Kel woke up, feeling absolutely awful. Her head swam and ached; her stomach was lurching and wasn't even moving. She was disorientated and couldn't really make sense of anything. Through her groggy and slow-moving thoughts, she managed to discern one thing – she had got absolutely hammered last night, something she never did. Her Ma had always said keep away from drink.

Then everything came flooding back. The first MidWinter Ball had been last night. Her sisters were there. She groaned inwardly. Her sisters meant trouble sometimes. She would've thought that they shouldn't have entered the Queen's Riders, but she was too busy gawping at who was next to her, under the sheets.

Domitan of Masbolle.

"Mother of Mountains!" She groaned one of the many titles for the Great Mother Goddess.

Another flood of recollections came through, making her temples throb all the more. Well, it was one, but it was the worst.

Giggling away happily, nearly collapsing on several occasions, Kel tottered along with Dom, not really caring where they were going. He was very happy as well, but Kel didn't notice. She was now trying to lead Dom somewhere. Dom gave in with a bear hug, and they plodded down the Knight's Wing.

One more filtered through. She had thought too soon. It wasn't the worst. She put her hand to her neck, and gasped.

Her pregnancy charm wasn't there.

Dom stirred from under the covers. Deciding that she should leave before he awoke, she carefully climbed out of bed, pulled on the closest clothes. She ended up wearing an upside-down corset and a pair of breeches. Kel was only dimly aware that they were too big for her, and in a shade of blue she thought she had seen last night.

Moaning once again and cursing Shakuyo, she stumbled out of her rooms, glad that no-one was in sight, and staggered to the Infirmary. Looking around, she found Duke Baird's rooms. She knocked, flinching at the noise; her head was still painful.

"Come in!" He called. She entered, clutching her temples. He looked up, and his eyes turned very wide.

"Keladry? What's the matter?" He asked, concerned at her dishevelled state.

"Mithros, Baird, you had better have plenty of Gift with you this morning, or whatever time of day it is."

"And that would be because?"

"Let's just say I'm concerned about my chances of being expectant."