Kel's not pregnant Yuki is. I was talking about Yuki's morning sickness. I think I could write about a pregnant Kel though, I don't care if she is married or not but I think pregnant Kel would be fun to be around.
No1AngelKnight: I'm trying to write more and more. Hope this chapter satisfies you.
Pie of Doomeh: So many questions. And I can't answer a single one. But I can give you another chapter.
Bookworm1992: Awww, how sweet. I'm glad you like it. I always wished that she had written another book. I think Mrs. Pierce left so many questions open for us so we could write fanfiction. But I still really want her to write another story.
Also, none of this belongs to me. All credit goes to the great and wonderful Tamora Pierce.
Oh and incase I don't get another chapter up before Christmas, Happy Christmas everyone.
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Kel followed Fanche and Saefas, listening as they showed her the progress that had been made in the past week on the wall. They showed her the area that had been decided on for the rough huts and hammered out the last details that had been looked over in the meeting. As they walked through the laborers, Kel made a point to stop and talk to them, answering any questions they had and assuring them of their safety and that of their families. They had made a full circle around the work area just as it was getting too dark to see. Kel bid goodbye to Fanche and Saefas and made her way to her rooms so that she could change out of the mud stained clothes and mud caked boots she was wearing.
Tobe was just pouring the last bucket of warm water into the tub in the corner of her room when she came in. He bowed to her, and then picked up his staff before leaving; telling Kel that he was going to make up for the practice he had missed that morning.
Kel sat at her desk for a moment before sighing and stripping off the muddy clothes and stepping into the warm water. Tobe had set out her soaps as usual, beside the tub and Kel reached for a bar and a washrag. She scrubbed herself thoroughly, and then used a different soap on her hair lathering it until the top of her head was covered in white soapsuds. Kel ducked her head under the water holding her breath and shook her head while running her fingers through her hair to get all the soap out. She sat up wiping the water from her eyes and leaned against the back of the warm tub. She wrung the washrag out and draped it over the side of the tub. Her eyes were caught by a white piece of parchment sticking out of the pocket of her muddy tunic. Dom's letter, she thought, remembering that she still hadn't read it. Kel leaned out of the tub and pulled it from the pocket. She ripped it open and pulled out the paper inside. She frowned; it was only one sheet of parchment. Normally their letters were at least two pages usually more. Kel unfolded it, took in the hasty signature and blotched ink; she could tell he had written it in a hurry and was somewhat relieved. She looked at the date and realized Raoul must have been carrying it around for some time. She read the letter twice before she understood what he had hastily written down. Dom had started by telling her about the King and Queen deciding to change a law permitting the King's Own and Riders to marry and remain in service. Then Dom explained how he was going to train with Flyndan and Second Company before he met up with Raoul at New Hope.
Kel was as confused by the letter as she was excited that Dom would be joining them soon. She folded the letter and put it on the shelf above her head before getting out of the tub. Kel pulled a dressing gown around her body as she went to her wardrobe and picked out clean clothes for supper. She pulled a russet colored tunic over her breast band and dark brown breaches over her loincloth. Kel ran a comb through her wet hair then pulled it back into a loose braid. Kel searched for her other pair of boots as she contemplated what the changing of such a law would mean for Tortall. When she found the boots she pulled them and a pair of thick socks on.
She picked up the muddy clothes and put them in the wicker basket she and Tobe used for their dirty clothes, by the door. Kel buckled her dagger to her belt and gathered the usual things she needed before she left her room for supper.
In the mess she gratefully took the roast chicken, squash, and fried potatoes from the cooks. She picked her way through the crowd of soldiers and towns people, making her way to the table Raoul was sitting at. She sat down across from him and Wyldon, while they were talking about someone she didn't know.
When they stopped talking Kel spoke up. "Sir, why would the King change the marriage rule for the Own and Riders now?"
Raoul shrugged. "He was pressured a bit but the main reason is because now that the war is coming to an end, warriors are thinking about settling down. It happens after every war. Just you wait, in about ten months the realm will have a population growth." Kel looked at him doubtfully. "The Own had a total of sixty-two men planning on resigning and the Riders had well over that amount and most of them were senior officers who had been with us for years."
"The King and Queen knew that they couldn't afford to have that many warriors leave for something that could be easily corrected. Besides, Knights don't have to give up their life's work to have families so why should other warriors have to make those sacrifices? Aren't they just as important?" Wyldon explained.
Kel nodded her head in understanding. "Every time I talk about politics it reminds me how happy I am that I became a warrior instead of following in my parent's footsteps."
"Ah but Kel just think of the uproar you have caused over the last ten years. You've been in the center of politics that you didn't even know about." Raoul reminded her.
Kel shuddered. "Don't remind me." She said before picking up her tray and leaving the men behind in the near empty mess hall.
Kel stopped just outside the doors, and took in the familiar chirping of crickets and owl calls that took over the early night sky. She could just make out the first stars poking through the blue-black sky above her. Kel heard someone call her name from just inside the mess hall doors. She turned and saw Emmit emerging from the mess hall, grinning at her.
"Shall I lead the Lady of the Fief to the fires?" he asked bowing to her with an over exaggerated hand gesture.
Kel snorted in laughter. "Only if you never do that again." She told him feigning seriousness. Emmit smiled and walked side-by-side with Kel to the main fire. They sat down on a log together and listened to the story that was already being told by a large Bazhir about The Burning Brightly One and The Dark One. Kel had heard the story so many times by now, and she knew the truth behind the legend. Kel saw Tobe and his friends sitting on the beaten earth leaning forward hanging on every word coming from the soldier's lips.
Emmit excused himself, getting up and going to a fire close by. Kel noticed a large pot brewing over the low flames and the tin cups that were sitting around the edge. Emmit picked up two and taking the ladle from inside the pot he filled them. Kel accepted the cup from him when he returned and took a sip of the scalding liquid. She tasted cider spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon.
Everyone at the fire traded stories and songs, most of which everyone knew but occasionally something new would come up. Kel, after some expert goading on Tobe's part, even told a short story about the first Yamani emperor and how a waving cat drew him off the side of the road and out of the way of an assassin's arrow.
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Dom called up to the guards on the parapets of New Hope. He was let in after only a few minutes wait. Dom had arrived later then he had planned but nothing could keep his spirits down for too long tonight. He had gone over the plan throughout his entire journey to New Hope. Nothing was going to stop him, it was the first thing he would do upon arriving.
Dom rode through the gate and dismounted. A young stable hand was instantly by his side, waiting to take over his horse's reins and another to take his bags to his assigned room. He grabbed the shoulder of the girl leading his horse away and knelt down in front of her.
"Young lady could you spare a small boon for a road weary soldier?" he asked her giving her a sorrowful look.
The young girl giggled and nodded her head.
"Thank you." He said graciously. "Could you point this unworthy soldier to the direction of your esteemed commander, Lady Keladry?"
The girl giggled again. "I think she is over by the main fire." She said pointing to it.
Dom stood up and bowed to her. She curtsied despite her lack of skirts and led his horse away. Dom could make out Kel's form against the flame and strode through the shadows to reach her.
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Soon after Kel's story one of the refugee's, a woman native to the Copper Islands, agreed to do a dance with knives. The group at the fire watched her with apt attention. She nearly dropped one of the knives in an expert toss and Kel, startled, grabbed Emmit's hand. She turned to him when she felt him squeeze it tighter. Before she knew what was happening he pressed his lips to hers momentarily before pulling back.
Kel blinked her eyes once then looked around to see if anybody had seen. She didn't spot anyone looking at them; most were still watching the woman dancing.
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Dom stopped in mid step the smile that had been nervously plastered onto his face falling in an instant. His anger flared up when he saw their lips touching, and then his heart skipped a beat when he saw Kel looking around to see if anyone had seen the kiss. He shrank back into the shadows and didn't wait to see what happened next. Instead he turned his back and in shock began to walk farther into the shadows.
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Kel dropped Emmit's hand and leaned back, her brows snapping together in confusion. Emmit looked at her questioningly. Kel grabbed him by the elbow and pulled him away from the fire unnoticed by everyone but Tobe. She let go of his arm, trusting that he would follow her, and led the way looking for a place that they could talk privately. They ended up at the fenced in horse corral. Enough light was coming out of the open windows of the stables that they could see each other but were still far enough away that nobody within would hear them.
Kel turned to look at Emmit then looked away, not knowing what to say. Her mind was whirling, why hadn't she noticed before that he liked her that way. I'm too stupid to be a girl, Kel thought, I didn't even know Cleon liked me until months after he kissed me.
Kel looked up when she heard the clopping of hooves on the grass near them. A brown mare came into the light grazing quietly on the grass near them
"Kel, I…" Emmit began.
Kel cut him off when she put her hand on his shoulder. "Emmit, if I led you on, I'm sorry. I'm just so used to being with you that I didn't even realize. I'm sorry Emmit, I can't."
Emmit sighed. "You really didn't give me any reason to think that you were thinking the same thing as I was. I just really wanted you to and with the change in the Own's rules I thought maybe…" He stopped. Kel looked at him and saw he was smiling. "I could make you really happy Kel, if only you'd give me a chance."
"Emmit…" Kel pleaded.
"I know. I'm not the one."
Kel looked at him again. "What do you mean?"
"I mean I'm not the one you are meant to love. Kel, you're one of those people who is destined to have an epic love tale, one that will be told for years to come. I had just hoped I could be part of it."
"I don't know about that." Kel told him wondering where her friend had gotten such a strange idea.
Emmit just smiled at her and shrugged his shoulders. "Friends?" he said with a sigh.
"Friends." Kel affirmed. Emmit extended his hand for Kel to shake. She ignored it and leaned towards him to give him a kiss on his cheek. "Your still part of my story and I hope I'll be part of yours."
Emmit gave her a sad smile. "You just tell whoever you fall in love with to watch out." He warned. "Come on I'll walk you back to the fires."
"Actually I think I'm going to go to bed. Thanks anyway." She replied.
Emmit shrugged his shoulders again and walked away his hands stuffed into his pockets, the picture of dejection.
Kel sighed to herself and buried her hands in her head. What a strange day it had been. The mare came up and lipped the hem of her shirt sleeve in her mouth. Kel pet her muzzle before heaving herself off the fence rail and walking back to her room.
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Dom found his way to the infirmary and found himself walking slowly up the back stairway to his cousin's rooms. He stopped before the door and contemplated what he was doing there before knocking anyway. He leaned against the wall, waiting for the door to be opened. When it was finally opened Yuki stood there instead of Neal.
"Dom!" She exclaimed surprise barely registering through her Yamani calm. "We didn't know when you were going to get here." Dom forced himself to smile. Yuki grew worried as she took in his appearance. "Come in Dom."
He walked through the door and waited just inside not knowing what to do. He looked around and saw no sign of Neal, he didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Have a seat Dom." Yuki lead him over to some pillows and pushed him down on them. "Have you had anything to eat yet?" she asked.
Dom broke out of his stupor and shook his head no. "I'm not hungry." He said his voice hollow.
Yuki grunted as she maneuvered herself and her swollen belly into a sitting position opposite of Dom. "Neal's working on his inventory for Lord Wyldon so he'll be out late. Do you need to talk about something?" She ventured.
Dom looked at her startled, indecision written on his face. Suddenly his face broke and he put his head in his hands. "When did it happen?" he asked.
Yuki looked at him. "When did what happen?"
"When did Kel start courting someone?" he mumbled.
Yuki couldn't help but stare openly at him her expression taking on a look of surprise. "I didn't know she had." She said cautiously as if talking to a scared child.
"I just saw her by the fire…kissing somebody. I saw it with my own eyes." Dom ran his hands through his hair then clenched them into tight fists. "And I was going to, to…" Dom looked at Yuki feeling guilty and ashamed.
"Dom, Kel is her own woman we can't treat her like a child. She's courted men before." Yuki didn't really know what to say to him. She couldn't quite gage why he was so upset.
"I know that but I was going to tell her as soon as I got here. I wanted to tell her in my letters but I knew it would never work. And then I got promoted and had to go to second company."
Yuki didn't say anything an idea forming in her mind.
"It was supposed to be me." Dom said leaning his head back and looking at the ceiling.
Yuki could have hit herself for not seeing it before. He wasn't worried about her as a friend he was morning the loss of her love. "Oh Dom." Yuki couldn't stop herself from saying it.
Dom looked at her and Yuki couldn't help but think he looked like a lost child. "What did I do wrong?"
"You didn't do anything Dom." Yuki told him. "Are you sure it was Kel you saw?"
"I'd know her figure anywhere." Dom answered his cheeks coloring.
"Did you see who she was with?"
Dom shook his head. "I couldn't tell, I didn't see his face, but he looked familiar."
"Dom, maybe you shouldn't jump to conclusions. Maybe it was an accident. She hasn't mentioned anyone and I'm sure she would have told Neal. And you know Neal he can't keep a secret for anything. Plus this place is like a sieve, it's worse than the palace." Yuki told him reassuringly.
Dom looked happier with every word. "You're right. I mean Neal is so nosy he would have known. But you know who else would definitely know, Tobe." Dom said jumping up from the floor. Yuki got up to and walked him to the door.
"I'm glad we had this talk Dom."
Dom turned around and gave his cousin's wife a kiss on the cheek. He felt her belly and smiled. "Any day now."
Yuki smiled and ushered him out of the apartment. With a happy bounce in his step he descended the stairs and went to find his rooms.
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I demand reviews. Please. With a cherry on top.