Lady Knight Keladry was very tall. She had her hair cropped short, much like a man's, and she dressed in a shirt and breeches, like a man. She carried herself comfortable, with her long bladed staff resting in her hand. Lady Keladry was mildly pretty. But Sir Keladry was strong and steadfast, Marja would be happy to have her at her back in a fight.
The younger woman was a bit strange. She was small and petite, and she was very sure of herself, she walked as if she knew exactly what would happen, and when. Marja had heard of her. Her name was Irnai, but lady Keladry seemed to always address her as Irry, which seemed a strange name to Marja's ears. Irnai usually dressed in dresses, often a little torn, and she carried with her a small stuffed rabbit, at all times.
An old dog followed the two women everywhere. he seemed very old indeed. In fact her was old enough, and beat up enough that Marja had to wonder how he still lived, but Lady Keladry treated him as if her were human. The strangest part of these two women, were the sparrows. A small flock of sparrows followed Lady Keladry everywhere. The tiny birds rested on the flanks of a pretty mare, and a strong war horse. Marja assumed that the gelding was not the fabled Peachblossom. Because that horse must be long dead by this time, If he was old when Marja's mother was still only ten or so.
"Ah! It almost feels as if I were going home," Lady Keladry remarked as leaned against the rails watching distant shore grow larger.
"Protector of the Small, It cannot be home, that is New Hope of course," Irnai said looking at the woman who had taken care of her since she was young.
"Yes, New Hope is home Irry, but I still care or the Isles, it is where I grew up after all," Lady Keladry explained looking over at Irnai.
"What do you think of this trip?" Lady Keladry asked Marja, turning around to look at the girl, who was sketching the two women leaning on the rails in companionship, watching the shore of a new place come ever closer.
"I am content to no longer sit under my grandparent's roof. It makes me feel strange. My mother never mentioned I had family other than my father's, not until she suddenly decided that my lack of ambition was just too much, and sent me to my grandmother, who had dealt with much the same from my mother," Marja said still leaning over her sketch board.
"Yes, When talking to Neal he often mentioned her knight mistress's daughter he said she was pretty, and smart, and had wits like a whip, but she never used them or anything but flirting," Kel mentioned turning back to the sea, or rather the view of the Yamani Capital.
"My Mother? Not ambitious? I thought it crazy when my mother first told me, a little of her past. I could not imagine my mother, who never did anything but work, not wanting to do anything!" Marja said adding a last scratch of charcoal against the paper. It made a good bit of noise, so Lady Keladry turned to look.
"That's very good," Kel said moving closer to take a better look at it.
"The ones I do in ink last longer, unless I use my Gift to keep it in place, which I rarely do, it's not really worth that much trouble," Marja said unclipping the piece of paper, "Do you want it Lady Keladry?"
"Yes, it's very pretty. But would you call me Kel? It's bad enough having to listen to Irry call my 'Protector of the Small'. A name I don't deserve by the way Irry!" Kel said shouting over her shoulder, "Or watch Shinko's Daughter, or Neal's! They are both very active, and I think they are both about your age. Have you met Marlisa?"
"No, I don't believe I have. But Kendra and I are great friends," Marja said calmly.
"Are you sure you haven't lived on Yamani before? You look just like a Yamani who has lived there all their lives," Kel said shaking her head.
"No, I haven't. I grew up playing with a young girl who was Yamani, her father-or maybe it was her mother?- But anyway one of her parents was an ambassador to the copper Isles. In fact she said once that she lived in the capital of Yamani sometimes, mostly because I was usually in Rajmuat, the capital of the Copper Isles," Marja explained as the captain called out orders, "I should change, look we've come into the docks," Marja said standing up.
"Of course," Kel said politely.
Marja went down to the room she stayed in or the voyage. She quickly opened the trunk, and pulled out one of her signature multi-layered dresses. This one was a light periwinkle, and purple-y blue combination. She decked herself with copper rings, bracelets, and necklaces, and added an anklet and an arm band for good measure. There were also amethysts and sapphires on her jewelry, except for the strange layering; she could have been a Copper Isles Luarin (which she supposed she was, in a way). As she made her way back to the deck she loosed her Gift into her hair. She hadn't finished moving locks into their proper places until she was standing at the rail next to Irnai.
"You must do that in your own rooms in the palace, or else the one you hope to see will lose interest in you, and run away So you should be very careful," Irnai said without looking over at the copper and purple bedecked girl. Marja bowed her head in acquiescence, and left it at that.
"Be welcome to our home," The girl who had been sent to welcome them was about Marja's age. And very pretty. She had black hair, and slightly slanted green eyes. Those eyes were set in a slightly round face, along with a cute small nose, and a mouth that seemed to be perfect for smiles. Except as a Yamani, a smile would never truly grace that face.
"We are honored for such a reception, from one who is close to family," Lady Kel said bowing lightly to the younger woman. The girl bowed in return.
"Ah, perhaps Marja remembers me not?" The woman asked without emotion. Then that strange feeling she had suddenly burst out in the emotionless, "Leeza."