Kamar gazed over all of a sudden at the young woman who walked n next to Kavan and while he was not instantly smitten, there was something about the way she walked that had his eyes running over her body like a well worn pair of hands. When they introduced themselves, he had heard something in that voice of hers that he hadn’t heard in a long time- and so he couldn’t be faulted for falling for her so much.

“Keena.” He said, forgetting that Kista was sitting there and he smiled slightly as he watched her, tilting his head to one side. “I never knew Kavan had a sister.” It seemed that the world was falling apart except for the two of them, and he liked that. Very much.

“He doesn’t really talk about me.” She shrugged, and yet there was something about the way she slanted her head as she watched him coolly, a small smile that seemed to play at the corners of her lips. “I never knew this place existed.”

“People don’t really talk about it.” He said back in return, and he smiled slightly, that lazy smile.

“Stop it.” Her voice was abrupt, and people seemed to still as they watched the little exchange. Kista began to glare daggers at them as she watched her own crush flirts with someone so obviously.

“What?” he sounded truly quizzical until she sent him that look. His look melted into something sexual. “This?”

***

“Kids these days…” Mino muttered as he sat, glaring at the scene next o Karamex who watched him with a slightly amused expression on her face.

“Surely you cannot blame children for being children?” she teased, feeling fondness for the old man grow as she placed in front of him a watered down drink.

“Children do not look at each other like that.” He retorted, and as he drowned down his drink he choked. “What are you trying to feed me woman, water?”

“Drinking isn’t good for you.” She said sternly, and yet she couldn’t hide the smile. This was more of a daily ritual between them that she was starting to enjoy.

“Says the woman who sells drinks.” He scoffed, and glared at her until she replaced the drink with something darker. Taking a sip and growling appreciatively, he watched the scene with beady eyes. “Children…”

“Should do all that in public.” She arched a brow. “You know what they’d do if they were forced to do it behind hidden doors?”

“Oh you.” And yet an uneasy smile was pulled from his face as he chuckled. “You’ll never change, will you Kara?”

Her eyes softened then, and placing a hand on his she smiled, shaking her head. “Fraid not.”

***

Mika looked up, bewildered basically by the sexual tension in the air and as she turned her head to look around, a gentle yet strong hand was placed on her shoulder. She looked up to see Dustan, the more serious of the two brothers standing there like a foreboding pillar. He was a silent shadow, and she seemed to relax as if she knew that this man would never harm her in his life.
They had known each other since she was a child and he smiled slightly at the look on her face. He had no ill intentions towards her, he felt as protective over her as a mother hen might have over her brood- which amused Karamex to no ends. He looked up for a moment, and catching the glance of the mother he nodded before picking her up gently as if she weighed nothing.

“Come.” He said gently. “Let’s get you out of this turmoil, hmm?” he said gently, and the softest smile seemed to come across his face as if he was speaking to someone he adored.

“Kay.” She grinned, an unexpected trusting grin as she shrugged, hesitating as she looked back. “Kista’s not happy.” She stated.

“No.” while Dustan understood that Mika often had troubles placing words; he was surprised sometimes by her childlike personality. He grinned. “She’s jealous.” He whispered the words as if it was a secret, and she giggled, laughing as she wrapped her arms around his neck so that she was balanced.

“She’s always jealous.” She said, and there was a look in her eyes, a hesitation for she fingered the necklace on her neck. “You won’t tell her I said that, will you?”

“Cross my heart.”

***

“Kooska!” calling after the pale haired young woman, Dahn all but ran out of the inn to follow the furiously blushing waitress to where she walked over to the outer tables and collected the empty dishes. “You’re not… hiding from me, are you?” the brash words seemed to convey shyness as she looked around, lowering her voice.

“Of course not.” Yet the blush seemed to flare as she looked away.

“Then why are you avoiding me?” cursing under her breath she reached out and held onto Kooska’s arms.

“I’m not!” she yelled back, and realizing the crowd she was drawing she lowered her voice to a fierce whisper. “It’s just…”

Understanding seemed to dawn to Dahn’s eyes as she began to laugh. “You’re embarrassed.” She stated, and she laughed harder as if she couldn’t believe that this quiet waitress was embarrassed. “Dragon shells.” She muttered, raking her hands through her hair as she watched the woman who seemed to look away, confirming her suspicions. “Sweetie.” She said gently. “You don’t have to…”

“But it’s wrong!” she burst out, and as if horrified she jerked away and looked away.

“Wrong?” her voice grew colder, and yet as if realizing just how torn up the young woman was, she smiled. “Are you saying that you hated it?”

“No but…”

“Then Kooska, you have nothing to worry about.” Smiling and throwing an arm around her shoulder, she grinned. “I will never hurt you.”

***

“He is such a….” Kista’s words seemed quietly burning as she looked over to where he was sitting in the corner with the wench. “What can he see in her?”

“Nothing, of course.” Koomi said, loyally standing up for her idol. “He’s probably had too much to drink.” Sniffing and looked over anxiously, she reached up. “Kista, will you be okay?”

“Of course I won’t be okay!” there was a quiet, deadly anger that seemd illogical as it burned within her. “How can anyone be okay after being faced by that… that…” as if in a lost for words, she growled. “Ugh!”

“Come on Kista, you’re a beautiful talented young woman… you can have any man.”

“Except for him!” her eyes glittered dangerously, and Koomi watched her with a fearful gaze. “She’s going to pay.”

“Of course she will.” Koomi replied stoically. “Of course.”

***

Beena stretched as she watched the man and arched a brow. “I’ve never seen you around before.” The three were sitting closely together as if they were in the middle of an important discussion. They looked right somehow, as if they had been meant to sit next to each other in such a way.

“Of course not. You always have your eye on him.” Duvan said, motioning with his head to where the couple was sitting.

“Not true.” She sniffed indigently, and yet her eyes strayed as they narrowed thoughtfully. “Jintha’s going to give Kavan such a taste of…” as if realizing that they were sitting with a stranger, she turned slightly and smiled. “Well?”

“I’ve always been here.” he shrugged. “In that corner.” He motioned to where the darkness seemed to drink up the booth. At her nod, he continued. “It was never interesting, and I never really thought I should waste my effort…”

“Waste?” Beena arched a brow and leaned back.

“Well…” he frowned, as if choosing the right words. “You seemed like a family.”

She laughed then, nodding. “We are that.” She conceded, and grinned. “But I’d have been hurt if you’d never introduced yourself… “ she shrugged. “Since you have, I’m not.”

“But really, what’s up with those people?” Mitar said, motioning with his head.

Duvan laughed. “Long story.”

***

Jintha looked over, lounging as she did so and frowning. “You know, I missed you… but why did you have to bring her?” her angry shade of the head explained everything as she looked over at the scene.

“Because.” He said pleasantly. “I wanted to see Kista’s reaction.”

She paused, blinked and suddenly laughed at this word as if they were funny. “That’s true…” she admitted, grinning as she did so. “I’ve never seen her so incensed… but then, I’ve never seen Kamar so enamored…”

“Are you doubting the family genetics on making people attractive?” he pretended to look shock.

“You know what I mean.” She frowned as she looked across at the friend she had known forever, and pursed her lips. “You know.” She said thoughtfully. “If you hadn’t been my friend, I’d have killed you for bringing in another piece of competition.”

“Ah.” He said, grinning as he did so. “But you see.”

“Yes?”

He leaned forewords as if conspiring. “You never really loved him… you’ve only loved the competition that set you and Kista apart.” He shrugged. “You were never friends, after all.”

Jintha paused, and she grinned a sly grin. “True, friend… true.” She admitted.

***

When conflicts arise...