Fic: Nine Otters
Nov. 25th, 2011 05:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meridian_roseTitle: Nine Otters
Fandom: Original Fic
Characters/'Verse: Kat
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 637
Prompt: For the 30 days of fiction meme prompt #16 write a scene on horseback; and the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
100_tales prompt #090 Travel
Summary: Another village, another speech.
Warnings: None
Katerina adored riding, the freedom of it as the wind caught at her hair, while the hooves of her horse, Invincible Sky, devoured the miles.
There was never enough riding, however. There was always the stopping at every town and village and place with a hitching post. Damn tour.
"Kat, five more miles," Honor shouted from behind her.
She rolled her eyes, though he wouldn't be able to see the gesture. A moment later two guards overtook her and she slowed her pace. Two more guards appeared to flank her, Honor drawing up alongside her; the other two of course would be behind her.
They climbed a short incline and the village came into view.
"There's a holy well up on the hill," Honor said. "The Elder will greet you there." It was one of his many duties to know these things, but secretly she was always impressed by his attention to detail.
"Remind me why this is necessary," Kat said, partly to distract him before he could lecture her on her hair or her clothes.
"You threw your dagger at me last time I did so."
"It was and always will be a rhetorical question," Kat declared.
They passed a few villagers on the way to the main gathering at the well, much the same as every other village; smiling women and a couple of men who were not really interested in her but couldn't let themselves be left out of the excitement, a couple of children with wilting flowers clutched in chubby fists.
"Her Ladyship approaches," one of the villagers called and the villagers assembled around the well cheered – one or two voices of discontent here and there of course. Kat dismounted, tugging at her cloak and hoping for distinguished, though she'd settle for respectable. The Elder, with a gold chain around his neck, was standing by the well – she was really hoping he didn't want her to bless it.
"Your Highness," the Elder said, bowing. "Welcome to Nine Otters."
Kat did not ask about the origin of the name, much as she wanted to. It often took a long time to explain and sometimes she'd make comments about the story behind it that people took offence to. So she just imagined that the first settler had gone to collect some wood and saw nine otters in the nearby river.
Honor gave her a gentle nudge with his shoulder, rousing her from her daydream. "Um, thank you," she said to the Elder. Had he said his name? Did Honor know it? If so, had he told her? Best to keep things general until she could find out the man's name.
She was saved from further interaction with him when the Elder began to make a speech and Kat found her attention drifting again. No one ever said anything relevant in a speech. Later, at the feast, that's where the information was to be found, when good food and wine would loosen tongues and the lack of ceremony allowed people to speak their minds.
Another nudge. "Thank you," Kat said again, hoping this was the right response. She resolutely did not look at Honor who was no doubt exasperated by now.
"Shall we repair to the town square?" the Elder asked, seeming a bit worried. Perhaps he thought he'd upset her.
Town? Really? Village at best. "Of course."
The Elder nodded and issued some orders. Kat waited until most of the procession was on its way down the hill before she turned to Honor.
"Honestly, Kat," he said. "Pay attention."
She reached up and tucked a loose strand of dark hair behind his ear. He glared at her, shaking his head to dislodge the strand as soon as she moved her fingers away.
"Calm yourself," Kat said. "At least no-one has thrown fruit at us here."
Fandom: Original Fic
Characters/'Verse: Kat
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 637
Prompt: For the 30 days of fiction meme prompt #16 write a scene on horseback; and the
100_tales prompt #090 TravelSummary: Another village, another speech.
Warnings: None
Katerina adored riding, the freedom of it as the wind caught at her hair, while the hooves of her horse, Invincible Sky, devoured the miles.
There was never enough riding, however. There was always the stopping at every town and village and place with a hitching post. Damn tour.
"Kat, five more miles," Honor shouted from behind her.
She rolled her eyes, though he wouldn't be able to see the gesture. A moment later two guards overtook her and she slowed her pace. Two more guards appeared to flank her, Honor drawing up alongside her; the other two of course would be behind her.
They climbed a short incline and the village came into view.
"There's a holy well up on the hill," Honor said. "The Elder will greet you there." It was one of his many duties to know these things, but secretly she was always impressed by his attention to detail.
"Remind me why this is necessary," Kat said, partly to distract him before he could lecture her on her hair or her clothes.
"You threw your dagger at me last time I did so."
"It was and always will be a rhetorical question," Kat declared.
They passed a few villagers on the way to the main gathering at the well, much the same as every other village; smiling women and a couple of men who were not really interested in her but couldn't let themselves be left out of the excitement, a couple of children with wilting flowers clutched in chubby fists.
"Her Ladyship approaches," one of the villagers called and the villagers assembled around the well cheered – one or two voices of discontent here and there of course. Kat dismounted, tugging at her cloak and hoping for distinguished, though she'd settle for respectable. The Elder, with a gold chain around his neck, was standing by the well – she was really hoping he didn't want her to bless it.
"Your Highness," the Elder said, bowing. "Welcome to Nine Otters."
Kat did not ask about the origin of the name, much as she wanted to. It often took a long time to explain and sometimes she'd make comments about the story behind it that people took offence to. So she just imagined that the first settler had gone to collect some wood and saw nine otters in the nearby river.
Honor gave her a gentle nudge with his shoulder, rousing her from her daydream. "Um, thank you," she said to the Elder. Had he said his name? Did Honor know it? If so, had he told her? Best to keep things general until she could find out the man's name.
She was saved from further interaction with him when the Elder began to make a speech and Kat found her attention drifting again. No one ever said anything relevant in a speech. Later, at the feast, that's where the information was to be found, when good food and wine would loosen tongues and the lack of ceremony allowed people to speak their minds.
Another nudge. "Thank you," Kat said again, hoping this was the right response. She resolutely did not look at Honor who was no doubt exasperated by now.
"Shall we repair to the town square?" the Elder asked, seeming a bit worried. Perhaps he thought he'd upset her.
Town? Really? Village at best. "Of course."
The Elder nodded and issued some orders. Kat waited until most of the procession was on its way down the hill before she turned to Honor.
"Honestly, Kat," he said. "Pay attention."
She reached up and tucked a loose strand of dark hair behind his ear. He glared at her, shaking his head to dislodge the strand as soon as she moved her fingers away.
"Calm yourself," Kat said. "At least no-one has thrown fruit at us here."
