Otherwise she'd be several hours AWOL by now (and in trouble). Getting demerits for wearing warmer clothing over her uniform was bad enough. But getting them for not showing up for work, would be worse. With her excuse already in place, anyone who saw her now, (except those who knew better) would surely jump to the incorrect conclusion that she was simply hung-over from the previous night's party. That should avoid any awkward explanations for awhile.
Eventually she'd have to talk to Louis again --- but not until she'd figured out what she was going to say to him. He didn't seem like the sort of person who'd be at all willing to pretend that NOTHING had happenned between them the previous evening when she'd gone to his room after the Ball. *Why do I keep getting myself into these kinds of messes ?* she asked herself with a sigh, *I should know better by now*.
As Kay passed through the gate, she noticed (and was thankful) that it was currently being manned by a different guard from the one she'd cussed out the previous evening. It was too bad that some of her fellow Terranan frowned upon offworlders fraternizing with locals. Normally, she could ignore such foolishness, but such open bigotry had set off her temper.
First she wandered over to the Ridenow townhouse. After finding out that Gwenn had already come and gone (and had picked up her things for her), she handed over the borrowed dress and hopefully inquired whether Dolo and Melissa were available. Upon finding out that they were both absent, her face fell. Feeling very dissapointed, she decided instead to simply leave word that, if/when either of them returned, could they please send word to Kay MacDonald at the Terranan base who wished to speak with them.
A few minutes later, she spotted a pair of boys looking wistfully through the window of the sweetshop. "Hey lads", she called, an idea having just occurred to her. "Yes, mestra ?", answered the largest boy, politely curious. Kay smiled and added "I'm new in Thendara and don't know my way around very well. If you two could deliver a few messages for me, I'd be willing to give you a few sekhals in exchange". "Let's", urged the smaller boy, "then we can go in the sweetshop and get stuff", but he was quickly hushed by his companion. After a few minutes of haggling, a bargain was struck, and a sekhal was pressed into each small, male hand.
"To Gwenn MacConal of the Guard, who you might do well to seek at the barracks, say that I, his sister Kay, am still feeling somewhat unwell after last night's party but will hopefully recover completely by tomorrow. Please thank him for having picked up my dress, and ask that he bring it to me whenever it's convenient for him to do so. There are also some non-urgent family matters that I wish to discuss whenever his duty permits him to spare me some time", she told the smaller boy, who repeated the message back to assure her that he'd remember. Just to be certain, Kay wrote out the message for him in cahuenga, saying "This is the same message written down. If they will not let you into the barracks, ask that this note be delivered instead".
She then turned to the other boy, and handed him a note as well. "I'm not certain where you might find the Domna Melissa Ridenow. Perhaps you might try Comyn Castle first. When you find her, you are to say that Gwenn's sister Kay, who she met last night, wishes to speak with her (at the Domna's own convenience of course) but that I do NOT wish to come to the Castle. If she agrees to meet with me, ask that she send word to the Terranan base, where I live and work. If you cannot find her, then leave this note (which contains the same message) with one of the Castle guards and ask that it be delivered to her". The boy nodded, repeated the message, then grabbed the hand of the smaller boy and took off in the direction of the castle.
As Kay watched them head off, she wondered what she should do next. There was still two candle-marks before she was due at her desk. But she didn't feel like going back there early. But what to do instead ...?
Melissa was still staring vacantly when she heard a knock on the outer doors of the suites. She heard the maid answer the door, and heard her footsteps approaching her bedroom door. Seconds later, another knock, and the maid ran back to get the door again.
Moments later, the footsteps returned, and there was a knock. "Domna Melissa, there are two messages for you."
Melissa got up, checked her face that it was not too tear-stained or puffy,and then went to the door, opening it.
"Thank you, I'll, oh!" The bundle of clothes surprised her. "I'll grab those, thank you." She carried them out into the sitting rooms, and sat down, reading Dolo's note. Of course, and it would give her an opportunity to speak with Kay. Clever Dolo!
Smiling, she opened the other note, and laughed. The note was very short and to the point. One way or another, she was going to see Kay this afternoon... THe text of Kay's note was odd...So emphatic about not coming to the castle...whyever not?
Sighing, she penned a quick note for Kay:
"Kay, it would be delightful to meet you again. I have been given your clothes from Ridenow House, and wish to return them to you as well. Please send word with the bearer of this message as to when would be a good time to meet, and where.Regards,
Melissa Ridenow"
She left the suites and took the note herself down to the small room that served as the catle runners' office. Giving the note to one of the uniformed boys there, she instructed him to deliver it to Miss Kay MacDonald at the Terran Base, and to wait for a return reply.
She retired back to the Haldar suites, settling down with one of her beloved books, and munching happily on sweet biscuits while she waited for Kay's reply.
As she approached the gate (still distractedly-thinking about her talk with Master Painter), Kay noticed a boy in an unfamiliar uniform standing there arguing with the guard. Not wanting to be impolite by intruding on a private quarrel, Kay stopped a few paces back and waited for to see if they would resolve their differences.
"Can you not even tell me when she might be expected back ?", she heard the boy protest, "The domna told me that I must wait and take back a reply. And I grow cold waiting. Have you not the slighest bit of kindness in your heart ? If I knew how much longer I must wait, then at least I could go off and come back then".
"No ... and do not ask me again", came the gruff reply from the man. He was getting very, very tired of having repeated himself countless times already.
Kay frowned and stepped closer. "Excuse me for interrupting ... but perhaps I could be of some assistance ... ", she said softly.
The man looked over at her, recognition dawning on his face. When he answered, it was in a rather irritable tone, "Yeah ... you could do something about this little pest, MacDonald ... some noblewoman sent you a message and he's been nagging at me for almost half a candlemark".
The boy looked up hopefully. "MacDonald ? Kay MacDonald ?", he asked, the pest comment forgotten in his eagerness to deliver the message. "Then I've a message for you, and need a reply to take back", he said, handing her a note.
Kay unfolded the small piece of paper and and read silently "Kay, it would be delightful to meet you again. I have been given your clothes from Ridenow House, and wish to return them to you as well. Please send word with the bearer of this message as to when would be a good time to meet, and where. Regards, Melissa Ridenow".
She thought about it for a few moments. If she went off for dinner with Melissa, that would give her a legitimate excuse for avoiding her quarters for now (and postponing a talk with Louis over what had happenned between them). Perhaps Melissa could even offer her some advice on how to deal with what she had done. But where might be a suitable location ? Ideally it should be a place with some degree of privacy. Some degree of ambient noise would be good too -- so that they wouldn't be likely to spark anyone's curiousity and tempt them to eavesdrop (whether with their ears or their sorcery).
"You may suggest to the domna that we meet in the inn of her choice around twilight tonight, and have our evening meal together. Being neither here nor there, hopefully it will meet with her approval. You may leave word here at the gate as to which establishment she wishes to choose, and directions on how I might find it", Kay finally told the boy, not wanting to give too many details in front of the guard. She'd earlier discovered that gossip was far too much of a sport here for her liking. Then she fished into her pocket and gave the lad a pair of sekhals for his troubles, adding "Thank you kindly, lad".
Melissa looked up as the maid brought in a message back from Kay, and thought for a moment. Where to meet, that was closeish to Terran HQ, and not so crowded, nor dangerous...? After a moment she sent word back to Kay to meet her later at the Roasted Lamb, for a late tea. That would give her enough time to finish the book she was reading...