Splintered Light
Chapter 7.4: Tea Time

Karl had no delusions about the Wave Rider and he readily accepted that it was a civilian vessel.  There had always been differences between the way Captain Jacksoni handled situations and a proper military response but there were times when the captain's choices brushed the Rottweiler's fur in the wrong direction.  While many of the officers in the follow-up meeting were just ready to call the event with the strange shark and the sunken wreckage over-and-done-with the entire gathering was far more frustrating than it was boring to Karl; he had to remove himself from the situation and, fortunately, Captain Jacksoni was astute enough to realize it.

The group had just finished discussing the possible ramifications of sea creatures obviously changed by the intervention of some kind of mechanical process.  Jacques had taken special interest in the significance of something-or-other and had spoken on the topic for nearly a half hour before Captain Jacksoni's eyes settled on Karl, who was systematically popping his knuckles to keep from growling.  "Mr. Jak?"

The Rottweiler looked up from his paws, raising two fingers to his temple in a casual salute. He addressed the Tiger in Wyranese.  "Ja, kapitän?"

Captain Jacksoni let the different language slide, addressing the situation instead.  "How is Lady von Kriedeburg adjusting to her new accommodations?"

The Dog sat up a little straighter as all eyes looked to him.  "She is well, Kapitän, and has expressed her thanks for your hospitality."

The Tiger neatly laced the fingers of his paws together on the table in front of himself.  "Considering what she has been through since leaving Lehsunia I believe that it would do well for us to provide her with supervision in the event that she is in need of anything."

The Rottweiler snorted; Captain Jacksoni obviously underestimated the fortitude of Wyranese women... even the Humans.  "There is no need, Captain Jacksoni, the Lady von Kreid--"

Alistair spoke over him, the Captain's voice certain and firm.  "I would like you to check on her nevertheless, Mr. Jak.  I am certain that a summary our discussion will be available for you if you feel the need for some reading material."

The Wave Rider's gunner stood immediately and offered a formal salute.  The Tiger, as usual, was astute enough to know that the meeting was neither of interest nor importance to the Rottweiler.  "Ja, kapitän."

Karl wasted no time in performing his strategic withdrawl from the collection of officers; he usually had an unbreakable will when it came to most things but sitting in a room with a tableful of civilians discussing strategic matters as if there were no strategy to it was not only irksome, it was frustrating.  The glance the Rottweiler received from the ship's tactician led Karl to realize that the astute feline hadn't missed the signs; unlike the Dog, Jacques had an infinite amount of patience with anything.  Such a trait was useful for a Master-at-Arms, who had to do far more than guide men at pointing and shooting.

It was an oversimplification of Karl's duties of course, but the Rottwiler had no qualms about belittling his own position; in the scheme of things it was his obligation to be a single cog in a seamlessly operating machine.  His was a modified version of "die Verwandtschaft"-- the thought that every soldier, every sailor, every commander, every last footman in the Wyranese military had a kinship to every other.  They were a family and they succeeded and failed together, and so too did Karl approach his position aboard the Wave Rider.

Pushing the thoughts from his mind, Karl exchanged a few courteous salutes from the crewmen he passed; they had no obligation since they were aboard a civilian vessel but it brought him some degree of comfort to know that
 he held their respect despite no longer having a military commission-- not that it should matter, he reminded himself.  A good number of the sailors aboard the Wave Rider had served beneath him during combat situations; they had not let him down and he had not let them down.  The Wyranese sailors aboard the ship knew "die Verwandtschaft" and, with luck, their dedication would help improve the outlook of the other crew.

The gunner made his way below deck, moving toward the collection of staterooms, a set of large, comfortable cabins usually reserved on a military vessel for the officers; considering neither Karl nor Ash-Moon wanted one meant that the Wave Rider had more than enough to accommodate its passengers.  The Rottweiler went past those of the two quartermaster and stopped right outside the room belonging to Lady von Kriedeburg; it was open, and empty.  The Dog had a momentary shock of alarm until he heard her very distinct, crystal clear, melodious laugh from the room across the hall; it was the stateroom that had been assigned to a Trevossean priestess and her Tribal traveling companion.

He neared the door just in time to hear Lady von Kriedeburg laugh again and the expression of mirth was followed up with a statement from her in Mehnzilian with occasionally Wyranese words.  "Oh, mein Kätzchen-- I had no idea that we shared so much in common!  It seems that a trip to Lehsunia is no less exciting for a Sister of the Church than it is for a Reichsfreiin!  So lucky you were to have such a handsome... ah--- wie sagt man?  Retter..."

Karl spoke up through the door.  "'Savior', mein Freiin."

Silence followed his direction for many long moments until he heard Emma speak to the other occupants. "And speaking of savior, there is mine.  Would it be impolite to ask if there was room for one more?"

There was a muffled comment from within the room from a second then third voice; Karl hadn't had many reasons to interact with the passengers but he recognized each one out of reflex focused on security: Aodhan the Wolf Tribal and Sister Aurelie the Cat of the Sisters Divine.  Eventually it was the feline who extended the offer.  "There is no reason for you to remain out in the hall, Mr. Jak... we are all decent.  Please, come join us."

Despite the invitation, Karl still rapped his knuckles against the door twice before opening it.  He stepped into the room and courteously closed the portal behind himself.  Glancing around, the Rottweiler saw that the cabin's furniture was organized around a small tea table in the center of the room with three chairs spaced evenly about it.  The first chair was occupied by Emma von Kriedeburn and she had a saucer in one of her delicate pink Human hands and a cup in the other.  Sister Aurelie sat next to her with half of a butter cookie held delicately in a dainty paw.  The two appeared to be having a pleasant time in one another's company.

The third chair was empty but had a place setting in a certain level of use that suggested that the chair was occupied.  No sooner did Karl take note of it than Aodhan emerged from around the corner with a fourth chair.  The dark-furred Wolf brought the chair to join the other three at the table and set it down to Emma's left before taking his own seat to Aurelie's right.  Aodhan picked up his napkin then set it on his lap before motioning for the Rottweiler to join them at the spot he'd created between himself and the Human woman.  "We have a free spot at the table for you, Mr. Jak."

Emma's smile widened as she patted the back of the chair, speaking in Wyranese.  "Yes, Karl... please! Come join us."

The Dog cleared his throat, standing at attention.  Despite knowing that Menhzylian was the preferred language aboard the Wave Rider he still felt compelled to respond to the Baron's daughter in their native language.  "I am still on duty, my Lady.  I am not certain if it would be proper for--"

Sister Aurelie interjected in heavily accented Wyranese but the words were better than most Trevosseans trying to speak it.  "She is a passenger and you are an officer of the ship.  Why would it not be proper?  Is it not your task to see to your guests?"

The Rottweiler nodded curtly and moved to take the suggested location without saying a word.  Emma smiled to her right and Aodhan glanced to the Cat, speaking in Mehnzilian "When did you learn the tongue of Wyra?"

The Cat put on a smug grin.  "Two years of study under Sister Antoinette, god rest her soul.  We all studied Wyranese in our middle-years... a few seasons after you left."

Emma smiled, leaning back in her chair as she returned her saucer and cup to the table.  "The thought that the two of you found one another after being separated for so long is a story of great triumph, I can tell."

Sister Aurelie beamed, reaching out to take hold of one of Aodhan's paws.  "God works in mysterious and wonderful ways, Lady von Kreidesburg and, yes, it has brought me more happiness than I had known was possible."

Aodhan nodded, giving the Cat's paw a light squeeze in return.  "I had vowed to myself to find Aurelie and I did not rest until I had."

Karl watched the young Human woman looked from one to the other, laughing.  "You look as though you belong together.  I am so jealous that you found your soul mates so early in life and had the good fortunate and god's grace to find one another again."

Sister Aurelie leaned her head against the Wolf's shoulder.  "Well, it's apparent that you and Mr. Jak have a history together... is that any less miraculous?"

Out of everyone in the world, Karl Jack placed his likelihood of blushing to be only scant higher than an albino dying of blood loss but something about the implied meaning to the question beat the odds and he quickly covered the involuntary reaction by choking on the tea he had just started drinking.  He paused, picking up his napkin in an attempt to regain a degree of decorum; the Rottweiler had always done far better on the battlefield than in polite company.  He cleared his throat in an attempt to clarify.  "You must be mistaken... the Lady von Kriedeburg and I have a very different past than the two of--"

He was saved as the Baron's daughter spoke up on both their behalf with a smile, resting a hand on Aurelie's paw. "Oh, you misunderstand, mein Mäuschen... he was my... ah... baby sitter?  Is that the right word?"

Karl sat up a little straighter, wondering that Emma was on such informal terms with the Sister that she not only used pet names of address, but called a cat 'mouse' as well.  The Rottweiler maintained his professionalism however, switching to Trevossean, save his form of address. "Mein Freiin, your Trevosseann is better than your Mehnzilian... I am certain there would be no objections if you were to use it instead."

He then looked to both Sister Aurelie and Aodhan.  "She means to say I was her companion while her father spoke with my Kommandant.  Baron von Kreidesburg met often with members of Wyra's navy and I was assigned to an envoy who--"

Emma laughed, interrupting the explanation.  She moved her hand to the table and the Rottweiler very quickly retrieved his paws before their fingers touched; she didn't seem to notice.  Looking to Aodhan and Aurelie, the Baron's daughter was all smiles.  "He is very generous with his words, you see.  I was perhaps thirteen or fourteen-- hardly pleasant company for a man more familiar with the art of war than the art of tending tea with a young girl and her dolls.  Regardless, he was a perfect gentleman and afforded me all of the courtesy due to a young lady.  Isn't that right, Karl, Mein Wärter?"

The Dog found himself reddening again; it wasn't an activity he particularly enjoyed.  Clearing his throat, he sat up even straighter as if his posture would make up for the lack of professionalism afforded to him by the Baron's daughter.  He spoke in a low tone aside to Emma "Ihr Vater würde dieser Diskussion nicht zustimmen, Mein Freiin."

Aurelie's ears perked and she leaned forward a little, as if having discovered a dirty little secret.  "Oh he wouldn't would he?"

Karl berated himself internally for having been so flustered he had forgotten that the Cat knew Wyranese.  He let out a sigh, voice turning gruff when he realized he'd been put on the defensive.  "Lady von Kreidesburg and I spent several afternoons together.  My Kommandant demanded that I keep an eye on her because her father said she had no friends.  It was my task to keep her out of the way so she would not interrupt the briefings.  It was my duty to see that she did not fall into nor become trouble.  That is all."

Emma's smile disappeared and she drew back from the table.  He had trouble identifying the new expression she wore but her demeanor became immediately more ladylike.  It should have relieved him but an icy finger of sixth-sense concern tickled ira way up his spine and he couldn't help but feel that her newfound regality was not an improvement.  Lady von Kreidesburg slid her gloves back on and stood.  "I have just taken notice of the time.  Thank you both for your hospitality but I must return to my room to attend to some personal business.  Good afternoon to the both of you and I pray we have the opportunity to do this again soon."

It was an abrupt departure but Karl was used to the eccentricities of nobility; he stood as was proper as she made her way out; he didn't miss the fact that Emma had said farewell to Aurelie and Aodhan; had she purposefully said nothing to him?  The door closed to the cabin behind him and he looked across to his two hosts still sitting at the table; they were looking at him.  The Cat spoke first, commenting aside to the Wolf. "That did not go as expected."

Rather than respond to the Cat, Aodhan set down his cup and turned to regard Karl.  "Mr. Jak, did you like spending time with her?"

Karl blinked.  "I was ordered to do so."

The Wolf frowned.  "You can follow orders whether you like them or not.  I asked if you liked spending time with her."

The Dog frowned, greatly disliking the sudden series of questions.  "I don't understand what that has to do with--"

Aurelie reached across the table and took hold of the first three fingers on one of Karl's paws.  "My dear... you all but told poor Emma that the time you spent with the poor girl was an obligation that you didn't enjoy."

The gunner snorted.  "I said no such thing."

Both the Wolf and Cat looked to one another and then back to Karl and nodded in unison.  They both also spoke at the same time.  "Yes... you did."

Sighing, the Rottweiler stood up and inclined his head to his two hosts.  "Thank you for the tea."

Heading back into the hall, Karl once again had to accept the fact that he was far better at making war than conversation.