There wasn't any trouble at the Gate -- just a bored pair of guards. One of them rolled his eyes, sighed "Oh ... yeah ... right ... MORE stuff for HER AGAIN ..." and waved Marius through, after a quick glance. "I'm sure you know the way ... just like the REST of the messengers and delivery people", the other Guard added.
[OOC: Since Kay hasn't been going into town for the past few months, she's instead been accomplishing various errands by sending messengers and having stuff delivered. Many of the Gate Guards now blame HER for the larger-than-usual crowd of would-be-courier urchins that have taken to hanging out there]
After Marius had started to walk away, one of the guards then buzzed Kay's comm number. When she answered it, he grumbled "You've got YET ANOTHER friggin' delivery-boy coming your way, MacDonald. Why can't you just run your OWN damn errands ?".
Kay was NOT in a very good mood. Her voice snapped quite bluntly in return. "And deprive you of so much useful work ? That'd just leave you big, bad boys with nothing better to do than to scratch yourselves and fantasize about the Red Sun House. It's NOT as if the locals are likely to INVADE us or anything".
A distinct click of disconnection was the only reply. It was no fun argiung with someone who simply hung up on you. And here she was, worried about what Anwyn was getting up to in town, and worried about what Dani had thought of the note. Yet some bufoon of a redneck wanted to complain at her over something so TRIVIAL ? And he hadn't even bothered to tell her WHO or WHAT was headed in her direction.
So when she heard a knock on her office door several minutes later, she simply called loudly "Do Come in -- the door's open", but didn't get up from her desk.
Marius sighed as he opened the door. The Terran Zone was a surprise to him and had put him on guard, especially with them thinking he was just a message boy! Danette was going to get a tounge lashing when he returned. Next time he'd make her deliver the message herself.
*She forgets how much I detest Terra and everything tied to it.* he thought as he cleared his throat.
Kay looked up from her computer screen, and saw a tall young man around her own age standing in the doorway looking somewhat annoyed (as if he'd much rather be elsewhere doing something more interesting). Something about him looked oddly fammiliar, though she didn't think they'd ever been introduced.
At first, she couldn't place it. But then the combination of his clothing and his attitude triggered something in her memory -- a certain runaway teenage boy whose behaviour she'd felt the urge to correct in the marketplace a while ago. If this was HIS father, then she certainly HOPED that his parenting skills had IMPROVED over the past few months.
"Good afternoon, mestru", she greeted him politely in her best casta, assumming him to be a local. She didn't see any obvious sign of a package, so perhaps he had brought a message instead. "How might I be of service to you ?".
Marius smiled at Kay as he pulled out the letter from Danette. "I have a message for you, mestra", he said.
Kay raised a eyebrow curiously. It didn't seem like the young man was likely to leave the doorway. It was clearly evident that he didn't USUALLY play messenger, and aparently resented having to do it. Afterall, a REAL messenger would have walked over and handed the item to her (in hopes of a tip).
She sighed, then rose to her feet, letting the folds of her warm skirt swirl around her legs to cover her pants. Walking around her desk, she reached out a small, silk-gloved hand from under the foolds of her warm black wool cloak and carefully took the envelope from him.
"Thank you", she said, returning to her seat. As she picked up her letter-opener to slit the envelope open, she noticed that the young gentleman was NOT making any move to leave.
"Was there something else you needed ? Or were you asked to wait for a reply ?", she inquired curiously, looking back up at him and wondering why he was still there.
Marius smiled. "I do believe that Dani wanted an answer, mestra". His eyes sparkled as he spoke.
"Oh ... right ... ", replied Kay, without looking directly at him, "I should have thought of that ... I shouldn't be long ...". She started fumbling around in her desk drawer for a letter-opener. It took her a few minutes to find it, since she didn't want to let this odd young man (who hadn't bothered to properly introduce himself) completely out of her sight. There was something about him that made her curious, but she firmly squashed anyurge to take a quick 'peek' in any way other than visual.
Finally Kay's hand closed on the letter opener, and she carefully slit open the envelope and began to read the note.
It said:
Kay-- No need for apologies. Think nothing of your being curious for it happens to the best of us, I've been accused of it more then once. You need help? I will give whatever I can. You are welcome to come visit me in the Aldaran Suites at Comyn Castle. The bearer of this message is my twin brother, Marius, and if you would like to come see me, he will see you safely here. Goddess Bless, Dani
A small hopeful smile began to cross Kay's face as she realized that Dani had forgiven her. Then it gradualy start to fade away as her eyes reached the words 'Comyn Castle'. "Oh dear", she whispered nervously to herself, suddenly realizing what a bit of a dilemma she was now in.
"Your sister is a fine woman indeed ... I just wish she lived ... in town instead", she began, delaying giving her answer one way or another. Then, thinking that this comment might be misunderstood as being some kind of slight, she quickly added, "it would be closer and more convenient ... I've been ... busy ... and haven't gotten out much lately", and hoped that her excuse wasn't TOO transparent.
Carefully shielding his thoughts, he wondered about her. *She seems ill at ease, which makes me wonder if she fears laran-born or if ... * . The thought trailed off unfinished.
"Could you perhaps convey to her that I thank her for her generous offer of hospitality, and that I hope to enjoy the peasure of her cmpany soon? And do you know if she was expecting me to go up to THAT fancy castle NOW ?", she then inquired worriedly, looking up and (by the angle of her gaze) apparently adressing Marius' right shoulder.
Marius looked at Kay. "Dani is confined to bed at the moment." It was not his place to tell her side of that tale, but he did add, "She been very ill, and close to death as a result, and travel is not advised. She did tell me you asked for help, but she cannot help if she doesn't know the problem."
"Oh bloody hell", Kay exclaimed softly to herself in alarm, feeling like Durraman's donkey in the story of how it had nearly starved to death due to indecision over WHICH distant pile of hay to have for dinner. On ONE hand, her PREVIOUS trip to the Castle had ended in a rather unpleasant way. But on the OTHER hand, Dani was likely her BEST chance and she didn't want to mess things up again.
Looking more worried than ever, Kay continued "I hope that she is recovering well. Perhaps she doesn't know how ... very ... uncomfortable ... I find such surroundings to be". She was choosing her words carefully, trying not to say too much. Afterall, she didn't know how much (if anything) Dani had told him. She sighed, then added, "So, since she is unable to come to me, then I suppose that I must instead go to her and try not to tire her out overly much".
Marius watched Kay carefully as she spoke. Silently he sent a message to Dani. *Dani, Would you like to tell me what happened the last time Kay was at the Castle? She is very reluctant to be there.*
Danette sighed as she struggled to recall that frame in time. *I am not sure Marius. I think it may have something to do with our donas. I found while doing research that there are some that fear anyone with laran talent, but anyone with the Alton Gift is feared moreso, and with good reason*. That made Marius frown slightly.
[OOC: Kay doesn't know WHICH talent Marius has, but she's guessing that having a twin with a talent means that HE has one too. To see what spooked her, look back through the story archives for the party at the Castle that she attended with Gwenn, Dolo and Melissa.]
Kay frowned, then added, "But I'm not certain which would scandalize my poor bredu more -- having people in town see me wearing this awful form-fitting uniform of mine, or my going off somewhere alone with some strange young man". Giving a small shrug, she added, "Even if he did not see such a spectacle with his own eyes, I doubt that any of his fellow Guardsmen would hesitate to carry tales of it to him. Thendara is much like my own small-town home in that gossip seems to travel faster than any horse".
Softly shaking her head, she continued, "So I would need for you to wait a little longer. I would need some time to seek a suitable companion and time to change my clothing if I am succesful in finding such a companion. Are you willing to wait here while I do this, or must I send you back empty-handed ?".
Kay waited patiently for Marius' reply. She hoped that he wasn't insulted by her request. And she doubted that it would take her long to find out whether Gwenn and/or Louis would be available soon. She had noted by her watch that Gwenn would be getting off his shift soon, and that Louis would soon be off-shift at the medical clinic as well.
Anwyn had now been gone for several hours. Again, Kay contemplated asking Oberon WHERE he'd seen her this afternoon. But then again, surely it would NOT be appropriate to do that right now -- for several reasons. Then her chain of thought was broken off by Marius saying simply "I will wait for you".
So instead she said softly to Marius, "Very well then, I will check with my companion to see if he would be available, since you've decided to favour me with your patience. I do not meant to offer you any offense -- we simply do things diferently where I'm from".
"I am beginning to understand Terran ways, mestra. Dani would not have it any other way." he said smiling, then he added, "Take what time you need."
This time, Kay smiled back a bit more warmly, though she still wouldn't look directly at him. 'Perhaps I'm being too suspicious-minded', she thought to herself, 'but then again, better too much caution rather than too little'.