My Lady|Malagard, Khelek

[Devon]

Ryder nodded. "She followed High Priestess Snowflake as her shadow pretty much. Learning of her duties in and out of the temple. Nalani spent most of her life around priests and priestesses of Love within that temple. Then Contrasta sank and they came here to Naruta."

[Kender Bard]

Locket chewed a little at one nail as she mulled the information over in her head, thinking hard.

"I guess you could say that Nalani never really got to have a normal childhood," Locket ventured. She glanced at Ryder from the corner of her eye, giving Ryder a sly and knowing look that seemed to suggest she was trying to tell him something.

[Devon]

Ryder smirked and nodded. "You could say that," he said. "She was honestly a little apprehensive about coming here since she didn't know what you had planned for her job. If I had a guess though, it seems you just want to help her have a little fun without a lot of worry."

[Kender Bard]

Locket tapped her nose with a smile and decided that she might as well reveal more to Ryder. She generally didn't like giving out secrets, but in this case, she felt she owed it to the man and her new charge. "I was honest in my original intentions. I do need a companion, and help figuring some of the finer points of sophistication, and Nalani was brought up with skills that will prove useful to learn."

She shrugged her shoulders a little. "And I'm Generous. I want to help her. Usually we wait for people to come to us but sometimes we take it upon ourselves to help others anyway. I don't know if it'll be appreciated, but she always looks tense to me. And what I've heard seems to confirm that. I like helping tense people." She thought of Crawford with a smile. Hopefully Nalani would prove a little more malleable.

[Devon]

"I thought it would do her some good to come here," he agreed, his wings fluttering slightly behind him. "Things haven't been the easiest for her lately and I've done what I can to help, but it never feels like it's enough. Please take care of Nalani for me."

[Kender Bard]

"Don't feel bad," Locket told him softly, giving him a little smile of encouragement. "I'm sure you've been a colossal help to Nalani. It's always good to know there's someone you love who will take care of you in your darkest moments. But sometimes there are darknesses we carry that we don't want to share with those people. She's probably trying to protect you as much as you're trying to protect her. But worry not! It's my goal that by the time the year is out she'll be as happy and joyful as, well, me!"

[Devon]

"Thank you," Ryder said returning her smile. It would be good to see a happier Nalani once again, but he wasn't sure if he'd be quite ready for her to be as energetic as Locket. "I'll come to visit occasionally, but until the year is out my dear Nalani is going to be in your care."

[Kender Bard]

"And the best care it shall be," Locket assured Ryder, and led him back to the room.

Nalani gave them both suspicious looks again.

"Your lover is a great kisser," Locket cheerfully informed Nalani.

Not rising to the bait, Nalani shook her head. "That was not funny."

"Yes it was," Locket enthused.

Nalani frowned a little at Ryder. What were you talking about?

[Devon]

~She just wanted to know a few things about you,~ he answered. "You'll be in good hands here Nalani," he said aloud.

[Kender Bard]

"And now I need to go speak with my friend," Locket announced. "Come with me, Nalani. I want to introduce you regardless."

Nalani looked at Ryder again before nodding and going to embrace him quickly once more. Locket was already leaving so she hurried to keep up.

Filly was in her workroom, turning a mindmelt pod around in her fingers with a thoughtful look. She smiled a bit noticing Locket's entrance but then gave Nalani a puzzled look. "Who's your friend, Locket?"

"This is Nalani," Locket introduced. "Nalani, this is Filly. She's the royal healer, my best friend, a few other things."

Filly promptly put the seed pod away and took Nalani's hand in her own. "A pleasure to meet you. I've heard of you; you're the reason we have Locket with us today."

"Aye, I've heard as much too," Nalani replied, blushing furiously.

"I'm keeping Nalani for a year for various purposes," Locket told Filly, a bit cryptically. Filly raised a brow but didn't deign to pry. She knew it gave Locket satisfaction to be in charge of her secrets.

For a moment, there was a deep silence. Nalani wondered if she was supposed to have said something until she noticed how Filly and Locket were looking at each other and their expressions were changing. Ah, she thought, recognizing a mental conversation. She folded her hands and just looked around the room, waiting politely. She didn't feel excluded, having gotten into such conversations with Ryder. It was easy to forget the non-Minds around you.

Locket seemed considerably less cheerful. Filly pulled her a little closer and gave her a small hug that Locket returned with a lack of enthusiasm.

"Why don't you introduce her to Harmony?" Filly suggested, not wanting Nalani to feel ignored.

"Aye, I should," Locket agreed.

"Who?" Nalani asked.

Filly smiled at her. "My daughter with Schuldig."

Nalani stared. "Wh-what? You mean the red-haired guard?" Filly raised a brow and nodded. "He's... are you... wait, what?"

"Filly is his wife," Locket explained. Of course Nalani couldn't know the Force-truth. "Harmony is their daughter from years and years ago. They were reunited a couple years ago."

He's got a wife and a child, Nalani thought in shock. Life is just so Force-damned unfair sometimes...

Filly was regarding Nalani's expression carefully. ~She doesn't like Schuldig~

Locket shook her head a little. I think he scares her. Or something. She's intimidated by the thought of seeing him again so I promised to give as much time and space until that happens as I can.

"O-of course I'll do whatever my lady desires," Nalani said after a moment of both women looking at her in a way she didn't like. But it was clear to them both that she wasn't interested.

"Well I'm not sure where she is," Locket remarked. "And there's still more I have to do today. Why don't you go back to Ryder and I'll come back when I need you again?"

Nalani nodded and, remembering the way back to her room, hurried off. She closed the door behind her when she reached her room. "He has a family!" she blurted to her beloved.

[Devon]

"Who does Nalani?" Ryder asked with a look of confusion on his face. While she was gone he had done nothing but rest his head against her pillow, now that she was back he sat up on the bed and ran his hand through his hair to smooth it out.

[Kender Bard]

Nalani sighed a little and came over. Watching him smooth his hair, she did so herself a bit more effectively. Then she began to preen his wings, just as soothing activity. "Schuldig," she said through gritted teeth. "That awful man who blamed me for your getting hurt here. You remember him? Well, he has a wife and a daughter. I can't imagine anyone loving him."

[Devon]

Ryder blinked, that was surprising. "There is a side to him we don't know and I doubt we'd ever see it," Ryder said. "But some part of him must be. . . nice if he is able to have a family that cares for him."

[Kender Bard]

That was what bothered her. It was hard to harbor... if not hate, then intense distaste for a man who clearly had the capability to be kind and loving.

"His wife is lovely," Nalani murmured. "I haven't seen their daughter yet." She leaned against his side gently. "I don't think Locket's going to let me hide in here for the duration of my stay though." It'd be nice if she could. "But maybe for today." She held his hand in her own. "I'll miss you terribly, Ryder. Please, see me again soon? Lifegiver day?"

She felt she may especially need his presence for that particular holy day.

[Devon]

Ryder's wings flared out and wrapped themselves around both he and Nalani as she leaned against him. Kissing her hand softly he nodded. "Lifegiver day it is then my love," he answered. "I'll miss you as well, but I don't think you'll have a bad time here at all."