I seriously can't believe that I am about to embark on a sequel to GoaS. Eep!
My plan is to post every five days…lets see how long I stick to that. There will be a short break between the 14th and 25th of January when I am on holiday but I promise to give you a chapter on the 14th and one on the 25th to make up for it.
Brief Story Outline: Kel, Dom, Neal and Yuki, along with a squad of the Kings Own travel back to New Hope for a week before moving onto Corus. Meathead gets covered in mud, Kel receives a rapturous welcome back, the camp prepares for a new Knight, Dom puts his life in danger…sort of. Then of course we have all the usual interrupted moments, unfortunate accidents with food and an ever so slightly jealous Dom.
Each chapter is going to have 1500 words minimum though most should reach over 2000. I only thought GoaS would reach 14 chapters so I'm not even going to take a guess at this one.
I do hope you all enjoy this story as much as the last though I know I have a lot to live up to. Encouragement is always welcomed. If you see any mistakes point them out to me. I think my grammar is getting better but only you can be the real judge of that.
Its a slow start but bear with me. It does get more interesting. Promise!
As the new day dawned over the Fort of Steadfast and the sun began to cast its dark shadows, the battlement of the fort was strangely empty.
For the past week, when the sun started its ascent into the clear blue sky, a solitary figure could have been seen standing on the west wall. Watching the sun rise up and over the land. Spyglass in hand she had looked out over the surrounding landscape and the all too familiar feeling that had coiled up in her stomach overnight, vanished when she saw a smoke free sky over the sunlit horizon.
The particular person in question, a certain Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan, one of only two Lady Knights in Tortall (who was also known as the Protector of the Small) sat upon a large war scarred horse in the centre of the forts courtyard, surrounded by her small group of troops and the friends who had come to see her off.
She was waiting, and none too patiently. Not for the soldiers to assemble, for they already had. Neither was she waiting for the wagons that where to carry their new supplies to be loaded and hooked up to the pack horses, for that had already been done and the animals where now pawing at the ground nervously, eager to be off.
No. They where waiting for her newly married friends who had yet to shows their faces, or any other part of their bodies, on this fine but crisp morning.
"If they don't show up in the next couple of minutes, I'm leaving" Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan said as she stretched her neck, trying to get the kinks out. What would have usually have been a peaceful nights sleep, had been punctuated by the image of a pair of very blue eyes and dreams that hinted of a promise of something yet to come.
"If they don't show up soon, I'll be going after them" Alanna the Lioness, Tortall's other female Knight, said angrily. Standing outdoors at the beginning of winter was not something she usually wanted to do at all, let alone for a long time. Even though she was wrapped up from head to toe and the weather wasn't that bad, she still felt the cold creep in through the gaps of her cloth barricade and invade her body.
"Be my guest ma'am," said a certain blue eyed sergeant as he brought his mare to stand pararell to Kel's war horse Peachblossom "I'd go but I'd probably end up being scarred for life. There are something's a family member should never see" flashing a friendly smile at Kel who smiled back, while the rest of the small party chuckled to themselves.
"Maybe we should just leave them?" she said, throwing the question in Dom's direction "It is slightly unfair to expect them to be up and about the morning after their wedding"
"Don't even think about it Mindelan," came Lord Wyldon's voice from the back of the small crowd who had gathered in the courtyard to see them off. He made his way to the front of the group of people, nodding his greeting to them all, hands stuffed in the pockets of his breeches "Of all the tortures you could put me through, that one would be the worst. If you don't mind me saying so Baird" he added as an after thought, giving a short bow in the Dukes direction.
"I believe I would say in the same in your situation" Neal's father said with a sigh, as he pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes briefly, opening them again and hoping to see his son making his way across the frozen ground. "I'll go and see what is keeping them"
And with that, he was off. Heading across the ground towards the part of the fort that held the Knights personal rooms in search of his son and daughter in law.
"They are probably still arguing what to take with them and what to pack away," Raoul said "I told him he should just go along with what his wife says, it makes things a lot easier" he said, wrapping an arm around his own wife as she looked up at him and raised her eyebrows.
"You don't just agree with me to make life simple now, do you?" Buri asked
"Of course not dear" Raoul replied with a smile, and a wink in Kel's direction, which quickly turned into a wince when Buri cuffed him on the shoulder.
"Tobe," Kel called out and the young boy poked his head out behind a pack horse "Can you go fetch Neal and Yuki's mounts please?" and with a nod, the lad was off. Flying across the compact ground towards the stables "That way we'll be ready to head straight off."
Duke Baird finally emerged from the sleeping quarters Yuki and Neal following along in his wake, the latter sporting a sleepy but slightly embarrassed expression. As usual nothing in Yuki's expression gave her away, walking right up to Lord Wyldon she bowed in front of him and thanked him for his hospitality while Neal took Magewhisper's reins in his hand as Tobe passed them to him.
The Duke held his new daughter in laws horse for her while she mounted. Dressed in a riding kimono, which had slits in the sides and more covering over the legs, and sporting a new set of winter gear, Yuki was ready to go.
Neal on the other hand wasn't as organised and stood fusing over his saddle bags, packing and unpacking the bags looking for his gloves and riding jacket. Finally finding what he was looking for and eventually mounting his horse, he sat up straight in the saddle and looked at all those staring at him.
"What?" he asked.
"Oh for the love of," Alanna began before her husbands hand came from her and covered her mouth, preventing her from finishing the sentence she had started.
"Late night last night Sir Nealan?" the Baron asked all innocently then let out a whooping laugh as Neal's entire face burned a bright shade of red and his eyes narrowed.
Dom swung his horse round, took of his glove and held his bare hand up to Neal's face.
"You could cook eggs on that" he said, turning his head round and speaking to the group. Laughing he ducked the swing that Neal aimed at him before pulling his mare back round to stand next to Kel's Peachblossom. The elder horse eyed the young sergeant out of the corner of his eye.
"Enough," Lord Wyldon declared and all those in the courtyard fell silent "Lady Knight," he said, bowing his head to her "Sir Nealan, Sergeant, my Lady. I expect to see you all in a weeks time. Now, before we all get frostbite from standing out here for so long," as he glared in Neal's direction "I believe that it is time that you took your leave"
"My Lord," Kel said as she bowed her head in respect. She heard the rest of her party do the same. Saying her goodbyes to the rest of the party, many of whom she would see in the coming weeks, she faced Peachblossom towards the now open gate.
Lifting her arm she signalled her small band forward, the horses hoofs making an odd hollow sound on the frozen ground beneath their feet. Trampling through the gate Kel made sure to acknowledge all the soldiers who either raised their hands in farewell or who nodded their goodbyes.
The rode out at a trot and kept up the pace as they left the shadows of the fort and out into the sunlight countryside. The early morning frost was quickly turning into dew in the suns rays and it sparkled off the ground.
Disengaging herself from the group and slowing to a holt she turned, surveying the fort of Steadfast for one last time. Her gaze lingered over the grey stone walls before her attention was caught by a lone figure standing on the battlements, waving franticly. Kel felt her face erupt into a smile and laughed, all the while raising her own arm to wave back.
"Kel," Neal shouted from where the small band had stopped after realising that their commander had fallen behind "Lets go home"
"Home" she thought, the smile still on her face. With one final wave in Owen's direction, she wheeled Peachblossom round and set of at a gallop to catch up with the front of the group. Taking her place beside Dom, and behind Neal and Yuki, she settled back to enjoy the relatively short ride back to the camp, the place she had called home for the last 8 months.