This chapter's dedicated to all my faithful reviewers, who keep reviewing me chapter after chapter! (Now I feel like someone on a washing powder add - 'It just keeps going, wash after wash)
Chapter 9: More Complications
Joren walked down the main corridor of the palace, for once ignoring the 'subtle' inviting, sidelong glances which were sent his way. He was deep in thought about Kel's odd behaviour recently. When they had been discussing the mission, she had been surprisingly abrupt about how they should deal with the subjects they had been given to spy on.
Find out at much as we can and then kill them, she had said. That wasn't Kel. Briefly, Joren wondered what she had gone through with Blayce, to make her think like that about people who were aiding the King of Scanra. He wondered if she would ever feel close enough to tell him. He brushed these thoughts out of his mind. Mindelan was just a partner on this mission. If she proved herself truly worthy, then they could maybe someday attain a relationship of mutual respect. Nothing more.
He was startled out of his thoughts when he bumped into someone accidentally. Looking up and apologising absent-mindedly, he trailed off when he saw whom he had bumped into.
Looking just as beautiful when she was startled, was Narcissa, regarding him with an expression of surprised innocence. Joren knew better than that, of course, but she did look appealing when she smiled like that.
"My Lord of Lansborough" she said, smiling sweetly at him, "Where would you be going without your faithful wife? Surely you don't have any business to take care of, you told me yourself that you are on holiday here." She put emphasis on the word faithful.
Joren tried his best not to blink like a frozen deer. He could have sworn that Narcissa was flirting with him. The King surely wouldn't be too pleased if he heard about his mistress flirting with other men, and rather than loose his voluptuous mistress, he'd probably place the blame on the poor man she had been flirting with. Realisation dawned brightly in Jorens brain. That was why those men had seemed so wary around her. And Narcissa didn't seem like one to care much about what the King did to anyone, so long as it wasn't her.
"I was just going to visit the baths." Joren said, being careful to keep both his tone and manner bland.
Narcissa raised her elegantly shaped eyebrows. "You don't want to go there." She said, her tone inviting, " The men's baths are really not as nice as some other baths in the palace" She took a step closer.
Joren froze. This was not right...this was really not right. This was most definitely not how the mission was supposed to go. That last thought snagged in his mind.
The mission, he thought again. This could be perfect for the mission. If he could get close enough to Narcissa so that he could get all the information they needed, so that he and Mindelan could finally leave.
Mindelan...Kel. Doubts began to stir threateningly in his mind, when Narcissa took a bold step closer, and placed one small hand on his side.
No. Joren thought firmly. I need to do this for the mission. But he knew courtiers. Someone like Narcissa could easily get bored with him in a few days. He needed to get her to chase him first. It was a game Joren had played hundreds of times.
He smiled at Narcissa, before removing her hand from his waist, and pushing gently past her, ignoring the stares that many people were aiming at them.
"Not right now" Joren said softly enough that only Narcissa would hear. He continued his walk down the corridor, his head buzzing with more complications.
*****
Kel had returned from the baths and was working on the latest report to send home. Her hair fell down her back, pressing against her shirt, or sticking out in odd places, due to static. Joren cleared his throat loudly as he entered the room.
Kel paused, then slowly dipped her quill in the ink once more, and finished the sentence, carefully signing and sealing the letter, before turning to face him.
"What is it?" She said, standing up and stretching.
"My dear, much as I'm enjoying the view from here, shouldn't you be wearing something slightly more...appropriate, than breeches and a shirt?" Kel had refused to wear the ugly, shapeless dresses in the spare time she had, when people were unlikely to see her.
Kel fought the urge to glare at him, as she would have with Neal, or any of her other friends. She looked at him and saw he wasn't joking, despite the contemptuously amused glitter in his eye.
"Don't berate me about my clothing." She replied, ignoring the first part of his sentence. "What is it?" She repeated.
He gestured for her to sit down, and did so himself, after checking that the shielding and silencing spells he had placed on the room were secure.
"I think I know a way we can get information regarding Narcissa. She's been acting...suggestively towards me. If I could get close to her, I think that her tongue may loosen." There was a silence as Kel leaned backwards, looking sceptical.
"I think you should give her more credit than that." She said, slowly, " I think she could play you easily, and find out who we are, give us false information, and then have us killed."
Joren raised his eyebrows mentally. This was definitely not like Keladry. She was the one who fed the birds, who took in strays. She had been heartbroken at having to leave her sparrows, and Jump at Corus, because they were too recognisable. She didn't show it, no, but Joren could see, he wasn't blind. You just had to know where to look. People with masks were similar, and Joren was an expert on masks.
Kel wasn't the one who judged people completely after just one meeting. Especially not people whom it was their job to study. Joren decided to watch her more closely. If something was going on with her that would jeopardise their mission, then something would have to be done.
When Joren didn't answer, Kel sighed and sat up again.
"Rat and Kieta would say it's clichéd and un-original idea. It's been used hundreds of times, it's old. Get close to the poor, unsuspecting victim, glean all the information you can from them in bed, and then run. Narcissa's too clever to fall for that."
Joren smiled at this. "Perhaps." He admitted, "Perhaps not. But if it's clichéd, it's only so because it's been tried, tested, and approved for success so many times. And if you want originality, we could always simply fly up to her window on our pwetty pigs with the silver wings, and ask her vewy, vewy nicely, to pwease tell us evewything she knows." He said, mocking her with his tone and eyes, but not cruelly.
There was a silence. He was inviting her to join his amusement, and laugh at herself. Finally she smiled.
"Do you think you can do this?" she said quietly. He nodded. She considered. Could she lie here, in this room, knowing that Joren was flirting with, and possibly sleeping with Narcissa. She blinked suddenly. Of course she could, it would make no difference to her. They would both do whatever was necessary for the mission. That was the most important thing right now.
She nodded. "All right then, go ahead." There was another silence. It wasn't an awkward silence. It was a comfortable, contemplative silence. Finally Joren stood up slowly to go and change out of his uncomfortable courtiers clothes.
"Stone Mountain." She called, when he reached thee door to the bathroom. He turned, one eyebrow quirked questioningly. "Why did you ask me? Why not just go ahead and do it?"
Joren regarded her, a curious expression on his face. "You're my partner. That means we make the decisions for this mission together, right?" He said, daring her to reply. She just nodded slowly. He turned to go again, pausing with his back half turned.
"Oh, and you should call me Joren whilst we're here. Just in case people get suspicious of a wife calling her husband 'Stone Mountain' when he's supposed to be called 'Joren'. I will, of course, refer to you as Kaitlin.
There was another silence, this time awkward.
"Well go on then." Joren said finally. "Say it."
"Joren." Kel said, obediently. He smiled slightly, and shut the door behind him. And Kel was left frowning slightly, wondering who there was to be suspicious in their rooms.
*****
Neal limped across the practise courts to where Yuki was standing, gazing absently into the distance, her mind clearly not on the bow and quiver in her hands, or on the archery target range before her.
He laid an arm across her waist, and kissed her as she turned to look up at him. He had been given two weeks leave, his father had ordered him back because he ' had a severe injury in his leg which would be better left to heal naturally, and he was tiring himself out, and a tired healer is good for no one.'
Despite being thoroughly disgruntled at his father, and at Dom who had enforced his stay in Corus, he had decided to make the best of it by spending as much time as he could with his fiancée.
"What's wrong?" He asked, gently stroking Yuki's cheek, and beginning to steer her back to their rooms. She sighed and leaned against him.
"I'm worried about Kel." She admitted, after a long silence, "We haven't received any letters from her for two months." Neal kissed her temple softly.
"Kel told us she wouldn't be able to write often, love. I'm sure she'll write soon." They stopped outside the door to their rooms. When Yuki didn't answer, he turned her head softly, to look at him.
"I miss her too." He said quietly. They looked at each other for a moment, sharing the worry they both felt for their friend. They both knew that Kel needed to be looked after, and normally there were all her friends and mentors, as well as the entire Mindelan clan to do so. But now she was alone. Somewhere. And it scared both of them.
Neal kissed Yuki once more, then gave her a small push towards the door that led to their rooms.
"Go." He said, smiling shakily, "Look at us, worrying about Kel. She's a big girl, and she trained for eight years, and she can take care of herself." He said it with such conviction, that Yuki was almost convinced. "I'll see you at dinner later." Neal finished, smiling briefly before walking off.
Yuki watched him go, before letting herself into her rooms. Good old Kel, the one who was always looking after other people. From the smallest sparrow, to the most important of her noble friends. It was easy to forget that she needed to be watched too. Like the time when she had run off after her refugees. She had been like that even when Yuki had first met her. She smiled, remembering.
*flashback*
Yuki apologised, smoothing down her immaculately placed kimono as she looked down at the short seven year old who had bumped into her in this corridor of the palace. She had two short brown, scruffy braids, which were flung back on either side of her head. Her kimono was awry, her eyes mischievous, and her face held an extremely improper smile.
Not the Tortallan barbarian. Yuki thought, taking in Kel's appearance with a short flicker of her eyes. She was about to smile back politely, when she remembered that she was a lofty eight year old, and this was a seven year old foreigner, who clearly wasn't schooled in good manners.
Barbarians, Yuki thought, delivering a bow of an exact degree to Kel. She was surprised when Kel did the same, although the smile didn't leave her face. She shouldn't have been surprised, she scolded herself. Emotion was weakness, and she should have realised, that after being here for - what was it? Three years? Yes, after three years, this barbarian would have picked up some of their customs.
"My name's Kel." Kel said bluntly, "What's yours?"
But maybe not all our customs. Yuki thought, unable to keep a wry smile from breaking out on her face. Didn't this girl know it was rude to just ask someone's name like that?
"Yukimi." Yuki replied, shortly. Kel frowned at her blunt reply.
"Oh...well. See you later then." She began to walk off. People didn't usually just walk away from Yukimi like that, after all, her parents were high in the Emperors favour, though she was not a princess.
"Wait!" Yuki was again surprised to find the sound had escaped from her lips. She felt like talking to this girl for some reason.
Kel turned, and slowly began to walk back.
"Yes?"
"Where are you going?" Yuki blurted out, honest curiosity in her tone. The barbarian was wearing a travelling kimono, sturdier than a normal one, and she had a band of red cloth around her wrist. A Yamani custom that was supposed to bring luck whilst travelling.
"Back to Tortall." Kel glared at the floor as if the blue tiles were the ones forcing her to go. She looked up at Yuki again.
"It's my brother - Inness - it's his wedding." She explained, "And my grandmother and great aunts are going to cluck and sigh over me, and call me by my full name, and Conal will call me 'kid' and boast about his training, and my uncles and aunts will try to persuade them to come and live with them - they're merchants, they say the experience would be good for me - and you should see Inness and Mirelle - his fiancée."
"What do they do?" Yuki was fascinated by this girl whose emotions played across her face as clearly as an open book. Kel wrinkled her nose.
"Oh my darling Mirelle, my life was a desert as dreary as any barren wasteland, until you came into it." She said, putting on a deep voice, and looking at an imaginary person on the left.
She turned to look at an imaginary person on the right, and put on a ridiculously high pitched voice "Oh Inness, you do say the most charming things." She swooned and placed her hand delicately across her brow. Yuki grinned, and worked to control a giggle.
She turned again to her previous position with the deep voice. "Kiss me Mirelle, kiss me!" she said, and made a deep smooching noise. Yuki laughed out loud, and Kel grinned and laughed with her.
When they both regained control, they began to walk down the corridor together, Yuki reversing direction.
"They can't be that bad!" Yuki exclaimed. Kel wrinkled her nose again.
"Trust me, they are. Still, my nephews and nieces aren't so bad. They're too little to pinch and prod me. And at least I'll be able to get away from here for a while." At this Yuki bristled.
"What do you mean?" she asked indignantly, her manner regaining some of the old stiffness. Kel turned to smile sadly up at her.
"Don't tell me you haven't seen the way they all smile blankly at me. The way they just want to be with me because my mother saved those stupid swords. First they called me a barbarian, now they are ordered to befriend me. I heard them talking" The girl's tone held supressed anger.
Yuki knew she should have been angry at someone mentioning the swords of duty and justice like that, but she couldn't bring herself to feel angry. She was too busy feeling guilty. She had called Kel a barbarian, and yet not a moment ago she had bowed to her, civilly. Of course, she was more polite than most children, but still. It was hypocritical, and wrong.
They reached the end of the corridor, where Kel's families rooms were situated. They paused at the door, ignoring the bustle of last minute packing that was going on inside.
"I'll see you then." Yuki said awkwardly, turning to walk away.
"Yes." Kel replied softly, tucking a flyaway strand of hair behind her ear, "See you."
She opened the door to the rooms, and was about to go inside when Yuki hailed her again. Kel turned around.
"Please." Yuki said, facing her, "Call me Yuki." There was a pause, then Kel grinned.
"See you later Yuki." She said.
"Goodbye Kel." Yuki smiled, and turned once more.
"Yuki?"
"Yes?"
"Maybe when I get back, you could help me with something. You see, Hito was the one whom I heard calling me a barbarian, and I need to get revenge. And there's a lot you can do with a mug of ale and a can of worms." Kel laughed at Yuki's shocked face.
"See you!" She called, shutting the door behind her.
Slowly, Yuki turned around. She smiled, it would be fun to help. She knew that in the space of a few years, all the outward mischievousness, and playfulness would be wrung out of Kel. Why shouldn't she enjoy her friends unusual ideas whilst she could?
*end flashback*
Yuki smiled fondly. Kel had changed on the outside, certainly. But not on the inside, never on the inside.
******
Whew, seven whole pages. The Kel-Yuki bit was an afterthought I put in, to lead up to something that's going to happen in the next chapter *mysterious music*. And I'm gonna have FUN with the whole Joren Narcissa thing. Wait until you see what I have planned. *rubs hands gleefully*
And...did you see? I HAVE A CHAPTER TITLE!!!!!!! Lol.
Anyway. I would really appreciate constrictive criticism, I want to know where I'm going wrong, and how I can improve my writing style, so please, review and tell me?
I'm still more than happy to receive emails if anyone has any questions about the story. I've abandoned yet another story on fictionpress, because I ran into a big which is why this update has come so soon. I'm thinking of starting this weird story about my self and my friends though - don't worry, no Mary Sue's - so if that happens then the next update won't be for a while.
On to the reviews, I'm sorry I can't answer all of them this time, but there still seems to be a lot of interest in Keita!! And she'll be coming back some time in the next few chapters, and Rat too! Ha ha, my plot has many twists to come (now I'm speaking like Yoda, let's move on. Hey, did that rhyme? Right, let's not go there) So THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed, your reviews, good, bad or ugly, all make my day.
Crystal Lili : Thank you for pointing that out in your review, it was the inspiration for the musings at the beginning of this chapter. I wanted to have Joren thinking about something, I didn't know what, so thank you! Oh damn, I guess that makes you the co-writer of this chapter. Ah well, we won't mention that, will we...*glances around*
Angel Street : Thank you for your review, but I think you'll find that in chapter 2, I wrote that Kel dyed her hair red, and by chapter 4, I mentioned that it was 6 inches longer. If you re-read those chapters, you'll see.
Princess Sanidaylene: Nice name, by the way. Considering your review I doubt you'll be happy with this chapter. Narcissa sleeping with Joren!! Don't worry, it won't last for long. And Kel hasn't realised her love yet (I feel like an agony aunt writing this) but it's sort of beginning, which is why she was hesitant to allow Joren to go ahead with his plan, and why she was curious about why he had bothered to ask her.
La dame noir: Merci beaucoup for the hint, sorry, I'm trying to answer reviews and simultaneously do my French homework. Competition eh? Well...we may already have some. Is this update soon enough for you? And I like that fic too! Nightmare's Appeal. But Sulia Serafine's stories are brilliant.
Thank you also to PsychoLioness 13, Stee Parker, Aimee Damita, Jenny, sexiglassesSNOG, an anonymous geek, Tears Washed Away, Anasha, Zaid, Shinigami Clara, Kris, ac-bworm, dracorium, me, Crowdove, Random Reviewer, Lady Lorene, and Imperfectionist ;D.
I love you all!! Byes!
Rowana
Chapter 9: More Complications
Joren walked down the main corridor of the palace, for once ignoring the 'subtle' inviting, sidelong glances which were sent his way. He was deep in thought about Kel's odd behaviour recently. When they had been discussing the mission, she had been surprisingly abrupt about how they should deal with the subjects they had been given to spy on.
Find out at much as we can and then kill them, she had said. That wasn't Kel. Briefly, Joren wondered what she had gone through with Blayce, to make her think like that about people who were aiding the King of Scanra. He wondered if she would ever feel close enough to tell him. He brushed these thoughts out of his mind. Mindelan was just a partner on this mission. If she proved herself truly worthy, then they could maybe someday attain a relationship of mutual respect. Nothing more.
He was startled out of his thoughts when he bumped into someone accidentally. Looking up and apologising absent-mindedly, he trailed off when he saw whom he had bumped into.
Looking just as beautiful when she was startled, was Narcissa, regarding him with an expression of surprised innocence. Joren knew better than that, of course, but she did look appealing when she smiled like that.
"My Lord of Lansborough" she said, smiling sweetly at him, "Where would you be going without your faithful wife? Surely you don't have any business to take care of, you told me yourself that you are on holiday here." She put emphasis on the word faithful.
Joren tried his best not to blink like a frozen deer. He could have sworn that Narcissa was flirting with him. The King surely wouldn't be too pleased if he heard about his mistress flirting with other men, and rather than loose his voluptuous mistress, he'd probably place the blame on the poor man she had been flirting with. Realisation dawned brightly in Jorens brain. That was why those men had seemed so wary around her. And Narcissa didn't seem like one to care much about what the King did to anyone, so long as it wasn't her.
"I was just going to visit the baths." Joren said, being careful to keep both his tone and manner bland.
Narcissa raised her elegantly shaped eyebrows. "You don't want to go there." She said, her tone inviting, " The men's baths are really not as nice as some other baths in the palace" She took a step closer.
Joren froze. This was not right...this was really not right. This was most definitely not how the mission was supposed to go. That last thought snagged in his mind.
The mission, he thought again. This could be perfect for the mission. If he could get close enough to Narcissa so that he could get all the information they needed, so that he and Mindelan could finally leave.
Mindelan...Kel. Doubts began to stir threateningly in his mind, when Narcissa took a bold step closer, and placed one small hand on his side.
No. Joren thought firmly. I need to do this for the mission. But he knew courtiers. Someone like Narcissa could easily get bored with him in a few days. He needed to get her to chase him first. It was a game Joren had played hundreds of times.
He smiled at Narcissa, before removing her hand from his waist, and pushing gently past her, ignoring the stares that many people were aiming at them.
"Not right now" Joren said softly enough that only Narcissa would hear. He continued his walk down the corridor, his head buzzing with more complications.
*****
Kel had returned from the baths and was working on the latest report to send home. Her hair fell down her back, pressing against her shirt, or sticking out in odd places, due to static. Joren cleared his throat loudly as he entered the room.
Kel paused, then slowly dipped her quill in the ink once more, and finished the sentence, carefully signing and sealing the letter, before turning to face him.
"What is it?" She said, standing up and stretching.
"My dear, much as I'm enjoying the view from here, shouldn't you be wearing something slightly more...appropriate, than breeches and a shirt?" Kel had refused to wear the ugly, shapeless dresses in the spare time she had, when people were unlikely to see her.
Kel fought the urge to glare at him, as she would have with Neal, or any of her other friends. She looked at him and saw he wasn't joking, despite the contemptuously amused glitter in his eye.
"Don't berate me about my clothing." She replied, ignoring the first part of his sentence. "What is it?" She repeated.
He gestured for her to sit down, and did so himself, after checking that the shielding and silencing spells he had placed on the room were secure.
"I think I know a way we can get information regarding Narcissa. She's been acting...suggestively towards me. If I could get close to her, I think that her tongue may loosen." There was a silence as Kel leaned backwards, looking sceptical.
"I think you should give her more credit than that." She said, slowly, " I think she could play you easily, and find out who we are, give us false information, and then have us killed."
Joren raised his eyebrows mentally. This was definitely not like Keladry. She was the one who fed the birds, who took in strays. She had been heartbroken at having to leave her sparrows, and Jump at Corus, because they were too recognisable. She didn't show it, no, but Joren could see, he wasn't blind. You just had to know where to look. People with masks were similar, and Joren was an expert on masks.
Kel wasn't the one who judged people completely after just one meeting. Especially not people whom it was their job to study. Joren decided to watch her more closely. If something was going on with her that would jeopardise their mission, then something would have to be done.
When Joren didn't answer, Kel sighed and sat up again.
"Rat and Kieta would say it's clichéd and un-original idea. It's been used hundreds of times, it's old. Get close to the poor, unsuspecting victim, glean all the information you can from them in bed, and then run. Narcissa's too clever to fall for that."
Joren smiled at this. "Perhaps." He admitted, "Perhaps not. But if it's clichéd, it's only so because it's been tried, tested, and approved for success so many times. And if you want originality, we could always simply fly up to her window on our pwetty pigs with the silver wings, and ask her vewy, vewy nicely, to pwease tell us evewything she knows." He said, mocking her with his tone and eyes, but not cruelly.
There was a silence. He was inviting her to join his amusement, and laugh at herself. Finally she smiled.
"Do you think you can do this?" she said quietly. He nodded. She considered. Could she lie here, in this room, knowing that Joren was flirting with, and possibly sleeping with Narcissa. She blinked suddenly. Of course she could, it would make no difference to her. They would both do whatever was necessary for the mission. That was the most important thing right now.
She nodded. "All right then, go ahead." There was another silence. It wasn't an awkward silence. It was a comfortable, contemplative silence. Finally Joren stood up slowly to go and change out of his uncomfortable courtiers clothes.
"Stone Mountain." She called, when he reached thee door to the bathroom. He turned, one eyebrow quirked questioningly. "Why did you ask me? Why not just go ahead and do it?"
Joren regarded her, a curious expression on his face. "You're my partner. That means we make the decisions for this mission together, right?" He said, daring her to reply. She just nodded slowly. He turned to go again, pausing with his back half turned.
"Oh, and you should call me Joren whilst we're here. Just in case people get suspicious of a wife calling her husband 'Stone Mountain' when he's supposed to be called 'Joren'. I will, of course, refer to you as Kaitlin.
There was another silence, this time awkward.
"Well go on then." Joren said finally. "Say it."
"Joren." Kel said, obediently. He smiled slightly, and shut the door behind him. And Kel was left frowning slightly, wondering who there was to be suspicious in their rooms.
*****
Neal limped across the practise courts to where Yuki was standing, gazing absently into the distance, her mind clearly not on the bow and quiver in her hands, or on the archery target range before her.
He laid an arm across her waist, and kissed her as she turned to look up at him. He had been given two weeks leave, his father had ordered him back because he ' had a severe injury in his leg which would be better left to heal naturally, and he was tiring himself out, and a tired healer is good for no one.'
Despite being thoroughly disgruntled at his father, and at Dom who had enforced his stay in Corus, he had decided to make the best of it by spending as much time as he could with his fiancée.
"What's wrong?" He asked, gently stroking Yuki's cheek, and beginning to steer her back to their rooms. She sighed and leaned against him.
"I'm worried about Kel." She admitted, after a long silence, "We haven't received any letters from her for two months." Neal kissed her temple softly.
"Kel told us she wouldn't be able to write often, love. I'm sure she'll write soon." They stopped outside the door to their rooms. When Yuki didn't answer, he turned her head softly, to look at him.
"I miss her too." He said quietly. They looked at each other for a moment, sharing the worry they both felt for their friend. They both knew that Kel needed to be looked after, and normally there were all her friends and mentors, as well as the entire Mindelan clan to do so. But now she was alone. Somewhere. And it scared both of them.
Neal kissed Yuki once more, then gave her a small push towards the door that led to their rooms.
"Go." He said, smiling shakily, "Look at us, worrying about Kel. She's a big girl, and she trained for eight years, and she can take care of herself." He said it with such conviction, that Yuki was almost convinced. "I'll see you at dinner later." Neal finished, smiling briefly before walking off.
Yuki watched him go, before letting herself into her rooms. Good old Kel, the one who was always looking after other people. From the smallest sparrow, to the most important of her noble friends. It was easy to forget that she needed to be watched too. Like the time when she had run off after her refugees. She had been like that even when Yuki had first met her. She smiled, remembering.
*flashback*
Yuki apologised, smoothing down her immaculately placed kimono as she looked down at the short seven year old who had bumped into her in this corridor of the palace. She had two short brown, scruffy braids, which were flung back on either side of her head. Her kimono was awry, her eyes mischievous, and her face held an extremely improper smile.
Not the Tortallan barbarian. Yuki thought, taking in Kel's appearance with a short flicker of her eyes. She was about to smile back politely, when she remembered that she was a lofty eight year old, and this was a seven year old foreigner, who clearly wasn't schooled in good manners.
Barbarians, Yuki thought, delivering a bow of an exact degree to Kel. She was surprised when Kel did the same, although the smile didn't leave her face. She shouldn't have been surprised, she scolded herself. Emotion was weakness, and she should have realised, that after being here for - what was it? Three years? Yes, after three years, this barbarian would have picked up some of their customs.
"My name's Kel." Kel said bluntly, "What's yours?"
But maybe not all our customs. Yuki thought, unable to keep a wry smile from breaking out on her face. Didn't this girl know it was rude to just ask someone's name like that?
"Yukimi." Yuki replied, shortly. Kel frowned at her blunt reply.
"Oh...well. See you later then." She began to walk off. People didn't usually just walk away from Yukimi like that, after all, her parents were high in the Emperors favour, though she was not a princess.
"Wait!" Yuki was again surprised to find the sound had escaped from her lips. She felt like talking to this girl for some reason.
Kel turned, and slowly began to walk back.
"Yes?"
"Where are you going?" Yuki blurted out, honest curiosity in her tone. The barbarian was wearing a travelling kimono, sturdier than a normal one, and she had a band of red cloth around her wrist. A Yamani custom that was supposed to bring luck whilst travelling.
"Back to Tortall." Kel glared at the floor as if the blue tiles were the ones forcing her to go. She looked up at Yuki again.
"It's my brother - Inness - it's his wedding." She explained, "And my grandmother and great aunts are going to cluck and sigh over me, and call me by my full name, and Conal will call me 'kid' and boast about his training, and my uncles and aunts will try to persuade them to come and live with them - they're merchants, they say the experience would be good for me - and you should see Inness and Mirelle - his fiancée."
"What do they do?" Yuki was fascinated by this girl whose emotions played across her face as clearly as an open book. Kel wrinkled her nose.
"Oh my darling Mirelle, my life was a desert as dreary as any barren wasteland, until you came into it." She said, putting on a deep voice, and looking at an imaginary person on the left.
She turned to look at an imaginary person on the right, and put on a ridiculously high pitched voice "Oh Inness, you do say the most charming things." She swooned and placed her hand delicately across her brow. Yuki grinned, and worked to control a giggle.
She turned again to her previous position with the deep voice. "Kiss me Mirelle, kiss me!" she said, and made a deep smooching noise. Yuki laughed out loud, and Kel grinned and laughed with her.
When they both regained control, they began to walk down the corridor together, Yuki reversing direction.
"They can't be that bad!" Yuki exclaimed. Kel wrinkled her nose again.
"Trust me, they are. Still, my nephews and nieces aren't so bad. They're too little to pinch and prod me. And at least I'll be able to get away from here for a while." At this Yuki bristled.
"What do you mean?" she asked indignantly, her manner regaining some of the old stiffness. Kel turned to smile sadly up at her.
"Don't tell me you haven't seen the way they all smile blankly at me. The way they just want to be with me because my mother saved those stupid swords. First they called me a barbarian, now they are ordered to befriend me. I heard them talking" The girl's tone held supressed anger.
Yuki knew she should have been angry at someone mentioning the swords of duty and justice like that, but she couldn't bring herself to feel angry. She was too busy feeling guilty. She had called Kel a barbarian, and yet not a moment ago she had bowed to her, civilly. Of course, she was more polite than most children, but still. It was hypocritical, and wrong.
They reached the end of the corridor, where Kel's families rooms were situated. They paused at the door, ignoring the bustle of last minute packing that was going on inside.
"I'll see you then." Yuki said awkwardly, turning to walk away.
"Yes." Kel replied softly, tucking a flyaway strand of hair behind her ear, "See you."
She opened the door to the rooms, and was about to go inside when Yuki hailed her again. Kel turned around.
"Please." Yuki said, facing her, "Call me Yuki." There was a pause, then Kel grinned.
"See you later Yuki." She said.
"Goodbye Kel." Yuki smiled, and turned once more.
"Yuki?"
"Yes?"
"Maybe when I get back, you could help me with something. You see, Hito was the one whom I heard calling me a barbarian, and I need to get revenge. And there's a lot you can do with a mug of ale and a can of worms." Kel laughed at Yuki's shocked face.
"See you!" She called, shutting the door behind her.
Slowly, Yuki turned around. She smiled, it would be fun to help. She knew that in the space of a few years, all the outward mischievousness, and playfulness would be wrung out of Kel. Why shouldn't she enjoy her friends unusual ideas whilst she could?
*end flashback*
Yuki smiled fondly. Kel had changed on the outside, certainly. But not on the inside, never on the inside.
******
Whew, seven whole pages. The Kel-Yuki bit was an afterthought I put in, to lead up to something that's going to happen in the next chapter *mysterious music*. And I'm gonna have FUN with the whole Joren Narcissa thing. Wait until you see what I have planned. *rubs hands gleefully*
And...did you see? I HAVE A CHAPTER TITLE!!!!!!! Lol.
Anyway. I would really appreciate constrictive criticism, I want to know where I'm going wrong, and how I can improve my writing style, so please, review and tell me?
I'm still more than happy to receive emails if anyone has any questions about the story. I've abandoned yet another story on fictionpress, because I ran into a big which is why this update has come so soon. I'm thinking of starting this weird story about my self and my friends though - don't worry, no Mary Sue's - so if that happens then the next update won't be for a while.
On to the reviews, I'm sorry I can't answer all of them this time, but there still seems to be a lot of interest in Keita!! And she'll be coming back some time in the next few chapters, and Rat too! Ha ha, my plot has many twists to come (now I'm speaking like Yoda, let's move on. Hey, did that rhyme? Right, let's not go there) So THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed, your reviews, good, bad or ugly, all make my day.
Crystal Lili : Thank you for pointing that out in your review, it was the inspiration for the musings at the beginning of this chapter. I wanted to have Joren thinking about something, I didn't know what, so thank you! Oh damn, I guess that makes you the co-writer of this chapter. Ah well, we won't mention that, will we...*glances around*
Angel Street : Thank you for your review, but I think you'll find that in chapter 2, I wrote that Kel dyed her hair red, and by chapter 4, I mentioned that it was 6 inches longer. If you re-read those chapters, you'll see.
Princess Sanidaylene: Nice name, by the way. Considering your review I doubt you'll be happy with this chapter. Narcissa sleeping with Joren!! Don't worry, it won't last for long. And Kel hasn't realised her love yet (I feel like an agony aunt writing this) but it's sort of beginning, which is why she was hesitant to allow Joren to go ahead with his plan, and why she was curious about why he had bothered to ask her.
La dame noir: Merci beaucoup for the hint, sorry, I'm trying to answer reviews and simultaneously do my French homework. Competition eh? Well...we may already have some. Is this update soon enough for you? And I like that fic too! Nightmare's Appeal. But Sulia Serafine's stories are brilliant.
Thank you also to PsychoLioness 13, Stee Parker, Aimee Damita, Jenny, sexiglassesSNOG, an anonymous geek, Tears Washed Away, Anasha, Zaid, Shinigami Clara, Kris, ac-bworm, dracorium, me, Crowdove, Random Reviewer, Lady Lorene, and Imperfectionist ;D.
I love you all!! Byes!
Rowana