by Viola Grace
Lydeli stopped her animal and bowed. “Yes, Auntie. This is Kyna, and she is the new guardian recruiter. You know Larada, of course.”
Kyna bowed from the waist while her lower back screamed in pain. “Thank you for meeting us, Lady Ageka.”
Ageka looked her over and snorted. “How can one of Amethyst’s kind tell who will make a good guardian?”
Kyna straightened. “Well, they can not all manage soul fire, but I am sure that some of them will be able to fuse more than wood together.” As the words came out of her mouth, she wished she could recall them.
Ageka looked at her great-niece. “You told her.”
“No, Auntie. My father ordered me not to. You can ask cousin Jinu. Kyna actually does what she is supposed to.” Lydeli smiled. “She can also play music.”
That affected a transformation. Ageka nodded. “I await you at the training centre.”
The animals continued their stately walk, and half an hour later, they were walking up to a large structure that was twice the size of Lord Akutan’s home.
“Oh, wow.” The effu sidled a little, and she relaxed the reins.
She ran her fingers along the hide of its neck, and it continued its walk. The door to the inner courtyard opened. Lydeli led them in and dismounted easily. Larada did the same, and when they looked at Kyna, she muttered, “This is where I live now.”
A crackle of white fire wrapped around her, lifted her off the saddle, and set her down next to her mount.
Kyna forced her legs together into a normal posture, and she smiled slightly. “Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Ageka.”
She walked toward the house with her host, Lydeli, and Larada. Jinu stood on the wide covered deck that surrounded the main building. “So, you have come to spend some quality time here?”
“Quality time?” It sounded funny in Rai.
Jinu smiled, “Auntie Amethyst uses it with Uncle Akutan all the time.”
“Ah, in their case, it means something different. Right now, they are engaged in quality time.”
Her expression went preciously golden rose. Lydeli plugged her fingers in her ears and kept walking with her pack slung across her back.
Kyna tried to take one of the bags that Larada was holding, but she was easily dodged. She walked toward the house, and while her body hurt, it was the hurt of unused muscles that would get better with time. She nearly laughed for happiness. This was not the dull and burning pain that had caused every motion to be agony. This was just a reminder that she had done something new.
She removed her boots and stepped onto the decking. Ageka nodded. “Good girl. I didn’t hear a moan out of you.”
Kyna walked with her host. “I have felt worse.”
“Come on. We will bathe and have something to eat. One of my servants is excellent at working loose pained muscles.”
She nodded and realized why Lord Akutan had suggested that being in an all-female environment might be handy. Getting used to bathing in groups was hard enough without genders mixing together and things getting awkward, at least on her part.
Larada took charge of her, scrubbing her like a four-year-old, getting behind her ears and everything before rinsing her from head to toe. Her hair was pinned up on her head.
She was wrapped in a cloth and then led to the huge pool that was already occupied by the other women. She settled in, and the pain in her backside eased as the muscles relaxed.
Lydeli smiled. “So, Kyna is interested in learning dance, cooking, self-defense, combat, whatever she can learn.”
Jinu smiled. “I can teach her self-defense.”
Lady Ageka grinned. “I can teach her combat.”
Lydeli nodded. “I can teach her dance, but who are we going to get to teach her cooking?”
Kyna sighed. “If you can get me food samples, I can figure them out and make a version. I just don’t know what the food here is supposed to taste like, so I couldn’t really make it.”
The ladies turned to her with hopeful smiles.
Lydeli smiled. “You can cook?”
“I can cook like I can use chopsticks. I will get better with practice.”
Ageka nodded. “If any newcomers wish to be assessed for the guardian teams, you will have a day off from your duties; otherwise, once you have a decent repertoire, you can help the cook.”
“Deal.” She blinked when the word came out of her mouth.
The women laughed.
Eventually, they got to talking, and Ageka asked about her life back home.
“It was not much of a life. I had joints that were swollen, agony with every movement, and my body was attacking all the cartilage and the tendons of my limbs and back. Every movement was torture, and my hands could not deal with any pressure.” She shrugged. “So, I found a job that I could do using a computer with audio commands. Made investments and helped folks getting their businesses started.”
Jinu blinked. “You did what?”
“I got businesses up and running into profit. I couldn’t physically do much, but my talent for knowing what people were came in handy. It helped me help others by getting the best staff for the best products in the right locations.”
Ageka looked at her. “What would you do here?”
“What is your target? What are you going to try and do?”
Ageka frowned. “I would like to have this be a training hub, as it used to be.”
“For the use of the guardians only?”
Ageka paused. “That isn’t good?”
“It is, and it isn’t. If you want to run a guardian facility, you can. It is a niche, but it only works while they are here. If you made this a recovery spa, you would have more of an interest as already-trained guardians would seek out an area where there were minimal tech and active guardians to do the work for them.” She looked between Ageka and Jinu. “I assume that guardians need retreats?”
Jinu nodded. “Yes. So, we would need two healers, masseuses, cooks, bedding...”
“And a regimen of activities where they could take part in local life and activities. Are there local festivals or events nearby?”
Ageka looked around. “I need to write this all down.”
“We can go over it once we are out of the tub.” Kyna smiled. “Also, don’t neglect the idea of tutorials and lectures here that let the guardians expand their normal experiences.”
Jinu asked, “Who will do these tutorials?”
“Locals. Other guardians. They can request topics that they wanted to learn about, and instruction can be arranged.”
Jinu grinned, and Ageka chuckled.
One communal bath and a business had begun to blossom.
Four days later, Lydeli was correcting her posture as she flipped her fan before catching it again. She moved to the tapping beat as she was the only one at the training centre who could play an instrument.
She turned and dipped, looking up, and she was surprised at the three women and two men who were facing her. She straightened and nodded. “Hello. I am Lady Kyna.”
They all bowed, and one of the young women said, “Lady Ageka told us to come to you to see if there is a job for us here.”
She looked them over, and she nodded.
She touched the hand of one of the younger women. “Hostess and housekeeping.”
The next woman had thick muscles. “Massage.”
The third woman was glowing with energy. “Healer.”
The man behind her had to be her brother. “Healer.”
The final man was huge, but she touched his hand lightly with her fingertips. “Pastry chef.”
His eyes widened, and he grinned. “I have always wanted to...”
“You will excel at it.”
She looked at the cheerful faces. “Did the good lady say when you were starting?”
Ageka arrived in a swirl of fire. “We have our first guardian guests in two days. There are three of them. So, Lady Kyna
, you had better think of things for them to do while they recover from their work damage.”
Kyna blinked and looked at her. “Do you still have those effu we arrived on? We can run local tours on those, down to the town and up. Shit. We need clothing for the retreat.”
The housekeeper smiled. “My brother is a weaver. I can speak with him when I return down the hill.”
Ageka nodded. “I will give you a list of what we need. Come with me, child. We have much to discuss.”
The girl blinked. Kyna smiled. “She is talking to you; she calls me Snow Bunny.”
The girl blushed. “That is your name.”
“Oh. Right. Sorry. I am still getting used to Rai.”
She took the other four on a tour and showed them where they would be working. She encouraged the healers and masseuse to converse as they would be working closely together. The pastry chef was led to the expansive kitchen, and she showed him the section that would be devoted to him, and if he wanted to pitch in with any of the other cooks, he was welcome to assist.
“Who is the other cook, Lady?”
She huffed. “Me. I can only make twelve things so far, but if I taste more, I can make more. Getting the supplies is something that has to be worked out as well.”
“Make me a list, and I will see what I can do.”
She groaned. “I can’t. I wasn’t given the written language. It is frustrating, so I am going to have to learn how to read and write the normal way. I just don’t have time.”
He looked at her and frowned. “That must be frustrating.”
“Only times like now when lists need to be made and things need to be sorted out with schedules.” She chuckled.
“Would you like to go to the market and see what you would like to try next?”
She looked at him, glanced down, and nodded. “Just let me change.”
He looked down and nodded. “Yes, Lady Kyna.”
“Back in a minute.” She hiked her robes and made her way to her quarters, letting out a sharp whistle. Larada arrived and said, “Where are you going?”
“Into the village, so I can see what the market has.” She squealed and clapped her hands.”
Larada paused. “Without an escort?”
“Our new pastry chef is taking me.”
“Uh-huh. I am coming with you. Do not leave without me.” Larada’s tone was stern.
Robes came off, robes came on; she was finally ready to leave for the walk with her outer robes on her shoulders.
She took her shoes and walked to the front entry, setting her shoes in the launch position. She returned to the kitchen, and her new chef had a list. “What is your name, by the way?”
“Erkan.”
“I am pleased to meet you, Erkan.” She smiled. “We have to wait for Larada.”
“Who is that?”
“My handler.” She chuckled. “She is on loan from Lord Akutan’s household and has adopted me as her chick. If I leave without her today, tomorrow I learn exactly how tight this sash can get.”
He grinned, and his face slacked, and a stunned expression crossed his features.
Kyna saw Larada, and her handler paused, looked at the giant of a man in the kitchen, and she lifted her chin and swanned forward. “If we are going to town, we should go now.”
Erkan nodded, and they headed out of the main gate. Kyna had her hems lifted up to keep her feet free, and they continued eastward from the retreat, and in twenty minutes, they were in the market.
He introduced her to the vendors, and each showed her the best of their product. The two vendors who didn’t show her their best got a tight nod, and she walked away.
“Why did you walk away from them? They are well thought of.” Erkan murmured.
She smiled. “They might be well thought of, but they offered me lower-grade products when the higher-grade product was to hand, and we are paying standard pricing for everything. I can see what is good when it comes to fruit, fish, and meat, just as I can see talents either psychic, physical, or inclination. I know cheap meat when I see it.”
He looked back at the vendor and scowled. “That is an insult.”
“Yeah, I know. That is why I walked away.” She chuckled. “There are other meat vendors, and if they are just as insulting, I am going to have to get better with my combat skills and start facing off with Ageka’s cows.”
Larada was smug. “She is a very smart lady, and it is an honour to serve her.”
Erkan nodded and steered her toward a new meat vendor that didn’t have the patter but did offer his best. She nodded and chose the cuts for the dinner and another set for soup.
The butcher asked her how she would prepare it, and she told him about the light sear and thin carpaccio on the side of grilled vegetables with a bright vinegar.
The butcher blinked and grinned. “The best vegetables today are in the kiosk second from the end. They are not attractive, but they taste amazing.”
“Perfect for a soup then. Thank you for your assistance. I will make sure that you are our first stop when purchases for Lady Ageka are made.”
Larada paid him and put the wrapped pack into her basket.
Kyna smiled. “Off to the vegetables then.”
They picked up the veg that were unattractive but brilliant colours and vibrating with energy.
Erkan took over the basket, and he didn’t even acknowledge Larada’s protests.
“I think that is enough for today.” Kyna smiled.
The sights and smells of the market were intoxicating, but they had enough for the day.
Erkan murmured, “That recipe you were mentioning, I have not heard of anything like it.”
“Ah, well, that is because it is something that I saw on Terra. I have been able to see what is good for a while, but this is my first time being able to work with my hands and actually eat some of the things I had only imagined before.”
They walked back to the retreat, and Erkan carried the basket the whole way.
When they were back, she let Larada take her outer robe; she grabbed the basket from Erkan, thanked him, and then made a beeline for the kitchens.
She was unsurprised when he came after her, and he asked, “May I observe?”
“Certainly, but I may put you to work.” She got started washing, chopping, marinating, and putting some of the next day’s items into the chiller.
Erkan helped with cutting and peeling, watched as she stuffed a fish for roasting, and made approving comments when she grilled the beef before slicing it as thin as she could with the deadly knives that Jinu kept sharp for her.
Less than a week, and she was already in the swing of things, but she didn’t know what she was supposed to do if she actually saw a local with guardian potential.
Well, the guardians were going to start arriving in two days. Perhaps that would get things going on the recruitment front.
Chapter Five
Kyna remained in the background when the shuttle landed, and the guardians who were their test guests arrived. Ageka greeted them and asked each of the men whether they would like to be addressed by their guardian names or normal identities. Both opted for their birth names.
Cilan and Jaru were moving slowly and limping slightly as they entered the retreat. The hostesses led them to their rooms, where they could rest or take a bath.
Kyna made sure that the men seemed relaxed when she went to warn the bath attendants that there were guests incoming.
They had eight guest rooms right now, with another four that were being refitted completely. No staff members were allowed to disclose the names of guests, and one of the hostesses was a truth seeker. No one was going to be speaking about the incoming clientele.
This was the best part of a new business and the part where things began to get working. This was normally the point where she would back away and seek another business to coax to life. However, she was playing an important part in this particular
business. She was the chef.
The hostesses came to her and told her the guests’ preferences. That is what she needed, and she tied her sleeves back and went to work. It was time to get cooking.
The weeks flew by, and guardians came and went from the Sacred Flame Retreat.
Amethyst and Lord Akutan came by to visit with his aunt, and they were surprised when the food coming from the kitchen was delightfully arranged and high quality.
Ageka chuckled at their astonishment. “Snow Bunny, get in here.”
Kyna untied her sleeves, removed her apron, and walked out with her hands folded in front of her. She hissed, “Stop calling me that.”
Amethyst’s eyes got wide. “Oh. Wow. Ky-nah. I get it.” She laughed.
Kyna smiled and knelt near the table but off to one side.
Lord Akutan tapped the table. “Sit with us.”
She sighed, rose to her feet, and walked over to sit as a guest.
Akutan smiled. “It has been six months. Are you enjoying yourself, Kyna?”
“Yes and no. I have only found one person willing to enter guardian training. So, I feel a little disappointed.”
Amy snorted. “You can’t make them want to leave their world for the stars. It isn’t in everyone.”
Ageka chuckled. “The food is getting cold. Eat, eat.”
Kyna picked up her sticks and started to lift and dip the pieces expertly.
Amy looked at her and grinned. “You seem to have picked that up.”
Lady Ageka snorted. “I lashed her with fire every time she stabbed her food. I think it helped.”
Kyna muttered, “It didn’t help, and she didn’t actually do that. She keeps the fire whip to get me away from the baths when the male guardians are coming through. For someone who advocates communal bathing, I am stuck to the ladies’ pool.”
Ageka tutted. “We don’t want any of them stealing you. Akutan has warned me about how some of the Imperium species react around your kind.”
“What?”
Akutan chuckled. “It is true. There has been a run on Terrans for years. They breed the talents of the guardians true with remarkable frequency.”
