Sorry this is going to be a short chapter :)

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Faleron took his seat next to Merric in the pages and squires mess hall. Lord Wyldon had asked Kel to speak to the pages and squires about believing their duty to the people of the kingdom. He scrutinized her face, it had only been this morning that Lord Raoul had found them in the stables. Already the woman's Yamani mask was back up, not that Faleron couldn't read through it - it just made things more difficult. Neal, the fool, didn't even know how deeply Kel was hurt. Faleron shook his head to clear it of unwanted thoughts and listened to Kel as she finished talking

" - on the battlefield if you don't stand for anything you will fall for nothing. Tortall will always need knights to protect the borders, the commoners will always need champions, we will always need heroes. You are those heroes, you will always be needed."

Amongst the tumultuous applause from the Pages and Squires Kel, Faleron and Merric left the hall.

" That was brilliant Kel!"

" Thanks Fal."

" It was," said Merric " The stump had tears in his eyes! The king gave you a standing ovation!"

Kel grinned " I very much hope that milord didn't have tears in his eyes Merric, I would hope that my speech wasn't that bad!"

Faleron smiled as Kel bantered with his younger cousin.

" Lady Knight." a deep voice full of authority echoed down the hall " A word?"

Kel turned to the source of the voice and bowed " Your majesty?"

" In private if you please?" said his majesty, King Jonathan of Conte. " your companions may wait outside if they wish, I may need to speak to sir Faleron after you."

" Of course sire."

With that Kel and King Jonathan stepped into Lord wyldons office.

Merric rounded on Faleron " what did you to do? Get caught in an indecent position together this morning?" he grinned as Faleron blushed, his cousin was closer to the truth than he dreamed.

"of course not!" Faleron blustered. Merric snorted but left it at that.

The cousins sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, both looked up at the click of the door.

"The king wants to see you now Fal." Kel murmered

"Thanks Kel, wait for me?"

At this Kel cracked a small smile " Of course."

Faleron strode into the training masters office and sat in front of the king. Behind him the door swung shut with an ominous click.

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Soo... we are now past where we where before, i'm going to put up another chapter soon. as always read and review :) the plots unfolding - i'm keen, not sure what i'm gunna do to punish Dom I might kick him out of the kings own. Don't get me wrong Kel/Dom is my 3rd favourite Fal and Roald always come first also I read a Kel/Alan one that I liked ( if you find any please tell me :))

~ DEXTERBIRD