In obedience to the note sent by Crimson the night before, Shavra sped down to the castle pier before dawn broke over the horizon. Crimson, already waiting for her in the trim little skiff that always stood ready for excursions on the lake, smiled to himself at the sight of her lithe figure moving with quick, sure steps towards him.

"Give you good morning, my lord sevalle," she said, slightly breathless from the pace she had set for herself. Her face was flushed a pleasing shade of rose, and wayward wisps of hair insisted on escaping the ribbon holding her hair in a tight braid behind her. "I trust I have not kept you waiting."

"Good morning, Lady Holder," nodded Crimson, reaching over for the rucksack Shavra had brought with her, lifting it easily into the skiff before helping her board. "No, I haven't been waiting long...I've only just got the skiff ready."

At that moment, the sun slid over the horizon, and Shavra paused for a moment to admire the beauty of Kuruda's daybreak. A smile curved her mouth as she turned back to Crimson, saying, "It promises to be a lovely day on the island, my lord sevalle."

"A busy one, certainly," he chuckled, as they worked together to bring the skiff into the open water. "Remember, you're going there to bring your swordcraft up to scratch."

"My apologies for taking time out of your busy day to deal with my training, my lord," huffed Shavra, her hand on the tiller while Crimson secured the sails. "I must remember to send consolation gifts to the various women who pined for your attentions while you attended to a green girl..."

"A green girl who rules the Kingdom's oldest and finest Hold with the skill of her father," laughed Crimson, taking a seat beside the Lady Holder. "Who can hold her own against anyone – female or male – in the Four Kingdoms."

"Trying to sweet-talk me, are you, my lord Crimson?" Shavra refused to be mollified. "Assuming that I may indeed be all of that; it was ill-done of you, I think, to tell the King my swordcraft was in...what did His Majesty say? Oh, yes! 'In dire need of exercise', I believe it was."

"It was worth the ruffling of your dignity to see your face when His Majesty said that," smiled Crimson, eyes gleaming in the brightening day. "I also have it on very good authority that a certain valle enjoyed the sight immensely."

Shavra blinked, then gave Crimson a long look before allowing herself a smile. "Did he indeed? Isn't that just like him...to make common cause with you and Scarface so soon after coming home."

"Yes, it is, my dear girl," Crimson agreed, as the island of the Green Octopus grew larger on the horizon. "While I am willing to apologize for the slur – purely in jest, I assure you! - on your swordcraft, I think the time outdoors will do you good. The King was right in saying you have been behind walls too long, poppet. You need a chance to stretch yourself, to relax from the atmosphere of the palace."

Shavra smiled softly at the familiar term of endearment, used in childhood to address her almost as much as her own name. It had begun with the Lady Kyra, and had quickly been picked up by Dias and Crimson, who had been a sometime visitor at the Fort.

"It is to be hoped, my lord sevalle, that a hearty breakfast is to be included as part of the day's activities," she said, as they brought the boat up against the Green Octopus landing. "I smell home-cooked food in the wind, and grow hungry as a result."

"Why else do you think I told you to be ready before sunrise, my dear Lady Holder? We should be just in time to catch Elle and her friends sitting down to breakfast," said Crimson, as he made the skiff fast to its moorings, and helped Shavra regain her footing on dry land.

"Souma be thanked," smiled Shavra, shouldering her rucksack as they started at a brisk pace up the path leading to the Green Octopus Inn. "I know Feorina serves some of the best food in the kingdom."

"You'll need a full belly when I put you through your paces, Lyonlight," said Crimson, referring to Shavra by her fighting name. "Especially since I have every intention of inviting Black Wing to see how you wield that sword he took such pains to make for you."

"It is to be hoped that neither of you will have any reason to be ashamed of my skills," answered Shavra, feeling the length of Lyorax lying across her back. Crimson slanted a glance at his former pupil, and chuckled, taking possession of Shavra's rucksack.

"Breakfast first, poppet, and time to renew acquaintance with your liegeman – then we shall see for ourselves."

* * * * *

"Take a look at that, brother," chuckled Elle, whose happened to glance out the window just as Crimson and Shavra came through the archway of the Green Octopus garden. Dias followed his sister's gaze and after a few moments, smiled to himself.

"Looks like Crimson didn't want to waste any time getting Shavra up here," continued Elle, making steady progress through a huge breakfast. "The sun is barely over the horizon."

"It was light nearly an hour ago, Elle-nee," protested Gau, standing up to set two more places at the table. Folli sniffed delicately, the sight of the newly-arrived pair reminding her of the husband in Juliannes who was Crimson's friend. And whom she missed keenly.

"As if you didn't already know by now that sunrise occurs whenever the Debt Queen of Kuruda deigns to wake up," she said, the twinkle in her eyes taking the sting out of her words. Elle bridled in mid-chew, but her angry retort was interrupted by the entrance of Crimson and Shavra into the dining area, and over the happy commotion made by the Lady Holder's greetings, Crimson traded a look with Dias that made the valle's smile widen into a grin.

"It's a fine day indeed, when the swordmaster sets about to carrying his student's gear," he said as Shavra rounded the table to kiss his cheek, exactly as she used to do during their time together at Fort Lyvalle. "Scarface was right – the Lady Holder has you wrapped around her fingers, Crimson."

"I most certainly do not, Dias Ragu!" protested Shavra, her cheeks turning pink as she helped herself to a healthy portion of food. "I'll have you know that my lord sevalle and I nearly came to blows over who would carry that rucksack. Naturally, he won."

"Naturally," echoed Dias, his chuckles warm with good humor, easily dodging the rabbit punch that Shavra aimed at his shoulder from her place beside him. "I am sure he was most persuasive, being the well-known charmer that he is."

"If anyone is in a position to know, Dias, it would be you," replied Shavra mendaciously, eyes demurely cast down towards her food; not needing to see the color rising in both Crimson's and Dias' faces at her words. "Were you not, after all, brothers-in-arms all those years ago? And has not my lord sevalle been known to pay the occasional visit to Blorfan since hostilities ended?"

"That will be enough, Lady Holder," said Crimson in a quelling voice, and Shavra nodded, recognizing when to leave off teasing. "Recall if you will, how Lyorax came into your hands, and let be."

"Indeed, the memory is cherished in my heart forever, my lord sevalle," said Shavra, with a warm look for Dias. "Never believe that I will forget what you both have done for me."

"Impertinent baggage," growled Crimson without heat. "Dias, would you like to see how this chit of a swordmistress handles Lyorax? I must warn you, though, that she is woefully out of practice."

"I practice as well I can on my own, my lord sevalle, and well you know it. Or would know it, if I were so truly impertinent as to interrupt you as you go about palace...affairs."

Dias' shout of laughter at Shavra's subtle emphasis on the last word, warmed her heart as nothing else had in many years. "Oh, well done, my Lady Holder! It's plain to see that Scarface has been quite the influence on you while I was away."

"Did someone say my name?"

/tbc