Ch. 5

Yuushi and Kokoru found the kitchen easily. They just followed their noses. They came upon a clearing in the wagons, a round space with an open-air kitchen. Standing by a stove was a middle-aged woman. She was an ample woman in all respects; solid, but full-figured, with brown hair pulled back into a sensible bun. She wore a practical brown dress and white apron, and her shoes were as prudent as the rest of her. She smiled kindly at them and said, "So I've assistants now, have I? I'm Niobe, head cook and Niko's wife. What are your names?"

"I'm Yuushi, ma'am. And this is Kokoru-chan."

"Well, I'm pleased to meet you both. Help me with this sauce, would you Kokoru-chan? There's a dear. Yuushi-chan, please start chopping those almonds, and make sure they're chopped very fine…"

The scene changes as they start on their tasks.

Beth and Erumina found the costuming wagon near the center of the caravan. Onua was there, setting out various outfits and putting some aside for repair. She heard them approach and looked up. "Oh, good evening, I suppose you two are here to help out?"

"Yes, I am Erumina, and this is Beth, we were told to assist you with the costuming."

"That's right. Can either of you sew?"

"I can." said Erumina.

"Very well, you start on the pile that needs repairs. Beth-chan you help me fold and sort these into piles…"

The scene changes as they start working.

Grenda and Niko walk to a wagon with a flat piece of cleared ground in front of it. The wagon is on the side nearest the town, but still out of sight of the towns-people. Grenda is still huffy; she refuses to follow Niko inside the wagon. He enters, and comes out a few seconds later with a sheathed sword, a daisy, and an apple. He looks at Grenda, who is still refusing to look at him.

"You know, if you don't stop scowling, your face will get stuck like that.'

"Hmph, let's just get this over with."

He sighed. "Very well. Hold this." He handed her the daisy.

She took it.

"Now balance this on your head." He held out the apple.

"Now you're just trying to make me look ridiculous!"

"True, it will look silly." He said with a smile, "But it's also part of the act, and it needs to be done."

"Grr. Fine!" She set the apple on her head, right between her two pigtails.

"Perfect. Now you just need to stand still." He drew his sword. It was a fine rapier, long, thin, and keen-edged. It has a cross-hilt guard and a wire-wrapped hilt. He held it front of him; then began tapping his foot. It was an even, steady beat; one that matched perfectly with the beat of Grenda's heart. Then he began to move. Slowly at first, he moved, twisting the sword in his grasp, turning it over and over, shifting from stance to stance in smooth, almost hypnotic, movements. Then he began to speed up. The beat quickened, as did his movements, until the sword was just a blur, overhand, underhand, around his shoulders, over his head, behind his back. He moved yet more quickly, until the sword left after-images of circles, flowers, curlicues, and crescents; until it hummed in its own wind. Then he turned to Grenda. He leaped forward, and the sword was a flashing blur as it flicked and hummed around her hands, plucking the petals from the daisy. It whirred around her ears and face, almost touching her. She couldn't move, not because she was frightened, but because she was fascinated like a mouse is by a serpent. Then Niko raised the sword above his head, as though to split her from crown to shoulders. And the sword came down.

Notes: The thing Niko is performing is the Battleblade Dance from the Redwall series, which is performed by Martin the Warrior, supposedly the best swordsman ever in the series. No, I won't have that series in here, I just liked the concept.