The Bonding (15 page)

The next day, with no class to fill the time, Kiri quickly became bored out of her mind. Davin's apartment was small, and she had already cleaned it from top to bottom. Davin had gone out, saying he wanted to talk to some people he knew about finding work. Kiri wished there were some way for her to help him. She hated that he had lost his job because of her. There really wasn't anything she could do, though. She had only been in town a few weeks, and apart from fighting she had no marketable skills. She supposed at this point her best role was as comforter and lover. She wondered what to do with herself in the meanwhile. Maybe some exercises would pass the time.

Kiri settled onto the floor and had just begun to stretch the muscles in her back and legs when someone knocked on the door, surprising her.

“Who is it?” she called, rising to her feet.

“It's Jaya. Can I come in?” The answer filtered through the door.

Kiri opened. “Davin isn't here,” she told Jaya, regretting once again hurting her lover's sister and costing herself a friend.

“I know,” Jaya replied, giving Kiri a considering look. “I saw him in town. That's how I knew I could find you here. I've been thinking a lot and I've decided to forgive you. Holding grudges doesn't make any sense, since we're going to be family, and none of us has any family to spare.”

“Thank you, Jaya.” Kiri breathed, touched.

“Since we're going to be sisters,” the young healer explained, “I thought this was a great opportunity to spent time together when it wasn't an emergency.”

“It's hard for me to remember a time in my life that wasn't an emergency,” Kiri said wryly.

“Well, let's try peace for a while, see if you can get used to it.”

Kiri grinned, and Jaya grimaced. “What is it?”

“Nothing…” the woman replied quickly. Then after a moment, added, “It's just, don't those scars hurt, when you move your face?”

“Always a healer, aren't you?” Kiri commented with a grin.

“Always.”

“They don't hurt exactly, Jaya,” Kiri explained. “They're nine years old. They do pull though, in uncomfortable ways sometimes.”

“Hmmm,” Jaya said, and changed the subject. “So, what I have in mind is…girl talk.”

“What does that mean?” Kiri asked.

Jaya rolled her eyes. “Gods, what do swordmasters do in their spare time?”

“Calisthenics, sparring, and reading books on tactics. We also polish our weapons.”

“Doesn't that get boring?” the woman made a face.

“Yes,” Kiri replied honestly. “That's why many swordmasters, and other soldiers too, are so promiscuous. Fooling around isn't boring.”

Jaya smirked and Kiri laughed. “So, tell me, what is girl talk?”

“It's whatever we want it to be…idle chitchat. I don't get to do that much, because I spend so much time at work. I brought refreshments.” She held up to glasses filled with something purple that smelled intoxicating.

“Oooh, is that wine?” Kiri asked.

“No, sorry. Wine is traditional for girl talk, but it's not good for the baby, so no wine for you.” Kiri pouted until Jaya added, “These are grape ices.”

“I've never had an ice before,” Kiri commented wistfully.

“Really?” Jaya gaped, astonished. “Isn't Laiconia hotter than Koral?”

“Yes, but our diets were strictly controlled for maximum nutrition. Sweets were not on the menu.”

“Poor Kiri. No girl talk, no sweets. What a bland life you must have led.”

“Except for the heart-stopping danger of battle.” Kiri twisted her lips into a wry grin.

“Right. Except for that.” Jaya extended one ice and Kiri took it, looking at it thoughtfully. Seeming to realize Kiri didn't know what to do with it, Jaya went to the kitchen and found two spoons. Setting one on the table, she used the other to dig up a mouthful of the syrupy purple concoction.

“Try it,” she said, and Kiri did.

“Ooooh, that's cold!” she exclaimed as the sweet, fruity coldness dissolved on her tongue. “I like it.”

“So, did you have any big plans for the afternoon?” Jaya asked.

Kiri took another bite and considered. “Well, I cleaned the apartment. I was thinking about calisthenics next, but ices seem like more fun.”

Jaya plopped down on the sofa and Kiri joined her. After a few moments of eating their ices in silence, Jaya spoke again. “Are you and Davin going to the festival?”

Kiri swallowed and replied, “He hasn't mentioned it. What festival is it?”

“The new wine festival. It's the major holiday of the early autumn, celebrating the grape harvest. They open last year's young wine and everyone gets very merry.”

“But I can't have wine, you said.” Kiri pouted, forcing down a smile and enjoying being silly.

“No, you can't, but there's food and music and dancing and games. It's great fun. We should all go together.”

That does sound like fun. I can't remember the last time I had fun.
“I don't have anything to wear.”

“I'll lend you some of my clothes. We're about the same height.”

Kiri eyed Jaya's curvy figured and said, “That doesn't mean your clothes will fit me. I don't have the bosom you do.”

Jaya giggled. “I have a wrap blouse that can be shaped to fit the individual, and some black trousers…you'll look great. We'll have to do something about your hair though.”

Kiri's eyebrows drew together. “What's wrong with my hair?”

“Nothing,” Jaya said quickly, then stuffed a mouthful of ice into her mouth, taking the time to savor its sweetness before continuing, “It's fine for every day, but you might consider something a little…dressier for the festival. Do you ever wear it down?”

“Only in bed.” Kiri winked.

“I bet that drives Davin wild,” Jaya said, waggling her eyebrows.

“Yes.”

They laughed and then Jaya returned the conversation back to its original topic. “Well, I used to have a younger sister, so I have some skill with braids. Maybe just changing the shape of it would work.”

“We'll see.” Kiri said, finishing her ice. She glanced at Jaya. Something seemed different. The other woman was carrying herself differently. Her expression was lighter, and she was smiling more than Kiri had ever seen.

“You look happy,” Kiri told her, “Did something good happen?”

“I'm so transparent. Yes, better than good. Something
wonderful
has happened. Look.” She lifted a lovely gold and green necklace for Kiri to see. “Soren gave me his collar. I'm engaged!”

“Jaya,” Kiri gasped, “that's wonderful. Congratulations!” She hugged her. “I'm so happy for you.”

“I understand now why you two don't want to slow down. Now that I have this,” she fingered a delicate golden wire, “I want to hurry up and get married as soon as possible. I've lived a wild life for far too long. I'm ready to be a respectable married woman…in public.” Jaya smirked, making Kiri giggle.

“I know what you mean. All demure around town, but come home and…”

They both dissolved into laughter.

“No one will believe it, Kiri. You're marrying Davin. Everywhere you go, people will speculate about the wild time you two must be having in private. I'll admit, I'm curious. Is he as good as they say?”

“Um… yes.” Kiri said a little hesitantly, “Although I have no basis for comparison, I'm very…content.”

“Content? How tepid. Oh, I see that blush. You're being demure with me too, but it won't work, Kiri. I've known Davin too long. And no basis for comparison? Davin did say something about you being a virgin.”

“Not anymore.” She blushed deeper.

“Right, that would have made the pregnancy hard to explain. But you were before?”

How to answer that?
Kiri studied the plain white wall of the apartment. “More or less.”

“Huh? Kiri, you do understand how virginity works, right? You either are or you aren't.”

Shutting down her emotions as though she were headed into battle, Kiri answered bleakly, “Well, I was raped when I was eighteen. I never willingly slept with anyone until Davin.”

Jaya's teasing grin disappeared. “Oh, Kiri, I'm so sorry. That's just awful.”

“Yes, it was. That's why I try not to talk about it. You know, this conversation was more fun before we brought that idiot into it.”

Jaya made a face. “What happened to him?”

“I'm a swordmaster, Jaya. I killed him.”

“Good. He deserved it.”

“Yes he did.”

They were silent for a long moment. Then Jaya shook her head. “Davin of the thousand partners with a virgin. It boggles the mind.”

“Jaya!”

“Sorry,” the other woman replied, only slightly abashed. “That was really insensitive of me. I bet you're glad he knows what he's doing though.”

“I think we could have muddled along with less practice on his part, especially that Kaeli creature, but since it's in the past, what can I do?” She lifted her hands, palms up. “Jaya, you were never one of his…partners, were you, before you adopted each other?”

Jaya shook her head vigorously. “Oh gods, no, Kiri. I've only been with Soren. Never Davin. He was always like a brother to me.”

Thank goodness.
“Well I'm thankful for that anyway.”

“You know,” Jaya commented, continuing their indiscreet conversation, “for all both of us look like hussies, moving in with our men so quickly, we've had only one partner each. We're more innocent than most.”

“One good one is plenty.”

“No kidding,” Jaya agreed. Then another idea seemed to strike her, because she blurted, “Do you know what would be fun?”

“What?”

“If we got married together, you and Davin, Soren and me, in the same ceremony.”

I've never heard of such a thing.
“Is that possible?”

“It's rare, but it happens. Weddings are really private, and only the closest family members can attend the ceremony, but you guys are my only family, so why not just get it all done at once?”

Hmmm. Interesting thought. It also confirms how little I know about this place.
“Jaya, how are weddings performed in Koral?”

“Well, first you have to take your petition to the elders, and they consider it,” Jaya explained, ticking off points on her fingers. “Once it's approved, there's this really pretty chapel to the goddess of families and the couple and the elder they select go inside. The couple stands back to back while the elder talks to them about the nature of marriage. No one knows exactly what will be said – I think it's individually tailored for each couple – Next, the husband turns puts his arms around his wife and vows to be a good husband. This part is very important. The wife must not turn towards her husband until she's told to do so. He just holds her from behind. When he's finished, the elder tells the wife to turn and face her husband and she vows to be a good wife. Then there are three kisses and it's done. Afterward, there's usually a big party for all the friends. What do they do in Laiconia?”

“I don't know,” Kiri admitted. “I've never been to a wedding. I never thought I would get married at all.”

“Why not?”

“I fought in my first battle when I was twelve. I never expected to live this long,” she explained. Then she added, “I think getting married together sounds wonderful. I'll talk to Davin about it.”

The girls were still talking idly when Davin returned. He took one look at his fiancée and his sister giggling together and groaned.

“Shut up, brother,” Jaya said, laughing, “I'm making friends with your lady.”

“I think I'm alarmed,” he quipped, but he was smiling, and pulled Kiri up off the couch for a delicate kiss, which she returned enthusiastically. Then, still cradled in Davin's embrace she said, “You see, quite satisfactory.” Both women dissolved into gales of laughter.

“I'm definitely alarmed,” Davin said, holding Kiri tight.

“Davin, guess what?” Kiri chirped.

“What?”

“Jaya's engaged! Look, there's Soren's collar.”

Davin stepped away from Kiri to wrap his sister in a warm hug. “It's about time,” he told her. I hope you'll both be happy.”

“Davin, I think I will break the arm of the next person who says I'm marrying because it's time. Time has nothing to do with it. Soren loves me. That's the important part!”

“He told you?” Davin's eyes widened.

“Yes, or I wouldn't be doing it.”

“Well then that's good enough for me. Congratulations, little sister.”

“Thank you.” Jaya's happiness caused her round, pink cheeks to glow. “Are you two going to the wine festival this weekend?”

“I hadn't really thought about it,” Davin replied, furrowing his brow.

“Well you should. We can all go.”

“All right. If Kiri agrees,” she nodded, eager to join the fun. “We'll go with you.”

“Well, I had better be heading home. Soren will be there soon, and I want to be there first. I have plans for that man.”

“I won't touch that one.” Davin said.

“Me either,” Kiri seconded. Jaya left laughing.

“So, did you and my sister have a good time?” he asked her once the door had been shut.

“Yes, she's really fun. I think we're going to be great friends.”

“Good. You need friends.” He tugged her back into his arms, face to face.

“Right. How did your day go?”

“Nowhere. Sorry.” Davin looked suddenly defeated.

“Don't be sorry. It's certainly not your fault.” She pulled him down and kissed him, trying to be encouraging.
Gods, please help Davin.
The little prayer stimulated a new thought. “Davin…do you know what we ought to do?”

“What, baby?”

“Go to the temple of all gods. Make offerings. Pray. See the oracle.”

His warm brown eyes lit up. “That is a fantastic idea. Let's go right now. We can get some dinner on the way home.”

It was a long walk from Davin's apartment to the temple of all gods, but after being cooped up inside all day, Kiri didn't mind at all. Although it was early fall, the day was relatively warm. Kiri appreciated this, as she had not adjusted to Koral's cooler temperatures yet. Davin's arm felt warm around her waist, well below her braid with its crown of spikes, and she snuggled into his side. As they walked along, several people greeted Davin, and a few asked for introductions. Kiri was touched by the way he displayed her proudly, as though she were a precious treasure. A few people looked askance at the necklace she wore, but most were genuinely delighted to see a well-respected public figure so happy.