Again, thanks everyone for understanding and waiting patiently.

Brokendreamer29, Stargazer, Flyer without Wings, Elise, Booknerds, Painlust, The Wackedone and so on. After the computer fry it is your reviews that made it possible for me to find the muse and rewrite the chapters however slow they are coming.

As for spelling I apologize, I know its Raoul not Roale however autocorrect is a pain in the bum and I've no idea how to change it. If you know how please let me know. I'm also backlogging the chapters and fixing the spelling/names in them so those updates versions will be fixed soon! So until then, hope you enjoy!

Huginn's Muse.

P.S. The muse is back and thus the chapters will start coming again every week! Sorry about the disappearing act!

Chapter 11

Spring had come to Gaul nearly a month earlier then it would have hit Tortall. The northerners called it an equinox. When the earth had shifted so that they rose an hour early to meet the rising sun and keep balance. For the first time in her life Kel had slept in for a few days. Frost and Caramela had laughed at this, the Protector had always been so punctual but for nearly a week ran around like a chicken with its head cut off to wake and ready in time for training.

"Kel look!" Ashely laughed as they rode toward Maiden's Shield after tilting practice. Maiden's Shield was a mere thirty minute ride outside of the Maiden's village, and though the village only allowed those training to become or were Maidens the nearby city was built just for that. It was meant for those who had families who wished to visit, or remain close. While business's flourished due to the constant traffic and demands of the maiden's it always seemed to be bustling and there was almost no poverty. One day it was what Kel hoped to see for most cities across Tortall.

Nudging Peach forward she spotted just what the girl was pointing at, like most tree's thick vines ran up this one, blending into the branches, however she could spot the first bud on it clean as day, the brilliant green a contrast to the dark brown tree and vine it sprouted from. "Spring's here." With that both girls laughed and rode on. It was rare to have an afternoon to themselves and they intended to spend it with a few friends at their favorite tavern over a nice glass of warm mead and lamb marinated in mint, honey and spices.

"Wake up!" Dom nearly flicked his cousin in the head, stirring him and his wife.

"What are you doing…" Neal began as he quickly moved to cover Yuki up as quickly as possible. It was not even two weeks ago she had given birth to their first son, who still lay sleeping in his basinet.

"Were leaving tonight Raoul offered to take us to the horse faire in hopes of catching word about Kel." Was all the man said before starting toward the door. Neal rolled over in bed then, Yuki wide awake beside him.
"You're going?"
"I love Kel like a sister, but my place is here with you and…"
"Go." She said firmly, resting a hand upon his and offering him a small smile. "You are the smarter of the two, if there is a chance to pick up information you must do so, so long as you make it up to me later." The sly smile was enough for the man to lean over and place a kiss upon her lips.

"Swear it." And with that he rushed out of the room still trying to tuck his shirt in.

"Why is it so hot!" Ashely whined leaning over the saddle of her mount as they followed the main road to Cria for the great horse fairs. The two young maidens were escorted by Frost, Caramela and their two guards to help bring a string for the new maidens who had the coin or acquired it for the purchase of new steeds.

The ride itself had taken them only two weeks to cut through the land that Tortall had dubbed the Roof of the World, and Sarain. Galla was a much faster trip as the main road had been trampled, cleared and flattened by the herds that were escorted to the fair only a few days prior. Winter had already seem to have come and gone in Galla, the snow only peaked the mount ranges or lay in thick chunks in the valleys though they were swiftly melting into temporary marsh's till the heat dried even that up. If anything Galla was beautiful in the spring with its lush green fields speckled with bright purple and yellow crocus's that littered it. At times it looked as if one of the gods threw their artist's pallet down and it became one of the fields bellow.

It however was when they could hear the laughter and sounds from the faire that Kel started to panic. The echoes of laughter and horns, the sounds of smiths at work in the forges shodding horses or selling armor, weapons and barding. She could hear criers hawking their wears from the finest ale in all the kingdoms to freshly roasted venison and boar.

"What... what if someone recognizes me!" She wheeled around to look at Frost and Cara, her face panic stricken. "So close to home, I mean I know they come here every year to…" Kel's rambles were cut short by Frost as she raised a hand.

"If the gods will it and know your place is here, your sword mates will not recognize you." She sighed before a slight smile started at the corner of her lips. "Besides, you've changed so much since you've arrived."

Keladry could not argue with that statement. Her hair itself was long enough that it went past her shoulders and was almost reaching for her shoulder bones. She often tied it back, as the sun had started to bleach it out with strawberry blonde highlights and she was no longer mousy brown but 'dirty' blonde they called it. It accented the green and gold in her eyes quite well she liked to think. But even beyond the hair she had lost weight as her cheekbones now more prominent and proved to be more a woman's face then a young ladies or 'fluffy' man's. Her once thick muscle body and it's lack of curves had seemed to wash away to reveal a curvy woman that was perfectly toned under her leathers. Even in her fighting dress, leather, and mail one could see her ample bust, now thin waist and hips that were meant to either hold a shield wall or for childbearing. Maybe Frost was right, maybe she wouldn't be recognized by her peers. With a huff she turned back to face the quickly nearing fair and beyond that the city walls. The place was not Corus but it was vast and filled with commotion as people rushed around to finish last minute business or enjoy the sites before heading on their way. Around the city itself were huge makeshift paddocks and tents in hundreds of colors with banners flying proudly to mark who resided in each area or whose herd was in what paddock.

"Shall we ladies?" Cara called out as she urged her mare into a trot, people seeing them leapt aside as they must have been an odd site. The two battle maidens, guards, trainee's and followed by a wolf would intimidate post people to move out of their way, and oddly enough Kel couldn't help but smile at that feeling.