A Favour For Benani

Writers: AL, Ames, Suzee
Date Posted: 17th June 2011

Characters: Benani, Kaya, Arippa, Faldrimme
Description: Benani goes to visit her runner with her nieces, runs into Kaya, and asks for a favour.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 6

Benani

Arippa

Faldrimme

Benani had dressed for the out of doors. She wanted to go for a walk.
Well actually she wanted to go for a ride but she knew without a doubt
Zathris would not tolerate her on runnerback no matter how well she
rode. She didn't want to do anything to endanger her children either
so she was _settling_ for a walk.

Pulling a shawl over her shoulders she descended the stairs and
crossed the hall. A pair of her nieces followed along and she laughed
along with their endless chatter. Then she spotted another figure
heading in the same direction.

"Kaya," she called. "Want to walk with us?"

Kaya paused, surprised to hear her name. When she saw the lady
holder, she immediately stopped and dropped into a curtsy. Rising,
she lifted her eyes, letting them fall upon the woman first, then the
children. "Good day, my lady." Her hands dropped back to her sides
and then, after a moment's hesitation, she stepped forward. "If...if
you wish, my lady."

Arippa and Faldrimme trailed after their aunt, chattering like avians
together and with her. They stopped when Benani addressed another
woman. Their eyes opening slightly wider as they realized who she was.
Arippa turned to her twin and whispered so their aunt could not hear,
"She's the one who tricked the Steward into marrying her!"

Then turning towards Kaya they gave her a slight curtsy as they
walked. "Good day, Kaya." "I'm Arripa." "I'm Faldrimme." They spoke
almost on top of each other, then looked at each other and grinned.

Benani turned a very severe look at the twins. If she had heard them
whispering she was fairly certain Kaya had as well. She turned back to
the Steward's wife. She would be a member of their household for many
turns. Benani wanted peace in her house not that she would have a
great control of that over the turns but she intended to make the
effort.

"I would enjoy your company Kaya," she said. "I'm going for a walk and
to see the runners."

Enjoy? That was not a word Kaya would have thought she'd hear in
conjunction with spending time in the Lady's company with _her_. But
she wasn't going to argue either. "The runners?" That, however, made
Kaya perk up. She had seen where they were stabled, but hadn't
actually gone inside, though she did love the creatures. "That sounds
quite pleasant my Lady."

The twins were given a much less severe look and even a tentative
smile. She didn't know who they were, though she had the feeling she
should. There was some resmblance between them and Benani so they
must be some sort of family. "I'm Kaya." She offered to them.

"You're married to the Steward right?" Arippa asked. "I wish we could
have attended the wedding. I _love_ weddings!" The teenage girl smiled
towards Kaya, her comments from just moments ago already forgotten. If
Lady Benani liked this woman than by all means so would they.

Faldrimme, a bit quieter than her sister, smiled as well, "Perhaps
father will be there. He said he's been working with the runners
lately." Faldrimme loved watching her father work. Unlike her twin,
who wanted nothing more than to be Lady Arippa, Faldrimme wished she
could be a crafter like her father. This, though, she kept to herself,
knowing it would _never_ be accepted or condoned by anyone in her
family or the hold, still it was her secret wish.

Soon they were near the corral which was really Benani's intended
destination. She had some fruit in her small bag and held it out on
her gloved palm to the black mare that nickered to her. Her other
hand reached out to pat the runner and she spoke softly to her. She
dashed away and came back to the fence. "Oh I know you want a nice run
my love but I can't give it to you." She laughed and smiled at Kaya.
"Isn't she lovely?"

The creature was a gorgeous sight and Kaya couldn't help but hold back
just so she could admire the sleek muzzle, the strong flank and
withers. She bet that runner felt like a dream, like riding on a
cloud. "She is, very lovely." Those dark eyes roamed over her form,
the way she held her head high, the delicate reach of those lips as
they stretched toward the apple. Finally, she moved forward, hand
patting the runner's neck, feeling the hair and muscle beneath.
"What's her name?"

"This is Neepa," she said with a smile. "I named her after an old
nurse of mine. She runs like the wind." She was a bit sad that she
wouldn't be able to ride the lovely black runner. "I like to visit her
when I can. Zathris' new runner looks just like her."

The twins were eager and excited to be near the runners once more and
before either woman could stop them they'd darted off to find their
favorite beasts and spend a few minutes alone with them.

Benani watched the girls dash off and smiled. They still seemed so
young. She didn't remember herself that way at age 16. But at their
age and being of the blood she was certain her brother would be on the
lookout for good matches soon. She sighed and smoothed her hands over
her belly wondering what they had in store for her. "Do you ride?" she
asked her companion. She didn't know much about her home hold
Turquoise Valley.

"Yes, actually, I do." Kaya certainly had experience with runners,
the way her hands moved over the creature's body, examining with a
critical eye told that much. "My father has a few. He's been
breeding a small amount of them in hopes of racing. He's actually
gotten a few decent ones."

"Oh?" she said. "Is he planning on racing them here at the summer
summer gather?"

"No, but he's got a colt that looks really promising and is hoping to
race him in another turn or so." Kaya wondered how Mahat was doing.
He had been such a spirited runner, fine lines, long legs. "I have a
feeling that colt will surprise quite a few people."

Benani smiled to herself. "Do you ride much?" she asked.

"I used to." It was one of the things she was allowed to do even
after she had gotten older. The runners had to be worked and she
wasn't really doing anything craft-wise. Besides, her father had seen
some value in his daughters knowing how to ride, though it never went
beyond simple riding. No jumps, and certainly never, ever any racing.
"Before I came here."

"Oh yes," she nodded. "Do you want to ride? We have many nice mounts
here. My brother is one of the beast crafters." Well several of her
family were but she'd set something special up with Royan. "How well
do you ride?"

Kaya gave Benani a sidelong glance. To be honest, she was surprised
the Lady was being so nice to her. After all, she had been the ruin
of Wirnan in a way. She'd forced him into something he hadn't wanted
and she knew the Lady had been rather angry. So what had changed? "I
ride fairly well, my Lady."

"Well we should have my brother Royan check you out and then maybe you
could exercise Neepa for me while I'm pregnant. Do you think you'd be
able to do that for me?"

Kaya's eyes light up at the suggestion. Would she? "Why yes, my
lady!" The idea appealed to her, quite much. Maybe she would even be
able to learn more than simply ride. "Royan? Oh yes, your brother,
my lady?"

Benani smiled. What was done was done as far as she was concerned and
they all had to make the best of it. She didn't hold with the way Kaya
had escaped her father and gained a good man as her husband in the
process. But, as far as she was concerned it was done and she would
not upset the hold with any harbored anger toward Kaya. She felt it
her duty to make the woman welcome and put her own concerns aside.
"Yes," she said along with the smile. "I've already talked to him
about it. You should be able to start riding her tomorrow." She
reached her hand out again to the runner with another piece of fruit.
Neepa tossed her head after she lipped it off the Lady Holder's palm
just as though she understood what was being said.

"Looks like she thinks it's a good idea too," she laughed.

Last updated on the June 20th 2011

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A Favour For Benani