Once again, she wished that there had been time for her to change clothes. It wasn't RIGHT to go into such a fine shop less than finely dressed. Kay looked down at her tartan skirt. To get rid of most of the dust, she'd earlier stopped not far from the Silver Swan and taken it off in a deserted alley (leaving the chilly nip of the wind biting through her uniform pants) so that she could give it a vigourous shake.
She wondered if mestra Hannah or mestra Katerina would notice (or comment on) the bulky bundle that held her dust-covered windbreaker and the old oversized tunic she'd bought. Thinking to make herself look as presentable as possible, Kay had tied the two offending articles of clothing into a bundle with one of her hair-ribbons, making sure that the dirtiest bits were hidden from sight. Or would they give unfavourable notice to the fact that she was wearing the same green tunic she'd wore there the other day (fortunately it was still clean -- the dust hadn't gotten under her windbreaker).
Hannah was sitting in a chair and working on the adjustments to the Renunciates' clothes for the Ball tonight and Katerina was straightening some things when Kay walked into their shop.
"Good afternoon, mestras", said Kay said cheerfully as she entered the shop. Katerina and Hannah both smiled and said "Good afternoon, Mestra Kay."
"It is a pleasure to see you again. This time, I have need of a fancy cloak to match my lovely new dress ... my brother wants me to come to the Ball with him tonight ... I was expecting to meet him here, but perhaps he's already gone on to the weaver's", Kay continued.
Katerina replied first. "Oh, certainly, Mestra Kay. You mean one to go with the green dress? I think we can find you something."
"Yes, that's the dress I mean", Kay answered. "We thought that if I dressed it up with a fancy cloak and wore all my jewellery, then it shouldn't look too out of place. My only other dress is the lightweight silk one that I brought from Terra, which did NOT receive brotherly-aproval. I don't know whether he thought it too daring or just insufficiently-warm".
But then Katerina and Hannah both gave each other questioning looks. Katerina turned again to Kay. "Your brother, Mestra Kay? You have a brother that came with you from Terra?", she asked while she led Kay to the racks with the finely made cloaks.
Kay shook her head. "Nay, he's never been to Terra ... it would have been a far more pleasant journey otherwise ... I wouldn't have been so lonely ... ", she said. A wistful sigh escaped her lips, along with a soft comment, "I envy that he grew up surrounded by siblings in a large family, while I was raised as an only child knowing only two parents and two grandparents as kin", she said.
"Oh...... so this is not a birth brother, and he is from here?", Katerina smiled. "Well then we shall be honored to meet your brother when he arrives."
Gwenn looked around outside the shop, but he didn't see Kay anywhere, so he walked inside. "Hello, mestra Hannah," he said, looking around. Hannah smiled and greeted him as he walked by, then went back to her sewing. He finally saw Kay among the racks with Mestra Katerina. "Ah, there is my oath-sister." He bowed to Hannah and approached Katerina and Kay.
There were many women's lengths cloaks in many colors to choose from. And they ranged in different weights and several were lined with fur but not all of them. The details and trimming ranged from very elegant and elaborate, to very simple trimmings, and some plain with no trimmings.
Regarding the selection of cloaks, Kay was unsure which to choose. Looking very thoughtful, she ran her hand across a few of them as she mused quitely "long and soft is nice ... it musn't infringe on anyone's formal House colors ... it mustn't clash with my dress or his uniform ... it must be fancy enough to be suitable for such a grand occassion, but not so eye-catching as to draw too much attention to me ..."
Katerina nodded, "Well I know your dress already matches the guard uniforms since they are green and black..... So a cloak that would match dark green and black would be very nice." Katerina looked through them and found a dark green cloak that was a shade or two darker than Kay's dress from what Katerina could remember. The trimming was simple, yet elegant and consisted of a silver threaded braid that was looped every few inches. It also had a hood and the whole cloak was lined with a very rich, soft green velvet lining.
Katerina held the cloak out for her, "What do you think of this one, Mestra Kay?". She heard the door open and looked over to see who it was, just in time to overhear Gwenn say that Kay was his oath sister. A big smile came to her face, "Good afternoon, Mestru Gwenn", she said.
"'Tis a much finer afternoon now that ye've arrived", Kay added, with a wide grin.
Then Katerina turned to Kay, "You didn't mention that Mestru Gwenn was the brother you spoke of, Mestra Kay. Why I think that is wonderful.", she said with a big smile.
Kay smiled warmly. "I think it's very wonderful too ... I've never had a brother before, though I've wished for one all my life", she answered.
Katerina then turned back to Gwenn, saying "I was just showing this cloak to Mestra Kay.". She showed him the dark green cloak with the silver trimming.
As soon as he was close enough, Kay wrapped her arms happily around Gwenn and gave him a warm close kinsmens' hug. Gwenn hugged Kay and gave Katerina a short bow. "It looks perfect, mestra". "Of course it is ... I had expected no less", gently-teased Kay's voice over his shoulder.
He turned back to Kay and explained, "Green and blue are Baiyerd colors."
Kay ran her hands covetuously running her hands over the cloak's soft folds. "But is there not a family who uses green and silver ? I thought I recalled seeing someone in them, but I may be mistaken. My favourite colour is indeed green, yes. But would it be considered inappropriate in any way if I choose a deep blue trim to it instead ? I would ha' everyone know who it is that I am proud to call my oath- brother. And if 'twere not proper to choose blue. then perhaps copper ?"
Gwenn laughed. "It is bound to be someone's colors, breda! There are only so many colors in the rainbow. Many Baiyerds have blue and green as their colors; 'tis how they are woven into plaid that tells 'em apart."
Katerina nodded, "I think I might have mentioned to you before about this, Mestra Kay. It is truly all right to wear another family's colors. Even the Comyn family members will wear colors of another family simply because they happen to like the color and look very good in it."
"The silver DOES look very attractive with the green, and will also match nicely to my jewellery", Kay admitted, looking thoughtful.
Katerina added, "And green and silver are not colors belonging to one of the major Comyn families. It belongs to one of the minor ones, I believe.... But this is only a cloak, my dear. I truly think you have nothing to worry about.", she said smiling reassuringly.
"Then perhaps I worry too much, mestra Katerina", Kay answered wryly. If the best dress-shop in the city approved of something, then it must be in fashionably-good taste. She grinned, then explained "I just want to make sure that I don't get mistaken for someone I'm not". Producing a few more coins from the pouch around her neck, Kay happily counted them out.
"How are you, breda? I have a note for you. She said that you could come to the townhouse and she will help you prepare for the ball. And she said gloves are fine, but shawls are a little old-fashioned", Gwenn added, smiling at Kay.
Kay laughed softly, her giggles warm like the first kiss of springtime sun. "Och lad", she protested mildly, "It's nae been that long since I last saw you". "And shopping alone again has done me no harm, despite the dust on my overclothes.", she said, indicating her bundle of soiled clothing.
Pushing aside her doubts regarding the wisdom of going to a noble's residence, she grinned at him. There was no real other choice than to go along with it. Insult might conceivable be taken if she refused. Perhaps it WOULD be easier to meet the vai domna Leynier BEFORE all the crowd of the Ball. She'd never had a sister before, either. And anyways, it would be far easier than trying to struggle into the unfamiliar under-clothing alone.
"As long as I can make a quick trip back to my quarters to change clothes and clean up BEFORE we go there, then I shall gladly accept", she promised Gwenn, "I would have done so already if I'd thought there would be time. As it was, I expected to find you'd already come here and gone on ... "
"Oh, and I almost forgot," Gwenn hurried to say, "your entrance into the castle has been arranged, but the Lieutenant said you must have your papers with you. So when we go to your quarters, we must remember to get them."
A peal of laughter answered him. Two small cards were produced from the pouch and waved at him. "Identification card and travel pass", Kay replied, "If I ever left the spaceport without them, I might have trouble getting back in. So they're always on me".
Gwenn simply nodded in response
"If it wasn't for your help, mestra Katerina, and yours, mestra Hannah, I'd never have known about petticoats, let alone how to get one on.", Kay added, "The two of you are fashion geniuses, and I can't thank you enough already".
Hannah looked up from her sewing and smiled warmly. Katerina beamed, "Thank you, Mestra Kay. We have both been honored to have you as a valued customer, and we are very happy you like our work. Please come back anytime you would like anything else."
Gwenn turned to Katerina and asked, "Are you too busy this day to show me to the weaver's? If so, directions will be fine; I have been learning my way around the city some," he finished proudly.
Katerina said, "Oh, if you like I could take you to the weaver's now. I've been meaning to see him anyway. I'll be happy to introduce you to Mestru Seamus. His granddaughter, Moira, also works there so you can meet her as well.", she said smiling.
"That would be lovely", Kay replied, "I'd be delighted to see a weaver's shop. Though I shouldn't stay long". She turned to Gwenn and suggested "What if I were to go fetch my things and change clothes while you transact your business with Mestru Seamus ? If that's all right with you, then come to the spaceport gates when you're done".
Gwenn was dubious. "I don't know...." But Kay hadn't finished.... A mischievous grin crossed her face before she added teasingly, "And anyways, when a lad gets the opportunity to talk to a pretty young girl, a sister would only be in the way".
Gwenn turned keeper-crimson. "Well, you should have an escort; you shouldn't be by yourself," he protested. Kay gave him an impish grin. "Afraid I'll get lost --- AGAIN ?", she giggled. "Ah, bredu mio, you have no idea how much I'm used to being alone. I've learned to even ENJOY it some of the time".
Gwenn sighed. "But now you _have_ a brother, breda. An' 'tis not proper for ye to walk unescorted through a strange town, especially when we dinna know where we'll be," he pleaded.
"A brother, aye ... ", she agreed. "But one whose time would be far better spent on other things. Or would ye risk us being late to this fancy party ? Us womenfolk typically take a long time to get ourselves decently cleaned up and made all glamorous like the finest noble ladies", Kay pointed out. The walk back, would also give her some time to think. And perhaps there would be time to catch a quick cat-nap afterwards. It had been a long day already, and promised to become much longer before it ended.
"If it will make ye feel better", she suggested with a sigh, not wanting to get into an argument in front of the MacDoevid women, "I'll go directly back, and wait for ye to fetch me when ye're done. _When_ I'm dressed like a proper lady, _then_ I shall act like a proper lady. For now, I ask that ye leave it be. Time is short as it is, so let us make the most of it". Was THIS what it mean to have a brother ? Someone who sometimes fussed over you like a wooly with a single sickly lamb ?
Katerina still looked at them both waiting to see what they decided. "Are you sure you do not want to come, Mestra Kay?" and then she looked questionly at Gwenn.
Giving the older woman a VERY large grin, Kay answered "Aye, I shall come. mestra Katerina .... but only long enough to look around for a few minutes. I've never seen a weaver's shop before, and it shouldn't be too difficult for me to find my way to the spaceport from wherever it is."
"Aye, it is getting late," Gwenn responded with a sigh. "I suppose you should go back as soon as possible for your things. But please, breda, do not leave for the townhouse wi'out me." Kay sighed again, but agreed to wait (and NOT outside again either).
He turned to Katerina. "Forgive me for the delay, mestra. We are ready now." Gwenn followed Katerina out of the shop and into the streets of Thendara, heading toward the weaver's. Kay trailed along behind them, taking the opportunity to look at other things as they passed.