Title:A Story for Dairve - 7

Disclaimers:As stated in Chapter 1.

Author's Notes:In which the Lady Holder's rescue is complete...

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"You needn't worry, Shavra, it's perfectly safe to come out now," he coaxed, laughter evident through his lazy drawl. "They're well on their way back to the palace."

"Give me a few moments, and turn your back, please, my lord sevalle," came the breathless reply, and with a soft laugh, Scarface obligingly followed Shavra's instructions. Behind him, he heard the merest whisper of sound as Shavra climbed out of the tree, and when she gave him permission to turn around, he saw her with books in hand, and cheeks rosy with embarrassment. It was plain she was expecting him to tease her.

Instead, Scarface merely observed, "One wonders at your gift for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, my dear girl. Would you care to explain?"

Shavra sighed and told him the story, leaving nothing out. As she concluded the tale, she sighed and looked at Scarface. "How did you know I was in the tree at all, my lord sevalle?"

In his turn, Scarface told her of the events leading to his discovery of her presence in the tree. As he did so, he offered Shavra his arm, walking her down the path back to the palace. Slanting a glance down at her as he finished his side of the story, it was to catch a look of disquiet on the Lady Holder's face.

"Is something else the matter, Shavra?"

"I was wondering how to face my Lord Crimson, after all that I have seen and heard," came the soft reply.

"Merely be your usual delightful self, my dear Lady Holder," chuckled Scarface, his cinnamon eyes warming at the troubled frown that creased Shavra's brow. "Idle talk is a common thing in the palace. You know that."

"But...to be matched with Kai-sama in that way! It's embarrassing." Color swept up into Shavra's fine cheekbones. She turned her magnificent eyes up to Scarface, and he felt his breath catch at the beauty of her amethyst gaze.

"It's not so impossible, you know."

"My Lord Scarface! Be serious! Look at me, and tell me if you can honestly see Kai-sama waiting for me, when he has his choice of so many others!"

Shavra stopped abruptly on the garden path, forcing Scarface to stop as well and swing around so that he was facing her head on. His keen gaze swept her willow-straight figure from head to foot, and in doing so, he recalled a fragment of his last conversation with Faulstis. They had been discussing the Lady Holder's recent adventures, which Scarface found highly amusing. Faulstis, on the other hand, shook her head.

"She may be a hoyden now, Vy," said the future Holy Knight, "But in spite of that, King Iba Stola reports that she has a character worthy of her father. Like her mother before her, Shavra is a Daughter of Light. Someday, when she has come into her own, the power of Souma and the rulership of Fort Ly'valle will be hers. When that happens, Shavra will be a woman to reckon with."

"Well, my lord High Sevalle?" demanded Shavra, and Scarface smiled at the imperious note in her voice. "Do you see anything at all in me to attract the amorous intentions of the 56th sevalle, the Raze Reme known as Silver Sword?"

"Were I to tell you the truth, my dear Lady Holder, there would be no bearing your conceit for a fortnight," he grinned, and at Shavra's exasperated huff, added gently, "However, since you insist...I see before me, most truly, a young girl who will soon command the hearts of strangers as easily as she has captured the loyalty of Kuruda's sevalles."

"You are too kind by half, my Lord Scarface," said Shavra, mollified by the truth she saw in the cinnamon gaze. "I am not so wonderful as all that."

"Time will tell, Shavra. Speaking of idle rumor -- does the one about Kai settling his affections on Lady Ravella bother you overmuch?"

Shavra reddened at the sudden change in topic. "Surely you know better than to ask that question of me, my Lord Scarface. A student has no right to meddle in the personal affairs of her master."

"Which is not to say that the student is totally unfeeling as to the choice of the man she cares for most in all the world -- bar one."

"You know me too well," came the half-resentful answer, matched with a pout that made Scarface laugh. "It is to be hoped, most sincerely, that rumor will be proved wrong. As you have said, however -- time will tell."

end part seven