So, I didn’t really know where I was going with this one. I just wanted to use the word chaise longue…
Copyright J.B. Norman
“Katherine,” Amara says, flopping herself down onto the chaise longue. “I’m rather vexed.”
“It’s amazing how often our conversations start with you saying that,” Kat mutters.
Amara stares at her best friend through narrowed eyes. And then tosses one of the pillows at her.
“So, uh,” Kat asks, “want to talk about it?”
“Yes, Katherine. That is generally how one assists one’s oldest, best, and dearest friend in times of vexation.”
Kat goes over to the chaise longue, sits down beside Amara and hands her back her pillow.
“Okay,” she says. “You just tell me all about it.”
“Are you actually going to listen?” Amara asks.
Kat coughs into her elbow.
“Not the most reassuring answer, Katherine,” Amara notes.
“Right,” Kat says, positioning herself more comfortably on the chaise longue. “Lay it on me.”
Amara’s fluffy white cat promptly hopes up onto Kat.
“Not you,” Kat mutters, but she starts petting the white ball of fluff nonetheless.
“Well, Katherine,” Amara begins. “As you know, I am a proud member of the Lyte Brigade. Though I’m beginning to think that I’m not contributing enough to the success of the guild.”
“And why is that?” Kat asks.
“Well, look at us: Nolan is the leader and quite skilled at keeping his shield between us and danger. Falcata is a force of nature. Pela is good at skulking around the battlefield and she’s quite the shot with her crossbow — though, technically, I believe it’s an arbalest.”
Kat blinks in confusion. “What’s the difference?”
“No idea,” Amara answers. “Tancred’s decent with his sword, but he’s always so concerned with keeping our spirits up. And we already have Matilda for magic, so what I am bringing to the table?”
“I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Amara,” Kat offers. “They’re a good group and if they really didn’t think you had anything to add, they would have dropped you a long time ago.”
She chuckles.
“Of course, even if you were just dead weight, that would never happen.”
“And why is that, Katherine?” Amara asks.
Kat scoffs. “Yeah. Like you don’t know.”
“I’m sure I don’t, Katherine.”
“Seriously, Amara? That Nolan guy has got it bad for you,” Kat replies.
“What on the Powers’ good earth are you talking about?” Amara cries.
“Seriously, Amara?” Kat cries back. “He is majorly not good at being subtle. It’s the most obvious thing in the world that he is crushing hard on you!”
Amara blushes deep red to the very tips of her pointed Elven ears. And across Porthaven, Nolan Lyte feels a strange sense of awkwardness settling over him and isn’t quite sure why.
“Well,” Kat declares. “You know what we should do?”
She pushes herself up from the chaise longue.
“We should go get lunch!”
“Are you saying that because you think it would help? Or just because you’re hungry?”
Kat coughs into her elbow.
“Okay, but,” she stammers. “What if we went to go get lunch, but I paid for it?”
Amara stares scrutinising Kat for a long, thoughtful moment.
“Who are you and what have you done to the real Katherine?” she asks, finally breaking her silence.
Nolan Lyte, ladies and gentlemen: smoothest man in Realmgard.
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