-a/n- Need I even say it? I'm so, so, so sorry about the delay in updating. I'm not even meant to be writing now, but I can't bear it any longer! Life is a little bit ridiculous with the amount of work and I doubt it'll get much better over the next few months. –sighs- I'll update sporadically until the summer –when I am going to finish this fic once and for all!

I hope you'll continue to follow this fic –in the midst of so much revision your reviews are the only things that are keeping my brain focused on writing.

Although there will be many scenes/ideas from 'Squire' that you recognise (and I do not take any credit for TP's mastery at all) I'm trying to explore the concept that some conversations/fights/scenes could be so similar and yet others different, how Kel is still essentially Kel, and yet her character has evolved in a different way…

Anyway, I hope this is worth the wait,

The very, very tired, Confusedknight xxx


Kel sat down and viewed her knight-master through unreadable eyes. She had moved her meagre amount of possessions into the room adjoining his in just two short trips. Her crumpled shirts and breeches had only half-filled a chest of drawers and the wardrobe remained completely empty. The only decoration in the room was Kel's armour that now sat on a special rack bolted to the wall. All in all, the room had a rather empty feeling about it. Not that Kel minded; she hoped that not much time would be spent at the Palace anyway.

'Kel…' said Lord Raoul awkwardly, fiddling with a letter opener that lay on his desk. 'It is my understanding that you and Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle are…involved with each other.'

Kel nodded, wary of where the conversation was headed.

'I hear this from women of the Queen's Riders, the ones who want to be respected enough to lead and command. Men of this time are required to fight alongside females, but from what I've heard if they take men as lovers, and it's found out, they encounter trouble. There are no laws or rules that prevent you from conducting a relationship, but it invariably turns out with both parties being mocked and the woman gets treated like a trollop.'

Kel studied her hands. She wanted a chance to talk things over with Dom.

'Nobody makes men surrender their private life when they take up arms, Kel,' Raoul said, pouring her some grape juice. 'We only ask that it doesn't interfere with their duties. It's more complicated for women, especially for you in what appears to be a unique position. It's not fair, but I think you already know the world isn't.'

Kel nodded, sipping gently. She suddenly felt a rush of warmth towards the man who was currently fiddling with objects on his desk. How many other knight-masters would have done this hurtfully? Or left Kel to entangle herself in a mess so great that she would never get out of it?

'I understand, sir, and I'll talk to Dom tonight.'

'That's all I wanted you to do,' replied Raoul, relief in his tone. 'I cannot make decisions for you, and nor do I wish to make them. Use your own judgement of the matter; I sense it hasn't led you astray thus far.'

'Thank you, my Lord,' Kel ducked her head.

'Another thing that was pointed out to me earlier today, and I think you should be warned about is that the court gossips will have me in bed with you before the day is done.' A slight flush entered Raoul's cheeks.

This didn't pose much of a problem to Kel, who shrugged. 'I don't have a reputation to speak of anyway, sir. If I had wanted one then I would never have picked the warrior's path.' She paused for a moment, 'And what of your reputation?'

'Oh they've had me in bed with other men for years,' said Raoul good-naturedly. 'And the conservatives dislike me anyway for the way that I run the own.' He raised his goblet of grape juice 'Here's to our reputations as warriors and nothing else.'

Kel toasted her glass with a small smile on her face; she and Raoul were going to get on just fine.

About halfway through the afternoon a Bazhir named Qasim, whom Kel recognised from the spidren hunt came to assess her gear.

'Your armour is unusual,' he commented, handing it to Raoul who examined it carefully.

'The metal working is flawless; this must've cost a fortune.'

'I won a tournament,' said Kel vaguely, 'and this armour is light, strong and allows me large amounts of movement.'

'Well company armour would certainly drown you,' Qasim said, handing Kel's helm back to her. 'What weapons do you have?'

Kel unsheathed Courage, handing it to the corporal. She then went to fetch her second sword off of the weapons rack, along with her glaive. Kel laid her old sword down, and slipped a couple of her daggers out from their sheaths, placing them on the desk too.

The weapons were all examined, Qasim unable to hide his amazement at Courage.

'Two swords?' Raoul merely asked.

'It has proved useful in the past,' Kel replied.

Raoul surveyed the assortment of weapons. 'So you'll need a small axe, bow and a shield. I'm having a Goldenlake shield made, but that takes a week. Which are you better at, longbow or crossbow?'

'I'm best with a recurve,' Kel admitted, 'like the ones that the Riders use.'

'That's not a problem,' said Qasim, noting her request on a sheet of paper. 'Long weapons?' he asked.

Kel grimaced, 'My lance work isn't the best.'

'They're good for giants and ogres and little else,' said Raoul, brushing her comment aside. 'Most of us carry spears –'

'Some use halberds,' a new voice added to the conversation.

'Flyn, Captain Flyndan Whiteford is my second in command,' Raoul introduced.

Kel nodded, noting that the man's thin-lipped, slightly disapproving expression.

'Would I be allowed to use my glaive?' asked Kel, more confident in her ability with her second best weapon.

Raoul picked up the five-foot-long staff, swinging it in a circle. He extended his arm, balancing the glaive upon a single finger. 'Hey, Flyn, look here.' The weapon remained steadily horizontal.

'What is this glaive?' Flyndan asked, speaking to Kel for the first time.

'It is a weapon for Yamani noblewomen; since I lived at court I learned too.'

'Can you use it? It looks awkward for a-' Flyndan swallowed the word he had been about to say, and finished with 'youngster.'

Kel took the weapon back from Lord Raoul, cleared a space and began one of the pattern dances that she had been practising that morning. The blade was a blur as it cut through the air, easily shifting direction until Kel brought it to a halt with the blade stopping millimetres away from the back of an ornamental chair.

'May I?' Kel handed the weapon to the Captain, who almost dropped it; he'd been unprepared for the weight.

'That will suffice for a long weapon,' said Raoul calmly.

Kel began to re-sheath her assortment of weapons.

'I already chose you a tent and a bedroll,' said Qasim, regarding his list. 'All that remains is tack for your new mount and some uniform.'

'The seams mistress should be sending up a few Goldenlake tunics later on this evening and you can visit the supplies store for plain shirts and brown breeches.'

'An extra pair of shoes, waterproofs and a company cloak,' Qasim read out. 'If you come with me Squire Keladry then I'll show you where the store is.'

Kel stowed her armour and glaive safely away before hurrying after the corporal.

'And how is the newest member of the King's Own?' a familiar voice floated across the room.

Kel looked up from her folding in time to see Dom shut the door behind him. He gestured silently at the door that connected Kel's room to her knight-master's.

'He left about five minutes ago,' said Kel, 'summoned by his Majesty.'

'Well that's never a good sign,' Dom sighed, a frown flitting across his face, 'we could be riding out sooner than expected.'

Kel straightened up and perched her behind on the desk.

'Dom we need to talk.'

'I know, what did Raoul say?'

'How do you know about that?'

'I didn't,' said Dom shortly, 'but I've known my Lord for a while now, it's what he would do.'

'He said that women who involve themselves romantically get treated like dirt,' said Kel, carefully shrouding all emotion from her voice.

Dom walked over to Kel until there was hardly a foot gap left between them. 'It's your choice Kel,' he brushed a tendril of hair gently from her face.

'Will you wait?' asked Kel, meeting Dom's eyes directly.

Dom nodded slowly, and cupping her face he kissed her lips lightly. 'We can keep this a secret.'

'I'm good at keeping secrets,' Kel smiled, brushing her own lips across his tenderly.

There was a loud noise as the door in the neighbouring room was flung wide and Kel pushed herself off of the desk. Dom stepped backwards as there was a knock on the door.

'Come in,' Kel called.

Raoul poked his ruddy face around the door. 'There's been news of a raided village, get your things together; we ride in an hour. Sergeant Domitan,' Dom stood to attention, 'Rally your squad and any others you can find.'

'Yes Sir.'

Raoul disappeared back into his room and could be heard armouring up.

Dom grimaced, 'It'll be bad if the King is sending the whole company. Prepare yourself.'

Kel's face was set, 'You'd better go.'

Dom nodded and left with an urgency about his step that Kel rarely saw.

As Kel pulled on her chain-mail lined breeches thoughts tumbled through her head. There was almost an odd feeling of relief, finally she would be back out fighting again, but mingled in with this was apprehension at what lay ahead. Kel had seen raided villages before; both Scanran, Tortallan and Yamani, but could one ever prepare themselves for the destruction and death that lay ahead? Kel shook her head, better to concentrate on the present; there was no use worrying.

Kel slipped her mail top on, covered it with a white linen shirt and one of her new green Goldenlake tunics. She fitted the breastplate snugly to her torso and buckled the straps deftly. Kel settled her second sword her right hip and checked that her daggers were all in place. On went her worn, comfortable leather boots, her new wrist guards and the burnous-style cloak that all the men of the Own wore.

She stuffed spare sets of clothes into a pack that lay on the foot of her bed and collected her shield. She was just scraping back her hair, fastening it securely with leather ties and a band of material, when her knight-master came through the door. Raoul, looking larger than ever in his armour, beckoned to Kel, who grabbed her pack, helmet, shield and glaive and left the room without a backwards glance.

Raoul showed her the supply wagon and Kel stowed her pack safely amongst the others before being instructed to collect both her horses.

Kel had to duck and weave in and out of the crowd of men, all dressed smartly in the uniform of the King's Own. Each man of the company had two horses and the clamour around the stables, as two hundred horses were being readied to ride was tremendous.

By the time Kel had reached her own horses, both Hoshi and Prince had already been tacked up, presumably by one of the many hostlers that were dashing from stable to stable. Kel fastened her glaive and shield onto Hoshi's saddle and took the reins in one hand. She would have liked to have ridden Prince, but Raoul had instructed her to save him for battle.

Kel leaned forward to pat her faithful mount, pressing her face to his large head and inhaling the sweet scent of horse.

'You be good,' Kel instructed him. 'I want to have you with me if it comes to a fight.' Prince blew out through his velveteen lips and Kel smiled, feeling personally that whatever people might say, animals understood a lot more than most gave them credit for.

'Spare mount?' the stable hand didn't even wait for an answer before clipping a lead rein onto Prince and taking him away. He would be placed in a string of the remounts at the back of the company.

Sighing, but still confident that Hoshi was a trustworthy animal, Kel pulled on her helmet. She glanced around her. It was a scene that felt slightly surreal. In the late afternoon's light the dying sun's rays glinted off of glittering mail and helmets. The men, most of them aged under thirty, were awaiting orders from their sergeants. While they waited most checked girths and weapons, seemingly relaxed and yet focused on the task.

Kel breathed out slowly. She was about to ride out with the Realm's most respected fighting force. Please don't let Raoul regret taking me on, Kel thought.

She could hear the voices floating over on the light wind.

'Who's the youngster?'

'Our commander has taken on a squire,' sneered a voice. 'The girl.'

'She did win the tournament,' someone else volunteered.

'Tournament winner or not, she's as green as grass.'

Kel blocked out the unfriendly voices, letting her usual determination bolster her. Let's show them who's green or not, she thought, swinging up onto Hoshi.

'My squad are ready to go,' Dom told Kel as he approached from behind on his dappled-grey horse. 'Are you all set?' Kel nodded, watching as Dom cast a glance over her attire.

She had seen Dom in his uniform before, but he had never seen her in anything more than shirt and breeches. 'That doesn't look like company-issue armour-' he was cut off by a horn that blared across the yard.

There was a great scrambling as all the remaining men mounted up.

'Welcome to the Own, Kel,' he clapped her on the shoulder and nudged his horse forward to rejoin his squad.

Raoul beckoned Kel over as the men formed two columns. 'Time to get going,' he told Kel, 'ride on my left.'

The huge knight raised one gloved hand and brought it down. Without any fuss the company moved forward, Kel a beat behind. They made their way down the hill towards the gate of the palace, the gentle rumbling of at least eight-hundred hooves behind them.

To those that lined the streets of Corus, it made an impressive sight; the mounted men in blue, silver and white. Kel smiled inside her helmet at the children who waved madly from their parent's shoulders. She resisted the urge to wave back, and instead looked ahead to the city gate.

Once they passed through the gates, across the bridge and into the sprawling countryside, they followed the Conte Road southwest and into the forest. Men came up the column, handing out burning torches that gave off a flickering light to illuminate the near surroundings of an almost pitch black forest.

'We'll most likely be riding through the night,' Raoul informed her. 'It took the messenger the best part of a day to reach Corus.'

'I thought they could use mages to relay important messages?' Kel asked.

'Mage was killed,' Raoul said dourly. 'We've reports of at least twenty dead, maybe more. The boy that got away was given a horse and told to run. Apparently there was Immortal involvement.'

Kel suppressed a shudder. Of all the horrific things that she'd seen and experienced in Scanra, at least none had involved Immortals.

Raoul started up a conversation with Flyndan to his right and Kel let herself retreat inside her thoughts. About three hours into the ride, they stopped at a river to let the horses drink. Kel took Amberfire and Hoshi to a quiet patch on the riverbank, smiling at Raoul's exasperated expression; she was determined to fulfil her duties regardless of where they were.

'My Lord only took you on because he felt sorry for you,' a rather rude voice interrupted Kel's thoughts. She looked up to find the snub-nosed standard-bearer looking distastefully down at her. 'I usually do his chores, I'm good at it.'

Kel did not respond to this comment; she had expected this attitude and knew that he would not be the only one resentful of Kel's place with Raoul. Checking that both horses and drunk their fill, Kel gathered up their reins and turned to leave.

'Excuse me,' she said politely, but the standard-bearer didn't budge, instead reaching out to grip her arm. Kel reacted instinctively and twisted her wrist, digging her thumb and forefinger onto a delicate pressure point on the man's hand. He released her instantly, taking a step back.

'Watch yourself squire, Wyldon got rid of you once, who's to say that we won't do the same?' And he stalked off, leaving Kel alone with the horses.

As Kel was returning Amberfire to Raoul, she met Qasim who offered her a meat-stuffed turnover which Kel accepted gratefully.

'That was Lerant of Eldorne,' said the Bazhir carefully. 'He applied for positions in the army and the navy even though he was noble born,' Kel listened attentively, although not sure where the tale was headed. 'No one would take him on. Not after his Aunt's treason. My Lord heard of it and offered Lerant a job in the Own. He has proven to be a good fighter and is devoted to my Lord.'

'Ah,' Kel breathed, understanding suddenly.

'He will come round,' said the Bazhir, 'give him time.'

Kel nodded and watched as Qasim disappeared into the milling crowd. She led Amberfire back to Raoul, who thanked her and mounted up. Kel scrambled to follow him and like a wave the men followed suit. They rode on into the night.

Kel smelt the wrecked village before she saw it; smouldering wood and the smell of something far worse; burnt flesh. Memories assaulted her in a hideous wave. An image of a snow-covered village swam in front of her eyes, crimson stains and splashes marring the scene. Children with their insides pooled around them, men with heads detached from their bodies…

Kel blinked hard, once, twice and then three times to bring herself back to the cool Tortallan morning. She wasn't in Scanra; there was no Alex, no snow, just a forest, still except for the tramping of one hundred men, the Knight Commander and his squire.

Hoshi picked her way carefully up the slope next to Amberfire, needing no direction from Kel. The forest was too quiet and Kel's heart sped up in anticipation of what lay over the ridge. She laid a hand on Courage's hilt, comforted by its solid feel under her hand. They crested the rise and Kel's eyes scanned the village and the woods beyond it for any sign of movement.

Stillness, an unbelievable stillness lay over the scene and Kel's heart sunk. The blackened shells of what had once been village buildings smoked gently in the early morning light, wisps of grey tumbling up through the air.

'Damn,' muttered Raoul, who had evidently been hoping to find survivors picking through the remains of their ruined lives.

'Volorin, Balim, take the perimeter. I want this area secured and the trail picked up,' he called in a voice that carried over the clear air. 'We have hunting to do,' he muttered under his breath.

A thirst for vengeance burned in Kel. The last time she had visited a village like this, she and Alex had been able to do little more than bury the dead. The two of them couldn't possibly have hunted down the army. This time was different, this time she was in the army and Kel knew from the expression on the men's faces that they wouldn't rest properly until the perpetrators were brought to justice.

Raoul named other squads who set about tending to the animals, sending messages back to the King and unpacking their food. Kel followed her knight-master down into the village, having lost any desire to eat. Huddled shapes could be seen on the village green or slumped outside doors to buildings.

One squad swept through the village just to be sure, but they quickly hand-signalled to Raoul that there were no survivors.

'Dom get your squad digging,' Raoul instructed with a heavy voice. 'We need to clear up here within the hour and get on that trail fast.'

Kel took off her helmet and set it to one side as many of the men had done, shaking out the hair that had been itching her neck. Raoul was discussing something with Flyndan and didn't appear to need her so Kel set off across the ruined village. The faster the dead were buried, the faster they could chase after the killers.

Several men were analysing the foot and hoof prints on the dusty earth, discussing in low voices the estimated numbers. Kel stepped past them and across to a man whose belly had been cut. She closed his sightless eyes, shooing away the flies that had settled on his dried blood.

A shadow fell across the man's face. Kel looked up into the face of a young Bazhir man. She gestured that he take the arms. Kel rolled up her sleeves and together they lifted the fallen man, carrying him across the village and laying him gently down next to a plump woman who could've been asleep had it not been for the arrow protruding from her throat.

The bodies were a day old and had already begun to smell, leaving Kel feeling sick to the stomach. Gritting her teeth she carried on with the task at hand. No conversation flowed between her and her partner as they piled the dead ready for burial.

In Scanra, the custom was to burn the dead, supposedly so that their bodies were free to float on the wind. In Tortall the remains of the villagers would be buried under earth, left to rot and enrich the soil. Either way, Kel supposed it wasn't much relief for the relatives, just a small mark of respect.

The fractured buildings, damaged beyond repair by rampant flames were pulled to the ground using ropes and harnesses. Anything salvageable was pulled to once side and then the rubble left was torched, creating billowing clouds of smoke.

The burial crew had finished digging two long trenches and Kel helped her silent partner to pass down the body of a young boy. The digger looked up. It was Dom, a shocked expression on his face. Had he not expected her to help with the dirty, unpleasant tasks? Kel defiantly set the young boy in the earthen grave and returned with her partner to collect another body.

As she did so, Raoul called Kel over to him.

'What do you make of these tracks?'

Kel squatted down and peered forward. She traced the prints in the dusty earth with dirty, blood-encrusted hands. 'Shod horses,' Kel muttered, 'about ten or so who probably bore men. But these prints-' she stretched forward, her eyes darting across the ground, 'Centaur hoof prints?'

Raoul nodded, 'We estimate at least twelve centaurs; there are some more tracks over here. There is also evidence of Hurrok involvement,' said Raoul grimly.

Kel winced; Hurroks were large winged horses with claws instead of hooves. Even for veteran warriors a Hurrok was an extremely tough opponent. 'They didn't stand a chance,' said Kel quietly.

Raoul nodded sombrely. 'We've made contact with two rider groups in the area. Their ponies are much better at tracking through forest than our heavy cavalry. As soon as they arrive we'll start the hunt.'

'It's been almost a day, Sir,' Kel pointed out.

'A big group like that won't disappear; they'll have left tracks, have a camp somewhere, we'll find them in the end.'

He offered Kel a hand to stand up. Kel grasped the huge fist and felt herself being lifted almost off her feet.

'Thanks.'

Kel was just releasing her grip on Raoul when suddenly he grabbed her wrist and held it in place. Suppressing the urge to twist and perform a move that would release her hand, Kel looked up into the Knight's troubled face. Raoul was staring at her exposed left forearm.

Set white against her tan read; LO258. When he finally looked up at her face, his eyes were filled with a question that Kel wasn't ready to answer. Kel pulled her arm away and this time Raoul didn't resist. She gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head. 'It was a long time ago,' she mumbled.

Kel didn't look up from the ground, not wanting to see Raoul's face. She wanted to at least try and explain; for he would almost inevitably come to the conclusion that Kel had been captured by slave traders and that was why she hadn't returned for so long. It reality, it was so much more complicated, and how could she let those close to her in on some aspects of her 'missing years' without revealing just how involved and how much she knew about the goings on in Scanra? Best to say nothing at all.

The awkward moment passed when there was a great clattering of metal overhead. Kel jumped and drew her sword instinctively. Three Stormwings circled lazily above the village and as Kel watched one of them dived down onto the row of unburied bodies.

Anger raced through Kel, who shouted out and began to make for the Stormwing. A ham-sized fist clapped down on her shoulder. Her eyes blazing, Kel turned around.

'Let it be,' said Raoul gently. Kel looked back at the Stormwing to see that the men on burial duty had already sent the Immortal climbing awkwardly back into the sky.

'That filthy, piece of-'

'They are who they were made to be,' Raoul pointed out. 'They were created from dreams in an attempt to prevent mortals from going to war.'

'Some wars need to be fought, my Lord,' said Kel reigning in her temper. 'And those people over there,' she gestured with her arm, 'they weren't part of any war. They're victims of greed, both mortal and Immortal. I'll happily let the Stormwings piss on their killers, but those villagers deserve more respect.'

A horn blared through the camp.

'The riders,' said Raoul, looking thoughtfully at his Squire. 'Well said Kel,' he nodded once and strode off to meet the newcomers.

Kel stayed where she was, thinking. She was surprised that Raoul didn't think her outburst was insubordinate and Kel chastised herself mentally for saying too much.

Watching from afar, she saw Raoul greet the two Rider Group Commanders. Kel was unsure of what she should do; was she meant to follow Raoul and see how he handled the Riders, or should she go back to help with the burials?

This problem was solved when Raoul beckoned her over. As Kel hurried forwards Raoul called out in a booming voice, 'Squad leaders.' Kel waited at Raoul's elbow for the ten men to join them. As she did so, Raoul did the introductions.

'This is Josef, leader of the fifth rider group.'

'We're called th'Clouds, and this 'ere is Marsun of Razors.'

'The thirteenth group,' Raoul added. 'This is my Squire, Keladry of Mindelan.'

'Figured as much,' said Josef, 'Seeings as how she's in Goldenlake colours an' all.'

'Pleased to meet you,' said Marsun jovially.

Kel shook the offered hands and then stepped back, allowing the men of the King's Own to join them. Subtly she examined the two newcomers. They both wore plain white shirts with brown tunics and trousers. Around the rider insignia on their chests was a crimson ring; the ring that marked them out as Group Commanders.

'Listen up,' said Raoul and silence fell.

'We know that yesterday morning a raiding group composed of roughly thirty Immortals and bandits ransacked this village. They took anything of value, including all livestock. With that lot they won't be moving too quickly and will be looking for a place to hole up or another village to rob.

The Razors and Clouds will track them covertly and we'll follow behind, taking whatever larger roads there are in the vicinity. The mages will keep in close contact. Dom, Volorin, get your men to finish up here and catch us later. We can't wait any longer. If we ride hard till nightfall, we'll have caught up a lot of ground, then we can reassess the situation depending on where they've headed and lay an ambush. Any questions?'

No one spoke up.

'Right, let's bring these mud-suckers to bay.'

The group dispersed and Kel went to ready Amberfire for Raoul, only to find that Lerant had already done it. Ignoring the smug look on his face, Kel thanked the Standard-bearer sweetly and vaulted into Hoshi's saddle.

Within five minutes the company was on the move, leaving as calmly as they had arrived. Kel fought the urge to yawn and settled down in the saddle, wiping her filthy hands on her breeches. It was going to be a long day.

Just before sunset Raoul received word from the Rider groups of another plundered village. Kel straightened up in the saddle, and her hands went to the weapons at her waist, just the feel of them comforting her.

When they arrived at Littlecreek village there was a reassuring humdrum of activity. Unlike the silent death-filled streets of the first village there were many survivors, the bigger, better-protected village had put up a fight and the raiders had decided to scarper.

The company healers were immediately put to work on the casualties of the fight whilst Raoul instructed the rest of the men to set up camp for the night. Kel listened in to the discussion between Raoul and the headman of the village before wandering away down the busy streets.

Several houses were smoke-blackened but the infrastructure remained in tact, owing largely to fire-repelling mage charms. Walking slowly through the village Kel saw the decided resolve on every face; they would rebuild what they had lost. They had been lucky with only two fatalities, compared to the massacre that Kel had seen earlier that day.

Out of the corner of her eye Kel saw something move in the gap between two houses and a crate teetered precariously on top of another. Warily she moved into the alleyway. Settling down to a crouch Kel blinked, peering through the darkness. She could just make out the reflections from a pair of eyes blinking back at her.

'It's alright,' Kel called, softening her accent somewhat to match the country lilt. 'You can come out.' As Kel's eyes grew accustomed to the dusk she could make out the shape of a small boy.

'Do you live in Littlecreek?' Kel asked settling back until she too sat cross-legged in the dirt.

'Mm,' the boy made the tiniest of sounds.

'We've come to help, it's alright, and we're going to catch those that made all this mess.'

'Who're you?'

'My name's Kel, I'm with the King's Own.'

'They don't let girls in the King's Own,' pointed out the boy suspiciously.

'Well I'm not actually in the King's Own, I'm Squire to Lord Raoul.'

'The Giantkiller?'

Kel nodded, amused at how Raoul's reputation preceded him. 'If you come out then you'll be able to see him.'

Slowly the boy extricated himself from his hole. 'I hid cos I was scared,' he said, 'When all thems horses come, I though' tha' they had come back.'

'It's alright,' soothed Kel, getting up and dusting herself off. 'Shall we go and find your ma?'

The small boy blinked up at her, he couldn't have been more than seven years old. Kel bent down and scooped him up gently, settling him over a mail-clad hip.

'Sorry about the armour,' she said, starting to walk forward.

'You look like thems warriors in the stories that pa tells us.'

Kel smiled. 'Maybe when you're older you'll look like a warrior too.'

'But I got scared,' the boy mumbled.

'Even warriors get scared sometimes,' said Kel. 'Even frequently, the most important thing is that you continue to do the right thing, even though you're scared. Can you do that?'

He nodded, resting his chin upon Kel's shoulder.

'Good boy. Where do you live?' The little boy straightened up and pointed with a podgy, soot-stained finger towards the west of the town.

By the time Kel reached the boy's home, her arms were beginning to ache.

'Brogan,' shouted a relieved voice.

'Ma,' cried the boy, who ran to his mother.

'I hope he wasn't causing no trouble,' the woman apologised.

'Not at all,' Kel assured her. 'We had a nice chat didn't we Brogan?'

The boy nodded shyly. Kel waved goodbye and then returned to the King's Own camp.

'Where've you been?' asked Raoul.

'Returning lost children,' smiled Kel.

-a/n- Feedback? Opinions? Thoughts? I'd love to hear from you :D

This is really the first half of a chapter, but the chapter grew so long that I had to split it…This means that there is already nearly another completed chapter which should be up within a couple of days :D

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Confusedknight xxx