Disclaimer: Tell you what. You know the drill, you fill it in.
Muse responsible: Krathnae!
----------------------------------------------------
Kamaria grinned and hoisted her saddlebags onto her shoulder as she left her room at the Collegium. [Home I go for Midwinter!] she thought, though that wasn't quite the source of her happiness, which she couldn't put a finger on.
Taking the stairs downwards two at a time, Kamaria cleared the last few with a leap and found Sitara waiting not far from the door. :There you are! Get those on my back and let's go!: urged Sitara. :I can't wait to get out of Companion's Field for a change.:
:You mean that you can't wait for my younger sibs to ply you with treats, Sitara,: teased Kamaria as she threw the saddlebags over her Companion's back and found a buckle which seemed to go with the saddlebags. Sitara made no reply and craned her head around, watching Kamaria work. :Not that one, the one next to it. Good. Now same on the other side and the center one,: the Companion instructed.
Kamaria finished buckling the last saddlebag and shivered in a sudden gust of wind. Sitara stepped away from her. :Where in Havens is your cloak?: the Companion demanded, glaring at her Chosen. :I've no mind for you to freeze!:
"My Trainee cloak is in for mending, remember?" asked Kamaria, frowning. "When you decided to take me on a jumping run through the trees and hung me up on that beech.
Sitara didn't even have the grace to look guilty. :Get the one from your old suite, then. They should be in storage with the rest of your noble- stuffs,: said the Companion.
Kamaria turned and trotted back into the building, down the stairs and into the basement room where if a noble was Chosen, their things were kept until they could be sent back. Apparently, the Heralds hadn't gotten around to this yet and Kamaria found her crates easily enough. Prying open one, Kamaria rooted through the clothes and found nothing but dresses. Closing it, she found another and opened it.
Pulling out a dark blue cloak, Kamaria wondered where the pin was-then remembered; in her room.
:Get gloves, too,: said Sitara, her voice faint. Kamaria obediently pulled out the blue gloves as well, then closed the crate and ran up to her room. Rooting through a drawer, she found her jewelry box and, after a moment, took the Chantrea Cat to hold her cloak shut and tucked the box under one arm. [Who knows what Mother's tailors might have sewn up this time?]
Running back down, Kamaria stuck the jewelry box into one of the saddlebags and mounted, fumbling her gloves on and settling her cloak around her. Sitara took off at a light trot to the Privy Gate, where Lirite was waiting impatiently.
"Where's Alain?" demanded the older girl as Kamaria signaled Sitara to stop. "Don't know," replied Kamaria.
Lirite sighed and shifted with her horse, a pretty blue roan mare with a white star on her forehead. "This is Suarna," said Lirite, it seemed mostly for something to say. "What's your Companion's name?"
"Sitara," said Kamaria.
At that moment, Alain and Ramya came trotting up, and the three exited the gate, nodding to the Guard.
:Why the blue cloak?: asked Alain as the Companions wove their way through the streets.
:My gray one's in for mending and I don't have a spare,: replied Kamaria, waving and smiling at a small child jumping up and down and pointing at the Companions.
"Did Housekeeper give you Formal Grays?" asked Alain, frowning, switching to audible speech.
"She did, but not a cloak," called Kamaria back over the din.
Lirite waved energetically to another Bard-Trainee, who was trudging back to the walls, whistling. She waved back and was lost in the crowd. "So," said Lirite, nudging her mare up next to Kamaria, "Your father really is Lord-General Garethe Chantrea?"
Kamaria nodded.
Lirite bit her lip thoughtfully. "What should I say to him?"
Kamaria shrugged. "Be polite and don't hero-worship him." [And don't sneak up on him,] she mentally added, though it was doubtful that Lirite would do such a thing. [Especially when he's half-asleep.]
:Why not?: asked Sitara, turning her head briefly to look at her Chosen.
:Was I not shielding again?:
:No, they're up, just not against me,: said Sitara, cheerfully. :I think you've got them pretty much down. Up, I mean. Anyway, why shouldn't people sneak up on your father?:
Kamaria thought a moment. :I tried, once, when I was a little kid, to get up into his lap when he was half-asleep. He woke up in a moment, roared at me, and had his belt-knife across my throat before he realized it was me. It was terrifying.:
Sitara shivered, jingling the bells on her harness. :But you still trust him?:
Kamaria stared at the back of Sitara's neck in surprise. :With my life! Why shouldn't I? He's my father! Anyway, he apologized several times and told me a while ago that he was still feeling guilty about that.:
:Oh. Good.:
The three-well, five counting the Companions-didn't say much more as they wove through the crowded city. A child ran up with some carrots for the Companions, which Sitara and Lirite's little mare accepted eagerly and Ramya politely.
"Hungry?" asked Alain, nudging Ramya over to a vendor. Kamaria and Lirite nodded.
Alain bought three meat pies and a twist of roasted chestnuts, which they shared amongst themselves as the Companions at last made their way to the city gates.
With a nod to the Companions, the Guard on duty waved them through.
"Fancy a race?" called Kamaria once they were clear of the city. Lirite shook her head, but Alain answered by nudging Ramya into a lope.
Kamaria threw herself flat to Sitara's back, the twist of chestnuts pressing into her stomach as she squeezed it between herself and the pommel of the saddle, but she ignored this in favor of the fast gallop Sitara lunged into.
Within moments, Sitara had passed Ramya and was teasing her via Mindspeech.
:Slowpoke!:
:I am not!: insisted Ramya, her Sending a bit sloppy and spilling over into Kamaria and Alain's minds. The two exchanged a fast glance before Kamaria turned her attention forward again.
It became plain that Sitara was the faster runner as she skimmed over the road as lightly as a bird, her hooves musical as they brushed the ground.
:You win!: called Alain in defeat, after a while. :Let's wait for Lirite.:
Sitara slowed to a walk, allowing Ramya to catch up, and the two Companions stood as they waited for Suarna and Lirite to catch up.
Eventually, the Bard did, not seeming in a great hurry, and the three continued on their way.
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That was slower and shorter than usual, but next chapter will pick right up! Expect Irritating!Lirite, Festive!Alain, and Butterflybrainy!Amaya!
I broke 200 reviews! Thank you all! *huggles*
Queen's Own: I know it's short. Expect more!
Shahanna: Sad. Well, have virtual sweets of your choice!
Hawk: Since when is Amaya NOT fluffle-headed?
Songwind: I know, the dream WAS special. The plot bunny hit me right in the middle of the hall and I stopped and I said, really loud, "What the HELL?" Got a lot of funny looks, too. If you want to make Companions parakeets...go ahead...parody away, and possibly send a copy to Misty. She likes fancy chickens like parakeets.
Cerulean Sky: I think I'd be all right at it. If it was medieval times. Not so with guns and such. Yup.
Lurks in Shadows: Hyper? You? Huh?
BrokenSkye: You'll see...
PrettyKittyOreo: I will write more to have you boost my ego!
Reviews are loved! Have virtual sweets of your choice!
~Fireblade K'Chona
Muse responsible: Krathnae!
----------------------------------------------------
Kamaria grinned and hoisted her saddlebags onto her shoulder as she left her room at the Collegium. [Home I go for Midwinter!] she thought, though that wasn't quite the source of her happiness, which she couldn't put a finger on.
Taking the stairs downwards two at a time, Kamaria cleared the last few with a leap and found Sitara waiting not far from the door. :There you are! Get those on my back and let's go!: urged Sitara. :I can't wait to get out of Companion's Field for a change.:
:You mean that you can't wait for my younger sibs to ply you with treats, Sitara,: teased Kamaria as she threw the saddlebags over her Companion's back and found a buckle which seemed to go with the saddlebags. Sitara made no reply and craned her head around, watching Kamaria work. :Not that one, the one next to it. Good. Now same on the other side and the center one,: the Companion instructed.
Kamaria finished buckling the last saddlebag and shivered in a sudden gust of wind. Sitara stepped away from her. :Where in Havens is your cloak?: the Companion demanded, glaring at her Chosen. :I've no mind for you to freeze!:
"My Trainee cloak is in for mending, remember?" asked Kamaria, frowning. "When you decided to take me on a jumping run through the trees and hung me up on that beech.
Sitara didn't even have the grace to look guilty. :Get the one from your old suite, then. They should be in storage with the rest of your noble- stuffs,: said the Companion.
Kamaria turned and trotted back into the building, down the stairs and into the basement room where if a noble was Chosen, their things were kept until they could be sent back. Apparently, the Heralds hadn't gotten around to this yet and Kamaria found her crates easily enough. Prying open one, Kamaria rooted through the clothes and found nothing but dresses. Closing it, she found another and opened it.
Pulling out a dark blue cloak, Kamaria wondered where the pin was-then remembered; in her room.
:Get gloves, too,: said Sitara, her voice faint. Kamaria obediently pulled out the blue gloves as well, then closed the crate and ran up to her room. Rooting through a drawer, she found her jewelry box and, after a moment, took the Chantrea Cat to hold her cloak shut and tucked the box under one arm. [Who knows what Mother's tailors might have sewn up this time?]
Running back down, Kamaria stuck the jewelry box into one of the saddlebags and mounted, fumbling her gloves on and settling her cloak around her. Sitara took off at a light trot to the Privy Gate, where Lirite was waiting impatiently.
"Where's Alain?" demanded the older girl as Kamaria signaled Sitara to stop. "Don't know," replied Kamaria.
Lirite sighed and shifted with her horse, a pretty blue roan mare with a white star on her forehead. "This is Suarna," said Lirite, it seemed mostly for something to say. "What's your Companion's name?"
"Sitara," said Kamaria.
At that moment, Alain and Ramya came trotting up, and the three exited the gate, nodding to the Guard.
:Why the blue cloak?: asked Alain as the Companions wove their way through the streets.
:My gray one's in for mending and I don't have a spare,: replied Kamaria, waving and smiling at a small child jumping up and down and pointing at the Companions.
"Did Housekeeper give you Formal Grays?" asked Alain, frowning, switching to audible speech.
"She did, but not a cloak," called Kamaria back over the din.
Lirite waved energetically to another Bard-Trainee, who was trudging back to the walls, whistling. She waved back and was lost in the crowd. "So," said Lirite, nudging her mare up next to Kamaria, "Your father really is Lord-General Garethe Chantrea?"
Kamaria nodded.
Lirite bit her lip thoughtfully. "What should I say to him?"
Kamaria shrugged. "Be polite and don't hero-worship him." [And don't sneak up on him,] she mentally added, though it was doubtful that Lirite would do such a thing. [Especially when he's half-asleep.]
:Why not?: asked Sitara, turning her head briefly to look at her Chosen.
:Was I not shielding again?:
:No, they're up, just not against me,: said Sitara, cheerfully. :I think you've got them pretty much down. Up, I mean. Anyway, why shouldn't people sneak up on your father?:
Kamaria thought a moment. :I tried, once, when I was a little kid, to get up into his lap when he was half-asleep. He woke up in a moment, roared at me, and had his belt-knife across my throat before he realized it was me. It was terrifying.:
Sitara shivered, jingling the bells on her harness. :But you still trust him?:
Kamaria stared at the back of Sitara's neck in surprise. :With my life! Why shouldn't I? He's my father! Anyway, he apologized several times and told me a while ago that he was still feeling guilty about that.:
:Oh. Good.:
The three-well, five counting the Companions-didn't say much more as they wove through the crowded city. A child ran up with some carrots for the Companions, which Sitara and Lirite's little mare accepted eagerly and Ramya politely.
"Hungry?" asked Alain, nudging Ramya over to a vendor. Kamaria and Lirite nodded.
Alain bought three meat pies and a twist of roasted chestnuts, which they shared amongst themselves as the Companions at last made their way to the city gates.
With a nod to the Companions, the Guard on duty waved them through.
"Fancy a race?" called Kamaria once they were clear of the city. Lirite shook her head, but Alain answered by nudging Ramya into a lope.
Kamaria threw herself flat to Sitara's back, the twist of chestnuts pressing into her stomach as she squeezed it between herself and the pommel of the saddle, but she ignored this in favor of the fast gallop Sitara lunged into.
Within moments, Sitara had passed Ramya and was teasing her via Mindspeech.
:Slowpoke!:
:I am not!: insisted Ramya, her Sending a bit sloppy and spilling over into Kamaria and Alain's minds. The two exchanged a fast glance before Kamaria turned her attention forward again.
It became plain that Sitara was the faster runner as she skimmed over the road as lightly as a bird, her hooves musical as they brushed the ground.
:You win!: called Alain in defeat, after a while. :Let's wait for Lirite.:
Sitara slowed to a walk, allowing Ramya to catch up, and the two Companions stood as they waited for Suarna and Lirite to catch up.
Eventually, the Bard did, not seeming in a great hurry, and the three continued on their way.
----------------------------------------------------------
That was slower and shorter than usual, but next chapter will pick right up! Expect Irritating!Lirite, Festive!Alain, and Butterflybrainy!Amaya!
I broke 200 reviews! Thank you all! *huggles*
Queen's Own: I know it's short. Expect more!
Shahanna: Sad. Well, have virtual sweets of your choice!
Hawk: Since when is Amaya NOT fluffle-headed?
Songwind: I know, the dream WAS special. The plot bunny hit me right in the middle of the hall and I stopped and I said, really loud, "What the HELL?" Got a lot of funny looks, too. If you want to make Companions parakeets...go ahead...parody away, and possibly send a copy to Misty. She likes fancy chickens like parakeets.
Cerulean Sky: I think I'd be all right at it. If it was medieval times. Not so with guns and such. Yup.
Lurks in Shadows: Hyper? You? Huh?
BrokenSkye: You'll see...
PrettyKittyOreo: I will write more to have you boost my ego!
Reviews are loved! Have virtual sweets of your choice!
~Fireblade K'Chona