Mage Storms
Chapter 5: Campfire Talk
Disclaimer: Any characters you recognize from the Tortall books belong to Tamora Piece. All others belong to me.
A/N:
Sorry I've been away for so long! That book took longer than I thought (it was horrible!) and then I got so side tracked because of my school work and lots of other stuff… Anyway I am back to writing again. Enjoy-
Dom and Neal sat silently in front of a crackling fire. The men had all gone to sleep, their snores echoing through the cave. Dom wondered how in the world Kel could sleep though that but she did nevertheless.
Dom decided that now was the time to talk to Neal. "I am sorry about what I said earlier. I know it was not your fault."
Neal looked at him, mischief glittering in his emerald eyes. "I know," He said with a smirk. "You just needed someone to blame for what happened. After all…" Neal leaned around the other man's shoulder to look at a certain slumbering lady knight. Dom followed his gaze. Thank the gods she is still asleep. Dom thought. He did not want her to hear the conversation that he knew would ensue.
Neal turned to look back at Dom, his eyebrows raised impishly. "So when are you going to tell her?"
"I don't know- never," Dom said, looking down at the knife he was sharpening. This seems sharp enough to plunge through Neal's-
"Well if you don't someone else may come along, and you know I can't let that happen," Neal told him. He had seen his cousin watch when Cleon was courting Kel. He saw the pain in his eyes when Kel and Cleon were together. "And from what I hear, Cleon has been having a somewhat unhappy marriage…"
Dom looked up and Neal knew he had hit the sore spot. "You won't say a word to her. And Cleon is married. He would never- and Kel would never-"
"You don't know that. They just might, unless you make sure he never even has a chance. And yes, I would."
Kel awoke soundlessly from her dream. Her heart was racing from the encounter with the Queen of Chaos. She was about to turn when she heard voices.
"I don't know- never." It was Dom's voice.
"Well if you don't someone else may come along, and you know I can't let that happen. And from what I hear, Cleon has been having a somewhat unhappy marriage…" –Neal. What could they be talking about? Kel wondered.
"You won't say a word to her. And Cleon is married. No matter how unhappily he would never- and Kel would never-" Kel covered her mouth with her hands to keep her gasp from telling them she was awake. Me. They're talking about me.
"You don't know that," Neal interrupted. They just might, unless you make sure he never even has a chance. And yes, I would," said Neal. Kel detected a hint of knowledge in his voice. Why do men have to be so confusing?
They stopped talking and Kel faked a sneeze, alerting them to her presence before the conversation could continue. She got up and the cave swirled around her. She was about to fall but was found in strong arms. She looked up to see Dom's blue eyes and stifled a gasp.
He helped her over to the fire and sat her down. "Feeling better Kel?" Neal asked. When she wasn't looking he shot a glance towards his cousin.
"How do you think I feel meathead?" Dom chuckled as he placed a warm blanket around her shoulders, his hands resting there for a second longer than needed. Neal came over and placed a cool, glowing hand on her head. Kel remembered the glowing potions on Uusoe's shelves as Neal's Gift strengthened her.
"Neal either you stop asking stupid questions or just stop talking altogether," Dom said.
Kel broke into laughter at Neal's face. it was priceless. The prospect of not talking was crazy when thinking of Neal. "OUCH! Dom, don't make me laugh it hurts!"
Dom handed her a bowl of food, smiling. "Sorry Kel. He doesn't make it hard." After Kel ate she looked into the fire. Uusoe looked back at her. Remember, Trisophone will be watching. Never let your guard down, not for a second.
Kel looked wind hissed, a sound like that Trisophone made. T fire flickered and Uusoe was gone. Kel looked back to her friends to see Dom's eyes resting on her. He knew something was wrong.
"I think I'll go get some shut eye. We've a long journey tomorrow," Neal said. "Kel, before I go to sleep I would like a word with you." Dom shook his head and glared at him. "If you so much as hint," Dom whispered into Neal's ear as he passed him to go sit down. He took the knife he had been sharpening and pointed it at Neal then made a fake stab at him. Neal took Kel and led her outside of the cave. He risked a look at Dom and saw the man staring at him, sharpening his sword now, louder than needed. Neal winked and turned away.
Kel tightened the blanket around her to keep out the cold. "What is it that you need to speak to me about Neal?"
A/N:
Hope you liked it! I tried to do a bit of a cliffy at the end there. Tell me if it did was good of if it totally crashed and burned. Please review!!!!!! And once more so sorry for the long wait!!!!!!!!!