Instead of going directly to see Yukimi, Kel took a side-trip to the stables. After that meeting with Dom and the conversations that followed, Kel hadn't had the chance to make sure Hoshi was properly stabled and cared for, and she owed it to her horse to make sure she was.
Entering the stables, Kel heard a quiet whinny. She made her way to Hoshi's stall and set the papers on the side of it, then let herself through the gate. Reaching into her pocket, Kel pulled out a small lump of sugar and held it for Hoshi. The horse took it as Kel looked her over, checking to make sure she had been brushed thoroughly, her horse blanket was clean, and that her tack had been cared for.
Hoshi and her things were in perfect condition, and Kel greatly appreciated whichever stable boy had done such good work. She figured if she could find out who it was, she would mention to Lord Wyldon what a fine job the boy had done.
"She's a beauty, your Hoshi," The voice surprised Kel, who had though there was no one else in the stables. When Kel turned around she found herself looking directly into the face of Alanna the Lioness. The Baroness of Pirate's Swoop had boosted herself onto the top of the stable wall, and was now eye-to-eye with Kel.
"Oh, thank you," Kel had been with Alanna before, but the Lioness had been one of her largest inspirations on the road to knighthood, and Kel was still somewhat in awe of her.
"It's good to know one as special as her has such a caring mistress," Alanna reached out and ran her hand across Hoshi's flank, "She reminds me of my first horse, Moonlight, and I could tell just by grooming Hoshi that you never allowed her to stay unkempt for long. When you came in here to make sure she had been stabled correctly, I knew you really were a fine knight in all aspects."
"You groomed Hoshi for me?" Alanna's nod punctuated Kel's heartfelt, "Oh, thank you!"
Alanna waved the courtesy away with a hand, "There's no need for that, I could tell you were… Busy." She jumped down from the wall, as the wind created by her movement knocking the papers off as well.
"Oops," With a laugh Alanna picked the documents up off the ground. Glancing at Hoshi's mistress, she could tell that Kel was unhappy with the knowledge that Alanna had seen her and Dom together like that.
Straightening, Alanna placed the papers in Kel's hand before leaning in and whispering, "Don't be ashamed you have found someone you like. Love isn't a bad thing, and on the road both you and I walk, it acts almost as a savior." With quick squeeze of Kel's shoulder the Lioness then walked out, leaving Kel alone with this new thought.
Yuki set the cup of green tea in front of Kel, then settled on the floor opposite the knight as she spread her single cream-and-blue kimono about her legs, setting her own cup on the low table between them.
Neal's "Yamani Love," as his friends had began to jokingly call Yuki, gestured to the arrangement of food before them. "Come Kel, eat! We can discuss any matter of things throughout the meal."
Looking at the food, Kel's mouth began to water. These were true Yamani delicacies set before her, some spiced with herbs that were indigenous to the Yamani Islands alone, not Tortallan copies of the Isles more famous dishes. She inclined her head to accept Yuki's offer, then place a few of the selections on her plate as Yuki did the same.
Biting into the first dish, Kel sighed in pleasure. She had forgotten just how much she loved this food, and its savory flavor made her hunger for more. Yuki's pleasure was evident on her face for just a brief moment, and Kel supposed she had missed the food of her homeland.
"Where did you get all this?" Kel asked as she continued eating, "It seems like it would be really hard to get here from Corus or Port Legann, and anyway, imported foods are expensive!"
Yuki smiled, "I made it, from scratch."
"Really?" Kel asked, truly interested, "What about the spices?" As she waited for Yuki to answer, Kel ferried another piece of food to her mouth, her stomach warming with every bite.
"I brought those from home, but everything else I forged from around here," Although to any normal person, Yuki exhibited no emotion, Kel could tell she was pleased with her accomplishment.
Kel knew how difficult it was to make some of this cuisine, and she respected the fact that Yuki could make them so well, "What was the occasion, if I may ask?"
"No occasion, really." Yukimi laughed, a rich sound that filled her chambers, "I thought Neal should try some, and I knew you would appreciate it also." Waving to the side of the table, where Kel saw some of the food under covers, Yuki finished, "I set a few things aside for him."
Thinking of how Neal would react to the new flavors, Kel smiled. Although the dishes weren't exactly hot, some had a taste most Tortallans found a bit more than peculiar. Looking to the dishes Yuki had set aside, Kel saw that her friend must have had the same idea in mind, as most of the food had that type of flavor.
"So," Yuki had pushed her plate away, but she kept hold of her tea as she reclined back on one arm, "This… Domitian of Masbolle?"
Kel, just as calm as Yuki, curled her legs to one side and leaned her elbows on the table as she took a sip of tea. "You know Yuki, I missed this tea more than I missed the food. I forgot how good it was."
Yuki's hand moved almost to quick to follow. A blur in the air followed by vibrations in the table finally showed Kel a shukusen,the pointed ends firmly implanted in the tabletop a mere foot from Kel's right elbow.
"None of that now," Yuki's eyes glittered. "You aren't changing the topic on me that easily," Kel reached over and traced one of the steel ribs running the length of the fan as Yuki continued, "We both know you need to talk."
"Well, you can't hurt a girl for trying," Kel shrugged. "Nice way to get attention, by the way."
"It didn't seem to startle you much, but then again, you're practically a Yamani anyway." She paused for a moment to laugh again, then said, "It worked really well with Neal."
"What did you do?"
"Oh, he was being- Wait! You're just trying to get me off-topic again!" Yuki plucked the shukusen from the table with a snap and placed it back in her obi , "We're going to talk about you and Dom."
Kel held up her hands in a placating gesture, "Okay, okay, we talk."
"Good." Yuki took to reclining once more and said, "Neal told me that you two are unable to be together, and he told me why. Now, why would you allow yourself to get carried away if nothing can come of it?"
This was being pitiless with a vengeance! Kel was caught off-guard by the question, and she had no idea how to answer it. As she sat there, mute, Yuki leaned across the table and added something to Kel's tea from a pouch hooked to her obi.
Kel looked into her cup, where the powder had already dissolved, "What was that?"
"Something to help calm you, you're trembling." Gently Yuki reached out and placed her palm on Kel's forearm, "You can see why we need to talk."
Kel took a long draft from the cup, and almost immediately she felt a difference in her body. Her muscles, which had tensed up without her noticing, now relaxed and her head, which had begun to ache, lost its pain.
"Thanks Yuki. You're right," Kel finished the cup, and watched as Yukimi poured her another one. "I… I guess I really don't even know what happened. It was just- I saw him, and I forgot everything else."
"Do you know something?" Yuki bowed her head as she went on, "I've never told anyone this, but the first time I saw Neal, in the dining room when I went to ask for you, I felt the same way about him."
The quite Yamani looked up, "It was the most wonderful feeling I've ever had in my life. I still get it every time I'm with him." Here she stopped to take a sip of tea, "You know what it is Kel? It's called love."
"But… I can't love Dom! It won't work!" Deep within her heart though, Kel knew it was love, she'd known it was love for years.
"Can't? You don't mean that. There is nothing stopping you from loving him," Yuki reached out and set her cup on the table. "You mean you can't do anything with that love because of the stations both of you hold in life."
"I'll tell you something though, love is amazing. If you both truly love each other, a way to be together will reveal itself. It may be unexpected, or surprising, but it does exist," Gracefully, Yuki rocked back on her ankles, then rose to her feet as Kel opened her mouth.
"Yuki, thanks. I appreciate the time you took to talk with me," Kel also stood up, and was surprised when the Yamani ran around the table and gave her a hug. A small trickle of wetness hit Kel's shoulder, and it took her a moment to realize they were Yuki's tears.
"Goddess willing Kel, it'll all work out. You deserve it."
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That took me a while to write, for some reason.
Yes, yes, I know, I didn't get to mention what the orders to Kel were, but I found the more interesting conversation to be between Yuki and Kel, and I wanted to get it in there. I will tell you what they are! I will not forget! Hehe, I'm sorry.
Okay, Merry Christmas and Peppermint Cheesecake to all! To those who don't celebrate Christmas, Happy Holidays!
Raoul and Buri's wedding should either be next chapter or the one after it. I have some cool ideas for that one. Yay!
Well, you know, R&R please!
Later, Sull89