The Crow and the Cardinal

MAJOR EDITING done on this chapter. Read and tell me what you think!!



Many thanks to all those who read and review. You guys are what keeps me writing!! ^_^




-----------------------------



Rikaisa's eyes darted back and forth across the banquet hall, surveying the new faces among the Irken soldiers. He had been late in arriving to the ceremony, so he had missed the formal introductions. It was bad enough everyone turned to stare when he walked in, but on top of that, the orchids he carried caused many a smirk and snicker among the warriors.



‘How do I manage to get myself into these fixes anyway?’ he berated himself. ‘Damn me and my soft spot for children.’ Sighing, he sat back and waited for the banquet to begin.



"I have to say, Captain, the flowers add a nice touch to your outfit." a voice beside him teased.



"Piss off."



"No, really," Xander continued, "they bring out the color in your eyes. It's very becoming." He bit his lip in an effort to keep a straight face.



Rikaisa grumbled and turned away.



Xander sighed and shook his head, pouring himself and the Captain each a glass of wine. Rikaisa nodded his thanks, then turned his attention to his newly arrived meal of steak and boiled potatoes. Xander, who did not like potatoes, gave his to Rikaisa, who was very hungry and glad for more food. Both tried to remember to save room for dessert.



As they ate, Rikaisa glanced around the table. He saw many new faces among the familiar ones. He was glad that there were so many this year: men and women both, most of them just reaching adulthood, a few that appeared closer to his own age, all of them eager to serve and protect their king and people. ‘For the good of the empire,’ he smiled, raising his glass in a silent toast to his king.



“So, who gets the flowers?” Xander inquired between bites.



“Hmph.”



Chuckling, Xander reached for his own glass. “Not that I was really expecting a reply. Go on and keep your secrets, Rikaisa.” He sipped his wine.



"If you must know-- "



"I just said I wasn't--"



"--I've been given a very important mission by the Lords Mikel and Refiel."



Xander laughed. "The Gomerh twins? What sort of mischief have they put you up to this time?"



"No mischief," the Captain replied. “Did you know they had an older brother? I probably knew at one point, but until now I had forgotten.”



“Yes, he’s here, actually. Swordsman, your division, I believe. You are right, Farmer Gomerh does in fact have three children. I had forgotten as well. Quite frankly, the oldest isn’t quite as...memorable as his younger siblings.” Xander added with a groan.



Rikaisa nodded. The Gomerh twins, each at the ripe age of four, had already made a name for themselves. Like typical boys their age, they were rowdy and silly, and they enjoyed being the center of attention. They were different, however, in that they were both very smart for their age and took full advantage of it. They had a habit of getting into trouble with their crazy schemes, whatever they were at the time. Rikaisa was actually frightened by how crafty and clever the two rascals could be. He suddenly remembered why he had mentioned them in the first place, and he began to fear his undoing.



Pushing thoughts of impending doom out of his mind, he replied, “Yes, well, memorable or no, I have been given the task of finding this older sibling.”



“Uh-huh..” Xander seemed puzzled. “And the flowers?”



"They request that I give these to their brother, should I see him.” He paused. “Though I haven’t the slightest idea who he is or what he looks like.” He stopped, waiting to see if Xander would take the hint.



There was a silence, and Rikaisa began to wonder if Xander had heard him. He turned back to face the Lieutenant, and was more than a little unnerved to find grinning impishly from ear to ear. “Uh.....Xander, why are you smiling like that?”



“Hmm? Oh, nothing, nothing.” Xander replied, suddenly appearing very distracted.



Rikaisa raised an eyebrow. “I think you are lying, Xander.”



“Now why would you ever think a thing like that, Captain?” Xander asked with a wink.



Rolling his eyes, Rikaisa turned back toward his plate.



Xander continued to smile to himself as all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. “Perhaps this banquet might not be so boring after all,” he grinned.



“What do you mean?” the Captain inquired, glancing sideways at the Lieutenant.



“Captain, you really should come out with us tonight,” Xander continued, once again ignoring his commanding officer’s questions. “I think you might enjoy it more than you’re willing to admit.”



“...I what?”



“Sure! You’ve got the outfit, and the flowers, all you need now is the man, am I right?”



Rikaisa blinked at his suboordinate, certain that the man had lost his mind. “Xander, I don’t know what’s going on in your head, but I don’t have time for games. Now I demand that you tell me what tricks you have up your sleeve, or so help me-”



“Come now, Rikaisa,” the sly grin now growing into a smirk, “I know you’re sharper than that. Use that brain of yours.”



“I have a mission, Xander. As ridiculous as I feel right now, I promised the young boys I would give these flowers to their brother. Now are you going to help me find this boy or not?”



Xander shrugged and sipped his wine, saying nothing further.



Rikaisa sighed loudly. “A lot of fucking help you are.”



“I don’t want to take away from the joy of your discovery.” Xander smiled.



“You’d rather have me search all night and end up looking like a complete ass--”



“Excuse me...” a soft voice interjected.



Recognizing the timid dialect of a new recruit, Rikaisa turned to calmly but firmly remind this young soldier that it was rude to interrupt, particularly a conversation between two senior officers. “Cadet, I shouldn’t have to tell you that....that...you...I...”



Rikaisa was not at all a believer in “love at first sight”. He had always scoffed at such frilly ideas of romance and so-called destiny. He swore he’d never be one of those that fell into an obsession after one single encounter. Now, looking at the gorgeous creature that stood before him, he wasn’t so sure.



His hair, tied back in the traditional style of entry-level soldiers, was a deep shade of red that reminded Rikaisa of a ripened apple dangling in the sunlight. Glimmering jade-green eyes stared right back into his own, seeming to search his very soul. A shy smile crept over the young man’s face as their eyes met, and Rikaisa’s heart fluttered in his chest. ‘If I were watching myself right now, I think I might make myself sick.’ he thought. Suddenly self-conscious, he forced himself not to think about any of the rest of the boy’s appearance, lest he thoroughly embarrass himself.



Xander chuckled to himself as the Captain went speechless. ‘Ah, Rikaisa. So delightfully awkward in the face of romance.’ Smiling, he spoke aloud, “Captain, I would like to introduce you to Cadet Samael Gomerh. Samael, this is Captain Lometa. You’ll be learning under his command once we set sail again.” Turning back toward Rikaisa, he added, “Samael is the oldest son of Farmer Josef Gomerh, and of course, brother to the young Lords Mikel and Refiel Gomerh.” he added this last part with a grin, nudging the Captain with his elbow.



“What? Oh, yes, right. Um...here, these are for you.” Rikaisa gladly handed off the flowers to the young recruit.



Samael accepted the flowers, his cheeks turning slightly pink.



“Oh, no no no,” Rikaisa said hurriedly, “They’re not from me. I mean, it wasn’t my idea. They’re from your younger brothers, you see. I met them and your father in the Avenue today--”



“Oh...I see.” The young cadet replied, sounding a bit dissappointed.



“Er, what I meant to say is...these particular flowers aren’t from me specifically. Not that I wouldn’t give you flowers. I mean, I would. Er, that is, I might. We’ve only just met after all, and it wouldn’t be very proper for me to...um...give you...things....just yet.”



The blush returned to Samael’s cheeks, and he buried his face into the flowers, pretending to smell them.



‘When did I lose all command of the Irken language?’ Rikaisa grumbled to himself.



Xander had turned away under the guise of having to sneeze, failing miserably as he burst into a fit of giggles. Rikaisa ignored him, though he felt his cheeks burning in shame.



“So...my brothers swiped these flowers for me, then?” the young soldier inquired.



Rikaisa thought the young man had a very pleasing voice. Very soft and shy at the moment, but with a certain melodic quality to it. He wondered briefly if the boy liked to sing, then suddenly remembered he was meant to answer the boy’s question.



“No no, they paid for them. Your father made sure of that,” Rikaisa answered. “They bought ‘em, fair and square,” he added, remembering Mikel’s indignant face.



Samael laughed softly at the imitation of his younger brother. The Captain decided then that he very much liked the sound of the young cadet’s laughter. ‘I wish I could think of more funny things to say.’ he mused.



“So then, it’s decided!” Xander suddenly exclaimed.



“Huh?” Rikaisa had forgotten that Xander even existed.



“You’re coming to the party tonight, aren’t you? Of course you are!” he supplied before the Captain could object. “Splendid, splendid fun! First round is on me, after that you’re on your own.” he winked.



“Now listen here!” Rikaisa whirled around to face Xander. “I’ve had enough of you and your meddling–”



“Oh, are you going to the party?” Samael asked.



“What?” Rikaisa turned back around. “Oh, um...Yes. I mean no. I mean...maybe.” he stammered.



“Oh.” Samael replied. “Well, I’m going. I mean, I might be. I don’t usually go to parties, but if you’re going, I’ll go.”



Rikaisa’s eyes widened. “Y–you will?”



Samael nodded.



“Well, then...” the Captain finally spoke up, “...then I’ll go.”



“Excellent!!” Xander shouted, drawing more than a few stares from the rest of the table.



Samael smiled. “Ok then...see you tonight, Captain Lometa.” He made a proper salute before returning to his seat.



“Yes...see you tonight...” Rikaisa replied in a dream-like state. He was shaken from his reverie by the sound of snickering.



Xander ducked just in time to save himself from a flying potato.