Cherry straightened her only good outfit, a riding outfit in a dark blue, and knocked on the door to the high quality inn room.
The door opened to reveal Dierna. She was not pleased to see Cherry.
"Lady Dierna, may I come in?"
She stepped back and waved Cherry in. "My husband and Kethry are both gone."
"I know." Cherry said nervously. "I wanted to speak to you without the harsh words that seem to crop up at every turn."
"I suppose you want money."
Cherry laughed. "Gracious, no. I am not interested in your money. I wish to speak about Kethry."
Lady Dierna sat on an ornate chair. "Speak then."
Cherry took the chair across from her rather than stand like a lowly petitioner. "I understand your concerns. Kethry is your baby girl. You want what's best for her."
"Your point?" Lady Dierna asked stiffly.
"I wish the same thing for her, she is my sister but she also reminds me of my little girl." Cherry's voice broke. "She was just four when she was murdered, the same age Kethry was when she first appeared in the kitchen. I would give anything to give Eleri a chance like this. The prestige of being trained by the Hawk Brothers would let her choose whatever path that took her fancy. I can do nothing for Eleri now, but I can give this to Kethry."
"Murdered?" Lady Dierna's face softened.
Cherry's hands shook as she unfolded the certificate. "You're lucky. You have a husband who cherishes you and your children, I wasn't so blessed." She let Lady Dierna read the paper, it took her only a few seconds. "I know it is no guarantee, but I swear that I would protect Kethry with my life. I would never let anything happen to her."
Lady Dierna handed back the paper.
"I don't want to come between you and Kethry." Cherry persisted. "I certainly don't want to hurt your family. I just want to do for Kethry what I cannot do for Eleri. There is no better training than what the Hawk Brothers offer, I asked Princess Elspeth herself."
Lady Dierna stared at her hands for a moment. "If I agree, that is if, will you promise to stay with her and protect her. I'd be happier if it was one of her brothers, but she'd outwit them before they reached the first crossroad."
"I will do everything in my power to deliver her back to you safe and whole." Cherry's lips twisted in a wry smile. "I killed Bernd for what he did to Eleri. Now that I know what I can do, I would do far worse to anyone who threatened Kethry."
Lady Dierna sighed and stood. "We need a drink."
She poured each of them a cut crystal glass of liquor.
"I will be blunt, I would rather you didn't exist." Lady Dierna said after she finished her drink. "However, you do. So will I tell Lordan to acknowledge you and accept you as a daughter. But you don't throw his actions in our face again."
"Provided he keeps a civil tongue in his head and does not try to force his way into my life I will not bring it up again. I will not call him father and I do not wish him to call me daughter. I will gladly claim Kethry as a sister and the boys as brothers if they wish to claim the relationship."
Lady Dierna nodded to herself. "I will tell Kethry I will agree, provided she agrees to obey you and to avoid danger where possible."
Cherry let out the breath she was holding. "Thank you." There was nothing more to say. She set the full glass aside and stood.
"I hope Kethry listens to you better than she does to me." Lady Dierna said wearily.
Bel held the reins of Cherry's new horse, a retired Skybolt mount, as she mounted. A second horse was tied to the back of the saddle, also a retired Skybolt mount.
When she gathered her reins he released the gelding.
"Maybe I should have gotten a pony." Cherry looked down to the ground.
"Basilisk is a good fellow, he won't let you fall." Bel assured her. "Eldan wouldn't choose something you can't handle."
"Does he have to be so tall?" Cherry asked nervously. Basilisk, she called him Basil, was 17 hands high, more than two hands taller than Clove had been. Her pack horse was just a touch shorter.
"Trust me, they are good mounts for you." Bel assured her. "Take care of yourself. Don't let Kethry ride rough shod over you."
Kethry was checking her saddle and about to mount.
"I doubt she thinks I will be as stern as her mother." Cherry said.
Bel chuckled. "Does she know you are used to riding herd on a passel of young women?"
"I doubt she realizes it." Cherry smiled down at him. "I am going to miss you."
"I will miss you, too." Bel smiled up at her. "But I suspect the Lord Seneschal will miss you more."
"He is still upset?"
Bel grinned. "He tried to use the council to thwart you last night."
Cherry laughed as she removed a fabric wrapped parcel from the top of her saddle bags. "Don't let him see this, then or you will end up in the kitchen using it."
Bel opened her gift. "The Finest Collection of Recipes from the Kitchen of Mistress Cherry, Adept Cook. You wrote a book?"
Cherry grinned. "I thought you might be able to use it to satisfy that sweet tooth of yours."
"I will give it a try." Bel promised. "I have a gift for you as well." He produced a loop of glowing white hair braided into an intricate bracelet studded with little blue beads and a little silver charm.
Cherry reverently put the bracelet on. "Thank you, to both you and Nainsi."
"You're most welcome. Our paths will cross again, Cherry."
"I hope so." Cherry said.
"Time to go." The Skybolt escorting them called.
"Farewell." Bel said as she urged her horse into a walk, he responded immediately, unlike Clove.
"Farewell." Cherry called over her shoulder.
"No kiss good bye?" Kethry teased as Cherry drew abreast.
"We are friends, not lovers." Cherry said.
"Not for lack of longing from what I see." Kethry waved a last farewell to her parents. "Mother says I have to obey you."
"I know. We reached an agreement. You are a wellborn young lady, you need a chaperone."
Kethry scowled. "No, I don't. Come on, I'm an adult!"
"You are not an adult until you are eighteen or you are married." Cherry corrected.
"Oh, fine." Kethry grumbled.
Cherry sensed Kethry would have more words on the topic in the future, when she was far enough from Haven her parents couldn't change their minds.