When Kel returned to New Hope, Neal was the first to greet her. His eyes were darkly shadowed, and he moved without his usual flair. The healer-knight looked ready to sleep for a month. Kel did her best to hide a knowing smile. The babe wasn't born yet, but Neal had more than enough trouble managing the fort and caring for an expecting Yuki.

"Take the afternoon off, Queenscove. That's an order." She told him. Neal was too exhausted even to argue. He saluted, returned her keys, and disappeared.

She gave her reins to Tobe. Merric grabbed the remaining horses and followed Tobe. Kel and Dom stood in the courtyard, surveying Kel's small but proud domain.

"It's a nice place you've got here, Mindelan." Dom commented. "And I've forgot how lovely the skin treatment in this area can be. Perhaps…" He rubbed his neck nervously. "Perhaps you wouldn't mind having one more hand around here to keep the woodwork in good shape."

Kel raised an eyebrow. "A warrior such as yourself is more valuable under Raoul than me."

Something wicked and suggestive sparked in Dom's eyes in reaction to her word choice. Kel blushed. Dom smiled and explained casually, "A man has to retire and settle down sometime. Lerant is more than ready to move forward in the Own, and it would be churlish of me to deny him his due."

"So…you want to move here and become a carpenter? A man with his name in the Book of Gold wants to retire as a woodsman?" Kel said skeptically.

Dom threw up his hands mock defensively. "My family won't approve, I'll grant you that. However, there's a certain someone in my life who taught me that it's more important to follow my dreams than my family's expectations."

"That person sounds mad." Kel replied dryly.

Dom grinned and reached for her. He pulled her close to his chest. A couple of the commoners noticed, but no one interrupted. He murmured into her ear. "Mmhmm. It's one of those little quirks in her I find so appealing."

"You are welcome to stay." Kel murmured back. "Though I warn you: you certainly won't be allowed to scoop me into your arms anytime you want. I have responsibilities, a reputation." It felt wonderful to feel so playful, even if their moment of happiness was poorly planned.

Dom stepped back and gave her a crisp salute. "Your word is my command, Lady Knight."

"I could get used to that." Kel admitted.

Epilogue

(ten months later):

The Lord and Lady of Masbolle formally invite you to attend the wedding of their son, First Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle and Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan.

Anders read the note and promptly dropped it. He leaned heavily on his walking stick and stared at Dom. "You're…marrying my sister?"

Dom rode all the way from New Hope to Mindelan to tell the family. Kel was home as well, but she had decided to visit her young nieces and nephews while Dom and Anders settled their differences.

In answer to Anders' question, Dom simply nodded.

Anders sighed. "To be frank, Masbolle, I don't think you deserve her." He slowly, painstakingly reached down to pick up the fallen letter. He sighed again. "But…" he continued, "she seems to want you anyway." He shook his head ruefully. "Because I've come to trust her judgment, that's enough for me."

Anders tucked the letter into his belt and offered his hand to Dom. "Best wishes to you both. My wife and I would be honored to attend." He said formally.

Dom smiled cautiously and took the offered hand. Anders grip was strong, but he didn't try to crush the sergeants' hand. Given what Kel had carefully, diplomatically, iterated about Anders, Dom took their handshake as a positive sign that perhaps, someday, Anders would come to trust him.

"Would you feel any better about me if I asked you to be the best man?" Dom joked. "The only other person I can get has meat for brains."

Anders smile was slight, but genuine. "I wouldn't dream of robbing Sir Nealan of the honor." The retired knight answered mildly.