Kaya Sees the World, Chap. 3
Kaya had never seen that glow in Ashitaka's eyes before he had left on his long journey. She vowed not to ask him what it was, but to find out for herself. It was as if he was longing for something forbidden and dared not tell anyone.
Ashitaka led Kaya into the town, greeting several of the villagers. Kaya shrank behind her brother at first, not sure of what was going on, but decided that if she was going to make this her new home, she had better get out there and meet her new friends.
"Ashitaka." A burly, gruff-looking man came up to meet them. Ashitaka nodded in greeting. "Lady Eboshi is waiting to see you."
"Thank you, Gonza." Ashitaka offered no introductions and rode off, leaving Kaya curious and Gonza staring inquisitively after the girl.
"He is Lady Eboshi's general," explained Ashitaka as they approached the new building where Lady Eboshi lived. He gave Kaya a hand to help her off Yakul. Together they entered and Ashitaka called out, "Lady Eboshi?"
She was facing away from them, but once she turned around Kaya had to stifle a gasp. The woman was young and an image of perfection, but despite all her beauty Kaya could tell that she had been through a lot. When Lady Eboshi smiled and approached them, her dark cloak rippled gently, revealing that the right sleeve of her matching dark gown was empty. Kaya glanced questioningly at Ashitaka, but his face remained impassive. Perhaps she had lost her arm in a time of the past that he did not care to remember. She added that to the list of things she would have to figure out for herself.
"Ashitaka, I am glad that you have come back safely. And who is this young woman you have brought with you?" Lady Eboshi leaned closer. "She has your eyes, Ashitaka."
"Yes, this is my sister Kaya," Ashitaka explained briefly. "I have brought her with me to escape an arranged marriage. She will be staying here with me."
"I am sure that the women will love to meet her," said Lady Eboshi kindly, and Kaya discovered that she was already beginning to like this woman. She watched in fascination as she managed to serve tea with only one hand. Ashitaka moved over to the table, and after a moment's hesitation she followed.
They sipped and spoke of current issues in Irontown for a while, with Ashitaka becoming more and more interested in his tea. He had been staring at it for nearly a whole minute when he lifted his head and said softly, "Has San been here?"
Lady Eboshi answered "no", and did not look at him while doing so.
"I see," said Ashitaka, and returned to his tea. Lady Eboshi did the same. Kaya glanced from one impassive face to the other and wondered who this San was. What other secrets was Ashitaka keeping from her? She would find out sooner than she intended.
Kaya had never seen that glow in Ashitaka's eyes before he had left on his long journey. She vowed not to ask him what it was, but to find out for herself. It was as if he was longing for something forbidden and dared not tell anyone.
Ashitaka led Kaya into the town, greeting several of the villagers. Kaya shrank behind her brother at first, not sure of what was going on, but decided that if she was going to make this her new home, she had better get out there and meet her new friends.
"Ashitaka." A burly, gruff-looking man came up to meet them. Ashitaka nodded in greeting. "Lady Eboshi is waiting to see you."
"Thank you, Gonza." Ashitaka offered no introductions and rode off, leaving Kaya curious and Gonza staring inquisitively after the girl.
"He is Lady Eboshi's general," explained Ashitaka as they approached the new building where Lady Eboshi lived. He gave Kaya a hand to help her off Yakul. Together they entered and Ashitaka called out, "Lady Eboshi?"
She was facing away from them, but once she turned around Kaya had to stifle a gasp. The woman was young and an image of perfection, but despite all her beauty Kaya could tell that she had been through a lot. When Lady Eboshi smiled and approached them, her dark cloak rippled gently, revealing that the right sleeve of her matching dark gown was empty. Kaya glanced questioningly at Ashitaka, but his face remained impassive. Perhaps she had lost her arm in a time of the past that he did not care to remember. She added that to the list of things she would have to figure out for herself.
"Ashitaka, I am glad that you have come back safely. And who is this young woman you have brought with you?" Lady Eboshi leaned closer. "She has your eyes, Ashitaka."
"Yes, this is my sister Kaya," Ashitaka explained briefly. "I have brought her with me to escape an arranged marriage. She will be staying here with me."
"I am sure that the women will love to meet her," said Lady Eboshi kindly, and Kaya discovered that she was already beginning to like this woman. She watched in fascination as she managed to serve tea with only one hand. Ashitaka moved over to the table, and after a moment's hesitation she followed.
They sipped and spoke of current issues in Irontown for a while, with Ashitaka becoming more and more interested in his tea. He had been staring at it for nearly a whole minute when he lifted his head and said softly, "Has San been here?"
Lady Eboshi answered "no", and did not look at him while doing so.
"I see," said Ashitaka, and returned to his tea. Lady Eboshi did the same. Kaya glanced from one impassive face to the other and wondered who this San was. What other secrets was Ashitaka keeping from her? She would find out sooner than she intended.