A/N: I'm am sooo sorry for how long it took to update, my father was recently in an accident that left him in a wheelchair so I have been taking time off to help him re-learn to do everyday tasks. Thank you to everyone who pushed me to update. I will try really really hard to update more often. Please Review!

Kel awoke before dawn the next morning to get ready for the day. Facing the Lioness in front of what would most likely be the entire Tortallen court as well as most the Yamani court was a big deal. After going through her normal weapons practices, she quickly bathed and put on a black shirt and breeches with a brilliant green tunic that made her eyes look like they glow. Up when her straight, sun streaked brown-blond hair into a very sleek horsetail that carefully hidden barbs were placed in, and on went her weapons belt with her six daggers and her sword. Today was a day that she would have to look her best.

Kel went out to the courts dinning room where she was met with Shinkomi, Edward, Yuki, Conrad, and Carleigh.

"I knew you'd be up this early," Carleigh says as she pushes Kel into a seat.

"You always get up far too early when you have a big duel," Yuki adds as she heaps Kels plate with food.

"I'm just amazed you're not bouncing from excitement and running into things." Conrad continues through a mouth of food.

Kel just sighs for her part and starts eating, in just a little while she'd be able to further prove herself.

After breakfast she meets with her men and gives them firm instructions about the task they would be doing for the next two days.

"Now that the weak have left our ranks your real training will begin. I want you all to climb to the top of Franbuku Mountain and get the treasure Yamni Rose that grows only in that spot, and bring it to me. You have 2days get to it!" As the men were running off Kel thought back to the time her commander had given her that task, she was the only one to complete the task and she made it back with just fifteen minutes to spare.

"So you make your men bring you flowers?" She head a deep voice say from behind her.

"Well Lord Raoul," she replied without turning around "if you have a lady you want to give flowers to your welcome to join them. After all Royal Yamani Rose are the rarest in the world because they only grow in one place."

Raoul chuckled as Kel turned to face him. "So, I hear your one of the best commanders the Yamani has ever had in battle?" he said eyes flashing.

Kel smiled "I just act the part the best I can, besides my commanding days will soon be over when I go to Tortall to guard the princess."

"Why does the princess need such guards to protect her? Does the Emperor not trust the us to protect her?" Raoul asked his face expressionless.

Kel just smiled wider "There have been so many attacks the on the Yamanis, especially the Royals, that guards are necessary. Assassination attempts are usually a weekly thing around here, the royal family is so vast that they fight each other for the throne. If someone as important as Shinkomi well…" Kel trailed off "This arrangement is very important to the Emperor so we do what we will do what it takes to make it work."

"Including going back a country that turned you down," Raoul said sympathy clear in his voice.

"We will do what we can to make the marriage work." Kel smiled sadly as she walked away.

After Lunch

"Its time Kel," Pender said softly as the young teen court walked away from the dinning room.

Kel nodded, set her shoulders and walked with her friends to the practice courts. Getting there she walked to the side opposite the Tortallen court and lady Alanna and bowed to the Emperor and King in the stands. She removed her daggers from her belt handing them off to her friends choosing to only fight with her board sword.

After the match was blessed by the Emperor and the Tortallen king Kel and Alanna stepped into the court both at the ready stance. The match started quickly with Alanna charged in with her sword, Kel meeting it with equal ferocity. The first blows of the match were not actually as harsh as they seemed but each of the opponents were calculating the other strengths and weaknesses. After Kel was positive about the Lionesses fighting style she quickly spun away her black tunic and hair swinging with her from her opponent's sword. Then she charged back in swiftly ducking lady Alanna sword and getting behind her, gasps were heard from the crowd. Alanna sensing Kels movement a little late was still able to keep up with her managing to block the blow that would have ended the match. But Kel gave her no room to attack choosing to advance forward using her strength and lean speeds to dance circles around Lady Alanna.

The Emerpor watched on in amusement and whispered to the awed King "Kel has always taken a fancy to dancing, I wasn't so aware she used it to her advantage on the battle field." For from their point of view it actually looked like Kel was dancing circles around the Lioness. Her hair and tunic swinging in beat to the ringing of the swords.

The Lioness mean while was getting quite frustrated, this girl was dancing around her making it look effort less, finally getting annoyed of the ever changed footsteps of the girl, she took a chance and stuck her feet out forcing Kel to change the direction of her dance.

Kel saw the lady's leg come out and barely had enough time to right herself and block the Lionesses next attack. She knew dancing wouldn't work any more so she moved on to her next form of attacking. Getting right in front of the Lioness she met her challengers attacks directing using their momentum to help her swing her own sword back at the Lioness putting all of her strength into every single one of her attacks while still using her lean speed to stay light on her feet.

The Lioness was unnerved by this girl, she had known there was a lot riding on this duel for Kel, but this girl was scary. Her eyes were dead and always calculating everything that was happening, in all her years in battle she had never met anyone, man or women, like this.

Kel knew the battle was coming to an end, both her and the Lioness were slowing down, it seemed like they had been fighting for hours. All that was going through Kel's head were ways to take the Lioness down, and for once she could not think of a way. She had used all of her battle tricks that she dared show in front of all these people, knowing that she couldn't show everything in case she met once of the spectators in battle some day, but she had to beat the Lioness. That was the only thing she was thinking of.

Lady Alanna took her time when she found her opening, Kel seemed to leave one spot open when she did a certain block, after making Kel use that block a few times she was sure. When Kel used that block again the Lioness took advantage of it using the appropriate leverage she grabbed Kel's open left arm and threw her to the ground, but Kel had other plans she brought the Lioness with her and just as she pressed her sword against the Lady's neck she felt the cold steel of the Lionesses own sword against her own.

The Yamani and Tortallen judges conferred with one another until they stepped forward and declared it…a tie.

Both Kel and Alanna smiled at each other still panting and shook hands. Then they both slunk off to their well deserved baths, it had been a long fight.