silverchain.
chapter two: the benefits of having a wily woman on your side
anon: i just checked my email, and your review popped up! now that was a treat. glad you enjoyed!
FlameUser64: hey, alternate character interpretation is pretty great. i felt that Jenna not living at the cabin pointed to her not wanting the same lifestyle that Isaac chose, but maybe in the sequel (?) another reason will arise. anyway, this was my idea of her characterization. tsundere Matthew...okay xD that works. (i prefer big-brother and fearless-leader type for him).
outerelf: no! valeshipping is even listed in the description. i plan to give the older generation some love, too. no mudshipping in the forecast, i promise.
It was quite understandable that Amiti would feel a little awkward, holding the door for a loaded-down Jenna (who absolutely refused to let him carry anything), waiting to see the girl of dreams and ask her father that dreaded question. Naturally, he was also a bit worried of how she might react even if he received Ivan's permission to pursue her, but at the moment obtaining that permission was more than enough to occupy his thoughts.
Later, he would remember those few moments in slow motion flashes of sense. The sweet scent of the meat. The sound of sandals on wood. Jenna's voice, feeling so distant, calling something indistinct. Blur of motion, bright eyes, wild-flying hair, joyful laugh...contact.
"Amiti!" Karis nearly shrieked, and before he honestly processed the sound of her voice and the sight of her lovely face, she was embracing him tightly. He hugged back. She smelled of local flora and old books and fierce lightning and everything he'd recently discovered he loved.
Embarrassed, she pulled back, and attempted to straighten her hair, loose and flying free. She did not take her eyes off of him. Unsure of what to say, Amiti settled for, "I am very happy to see you again." He felt uncomfortably formal, and he realized that Ivan had appeared at some point during their greeting.
Amiti walked forward and bowed. "Master Ivan," he said with respect, "I am very glad to make your acquaintance."
Ivan, who in appearance resembled a twenty-some-year old, nodded. His eyes betrayed his true age; they were troubled and filled with concern. Amiti glanced back at Jenna, who was still smiling encouragingly, before continuing, "I am King Amiti of Ayuthay. I travelled for some time with your daughter, and I have heard quite a lot about you. It is a great honor to meet you."
As if deciding a question, Ivan's eyes changed and he allowed a formal smile to reach his lips. "The pleasure is mine," he said, taking Amiti's hand and shaking it. "I have also heard much. What brings you to Kalay, Amiti?"
Before the young king had a chance to answer, Jenna spoke up for him. "Well, of course he wanted to see Matthew and Karis. I believe he also wanted to speak to Lady Layana, to ensure that peace will remain between Kalay and Ayuthay now that the power has changed hands. Isn't that right, Amiti?"
Dumbstruck, and unsure what to do other than trust the woman who'd suddenly taken him under her wing, he nodded. Jenna brightly continued, "He's staying with me as long as needed. I'm sure Karis will enjoy showing him around."
Ivan's eyes narrowed as he looked at Jenna, but when he returned his gaze to Amiti his expression was unreadable. "Well, I'm very glad," he said pleasantly. "I hope your stay in Kalay is enjoyable, and I know Jenna will take very good care of you."
"She is very kind," Amiti said politely.
"Yes, well," Ivan sighed, taking up a scroll from a side table, "please excuse me for a minute."
"I'll set the table," Jenna said quickly, making a motion to scurry toward the kitchen. Ivan cleared his throat, and Jenna breathed out an exasperated sigh.
"Karis can set the table," Ivan replied evenly, and began walking to what Amiti assumed was his study, Jenna following reluctantly. The two young adults stood awkwardly for a moment while Jenna screeched that she was absolutely not planning anything and that nice young man who did quite a lot to end the Grave Eclipse would be no problem and too bad if Ivan had a problem because he was just a grumpy old man who needed to—
"Well, I guess I'll go take care of that," Karis remarked, and stepped into the kitchen. Amiti followed her, taking in the details of the local art decorating the room; glancing into the adjoining dining room, he saw that it was similarly furnished.
"Your home is very beautiful," he said warmly, far more comfortable now that Ivan was not around to judge his every move. Karis turned and smiled.
"Thank you. You can sit in the dining room."
Amiti blinked. "I was going to help you set the table."
"You don't have to do that," Karis answered, stacking plates and carrying them to the next room. Again, Amiti followed her.
"I'd like to," he said honestly. She looked at him, and her smile became almost imperceptibly bigger.
"Well, in that case, you can." Karis gently placed the stack of plates into his arms and returned to the kitchen.
Feeling more in his element, Amiti called back, "May."
"What?"
"I may set the table. You allow me to." A smirk was playing on the corner of his mouth. Karis scrunched her nose at him, in a manner which reminded him irresistibly of Jenna.
"What kind of prince corrects the manners of his hostess?" Karis shot back.
"I am a king now," he reminded her with some pride, setting dinnerware at each place.
"And I suppose that gives you the right?"
"In a word...yes." The royal raised a pale eyebrow.
She filled his arms with glasses, and he fumbled awkwardly with them. "You're unbearable," Karis muttered, and for an instant Amiti wondered if he'd gone too far with his flirtation—but she smiled and he smiled and they stood there, barely breathing—
Ivan cleared his throat, and Amiti almost dropped the glasses. "Almost ready?" the Adept asked.
"Y-yes," Karis stammered as Amiti finished up. "We're almost ready."
When they were all seated and comfortably enjoying the rich meal of ham and a strangely delicious recipe called ambrosia, Ivan gifted the younger man with a smile that, Amiti thought, didn't quite seem to reach his eyes. "It was very thoughtful of you to help Karis out."
"He's just a sweetheart," Jenna gushed, the fire in her eyes dancing at some private joke. "Of course, Karis already told us that."
Amiti didn't dare to look at Karis to see her reaction, but he did allow his heart a little leap. He sipped his drink quietly. "The meal is delicious," he said to fill the silence that had fallen on their dinner party. Jenna smiled, Karis nodded, and Ivan appeared preoccupied.
"Ivan, what do you think of it?" Jenna prompted.
"Hm?" His lavender eyes, unguarded, flicked back with attention. "Oh. It's very good, Jenna. Very good. Thank you. By the way, Amiti, and forgive me for my rather rude way of phrasing this question: how is it that you became king?"
"I took the throne at the passing of my uncle, Paithos," Amiti replied.
"Your uncle?" inquired Ivan, seeming to come alive for the first time since Amiti's arrival.
Amiti nodded once. "He had no children of his own, so his sister's son was the heir."
"Pardon me, but wouldn't the normal order of succession dictate that the throne would fall to your father?"
Karis looked as though she would answer her father's question, but cast her eyes down. It was Amiti's to tell. The young Adept calmly answered, "I do not know my father."
At Ivan's expression, he continued, "My mother died shortly after giving birth to me. My uncle told everybody that I was a miracle, the result of a virgin birth, and that my mother was a very powerful Adept. It was only when Matthew arrived in Ayuthay that it was revealed to me this was a lie. My mother had no Psynergetic powers; I inherited those from my father, the Adept who repaired the Alchemy Well."
Strangely, Ivan did not appear shocked, but merely resigned. "I see. I am very sorry about the loss of your uncle...and your mother."
"Thank you."
An odd silence followed. Ivan glanced at Jenna, and then said quietly, "I will help you tidy up after dinner. I'm sure that Amiti and Karis can find some way to entertain themselves."
The two young adults nodded, and retired to the casual sitting-room, where they quickly fell to discussing their occupations of the past few months. Amiti, while a bit troubled by Ivan's questions (more accurately his reaction to Amiti's answers), enjoyed the conversation, and when he fell onto his borrowed bed at Jenna's house, it was with a clear mind and a hopeful smile.