The Elephant Gate

"Sur'kya!" The familiar call wafted into her bedroom, and Suri smiled as she tied her shoelace to her sturdy boots. Today they were going to go fishing with her father. A year after they first met, the pair was inseparable, except when he had his extra lessons with the elephants and the combat weapons. She pouted. She wanted to learn how to fight too, but her normally-indulgent father had disallowed it. And no whining or wheedling would change his mind. Still, sometimes, K'vin would show her some of the hand fighting moves, and they would secretly practice them by the wooden house.

And there was the super-secret birthday present waiting downstairs for her best friend, and she couldn't wait to see his face when he received it.

Grabbing her wide-brimmed straw hat, she dashed down the stairs just as Kevin and the captain entered the foyer. The two youngsters completed their secret handshake before she bowed to Cap'n Thadchai. "Hello, sir. Are you coming with us to the fishing pond?"

He smiled and shook his head. "Maybe later, after I have run a few errands." He clapped his hands on the spindly shoulders of the young man. "You kids have fun though. And Princess Suri," he winked at her, "don't forget Noy Kevin's birthday present." She giggled as Kevin looked up in surprise.

More presents.

Suri grabbed his arm. "Come on, let's go see my father, and give you our present before we go fishing." She gave an exaggerated wink to the captain before dragging Kevin towards the palace kitchen.

The kitchen staff was there, milling around with seemingly nothing to do. Sutasinee gestured for Kevin to sit on a stool near the staffing kitchen table. The crowd parted as the head chef carried in a white-iced cake with a single large candle in the middle. Kevin's eyes grew round and then began to tear. He once talked about the birthday traditions in his old home, and someone had remembered the candle wish.

As if she read his mind, Suri whispered, "The candle was my idea." He absentmindedly gave her a shoulder hug, still focused on the cake. He closed his eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candle. Everyone clapped; when they quieted, he thanked everyone, and the chef started to slice it so that the staff could each have a piece.

When the plates were empty and carried off to be cleaned, Kevin said, "Thank you, everyone, for this. It was my best birthday ever." The staff cheered as one of the butler brought out a bow-tied wicker basket and placed it on the table. Mystified, Kevin reached out to touch it, when it moved.

He jumped back, causing a few snickers. He looked at it again, and concentrated on the contents. When he felt that questing touch in his head, he grinned with happiness when he determined the contents.

"It's a dog!" he quickly untied the bow that held the lid closed, and out climb a puppy. It was a brown and white female, with a narrow head and a tail that whipped back and forth as the dog tottered over and sniffed his hands. "It's a beagle!" He felt a warm lick on his hand before he leaned down. Overjoyed, the puppy started l.i.c.k.i.n.g his face until he dissolved into giggles.

"Happy birthday, K'vin, from me and my parents," Suri said, who tried to look solemn and failed.

"She's from my uncle's dog's litter. I wanted to name her Duchess, but Pa said it was your dog to name."

"I like Duchess. Does she like it?" He stared at the beagle's eyes for a moment before the dog gave out a series of puppy barks. "She likes it too! But, does Thadchai Dad know I was getting a dog? Because she'll live with me at my house."

Khun Nee nodded. "He actually helped pick her out of the litter. When you get home this evening, everything will be in place there. He wanted to tell you that she will be all your responsibility to take care of."

Kevin nodded fervently. He had always wanted a dog, but Mom was allergic to fur. And now he finally had one! He turned to Suri. "Can she come with us fishing?"

"Of course, Noy Kevin," came a voice from the door, and immediately the staff bow and lined up. The king smiled. "Relax, everyone, I'm just here to pick up my daughter, the birthday boy, and our young Duchess here." Kevin placed her back in the basket and hopped off the stool.

"I'm ready, sir."

* * *

It turned out to be a fun day. The puppy wandered here and there, her nose twitching at every scent, but she kept Kevin within eyeshot. The king was a true fisherman; he explained how the rod and reel worked, taught Kevin the proper casting technique, and helped him put his worms on the hook. Suri liked to throw the line, but refused to bait her own hooks.

By the end of the afternoon, Kevin was tired. They caught and released multiple fish; Kevin could only send dim flashes of alarm as they were pulled from the water. For fun, he tried to talk them into swimming towards shore, but nothing happened.

Suri put her pole down. "I want to play with Duchess." She walked over to where the puppy was sniffing a plant near the water. The dog promptly abandoned it for a fun chase game. Both Kevin and King Phuna watched them, smiling.

"She never enjoys fishing as much as I do," the king mused, "Neither does the queen, but then for me, it's an excellent way to relax. One that I can do without being surrounded by guards and porters. What you think, young Kevin?"

He thought briefly. "When I want to relax, I like reading books. This is okay too, as long as the fish are biting." He turned to the older man. "King Phuna, did you want to talk to me about something?"

The king looked startled, then relaxed into a smile and lowered his head near Kevin's. "I wanted to speak to you regarding your abilities, and I wanted to be away from any gossiping servants." He straightened up. "Just how are you doing with your training?"

Kevin thought for a moment. "I am very good with the elephants. And Kandi is my best friend! Of, you know, the elephants." He was disconcerted by the king's belly laugh.

"It is not a secret that the little pachyderm follows you everywhere. How are you doing with the grown-up ones?"

"They listen to me and I listen to them. Khun Wit asked me to talk to each one to make sure that they aren't hurt anywhere. I also try to get them all to do something at the same time. It sometimes works, but it gives me a headache too."

Phuna nodded, looking thoughtful. "Keep up the good work, Noy Kevin. I look forward to join my guards when you reach your majority." He turned to watch his daughter and the puppy gambol around a stand of palm trees. "And Suri is just a little younger than you, so she will become an a.d.u.l.t right behind you. I hope you will stay with her and protect her."

"I will, King Phuna. After all, she's my best friend."

The monarch's eyes twinkled. "Of the human variety, right?" Kevin laughed.

"Yes."