Hello. This story is set directly (and i mean like the second after the book ends) after Lady Knight. So, Enjoy, and tell me what you think!

Disclaimer: anything or anyone from the books or Tamora Pierce is not mine (seriously, common sense, people)

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She nudged Hoshi to a trot (A/N sorry im not allowed to do ANs cuz my readers forbade me but that is the last sentence in Lady Knight, just so you know)

Neal raised an eyebrow, "Finally going to help me, this once?" he asked, thinking that it was for him that she had begun to ride

"I'll let you think what you want." She replied. The only answer she received was a "hmph". Kel needed a way to pass the time, riding in silence was monotonus and she did not want to listen to Neal talk about his "Yamani Blossom".

"I know something you don't know." she sing-songed, thinking of what the seer-child had told her about Neal's daughter. Neal stared. Kel never sang, even taunting. This must be interesting

"And what would that be, dearest Kel?" He asked, his voice syrup-y sweet. He only used that voice when trying to get information from her.

"Oh, well I shouldn't tell you, it'll ruin the surprise. Now all I have to do is sit back and wait for ten years or so. Then, when it happens, I'll tell you what the surprise is." She said, grinning wickedly.

"What is going to happen in ten years!?!" Neal cried exasperatedly.

"Oh, well it's nothing really important..." Kel let the sentence hang, knowing it would intrigue him. When they arrived at Steadfast around suppertime, the gaurds could hear the knights' conversation.

"Kel, I promise I won't tell anyone." The green eyed knight said as they passed through the gates, jutting his lower lip out in what he clearly thought to be a winning pout.

"But you're the one to keep the secret from." The tall lady knight said slowly, as if explaining something to a slow child while she dismounted.

"Neal!" Yuki ran to her betrothed to be swept up in a kiss. At least he won't be bugging me now Kel thought.

"Yuki," Neal said when the kiss broke, "Kel knows something and won't tell me." He looked like a five year old asking his mother to kiss a boo-boo. Yuki shook her head and led Neal into the fort, waving to someone behind Kel. She turned around to see Dom, standing less than a foot away from her.

She stared. "Now, really, Protector, is that any way to greet me?"

Kel hugged him, whispering in his ear before she broke away: "Don't call me Protector." She handed Hoshi's reigns to an hostler.

Whyever not, Protector?" he asked innocently

"Fine, then, if I'm Protector, you're Sergeant."

"Fine, Protector."

"Fine, Sergeant." she replied with just as much steel in her voice.

"Goodbye." He said abruptly, turning on his heel to leave.

"Goodbye, Dom." she whispered when he was too far down the hall to hear her. Somehow, she didn't feel like she'd won.

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Heyy, do you know that I had to look up Domitan of Masbolle to find out how to spell sergeant? yeah, I'm that good. Tell me what you think, love Emma