A/N: This chapter takes place the morning after Cleon and Kel break up. And yes, Dom will make a reappearance! :D
Chapter Eighteen: Volunteers?
"She wondered if he'd noticed she hadn't moved to kiss him, then realized that he had not tried to kiss her, either. Suddenly she knew what was coming…Relief poured through Kel. She wouldn't have to hurt him…Cleon was too honorable to kiss her or let her touch him now that he'd agreed to his marriage. She felt shallow, cold-hearted, and sorry for him…"
-Tamora Pierce, Lady Knight
The next day gave Kel plenty of time to think about what had happened between her and Cleon the night before. She had followed him outside with every intention of breaking it off with him, only to find out that he wanted to- or had to- break it off with her instead. His fief was in trouble, and he had finally agreed to marry Ermelian of Aminar.
That meant she hadn't had to break his heart. She had been filled with relief. Kel supposed she could have let him know anyway, but what was the point? He didn't try to kiss her, or even hold her. Kel admired him for that, feeling bad that she hadn't had that restraint where Dom was concerned.
Cleon left that morning. Though Kel had cried last night, she had cried for him, not for them. She felt sorry that he was forced into an arranged marriage and that his fief was not doing well. Kel sent a prayer up to the gods late last night, praying that Cleon would have a good and happy marriage to Ermelian. She prayed that they would grow to love each other. She had confidence that if would work out for them.
Later that day, Kel was sitting in her room when Neal entered.
"What are you doing here?" she asked him cheerily, offering him a place to sit.
Neal scratched the back of his head. Kel wondered if it was a family trait. "I just came to see if you needed some company. I saw that Cleon left this morning…"
Kel smiled. "I'm fine, Neal. Really."
"When he said his fief was in trouble…he's agreed to marry Ermelian, hasn't he?"
The blunt question probably should have hurt her, but it didn't. "Yes, he has. He told me she's nice and pretty. I'm sure they'll be happy together."
Neal looked at her, probably trying to see if she was hurting. "Are you sure you're okay? If it was me and Yuki were to…" he shook his head.
She smiled at him reassuringly. "That's different. I didn't love Cleon the way you love Yuki." She saw his face redden slightly. "It was time, Neal. I no longer felt attracted to him beyond friendship. I just hadn't wanted to tell him so in a letter. So really, it was for the best."
He looked at her for another moment and then nodded. Then he smiled, "So then, how about a game of chess, lady knight? Think you're up to it?"
Kel laughed, "Of course I am, Sir Nealan. Grab my chess board right behind you. But I'll have to warn you that I've been practicing…"
When Neal commented on the travel board, Kel didn't say much. She didn't want to have him pondering over why his cousin had given it to her for Midwinter…
She had done it. Kel was a knight.
Third Company had received word of it from Raoul soon after Midwinter, but when Raoul arrived to catch up with the men at Fort Steadfast, he provided more details about her- including what her first duty as a knight would entail. Kel would take command of a refugee camp.
When Dom heard this, he wondered what Kel thought about her command- if she even knew of it yet. She would be riding to Fort Giantkiller to receive her orders from Lord Wyldon, the man his cousin called 'the Stump'. Dom grinned when he thought of the meeting between Neal and Lord Wyldon. The former training master seemed to like Neal as much as Neal liked vegetables.
He couldn't wait to tease him about it, he thought as he packed up his saddle bags.
The first night Raoul had returned, he had assembled all his sergeants together to inform them on the latest news. Dom had been listening attentively as any sergeant should, but when Raoul brought up the mere mention of Kel, he was at full attention. He had been itching all winter to hear news about her. His men had noticed it also, teasing him when he got on edge because of it. Tease him all they wanted, but he had been worried about her nonetheless.
When Raoul asked for a volunteer squad to go to the refugee camp where Kel would be commanding, it was all Dom could do not to sound too eager when he offered up his squad- and it was all he could do not to look too overjoyed when Raoul agreed.
Finished packing, Dom grabbed all his stuff and went to saddle and pack his horse. It was the morning after the day Raoul had returned, and already the Knight Commander wanted Dom's squad to depart for the refugee camp. Dom didn't argue. If it had been up to him, he would've left right after the meeting the night before if he could've, but if discreet was what he was trying to achieve, he figured he better wait until Raoul's orders.
He met up with his men in the stables, where they were already saddling their mounts as well, though not as readily as Dom. When he had told them where they would be going, the men had all shown willingness to go- but getting up at dawn was a different story. Usually Dom would agree, never having been a morning person, but this time it was different.
"Ready boys?" he asked when he finished packing his horse.
"Ready fer what?" Wolset grumbled, "The sun to come out?"
Dom grinned but decided not to say anything as he waited for them to finish up. His men's retorts were usually quicker and fouler in the early hours of the day.
When they were done, they all mounted up. Raoul was there to see them off at Steadfast's gate.
"Don't you all look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!" he said when he saw them.
"How can y' tell wi' all the bright sunshine out here, my lord?" asked Wolset sarcastically.
Raoul laughed. The sky was just now turning orange with the rising sun. "Point well taken," he replied.
Quickly informing them of their orders, he finished up by telling them, "And tell Kel that you are also to obey her orders as well."
The men looked around at each other with quizzical looks. Finally, Lofren asked, "Squ- Lady Kel, my lord?"
He nodded, "Yes. She will be commanding the refugee camp."
Again, they all exchanged looks. Meanwhile, Dom was doing his best to avoid the looks the men directed at him. He hadn't told them who would be in command of the camp. He had planned on looking as surprised as the men when they got there.
"I thought that's probably one of the reasons why you agreed to volunteer," chuckled Raoul.
Dom cringed inwardly as the men again sent him inquiring glances. Besides leaving out the fact that Kel would be the commander, he had also failed to mention that he had volunteered them. He wanted them to think it was an order. He hadn't wanted to give them any reason to suspect why he would volunteer to go to a refugee camp, especially once they found out who would be in command. It looked as if his strategy had backfired. Completely. Now he was certain his motives were quite apparent as his men looked at him.
"Volunteers, eh?"
They were barely out of the gates of Steadfast when the question was posted.
"Yes," replied Dom, finding it foolish to lie now.
"Why didn't y' tell us?"
"You never asked." Which was true. They never asked, so he had let them just believe what they wanted to believe. They couldn't argue with that.
"If y' would've told us it was Lady Kel in command, we would've gladly volunteered."
"I think Lady Kel was the reason why we were left in th' dark," commented Wolset, grinning.
Dom didn't respond. There was no way in which he was going to get them to think otherwise. Besides, Wolset was right.
Taking his silence as a confirmation, Wolset smiled, "It'll be nice to see her again. Although I don't think any of us will be quite so happy to see her as Dom will be. And I have a feeling that she will just be as glad to see him…"
As the men continued on, Dom suddenly wished that they were back to their normal grumbling, morning-hating selves…
A/N: Yay, Dom and his squad are heading to Haven! Lol, I just loved how he decided to leave all those details out to have the men discover them anyway haha! :D And wasn't Neal sweet? I liked writing that side of him, since he always tries to play the 'cold, heartless noble'. But he's really such a great guy (and the incredible Meathead lol).
And of course Dom is too, the way he was worried about Kel (awww lol). I'll update soon!