25 - Alaric and Aayina

                                        

                                              
Alaric felt ridiculous, attending the Ruma gallery after the week his family had endured, and yet he was gussied up and scowling. Hida was once again injured, far more severely this time, and inflicted from a Knight Instructor on a power trip. According to both witness testimony, and Information Bureau investigation, Knight Denerim had taken in the role of Instructor for Hida's cohort before her return, and in that time three sponsored commoner cadets dropped out. His methodology was aggressive and punitive, and there were multiple reports from the families of the other cadets that the frequency of injury had gone up. And once again, Alaric had only learned after the fact; Hida had never complained or hinted that something as wrong. 
"You're always so angry looking Alaric," Aayina Ram's voice lightly taunted, "what did this painting ever do to you to deserve such a dark look?" she'd looked rather fetching in her gown, like most ladies she'd chosen the more day appropriate style to feature her family colour as the flowers embroidered along the hem. Given the bright sunshine of August left even the Capital rather warm, Alaric almost envied the Ladies their light dresses and short sleeves. 
"The painting could slap me in the face and I'd thank it for being direct, Aayina; my anger is at myself because for some reason my little sister doesn't feel able to tell me when a grown Knight is being a brutal beast." He'd long given up trying to be the gentleman he should be where Aayina was concerned, not that he meant to be rude but something compelled him to be direct with her like he was no other. 
He was grateful she was spirited enough to respond in kind, though they did somehow act proper near others. Mostly. "You've never been a 15 year old girl, Alaric," Aayina pointed out succinctly. "She's training to be a Knight, to withstand the assault so both she and others may live. I may have only briefly know Lady Hida, but if she is your sister I feel safe in assuming that she likely viewed this as an opportunity to hone her craft. You Briggs' may be unique when viewed closely but all of you are so frustratingly similar somehow."
"Your sisters are identical triplets," he pointed out as if she didn't already know it. "I can only tell them apart by the identifying jewellery you each don," Alaric scanned the gallery and spotted not only Derbie with Lady Ban, but also Calvin and Danilo as well as Blair with Clayton. 
"All of you are determined and blind all at once," she scoffed at him.
"Blind?" he immediately objected. "I'm not blind," if he was he wouldn't be so obsessed with Aayina's beautiful smiles and wicked eyes, "but being blindfolded. I cannot know what people don't tell me."
"You should follow me," Derbie suddenly interrupted, Lady Ban smiling brightly at them. 
"Please, it's just this way," Lady Ban insisted politely.
"Let's go sister," one of Aayina's triplet Debutants took her arm and started walking. 
Alaric had the distinct feeling they were being escorted away due to their little...discussion. Not only did Derbie lead him on, but he spotted Calvin and Danilo a quickstep behind them. Something was definitely afoot here, but Alaric couldn't figure out what. 
"Bahni, what is the meaning of this?" he heard Aayina hiss at her sister. 
"It's for your own sake," Blair seemed to be encouraging both of them equally. "I expected no less of my brother, but I am a little surprised that you are in fact a matched set of oblivious idiots."
"Blair, don't be insulting to Lady Ram," he was personally used to her disrespect but they were out in public. 
"We've discussed it amongst the younger siblings," who had to be Chanda Ram spoke up, "and it seems to be true on both sides."
"So here we are, please use this room for as long as necessary,"  Lady Ban opened the door to a rather dimly lit room. "My sister has graciously assisted with its preparation, it should be perfect."