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Dom joins Kel on the walltop, leaning against a merlon and grinning at her. “I like the decorations you’ve put up.”
Kel lets herself grin back. “Thank you; we’re quite pleased with them ourselves.” The Scanran shields and battle-flags which adorn the walls of New Hope are sources of immense pride for her people, who can relate the stories behind each one, and do so at every opportunity. She’s sure they’re regaling Dom’s squad with the most recent tales even now.
“Been reading your reports - my lord passes ‘em along. Did you really tell that fellow that he should run away if he didn’t want to be beaten by a pack of children?”
Kel blushes. “I know I didn’t put that in my report.”
“No, that was in one of the letters from Master Valestone, actually,” Dom allows. “My question stands, though.”
Kel sighs. “Yes, I did, and I was right - there were only three Scanrans, and they had shortswords. All my students had spears.”
“And know how to use ‘em like your glaive, too,” Dom agrees, nodding, and shifts over until he can press his shoulder against hers - the most intimacy she’ll ever allow in public, as he well knows. He’s pleasantly warm and solid against her. “They’re going to be holy terrors when they’re grown.”
“Gods willing, when they’re grown we won’t still be at war with Scanra,” Kel says wearily. She’s proud of the trophies hanging on New Hope’s walls, yes, and of the victories they represent, but she would far rather there had never been Scanrans close enough to her refugees to be defeated.
“This isn’t to be spread about - my lord didn’t even dare put it in writing,” Dom says, voice barely loud enough for her to hear, much less the wall-guards twenty paces away. “But His Majesty’s spies say Maggot’s losing power fast, and there’s a chance he’ll be challenged for his crown - or just killed. He’s lost Blayce and Stenmun and made no headway at all since the killing devices stopped working. So. He’s still dangerous, but…”
“But maybe,” Kel breathes, and leans against Dom a little harder. “Thank you. That’s…I appreciate knowing.” It’s a slim hope, perhaps, but it is a hope. And if Maggur is slain or deposed, maybe the Scanran clan-chiefs will be open to a truce, or even a true peace. Maybe.
Maybe Kel’s people will be safe at last.
She nudges her shoulder against Dom’s again, and lets herself dream.