An Interruption

Before you can say another word, Kishi looks just past your left shoulder, and her face goes utterly pale. "Oh... I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty! The Great Samurai requires my services, and I fear I must attend to him."

"I understand completely," you say as reassuringly as you can. "Please, allow me to accompany you, for I have only spoken a few words of greeting to Kuranoma Kuma-san."

"Of course, Your Majesty." Kishi seems to have slipped back into the timid and subservient attitude with which she first greeted you, even to the point of averting her eyes. Perhaps this is what is expected of her by her master; or, it may be simply that when she assumes the role of an interpreter, she does her best to effectively remove herself from the conversation.

As you approach the Samurai, you are struck as you were upon first meeting him by his powerful presence. Although he is at least six inches shorter than you, he still appears imposing and commanding, with an aura of supreme confidence and capability. One gets the impression that a dragon could burst into the room and blast him with its fiery breath, and Kuranoma Kuma would simply wave the flames aside with his hand and then **** the beast to back down by glaring at it. You feel almost as though you must remind yourself that you are the King!

Kuranoma bows stiffly at the waist in the manner of his people as you approach, and when you reach him you return the gesture, though not bending quite as low. "Kuranoma Kuma-san," you say to him, "I trust that the hospitality of my hall is not found wanting."

Kishi repeats your words in her own tongue, her voice so low that you wonder that the Samurai can hear her, but he seems to have no trouble.

"Watashi wa mottomo kangei sa rete iru to kanji sase raremashita, Kingu Xavier-sama," he replies (unfortunately, you cannot imagine what he says, except for your own name which he pronounces quite poorly!)

"I have been made to feel most welcome, most honored King Xavier," Kishi whispers.

"I must ask forgiveness for making Kishi-san unavailable to you," you continue. "She is delightful company, and I am fascinated to know of the places you have seen during your travels."

Kishi's cheeks flush pink for just a moment, and she hesitates slightly before translating your words; it occurs to you then that it may be somewhat awkward for her to tell Kuranoma of compliments bestowed upon her! But the Samurai takes it as he seems to take everything, with a wooden and stoic expression.

"She is... a very clever woman," Kishi says to you, blushing even more as she interprets her master's reply. "If you will grant me the honor of an audience at a later time, Your Majesty, I would be pleased to speak to you of my home and the places we have seen on our way to this... great kingdom." It seemed that Kishi struggled with the last words for a moment, and it seems that she might have settled on something different from what the Samurai actually said, because she did not know the precise translation.

"Once the festival is concluded, I would be pleased to spend a day in this manner, Kuma-san," you reply. "How long will you be staying in Elyssia? You are welcome, of course, for as long as you wish."

"I had planned to stay through only one turn of the Moon, Your Majesty," Kishi translates. "We do not wish to be trapped in the mountains by the Winter."

"Then, we must be certain that you have the opportunity to enjoy all that Elyssia has to offer," you reply... and then a thought occurs to you. There is a suite of guest rooms in one of the castle towers which are fit for royalty, and rather than offering these premium accommodations to any one of your noble guests, Valerie suggested that the rooms be kept available so that you could invite many different guests to stay in them. It had been on your mind to offer the room to Queen Alayna for this night, but perhaps it would be best to invite the Samurai instead. Not only would it show proper hospitality to one who represents a powerful ruler from a very distant land, it might give you another chance to converse with Kishi without her master present.