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Fanfic
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Lady Shang Keladry
Sorrel Rowan
Chapter Six: Something Wrong
Midwinter - "the ordeal by etiquette," according to Neal, who hated what Raoul called "fuss and feathers" - was finally over. Ten new knights had sworn fealty to king and crown, one had died trying. Shinkokami and Roald were finally over their shyness and in love at last, as were Yukimi and Neal. Now the business of the realm began again.
The business of the realm, which boiled down to Scanra, and the troublesome northern border.
Dom sat in Raoul's study, listening to him rant and rave about the King, knowing the exact reason why. One company of the Own had to remain at court, and the King had asked the Third to stay. Raoul was very angry, so angry that he had actually yelled at his king - only in front of the queen, but still. Jonathan had calmly listened, as Dom was now, and then told Raoul to go calm down.
The queen was not so diplomatic.
"If you're going to act like a child that got told no to a treat, then go to your room and think about it."
Raoul was not calm.
A messenger in blue ran into the courtyard of the palace, demanding to see the king immediately. He was sweat soaked, his mount almost collapsing. He bore the signs of hard travelling. His face was icy pale and his eyes wild, as though the black god himself was chasing him.
Kel was summoned by the monarchs to an audience in early january, and Kel knew they would be asking if she would join the Kings Own or the Riders at the northern front. It was a question she had been preparing for since that odd talk with Lord Wyldon on her first day in the palace. She had suspected at the time the King had asked him to speak to her.
Her brothers were already on the front, along with almost every knight the crown could spare. Only third company had remained at court after the progress, at the 'request' of the king.
Kel stood at her window, watching the sparrows settle in for the night, thinking of what would remain in Corus if she did go. I wish mama was here, then Dom might not be so, so confusing. Maybe mama could help me figure him out. Papa could help me figure out how to say 'no, I like where I am better' in a nice way to the King of Tortall.
Dom...would stay here. So would Shinko and Eda, Yuki, Neal and Roald. The thought of being separated from the two women she was closer to than a sister to gave her a pang of sadness. And to go to war, where I might not see them again.
And Dom, what would she do without him? One of her closest friends at the palace, and a cool head in a fight. The few times Kel had ridden with the Own because she was getting restless in the palace, Dom had been beside her.
She felt like she knew him forever after only a few months.
Then Kel thought of her memories of war ravaged regions - the people she owed protection.
She knew she would go, it was her duty. People were starving and dying and she could not withhold her help.
Sighing, Kel left to find the royal couple, slowly walking out of her door.
A royal messenger ran to the barracks of the Own, with a note demanding the immediate presence of Lord Raoul and his second at a meeting. Raoul read the note and groped the air for a seat, his face pale. Speechless, he handed the note to Dom.
"Oh goddess, no."
The messenger took Keladry to the war chamber, something niggling at Kel. Something was very wrong. A royal messenger with only a verbal message which, basically, said "urgent message, come now"? The war chamber? A meeting place for only the most high ranking officials - so why was Kel summoned?
The messenger had to run to catch up with Kel.
In the war chamber, the grim faces of Myles of Olau, the monarchs, Raoul, Dom and Buri looked at her as she calmly walked in.
Neal, representing his father who was in the north, sat beside Dom. His normally laughing eyes were stormy, angry and sad all at once, with no hint of their usual mischief. His mouth was a thin pale line.
Oh, goddess, Dom thought in horror. She doesn't know. They haven't told her yet.
The queen, Buri and Shinko both had eyes rimmed in red, showing signs of hard crying, and the queen and Shinko were fighting tears as they looked up at Kel. Shinko looked back down, unable to look at her, Roald next to her took her hand and held it.
Another man was sitting at the table, someone she knew, just couldn't place. Once she had taken her seat, she knew who he was and sat up straight in the silent room.
Last summer, when I went -
Jon looked at Keladry, only to see a white-faced teenager, who knew something was wrong. Her attention was not on him, but the man next to him.
Kel suddenly knew what had happened, the only thing that could bring that man and the war chamber together. Why the queen cried. Why Shinko couldn't even look at her. Her mind cried out against it, but she knew it was the truth from the way the others were looking at her, like a loaded cannon that could go off at any time.
Mithros, no.
Someone took Kel's hand, the one below the table, and she looked to find Dom. His eyes held no pity, only a deep wish he could do something, anything to help, and a deep sorrow for her.
"You may wish to read this in private."
The King gave her a letter with an owl crest.
Kel nodded numbly and walked out of the hushed chamber.
Dom and Shinko looked at each other helplessly, then turned their mute appeals on the King and Raoul. Raoul glared at the king, and the queen spoke very quietly after a conferring glance with Jon.
"She'll need someone. Shinko, you can go to her if you think you can help," the queen said to Kel's best friend.
Shinko left at a run.
Dom looked at the King, who shook his head. "Not yet, we may need you in this meeting." His voice was firm, but his eyes apologised for what he had to do.
Slamming the door open, and diving for her travelling bags, Kel threw clothing and a travelling pack together within minutes. She called a maid - something she never usually did - and informed her that she would be away for a time, and could she make sure the sparrows were fed properly?
Tiding up the room, sweeping the room, making her bed, straightening her desk so the quill was parallel with the desk edge... Kel's hands found something to keep her mind busy at every turn.
Rushing around her room, packing quickly, Kel noticed that some shirts weren't folded properly. She folded them again, but they wouldn't sit properly, the stupid collar wouldn't sit, why wouldn't it - her mother would get it to sit right, she's good at packing, and she would do it right, so why couldn't Kel?
Gentle hands took the shirt away, folded it neatly and packed it away.Kel looked up, expecting silver hair and a musical voice to reassure her.
Kel looked up to see Shinko looking at her through sad eyes, and then she brushed away tears Kel hadn't realised she had been crying, and reality hit Kel in a wave. She sank to the ground next to her bed, and drew her knees up to her chin, tears running freely down her face.
Minutes later, Dom entered the room, saw Shinko kneeling and Kel crying, numbly, staring into empty space. Shinko looked at him with eyes that pleaded as she walked out of the door.
He went to Kel and sat beside her.
Looking past her pallid face and glass eyes, he saw a piece of paper on the floor.
Due to the folds and smudges from mud and rain, only some of the message was visible.
What he saw made his heart break for Kel.
His... King Jonatha ... tall
We require reinforce ... haste. We are under attack. We... eige...anrans, who have supe...umbers.
Witho�orcements, we will fall within the month.
The Scanran force contai ...fantry...valry ... the assembly of seige en... No mages w ...the enemy.
Food and...six mon...
We do not ...litary resources to hold ...
All ...astle walls, with losses of 33 women and children.
We ...casualties of 97 men at present, a fifth of ...
Our mag..dead.
Message sent...fifteen...seige.
... Baron Piers ... critically injured ...first day of hostilities, two days bef..eige. His ...Ilane, was killed by an ambush of ...same day, outnumb... 5 to 1. All of her party, 10 men ...killed. The baron died ...wounds soon after receiving...news...death of his wife.
On the fourth day ...Sir Inness of ... illed by battlefire catapulted ...
The baron is succe... eldest son, the Kni... ron Ande..delan.
Please tell my sisters.
I repeat : we require reinforcements immediately.
Sir Anders of Mindelan
Dom put his arms around Kel, kissed her hair and prayed.
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