A/N: Still not Tamora Pierce so I do not own any of her characters or places. But I completely claim Kas.

Kel smiled at herself in the mirror once more after she had stepped out of the bath. The dinner with Kas had gone very well and it was a pleasant change to have a man insist on treating her like a woman. And not just as a woman but a woman that he found attractive. She hadn't quite believed the moment he had looked her over when she had first come out of the palace gates and had declared himself the luckiest man in all of Tortall. But he had kept repeating it, mostly to himself his quiet murmurs, all throughout dinner and again as they had stopped before she had gone back through the palace gates.

And the way he had kissed her at the gates. He had held her around the waist with one arm and had to use the other to support himself against the wall as he backed her into it. His lips had pressed against hers, moving with the gentle but firm pressure she was coming to know and very much enjoy from him. She had a guess that the kiss had certainly taken some time as one of the guards at the palace gates had started to cheer. In response, she had felt Kas grin against her lips and slowly pull back.

"I could stay here all night just like this," he had told her and everything about the way he looked at her had told her he was serious. "I'm afraid that I'm going to leave you alone for three days and you're going to realize I'm not the only man in the world."

"You aren't the only man in the world," Kel had told him easily being completely practical. "I don't think I would care for the competition for you if you were." That had earned her another warm, long kiss that had left her feeling warm and giddy.

"Three days is a long time," Kas had murmured when he had pulled back.

"You're the one that set the date and time," she had reminded him.

"I know, and I have real reasons. But I just can't imagine letting you walk away from me that long." His mouth had found hers again for a very brief, sweet kiss. "Please don't forget about me."

"I doubt I ever could," Kel had assured him. Then he had untangled himself from her and let her out from where he had cornered her against the wall. With one more utterance of how lucky he was, he had bid her good night and left her watching his retreat down the steps back into Corus.

Her first act back on palace grounds had been to find Dom to thank him because never had a man made her feel so appreciated, and it had been because of Dom that she had had a chance to meet him. Kas had been completely honest about how long he had been interested in her and how exactly he had known to be at the tavern that night.

A random thought brought Kel back to the current time rather than the night before. Dom had echoed Kas' words almost exactly. He was afraid she would forget about him in the three days that she wasn't around him and had spent some time kissing her to ensure she wouldn't. A seed of doubt entered her mind. Perhaps Dom had planned all of this as some sort of elaborate prank. Part of her wanted to jump up and go ask Dom if he had orchestrated the whole thing, but then she remembered two things: one, Dom wouldn't hurt her like that, and two, Dom was currently nursing his pride after their twenty-minute duel had ended with him on his back and her sword tip against his nose.

She'd find some other time to ask Dom about the coincidence. Just after her duel with Dom she had come up with the brilliant idea to see Kas again sooner and to surprise him. She had decided she would bring him a nice midday to enjoy while he worked. She had asked Neal for the name of one of the better eating houses in Corus that would allow her to take the food away. He had given her a list of several including his reviews on each place and which dishes he viewed as the best.

Kel had made her selection before she had had to dig too far into the specifics of Neal's list and had gone to the bathhouse to clean up. Now she was in her rooms looking between her dresses and her normal breeches and shirts. The night before she had opted for a gown because she had shared her concerns with Yuki and Shinko about her clothing choices. Both women had clicked their tongues at the men and their choice of words and had assured Kel a gown or breeches wouldn't sway a good man. Then they had proceeded to dig through her closet to find something simple and flattering.

But today she wanted to prove a point to herself. She set the dress aside and started to pull on the breeches. Kas would see her in them eventually, and on the off chance her male friends were right, it was best to give Kas that view now before he became too attached to her in gowns. Clean and dressed, Kel gathered up her belt purse and set off for the city.

It wasn't uncommon for the working classes of Corus to pay for meals to be brought away from an eating house in the middle of a work day, so it was very simple for Kel to simply ask for a basket to be prepared at the eating house she had picked. They packed it all up along with a skin filled with juice for her and sent her on her way within minutes of her arrival at the eating house.

Navigating the Raven Armory was a different task altogether. While it was normally busy, it seemed far busier than normal. The crowd inside almost backed up to the doors making it hard to weave between the mostly male customers as they looked at the different examples of work on the walls. It took her several minutes to even locate one of the clerks at the counter that wasn't completely buried in customers and then quite a few more for them to be free enough from the customers he did have to speak with her.

"You want to interrupt one of the smiths while they work?" He demanded when she had explained what she was there for. "Are you stupid, girl? Can't you see how busy we are and you want to take one of the smiths away from his duties!" The young man had growled at her. Before Kel could think of a decent reply she saw a large man with his graying hair bound back in a horse tail and scars down his bare arms step out of the doorway behind the counter, turn to look at the clerk, and then glance back at her. He carefully wiped his hands on a thin drying cloth tucked into his apron before he advanced on the clerk.

"I'd be careful who you address in such a way. With so many young noble warriors returning from the war with purses full of gold for heroic deeds, you never know which one you might be offending. Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan, is there something we can be of assistance with? One of your weapons needs servicing? I know you have both a dagger and a sword from us and with the war surely they can use a bit of touching up."

"My weapons are in excellent condition, a true testament of your work here," Kel smiled at the smith while the clerk stepped back, his cheeks burning red. "I was hoping to visit with one of your journeyman smiths, Kasen Lander, but as it was pointed out to me by this fine man, you are unusually busy. If it isn't a good time, then perhaps, you could just bring this back to him?" She held up the basket for him to see. It was covered but it wasn't exactly hidden what was inside of the basket where even in a place filled with the smell of burning coals, weapon polish, and smoke, the wonderful smell of fresh bread and roasted meat could be detected.

"Well, I'll be switched," the smith chuckled. "I thought he was pulling an old master's leg telling me he was trying to romance the Lady Knight," he waved her back behind the counter and shot another meaningful look at the clerk. "I heard all about how he worried you would realize he's just a smith and not show for dinner last night. I almost thought he was making it up. And he's quite popular today too. I think someone else just asked for a few private moments with him too."

Kel hesitated a moment as insecurities set in. There was another woman bringing him midday or stealing a few kisses from him. She was likely much smaller and had dimples. Her worst daymare with Cleon had always been women with dimples and it hadn't seemed to have disappeared since then.

"Now, now, not like that," the big smith teased as he turned her towards a hallway that radiated heat, the sounds of hammers striking metal, and stone grinders sharpening blades. "Some warrior that wanted to commission something specifically from Kas. Wouldn't take anyone else." They walked past all of the open doors and Kel glanced inside of a few to note private forges and workspaces of a fairly decent size with apprentices running to do the bidding of the masters. As they worked down the halls the number of apprentices dwindled as did the amount of activity in each forge. At the end of the hall the smith turned her towards an open door that led outside to a large outdoor forge where five smiths were working away under a canopy to protect them from the sun. Only one smith leaned against his anvil, arms folded, with a serious look on his face as he addressed the man standing across from him.

Kel let the image of Kas at work settle into her mind. His breeches were worn and coated in burn marks and soot. The sleeves of his shirt were missing to reveal large muscular arms already streaked in soot and a few burns. The rest of his torso was covered with a patched leather apron that hung down just past his thighs. Once she had drunk in the sight of him, her mind turned to the man that had Kas looking so serious. Dom was the man standing across from Kas, his own face serious as they spoke.

Slowly eyes of the other smiths turned towards them and one of the men she recognized from the tavern the other night gave her a smile before he turned back to Kas. "I'd finish up that conversation quickly before your lady grows tired of watching the rest of us outwork you."

Kas' head came up quickly to snap around to the doorway. Without a word, he turned his back on Dom and closed the distance between them. For an awkward moment his arms seemed to sway closer to her and then back to his sides again before his cheeks burned a little.

"I'd greet you properly but I don't want to get you dirty," he admitted.

"And you just abandoned your customer that insisted specifically that you get his commission," the smith behind her informed Kas. Kas glanced back at Dom with a frown.

"It's alright Master Reeves. The Lady Knight and I are good friends. I would only fault him for abandoning me to a lesser woman, which is almost every other woman," Dom came forward and grinned at her. "At least, I believed we were good friends until this morning when she laid the tip of her sword on my nose."

"You lost the duel," Kel informed him with a shrug.

"You are not the one that disarmed me. I tripped. Honor dictates that you allow me a chance to regain my footing," Dom huffed with a grin still on his lips. Kel knew enough that he was jesting with her, likely to show his pride wasn't as much in need of nursing as he had let on after her victory.

"Whilst our duel might have been friendly, Sergeant Domitan, we train for combat where an enemy will not hesitate to remove your pretty head for tripping on a clump of dirt," Kel reminded him.

"You've spent far too much time with My Lord," Dom gave her a cheery clap on the shoulder. "We've discussed some of what we need to but we can pick up again at a later time," he turned to Kas. "I will be returning to speak with you."

Kel watched Kas' face become dark for a moment as he watched Dom retreat back through the doorway before he glanced back at her and the blush stained his cheeks once more. "What is it you desire of me, the most beautiful Kel?"

"I thought you might want some midday," she informed him, trying to keep the blush she felt firmly under her mask. She knew that with Kas it wasn't simply flattery but something he actually believed. It also didn't seem to be any different from the type of compliments he used when she wore her dresses for him.

Kas's cheeks turned a brighter shade of pink as he seemed to glance around at the other journeymen smiths and Master Reeves. Then his eyes drifted down to his own clothing. "I'm hardly presentable at a decent eating house right now," he murmured.

Kel sensed his embarrassment but wasn't sure it was actually connected with the state of his clothing or not. Part of her mind worried it was because she had been too forward with him in front of other men though he didn't seem the type to worry about things like that. So perhaps it was something else, but she couldn't imagine what. Either way, his embarrassment was misplaced.

"Going to find an eating house wasn't my intention," Kel informed him. "I didn't want to interrupt your work too much but I thought you might sit and eat at some point." She nodded to the basket on her arm and watched his eyes travel down to it and back up to her face again.

"You brought us midday," he said after a long moment.

"I brought you midday," she clarified but she still sensed a little hesitation from him. "Or have you already had midday?" She heard one of the other journeymen snicker before Kas turned a glare at him.

"No, I haven't. I'm just," he glanced back at his work station.

"You're late for taking your midday. You've been here since before the sun rose," Master Reeves spoke over Kel's shoulder. "These other buffoons might take note of your dedication."

"Give me a moment to wash up a bit," Kas murmured to her. "Don't let these idiots sully your ears about me." Kas turned and walked around the side of the building rather than into it. She had no doubts there was a pump for water or some sort of water barrel around that side of the building.

"I have to say, I'm impressed with Kas," one of the journeymen's voices reached her ears. Kel glanced back to see Master Reeves had abandoned the doorway and had likely returned to work. "Obsesses over her for years and finally charms her into his bed twice already in two days. Not many men have that sort of determination."

"But perhaps she really is just that easy. We've seen his charms and certainly they aren't enough to charm your average flowerseller into a free night let alone a noble woman into his bed. Likely she was just looking for someone to fill the space between her legs for a few moments and he offered himself up to her." Another commented.

Kel felt her cheeks start to burn as she looked to the ground instead of at the journeymen. She knew how some men liked to prove their masculinity by boasting about the women they had slept with. She also knew some of her own friends would tease each other if one of them hadn't bedded a woman they were courting yet even after a day or so. She had heard friends lie about conquests simply to up their own standing or get the others off of their backs. She had no doubts Kas' fellow journeymen, or at least a few of them, were the type to put that kind of pressure on a friend. Had Kas lied about bedding her to get his friends to leave it be? He truly didn't seem the type to lie about something like that simply to boast even to other men.

The comments about her easiness did nothing but remind her about what the general population thought of her. It was rare to go a day, if not a few hours, without hearing about how easy she was. It wouldn't be uncommon if it became general knowledge that she was courting a commoner in the city for other comments like that.

"What's wrong?" Kas was at her side again and his warm hand had taken hers. "Your face goes all blank when you aren't happy. Did one of these idiots say something?"

"Nothing that I'm not used to hearing," Kel turned to look up at him. He had scrubbed his face and arms to be almost free of soot and had taken off his apron, revealing a mostly clean shirt underneath.

Kas looked up at glared at his friends before he moved to block her view of them. The hand he held he brought up to his lips. "Don't listen to those idiots. They are upset I haven't told them a damned thing about last night." He dropped her hand to cup her cheek. "I want to assure you this is a very wonderful surprise. I wasn't expecting to see you until our next planned outing and here you are."

"Well," Kel smiled up at him. "I wasn't exactly thrilled with not being able to see you for a few days. Perhaps you would forget all about me," she turned his words back on him.

"Never," he leaned down to press his lips against hers. "Now, why not bring midday for yourself too?"

"Well, I know you said it was busy lately with all of the people coming back from the border. I wasn't sure I'd get a chance to do more than hand this over to you." Kel explained and found Kas' other arm around her waist.

"I may be lucky that Master Reeves likes you," he admitted. "Perhaps we should find some place to sit so that I don't look like I'm stalling my work too much." He pulled her around the side of the building where there was a small area with benches and tables. A few apprentices were lounging at a table nearby with their own simple middays of hard rolls and fruit likely brought from home. Kas picked the table furthest from them.

"Where do they put you in the winter?" Kel asked looking around at how much of Kas' work was outside.

"They wrap the entire area canopied area in thick layers of canvas coated in strong fireproofing charms and then the forges keep the inside warm enough that the metal doesn't get brittle," Kas shrugged. "We used to go inside and share space in the masters' workshops but a few years ago a couple very vocal masters decided they didn't want to share anymore. So we were kicked outside."

"Do they heat this area as well?" Kel asked as she set out the contents of the basket in front of Kas. She wasn't sure the heat of the forges would reach this far. She could feel a nice refreshing breeze brushing across her face. In the winter it would be bitterly cold on this side of the building.

"No. We sit at our forges at eat when we can," he admitted. "This looks amazing."

Kel glanced up at Kas to see his eyes were on the spread of food. Roasted beef in gravy and herb roasted potatoes filled the wooden plate she had pulled the cover off of that had come in the basket. Soft, fresh baked rolls wrapped in linen napkins completed the meal. She fished a wooden fork from the basket and set it in front of Kas along with the skin of juice.

"You're spoiling me," he murmured.

"Just as well, because I'm fairly certain you've already spoiled me," she felt a blush rise to her cheeks as his dark eyes jerked up off of the food to stare at her.

"I haven't done anything to spoil you," he said after a long moment.

Kel disagreed but she knew he wouldn't want to hear it. The simple fact that he treated her like a woman worth looking at, kissing, and spending time with romantically was spoiling her. Cleon may have called her flowery names and had kissed her but it certainly had never felt like what Kas was doing to her.

Suddenly Kas had moved to her bench and settled his arm around her waist as he pulled the plate of food over to her side of the table. He turned to place a kiss on her temple and gave her waist a squeeze.

"That you already believe I am spoiling you simply by my wanting to respect you while I throw myself at you has me wishing I had already done more to feel deserving of that praise from you," he sighed and began to dig into his food.

He ate in silence for some time while Kel enjoyed the fact he refused to let her go even as other smiths, likely masters by their apparent ages and the fact she didn't recognize them from the outside forge, and apprentices came out to enjoy their own middays. Every now and then he'd turn and press his lips against her temple or cheek. It was nice to just sit in silence enjoying each other's company. It was a very Yamani thing to want someone that she could just be quiet with from time to time.

"What was Dom here for?" Kel asked after they had sat quietly for nearly ten minutes. "Some sort of commissioned weapon?"

"No, not really," he sighed. "He offered to fund my piece for presentation to the guild for my mastery."

"And you're not happy about it," she observed. She knew it wasn't rare for a noble to fund a craftsman they believed in the work of. Dom was certainly the type of noble to offer himself up for that sort of thing and it was a journeyman's dream not to have to pay for the expensive materials that often went into the masterpiece they would have to create. It didn't make sense that Kas was unhappy about the offer.

"I work extra hours to assist Master Reeves with his work. In return, he throws a few extra coins my way off of his commissions on top of the extra pay for the extra hours. It's not much but it's more than most men in my position will see. Maybe in the next year or so I'll have enough saved up and I can turn my attention to creating." He sighed and turned to look at her. "It means I can't see you as often as I'd like."

"And how often is that?" Kel asked.

"As often as you'd let me," he replied easily. "It was hard to let you go last night thinking I wouldn't be able to take time to see you today or tomorrow."

"Are you putting in extra time tonight?" She asked.

"Tonight and tomorrow," he set his fork down and glanced up at where the other smiths were throwing them glances. "I should get back to work and actually earn my pay. I really do appreciate you coming here and bringing midday. Please don't think that I'm trying to push you out."

"You have work to do, I understand," Kel smiled and extracted herself from the bench. "Thank you for letting me steal a little time today."

Kas stood and pulled her in close for a short, sweet kiss that left her smiling even before he pulled away. The smile he gave her back was enough to assure her that she had done something worthwhile. She gathered up the cleaned plate, the empty skin, and the fork into the basket before letting Kas take her hand and pull her back through the outdoor forge where the other journeymen had started to lounge about in preparation for their own middays. They didn't turn at the door to go back through the workshops into the main shop, but instead kept walking to the other side of the outdoor forge and around the corner where a tall fence blocked the view of the street beyond. Kas unlatched a portion of the fence and gave her one more swift kiss before sending her on her way.

Kel turned to walk back to the eating house to return the basket, plate, and fork though she knew they hardly expected them back, and then made plans to visit Lalasa. She had received new dresses from her when she had first arrived back in Corus from Scanra but perhaps it was time to place an order for some other things.