A/N: Okay, here's the next one!! :D
Chapter Twenty-Six: Departure
"'Kel, you know I've got my orders, right?' he asked, meeting Kel's eyes with his very blue ones. I'm going to miss looking at him, she thought. And I'm going to miss his support. Dom always backs me up. 'Yes, Lord Raoul wrote me,' she replied. To the others she explained, 'Dom's squad's to report back to Fort Steadfast. War's officially declared.'"
-Tamora Pierce, Lady Knight
Opening the letter that was handed to him, Dom quickly read it. It was from Lord Raoul. He wanted him and his squad to return to Fort Steadfast. Tortall was now officially at war with Scanra.
Looking up from the letter, Dom glanced around the fort. At least it was looking more like a fort now, with barracks and more fortified walls. It had turned around a lot since the day he had arrived. With a full-out war coming on, Dom felt relieved that the camp was better secured. Though it was a refugee camp, that did not mean it would be exempt from attacks. Any place within relative distance from the Tortall/Scanra border was in jeopardy of raids. This one included.
He glanced back to the practice courts, which he had just stepped away from to receive the letter from Raoul. His men were sparring with each other, honing their skills. Those skills would be called into use very soon, as would the soldiers' who would remain at the camp to defend the fort after his squad left. Though there were a couple dozen of them, Dom found himself wishing he and his squad could stay to add to the number, because in reality, the soldiers would have to be very good defenders in order to ward off any attacks. And he felt, no matter how good they were, there were still too few of them. More reinforcements should have been sent to the camp, and he knew Kel secretly felt the same. How he wished he could stay to assist.
But orders were orders. Tomorrow he and his squad would be leaving for Steadfast. And he would be leaving Kel. The thought brought a funny feeling to his stomach. Sure, he knew he wouldn't be there for ever, but the reality of it in the summons from Raoul's letter really made it hit home for the first time. No more questioning of skirmishes and random attacks, now it was official. Fighting was in their future for sure, there was no question about it. There was no more wondering if by this time next month they would all be enjoying court life again. Dom was sure now that it would be far more than a month before everyone returned to their homes and fiefs. War, unfortunately, never had the decency to be short. War had no decency at all.
Sighing, Dom called for the attention of all his men. Gathering around him, he broke the news to them. They would be ready to leave in the morning.
It wasn't long after lunch that same day when Dom heard the sound of alarm raised from the walls of the fort. Quickly putting down the hammer he was using to replace a board on one of the barracks, he ran to grab his armor. After putting it on, he raced up the rampart steps to where he had last seen Kel standing. She was already covered in her own armor, shouting out commands to those around her. Even in all the rush, Dom couldn't help but feel proud as he hurried toward her. She was quite a woman. Quite a commander.
He asked her for his orders. She told him as calmly as if he had asked her what the weather was like. Waiting for her command, he stood by her side as she issued orders to the others who approached her. Watching her, he almost felt like he was watching Lord Raoul with the way in which she issued orders so calmly yet rapidly, her orders firm and, for all their speediness, so well-thought out. In battle, there was no time to over think, especially in surprise attacks like this one.
When he received her command to fulfill his orders, he quickly signaled his men. But before he left her side, he made sure to place his hand on Kel's shoulder and tell her how much she reminded him of Raoul right then. He thought it might be reassuring to her, as it felt reassuring to him just to touch her. He wanted to carry her calm strength with him into the fighting. As he hurried down the stairs, he sent a quick prayer to Mithros to keep her safe.
Mounting his horse quickly, Dom watched as the fort's gates opened slowly for his squad and the other to pass through. When they were fully opened to the land outside the camp, Dom took one last look up to where Kel stood. Sensing his gaze, she tore her eyes away from the scene before her for a quick instant to look down at him. The loving expression in that quick glance was enough to urge Dom to, keeping his eyes still locked with hers, unsheathe his sword and spur his horse forward through the gate, leading the charge into the crowd of awaiting Scanrans…
The battle ended almost as abruptly as it began. Not that it was quick or bloodless. Plenty of people lost their lives in the raid, though none of Dom's squad was among them. After searching around him to make sure it was ended, Dom then quickly looked back up to the fort's ramparts, searching for Kel. He needed to be certain that she was okay, although for some reason he was almost certain that he would somehow know if she was hurt…or worse, dead. He was sure he would have felt it- but checking to make sure would ease his mind.
There. There she was, still standing in almost the exact same spot she had been when he had last seen her. He was sure that relief spread across his face as his tense body relaxed. Kel was fine.
A few moments later, he and his men rode back toward the fort's walls, close enough to get within clear seeing range of Kel. Then Dom hand-signaled to tell her he was going to check the woods to be sure. Her shoulders seemed to relax as well when she caught sight of him. Then she signaled back, smiling in a way that Dom knew that smile was meant for him. He couldn't help but smile back before leading his horse and men toward the nearby woods.
Dom wished he had gotten some alone time with Kel before dinner that night, but they had both been so busy that there had been no time. He assumed that she had received a letter from Raoul as well about his squad leaving, but he had wanted to find out in private. Instead he had to ask her that night at dinner, in front of the other main men of the camp- including his uncle and cousin. He hoped they didn't get too suspicious by the way he and the lady knight's gazes held when he asked. They hadn't talked since after the battle had ended, and truthfully all Dom wanted to do was hold her in his arms right now. Highly inappropriate in such company…though he did admit the look on Neal's face would be priceless.
After she explained to the others that he would be leaving for Steadfast, the conversation turned back to the war- if it had ever even left it that is.
Later, Dom decided to leave when his cousin and Numair started to argue magic again.
"Don't they have any manners?" asked Merric, as he and Dom turned to leave. "I don't think it's polite to discuss magic in front of the 'Un-Gifted'."
Dom smiled, as Kel said from behind them, "Well no one ever said Neal was polite."
Both men turned to see her following them out of the room. Dom's smile widened as she glanced at him longer than necessary.
"Besides, it gives us a good reason to leave," she added, tearing her eyes away from Dom to look over at Merric.
"And a good thing, too, 'cuz I'm bushed," said the red-headed knight, yawning as if to accentuate his statement.
"Then I guess we'll see you tomorrow morning when you go out for patrol," she told him. "Good night then, Merric."
As he returned to goodbye, Kel looked over at Dom, "And I guess that goes the same for you, Dom. You and your men are going to be leaving pretty early in the morning."
He glanced over to see Merric still within earshot. Damn. "That we are, Kel," he replied. "Will you be there to see us off?"
"I promise," she said, smiling. Then she glanced over at Merric also. He had yet to still turn the corner. Dom wished he could light a fire under the man's bum to spur him along.
"Then good night, I'll see you in the morning," he said, his eyes saying anything but that.
"Good night, Dom," she replied. Then he saw her suddenly glance back out of the corner of her eye at something off to the side. And that's when Dom noticed a small shadow there as well- a small shadow just about the shape of a young boy. Having a good guess at who it was, Dom smiled and then actually turned to go.
She smiled as she watched him leave. Then he heard her say softly, "Tobe, what are you doing there?"
Kel sighed heavily when she finally made it to her quarters. She had gotten stopped by the clerks once again after she had finished talking to Tobe. That had been close to two hours ago.
She was now officially wiped out. With some regret, she wondered if Dom was already sound asleep in his own bed. She wouldn't blame him if he was. She just wished she had gotten some time alone with him before he left in the morning. Ever since they had gotten together, nighttime was the only time that they were able to enjoy each other's company without any interruptions.
Damn clerks, she thought to herself. This would be the first night that they hadn't spent in each other's company; the night which she wanted to spend with him the most.
Sighing again, Kel pushed open her door. She was immediately met by the sight of Tobe, wrapped up in his blankets on the floor as always. Kel had offered him a cot, but the boy seemed more comfortable on the floor.
Closing the door softly behind her, Kel moved carefully into the room, stepping over Jump who was sprawled right in front of the door, snoring. If any intruder tried to enter her quarters, they would have a fine job of not tripping over somebody.
That was when something caught her attention from the corner of her eye. Kel looked to the dark corner, where a small, cushioned sitting bench sat. What drew her attention was that there was a long form stretched across it.
She smiled as she recognized it. Moving closer, Kel saw that, like Tobe and Jump, Dom was fast asleep as well. Looking down at him as he slept, Kel studied the contours of his face. He really was the most handsome man. And the sweetest.
"Dom," she called softly, not wanting to shake him. When he didn't move, she called his name again. This time his eyes fluttered open. It took a second for him to focus.
"Dom, you didn't have to wait for me here," she told him as he slowly sat up. "I would've understood if you wanted to go and get some sleep. And I'm sorry for being so long, for as much as I love clerks, they sure do know how to ask a lot of questions." She smiled.
He blinked up at her and then grinned sleepily. He ran a hand through his dark hair. Kel wanted to do the same but refrained. She'd wait till he woke up some more.
"So did Tobe let you in?" she asked, keeping her hands at her side. It was hard since he looked so attractive with the moonlight filtering through the shuttered windows. The last thing she wanted to do was startle him. The poor guy had just woken up for Mithros' sake!
"Yeah," he replied stretching, no doubt to work out the kinks from sleeping on the uncomfortable bench. "I think he's on to us."
"Really? Why would you say that?"
"Oh, I don't know. It could be the fact that, after I told him I was here to talk to you, he asked me if I would warn him when the mushy stuff started," Dom grinned. "He said he'd seen enough smooching back in Queensgrace to last him a lifetime."
Kel laughed. "I bet he did." Then she looked at Dom, and after a second, she sat down beside him. He glanced at her, his eyes humorously curious. Then she asked him carefully, "I don't suppose that you'd have to warn him now since he's asleep, would you?"
He shifted his body closer to hers, the grin on his face and the light in his eyes revealing that he was far from sleepy any longer. She liked the way he moved closer so that their shoulders were pressed together, as was the rest of their body length-wise, beginning at their shoulders and ending at their feet. She was acutely aware of everywhere they touched.
"Oh, Kel, I'm so glad you're safe," he told her softly. The look in his eyes melted her heart.
"I'm glad you are too, Dom," she replied just as softly, their faces turned to look at one another.
Unable to resist any longer, she reached up to run her hand gently through his hair. That simple gesture felt so comforting. His fingers reached out to skim her cheek. It was as if both of them wanted to make sure that the other was really there. Fighting, like they had experienced that day, truly makes you appreciate what you have.
After a moment of contented silence, Kel then smiled and said in a teasing tone, "Now, what does a girl have to do around here to get a kiss?"
And by the way he responded, apparently she had done enough already.
The next morning Kel woke up early to see Dom and his squad off. As she walked out of headquarters into the foggy morning, she thought about how much she was going to miss Dom. She prayed that Mithros would keep him and his men safe.
She was halfway to the gate when suddenly an arm shot out from behind the nearest building and pulled her behind it. Kel immediately started to struggle in the person's strong hold, but soon relaxed when she recognized the soft chuckle.
"Probably not one of my better ideas," said Dom, turning her around in his arms so she could see his face.
"You wouldn't have made it to back Steadfast if I'd had another second," she teased.
He studied her face for a moment, his grin softening. "I'd take it if it meant not having to leave you," he said, his fingers gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Dom, don't be silly," she told him, although she wanted him to stay just as much as he did. There was no use making it harder than it already was. "You have your orders. I won't let you get in trouble on my behalf."
Smiling, Dom laughed lightly. Then he said, "I sure am going to miss you while I'm gone…" He moved to press her back against the side of the building. His expression turned more serious as he studied her, as if he was memorizing her features. Kel found herself doing the same, her eyes roaming over his face with equal intent.
She could hardly fathom how much she was going to miss him, but she didn't know how to tell him so. She didn't want to make it any more difficult than it already was.
"I'm going to miss you too, Dom," she said softly, and though the words were simple, those few words held so much more meaning for both of them, as did the look in their eyes.
In the next instant, they found themselves caught up in a long, heated kiss. Dom pressed her further back against the wall behind her as their kiss continued to deepen. Kel dug her fingers into the thick hair at the back of his head, keeping his mouth rooted firmly to her own.
It would be their last kiss until they saw each other again, hopefully sometime in the future, but in war, one never knew.
They drew the kiss out as long as they could until finally they had to break for air. And despite the coolness of the morning around them, neither one of them felt the least bit chilly.
And before he left that morning, he made sure to steal one last, swift kiss from her- and if she was mad at him for doing so in front of his squad, she never gave any sign of it…
A/N: Hehe, he kissed her in front of his men!! They must have been shocked! Lol. And don't worry, we'll see Dom again soon. The next chapter will be about Haven's fall, so it will take place like two months after this chapter. Till then! :D