~ Have at it people......... It was so pretty and warm outside today... mmmmmm.... it was around 80 degrees... how often does that happen in January?
Breakfast and an Errand
Kel woke at her normal predawn hour to practice with her glaive in one of the practice yards. Once she was done with her pattern dances, she returned her weapon to her room and began making her way to the mess hall. As she was walking, she ran into Neal, Yuki, and Dom.
Feigning shock, Kel asked, "What are Dom and Neal doing up this early? And actually looking alive at that?"
The corners of Yuki's eyes crinkled with restrained laughter. "They are going to go and pick the furniture that I ordered for the baby. I want to have it all set up before we leave for Queenscove," Yuki said, gently rubbing her growing belly. Neal and Yuki were leaving for Queenscove in less than two weeks so Yuki could have the baby there. They decided to stay there for a few months after the baby was born to get used to their new family member. "Also, Lalasa is going to come by with the first batch of baby clothes later."
"Is it okay if I drop by when she's there?" Kel asked. "I haven't gotten the chance to really see her unless she is sticking pins in me."
"Of course." Yuki turned to Neal, "You and Dom go along and meet the carpenter at the gate, I'm sure you will trust Kel to take me to the mess hall. I'm sure she will be able to protect me."
Neal sighed, "Just make sure Kel finds me if you start to feel strange at all or feel any pain." He bent and placed a kiss on her forehead. The men strode off purposefully.
As Kel and Yuki made their way towards the mess hall at a much slower pace, Yuki told Kel, "Neal doesn't trust me to do anything anymore. Every time I turn around, he's there hovering over me. It's getting quite annoying."
"You only have two months left of his constant worrying. Then he will turn his attention on your baby and you will want his attention." As they entered the mess hall and got in line for food, Kel's eyes scanned the room. Jason was not there yet. She was confused by her reaction to him, though she knew she should be wary of him, she felt comfortable and relaxed. She felt open to him but she could not figure out exactly why.
She followed Yuki as she waddled toward an empty table. They sat and ate, Kel carefully watching that Yuki was eating enough since she was eating for two. Soon there was a clank as someone put down their food tray.
"I figured I would find you here since I missed you at your room," Shinko said, gracefully sitting.
"I wake up starving these days. So when are you planning on giving your husband an heir?" Yuki asked with a very un-Yamani frankness.
Shinko barely contained her blush. "I remember when we first came here you swore you would stay Yamani in every way, but you've changed." Yuki shrugged at the statement. "But I will answer your question because you and Kel are my best friends. When Roald and I married, he decided that we should wait so we could spend time alone together, but I do not want to wait anymore. I'm ready."
Kel and Yuki put their hands over Shinko's. "That's great!" Yuki exclaimed.
"Good luck, Cricket," Kel whispered.
"Am I interrupting something?" a voice asked from across the table. Kel looked up into Jason's light blue eyes.
Kel motioned to seat across from her and next to Shinko, "Please sit. I thought you weren't going to come anymore."
He grinned as he sat. "I woke a couple of hours before dawn and went riding. When I got back to the stables I got a little distracted by all of the horses. That's one thing that I miss while I'm at sea, visiting all of the horses." He turned towards Shinko and Yuki and said, "Here I am yammering on about horses and I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Lieutenant Jason of Stone Mountain."
"Princess Shinkokami of Conte."
"Your Highness." He bowed his head reverently.
"I'm Lady Yukimi of Queenscove."
He smiled, "It's great to meet you both. I know very few people outside of the navy." The bell sounding one hour after dawn rang and he began shoveling food into his mouth. Within a few seconds his plate was empty and he stood. "I have to go meet with the king now." He sent a smile in Kel's direction, "I heard there's another ball tonight and I'm planning on attending, will I see you there?"
"I suppose so, since there's no way out," Kel answered with a grimace on her face. He bowed to them and left.
Shinko and Yuki had frowns of confusion on their faces as he left. Finally Shinko broke the silence, "He looks familiar."
"I was thinking the same thing, but I couldn't quite place him," Yuki added.
"Stone Mountain was Joren's home. Jason is his twin."
"Ohhh," they said at the same time. Yuki's eyes went cold remembering Joren.
"Look," Kel said. "Don't judge him based on his brother, he seems different." Kel smiled, turning to Yuki, "Don't mention this to Neal, I'm thinking of a way to scare the hell out of him at the ball."
A sparkle entered Yuki's eyes. "That will be fun; I love it when he freaks out. I won't mention a thing."
"Well, I'm guessing that Roald already knows, or soon will, so there's no point in hiding it from him," Shinko remarked wryly.
Yuki leaned towards Kel, her eyes intent, "Just what are you planning on doing?"
A small smile touched Kel's lips, "I haven't quite worked it out yet, but you'll see."
Slowly walking along a path, Kel took the long way to the stables. The warm sunlight shone down on her, gently heating her face. Midsummer was in another month, yet the weather was not horribly hot as it often was during the summer.
She heard a voice call out to her and she turned to see a familiar, distracted man making his way towards her. Gareth of Naxen held out a stack of paper to her. "The king needs to get these reports immediately. Keladry's your name, correct?" Without pausing for a response, he continued. "I'm late for a meeting. Bring these to the king; he should be in his study." He turned and began to quickly hurry away.
Kel looked dejectedly at the papers in her hands. At least this time she would not have to climb to the top of the Needle to deliver the papers. Sighing, she turned back to the palace.
When she made it to the king's study, she was admitted by a servant. The large study was well lit with a large open window on one of the sides of the room. The king was hunched over his desk writing. When she entered he leaned back in his chair and smiled.
Walking forward, Kel held out the stack of papers. "Lord Gareth gave these to me to get to you. He said they were important."
The king took them, grimacing. "The reports are never ending," he mumbled. He glanced up at Kel, "Will you wait a few minutes so I can be sure none of these require immediate responses?"
Kel nodded in acceptance. As the king bent over the reports, she walked over to the window and looked out at the view. The scenery was spectacular from this window. It viewed part of the city and part of the vast forest, reminding her of the two different parts of the realm.
Kel turned as the door opened and a servant stepped forward. "I found Lord Stone Mountain again." Kel braced herself to see Burchard of Stone Mountain again, but relaxed as Jason walked through the door.
He smiled at Kel before turning to the king, "You needed to see me again?"
"Yes, I neglected to have you sign one of the papers." He rifled through some of the papers on his desk, "Here it is, read through this and sign at the bottom."
As Jason bent towards the paper, the king turned to Kel. "None of these papers require an immediate response, but thank you for bringing them to me." Kel bowed and left the room.
The king turned back to Jason. "As the new Lord of Stone Mountain you need to be introduced to the court. I suggest that you find a lady who is familiar with court but has not been formally introduced to accompany you."
Jason thought for a moment before asking, "Has the Lady Knight been formally introduced yet?"
A smile lit up Jonathan's eyes, "I don't believe she has. I'm guessing you will tell her. Arrive half an hour before the start of the ball." Jason bowed and left, hurrying to catch up with Kel.
AN: Ahhhhh! This chapter was difficult to write since my brain didn't want to focus on this chapter... it wanted to think about what happens in a few chapters... grrrrrrr....
Anyways Review! Pretty please? It could encourage me to focus my attention (what little of it that I do have) on writing some more so I can get to the gooood stuff...