Duck And...Run In

Writers: AL, Ames
Date Posted: 21st March 2011

Characters: Wirnan, Kaya
Description: Kaya ducks into a room to avoid an unpleasant someone and finds herself in the quarters of a more pleasant someone.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 2 of Turn 6

Wirnan

Time to get away. To be lost in a sea of nothing. To have some peace and
quiet and not have her father nag her about where she had gone off to last
night. Wasn't that the Steward? Why had he hugged her? It had taken a
lot of explaining. It hadn't meant anything, more a hug between friends.
That had been difficult to explain and her father hadn't believed her - after
all, they had just met! How could they be friends so quickly? Her
mother, though, thank Faranth for her mother. She had taken her father
aside and what she had said to Kaya's father, the girl didn't know. But
it had worked and while her father had gazed at her with speculation and
suspicion, he didn't push the matter further.

Today she was on her own for a little while. Wandering through the
halls, searching for the ladies' solar. She had some sewing to work on,
perfecting those stitches, though she'd rather be doing something far more
interesting. Alas, it wasn't to be, and her mother would expect to see some
progress.

A face that had become all too familiar all too quickly rounded the corner
and Kaya almost squeaked. _There_ was someone she wanted to avoid!
Distraction was given in the form of another young man, but Kaya didn't
want to be the one to distract the arrogant holder from his current
conversation partner. What to do? There were no junctions that would
allow her to disappear into. So Kaya took the next best thing - quickly,
she pulled the handle of the nearest door and ducked inside.

Wirnan looked up at the sound of the door opening. He hadn't expected or
invited anyone in, so he was surprised to by the sound. Moving from the
back room a bit cautiously, his eyes spied that back of a figure he
_thought_ he recognized.

"Kaya?" He asked, wondering if he was still in the bath having some sort
of dream rather than in reality. Standing in the midst of his rooms with
his shirt not quite buttoned and his hair still damp, he had to blink to
make sure he wasn't seeing things.

Kaya nearly jumped out of her skin. She had thought she'd gone into a
storage room, or something. After all, the door had been unlocked. But a
voice spoke to her and she whirled around, eyes wide. They caught sight
first of Wirnan, then of the furniture and various sundries that marked a
more private sort of room. "Wirnan!"

Pink burned across her cheeks and she quickly looked away, pressing
against the door. She should rush out but then _he_ would see her. Not
only would _he_ see her, he'd see her coming out of the room of the Steward
and that would _not_ go well with anyone. This was certainly not what she
had intended. "I'm sorry! The door was unlocked and I was trying to get
away from Favinar!"

He'd seen the look on her face and he frowned. "Is everything alright? Is
someone bothering you?" Wirnan stepped forward, completely forgetting that
his shirt was hanging open. "Who is this Favinar, I can see to him if he's
causing trouble!"

"Oh, no, it's just me trying to stay away from his boasting. You
know...I'm going to be a Lord Holder some day? That's him." Kaya jabbed
her finger back toward the door and glanced up at Wirnan. Nope, not a good
idea. "I just didn't really want to have to deal with that so...I did what
any coward would do."

"You're not a coward," he stated gently with a hint of amusement. "But,
since it appears I forgot to lock my door and you've arrived, would you
care to come inside for a bit? Or would you rather I walk you to wherever
you were planning to go?" He figured his presence might deter Favinar and
any other unwanted attentions she might be getting.

That was a rather tempting invitation. Kaya glanced back at the door.
Favinar had probably pressed onward by then and was no threat as long as
she didn't go in the same direction. Her mother was going to meet her at
the solar, but not until a little later. She had some time. "Well...it's
not exactly _proper_ for me to be alone in a man's room, but...I guess as
long as no one knows I _am_ alone with a man it should be all right." And
Wirnan would probably be a lot more interesting than those gossips who
would be in the solar.

Her words gave him pause. He wouldn't want to do _anything_ to ruin her
reputation. "Perhaps I should walk you to your destination instead, Kaya.
I wouldn't wish to cause you any grief or trouble with the others." He took
a step closer and felt his shirt flapping with his movements. "Ah, I'd
forgotten about that," he said turning around to quickly button his shirt
so as not to make her uncomfortable.

"That's fine too." But a shame. Wirnan's company would probably be a lot
more enjoyable. "I honestly don't mind staying, and to be honest, if
people just see us walking together they'll probably gossip. That's just
how people are." Kaya dared to peek and he had turned away, so she
allowed her gaze to remain lifted. "Did you enjoy the rest of your
evening last night?"

"You make a good point," he replied, turning back now that he was properly
dressed. "Perhaps, as long as no one will wonder where you are, we could
stay here just for a bit. I promise I will do nothing to harm your
reputation, Kaya." He smiled when he thought of last night. "I enjoyed the
time I spent with you last eve. After you left, I must admit I didn't stay
at the party much longer. I'd had my fill of lasses and cheers to a new
turn." He stepped closer and indicated the sofa and chairs in the sitting
part of his quarters. "Would you care to sit awhile? I have some fresh
klah or water and a few pasties left if you'd like something."

"My mother will wonder if I'm not at the solar, but she won't be there for
another couple of hours." Kaya explains, glad for the genial company of
the steward. "Yes, I begged off due to fatigue, though I wound up staying
later, but in the comfort of my quarters rather than at the party." She
slipped over to the sofa and lowered into it, arranging her skirts neatly.
"Thank you. Klah and pasties sounds lovely. So tell me, what does the
Steward of Amber Hills do besides dance?"

He got her a mug and a plate of small treats and brought them over to the
little table in front of the sofa. Sitting down, close, but not close
enough to be improper, he looked at her. "Well, I basically see to the
everyday runnings of the hold. I take care of all the funds and check in
with all the different divisions that help make the hold run smoothly.
When there's a problem, I'm always there, trying to help coordinate the
others. I'm like the Lord Holder's right hand man, so to speak."

"Okay, I know what your _job_ is. But what do you do _outside_ of your
job." Kaya clarifies as she reaches out to take a mug of klah then sip
delicately at it, dark eyes watching the man. "I mean, surely you do more
than simply your job. On rest days, for instance."

"Ah," he replied, "Well, my sister and her family live here. They're
actually the reason I moved here and took the job. When they are free, I
spend time with them on restdays. My nephew is 7 turns and my niece isn't
even a full turn yet. I enjoy being with them when I can." **Though they
make me wish I had children of my own many times,** he thought silently to
himself. "If I'm not with them, I'm often out and about just enjoying the
fresh air or spending some time with some of the beasties that live around
here. I've always enjoyed the animals, ever since I was a child. What
about you? Tell me what you enjoy doing?" He asked, finding he was
genuinely curious about her.

"I...I enjoy singing. And I enjoy drawing. And I enjoy writing and
exploring." At least half of those aren't necessarily feminine but Kaya
didn't mind admitting them to Wirnan. She examined a pastry then took a
bite and savoured it in her mouth. "Among other things. Dancing, but I
think you already knew that. Learning."

He watched the way her eyes seemed to light up as she spoke of the things
she enjoyed. "Those are all wonderful things. I, too, love music, though I
couldn't carry a tune to save my life." He chuckled. "Perhaps someday
you'll get to sing for me, eh?" He asked, a twinkle in his eyes.

"Maybe. I'm not the best singer, but I can at least carry a tune."
There's a sense of teasing in Kaya's voice just before taking a sip. "Do
you like to ride?"

"Aye, I love to ride," Wirnan replied. "Tis a well known fact among my
family that I wished nothing more than to be a beastcraft. Alas, my
shorter stature made that more difficult, as did my grandfather who didn't
wish me to pursue that path. And you? Do you ride often, Kaya?" Wirnan found
he was truly enjoying her company, and he liked the way her name rolled off
his tongue when he spoke it.

"You aren't _that_ short." Certainly not compared to Kaya. The girl
laughed and shook her head. "But why would your height make it difficult?
Surely there are shorter beastcrafters. But yes, I ride when I can."

"Twas more my grandfather's notion that my height played a part. It was
his way of trying to steer me in a different direction. After my da died
from injuries he'd suffered, my grandfather didn't have the heart to see
me follow his footsteps, and in truth I didn't have the heart to go against
his wishes." Wirnan hardly remembered his father, having been raised almost
solely by his grandparents.

"I'm sorry about your father." Sympathy colours Kaya's expression and the
mug was lowered to rest in her other hand, warming it. "How old were
you?"

"I was but a child, only three turns. My mother died shortly after I
was born and I think my da couldn't imagine life without her. He
worked nearly non-stop and I think my grandfather believed he _wanted_
the beast to throw him in the end." Wirnan frowned slightly as he
looked down into his cups. "I can't say I really knew him, my
grandparents, however, were my life," He smiled a bit sadly at the
thought of the people he had adored as a child. "They're the reason
I'm a steward today."

Kaya's fingers played over the edge of the mug as she listened to the
story of Wirnan's family. How sad..but at least he'd had someone to take
care of him. Some children didn't even have that. "Do you like being a
Steward?"

"Most of the time, I do," Wirnan replied. "I like the responsibility
and getting to know all the people of the hold. Like every job, there
are downsides every now and again, but overall, it's a good position."
He paused, sipping his klah. "I feel that I've talked all about me and
I haven't asked you anything. Tell me more about yourself. What's your
family like, Kaya?"

"They're just like....like a family. Five boys, two girls, some
stayed at the hold, some left to pursue other things." The young
woman shrugged before taking another sip of her klha. "Really, we're
not very interesting."

He studied her a moment before replying, "I'd have to disagree. I find
_you_ very interesting, Kaya, which makes all things about you
interesting to me, even your uninteresting family." He wasn't sure
what it was about her, but she seemed different than so many of the
women he'd met over the turns. And she'd expressed and interesting in
so many things he found important, like music and learning and riding.
It was a shame she wouldn't be around longer, for Wirnan found he
_did_ want to know more about her.

"Well..." Kaya leaned forward to rest her now half full mug upon the small
table, then flicked off a finger with each point addressed. "My father is
holder of Turquoise Valley, my mother is my mother. My sister Orala, the
eldist, is married to a healer. Malavor is the heir and of course stays on
at the hold. My brother Oranam has elected to stay on as Steward of the
hold. My brother Alaran is a journeyman beastcrafter, my brother Kavor has
stayed on and is an assistant steward, and my brother Yavam is a healer.
And then there's me. That's all seven of us." She shrugs in a dismissive
gesture. "And of course, we're visiting Amber Hills, though I've yet to see
much of it."

"See, I told you they were interesting," his eyes glinted with amusement.
"Now, about that last point. We _really_ do have to do something about that
before your time here is over. Exactly how long will you be staying? Perhaps
I could take you and some of your family on a tour of the main lands, if
you'd like of course. It would have to be a bit later in the afternoons
though, as I have some other duties I have to see to before then."

"We're here for at least a couple of sevendays." There was a sense of
uncertainty in regards to the amount of time, but Kaya lit a smile to help
cover it. "My mother's not really a rider and my father...I'm not sure
he'll have time. When do you think we could go?" The last question is
encased with a hint of enthusiasm, the girl leaning forward a little.
"Tomorrow, per chance?"

"Tomorrow should work, yes," Wirnan replied, "though I should probably speak
to your parents first, make sure they are accepting of my taking you off
riding the grounds of the hold."

That was a disappointment, but Kaya didn't let it show in her face. She
nodded and leaned back. "Of course. My father will be really busy, I
believe he's working on new trade agreements, but I'll ask him to speak with
you. I'm sure he would enjoy meeting you."

He smiled at her, "I'll make the arrangements for the ride tomorrow, then."
He set his cup aside and moved to rise. "I should probably walk you to your
destination now. I wouldn't want anyone to be distressed if you are missed."

"No, that would be bad." And Kaya would want plenty of time to get there
and for Wirnan to leave before her mother saw them. No point in having to
explain things. "Perhaps you'd best peek outside and make sure no one's
coming before I emerge."

He nodded and moved towards the door, opening it and checking the hallway.
"Coast is clear. Do you want me to walk with you or would you rather go on
your own?" He asked as he turned back to her.

"Whatever suits your fancy." Kaya turned sideways to slip past Wirnan,
brushing lightly against him til she escaped from his room. "I will be fine
either way. Though I'm sure you have many matters to attend to and wouldn't
want to take up too much of your time which I'm sure is very precious."

Last updated on the April 27th 2011

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Duck And...Run In