TallemeraRane- I wrote your poem for you! ;) LOL!

The days dragged on. Kel spent most of her time confined to her room. She hadn't heard from Merric for almost a week. She wondered if she upset him. But how? She had only requested a poem. One silly little poem! Why hadn't he written back? She was startled when she heard a knock on the door. Tobe, who was busy pretending to practice reading, leapt at the door.

"Tobe," Kel said, and the boy froze. "Can you tell me what the story is about?" Tobe blushed.

"A man," he tried lamely.

"Do you want to learn to read?" Kel asked.

"I can read, now, but this story is borin'," Tobe explained. "I wanna read a story about horses an' dragons an' knights an' mages. Not a stupid story 'bout James the stupid peasant who goes fishin' for stupid fish. I hope he starves!" He yanked the door open.

Kel was laughing at Tobe's speech so hard her eyes clouded over with tears. She briskly wiped them away to see Yuki standing there. "Yuki!" Kel cried, hugging her. "I've been here a month and I've scarcely seen you!"

The plump Yamani smiled. "You can thank Neal for that. He's constantly asking 'Are you all right, Yuki?' 'D'you think it's a girl or a boy, Yuki?' 'Can I get you anything, Yuki?' 'Did the baby kick, Yuki?' and them he gallops over to feel. What an idiot," Yuki smiled.

"So, how ever did you ecsape 'Father Neal'?" Kel asked. Tobe retreated to the desk and began drawing pictures of horses.

"He's busy," Yuki said. "He and Merric have been hunched over paper all day, trying to figure out words to rhyme with 'Kel' and 'love' and 'flower' and the such," she rolled her eyes. "You're sooo lucky Keledry."

"Yes, sure," Kel sighed. "Shall we go for a walk in the courtyard with Shinko?"

"Why not?" Yuki asked. "That is if HER husband isn't being overbearing and annoying," Yuki giggled.

"Better yet, why not go shopping. Tobe needs a book, right, Tobe?" Kel said.

"An excitin' one, 'bout dragons an' horses and' knights an' mages. With lotsa battles," he said, nonchalant, bent over his drawing.



"Are you going to be all right if I leave?" Kel asked him.

"Can I go down to the stables?" he asked.

"Yes," Kel said. "But don't give Peachblossom or Hoshi any sugar cubes. You're spoiling them."

A few minutes later, the three women had left, and were browsing the streets. Shinko stopped at a stand to look at glass-blown figures. Yuki was studying a painting and telling the merchant it was too expensive, she had one just like, what, he didn't believe her? well just come and see! while Kel browsed a stand of books.

Shinko bought some jade earbobs, Yuki bought silk slippers, and Kel bought a book titled "Immortal Battle Heroes" and bought some hair ribbons, too. The women walked slowly back, chatting about innocent things. When they reached the corrider, Kel excused herself to her room, to give Tobe his book.

She opened the door, and found Tobe playing with Jump. "I got you a book," she told him.

"Thank you, Lady. There's a letter for you," he said, handing a paper over. Her name was written on it, very fancy with curlicues everywhere. She smiled, and sat at the edge of the bed to read it.

'Dearest Kel, I love you.

Your hair glistens like

morning dew!

Your eyes shine,

making me wish that

you were mine.

Your lips, I want to kiss

you because right now I

really miss you.'

Kel laughed.

"What is it Lady?" Tobe asked.

"Sir Merric can't write poetry," she expained. "But I have to forgive him for trying, right?"

"I s'pose," Tobe said. "I know a poem. Alvick used to say it. 'She was a fair lady, an' direspectful, too'", Tobe began, but Kel clapped her hand over his mouth.

"I have heard that poem. It is bad. Go read."

She sat down and began to write back to Merric.