Chapter 17: The Belles of the Ball
Syuusuke's home was quietly lavish. The walls and floors were of dark wood with panels of hand-painted silk, and the floors were covered in wine-colored carpets. Joren clenched his hands tightly beneath the wide sleeves of his kimono. He was not unused to luxury, belonging as he does to one of the richest families in Tortall. But he never really had any happy memories back in his home. And the reminder of it made him more nervous.
A servant in a simple white kimono with a red obi welcomed them from the door, and led them to a room with a low table in matching dark wood, and black cushions on the floor. Joren followed Piers and Ilane's lead, as they sat down on a cushion and waited for their host to arrive. When Syuusuke finally did, they stood up again and bowed to their host, and presenting gifts as thank-you for the dinner invitation.
Syuusuke bowed down as well. Behind him, a smaller man with shoulder-length black hair and kind eyes imitated the action.
"This is Ryoma noh Echizen." Syuusuke said, gesturing to the smaller man. "He is my… partner."
Joren gazed at him curiously. He didn't look old enough to run a trading business. But he didn't have a chance to pursue this thought, as the food arrived at that moment. The servants all wore the white and red kimono, and they carried laquered boxes and covered dishes. The boxes contained several pieces of rice wrapped in seaweed containing small portions of fish and vegetables. Joren had already gotten used to the delicacies, except for the more exotic ones. The dishes were more traditional, containing buttered potatoes and carrots mixed with a very sweet kind of leaf, as well as a smaller type of fowl stuffed with nuts and greens.
The conversation was, as expected, full of polite flattery of the food and small talk about nothing important. But sometimes, Joren would say something unexpected, and he would glimpse a real smile on Syuusuke and Ryoma's lips before they would once more smooth into expressionless masks.
Then Ryoma started a conversation with Ilane about painting techniques and home decoration, information which went over Joren's head.
"Ryoma here is one of the most well-known painters in the whole island." Syuusuke told them, pride coloring his statement. Ryoma blushed slightly, before laughing softly.
"I would love to show you my work after dinner."
Joren couldn't stop his question from coming out. "But I thought you were a merchant like Syuusuke?" He looked at their smiling faces, and it dawned on him. "Oh." He blushed fiercely, which made even Ilane and Piers laugh at him. Ryoma was that kind of partner.
***
A man in a brown tunic knocked on the door. It opened, and Nealan of Queenscove peered out. "Yes? Can I help you?"
The man bowed down to the squire. "There is a letter for young master Neal." He held out a long yellow envelope, which Neal snatched eagerly.
"Thank you." He mumbled, and closed the door without a word. The man smiled. He had to report to Baron George soon, and tell him that young master Joren had finally written.
On his bed, Neal was contemplating the letter. It was almost a month since Joren left. He had missed him terribly, and Kel mercilessly teased him about it. Not a day passed by that he wondered what the younger knight was doing. It got so bad, that Lady Alanna had to assign him extra chores just to get his mind back on work.
Finally, he couldn't wait much longer, so Neal carefully opened the envelope and took out the yellow paper inside. He smiled, then frowned.
Kel knocked on Nealan's door, her letter from Joren in her hand. "Hey Neal, did Joren write to you, too." She entered, noticing her best friend lying on the bed frowning up at the ceiling. "What's wrong, Meathead?"
Neal just gazed at Kel's face, unseeing, Joren's words echoing in his head. I met someone… His name is Syuusuke noh Fuji.