Chapter 8

Lord Maru sat in his study glowering out the window at the darkness. He was none too pleased with his eldest daughter. Matter of fact he had been down right appalled when he had heard of her behavior in town.

He heard the door to his study open.

"You wished to see me father?" Lyra asked softly.

Lord Maru turned his frown on her. "Close the door."

She blinked at her father in surprise but did as he commanded before approaching him. "Is something the matter?"

The old turtle's eyes widened. "Is something the matter?!" He turned on her fully now. "You challenge a man to spar in the street and then ask me if something is the matter?!"

Lyra opened her mouth to speak but was cut off.

"And not just any man, but the one you or.. or one of your sisters are to marry! Why do you chase suiters off with such fervor? Why do you blatantly shame this family?!"

"Shame?" Lyra asked as she tried to follow her father's logic.

"You do not think your sister brought enough unto us with her little escapade? You must make me a laughing stock as well? In my allowing you to serve in the guard did you forget that you are a woman?" Maru's hands waved about in his anger and frustration as he glared down at his daughter.

"Escapade?" Lyra's eye's narrowed as rebellion welled up inside her. "Leonardo…" She took a deep breath then corrected her candidness, "Mr. Hamato did not seem upset by the challenge. Matter of fact he seemed rather enthused at the prospect. And it isn't like he lost to me. And as far as Rayen's 'escapade'…"

Her father's darkened expression caused her to stop short. It was rare he looked on his children with such anger.

"You have been allowed to traipse through this city, sword in hand, for long enough. You are a woman it is time you acted like it!"

"And do what? Get better at ordering servants about, brush up on my skills in scrubbing floors? Or perhaps I should prepare my loins for baring an entourage of children." She flinched when her father raised his hand as if to strike her. But the sting of the strike never came.

Hand poised he took in a deep breath and let it out slow. "Never have I struck any of my daughters. Many times have I stayed my hand when others would not have. Do not give me reason to again. You will behave as a woman should or you will be stripped of that armor and sword you treasure and you will take up a more fitting occupation for a woman. Is that understood?"

Lyra's jaw clenched tight but she did not hold her father's glare. She instead looked down and gave a curt nod.

Running his hand over his face, Lord Maru let out a sigh. "Mr. Hamato came here for a wife not a warrior…"

Lyra blinked then looked back up at her father. "Yes he did?"

"What?" Maru clipped.

"If he hadn't why did he ask if Rayen's lack of purity affected her ability to wield a sword?"

Her father opened and closed his mouth as he attempted to recall the conversation. His daughter beat him to it.

"He stated that a woman is the last defense in the protection of the family. That she is the educator of a man's children. How am I to show him I can defend his clan, his children, and his home if he does not see me fight. How can I show him I can teach his children, if I can not speak of what I know?"

Her father opened and closed his mouth again as he tried to think of a response, looking much like a fish out of water. Finally he tightened his jaw and frowned at his daughter. "You see? This, this right here is why one should not teach daughters to read. They start thinking they can use logic and argue with a man… argue with your own father. What I said still stands. Behave yourself! Now go, before you cause me to lose my temper further."

Unable to argue further he sent her away. Pointing at the door as if she could have possibly forgotten where it was.

She did as she was told. But ever a stubborn woman she did not walk as a submissive would. She held her head high and shoulders back as she strode from the room. She knew full well her father could not argue with anything more than oppressing rules and old traditions.

"She gets her obstinate from you."

Lord Maru jumped and turned to face his wife, who sat on a pillow in the corner working on some sort of embroidery. "I forgot you were here."

She looked up from her needle work and frowned a him, for she was not thrilled he had raised his hand to Lyra. Not that she would have had much say in the matter. "Should I bring more noise to our house hold?"

The old turtle shook his head and walked back to the window looking out into the darkness. Concerns for his daughters filled him. So many times had he defended his decision to educate his older daughters only to have them become undesired, despite their beauty. And this man from far away now wanting to meet them? And challenge all the ways a betrothal is conducted? Asking if they would except a courtship? Lord Maru sighed. It wasn't like he himself had not bent the rules and traditions. Two were soldiers for crying out loud!

"Something more troubles you?"

He looked over his shoulder at his wife, watching as the candle light played upon her features. "Was I too hard on her?"

Ming ming sat down her needle work and looked up at her husband. "In a traditional sense or in a greatly doting father sense?"

Maru frowned. "Both."

"Then, no." Ming ming shrugged, then smiled. "And yes."

"The allowances I have made for our guest are already great. I mean allowing a…a.."

"courtship?" Ming ming offered.

"Yes. And with women out of their marriageable years…I look desperate." Lord Maru paced the room.

"You are desperate, dear. You have ten daughters for which to find husbands."

He frowned at his wife as she stabbed the needle in and out of the framed fabric she was working on. "Yes well… I would prefer not to look it. Do you think he and his brothers will marry them?"

"I believe the chances are good that at least one of our daughters will be married. Does that calm your worries?"

The lord let out a huff of air again watching as the candle light played across his wife's skin. A sly smile slipped across his lips. "Not overly, but I do know what might take my mind off of it."

"Hmm, what is that?" She asked without looking up from her work.

Kneeling beside his wife he took her chin in his hand, turned her face toward him and kissed her thoroughly.

Picking up on his hint, she sat her needle work aside, slipped her arms around his broad shoulders and boldly returned the kiss.

Leo sat cross legged on the floor of his room. He had spent a good part of the night and now some of the morning in this position trying to clear his mind. He just wanted to sleep. But four women insisted on intruding in his thoughts. Their scents, bodies, movements, voices… why did splinter have to teach him to notice so much? His training was betraying him.

There was a knock at the door.

Leo groaned then called out. "Come in."

The door opened and in strode Bob.

"Good morning." Leo smiled at the chameleon. "Breakfast?"

Bob bowed. "Good morning sir. Breakfast has passed. I was sent to check if you were still here."

Leonardo blinked at Bob then looked to the windows of his room. He had been sitting there attempting to meditate for so long he apparently had lost track of time.

"Oh." He said as he got to his feet. "umm.. No. I didn't leave. I am definitely still here."

"So I see." Bob stated.

Leonardo found Bob to be a painfully awkward conversationalist. "…Right. Well… is there still something to eat? Toast or something?"

"Toast?" Bob asked. "I do not know about any toast but there is probably some fruit or something. The dining room is being cleaned but we can accommodate you, of course."

"umm, No." Leo tried to put his hands in his pockets only to remember he was wearing hakima and not blue jeans. So, instead of his hands slipping into pockets they slid down the fronts of his thighs like a nervous kid would do. Catching the, seemingly, annoyed stare from the chameleon, Leo cleared his throat and straitened. "Perhaps I could grab something in the kitchen?"

Bob nodded then turned and started walking away.

Quickly grabbing a shirt and his weapon belt he followed after Bob, putting on and adjusting his shirt and gear as he walked.

The kitchen was bustling even now. The smell of warm cream and herbs filled Leo's nostrils making his stomach growl.

A woman stood over a large pot, stirring as others cut up vegetables and meat, from various marine animals, before dumping it all into the vat of cream and broth.

The young, lady Lia stood at a counter kneading some dough. She smiled as she watched Mr. Hamato try to get the attention of one of the cooks and failing miserably. They were all busy and focused and not at all concerned about the young leader.

Biting her plumb lower lip she approached the handsome man. "Mr. Hamato." She said softly before giving a quick curtsy.

Leonardo smiled down at the fifteen year old. "Lia, right?"

"Yes." She beamed at the fact he had remembered her name then added, "Is there something you are looking for?"

"Breakfast." Leo stated with a chuckle. "Apparently I missed it."

Lia's smile faded for a moment as she thought. Then tapping the tip of her beak she smiled again. "I have just the thing."

Lia lead Leonardo to the counter and pushed a stool up to it for him to sit on.

"Give me just a moment." The girl grinned excitedly.

Leonardo sat upon the stool and leaned his elbows on the counter as he waited. He took it all in for a moment. The herbs hanging from drying racks that hung from the ceiling, something akin to a pet dog laid in the open door way, soaking up the morning sun, flower floated through the air like dust fairies. One could soak up the warmth. One could feel at home here in this place, this moment.

Lia paused with a plate of fruit pastries and fried fish watching Leonardo's back for a moment as he looked about the kitchen. In that moment she couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy toward her older sisters. To be whisked away by such a strong and handsome man, to some grand place far away. She really didn't understand how her sisters could have any apprehension about a marriage to a man that looked like Mr. Hamato, blue eyes, kind features, tall and strong. Braking from her little day dream she hurried forward placing the plate in front of Leonardo earning herself a charming smile and a soft "Thank you." from the man.

"Would you like some milk?" Lia offered.

"Yes, please." Leo answered politely as he sampled a fruit pastry. It was flakey, and buttery, and perfectly sweet with just the right hint of tartness. It was heavenly.

Lia placed a glass of milk on the counter in front of Leo before returning to kneading the dough on the counter next to him.

He swallowed down the large bite of pastry he had taken before murmuring another thank you and then taking a few more bites, finishing off the pastry.

"These are amazing." Leo complimented before taking a large drink of the milk only to make a sour face that sent Lia into a fit a of laughter.

Remembering herself she covered her mouth with a flower covered hand, her cheeks darkening in a blush. "I'm sorry."

"It's ok." Leo said as he rubbed his tongue against the top of his mouth trying to push the bitter flavor out. "I think your milk is bad."

"Bad? I can see if we have a different kind."

"Kind?" Leo mumbled around a mouth full of fried fish.

"Umm, yes. That is goat's milk. We might have some cow's milk…" Lia explained softly, embarrassed that she had given him something he didn't like.

His eyes widened. "Oh!" Leo looked into the glass. "I've never had goat milk." He looked at Lia, whose hands now covered half her face, and smiled. "I really don't like it."

She was confused. If he didn't like it, why was he smiling about it?

He took another small sip and made a face again then shook his head. "Ya, I definitely don't. Do you like this stuff?" Leo motioned to the glass.

Lia nodded.

"Really? Must be an acquired taste." He nibbled on some more fish, buttery and crisp. "The food is very good though. Your cooks are excellent."

Lia's hands slipped from her face. Her embarrassment was replaced by pride, her face exploding into a full cheeked smile. "I made it."

"Really?" Then he remembered… "Oh ya, you made those fruity dumplings I tried when I met you and your sisters. Those were really good too."

Lia nodded enthusiastically, practically floating with joy, from the praise. "Those were my own recipe."

"You should teach my brother how to cook like this, when he gets here. It would be a strong improvement." Leo began reveling in another pastry.

Lia's smile faded a little. "You know my older sisters are difficult."

"hmm?" came Leo's pastry muffled question.

"Well, that's why they didn't get married before they got too old." Lia started back at kneading the neglected dough. "At least that is what mother said. Except Min, I heard Mother say she makes men feel lacking in intelligence."

"Is that so?" Leonardo didn't care for gossip. He would prefer to get to know the four older girls himself, but wasn't quite sure how to politely stop the her.

Lia shrugged "It's just what mother said. Father used to say it was because he taught them to read."

"Don't you know how to read?"

"Well yes. But I don't get to read whatever I want like they do. Father says some books give women wild ideas."

Leo thought about that for a moment. "So you only get to read what someone picks out for you? Like what?"

"Like books on cooking," Lia smiled again. "and art. Things to encourage a woman's femininity."

"But your older sisters can read whatever they want?"

"Lyra, Rayen, Min, and Emry? Yes." Lia wrapped the kneaded dough in a cheese cloth then set it to the back of the counter to rise. "But that is because Father says it is too late for them. He won't make the same mistakes with the rest of us."

"I see." Frowned Leo. "That hardly seems fair."

Lia shrugged again. "I don't know. I like to read about cooking." She smiled at Leo then. "What are going to do today?" Honestly she would have been perfectly happy with him staying in the kitchen all day with her.

"I had been hoping to spend some time with Lyra today."

"Oh, she and Rayen already left for the training fields. They will be back around lunch though." Lia informed as she began wrapping a couple pasties in a cloth.

"Oh." Leo hoped he didn't sound too disappointed. "What about Min?"

"You didn't enjoy Emry's company?"

"I did. I am just trying to get to know all four of your sisters before I talk to any of them about anything more exclusive, or permanent, rather. I feel like that is fair… maybe." Honestly it kinda felt like polyamory. He took a second to remind himself that he is only planning on going home married to one… If this continues to go well.

Lia handed Leonardo the wrapped pastries. "You do everything so different." She smiled.

Leo took the wrapped pastries and smiled back. "Thank you, Lia. Do you know where I could find Min?"

Lia shrugged "at the clinic, in the pharmacy, or the library"

Lia giggled at his lost expression. "Don't worry. Audrin will take you."

"Aubrin?"

Lia nodded and motioned to Bob.

"Oh, ya. That Aubrin. Of course." He then thanked Lia gave a low bow and set after the chameleon previously known as Bob.

Min busied herself in her clinic, placing jars of powders and tinctures on the shelves. She was dressed in her usual plain brown dress and leather apron. Her lithe body stretched out as she stood on her tip toes and pushed a jar into place on a high shelf.

She heard the creek of the clinic door as it opened, noted the shift in the floor boards as someone walked in. '285 lbs. give or take' she guessed the client's weight, in her head, from the sound the floor boards had made. She turned to greet them with a smile. Her smile faded and her demeanor fell serious when she saw Leonardo in the door way. '190 Lbs not including the shell.' She corrected herself in her head.

"To what do I owe this visit, Mr. Hamato?" Min gave a small bow in greeting then continued, "I hope that you have not procured and ailment or injury."

"Umm, no." Leo stated as he took a couple steps into the room allowing Aubrin to follow him in. "I was hoping we could maybe spend some time getting to know each other a bit."

He shifted uncomfortably under her thoughtful gaze.

"I do not wish to decelerate your reaching your intended goal, Mr. Hamato. However, I have patients today. "

"Perhaps I can help." Leo gave a shy, unsure smile.

"You are a physician?"

"w..w..well no. I know first aid…." He said with a shrug as he absently looked about the room trying to find some way to convince her to let him stay, if for no other reason than to feel like he had tried. Noticing all the jars of various powders and tinctures she had scattered about the chairs and counter he continued, "And I can reach that top shelf."

Min's gaze shifted up and considered the hassle of lugging around a chair to stand on, as for to reach the height. "Yes. I do suppose that would be helpful."

She motioned for Leonardo to follow her into the back room.

He did so as Aubrin sat himself in a chair.

In the back room there were two chairs up against a wall. Shelves with linens and baskets, some empty and some full of bandages, sat on shelves alongside jars of various liquids. . An examination table with a fresh white sheet on it, and a few levers coming out the side, sat in the middle of the room next to a wooden stool with wooden casters, allowing it to roll. In the far corner was a strange looking chair that Leo found fascinating. Its seat resembled a crescent moon. The arm rests had what appeared to be some sort of handle or grip sticking out the top. And there were two foot rests coming off the legs.

Min followed his curious gaze. "That is a birthing chair."

Of course it was. The odd looking chair looked like it would be used for just that. "That makes sense."

Turning to w deep sink, Min grabbed a bowl and placed it under a small, pump like faucet and pushed the lever up and down a couple of times, water gushing forth into the bowl. She then handed Leo a plain bar of soap. "You will wash your hands before and after each well as before handling any of medicines in the pharmacy. I understand that the practice is controversial and considered unnecessary by some. I do not care. It will be done in my clinic."

She gave Leo a sharp, no nonsense, look.

He gave a quick nod at the command, and then watched the woman walk back into the pharmacy. "pushy." He said to himself as he placed his hands and soap in the bowl of water, and was surprised to find it warm. He was pretty sure they hadn't invented water heaters in this world yet.

After washing and drying his hands he went back to the pharmacy to help put the different medicines on the shelf. Each sporting a label that marked what it was, a matching label was on the shelf marking where the medicine belonged.

Other than the occasional clinking of the bottles tapping against each other the room was awkward and silent, painfully so. Bur still Min did not dare utter a word in some vain attempt to start a conversation. Didn't men prefer silent women anyway? Or so she was told by the last suiter that had dared try for her hand.

"You are a lovely woman if it wasn't for those unnecessary words coming from your mouth." The man had said.

She did not care to remember his name now. It would only give more weight to the sting of his words. She gave Leonardo a discreet side glance. She could not say that he was not a handsome man. But she knew, given the choices between her and her sisters, he would not choose her. And even if he did would she be doomed to a life of silence for fear that he would shush her and berate her about how a woman should only speak of feminine things and leave the rest for men to discuss.

She frowned at the thought. What did men expect? That all women only wished to discuss flowers, babies, and clothes, or things to that effect. She never had. She wanted to know how it all worked. She didn't just want to discuss the loveliness of a flower. She wanted to talk about how it grew and why. What caused it to be able to grow better in one location than another? Why it had grown to be the color it was. What insects did it attract more of? What can it be used for? How much could one ingest, if at all, before it became poison? She wanted to discuss the stars and the universe and the edaphon that crawled in the dirt. What caused ailments. And how did birds stay aloft. Granted she had learned much of these things. But she wanted to discuss it. And then she wanted i-hwat, she wanted to know everything. It wasn't fair. That men could ask these questions and get answers but a girl… she had find the answers on her own and sometimes in secret. Her Mother had been appalled when she had discovered Min had been reading about child birth and how the offspring were made in the first place. There was a minimalist explanation given to a girl after her engagement and that was it. She wasn't to discuss it further until after she had experience in the male intrusion of her body. But wouldn't a woman be less frightened if she had the right information? Wouldn't her own sister have gone through less in regards to a man if she had not been so naïve?

Min sighed. That wasn't fair of her. Where she was grounded like an oak tree in facts. Rayen on the other hand had had wings filled with hope. Now she was so broken. But who could blame her with all that had happened…

"Are you alright?" Leonardo repeated his question. "You looked like you kinda zoned out there for a second."

"Oh, I apologize." Min placed the jar she had been holding on the shelf.

"It's ok." Leo read a jar's label then sat it on its spot on the shelf. "we aren't exactly hitting it off are we?"

Min looked at him for a moment as she searched for something to say that might change his mind, but found nothing. "No, it would seem not."

Leo gave her a soft smile. "That's ok."

"You do not need to continue lending aid, Mr. Hamato. I honestly do not wish to waste your time further."

"You're not wasting my time." Leo stated firmly. "I am glad to help."

The door to the clinic opened and in walked a naked mole rat, with great buck teeth. "Lady Min." He greeted with a small bow.

"Good day to you, Mr. Gelvin. Your wife sent me a letter to tell me you would be in. She said you have a painful…lump?"

Leo was amazed to see how her face lit up in greeting her patient. It was like watching someone transform, her stature raising and dark eyes becoming golden. Mad scientist or not, he found her, suddenly, quite lovely and warm.

She began to usher her patient to the back room. "Come, Mr. Hamato, you can be of service if you would like."

He followed the two into the room. Min closing the curtain behind them.

Min washed her hands and Leo followed suit.

"Now let us see this lump." Min said.

removed his shirt and showed the doctor a large painful looking cyst that rested between his scapula and arm pit. The folds of usually loose skin pulled tight and sore.

Leo blanched at the sight of the thing.

"Oh my." Said Min, as she pressed gently around the cyst to gage its size. "We can go one of two routes. We can remove it or we can let it be, as it is not fatal. There is a possibility that it could gain size or simply start to dissipate over time. It could also calcify but that is not so usual. Rupture is also a possibility. It is up to you."

Looked at Leo for a moment as if to ask what thinks of the situation.

Min suppressed an eye roll. "He is only here to assist me, Mr. Galvin, nothing more. Considering that your wife finds it most unsightly and you find it painful, I suggest we remove it."

Mr. Galvin looked between Min and Leo as if not sure what to do. And as Leonardo seemed to have no intention of putting in his two cents, Mr. Galvin nodded his agreement.

"Very well. Lay face down on the table please." She then turned to Leo and instructed him to get her one of the half size linens, some gauze, a bowl, and a jar of a brownish liquid. She then unfolded a small wooden table next to her stool for which to set everything. Unrolling a leather case she began to pull out various instruments and set them on a towel she had lain out on the table. A scalpel, a pair of long pointed tweezers and an instrument that was long, thin and sharp and looked like it was good for nothing more that poking things.

She opened a jar filled with a white past and began to rub it gently on and around the cyst. "This is cocaine paste, Mr. Galvin. It will help with the pain."

"Cocaine?" Leo asked failing to hide his surprise.

"Should she use something different?" Mr. Galvin asked, sounding concerned.

Min narrowed her eyes at Leo.

"umm no." He squirmed under her glair. "some people just use it for… other things, as well, where I come from." Visions of the movie 'scar face' popped into his head.

Min turned back to her patient. "I am going to make an incision. Then I will press the contents of the cyst out. You will feel a pinching. If it becomes unbearable let me know and I will apply more cocaine."

She then had Leo hold a cloth under the cyst as she cleaned the aria with the rust colored liquid from a jar.

'This is actually kind of cool.' Leo thought to himself as he watched Min drag the scalpel across the peak of the cyst. Then she placed her fingers on either side of the puss pocket and pushed.

As the chunky yellowish liquid spilled out Leo's normally green skin paled and as the smell hit him he turned a green that was all wrong in comparison to his normal skin tone. He didn't even give Min waning he couldn't. If he had opened his mouth then he would have vomited all over the poor woman and her patient. Instead he bolted out of the room and across the pharmacy out the door and practically fell into the nearest bushes. And there he heaved up his breakfast of fish and fruit pastries.