"Keladry! Turn about, let me get a good look at you." The sharp, ringing tones of Baroness Dorota of Mindelan resounded in Kel's ears. The Lady Knight exhaled quickly and tried to pull a calm mask over her face. Grandmamma could be terrifying when she wanted something.

Kel slowly turned in a full circle. She was glad to be wearing her second best dress. Her skirts swished softly. She completed the move with an exquisite curtsey. Dorota harrumphed. "I see you did learn something in those eight years at the palace. This may not be as bad as I feared." The elderly woman seemed to be muttering to herself. Kel risked a look around. She still hadn't seen her mother, father or any of her family except Anders. And now Grandmamma.

Baroness Dorota barely reached Kel's shoulder. She walked with a strict, upright carriage, which supported her tendency to throw her nose in the air. Her hair should have appeared gray, but Dorota paid a mage to color it chestnut brown. The color seemed slightly out of place when juxtaposed with the deep lines of her aging face. Her steely gray eyes seemed to be sinking into her head, though her gaze was still direct and shrewd.

She wasn't a cruel woman, Kel decided, but Dorota was used to fighting hard for what she wanted. Her stubborn temper helped secure the Mindelan family among the ranks of Tortallian nobility. And Dorota made sure her family never forgot that.

"Of course, most of the muscle will have to go. A suitor will be looking for a woman, not a rock."

Kel silently decided to take Dorota's words as a compliment. At least it was better than being a lump. The woman had cornered Kel in her quarters. The room now felt small and restricting. Kel fervently wished she were staying in a tent instead. Suddenly, she understood Dom's inclination for mud and cold. It was better than listening to this.

"My child, you've wasted your best years. I was hoping that Pier's youngest would secure a name at least in the Book of Silver, but now…" She tutted and sighed. "We'll do our best." Forcefully, Dorota reached up and grabbed Kel's chin. The old woman's direct, commanding gaze burned into Kel's. "Tell me once, and I'll believe you. Have you ever lain—

"Milady mother, we were just looking for you." Ilene of Mindelan floated in, smiling as though she'd just watched the sunrise. Piers bounced behind her, his shorter legs worked furiously to keep pace with his wife. Ilene continued. "When we heard Kel had arrived, we knew you would be excited to see her." Like a sword, Ilene's words were double-edged. Ilene embraced her daughter. "We've seen Domitian already. He seems like a nice man." Ilene's eyes danced. Kel blushed.

"Domitian?" Dorota repeated.

Ilene curved her neck gracefully. "Domitian of Masbolle, Sergeant in the King's Own." She clarified. "I believe Kel has worked with him for years now; they both served under Lord Raoul during Kel's years as a Squire."

"The Masbolle family is in the book of GOLD!" Dorota crowed. She clapped her hands briskly. "Excellent, better than we could have hoped for. If he was roped into being your guest—to a wedding, no less—we are moments away from capturing him." There was a gleam of triumph in her eyes.

"This is a man, milady, not a wild horse." Ilene murmured, with a significant glance at Kel.

Kel barely controlled the urge to giggle…or snort. Her mirth faded abruptly as she realized how far the conversation had gone. Grandmamma had her already walking down the aisle with a man she considered 'just a friend.' Kel swallowed hard.

"Grandmamma, I asked Dom to come strictly as a friend. I don't think he'll take kindly to any marriage proposals." Her voice was soft, but firm. She would not compromise her friendship with Dom.

"Ah. I thought it sounded too good to be true." Dorota let out another small sigh. She patted Kel's hand sympathetically. The Lady's disappointed lasted only a few moments. "If he is not interested, we're back where we started. Anders has a young friend, Pavel of Pearlmouth; single and of age. We might try him first."

"Keladry, why don't you go greet your sisters? They're washing up for dinner. Third door down the hall, on your right." Ilene's voice allowed no argument. Kel nodded meekly and curtsied again. Then the Lady Knight retreated as fast as she could.

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Ilene rounded on her mother-in-law. "I told you my daughter will marry when she's ready." She snapped.

Piers bit back a groan. "Dearest, she's only trying—

"She'll never marry at all, stuck up in those Northern Mountains, surrounded by peasants!" Dorota retorted. Her nose lifted in a disgusted sniff.

"We're descended from peasants, mother, as you well know." Piers correctly quietly.

"Merchants." Dorota amended. "What was the girl thinking, bringing a man 'as a friend'?" She nearly spat out the phrase. "She might as well confess to all the murmurings about her modesty."

Piers could swear he saw lightening emanate from his wife's eyes. Ilene's face was smooth and Yamani calm, but her eyes spoke volumes. "Keladry cannot be married off without our consent." Ilene's words were thick and enunciated. "My three other daughters and all my sons are well married." She gazed coolly at Dorota. "Do not let your greed consume yourself or Keladry. You will live only long enough to regret it."

With that, Ilene swept out of the room, chin held high and defiant. Piers shook his head and followed. And they were here to celebrate someone else's wedding. That Kennan lad, Iness's old squire.

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By the time Kel reached the dining hall, she had long since lost her appetite. Her sisters had grown older—or more mature, as they would insist—and they made a point of sharing their newfound wisdom with their errant savage of a sister. Kel's hair was now mercilessly pinned and tied in a tight braid, she reeked of perfume and there were smears of kohl around her eyes.

It took all six years of her Yamani training in order to keep a scowl off her face. She had faced plenty of ridicule as a page, as a squire and even as a knight, but never had she felt so ridiculous.

The Kennan dining hall showed signs of recent repair, but the guests pretended not to notice. Kel estimated fifty people in all. She also noted that her family accounted for a considerable percentage of the whole. People's attire was casual, but clean.

She ducked her head low and found a seat as far from the betrothed pair as possible. Tobe appeared at her elbow, dressed in his finest tunic and hose. "Milady?" He asked timidly. He took in her appearance, and his young head tilted to one side. He frowned. "You smell funny." He said finally.

His voice was so sincere that Kel had to laugh. She shook her head ruefully. "You're lucky you have no siblings." She informed him. He nodded dutifully in agreement.

"Tobe, the musicians are looking for a soprano. If you're…Kel?" Dom froze as Kel turned to face him. The sergeant whistled. He tucked his arms across his chest. "Kel, we're going to have to register that dress as one of your weapons."

Kel scowled in earnest. "Here I am, feeling vulnerable, and you're making fun of me." She tried not to show her disappointment. Kel was convinced that she had overcome her crush on him, but it hurt to know he didn't find her the least bit attractive.

Dom stepped back and held out his arms defensively. "That was an honest, if not crude, compliment. No irony at all, I swear by Mithros and Goddess. You look good, Mindelan." He grinned and Kel relaxed.

He sat down next to her, and Kel felt a warm tingling in her belly. She tensed, annoyed by this unending infatuation. It wasn't fair. All he had to do was smile and wink, and she nearly melted.

"May I have your attention?" Cleon stood at the end of the table, holding his wife's hand. The seated crowd looked expectantly up at the couple. "As you well know, we're already married." There was a brief applause. "But you were invited here today to celebrate this marriage, in a way we could not afford several years ago. Many of you know the struggles my family underwent, and I thank every one of you who sacrificed on our behalf." His eyes found Kel's for a brief second.

He continued. "By the mercy and grace of Mithros, I now find myself blessed with a beautiful, kind wife, a secure land, and a better life than I could have dreamed possible. I wish the same for each of you here." He kissed his wife's hand reverently.

Applause thundered through the hall. Dom whistled again.

Kel looked away from the happy couple. She knew that look in Cleon's eyes. He loved his wife, truly, honorably, unwaveringly. He had once offered Kel that kind of love, and she hadn't wanted it. What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she feel anything for a perfectly acceptable man like Cleon? Worse, why did she feel something for the unreachable and questionable Dom? Kel decided she couldn't trust her taste in men. When she was ready for marriage, perhaps it would be best if her grandmamma took care of it.