Khy'eras

Ksenia walked through the Hall’s yard and into the building with a brisk step and an expression of mild annoyance on her face. When getting through a crowd, looking irritated and walking fast worked wonders. She heard Kit behind her, and shifted her bundle to open the door to her makeshift room. Art...

Kit had let her settle the bundle on his back without protest, and Ksenia gingerly began the walk back. She’d tried to take as much as she thought he’d let her get away with in her own load. He’d set his jaw as they’d begun moving - determined to bull through any discomfort, she guessed. They were j...

Ksenia thought to herself that Kit’s smile was entirely forced. He didn’t want to admit to anything being wrong. That was, at least, a feeling she understood. ‘Was it fear of showing weakness or pride?’ she wondered. “Go ahead and set everything down for a minute. We’ll need to divvy this up to carr...

Studying Kit, Ksenia noticed his jaw tighten and his shoulders stiffen. Something about the idea wasn’t okay with him. “Or - I guess we could try something else,” she said, thinking. Unlike other people she had learned to study closely, she wasn’t concerned about making Kit mad - but she didn’t want...

Ksenia marched down the street, back rigid and cheeks flushed. She heard Kit trying to catch up to her. Remembering that he had the bulk of their purchases to carry, she slowed down. Maybe there’d be a spot where they could adjust everything. Kit drew near her and offered an apology, adding, “I hope...

Gritting her teeth, Ksenia felt the flush of anger heat her cheeks and her stupid ears. ‘Knife-ear bullshit,’ the man’s words sang in her head, chorused by other voices saying similar words in the past. Now, though, she didn’t have to depend on people like him for a roof or a crust of bread. She fel...

Flipping through the shelves, Ksenia pulled a few more out to add to the pile. She looked for simple ones, trying to look for any she thought might interest Artemis enough to keep him engaged. Teaching him to read would depend entirely on pulling his attention from other things. Kit described a part...

Ksenia poked around the store, keeping an eye toward the back for the owner. She heard Kit rummaging around, the clink of pottery and shuffling sounds telling her of his progress. She found a pile of old, but still serviceable, cutlery and wooden spoons. Picking out a dozen spoons, she took a few ta...

Perking up at the mention of libraries, reading, and bookkeeping, Ksenia grinned. “I can certainly put you to work with those skills. Keeping track of the hall business, with the applicants for spaces and then expenses - plus my own sewing - looked like it was going to be a nightmare.” She shook her...

Ksenia coughed, trying to hide a laugh at Kit’s innocent-sounding question regarding Miss Turley. “She likes good-looking men, which is why all the comments about ‘Mister Black’. If Artemis had been with us, we probably would have paid less,” she managed to get out. “Sorry if she made you feel like ...