Word Count: 18,006
Summary of Events:
Nikita went to visit his father's grave and thought angrily about the Aissuresky who'd brought about his demise. Gavriila was roused and went through morning inspection before being promoted to the position of Major, which her father had held before her. Nikita set out early in the morning to head back to camp, none of his family said farewell to him. Gavriila was being worked terribly hard in training when word came that Lieutenant Kharondirev was returning; she got dressed in her finest, cooled her mare down, and was then inspected, after she was dismissed she ended up catching Lieutenant Kharondirev's attention when she was trying to get in the saddle, he advised she lower her stirrup for better ease in mounting . . .
Excerpt of the Day:
""You aren't going to raise the stirrup?" Lieutenant Kharondirev asked, looking at her like he judged her insane to do so.
"I'm not allowed to get comfortable before I do so sir?" she asked calmly.
Lieutenant Kharondirev startled and pulled back his head to look at her in surprise.
Gavriila reached down and drew up the stirrup. She returned it to the notch it'd been at and slid her foot into the stirrup.
"You didn't raise the stirrup enough," Lieutenant Kharondirev said.
"It's been fine that way before sir," Gavriila replied, wishing he would just go away.
"You are not, as yet, your father's height Major Comaromkov," Lieutenant Kharondirev said, looking at her somewhat sternly. "For the sake of your life and safety you ought to raise the stirrup."
Gavriila reached down and pulled up the stirrup to tighten it another notch, and then did the same to the other stirrup. Straightening in her saddle, she looked at Lieutenant Kharondirev. "Do you find any other faults with my tack sir?"
An impish look of interest lit the Lieutenant's face. "I do not believe you've ridden much Major."
"I've ridden much in the weeks you've been absent Lieutenant," Gavriila replied.
"Before that?" Lieutenant Kharondirev probed.
"Yes sir," Gavriila replied.
"How much before that?" Lieutenant Kharondirev asked.
"Plenty sir," Gavriila replied.
Lieutenant Kharondirev curled his mouth into a smirk. "I feel I will be much amused by you Major Comaromkov. Unlike I at your age you do not appear to be revelling in the attentions of such a senior officer as myself."
"You are merely two ranks above myself sir," Gavriila replied.
"Merely?" Lieutenant Kharondirev asked, looking at her with raised eyebrows. "If it would not have been for your father's unfortunate demise there would be some eleven ranks between us."
"And if your father had not met the same unfortunate demise as my own sir?" Gavriila asked.
Lieutenant Kharondirev startled, looking at her somewhat horrified and slightly enraged, as if he were insulted and offended by her comment. She waited patiently for his answer, glad to see that he might be understanding her discomfort — although she dearly hoped that he did not know why.
"Two," Lieutenant Kharondirev replied succinctly.
"My sincerest condolences Lieutenant," Gavriila said gently.
Lieutenant Kharondirev — who'd turned to leave — snapped his head back around and looked at her like he was ready to either scream at her or strike her, opening his mouth, he then paused and gazed at her.
His shoulders dropped. "My sincerest condolences Major," he said, slightly mumbling.
"They are appreciated Lieutenant," Gavriila replied.
She signalled Nadia and headed away from Lieutenant Kharondirev. She hoped he felt just as uncomfortable as she'd felt when under his scrutiny now. He had been promoted just as much as she had: some nine ranks above his position before his father's death."
Aissuresky: aysyoorski
Comaromkov: kohmahrohmkov
Nadia: nahd'ya
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