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[Silent Poet]

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Silent Poet sat at his desk in his room staring deeply into the flame on the cooking iron that was heating his tea. The heartstone was pulsing a faint blue color.

He could hear footsteps approaching and fading out in the hall. If he did no know better it sounded as if it might be Tai pacing outside. Poet stood up and went to the door.

Upon opening the door, he did indeed find Tai pacing the hall outside.

"Och, ye wee spraleen, wha' are ye doin' pacin' ootside me door?"

"Poet-san, I must talk to you. I want none of your tricks."

"Well, come ye in, an' tell me wha' is on yuir mind."

"I ask permission to court Rryn-san."

"Tha' I canna do. She is ... Wha' are ye crouchin' o'er there for, if I dinna ken better I would swear ye were aboot ta' kick me in tha' noggin."

"Poet-san, you have told other men they could not because of me. Now you say I cannot?"

"Och, who told ye tha'!"

"Okay, me lad, I wi' let ye do it if ye first let me bathe ye in tha' flamin' light o' truth an' honesty. Only a lad who wi' stand true ta' this spell could hae enow honor ta' court oor Rryn."

"Hai! I am prepared."

Poet chuckled a bit and then said, "Kal Vas Flam!"

A column of flame enveloped the samurai, and Poet laughed in earnest. It was about then that Poet could have sworn he heard something about a boot.

When Poet woke up he was laying on the ground of his office with Tai sitting astride him patting out fires on his gi.

"Poet-san. I said no tricks."

"Och, ye bloody barbarian, ye booted me in tha' eye."

"Now, give me your answer."

"I am nay sure ye deserve her. Ye are a wee bit short..." Poet noticed that odd sound of movement through the air then saw only stars and then blackness."

Poet woke up sprawled in his desk chair holding a snowball to his eye.

"Dammit, man, ye kicked me in tha' eye again."

"This is your last chance to be serious. I do not relish trying to jump so high to hit such an empty head with my foot."

"Okay, ye whirlin' dervish. Keep yuir damned sneaky feet away from me. Ye hae me blessin' ta' court tha' lass."

Poet staggers to his full height and loom down towards the Samurai. Shadows swirled around Poet's lean and lanky body.

"How e'er, if ye hurt her, or break her heart. I will do more than kick ye in tha' eye."

"Poet-san, if I hurt her, I would punish myself far worse than you could."

Poet rubbed his chin making the bells Cat had braided there jingle softly.

"Aye, I suspect ye could. Noow, I hae a bit o' advice."

Poet rummages in his wardrobe, and then turns and hands some clothing to Tai.

"I think if ye wear this tha' next time ye see her, she wi' be sure ta' notice ye are in tha' room an' could not but think ye are tha' most manly."

Tai looked down at the oddly colored gi, and headband.

"Is this another one of your jokes?"

"Nay, me lad, trust me on this one."
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"When he spoke, what tender words he used! So softly, that like flakes of feathered snow, They melted as they fell." - John Dryden

[Tai Kwan Leap]

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Tai Kwan Leap sat in his room rubbing his foot.

"I had forgotten how hard Poet-san's head is."

He sat there staring at the oddly colored gi and head band that Poet had given him to wear on his next encounter with Rryn.

"He does know more about courting a woman than I do, but I have a bad feeling about this."

Tai slowly puts on the outfit and went looking for Cat, or one of the other lady Minstrels to get their opinion of Poet's clothing choice.
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"He's been fired from the Shrimp Boat?" -- Charlaine Harris "Living Dead In Dallas."

[Guest]

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Rryn Anyai sat quietly in the tavern. She loved these early mornings here, no one about, a chance to meditate. She had awaked to the sounds of training in the dojo. She knew Tai-san had a new student and from the sound of things behind the thin walls they were already deep into training. Pulling out tea leaves from a basket, she smiled quietly to herself. The events of the last two eve’s had certainly been surprising. …

She had been preparing tea leaves for curing and drying when Tai had walked over and asked to join her. She had spoken with him numerous times yet she still became quite addlebrained whenever he was around. The talk was of the tea leaves she was preparing. A simple enough conversation, yet there was more to it. He had offered to assist her in preparing for the classes but he was concerned.

"In the culture of my lands, this is the first step of courtship, the sharing of tea with a Lady."he stated as a reddish tint rose to his cheeks.” This is so in your homeland?”
“Hai! This is also such in my homeland” she replied glancing quickly at him and back to the tea.
He hesitated then stated bluntly”, “Then I shall need to speak with your father or brother for such honor as I would like this but I will not dishonor your family by not asking for such permissions”
“I have no family of which you speak to gain such permissions. Other than Poet-san whom is my guardian” she replied in a whisper.
“Then I shall speak with him” Tai replied with resolve in his voice.

The conversation turned as he started to tell her the history behind the different tea leaves as he had learned while living amongst the monks in the monastery. After a short time he rose to attend a meeting promising to speak with Poet post-hast.

The next eve found them at the Legion’s Party. He told her of speaking with Poet and that Poet had set his clothes aflame denying him the right to court her. She could not believe it. He then informed her with a laugh that Poet also had a shiny new bruising on his eye and had changed his mind about not giving permission. She smiled pleased that he had been granted honor to court her. Many had beseeched Poet-san but none had succeeded. Thinking Tai was exaggerating the encounter just a bit she returned to the Garden to find Poet with snow to his eye. He regaled the same events of the eve. He had given permission, but should Tai-san mistreat her she was to inform him immediately. He also warned her with a hearty chuckle that Tai had never courted a lady before so to be forgiving of any errors on his part. She nodded quickly not noticing the mischievous gleam in his one good eye.

Coming out of her revere, she noticed the noises from the dojo has ceased. She smiled happily as she poured the hot water from the kettle into her chawan (tea bowl) and added the tea leaves with a chashaku(tea scoop). She had not seen Tai peek into the tavern and see her sitting there preparing her tea.

Minutes later she heard his footfall coming thru the tavern. She smiled and turned with a welcome on her lips…….

“Konni……”

...........her jaw fell open at the sight that met her. She blinked several times then threw her hand over her mouth to stifle the giggles that threatened to escape her. Standing there was a sight she had never thought to see. Tai-san dressed in the brightest, prettiest pink silk brocade with a garland of orchids around his head! His face became flushed in a deep red seeing her reaction.




“I believe Poet-san has had his revenge then for the eye?” he replied. “He said this should make me look most-manly for you, I am embarrassed to say I believed him.”
“While the outfit is most lovely, the color does not suit you and the flowers are a bit much I must say, I should tend to agree Poet-san has had a small bit of revenge in this.” She laughed.





They talked for a few moments deciding the best way to handle this bit of mischief. Tai wanted to give him a match for his other eye but Rryn had another plan….....

Tai grinned as he removed the orchids and handed then over the table to her for her hair.