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Ayame, who had stayed at her sister's side and fallen asleep next to her jump up at Ameiko's screaming. "What?! Onee-chan!!" Ayame gasped when Ameiko awoke. She got up and embraced her sister. "You're okay!! I'm so happy! You're in Koya-baachan's home, she healed you after Shalelu-sama brought you back." She explained calmly.
Tarvinda's for once sleeps late, after all the excitement of yesterday, she finally fell sleep in one of Koya's chairs. Not that she meant to, but her tiredness could not be halted as her eyelids closed and the darkness of night settled on her.
She is suddenly awoken from her sleep and blinks furiously, looks around, puzzled! As she gets up, the stiffness in her body from sleeping in the chair, makes every movement slow and pained. She takes in the homely surroundings, Oh yes, Koya's. We came to Koya's last night. She calls out in response, "What was that? Is everyone all right?"
As she moves around the ground floor lounge, the blood starts its journey to her limbs, easing the stiffness. She shakes her legs, and arms as she looks at the last glowing embers of last nights fire, ready to respond.
Giovanni floats near the walls away from the crowds during the whole incident. He is curious what happened to Shalelu, but the crowds are far too imposing for him to involve himself. As she makes her way back to the inn, Giovanni will finally bring himself to ask, in his own mumbling way, what happened to her and if he could be of any assistance to her.
Ichirou woke with a start from his bed as the beams of morning's light fell through the bedroom window. "Not again" he thought as he sighed and rose for the day. Against his preferred decision, he decided not to linger at Koya's place all through the night, but he did remain for as long as possible to fetch whatever Koya needed when she requested, playing a sort of errand boy if and when she allowed him to, so that Ameiko had the healer at her side and Ayame had someone she trusted close by.
Rising for the day was a little slow after all that happened yesterday, but once he got around, he made his way for Koya's house as his first stop to check on Ameiko and Shalelu. It didn't take long for him to reach her home and give a slight and calm knock on the door
Ayame released her sister with a sad look on her face. "I'm sorry Onii-chan... I was just worried..." She told Ameiko. "Shalelu said you where hurt really bad and I got really worried." She explained.
Tarvinda lets a sigh of relief that it was merely a dream that disturbed the peace of her sleep. "Oh, glad to hear you're alright, despite the attentions of Ayame." she chuckles. "So is Koya alright do you know. I'm thinking some morning refreshments and ... hmmm... vittles might just start the day off well. Do you think Koya would mind if I got some breakfast ready?" Tarvinda calls up to Ameiko.
It slowly dawns on Tarvinda that her friend and erstwhile Sensei, Shalelu is not in the room. With a look of concern on her face Tarvinda suddenly calls up, "Is Shalelu here? When I sat down, I am sure she was here. Is she alright?" her voices quivers with concern.
Andrisel looks down upon her dear friend, Koya, slumbering peacefully in her modest bed. Pulling the blanket up over the sleeping woman's shoulder, Andrisel gently pats the firm flesh there, marvelling at her friend's defiance of her race's quicker and harsher aging.
Out of the corner of her eye, she catches sight of her mother's sword, the sword she now bore, resting against the wall beside the door.
Looking back at Koya's face, she thinks back to the time, some 40 years earlier, when they first met.
Her mother and Koya had adventured together for a time, when a particularly painful defeat led Koya to return here to Sandpoint to live with her family.
Andrisel's mother had lived for a time here, bringing her young daughter in tow. The young elf had enjoyed her time in Sandpoint, especially her time in conversation with wise Koya. However, there was always a tension between Koya and Andrisel's mother, something to do with their past , Andrisel was certian. A certain lonely, saddness came to her mother's face when Andrisel watched her look at their friend.
It came to pass that Andrisel and her mother took their leave, but notes and letters passed across the land for the next 4 decades, Andrisel becoming closer to Koya with each missive.
Ayame's happy shouts brought a smile to Andrisel's face, but only a momentary frown marred Koya's brow, before peaceful sleep returned.
Standing, Andrisel left the room, taking up her mother's sword as she did so.
"Amaye, you're screams could wake the dead. Luckily, Koya sleeps much deeper that that." Andrisel chides gently.
Seeing Shalelu healed does much to lighten the troubles resting on Giovanni's heart. He is sure to be spotted watching her as she comes down, taking pause from the book resting on his table and the now warm, untouched glass resting at the empty seat across from him. Having made an offer of help yesterday, he can't bring himself to approach her and invade her privacy again, but he does cast a hopeful eye every page or two, which, at the speed he reads is uncomfortably often.
As Shalelu approached, Giovanni's head already begins to sink, shying away. A deep red blush, flushes his face as she speaks. Barely audible as he stares into his own lap, Giovanni attempts to apologize. "N...no ma'am. I...I apologize. I was worried. I did not mean to stare."
"I wasn't the one who yell! It was Onee-chan." Ayame told the elven woman as she crossed her arms.
When Ameiko asked Ayame to get the door, Ayame gave a small bowing nod before she gracefully stood and quietly made her way to the front door. She slowly opened it so not to make too much noise.
Ichirou gave an ever so slight grin as the face before him didn't show as much distress as it did last night. thats good he thought. means Koya was rather successful last night. He then gave a respectful bowing nod. "Good morning Ayame-sama. I trust Koya-bachan worked well?"
Tarvinda hears Ayame as she goes to the front door, where she follows. "Ayame, Ichirou, Good Morning. Yes Ichirou, judging by the noise from Ameiko as she woke this morning, Koya did a great job last night. You don't know what happened to Shalelu, I haven't seen her toay, she was here last night, that's all I remember. I must have fallen asleep."
Seeing Tarvinda also come to the door only widened Ichirou's grin. Just how many people chose to stay over at Koya-bachan's instead of going home? he wondered. Though at the same time he also comically wondered if people would just leave him standing in the doorway. That is, if he truly cared one way or the other.
"Ah, Tarvinda-san. Good morning to you as well. I Would believe that unless she has remained stubborn and has left already, Shalelu-sama would be at the Rusty Dragon. At least thats where I heard her going last night."
"Ahh, Thanks Ichirou." the relief visible on Tarvinda's face that her mentor has found safe haven at the Rusyt Dragon once more. "I'm just about to scabble up some breakfast, if I can raid Koya's kitchen supplies successfully. Come on in and join us. Ayame, fancy some beat up old eggs if I can find some, cheese as well. Must be some bread around, too. Ichi, could you boil the kettle, she might have some of that nice oriental drink, you know those dried leaves in boiling water." Before waiting for a reply, Tarvinda makes her way to the kitchen and starts to stoke up the stove fire in preparation for a little cooking. She calls out loudly so Ameiko can hear, "Any requests for breakfast? If I can find the ingredients."
More familiar with Koya's kitchen and pantry, Andrisel goes with Tarvinda , "Here, I'll help you...."
Ayame enters the kitchen along with the paladin. "Um, Tarvinda-sama. Why don't you just let me handle breakfast? I cook with Onee-chan all the time at the Rusty Dragon, and I'm even pretty good at it!" She said proudly to the paladin woman. "And I don't know if Koya-baachan even has tea leaves..." She muttered.
With the sudden influx of people to the kitchen, Tarvinda steps back, watching as Andrisel and Ayame start to prepare breakfast. "Thank you, I might be able to catch and skin a rabbit for the pot in the wild, but I'm sure it would be basic compared to the delights you can prepare Ayame." She smiles and goes upstairs to find Ameiko.
She knocks politely on the bedroom door, entering she smiles "I'm so glad you're feeling better, and I'm sure once Ayame and Andrisel have prepared so breakfast the day will start even brighter. So next time you decide to get into trouble, take us with you, I'm sure we'll help, even little Ayame your sister is growing big enough to help. What did happen to you?"
"Yes, ma'am. If you do not mind."
Stepping inside after everyone bolted into the kitchen, Ichirou just glanced at Ameiko from the bedroom doorway and shook his head. "They are determined to serve, I'll give em that, Ameiko-sama." The Business of the kitchen was a surprise, but noisy until Ayame sort of beat them out of the kitchen. "But I hope they don't wake Koya-bachan. Good to know at least she hasn't lost her touch." He jokes as he gestures to Ameiko's bandages. However, upon hearing there would be no tea, glanced up in surprise as if he would not have any of it. What? no tea? I might need to fix that.
"What, Goblins close by! Should we get a few of us to seek them out, find out what they are doing so close to Sandpoint. I mean you weren't far from here when the ambush took place, were you?" Tarvinda asks with urgency. "If you tell us where it happened, some of us can check the area, make sure no-one else is attacked." The paladin's eyes are open wide, her blood flowing a little faster, a chance to rid the hinterlands of more of those evil little creatures.
"Good morning Koya-baachan." Ayame said as she turned from the food she was preparing and gave a small bow to Koya. "Ameiko is awake and seems to be doing well thank to you, and we where just preparing breakfast so I do hope you are hungry." She explained softly.
Andrisel looks up from where she'd was furiously beating a batter in a large bowl, "Ah, Koya, good to see you up and about. Ayame, can you put some tea on, I've got to beat this for another few minutes,"
Her arm resumes it's furious motion, the sinews and muscles risen in stark relief.
Ichirou was about to make a comment to Tarvinda about taking things one step at a time when it came to the goblins, but was quickly caught off guard by the sight of Koya coming in. The frazzle of hair and the drained expression startled him slightly at first. While Ichirou viewed Koya in the same respect she deserved, it was the fact that not only was he not bound to her like his father and mother to her family, but also that he had been allowed to become lax in traditions when only around her and her family is why he did not give a respectable bow. Had his mother and father been present, however, they would have had his head, not only for not upholding tradition but also not swearing fealty to her as his father did to Koya's family. "rules must be respected." he thought, "but if koya doesn't request, then I won't worry."
"Good morning Koya-baasan. Sorry that we were so loud." he said as he remained leaning against the door frame to Ameiko's temporary room. He then grinned widely when Koya pulled out the tea stash. "Its good to see you usually keep the tea on hand."
Andrisel finishes her batter, then goes to the fire , where she'd been heating a pan of oil. She begins to add portions of batter, frying up breakfast cakes, "She looked much better, Koya. Here you can put teh kettle here." she says, indicating a hook above the fire.
She quickly finishes can puts a platter full of nice fluffy flat cakes on the table, then turns to assist her friend Koya with whatever she needs.
Ichirou gave a nod in agreement to Andrisel's statement, but also added more to it. "She sounds more like her normal self as well. the stubbornness included." he said with a smirk and glance to Ameiko. "Though I believe this recent incident may spurn a much needed reaction out of Hemlock-sama." He then glanced to Tarvinda. "so long as we don't react too quickly or jump in without planning"
Truth be told he wanted to react in the same fashion as Travinda, but with everyone always beating into him the concept of planning before acting, it almost became an afterthought.
"Onee-chan does seem better indeed Koya-baachan." Ayame said with a smile. She was glad that Ameiko was recovering well, it was a good sign. Ayame finished cooking some eggs with cheese and went about working on some meat for them to have with breakfast since Ichirou was working on tea for them.
Hearing the greeting at the door, welcoming Shalelu at the door, Tarvinda cannot stop a sigh escaping and a smile crossing her visage. "Three miles, perhaps we should go take a look, I'm sure we'll be prepared Ichrou. With you at our side, both the gods and might will be on our side, no better preparation can be found." Tavinda smiles.
She offers her hand to Ameiko, patting her hand on the recovering woman's hand, before enveloping it in both her hands, "It is good that you are gaining strength, if you want me call. I must say 'Hello' to Shalelu, it sounds like she's arrived." The smile widens into a beaming happy face.
Keeping his eyes on the ground, Giovanni slides in behind Shalalu, keeping quiet and out of the way as much as possible, listening to the conversation.
Andriel looks up from the table as Shalelu enters, "Ah, Shalelu, good morning. Please join us."
Then spying the reserves Giovanni, "You too, Giovanni. There's more than enought for all."
And with that , breakfast was served....and eaten by all present.
Groaning a little, Andrisel pushes back from the table, "As always, Koya, your larder provides...and provides...and provides."
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Ayame beamed with joy at Koya's words, "I just cook like Onee-chan taught me." She told the elder as she began to clear the table, though she paused when asked about investigating. "Hmmm, Onee-chan still needs some rest... I may not have time since I should be taking care of the Rusty Dragon... But I would like to." She answered.
Giovanni keeps his head down, moving in and taking the seat indicated, but does not take any of the food. He produces a book from his robes, and opens it into his lap. His fingers pressed to the page and start to scan the words, moving across the page at a speed that seems impossible to actually be reading the words they dance over.
Koya smiles "Thank you Andrisel, you and Ayame are quite the cooks. Are you going to be heading out to investigate what happened?"
Andrisel stands and dusts some crumbs from her leather leggings, "Indeed, Koya, the day is yet young. " she declares, then looking to Ameiko, "Ameiko , dear, can you not remember anything else beside's your distance? A direction , perhaps?" she asks, her voice gently, but her face gravely serious.
Backing up Andrisel's questions Tarvinda asks "And where were you coming from as you went along the road, and where to?" Her face full of concern.
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Ichirou just grinned and shook his head at Tarvinda's statement of being prepared. he did not doubt their skills, but he wondered just how lethal goblins could be in large quantities if they took Ameiko down and wounded Shalalu. His mind was taken away from that shortly by the arrival of Shalalu and the quiet man he only heard about in passing as Giovanni. Welcome Shalalu-sama. you two are just in time for some wonderful breakfast.
Once the meal was finished, a full Ichirou glanced over the Ayame and Andrisel briefly. "don't sell yourself short, Ayame-sama. I think you would be in a close race with your sister if a cooking competition was held here." he smirked but then turned his attention to Ameiko and watched in silence as the questions to Ameiko let fly. It was true that he was interested in investigating as well, but with Ameiko's current condition, he did not think it prudent to rush her with thousands of questions by multiple people. he would only wait till their questions were answered before asking his own.