Dear all readers,

New chapter! Hope you enjoy! Thank you so much to all my followers and specifically to Lollypops101, your comments have been so nice and they really keep me going.

Lots of Love,

Izzy

Chapter 11

New News

Kel's pov

About three weeks later, Shinko had finally begun to recover but no one was sure whether this respite was permanent. Kel still found herself frequently with the weak princess who was now only about a month and a half away from giving birth, if the child had survived Shinko's ordeal.

On some of the few times that Kel was not with the princess and Yuki, she found herself in the company of the King's Own, it's sergeants and captain. It was one of these times when Kel was dining with the sergeants, who now included three new additions as a result of losses during the war (one of them was Wolset, the others were men that Kel had only seen at a distance: Leonus of Griffin's Bay and Tatenen Chthonicio), that Kel and Raoul received an urgent summons to the infirmary; Buri had just gone into labour.

The two knights sped to the infirmary in a daze and upon their arrival, they found Yuki and a number of midwives crowded around Buri, who was giving out awkwardly choked up screeches interspersed with colorful curses. Raoul growled at the women, forcing them to make room for him at his wife's side. Kel, on the other hand found the women thrusting hot towels and basins at her and snapping instructions.

After over an hour of screaming and swearing and muttered encouragement, there was a brief, eerie moment of silence before the leading midwife cried out, 'It's a boy!'

Kel could have collapsed when, after some dispersal of many midwives, she saw the tiny baby being handed to the new parents. Kel smiled at the pair before turning and joining Yuki as they left the chamber.

Kel found herself wandering back to the King's Own barracks where the men, having long since finished lunch, were training with their various weapons. She saw at one end of the field those with the Gift training to use it in combat. At the other, there were men practicing archery with both long and short bows. In the center of the field, the men were practicing many sorts of close quarters combat (swords, daggers, spears and barehanded). Walking between the rows of different activities was the captain, who was correcting stances and grips here and there while shouting at those who seemed to be fighting dirty. Eventually he spotted her at the fence and waved before signaling that he would see her in a minute. When he had completed his walk round on the field he jogged up to her.

'Whats the news?' He asked quickly.

'It's a boy.' Kel responded before answering the question she anticipated would follow, 'I didn't stay long enough to hear a name.'

Dom smiled before enquiring if he should pass the news on.

'I don't think so, wait for Raoul.'

Dom nodded before adding, 'Kel, honestly, why don't you join this lovely training party we have going on. With Raoul busy, Mithros knows that I could use the help,' Kel raised an eyebrow at which he added, 'and possibly the company.'

Kel giggled slightly before hopping over the fence to join her friend and his men.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Over the next weeks, this training session managed to fit its way into Kel's daily routine. This began by spending the morning with Shinko and Yuki before visiting Buri and Raoul just before lunch. She would eat with Dom before joining him in the training session. She would end the day by taking one of her horses on a short hack around the palace grounds. For this she was occasionally joined by Dom if he had some time to spare from his duties. She would then eat supper with her parents.

In the few weeks that followed, Kel was glad to see the princess almost fully recover from her illness but she could still see the exhaustion in her friend's eyes, a perfectly common occurrence during pregnancy as both Neal and Yuki assured her. Raoul and Buri also announced that their son would be called Rupyn (or Ryn for short).

Raoul's pov

Three weeks after the birth of his son, Raoul once again approached the king with regard to his retirement.

'Jon, I appreciate that you are incredibly busy but it has been over there months since I first told you that I planned to retire. Well the time has come, I want to spend time at home with my wife and son. I don't want him to grow up with a father who was never there.' Raoul stopped when the king raised his hand.

'I understand Raoul, we shall make the official announcement tonight, though we are yet to appoint a replacement.' As Jon finished Raoul sighed, the king could be so unbelievably stubborn.

'Jon, who will lead the men without a commander?'

'From what I've heard, your new captain is very capable.' Jon replied waving his hand flippantly.

Raoul nodded, 'Dom is very capable but I'm not sure that he has enough confidence to lead the full company yet.'

'Thats not what I've heard, those who have seen him training his men have said he is quite impressive.'

'You do realize that the lady knight has been helping him in those training sessions?' Raoul asked his friend.

Jon sighed, 'I walked into that one didn't I?'

Raoul chuckled slightly, 'You certainly did.'

Jon shook his head before replying, 'it doesn't change anything, I will hold my ground on this front.'

Kel's pov

Kel was sitting at a table in the Queenscove family apartment in the palace where she at with Neal and Baird and their wives as well as Dom. Suddenly, one of the pages came knocking on the door saying that the king wished to speak to Baird briefly.

After a brief debate with the Duke as to whether the rest of the family should wait for him to return before finishing the meal, Baird left to see the king.

During the time in which Baird was away, Neal's mother Laina asked Kel about her time in the war. The three women enjoyed casual conversation while the two cousins spent the time of the duke's absence making fun of each other.

It was not long before Baird did return, looking shocked. He was silent for a few moments as he sat back down at the table, initially ignoring the five sets of curious eyes, but he finally looked up at his family and said 'Raoul retired.'

There were several moments of silence as Kel and Dom exchanged looks.

'I had no idea', the captain said quietly, 'he never told me.'

'He is not allowed to until the king makes his official announcement.' Baird replied.

Dom simply nodded.

Baird continued,'I believe Raoul wants to spend time with his family.'

After another brief moment of silence, Kel asked, 'who's replacing him?'

'We don't know,' Baird answered, 'I think there have been some disagreements in that front.'