Joy straightened out the collar of Kevin's brown tunic. She had to stand on tiptoe to reach up. When had he gotten so tall? She smiled into her adoptive son's eyes.
"There, now you look like a local villager."
Kevin fidgeted in the unfamiliar clothes. "I'm still much taller than the majority of the population. I hope I'll be able to blend in."
"You just need to learn to slouch, son." The pair turned around as Thadchai walked into the kitchen, dressed in clothing similar to Kevin's outfit.
Joy looked back and forth between the two men, both very different but both holding a large part of her heart. "I think he will do fine, Khun Chai. After all, he is learning from you." She reached out and pulled the older man into a three-person hug.
"You two, be very careful today, please." She released them in order to wipe the corner of her eye.
Kevin looked between the two of them, his heart full of happiness. Thinking they might want some privacy, he gave a final squeeze to the woman and slipped away.
Once they were alone, Thadchai cupped his wife's cheek. "I promise I will protect him the best that I can. But we can't keep him wrapped in cotton. He will better understand our situation once he has a chance to speak with our people. Remember, this is his fate and his destiny. We knew that twenty years ago."
Joy sniffled, pressed against his chest, but felt her emotions calm as their hearts synchronized. "I know. But I didn't believe it would be so hard to step back and watch. Don't worry, I will be your strength. I just need a few silly tears right now."
He kissed the top of her head and hugged her tighter. "You are my strength, as I am yours. Always."
~~~
Kevin headed towards the stables to check his gear. Half-way there, he felt a tiny tickle in the back of his head. Freezing in his tracks, he tried to focus on that tiny contact.
"Kandi? Is that you?"
The feeling grew stronger as a needle of pain pierced the back of his head. He ignored the pain, closed his eyes and tried to the will the connection stronger.
"I…It…It's you…H…Help u...s…" The tiny whisper dissipated, and Kevin found himself on the ground, slumped against a fence post. He was sure it was one of the elephants, but unsure if it was Kandi. No matter which one, that voice was filled with pain and sorrow. He had to free them!
His head cleared when he reached the dim coolness of the stable. Several horses poked curious heads out. Rowdy nickered a greeting.
Kevin staggered over to his stall, to press his burning forehead against the horse's soft nose and wait for his emotions to calm down. The gelding pushed a little, then blew his nose, leaving a shiny trail of mucus across his chest. Kevin smiled for a moment, then shook his head as it finally cleared.
He had to get through today's meeting before any other steps could be managed. As he finished the physical labor, he went over all the information in his head. This upcoming meeting was crucial to determine if he can successfully integrate himself into the populace.