fandomhighdorms | The lawn in front of the dorms: early Monday evening

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The lawn in front of the dorms: early Monday evening

For the first time in what felt like forever, Karal had taken Trenor for a long ride, finishing with a run in the Preserve.

Now they were relaxing in front of the dorms, Karal under a tree, Trenor grazing on the long line, and Altra sprawled across one of the tree's branches, legs and tail dangling.

Karal wasn't used to or comfortable with doing nothing, but considering what the next few days would bring, he could enjoy it for now.

[ooc: it is open, yes.]

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"Hello," Inara greeted Trenor as she approached, holding her hand out for him to sniff. Then she waved cheerfully at Karal.

Trenor sniffed delicately at her hand, then lowered his head, presenting his forehead to be scratched. Karal chuckled and rose to his feet to walk over. "I fear he is becoming very spoiled."

"As he should be," Inara scratched Trenor's nose appropriately. "Congratulations on your unemployment."

"My thanks, Inara." He beamed at her and patted Trenor's shoulder. "I have never been so happy in my whole life as when Altra said Solaris was coming to take over my role."

"Do you have plans for the rest of your time, now that it's suddenly free?"

Karal laughed, he couldn't help it. "I have never before had time that was completely free," he explained. "I am not sure I know what to do with it! Though it will not be entirely free. Tomorrow I return to Valdemar to welcome Solaris, and I will still be the secretary, so I am sure there will be some tasks still for me to attend to."

"What will you be doing as secretary?" She asked, stroking down Trenor's neck. "Will you be able to come and go as you please?"

Trenor sighed happily and shifted slightly, cocking one hip as his eyes half closed and his bottom lip started to droop. "I am not certain," Karal admitted. "I hope most of my time will be spent here, but all I can do is wait for Solaris to tell me. Seeing as I was sent here at her word, I hope that she will wish me to stay."

"I hope that she will as well, and I'm willing to write letters if that will help."

Smiling, Karal leaned against his horse. "It should not come to that," he chuckled. "But thank you for the offer. And," he looked down at his hands, "thank you for your help. I am not sure I would have been brave enough to return without it."

"I'm glad that what little I did helped you feel better," she reached for Karal's hand, "but I believe that you're brave enough to do whatever is required."

He squeezed her hand and blushed. "Perhaps, but regardless, it did help," he said quietly. After a moment he smiled again. "Did Gavin tell you he met the Queen of Valdemar?"

"Yes, and I'm very sorry I missed seeing it."

"She was quite insistent she wished to meet him!" Karal laughed softly. "And it's never wise to refuse a Queen. You would have been proud of him, though. He comported himself well, and I think she quite liked him."

"Well, why wouldn't she?" Inara asked in the tone of one who was more than a bit besotted with the topic of conversation. "But no, I imagine refusing a Queen is never a good idea. How did the meeting go? He was a bit sleepy when we spoke."

He smiled at her tone and nodded, acknowledging the point. "It went well. Actually everything went well." Karal beamed again, still giddy over being relieved as Envoy. "He did have some rather odd questions for the Queen regarding Companions, however. He does know that you're not going to turn into a blue eyed horse, doesn't he?"

Inara felt her cheeks heat from the blush of her own conversation with Gavin on that subject, and that just made the blush deepen. "There was a slight misunderstanding, but I think we've straightened that out properly."

Karal hid a smile by turning to brush some imaginary dirt from Trenor's back. "Glory, I can only imagine!" he said, trying not to laugh. "So long as it is cleared up."

"Yes, completely clear," she said quickly. "How did the rest of your trip go? It wasn't just your job bothering you, as I remember."

"It is all fixed," he said, not able to keep the wonder out of his voice. "Jarim apologised for calling me a traitor - apologised! In full view of the rest of the Grand Council, no less - for his accusations. Of course, they all pretended they had never thought any such thing." Karal made a face. "But I do not care. I simply thank Vkandis that it is resolved."

"Oh, Karal, that's wonderful," she exclaimed, reaching over to hug him. "Do you know what changed his mind?"

Karal hugged her back happily. "My friend An'desha. He is a mage, and on both the Queen's Council and the Grand Council. He would not tell me very much, but somehow he managed to make Jarim see sense. It cannot have been easy, he said Jarim was as stubborn as a rock, but he persevered and it worked!"

"I'm so happy for you! That's wonderful, and I'm glad that everything has worked out for the best."

"As am I, Inara. I cannot even begin to tell you how much of a relief it is." His smile was a little shy, and he went a little pink, as he added, "And Altra has said that Molly may come with me tomorrow."

"Are you excited?"

"I am," he admitted. "About everything." With a hint of nervousness over Solaris' arrival to go along with it. "I am sure it's not normal to be so happy about losing one's job."

"I think it depends on the job," she laughed.

"I think you are right," he agreed with a grin. "I will be a secretary again, and glory will I be happy with that!"

"Does this mean I don't have to worry about you pining away for lack of important government business to take care of?" She teased him gently.

He ducked his head and smiled, running his fingers through Trenor's mane. "I imagine I can find enough to occupy me here to save me from pining for my lost duties."

She offered, "If you ever do find yourself needing a non-judgmental ear, I have two, remember."

"I will remember," he promised seriously, then smiled, full of gratitude. "And thank Vkandis that you do."

"Otherwise I wouldn't be able to wear eyeglasses, if I need them someday."

He burst out laughing, startling Trenor into stepping sideways and snorting. "Which would be a great tragedy," he managed to get out.

"I'd trip on my own feet," she teased, reaching a hand out to calm Trenor. "Besides, all the reigning ladies wear glasses eventually--it makes them look distinguished."

Trenor was happy to go to Inara, and he looked very dubiously at Karal, who was still chuckling, as he nuzzled her arm.

"You would be distingushed no matter what you wore," he told her after a moment. "And I cannot imagine you ever tripping!"

She giggled, then stroked Trenor's neck. Obviously Gavin hadn't told Karal about her attempts to teach him to dance. "I am human, you know," she said, obviously amused. "I trip and fall like everyone else."

"I know," he replied, plucking a handful of grass and offering it to Trenor as an apology. "But it is still hard to imagine."

"I'll make sure to call you the next time it happens," she teased.

He grinned at her. "I will wait with eager anticipation." As Trenor deigned to accept the grass, he considered her. "You know, I think you would make a good Priest. You have the, the air of serenity, of confidence. that the best of them carry."

Inara was very shortly laughing too hard to breathe, and was trying to take in huge gasps of air.

Karal made a face at her. "It is not so far fetched! You care for others, I have seen it!" he protested, then gave in and started laughing with her.

"I do, and thank you for thinking of me that way," she said, still chuckling, "but my job will eventually be to care for the physical well-being of my clients. The spiritual I will have to leave to you, or someone like you, but on Shinon."

"I know," he said again, smile a little sheepish. "It was a momentary fancy, is all."

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The lawn in front of the dorms: early Monday evening

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