Kiyo stood doubtfully on the port. Strangers with their strange pale skins gave her funny looks as they past by. At first, Kiyo couldn't understand why, and whipped out her fan to cover her face. Glancing around, she made eye contact with a young deckhand, who instantly turned red and dropped his basket.
'Oh dear' Thought Kiyo. 'I really do stand out.'
This was an understatement. Kiyo's raven black hair fell down her back in the popular Yamani fashion. The hair around her face had been cut to accentuate her delicate features and big brown eyes. The Yamani people used to say that her eyes had been crossed with water, so that they made brown pools, larger than the normal. Kiyo had changed into a plain pearl grey kimono, with a red obi. Back home, no one would have given her a second look. Here, she stuck out like an exotic sore thumb.
'I must get those strange clothes!' Kiyo thought desperately. Looking around, she saw a middle aged woman carrying a basket of bread.
"Excuse me!" Kiyo called, stepping in front of the woman. "Can you tell me where I can buy some clothes?" the woman stepped back, frightened, and looked wildly around. Too late, Kiyo realised she had spoken in Yamani. She had been taught Common back at the Islands, but she had never used it beyond the classroom. Carefully, she tried again. "Excuse me…would you happen to know where I may buy some clothes?" Thankfully, the woman relaxed.
"You'd be lookin' for Nell, Ted's wife. She sews real good here." The woman eyed Kiyo. "Though, if you don't mind me saying…you've got a pretty good set already." Kiyo bowed, as was appropriate when someone complimented you. The woman laughed. "Here!" she said, between giggles. "What're you doin'? I'm not a bleeding noble!"
Kiyo looked up, startled. Finally the woman stopped laughing and introduced herself. "I'm Myra. I'll take you to Nell's" She promised. "Only don't start that bowing thing with her. She might think you're teasing!"
***
Myra led Kiyo to a street where the buildings were built up against each other in typical Tortallan architecture. Myra stopped in front of three such buildings, each sporting a swinging needlewoman sign.
Myra sighed. "There's too much competition nowadays." She told Kiyo in a hushed voice. "Nell was here first, then these two came and starting stealin' her customers" she escorted Kiyo into the middle building, casting a disdainful eye over the other two. A woman the same age as Myra answered the door, and smiled when Myra announced she had a customer.
"My. You're an exotic looking thing!" exclaimed the woman Kiyo took to be Nell. "What can I do for you? A nice evening dress? I just got in a new shipment of the most beautifully soft fabric. How about a yellow, to make your hair stand out?" Nell chattered away as she whipped a measuring rope around Kiyo.
"Um…No thank you." Kiyo said politely. "I want something…for travel."
"Ah!" cried Nell. "Well…An evening dress won't do you much good for that, will it? How about a simple wool dress and leggings? And you'll need some boots." The sewing woman paused to screw her nose at Kiyo's dainty slippers. "You won't get far in those." She informed her.
Kiyo ignored the remark about her slippers. Yamani goods were always very strong, but the strength was hidden behind delicate embroidery and invisible stitching. She bet her slippers would last longer than a pair of clumsy Tortallan boots. Still, wearing boots meant blending in. However, what Nell proposed as travelling clothes did not seem right. She wanted the breeches and shirt that she had seen all the men dressed in. She told Nell this.
Myra and Nell screeched with laughter. Finally, Nell composed herself enough to speak. "Only some of them crazy noble women wear breeches. And those female riders. And them two lady knights."
Kiyo thought that was a lot of people. "I want breeches." She said stubbornly. The two women continued to laugh. Kiyo looked around, desperate. She couldn't use force to get Nell to make her breeches - she liked the talkative woman too much for that. But an outright request hadn't worked. Shamefully, Kiyo realised there was only one way. In Yaman, it would have been considered rude and weak. However, this was Tortall.
Kiyo screwed up her face and forced two tears out of her eyes. Nell and Myra stopped laughing at once.
"There there." Soothed Myra. "You'll get your breeches, won't she Nell?" Kiyo saw the women shrug at each other.
"Sure thing. I was only teasing!" Nell began to whip out fabric. "How about a nice red shirt? Or is that too bright? Ah! I have just the thing!" Before Kiyo could dry her eyes, Nell had covered her with material and pins.
***
Kiyo left a while later with the promise that several sets of clothes would be ready by tomorrow. Sighing, she realised she had nowhere to go. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she had eaten nothing since leaving the boat that morning. Kiyo remembered passing several inns on the way to Nells. She made her way back to the closest one.
Pausing, she heard raucous male laughter coming from inside. The painted sign hanging by the side of the door proclaimed the building to be The Two Ducklings. Kiyo walked inside, and immediately thought the name was completely inappropriate. Men - made big from either muscles or drink - crowded the room. Many wore their filthy hair plaited, obviously seamen. Several men leered at her as she made her way to the bar.
"I want a room and a meal." She informed the innkeeper, who was a skinny man with a cheerful face. He raised an eyebrow at her.
"You sure darlin'?" He asked her. When Kiyo nodded, he shrugged and turned to yell into the kitchen: "You lot! Get some food for the lady!" Turning back to Kiyo, he asked, "Will you be eatin' here or in your room?" Kiyo glanced around the room. Many of the men were still eyeing her figure. Several winked as she caught them looking.
Shuddering, she made up her mind. "I'll eat in my room."
The innkeeper nodded. "Follow me, miss." He began weaving his way through the room. As Kiyo followed, snatches of conversation drifted towards her.
"It's one of them Yamani flowers.... keep 'em hidden from us.... Whaddya make of that? …Funny lookin' dress..."
A heavy man with a sweaty black beard leant close to Kiyo as she past his table. Reaching out a rough hand, he pinched her waist.
"You're a pretty thing" He smirked. "A bit on the skinny side though, but I like 'em skinny." Kiyo jerked away as his companions roared with laughter. Yamani custom allowed Kiyo to use her skill and force to protect her honour, but this was Tortall. Kiyo knew that if she touched the man, his friends would be quick to aid him. She doubted she could fight them all. Gritting her teeth, she moved on.
The innkeeper showed her to a small but cosy room. As he handed her the key, he asked, "How long will you be staying? I wouldn't ask, only...This isn't the safest place for a young lass alone."
Inside Kiyo was seething. The innkeeper had implied she couldn't look after herself. However, Kiyo was a Yamani; She bowed demurely. "I am leaving tomorrow."
The innkeeper left, and not long after a young maid arrived carrying a tray of food. Kiyo thanked her and gratefully began eating. The maid disappeared and emerged again with a towel and a small tub of steaming water.
"It may be too hot, miss" The maid said, apologetically. "I can fetch you some cold water if you'd be wanting some." Kiyo took in the girl's strained face, her body drooping from fatigue and overwork.
"Thank you…I'll be able to fetch it myself, if you'll be so kind as to tell me where the well is"
The maid looked startled, then smiled appreciatively.
"It's down in the small courtyard, down the stairs and out the first door before the common room…Thank you miss." The girl gave a small curtsy and left.
Kiyo ate fast, and then felt the water – it was still burning hot. Grumbling, Kiyo took a bucket the maid had left, and went to fetch some water. Following the maid's directions, it wasn't hard to find the well. After Kiyo had filled the bucket, she turned to head back – and stopped. Filling the doorway with his bulky frame was the black bearded man who had pinched her waist.
"Well." Chuckled the man. "I come out here to wet my face, and look what I find waiting for me." Leering, he reached for her.
Kiyo stepped back, disgusted. She had no illusions as to what the man wanted to do with her. Placing down the bucket, she pulled out her dagger.
"Don't come near me." She warned, holding the dagger steady in front of her. "I know how to use this."
The man paused, perturbed, then he laughed.
"Playing hard to get are we? Be a good girl now. You don't want to cut yourself, do you?"
Kiyo didn't move. The mans eyes glinted dangerously.
"Yamani slut." The man spat. "What's this? You think you're too good for a real man?" He strode forward, reaching for the dagger. Kiyo darted forward to meet him, and slashed the blade down to cut a slit in his shirt. Roaring with anger, the man grabbed Kiyo's wrist, causing her to drop the knife.
"Stupid!" The man hissed. "That shirt cost money!" Kiyo met his gaze defiantly. Twisting, she dug her nails into his hand, and stamped hard on his foot. The man cried out in pain, and released her. Kiyo swung around again slamming one fist in his eye, and the other in his stomach. The man fell to the ground, winded.
Kiyo leant over him. "In Yaman, it would be expected that I would have killed you by now." She informed him. "I have done you a great favour by not even drawing blood." She stepped daintily over him, retrieved the bucket and returned to her room.
'Why is it I always get approached by men when I fetch water?' she thought glumly as she closed the door.
***
Nell had done a good job on the clothes, and Kiyo paid her well in gratitude. As well as breeches and several plain white and grey shirts, Nell had slipped in a red wool dress and brown leggings.
"Now, the dress and leggings are free" Nell told her. "It was my daughters when she was younger, so it didn't take a minute of my time in making…and it ain't right for you to just have men's clothes!"
Kiyo was touched by her generosity. Slipping behind a screen, she changed into one of her new shirts and breeches. Nell had also managed to find a pair of boots that fit her. Kiyo put them on, and walked around the room, getting used to the unfamiliar footwear.
"Where will you be heading next?" Nell asked. "And…what are you doing around these parts, anyway?" Kiyo could tell the woman had been dying to ask that question for a while. Luckily, she had thought of a story on the boat trip over.
"I am visiting a friend, who is trading Yamani goods here. My…er…father is a scholar, who thought it would be a good idea for me to gain experience of these parts, so he can write about them…he is, um, unable to leave the imperial court back at Yaman."
Nell nodded slowly. "What's your friends name, dear? Do you know where he is?"
"Um…" Mentally Kiyo chastised herself for not thinking this far. "His name is Nobu." She said, giving her fathers name. "He is with…Princess Shinkokami at the royal palace right now." Suddenly, Kiyo left as if someone had dashed cold water all over her. Of course! She had grown up with Shinkokami, and the two were friends. Kiyo had forgotten that the Princess was in Tortall to meet her betrothed. Kiyo smiled happily as a plan began to form. She would go to the palace to ask Shinkokami for her aid in finding a place in Tortall.
Nell watched the girl closely. "Do you know the way, dear?" She asked gently. Kiyo frowned. Nell had found a big flaw in her plan.
"No." She admitted. "I'll…find the way."
Nell shook her head "You won't get far by yourself. There's bandits who prey on lone travellers. The fact you're a girl will be a bonus for them" Nell paused, thinking. Then she nodded as if she had made up her mind. Opening a door, she yelled up a flight of stairs "Elijah! Come down here!"
Bewildered, Kiyo remained silent. After a few beats of calm, there was a clattering of someone running down the stairs. A young man of about 20 emerged, his light brown hair in disarray.
"You called, Mum?" he asked cheekily. He caught sight of Kiyo and stopped in surprise. "Oh…I'm sorry, didn't see you there. I'm Elijah" He reached for her hand and shook it. Kiyo removed her hand quickly, and Elijah's expression turned to astonishment. Feeling foolish, Kiyo remembered someone mentioning the strange Tortallan greeting.
"I'm sorry." She apologised. "My name is Kiyomuri, I'm from the Yamani Islands. We do not greet each other in that way, so you caught me off guard. We usually…" Kiyo stopped, realising she was babbling.
Elijah's eyes glinted with amusement as he waited for her to finish. "You usually…?" he prompted.
"We bow." Kiyo said. Placing her palms on her thighs, she demonstrated the Yamani greeting.
"Interesting…" Kiyo looked up, expecting to find that he was making fun of her. Instead, Elijah looked genuinely interested. He was about to speak again when Nell interrupted.
"Your father can spare you for a while, can't he." It came out as an order, instead of a question. It dawned on Kiyo what Nell had in mind.
"I'll go on my own." She said, trying to be polite. "Thank you for your consid-"
Nell shook her head. "Now then dear…remember what I was telling you about the roads being dangerous?"
"I can look after myself," protested Kiyo. Nell wasn't listening.
"Elijah, I want you to take Kiyomuri to Corus. Make sure you personally see that she joins up with her friend." Nell and Elijah continued to plan the trip, ignoring Kiyo's objections. Sighing, Kiyo gave up. After all, it would be more fun to travel with someone than to travel alone.
***
A/N: Chap two…please review with any suggestions and comments…Thanks to those who have reviewed so far.
J-Kid: nope, this isn't my first fic…I wrote another one called the Lioness' Daughter, but… *cough* I didn't finish it…oops. Hopefully this one won't turn out the same!!