A Wistful Love

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story. They all belong to Tamora Pierce.

Chapter 3

A Peaceful Ride

Kel walked slowly to her rooms. After finishing her meal with Dom and her friends, she'd excused herself, telling them all that she was due for a ride with Yuki. They had all said goodbye cheerfully enough, gaining promises from her for some time spent together soon. As Kel had risen from the bench, Dom had lightly gripped her arm, steadying her as she climbed over. With a quick grin he'd told her that it wouldn't be very graceful if the famous Protector of the Small fell flat on her face trying to leave the lunch table. She had smiled in turn, her face Yamani smooth, and simply said that she would never disgrace her self in such a foolish way. Dom had shrugged, then gently tapped the tip of her nose with a single finger before releasing her to continue his conversation with Merric. Kel, a little befuddled from his touch, had walked away feeling almost giddy. But now the giddiness was almost gone. Dom had been flirting and she had made too much of it. Again.

Sighing, Kel came to her door. Opening it, she walked through, then closed it behind her. For several long moments she stood just within the entrance, her mind empty, her face blank. What was wrong with her? She was acting as lovesick as Neal once had, with all the dramatic sighs and dreamy faces to cement her fears. Disgusted with herself and her wandering mind, Kel walked to her desk and sat down, a decisive look on her face. She had about an hour or so before she was due to meet Yuki in the stables. She could get a good bit of paperwork done in that in-between time. It wasn't as if she had anything better to do.

With no battles to fight, her reports were very few and far between. She should be thankful. Few fights meant few injuries and deaths. This last small pile of paperwork was the vestiges of a week-old scuffle with a few petty thieves just outside the palace. Was this what the knights of the realm were reduced to? Filing paperwork on a small handful of thieves, who had tried and failed to steal her horse? It had been bad enough that they'd been planning to steal Peachblossom, her fierce gelding who even the bravest knight of Tortall would hesitate to face, but to add to the ridiculousness of it all, the thieves had been mere boys, with dirty faces and ragged clothes. She'd let them go, stating in her report that they'd run off before she could catch them. In reality, her heart had cringed at the thought of the poor inner city boys in a filthy prison, punished for trying to steal and sell Peachblossom for food money. Her face solemn, she'd given them each a handful of coins, reiterating clearly that they were to use the money wisely. Their smudged faces had nodded solemnly. Then they had gone, scampering off quickly and disappearing into the crowd as swiftly as street rats.

Thinking back on it, Kel smiled sadly. Her young, would-be-thieves had most likely used up her money and were probably even now picking pockets and stealing from the wealthy. Kel knew it was the way of the world, but sometimes her heart grew heavy at the thought of the empty bellies and hopeless situations so many children faced. Shaking the thoughts from her head, Kel turned her mind to the reports on hand. Dwelling on such situations did no one any good. Plucking her quill from its place on her desk, Kel dipped the end into the ink pot and began to write, the scratch of quill on paper the only noise in the silent room.

3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3

Kel scrawled her name on the bottom of the last copy of the report and sat back in her chair with a sigh of contentment. She had finished it just in time for her afternoon ride with Yuki. Bending, she blew softly on the still drying ink, then satisfied that it wouldn't smear, Kel folded it. She picked up a short, red cord and tied the report up neatly. She would drop it off later. It was nearly two and she didn't want to keep Yuki waiting. Rising from her seat, Kel made her way out the door and to the stables.

When she stepped into the shadowed building, Kel spotted Yuki by her gentle mare, Mikomi. She had named it after the word 'hope' in Yamani. Neal had given his wife the mare when they had found out that Yuki was with child. Yuki had then named the doe-eyed horse Mikomi. She had said that it symbolized the coming birth of their child and the hope she carried for it. Kel remembered the tender look the couple had exchanged. It had been one of those moments when the two had been aware of nothing around them.

Yuki was fitting a bridle to the mare's head while murmuring softly to her. Walking swiftly to her friend's side, Kel gently pushed Yuki away and finished buckling the bridle herself.

"Kel! I can do that myself. I'm not an invalid." Yuki's voice was irritated.

Kel gave her long-time friend a measured look. "You know what Neal said. You're not allowed to strain yourself. I can easily ready your horse for you. I don't mind."

Yuki's stern gaze showed her disapproval. "Putting a bridle on a horse isn't straining myself. I'm tired of being treated like a fragile doll, I'm pregnant, not deathly ill!"

Throughout the years, Yuki had become less and less like the emotionless Yamani's. She still had her reserve, but she was much more open about her feelings now that she wasn't around her people anymore. Her frustration with the restrictions Neal had placed on her had only brought them out more.

"Yuki, you're six months pregnant. You shouldn't be doing anything that could endanger either you or the baby. I know that you hate being catered to, but once the child's born, you'll forget about all the frustrations. All you'll be thinking about is your beautiful little girl or boy."

The look of irritation on Yuki's face slid away. "I'm sorry, Kel. I know that I've been snapping at everyone lately. It's just that Neal has been tiptoeing around me as if trying to avoid making me angry. Whenever I snap at him, he just gives me this infuriating look of sympathy. He doesn't ever argue back anymore. I can't stand it! He's placating me like a tolerating parent with a tantrum-throwing child."

Kel laughed lightly. She could see why Yuki was so cross. She knew that if she were in her friend's place, she too would become annoyed. "I'm sorry too. Neal's just trying to help make things easier for you. He's not trying to make you angry."
"I know. I just had to get out of the palace and away from my dense husband for a while."

Kel smiled. "Then this ride will do you good."

Yuki laughed. "I hope so."

Kel finished saddling up Mikomi, before going to take care of her own horse, Hoshi. Before long, both horses and riders were ready. Kel helped Yuki into the saddle, careful not to jar her friend's belly. Yuki's form had filled out some. Her stomach, slightly rounder than usual, was just beginning to show beneath the altered riding tunic. Kel would have to make sure that Yuki took it slow. Being around horses in the first place was dangerous in her present state. She would have to be extra careful, even though Mikomi was the gentlest of mares. The only reason Neal had even let Yuki ride was on the promise that she would go no faster than a gentle trot and that Kel would watch over her the whole time. Of course, Yuki's very persuasive argument with the help of her shukusen had something to do with it as well.

As they started out, keeping to the well-worn path, Yuki's mood seemed to lift from dissatisfied to carefree. Kel had noticed that she was prone to quick emotional changes.

"They're beautiful, the trees. They're so green and the air smells so fresh. It reminds me of the islands. We had different ones of course, but the plants and flowers there were so vibrant."

Kel glanced over. Yuki's eyes eyes were sparkling with renewed humor. "Yes I remember. I was young when I was there, but you never forget how exotic everything was. I can still recall the smell of cherry blossoms in the emperor's orchards. I think those were my favorite."

Yuki laughed and nodded. "They were the royal family's most valued flowers and the emperor made sure that they were cared for by the island's most skilled botanists. The cherry blossoms were always kept perfect. No one was allowed to pluck a single petal."

Kel grinned. "Elsewise they would be beheaded for touching such sacred blossoms."

Yuki smiled. "Yes. It's so different here. The Yamani's have such harsh punishments for so little things. We seem almost barbaric in comparison to Tortall."

The two women settled into a easy silence, both appreciating the warm summer day. Kel lifted her face into the wind and closed her eyes. The forest was quiet, but filled with so much life. If she listened carefully, she could here the snapping of twigs and the rustle of leaves. Chattering squirrels and the happy song of birds seemed to flow through the air adding to the peaceful ambiance. Every so often she'd hear the call of an eagle, its piercing screech echoing along the currents of wind. What would it be like to just exist in this world? Kel though of Daine and her uncanny ability to shift and talk to animals. It was a remarkable talent, though sometimes Daine's affinity with wild creatures made Kel uneasy.

Soon, more than an hour had passed. Turning their mounts back, Kel and Yuki headed back to the palace. Yuki's mood, which had started out restless, was now back to its unruffled calm. Kel was glad that her friend was feeling more herself. Though Yuki already loved and anticipated her child, sometimes her pregnancy left her feeling edgy. Her mercurial mood changes had everyone scrambling, especially poor Neal, who was eager to placate his wife—to Yuki's utmost frustration. The simple afternoon ride had been just the thing for the both of them, forcing Kel to think of other things, specifically her infatuation with Dom. Her spirit settled and content, Kel led the way back to the palace stables.

Author's Note: Hi everyone. I know that I took forever to update. For that I'm truly sorry. I got caught up with other things. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews on A Wistful Love and please continue to do so. Thanks!