Disclaimer: All characters and places recognized belong to Tamora Pierce.
AN: I just want to say, happy 2nd anniversary of Out of the Pot and into the Fire! I just wanted to apologize, I've had this chapter ready for a little over a week now, but unfortunately when I went to go up and post it, I found out that my internet was out. I also want to apologize for the delay that will be between this chapter and the next one, even though I have had this one ready for over a week, I have been having some difficulties with writing the next chapter, but on the plus side, it will be far longer than any of the other chapters that I have written in the past.
It had been days since the boy had ridden into Masbolle to ask for help. The village closest to Masbolle had suffered a bandit attack, add on top of that a fire that the villagers had suffered from, they had finally sought help from the nearest fief. To Dom's irritation, the village's last mage had been killed while trying to stop the bandits from taking objects from his workroom. So there had been a delay in reaching Corus for backup to stop the bandits and put out the fire.
When they had arrived, Dom could smell the fire, although he was unable to see where it burned. While some of the houses had protection from fire, most had none and were now just ruble piles. The village was in ruin and the fire was more of a danger than the long gone bandits as playful gusts of wind threatened to shift its direction. They had been hard at work to help the village, but the needed more hands.
In the two days since he and the small party from Masbolle had arrived to help, they had been able to do little for the village. The fire would require at least one mage and there was little to do in the village besides clearing away rubble and tearing down burnt houses until they had received building supplies as this land had little to no trees that would be of use, and all the rocks had been cleared long ago to make the land suitable for the large farms and vineyards that filled the valley.
Dom was once again in the middle of arguing with the headman of the village when an exasperated voice called out "I thought that I told you to take a break. That means dear Captain, that you stay in your pretty little castle with that ex-squire of mine doing sweet little castle things, not out trudging around doing Own work."
Dom sighed as the headman walked away to complain to someone new. Without turning around he said dryly, "Believe me sir, I would love to be at home with Kel, but while I'm off duty from the Own, I still have duties to my fief." He looked into Raoul's laughing eyes, "But I do believe that this particular task would have been easier in uniform." He sent a glare at the headman who was now arguing with an annoyed Wolset.
"I can see there is no talking to the headman, so why don't you give me the situation report." Raoul asked.
Dom began to talk as he showed Raoul around, "The fire's been burning for two weeks. Apparently it started as a controlled burn to clear the area. About five days ago, it got out of control." Dom waved his hands around him as they were now in the middle of charred land. "It leapt over the barriers they set up and burnt down most of the village. By that point most sane people would call for help, but the headman forbid them, thinking that they could get it under their control again."
Raoul shook his head, "This must be either a stubborn headman, or a stupid one."
Dom nodded, "They were lucky, the ones whose houses had no fire protection that is, to save most of their belongings before the fire reached them. Unfortunately, three days ago at dawn bandits attacked the makeshift village. They burnt down the tents and took what was of value. The mage tried to keep them from raiding his workroom." Dom shook his head, "He wasn't a fighter. The people finally saw sense and sent for help against the headman's will."
"So besides this mage, how many dead, how many injured?" Raoul was watching the fire burn, frowning at the fact that there wasn't much smoke.
"The fire is fast burning and the fuel small, less smoke," Dom supplied, "it's hot too, no one can get close enough to even try to put it out with water. When they do try, the water evaporates before it reaches the ground, and the area is too hot to try to cover it with dirt." He sighed, "Overall, the village was lucky, five dead and about thirty injured."
"Make that thirty-one." Dom turned worried eyes to look at Kel who had spoken. She shook her head, letting him know it wasn't her. "Damion thought he could safely enter one of the burnt buildings to tie the rope to pull it down."
Now that he was actually paying attention he saw his middle brother leaning on Kel his head was wrapped in a bandage along with his left arm. Dom rolled his eyes.
"Brother, if you don't ask this young lady to marry you, I might just have to." Damion told Dom giving Kel a smile that turned into a wince.
Kel just laughed at him, "And what would your wife say to that?" She led his brother past them with a small kiss to Dom while his brother complained.
Once they were out of earshot Raoul cleared his throat, "I thought the whole point of granting you leave was for you to ask her Captain."
Dom sighed as he rubbed his hands across his face, "I know, but the gods seem to be against my asking her. The closest time I got, a rider came barging into the courtyard with an emergency." He gave Raoul a crooked grin.
Raoul slapped him on the back, "Then I expect you to take her aside when you get back to Masbolle, I'm planning on calling you both back to duty soon." He started to walk away whistling but then turned back, "Captain, you're as of this moment back on duty, along with Keladry. You two will return to Masbolle castle once this mess is sorted so you may gather your belongings and say goodbye to your family. You'll be granted a few days to tie up loose ends before you ride to catch up with the company."
Dom watched as Raoul began to head to the unbearable headman to save Wolset from whatever nonsensical problem he was currently listening to.
Kel sighed; they had only been on leave for less than a week before duty called. And of course Raoul was the one summoned to help. Seeing that they were helping rather than relaxing back at the castle he had them officially back under his command. What Kel wouldn't have given to be back at Masbolle instead of listening to this stuffy headman? Once Raoul had deemed the man too insufferable to deal with himself, he had assigned Kel as his official babysitter.
"And I'm left to complain to a wench who is above herself. Mark my words whore, you'll get yours. Don't think I don't see ya at night sneaking off to bed 'em soldiers. The master may think you're loyal, but that is his mistake," The headman spat at Kel. He was clearly unhappy with his current company as Raoul had expressed quite forcefully that he was to talk only to Kel.
"Do you actually have a problem headman Loft, or are you just planning on insulting me? I must warn you though, you're not very original in your name calling," Kel hid her annoyance behind her mask.
He scoffed, "Do I have a problem? Obviously you are blind as well as a jumped up slut if you have the gall to ask me if I have a problem. My village is in ruin and all these Kings men are doing is sitting around taking orders from a giant with no sense for taking a barbarian wife and sleeping with the likes of you on the side." He spat on the ground at Kel's feet. "I want another set of men to come help. These have been brainwashed by sleeping with a slut no better than the lowest whore."
Her patience finally running out Kel grabbed the headman by his tunic, pulling him off his feet so she could look him in the eye. "Currently as I see it Master Loft, the women in this village have done more to pull it back together than you have. You have done nothing more than complain to any crown official that you see. Now I may be a woman, as you have colorfully noted, but I am a crown official. You could have shown me all your disrespect while I came to help you out of the goodness of my heart, but now I'm under crown orders to help you." Kel paused, "No, I am here to help this village. That does not mean I am something for you to sharpen your vial lizard tongue on."
Kel set the man down and he jerked away, red in the face. "You little whore! I will complain to the King, see if I don't, I'll get him to revoke your shield, and prove to him that you slept your way through your training!"
"Now master headman," a falsely cheery voice said behind Kel, "I'll hate to interrupt ye talkin' to my Lady Keladry, but I need her help." Wolset walked up next to Kel and turned his back to the headman. "Ye've been left in charge since the commander an' captain have gone to see a local herd of centaurs." They both ignored the sound of outrage coming from behind them. "We've been tearin' down the buildings and we need Peachblossom."
Kel raised her eyebrow, looking Wolset over, there was a tear in his shirt, "I thought he had given up being obtuse while work is to be done a while ago."
Wolset gave a crooked smile, "Well, I may have stopped the mean devil from comin' over and dealin' with that dung heap." He pointed behind him with his thumb towards the still fuming headman.
Kel shook her head, "How many times must I tell you men I can handle myself?" Kel held up her hand, "Don't answer that, now, you said Raoul and Dom went to meet some centaurs?"
The two of them began walking away ignoring the calls of the fuming headman.
It was a relief for all those belonging to the village and third company when the next day a group of four mages arrived.
As soon as their feet touched the ground, headman Loft strode over to the mages and began praising them. "Thank Mithros and the Goddess you have arrived! I have received nothing but a jumped up slut and an incompetent company of soldiers who have been tainted by her…fornications and lust after men at arms. I demanded they be replaced, but no word has reached me. But you're here now." He smiled warmly at the mages who were raising eyebrows at this man's rant. His face turned cold when they removed their riding hoods and found that the closest mage he had been complaining to was in fact a woman, not just that but two of the other three were also women.
He quickly turned his back on the group of mages and threw up his hands. "This kingdom will fall to ruin with women warriors and mages!" He left to brood in his lodgings, which had been left mostly untouched by the fire.
Raoul, Dom and Kel all moved forward to greet the mages, Kel speaking first, "Pay him no mind; I am surprised that the women in this village put up with him."
A timid voice spoke up behind them, "He's insufferable milady, but he took over cause no one from Masbolle appointed a new headman when the last died three months back." They turned to see a meek woman speaking, they could see that she had once been confident but recent events had robbed her of even that.
"And you are?" Dom asked kindly.
She looked down at her hands, "Suzie," she met his eyes, "Suzanne, before Loft became headman we women had more power. I used to be the healer, but he banned people from seeing me when he took over."
Dom nodded, "I'll inform my father of the situation here Suzie, no woman needs to suffer from the likes of him." Suzie nodded before giving a small curtsy to the group and going her way.
Once she was gone Raoul turned back to the waiting mages, "I for one am happy that you are here, no matter what that fusspot says. Come the fire is this way."
The mages were a blessing the day before as they had managed to put out the fire and insure that it would not flare up again. It had been fascinating to watch them work, even if it had given Dom chills.
Now Dom watched as wagons piled with building supplies road up to the destroyed village. With the fires gone, they could safely start to build the new buildings for the village. The mages had offered to stay so they could put fire charms around the new buildings to help stop this from happening again.
However, they were exhausted when they had finally finished with the fire the night before, as it was well after sundown, that they were unable to go to Masbolle castle. They made a fair point that they would be useless in actually building the village. At first they had been planning on having Kel ride with them to the castle to request more help.
Instead, Dom was now impatiently waiting for the last of the mages before leading them to his home. He relaxed when he felt Kel's hand squeeze his.
The night before they had had enough of the headman and Dom had stated very loudly that he was to go to the castle and speak with his father about replacing the headman, as he had no respect for the representatives of the crown, therefore he was a bad representative to the house of Masbolle.
"Don't worry about me dear, I've all but sworn in blood that I will stay away from the hammers and even the saws. You'll be gone no more than tonight." Kel told him trying to get him to laugh and it worked.
He smiled down into her eyes, "I know love, I still don't like the thought that I may be spending the night without you." He gave her a lingering kiss, ignoring the wolf whistles that sounded around them from third company.
Someone cleared their throats behind him and he reluctantly pulled away from Kel. His smile quickly turned into a scowl when he saw the headman leading a horse to join the party. Without looking at the man, he mounted his horse and rode out. The sooner they arrived at Masbolle, hopefully the sooner he would be rid of that man.
The ride was surprisingly peaceful as the headman remained quiet. When Dom had looked at him at one point during the ride he saw why. The man was struggling to remain seated upon his mount. He met the eyes of his riding companions and it was all they could do not to laugh.
The reached Masbolle around midday and Dom quickly instructed the servants to show the mages to guest rooms and the dining room while purposely not giving any instructions for the headman. Instead he went to beg some food from the kitchen as he didn't feel like leading the headman who was following him around with an arrogant and important air to his family during their peaceful meal.
After eating his fill, he went in search of his father and mother. His mother saw him first, "Darling, why didn't you eat with us? And where's Lady Keladry, I would think you two wouldn't wish to part during your leave."
"I thought Damion would have told you upon his return, Raoul ordered us back to duty. Would it be possible for Demetri to gather more men to help with the rebuilding of the village? As it stands it will take two weeks to rebuild it with the Own alone, not enough men in the village are well enough to help."
Dom's father frowned, "Don't they have a healer?"
"That good for nothing slut?" The headman sneered, "My lord, I should suggest we talk about my village's problems out of earshot of the lady. It is not a woman's place to stand besides men." He ignored the angry look that passed over the lord's face. "As it is he," he pointed to Dom, "is tainted by that good for nothing whore that follows warriors around and dares to pass herself as a lady."
"Father, may I present headman Loft. I came here instead of sending Keladry to seek approval of removing this man's title." Dom raised his voice over Loft's calls of outrage, "I have been informed by the village healer, a woman, that he took over the role three months back and has banned her from doing her profession. That is why we are currently down men to help. He has also shown no respect to Lady Keladry or any woman who has come to offer help with his village." He was almost yelling now to be heard over the headman, "And furthermore, he has shown no respect to my Lord Raoul and has proved that he would bring no honor to Masbolle if ever visited by nobility or those on royal business." He finished as the headman fell silent.
"I see," his father said calmly as he rubbed his chin deep in thought. "Tell me headman Loft, why were we never informed of headman Collin's death? Better yet, how did he die? I remember that he was rather middle aged, with many years left to him. As I remember it, his son Philip was to take over for him, this was of course decided between us in private."
Headman Loft's face had gone pale, "I…well you see my lord." He straightened up his spine, "That little brat Philip had no right to take over the village; he and his…new ideals would only bring that village to ruin! When I ordered his father's death…" he turned green having confessed to his treacherous deeds.
Dom quickly grabbed the man before he could run. A stony look on his face as he glanced at his father, "Where would you like me to put him? I will insure he is delivered to the nearest magistrate when the Own rides out."
Things had run smoother after headman Loft had been removed from power. When Dom had returned to the village the following morning he acted on his father's behalf to inform Philip that he was the new headman. It seemed that Loft had kicked him and his male lover out of his family home on the threat that he would tell the village that he had killed his father. He quickly fell into the role.
With the men that Dom had brought from Masbolle and the Own, they had been able to rebuild the village in six days. The final day came in which the mages returned to begin laying spells on the new buildings, the process would take three days. Dom placed his last pack on his horse making sure everything was properly tightened.
"All set Captain?" Raoul asked. At Dom's nod Raoul gave him a sharp look that was hidden from Kel, "You two have the rest of today and tomorrow at Masbolle to gather your stuff. I expect you to return the day after tomorrow. We are planning on a quick stop at Corus, I left in the middle of some important meetings to come to this village and I doubt that the king was happy about it." He scowled at the thought. "And don't forget our lovely ex-headman. We're to deliver him to the magistrate in Corus as your father doesn't wish to judge him."
"We won't my l…Raoul." Kel corrected herself. Dom smiled, she had been trying to practice saying Raoul's name over the last week and had managed to catch herself every time.
Raoul chuckled, "Well until then." He gave them a half salute as they mounted and rode away.
They had arrived at Masbolle as the sun began to set the night before and has spent dinner and a good part of the evening with his family talking about the work that had been done to the village. They also shared that as headman, Loft's had been cheating the fief out of money for the last three months, and not only that, but his temperament had driven many visitors away. They also talked about how the village seemed to fair under their latest headman.
It was now shortly after midday and all of their packing had been completed. Dom who had quietly snuck away to talk to his parents returned to find Kel gazing longingly out the windows.
"I'm sad that we didn't get to enjoy more time here with your family, it is peaceful." Kel turned around to look at him and he smiled as he took her in. She was wearing a gown as it was the last one she would be able to wear in a while.
"I am too; I still have one spot I wish to show you before we have to go tomorrow. Do you want to see it?" Dom tried to swallow his nerves as she nodded and took his hand so he could lead her.
As he led her through the garden he began to talk to fight some of his nerves. "Now Keladry, you must swear to me now that you will not tell another living soul about where I am taking you." He paused then shook his head, "Correction, you must never give directions to this spot. It is my personal sanctuary, not even Meathead knows of it."
At Kel's smile and nod of agreement Dom began to lead her off the well-manicured path that they had been walking along. Kel was trying to keep stock of all the places they had passed Dom as sure. Finally they stopped next to a fountain. As Kel watched, Dom approached what appeared to be a wall covered by a thick patch of ivy hanging from the castle wall.
"This was always my favorite place to escape." Dom pulled her close to him and parted the ivy. He heard her gasp as he revealed an entry way into a long forgotten courtyard. He pulled her through and let the ivy curtain fall behind them, concealing them in their own world.
His heart raced as she pulled away from him to look around the beautiful garden that was a hidden gem of Masbolle. He knew that this was a special moment, while he had received plenty of kisses right outside of this hidden garden, he had never brought anyone inside of the ivy wall, always wanting just one place to hide.
But here inside the ivy wall, the garden grew a little wild, the rose bushes tall and the grass lush almost more like a comfortable bed than that out on the lawns. He watched Kel pause in amazement and wonder at the orange with pink tipped roses, memories of the shared dream almost making him forget the purpose behind bringing Kel here in the first place.
Dom went up behind Kel and gently kissed her neck before turning her around. He saw her eyes alight in recognition of this dream. It was all he could do to not kiss Kel and turn that dream into sweet reality. Instead Dom dropped down onto one knee with Kel's hand gently in his. Her eyes went wide and her other hand to her mouth.
"Keladry, my dearest Kel, I know you have been telling me how much the Own needs me. But I need your love more. Raoul has given us his blessing for marriage, and assured me that I will have a spot in the Own for as long as we are betrothed. So please, will you do me the honor of agreeing to marry me?
AN: Once again, I apologize for the upcoming delay between chapters, please don't hate me for this cliffhanger.