Vignette: We'll scratch your back...
Date: Day 20, Month 13, Turn 22 of Interval 10
Summary: Taikrin is finally free to go betweening and visit her 'uncles' out in Greenfields. They're really just the most helpful and altruistic bunch. Really!
It was very nearly a blizzard when Szadath popped out of between in the sky over Greenfields, and neither his flight nor his landing were precisely his best showing for the pair's first solo visit. Nevertheless, nothing could dampen Taikrin's smug pride as she trudged through the snow accumulation and into a certain bar just outside the Hold.
"Hey Grathon! Gimme a--" Her overloud proclamation, begun the instant she opened the door, trailed off as she noticed the gathering of men in deep conversation behind the otherwise empty bar. "-- oh. Uh. Didn't realize there was-- I can, uh, come back."
The matching scowls on each of their faces faded upon noticing the brownrider, and it was Grathon -- a thickly built, rough-looking man -- who beckoned her forward. "No, no, come on in, Taikrin. We were just talking about you. Heard you've had some success." His gaze shifted pointedly to the shiny new knot on her shoulder. "Just wondering when you might come up and give us a visit."
"Uh-- Yeah. Been pretty good." Some of that pride began to shine through once more as she glanced involuntarily at hew silver-thread. "Was just waiting t'get cleared for th'trip, y'know? They take betweenin' real serious." She tentatively approached the other side of the bar, still with a lopsided smile, and ducked her head to the men. "Wanted t'thank you all, though. Don't know as I could'a done it without all your help, with th'letters an' th'stuff you all sent me. Really appreciate it. Don't know what I can do t'pay you all back."
"Ah, Taikrin. Seeing you succeed is reward enough. You're our biggest success story, you know. One of our kids, made it big," offered a tall, rake-thin man with a look towards his one-eared compatriot. "Right Lanvec?"
After a measuring look at the weyrling Lanvec nodded, though he lacked the smiles of the other two. "I'm sure we'll come on the day when we need Taikrin's help for some small matter. Though I heard she might need our help with a few other issues. Weren't you just telling me the rumor about that goldrider, Zuman?"
"About Teris?!" Taikrin broke in, somewhat taken aback. "What rumor-- oh! 'Bout Iskiveth, and th'firestone. Y'all heard that all th'way up here?"
"We did, my dear. And we think we might be able to help. Do you remember me saying about my grandmother, Faranth rest her?"
"Uh, I don't-- maybe?"
"Well, I'll remind you, then. She was an Oldtimer, worked in High Reaches. When they were forced out of the Weyr all those turns ago, she took it upon herself to hide certain things so the invaders wouldn't get them. Among the things she hid right here in Greenfields was a store of wisdom about all sorts of things, including something that might help your friend."
"If you like," Lanvec cut in, "We can let you copy some of these. But you /must/ be discrete in letting your friend know where it's come from. We wouldn't want the Weyr swooping down to take our cache. And if she has any problems, you must come to us for help. Are we clear?"
Taikrin hesitated, uncertain, but after looking from face to familiar face, each wreathed with a certain kind of confidence, she ducked her head again in submission. "Yeah, okay-- thanks. A lot. Reckon she'll really appreciate doin' /something/. She don't let on, but I think it bothers her a lot, not knowin'. I'll do-- whatever y'ask, I'll do."
"That's a girl," Grathon smiled in an oddly paternal sort of way. "We'll get your friend fixed up in no time. We've heard some other rumors, which I'm sure you can clear up for us. Let's talk about some of your fellow weyrlings-- in particular a few of your bronze classmates? And did I remember you saying one of them was one of your /prison guards/?!"
This topic, Taikrin was much less reluctant to discuss, and she was quite content to rant against the injustices of Szadath's clutchbrothers to each of the clever-eyed men who knew her so well.
It was hours later by the time they broke up, Taikrin with a set of hides tucked into a shoulderbag, and the three men deep in hushed discussion once more about what else they could do to 'help' their young protege.
Summary: Taikrin is finally free to go betweening and visit her 'uncles' out in Greenfields. They're really just the most helpful and altruistic bunch. Really!
It was very nearly a blizzard when Szadath popped out of between in the sky over Greenfields, and neither his flight nor his landing were precisely his best showing for the pair's first solo visit. Nevertheless, nothing could dampen Taikrin's smug pride as she trudged through the snow accumulation and into a certain bar just outside the Hold.
"Hey Grathon! Gimme a--" Her overloud proclamation, begun the instant she opened the door, trailed off as she noticed the gathering of men in deep conversation behind the otherwise empty bar. "-- oh. Uh. Didn't realize there was-- I can, uh, come back."
The matching scowls on each of their faces faded upon noticing the brownrider, and it was Grathon -- a thickly built, rough-looking man -- who beckoned her forward. "No, no, come on in, Taikrin. We were just talking about you. Heard you've had some success." His gaze shifted pointedly to the shiny new knot on her shoulder. "Just wondering when you might come up and give us a visit."
"Uh-- Yeah. Been pretty good." Some of that pride began to shine through once more as she glanced involuntarily at hew silver-thread. "Was just waiting t'get cleared for th'trip, y'know? They take betweenin' real serious." She tentatively approached the other side of the bar, still with a lopsided smile, and ducked her head to the men. "Wanted t'thank you all, though. Don't know as I could'a done it without all your help, with th'letters an' th'stuff you all sent me. Really appreciate it. Don't know what I can do t'pay you all back."
"Ah, Taikrin. Seeing you succeed is reward enough. You're our biggest success story, you know. One of our kids, made it big," offered a tall, rake-thin man with a look towards his one-eared compatriot. "Right Lanvec?"
After a measuring look at the weyrling Lanvec nodded, though he lacked the smiles of the other two. "I'm sure we'll come on the day when we need Taikrin's help for some small matter. Though I heard she might need our help with a few other issues. Weren't you just telling me the rumor about that goldrider, Zuman?"
"About Teris?!" Taikrin broke in, somewhat taken aback. "What rumor-- oh! 'Bout Iskiveth, and th'firestone. Y'all heard that all th'way up here?"
"We did, my dear. And we think we might be able to help. Do you remember me saying about my grandmother, Faranth rest her?"
"Uh, I don't-- maybe?"
"Well, I'll remind you, then. She was an Oldtimer, worked in High Reaches. When they were forced out of the Weyr all those turns ago, she took it upon herself to hide certain things so the invaders wouldn't get them. Among the things she hid right here in Greenfields was a store of wisdom about all sorts of things, including something that might help your friend."
"If you like," Lanvec cut in, "We can let you copy some of these. But you /must/ be discrete in letting your friend know where it's come from. We wouldn't want the Weyr swooping down to take our cache. And if she has any problems, you must come to us for help. Are we clear?"
Taikrin hesitated, uncertain, but after looking from face to familiar face, each wreathed with a certain kind of confidence, she ducked her head again in submission. "Yeah, okay-- thanks. A lot. Reckon she'll really appreciate doin' /something/. She don't let on, but I think it bothers her a lot, not knowin'. I'll do-- whatever y'ask, I'll do."
"That's a girl," Grathon smiled in an oddly paternal sort of way. "We'll get your friend fixed up in no time. We've heard some other rumors, which I'm sure you can clear up for us. Let's talk about some of your fellow weyrlings-- in particular a few of your bronze classmates? And did I remember you saying one of them was one of your /prison guards/?!"
This topic, Taikrin was much less reluctant to discuss, and she was quite content to rant against the injustices of Szadath's clutchbrothers to each of the clever-eyed men who knew her so well.
It was hours later by the time they broke up, Taikrin with a set of hides tucked into a shoulderbag, and the three men deep in hushed discussion once more about what else they could do to 'help' their young protege.