Kika the Servant

Kika brushed the stray lock of her hair her face as she tried to gather up the large piles of silk and diamonds. While perhaps ordinarily most young girls didn’t get to see such a wealth of luxuries, she was the servant of Chiaki and so luxuries were a common occurrence in her life. She paused once, laughing at the oxymoron in her words and gave up, deciding to fold over the pile of clothes one my one.

She was the daughter of two servants, and she had risen in status for she was the servant companion to Chiaki, a Noblewoman’s daughter. Most people, especially those of the Golden Court did not understand what high esteem this could mean. After all, in a most literal sense she had the same rank back home that courtiers did! But the Golden Court were too arrogance, for her title did literally mean servant, and the Golden Court seemed to only like to see things in a very literal perspective.

“Kika? Are you finished yet?” her younger brother Olie stood at the door with a slight tilt to his head. He wasn’t the youngest, about twelve but Kika couldn’t keep track of all her siblings—it seemed, no matter how old her parents grew to be, her mother just happened to be one of those people who could give birth forever.

Well, it was good for the population levels, as she always liked to say.

“No, I’m sorry Olie.” She sighed as she looked over at the mound of clothes. She was a favorite of all the children, and they kept a respectful distance when she was busy—but Chiaki had just left for one of those formal parties, one that the Golden Court seemed to hold every night and Kika had not been invited. She was at home, cleaning up –although frankly, with her rank she could always let the lesser servants do it- and reveling in her thoughts.

“Oh.” There was such disappointment in his one word that Kika wanted to rush over and cuddle him in her arms. It was an expected reaction—she had left for the Golden Court with only this younger one as family. For some reason not many servants had accompanied them on this journey- or perhaps Kika should say, with every reason. After all, her Chiaki was loved by the Crown Prince, and she had been kicked out because of this love.

At the thought of this love, at the thought of the entire romance a part of Kika swelled up with pride. Kika was Chiaki’s maid, and Chiaki was Kika’s Lady. Kika was very proud that her lady had secured the affections of someone so powerful, because it was the expected reaction. She was more breathless however, because Chiaki truly seemed to love the Crown Prince.

Or had.

Something had cooled during this time, and no matter how many times Kika pressed, Chiaki would not share the news. Would not share why it was that her pillow was wet every morning, or why she had stopped wearing the jade bracelet from the Crown Prince. Kika knew these things- she was her maid, after all.

It hurt, because Kika herself was not interested in the romance. But she had wanted someone who was, because in a way, it made up for her own lack.

“Kika?” Olie prompted quietly, and Kika broke out of her reverie to see her little brother sitting there. “How long are you going to take?”

Kika sighed as she looked down at the pile of clothing. It was only one outfit, but the Eastern Court women had a habit of layering sheer, air thin layers of silk over another and so it would take forever… “A while, I’m sorry Olie.” She said regretful, and bit her lip. “Listen, I’m sure one of the others…”

“The other children don’t like me because I’m different.” Olie said sullenly. It was true. While the Eastern Court nobility were welcomed with open arms, the servants were not quite so admired. There was jealousy, but more then that. A phobia of all things different and odd. Kika knew there was a proper word for it- she just couldn’t remember it, right at this moment.

“I’m sorry Olie.” She said, and she meant it. She loved children, she loved her brother and some of the little kids had actually taken to calling her Mother, or Aunt. Sitting there, she smiled an almost encouraging smile. “Alright.” She conceded with a wry grin. “Why don’t I just pack up the jewels, and you fetch one of our own servants to clean this up for me?” she hated having someone else touch their stuff….

“Okay!” Olie said brightly, his face lighting up. Kika smiled, all regrets or doubts of what she was doing vanishing at the look of simple joy on her brother’s face. Shaking her head and gathering every minute piece of stone, counting them and then placing them in the large box, which she took to the safe she felt… better. Well, if she did not play with her brother, who would?

“I’m sure we can get Kika…” it was while she was playing with Olie that she over heard these words, and it was while Olie was fetching one of the balls that she tried to listen.

‘She is only a servant.” Ah, it was the head chef.

“She is not!” someone protested, and Kika felt immediately grateful. She had a odd, unique gift that made her likeable—especially by children.

“Kika?” Olie whispered, and Kika immediately sushed him.

“The servants form the Eastern Court… they hold ranks that we never will.” The voice was almost jealous, and Kika could not help but smirk. Well, it was true! “WE already knows she loves her mistress…”

“Kika!” the voice, echoing through the room like a sliver of a breeze had her cursing and the two servants scurry away. She wished she could hear the last of what they were saying… surely it was important.

But not, as important as what her lady wanted to say.

“You want us to what?” she asked blankly, and Chiaki stared at her with calm eyes.

“You heard me. Leave for that world. Nothing holds us here, and it will only be for a couple of years.”

“I know that.” She had often accompanied Chiaki on the journeys, especially the ones to the Vella Crean and she herself had been searched—it was just at that time, she hadn’t thought of staying. “Who do you mean, when you say us?” she said with a suspicious tone, and Chiaki, blinking began to laugh.

“You should be more trusting.” She said ruefully as she smiled. “I meant, us and a couple of the Western court people.”

Kika ran through a mental list of everything she would have to pack, organize… “And Olie?” she asked immediately.

Chiaki smiled, and it was a warm, understanding smile when she heard the guarded protectiveness in her tone. To Kika, family came first before anything else and it was something others found both endearing and awe inspiring. They themselves did not feel such … passion for anything, even Chiaki.
“I was hoping he could come with us.”

Kika looked up at the shy smile on her lady’s face, and her own broke into a smile as she relaxed. She could keep an eye on her brother, then… and she knew her brother had never seen dragons before… it would give him something to do, but more then that… she knew that he wouldn’t hold that deeply lost look in his eyes any more..

“Okay, I’ll go pack then.” She promised, grinning with relief as she did so. “And tell Olie.”

The trip had been easy to pack for. She pack too much, as was her habit and she was delighted to find that all the people accompanying her were people of such exotic nature, she was looking forewords to the coming trip.

“Kika?” she looked up to see a male version of Chiaki standing on the steps.

“Kiati!” she cried out in welcome, waving him down. “Are you here to say goodbye to your sister?” as she child, she had been one of those people with a slight crush on Chiaki’s older brother. It had passed when she had left the Eastern Courts as a spy, but she had always thought that he was especially nice, for a man. Seeing him again had her all self conscious, wishing that her hair was as dark, her skin as pale… she felt no obvious thudding of the heart when she saw him, in fact she felt more comfortable around him than she had for a long time yet.

He looked confused, as he looked into her eyes. “I’m coming with you.” He said slowly, and when she heard the words something in her heart seemed to falter a beat, pick up as a slow blush seemed to seep across her cheeks. “Are you okay?” he asked, concerned when he saw the blush and she laughed.

“It’s just hotter here, then I expected.” She said, as if it explained everything and almost cursed herself. She should say something smart, witty…something…

“Kiati! Brother, I’m glad you made it on time… come, why don’t we go put your bags away?” As Chiaki’s mischievous voice drifted into her hearing, Kiati smiled. Well, maybe she could learn lessons…

“You Kiati?” she had not blinked an eyelid when they had arrived, but she had been shaking inside.

“Yes? Yes.” She said, confirming this to the search rider. When Chiaki had gently laughed, saying that they might as well all stand on clutches anyways, she had accepted when she saw Kiati accept, and when she saw the obvious enthusiams in her brother’s little face. He had been guided somewhere else—she had even given him a good speak but now she was alone.

“I’m here to search you for Ankyla Forest.” He said this as if it explained everything, and pointed to the Forest dragon who waited behind him. Kika’s eyes widened as she saw the creature. The markings running across his hide, flesh, or what ever it was reminded her of the imperial pictures that hung in her old home.

“Me?” the word escaped like a squeak. “But I have to stay with my Lady…”

The search rider paused. “You mean Chiaki?” he asked, and at Kika’s nod of affirmation he grinned. “Naw, it’s okay. She wants me to tell you to come with me, and she’s busy somewhere else.”

At her suspicious look, he chuckled. “Are you sure?” she said skeptically.

“What’s wrong?” Kiati was at her side automatically, and this caused her to blush. All those old fashioned crush like feelings that she had thought would never return, had returned on the trip here and for some reason she found herself awfully shy. Chiaki was always sending her considering looks now, always speaking loudly of family but not once had her lady approached her with this topic in mind.

A servant, no matter what her rank could never marry a Lord’s son.

Marriage, she was thinking about marriage! Imagine that. Her gaze flew to meet his, and she looked away. No, she mustn’t think about that…something else…anything else…

“Nothing.” She said suddenly, firmly as she smiled up at him. “Just some errors…I’m going as a candidate, to Anykla Forest.” The search rider arched a single brow at her sudden change of plans, and she stuck her tongue right out at him, regretting it the moment she did so.

Why was it that she always looked so stupid in front of Kiati?

It did not matter any more.

“Oh.” He said slowly, and then he smiled at her with his eyes, and his lips as well. Those lips… no, she mustn’t think about those lips… “Good luck.”