Please Review... let me know what you think
Kel drew a deep breath, fortifying herself.
"Aye, Milord. I have returned." Dom started to say something, but Raoul motioned him to be silent. Kel wished that he would speak. She self consciously touched the scar across her neck. Clearing her throat, she waited for the King.
"What have you to say for yourself, my Dear?" The King seemed to be in good humor for someone who was going to have her put to death.
"I have no excuses, Majesty." Kel spoke carefully, trying to gain a better understanding of the situation at hand. Her mouth felt sticky and dry, her tongue useless. Dom silently handed her a flash of water, she gave him a grateful look as she sipped deeply.
"And you have been made aware of the Law regarding wayward knights of this realm?" Alanna looked furious; Kel feared she might kill the King as he sat smugly in his chair.
"Yes." She said nothing more. After all, his question left little room for ambiguity.
"And?" The King raised one eyebrow.
"If you are going to kill me I'd ask that you get on with it so that I can get a good night's rest… or better yet, let me get the rest and then kill me. Then I can look like a finely groomed court dandy on Traitor's Hill as opposed to an exhausted, overworked, underpaid, underfed, and pissed of knight that I actually am." Kel's resisted the urge to smack her own forehead. She was just so tired and worried about the approaching threat, that her tongue became a little more liberal than it usually was.
She could feel more than see Dom's restrained grin. Raoul seemed to be the one having the hardest time holding himself together. His repressed laughter caused his face to turn bright red, he cheeks occasionally puffing in and out though his mouth was still closed, and great 'gwafs' of air escaped his lips though they were pressed into a thin white line on his otherwise rose hued face. His shoulders appeared to be quivering, but Kel wasn't sure if it was from lack of oxygen or if it was that vile laughter that was bubbling up from the very pit of his stomach.
Alanna, poised and refined individual that she was, had no such qualms laughing at Kel's blatant mockery of the King.
Her howling laughter made Kel's embarrassment more acute.
She opened her mouth to speak, but the King cut her off.
"Well done, Alanna. When you're done cackling like a demented matron and peeing on the floor be sure to remove yourself from my presence for at least an hour."
Alanna paused long enough to make a face and speak.
"As if I ever peed on the floors. Now, I seem to remember one night when you where but a lowly Prince who'd just be made a knight…." She trailed off, an evil glint in her eye.
The king growled.
"Such disrespect," The King turned to look at Kel, who by now was sure that this was not in fact Tortall but rather a sick version of it were everyone had lost their minds, and spoke, "I am not going to order your execution, Lady Knight. I rescinded that law just weeks after Raoul sent Sergeant Domatin after you."
Dom looked at Raoul, who now had himself under control again.
"It's true Dom, I had no way to call you back or even to let you know… or I would have." Raoul said with a shrug of his wide shoulders.
"It's alright, sir. I think that the Gods wanted me to be on this voyage with Kel. They have a way of making things happen even if we don't want them to." Dom gave Kel a half smile, a kind of silent inside remark about everything that had happened.
Kel smiled back, then turned to face the King, who was intent on her save long angry glares at Alanna from time to time.
"Your Majesty. My freedom with my words comes from an occupied mind. I am afraid that I bring with me more than good tidings and diplomatic relations. I bring with me a warning and a new war that we are far from ready for."
Everyone in the room grew silent and the King's eyes grew dark, he started to say something but Kel plunged ahead.
"I was sent on this voyage not of my own volition, but so that I could learn everything possible about this army, The Dark Army. In one fail swoop they nearly destroyed the Old Ones, brought the Gods to their knees, and set the world ablaze. They are ancient, made by an angry God, and intent on destroying everything. There is no reasoning with them. They are soulless demons, who were once warriors and sold everything to gain power and prestige… more important than that…they march on the Roof of the World as we speak."
The King licked his dry lips.
"Will they come for us?" His voice was the only sound in the still room.
"Without a doubt, Milord." Kel's voice was firm and unrelenting.
"Can we fight them?" Alanna's voice was dead serious.
"Yes, but we will be prepared for the fight of our lives," Kel looked around at the assembled group, "We have no choice in the matter, if we don't fight we will die… all of us and everything will be lost." Kel reached out a clutched Dom's hand with her own. His fingers tightened around hers. She knew that no matter what happened, they would stand together… and that, at least, was something.
The King stood, his long form filling the space before the throne. He looked away from her for a moment, gazing into the space above the door. When he spoke his voice was soft.
"They we are doubly blessed. We have both of our lady knights back with us, and we have the knowledge of this army, brought to us by you, Lady Knight Keladry." He looked at her contemplating something… but whatever it was the King's face was carefully schooled.
"We must remove ourselves to Corus to begin preparing. We leave first thing in the morning." He turned and strode out of the room, leaving the others to see themselves out.
Raoul moved toward them quietly.
"We have some things we need to talk about," He looked pointedly at their clasped hands and her throat," We'll talk on the road. For now, get cleaned-up and get some rest." He approached the other members of her group.
"Forgive us if we impose. Would you be kind enough to accompany us to Corus for negotiations?" The ambassadors nodded. Jack and Lyric said nothing.
Kel excused her group and they made their way to an inn just down the road from the King's lodgings.
There they waited for the morning…